Growing toward a degree, career

Stop rushing community college students into hasty career decisions

rating system proposal.

“Ending the school semester is the only thing I’m looking forward to.”

Community colleges are a great way for anyone undecided on a career to discover themselves and their educational goals, but a growing trend in government is to rush students through this process. In the Spring 2012 District Student Survey, prepared by Pierce College research analyst Kate Astor, it shows that while almost three quarters of students want a degree within their lifetime, a quarter of students have initial goals that do not involve a fast track to a four year college.

Some of the initiatives to speed the time to transfer are “Community colleges: intersession extension programs” (AB955) which allows additional intersession courses, President Obama’s College Scorecard which provides rating information about colleges weighted for transfers and the California Community College Chancellor’s Student Success Scorecards which also provide the student with transfer rates for the community colleges.

“We get together towards the end of the year. You come home, stay together and share our joys and eat and play and have fun.”

“Getting a better position at my work and also getting the classes I need to transfer.”

In Pierce’s mission statement it says that the goal of Pierce is to help identify and achieve student’s educational goals, gain career experience and a “variety of enrichment activities.” President Emeritus of California Federation of Teachers Martin Hittleman spoke with the Roundup about the scorecards as well as President Obama’s new college

“Every student who has come to a community college – the experience here has been successful,” he said. “They [students] grow, they learn a lot, they get more centered, they learn more about themselves, they go out into the world with more tools.”

Hittleman disagrees with the current trend of churning out degrees, saying that community colleges are not the sort of learning institution which should be comparison-shopped based on transfer ratings.

Although Pierce is a two year institution, not everyone who wants to leave in two years is able to. Also, it will take others at least that amount of time to discover what they wish to study and to get into those classes.

Students who are unsure of what they wish to study should not be forced to choose a path before they are sure of themselves.

While attending a community college, one can explore their interests while working toward a degree or transfer degree. The Career and Transfer Center in the Student Services Building is a great place to start.

The protagonist of MTV’s hit show “Daria” once stated “My wish is not to wake up at the age of 35 and realize I hate my life and job, because I was forced to choose a career when I was a teenager.” The same should apply to the students who are unsure of what to do with their lives.

“Getting together at the dinner table talking with our grandfather. We talked all night.”

“Simple goals to keep me moving on to success and to graduate.”

“When I was a little girl, my grandfather, who I would call my pappa, he and I would make dressing together completely from scratch.”

“Christmas with my dad. He passed away a few years ago so Christmas with my dad was the best.”

-Corrections-

Volume 119 Issue: 10

“My education. It’s been a long time coming and not a lot of people can appreciate it when they’re younger.”

“I’m transferring next year and I’m hoping that finals go well – finally on a career path.”

Page 1: DIG photo caption, the volleyball game against Hancock College was played on Nov. 20 and the story continued on page 7.

Marielle J.

Stober Special to the Roundup

It’s 11 p.m. on a school night and a spry spider monkey named Rikki stares me down. Daring to defy the incarnation of ADHD my fingers begin to type. As words form, the imaginary creature throws a fit howling for attention. Hopping on the bed he is impossible to ignore. This is his way of telling me I am doing something wrong.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder or “ADHD” stepped into my life the day I told a push puppet toy to drop dead in the first grade. The CDC states that 3-7% of children within the United States will be or have been diagnosed. Symptoms include impulsiveness, talkativeness, trouble concentrating and hyperactivity. It’s like having a caffeinated monkey inside your head.

I wasn’t happy to hear the diagnosis. Nobody is excited when their doctor tells them that the chemicals in their brain are imbalanced. Unlike a blemish this could not be subtracted from my anatomy. It was then that the imaginary hairball appeared to me.

Repackaged with a warning label I was suddenly the laughing stalk of my school. From elementary to junior high the curse of ADHD loomed like a dark ominous cloud. I became angry—depressed even because it did not make sense to me. Desperate and at my wits end I finally agreed to see a professional.

Enter Doctor Pollack, a kind redhaired woman with a jovial chuckle and maple brown eyes hidden behind glasses. She was the first person to suggest that my ADHD was working against me because I was rejecting it rather than accepting it.

Staring my other half in the eyes I gave him a name, Rikki; it means powerful ruler. Suddenly the gears shifted, turning clockwise for the first time. Now instead of fighting me that monkey would be my beloved partner in crime.

Despite the difficulties, ADHD has a superhero flipside. Creativity and unconventional thinking are a God-send when taking geometry. When hyper-focus hits, that wimpy monkey magically transforms into the Rambo of all study aides. However, there are days when the mind rebels. Sneaky as ever, procrastination will wrap its slimy arms around me, choking out all and any creativity. For two semesters I could not bring myself to focus even with the assistance of medication. My grades dropped to unacceptable standards meriting a letter of academic suspension.

With the boot camp tactics adopted from Miriam Gottlieb of Pierce’s Special Services things began to turn around. She explained—in words I could manage—that because the brain is a muscle it can burn out just like legs when running or arms when swimming.

The revival of my academic life was possibly the greatest comeback since Lazarus. Instead of coping with ADHD I am thriving off of its unsung benefits. Working on the same wavelength at last, Rikki knows when to buckle down for business. For that matter he also knows when to call for a timeout.

Dropping a class is a viable option over an “F”

Mike Washington Roundup Reporter

In high school, students are forced to hang on through tough classes and maybe receive an “F,” but in college one can just drop the class with no damage done to their academic record. Not a lot of new students consider dropping a class as an option, but they should. If someone is failing a class they should drop it unless they can pick up their grade before the end of the semester. No one wants an “F” emblazoned on their academic record forever.

Students may want to drop a class if they don’t understand the course materials after several meetings. If you have no idea what the professor is talking about or have failed a test or two because the class is way too hard, dropping the class is an option to explore.

Everyone’s situation is different. Whether it’s a car accident or an out of town work trip, dropping a class is there for our benefit as students and dropping does not affect your record in a negative way, but beware the three strikes rule that prevents you from taking the same class three times.

-COMIC STRIP-

Before you make the final decision, it’s recommended that you chat with your professor about your standing. There could be extra credit available to patch up your grade.

The last day to drop a class for the each semester is in the class catalog and is usually referenced in the syllabus. Most class changes can be processed online on the Pierce College website.

News Briefs

Finals workshops

The Center for Academic Success will host a series of workshops in different fields to help students prepare for finals during the weeks of 12/2-12/16.

Documentary series

The Resistance Documentary Film Festival is back at the Great Hall on Thursday, Dec. 5 and will be screening

“How to Survive a Plague” at 2:30 p.m. Drinks and other refreshments will be served.

Campus open house

A campus-wide open house will take place on Monday, Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m in the Student Services 3rd floor lounge. Light refreshments will be available and the choir will be performing.

Networking

The Career & Transfer Center will hold “The Common Application” workshop from 10-11 a.m. and “Networking Your Way Into a Job” workshop from 1-2 p.m. on Dec. 10.

Campus closed Pierce will be closed December 24-25 for Christmas and also December 30- January 1 for New Year’s Holiday.