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Marissa Greene ACCENT Editor-in-Chief
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uring my time here at Austin Community College I’ve learned many lessons that have helped me grow as a student and an individual. One of my favorite lessons that I’ve learned is to speak your truth. Rebuilding and rebranding ACCENT Student Media for the past three years has given myself and my peers the opportunity to contribute
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new ways of thinking and different experiences that diversify our school and make sure we’re telling stories in a multifaceted way. In order to amplify diverse voices on screens, there first needs to be an increase of diversity behind the screens. In 1978 the first chair of the Minorities Committee, Richard Smyser, of the Oak Riger, made five recommendations to The American Society of News Editors. His last recommendation was that “Leaders among minority journalists have urge the industry to set a goal of minority employment by the year 2000 equivalent to the percentage of minority persons within the national population.” At the time the committee thought this was an attainable goal. I believe there is still work to be done in diversifying our newsrooms. What I’ve learned from ACCENT Student Media, my classes and overall experience at ACC is that there is a privilege that comes with being a journalist. We pick the angle of the story, choose who to interview, and decide what quotes go in the article. This is crucial to producing accurate information that tells the story in a multidimensional way. As a journalist, I aim to meet communities where they are and give them a say on how they’d like to be represented in the media. To me, journalism is transparency, accountability, and building trust within our communities. With our amazing executive team, staff, advisor and audience, I know ACCENT will continue striving to be the number one reference source of news and entertainment to the ACC student body. I want to also thank the ACCENT team for the opportunity to work alongside you all. Let’s continue speaking our truth and making the media more equitable.
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Getting Remote Career Ready with ACC Career Services By Adam Cherian
Career Services provides ways to adapt to a job market affected by a pandemic
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In the turbulent job market that COVID-19 has created, it’s essential that college students adopt the best qualifications for remote or online work. Given the volatile nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, searching for work virtually can feel like a safer option than in-person. Because there is no conclusive end to this pandemic, remote work seems to be normal. That being said, there are new sets of skills that students need to adopt with such a shift in conditions. Career Services provides the best ways for ACC students to prepare for a career, remotely.
1. Search for Jobs with ACC Career Link The best way to start your job search during a time when most things are remote is with the ACC Career Link job portal. ACC Career Services realize that the pandemic has hit working students hard. In order to help those who have lost their jobs, Career Services has created a page where you can look for job listings in your area. There is an excellent amount of positions ranging from in your field of study to entry-level jobs. Give it a look to help you find the best remote career opportunities.
2. Read the Career Essentials Student Reference Guide This guide is a game-changer. It provides you with essential steps to prepare you for the job search and applications.
This guide is extensive, with sixty pages of extremely helpful information. It details everything from resumé tips, to Linkedin profile checklists. Securing a remote job is made easy with this guide, which gives you the best tools to make you stand out. Consider giving this a read when applying for jobs to better prepare yourself and to impress your future employers. 3. Take a Glance at the ACC Resumé Guide Need more help making your resumé stand out? During a time where remote work is becoming more necessary, a resumé that exceeds your employers expectations is a crucial step in securing a job. ACC Career Services has a resumé guide that is filled with tips, instructions and examples to make sure you secure that remote position! Give this a read if you want to give your resumé a professional finish.
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4. Consider Practice Interviews using Big Interview The interview process can be nerve-racking. With the added pressure of remote interviews and technological barriers, this process can be scary. Thankfully, Career Services provides us with a platform where you can practice interviewing in your specific field. Students can use this to practice at any time because the questions are prerecorded. Give this a try and see how helpful practicing real world interviews virtually can be.
5. Schedule an Appointment with a Career Counselor Once you have visited all the other resources ACC Career Services has to offer, it’s time to visit with a career counselor. Career counselors will provide the best advice on how to prepare for and land a new job for yourself. Speaking with professionals on how to better suit yourself for a remote job is priceless, and ACC offers it for free! If you want to understand everything you need to know for remote work, schedule an appointment with a counselor today!
The year 2020 has thrown everyone for a loop. Hopefully these resources will help ACC students better prepare for the remote job market. These tools will get you ready for a new career and ACC students get them for free.
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Students Apply Their Area of Study into Their Own Businesses By Patrick Davis
You may have heard quotes like, “do what you love and never work a day in your life,” or “do what you love and the money will follow.” Two psychology students are seeking to infuse their future profession with their passions.
Lorelai Wilson incorporates these decks of tarot cards into her client consultations.
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Wilson is a licensed massage therapist. In addition to her class load, she is also employed by a local spa and operates her own massage business, Copper and Calm. After eight years in the security tech industry, Wilson stated that she was feeling burnt out and decided to enroll at a massage therapy school in the Seattle area. Upon graduating in 2016, Wilson immediately moved to Austin.
ACC Student Lorelai Wilson sports her Phi Theta Kappa sweatshirt. Image provided by Wilson.
Lorelai Wilson consults her client, Deanna Lawrin, prior to her massage at Wilson’s home in Austin.
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Lorealai Wilson massages the scalp and forehead of Deanna Lawrin at Wilson’s home in Austin. Lorealai Wilson utilizes her elbow and forearm while massaging her client, Deanna Lawrin, at Wilson’s home in Austin.
Her goal for the future is to become a clinical psychologist and open a wellness center that integrates psychology, massage, and other healing arts. Wilson hopes to treat patients in a way that honors the “close connection between the mind and the body.”
Wilson relies heavily on her ACC professors, advisors, and classmates to help her navigate her busy life and achieve her goals. “Having that safety net and that reliability in my academic life really helps me explore what I want to do with my career and my professional world,” Wilson said.
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Ali Simmel is a student, artist, musician, and entrepreneur. Tilt Gallery in Fort Worth, recently agreed to represent the artist. The gallery will be selling Simmel’s prints and original paintings. Simmel also operates Canvas Clothier in collaboration with their sister.
ACC student Ali Simmel at Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden in Austin. Simmel is an artist, musician, and entrepreneur.
Various original works of art are displayed in Ali Simmel’s home studio. Image provided by Simmel.
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Like Wilson, Simmel speaks highly of ACC. “I love ACC. It’s amazing.” “It made me believe I can actually go to school and do well… and provide a steady income while continuing to pursue my passions,” Simmel said.
Ali Simmel paints in her studio while her daughter looks on. Image provided by Simmel.
By immersing themselves in ACC’s environment of mutual support, Wilson and Simmel are empowered to lean into their individual strengths. By focusing on those strengths, they prepare themselves to create new and innovative support systems for their communities.
The clothing company is currently focused on embellishing and reselling vintage clothing but plans to produce and sell original items in the future. Simmel is currently pursuing degrees in psychology and studio arts. They plan to pursue a doctorate in psychology and eventually open a clinic focused on art therapy.
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Soul by Ali Simmel. Image provided by Simmel.
Absent by Ali Simmel. Image provided by Simmel.
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THERAPY guide
By Angela Murillo-Martinez
As Austin Community College enters another semester of distance learning, the college’s mental health counseling services have adapted to support students at a virtual scope. ACCENT spoke with Manuel Zamarripa, Associate Dean of Counseling, about the support and resources ACC offers. The balance between work, school, hobbies and education can seem like too much to handle at times--especially during a global pandemic. Since campuses have been closed to non-essential faculty, staff and students this means that counseling sessions have moved to an online service. Students can continue to receive private counseling from their own home through virtual sessions. ACC offers free mental health counseling to currently enrolled students. “You get a first session, where you get a lot of background information,” Zamarripa said. “Then you get six sessions after that, so you get a total of seven sessions with a counselor individually.” Some have trouble deciding when and if to visit with a counselor or therapist. Mental health isn’t a one size fits all situation, but ACC’s counselors are trained to work with anyone, no matter their situation. If needed, the counselors can always provide referrals as well.
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It can be anywhere from, ‘Hey, I need someone to support me,’ or ‘I have a couple of decisions coming up that I need to make,’ or ‘I’m feeling kind of stuck.’ “It can be anywhere from, ‘Hey, I need someone to support me,’ or ‘I have a couple of decisions coming up that I need to make,’ or ‘I’m feeling kind of stuck,’” Zamarripa said. Students can schedule appointments through the counseling page found on the ACC website. In these sessions students can talk to trained clinicians who can speak to you about various topics. All sessions are private and confidential unless the student provides written permission to share information with someone else. ACC not only provides individual counseling but also has group counseling. “We do offer groups, which are another good way to get support,” Zamarripa said. “We offer about two to three groups every semester.” The topics discussed in these group counseling meetings tend to change every semester, although there are a couple of topics students consistently request.
“It can be really supportive, but it can also be to the other end, like some people who are having severe anxiety or severe depression,” Zamarripa said. “They can come in, and we try to help them find strategies of coping.”
“We get the most requests for anxiety and dealing with anxiety,” Zamarripa said. “So we tend to offer some groups in some way about anxiety to help students.” Although the idea of group counseling can seem nerve-racking at first, being around students who have similar struggles as you can create a great support system. It can also help you realize that you are not alone and see that you have others rooting for you. “It can be really supportive, but it can also be to the other end, like some people who are having severe anxiety or severe depression,” Zamarripa said. “They can come in, and we try to help them find strategies of coping.” Although taking that first step towards therapy can seem scary, ACC’s counselors are here to help every step of the way, so you are not alone.
As we continue to adjust our lives around an ever-changing pandemic Zamarripa emphasizes the importance of checking in on one another, but more importantly, on yourself. ACC’s counselors are trained to help you find the best strategies and solutions to help your mental health.Though six sessions may not be enough for some, counselors can connect students to someone who can provide more help and support. Resources listed below can also be found on ACC’s Mental Health Counseling page.
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RESOURCES •
2-1-1 Texas - State and local resources for life issues, food, shelter, rent assistance, childcare, counseling and more.
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Austin Child Guidance - Provides parents with information and resources.
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Ulifeline - A resource for suicide prevention, drugs, and mental health.
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College skills workshops - ACC workshops cover topics for academic, career, and personal effectiveness.
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Guide to College Student Mental Health - A comprehensive guide to help college students identify common mental health disorders, their warning signs, when to seek treatment and how to manage them. ACC Support Center community resource list - List of related community resources.
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Mental Health & Wellness Resource Videos - Mental health counselors videos library.
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Meet the Clinicians - List of licensed and license-eligible clinical counselors.
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International Students by Kyrios LoNigro
Educational systems vary depending upon which part of the world you live in. For those moving to other countries, the differences can be stark. Read about the experiences of three ACC students as they describe their education stateside and back home.
Pia Schilling, a Pre-Med student from Germany, said that in Germany students do not have to be consistent with their assignments and only need to pass a final exam to earn credit for the course.
IF THEY CANNOT HANDLE THIS FREEDOM THEY FAIL IN THIS SYSTEM.
A lot has been different since the pandemic. For international students, that difference is two-fold. ACCENT reporter Kyrios LoNigro spoke with three students about how their home country’s education system differs from Austin Community College.
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“If they cannot handle this freedom they fail in this system,” Schilling said. Schilling says a research paper may be required for a course but noted that U.S. students have a more demanding schedule because German students are not required to attend class.
Another difference Schilling mentioned is that in the U.S. it takes four years to complete a degree, while in Germany it usually takes three.
Dieppue Dyoko, a Business Studies student from Cameroon, says there are no community colleges in his home country. Instead, they have recently implemented a standardized education system that is shared by many European Union countries, including Germany. Dyoko says that he does not miss anything from the education system of Cameroon. “The ACC system seems more advanced,” Dyoko said.
Roman Bhuiyan, a Computer Science student from Bangladesh, says U.S. education lags behind Bangladesh in some respects. “I learned the same material here in the U.S. in tenth grade that I was taught in fifth grade back home,” Bhuiyan said. Unlike the U.S., Bangladesh does not have a public school system. “Education is not free there,” Bhuiyan said. “You have to have money to send your kids to school. Bigger school means more money.” Bhuiyan said that for those that can afford it, school is far from a comfortable experience. “Teachers are definitely not as friendly. Everyone is pretty much terrified about the teachers... Matter of fact, parents will tell the teachers to hit their students if they don’t cooperate,” Bhuiyan said.
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Written By: Patrick Davis
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Joining a student organization at Austin Community College may be the last thing on your list considering the demands from classes, work, family responsibilities, internships, and more. However, there are students involved in student organizations who will tell you that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. ACCENT met with three students involved with student organizations to hear about their experiences. ACC’s Student Life website has a list of 115 student organizations, although not all of them are
active. If a student cannot find the organization they are looking for, an advisor will work with the student to create a new organization. That is exactly what happened to Devin Driskell of the Future Business Leaders of Austin (FBLA) and Ashley Pesina of the Latinx Student Union (LXSU). Pesina was a member of the Hispanic Students Association (HSA) in 2009. When she came back to ACC ten years later, she found that HSA was no longer active. With Advisor Jessica Oest’s help, Pesina started working on a new student
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organization for Latinx students. LXSU officially became an organization in Oct. of 2020. The group’s primary purpose is “helping individuals escape a sense of otherness that the Latinx community is often confronted with,” Pesina said. Although LXSU is concentrated on the Latinx community, the group welcomes all students. FBLA was also founded by a student who couldn’t find the club they were looking for. Since starting FBLA only two years ago, the student organization membership has grown to have 50 members to this day. The group aims to “help people be ready for their journey into the business world,” Driskell said. While the group is focused on business majors, Driskell believes that the skills fostered
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by FBLA such as public speaking, networking, and interview skills, can be of use to students who are pursuing any degree plan. Alpha Gamma Pi is the ACC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an international honor society for community colleges. The group was founded on four hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. PTK works in the community through service projects and volunteer opportunities. Alicia Stadler is currently the vice president of PTK of the Highland campus and has served as president and historian in past semesters. Stadler said that she initially joined PTK to improve her transfer application but gained a tight-knit support system. “The officer team has become my family. I love them all. They’re great people,” Stadler said.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student organizations have moved their club meetings and events to online platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom. Pesina has noticed that meeting virtually makes it challenging to bond with other LXSU members. However, Driskell has actually seen a rise in FBLA membership since the start of the pandemic, presumably because virtual meetings are more convenient for students to attend than in-person events. The biggest challenge these students have faced when joining or starting the groups has been finding the time to participate and organize activities.
and accountability as qualities she has gained during her time with LXSU.
Driskell sees a silver lining in that challenge, as it has helped him improve his time management skills. He has also become more comfortable with public speaking.
“You never know if you’re going to meet your best friend, or meet somebody who could help you get into these dream schools, or just meet some really, really great people.” Stadler said.
Driskell, Pesina, and Stadler all speak highly of their time spent in student organizations. The time invested can create new friendships, networking opportunities, and real-life skills. Student organizations give their members the chance to work with a diverse group of people, including other students, advisors, and industry professionals. Stadler encourages anyone who has the opportunity to join a student organization to do so.
In addition to time-management, Pesina also cites greater patience
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ABOUT ACCENT ACCENT is Austin Community College’s student-led, student media organization. We provide news and information about resources and opportunities available to you. We create videos, articles, columns, and reviews for past current and future students of ACC. Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to our social media channels. We hope you enjoyed reading this issue of the ACCENT zine as much as we enjoyed creating it.
We are the student voice of ACC. We create diverse and fair content to inform and entertain the students of ACC. These publications are supplied for the college and the Austin area to encourage student participation.
Vision To be the first reference source that current, future or past students of Austin Community College utilize for campus news and entertainment.
Mission To engage Austin Community College through the stories and information provided on our ACCENT website and zine.
To connect with us email editor@austincc.edu
