Pensacola State College
“The News The Students Choose.”
August 2015
Rental book prices, options can vary widely Financial aid can make a big difference in out-of-pocket costs for students
By Paris Harman & Kimberly Bogers
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ith expenses like rent, college tuition and car insurance, the last thing that college students want to worry about is buying costly textbooks. One considerably cheaper option is to rent textbooks rather than purchase them. Follett’s and Textbook Brokers are the two brickand mortar bookstores serving PSC students, while online sites such as BigWords.com and CourseSearch. com are competitors. Follett’s Bookstore is located on the three major PSC campuses: Ninth Avenue, Milton, and Warrington. For rentals, Follett’s requires students to bring their schedules for the semester and student I.D. Students must sign a rental agreement, which means that they will be responsible for bringing back their books by the last day of the semester. If students have financial aid, depending on the type and the amount, they might be able to use it to rent books from Follett’s. The Financial Aid Department at (850) 484-1680 can advise students about eligibility. Another local option is Textbook Brokers, which has a location on Underwood Avenue, across the street from PSC’s Student Center on the Ninth Avenue campus. Since Textbook Brokers is not affiliated with PSC, students do not need to bring schedules or I.D.’s. On the downside, the store cannot accept PSC financial aid for book rentals unless the money is on the student’s HigherOne card. If a student does not need textbooks right away, another option is to rent them online. The website BigWords.com allows users to search for textbooks by author, ISBN or title. When a student searches for a textbook, the website will bring up a list of different sites that offer it as a rental. The websites are arranged from lowest price to highest price, making it a very convenient way for students to find the cheapest options. Depending on the shipping, it might take some time for books to arrive, so students should always make sure to consider their class schedules before they order. If a student has a reliable Internet connection and a laptop, computer, smart phone or laptop readily
available, he or she can rent e-textbooks. Most of the websites mentioned above offer both physical and online textbooks. Websites like CourseSmart.com specialize in selling online textbooks. Like Textbook Brokers, BigWords.com and CourseSmart.com do not require course information or PSC I.D., and they cannot accept PSC financial aid since they are not affiliated with the college. Most PSC students take English Composition I and Introduction to Biology. The Corsair asked both bookstores for their prices of rental texts for these courses and checked the online sites as well. Follett’s rents Steps to Writing Well for $138.43 new and $98.88 used. Textbook Brokers rents it for $24.95 used. BigWords.com’s cheapest rental option is $21.64 for 125 days. CourseSmart.com rents it out digitally for $54.49 for 180 days. Follett’s rents Biology Science for Life with Physiology for $147.56 new and $108.21 used. Textbook Brokers rents it for $17.95 used. BigWords. com’s cheapest rental option is $10.97 used, due back on December 24. CourseSmart.com rents it digitally for $73.99 for 180 days. If students prefer to rent new textbooks and/or have financial aid, Follett’s is the cheapest option. For those without financial aid who don’t mind a used book, Textbook Brokers is the cheapest option. If a student is planning far in advance, doesn’t mind
PSC Follett’s bookstore
PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
renting used textbooks and does not have financial aid, BigWords.com is the cheapest option. If a student prefers to use e-textbooks instead of physical textbooks, CourseSmart.com is the cheapest option. If students are currently dual enrollment, their high school pays for their textbooks. They need to contact their high school guidance counselor for more information.
Upcoming Events Aug.17:
Fall Term begins (1A, 1B)
Aug. 24-25:
Auditions for “Young Frankenstein” Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7-9pm
Aug. 26:
Blood Drive Building 3300, Warrington Campus 9am-3pm
Aug. 30:
Kamerman Piano Series: Kadisha Onalbayeva Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 2:30-4pm
Sep. 8:
Fall classes begin (1C )
In This Issue • Professor Clover: 50 Years • PSC Clubs • Nursing BSN vs. ADN • New coach for Lady Pirates • Advice from teachers • Humans of PSC
Feature
Art Professor Bill Clover fondly recalls his 50 years teaching at PSC By Nena Gluchacki
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rofessor William Clover of PSC’s Visual Arts Department is celebrating his 50th year with Pensacola State College this fall and has the stories to prove it. Since his start in 1966, Clover has taught a bit of everything offered in Visual Arts. His focus for the last ten years has been on ceramics. His love for art is evident in the way he speaks of it. “I was extremely lucky to find art. I’ve enjoyed almost every art class I’ve ever taken.” What he loves most about working for PSC, Clover said without hesitation, is seeing people “get” what he teaches in class. He enjoys seeing young people understand that they can actually make something of value. “Students relax in my class,” he said. “When they relax, they talk. When they talk, it becomes a community.” Clover launched into a story about teaching three generations of a family during his career. He taught a grandmother, her daughter, and recently the granddaughter. This fact clearly delighted him. As someone who has been at PSC (formerly Pensacola Junior College) for 50 years, Clover has seen plenty of changes to the school and the Pensacola area. “I constantly get asked what happened here years ago. What happened in ’74 or ’92? I mean, the book I use for my class when I started was $4; now it’s $175.” He went on to talk about the growing number of faculty at the college and the changes he helped implement within his own department. He is credited with bringing computers to the Visual Arts Department. “And I’m proud of that. This whole place runs on them now!” When asked what advice he would give his younger self just starting out at PSC, Clover did not give the usual answer of being better prepared, loosening up, etc. Instead he shared the story of his first day teaching. It was an art history class, and he had overly prepared the night before. He delivered four weeks of lecture notes in 45 minutes to a stunned, most likely traumatized, class. He went on to say that a student stood up in the middle of class and fell to the ground in an epileptic fit. “I had friends in high school with epilepsy, so I did what I needed to for him. Then I continued teaching. He was okay, but I’d definitely tell my younger self to find out how to teach properly.” After that unexpected story, Clover shared why he decided to become a professor in the first place. He explained that there weren’t many job options for a
business student in graduate school, but he found art. He later had offers to teach in Richmond, Va., and Pensacola. “The president of the college in Virginia wanted me to shave my beard, so I went with Pensacola. Obviously I liked the school and area more too.” Among his fond memories of PSC, Clover is proud of his work for the Manna Food Bank. He and his students have made and sold countless ceramic bowls to support the charity. One day he was asked to attend a meeting of the PSC Board of Trustees. “I thought I was going to get some new kilns, but turns out I was given an award for volunteering [for Manna]. I can’t remember exactly what it was called – from the President of the United States! It was a big surprise, kind of an odd feeling.” As for some of his worst memories of working at PSC? Clover could not come up with any. “I don’t have any terrible memories. We fought to be in the union several times – a lot of meanness – but we worked through it eventually.” It was apparent by the end of his interview that Clover is extremely thankful and proud of his place at PSC. His students are just as thankful for his time and effort. Monica Wilson, who photographed Clover for this piece, very much enjoyed working with him. “I love Professor Clover. He’s the greatest!” she said. Clover concluded the interview with a comment that will not surprise those who know him. “I’ll just say one other thing: I believe Pluto is a planet! Always has been, always will be.”
“ I constantly get asked what happened here years ago. What happened in ’74 or ’92? I mean, the book I use for my class
when I started was $4; now it’s $175.
PHOTOS BY MONICA WILSON
”
August 2015
African American Student Association, SGA and Philosophy Club open to students By Makida Hayes
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ensacola State College sponsors a wide variety of clubs that can help students improve their resumes and social life. The African American Student Association (AASA), the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Philosophy Club are already preparing for the fall term and are open to new members. The African-American Student Association was started at PSC in the mid-’70s. Toni Anderson, student leader of the AASA at the Milton and Pensacola campuses, said the club offers many benefits. “When a student joins the PSC African-American Association, he or she can expect to bond with other students locally, regionally and across the state of Florida, receive one-on-one academic and personal counseling and scholarship opportunities, be a part of community service projects and campus events, attend state and local conferences and institutes, develop workshops and strategies for success and serve as a volunteer and mentor in our community,” Anderson said. Last spring the AASA traveled to Tuskegee University in Alabama to celebrate Black History and served as a host for the United Negro College Luncheon at New World Landing. The group also traveled to Tampa for the Florida African American Student Association’s 40th Spring Annual State Convention. There the PSC chapter was designated a Five Star chapter for achievements
using the P.A.C.E. Plan. P.A.C.E. stands for political, academic, community, and economic activities. Butch Branch, leadership coordinator for the Milton and Pensacola campuses SGA, said students in SGA experience wonderful leadership opportunities and a chance to network and work closely with peers. They plan educational workshops and other recreational activities throughout the semester. SGA raised more than $13,000 worth of food for Manna Food Bank last semester with the support of two professors, Rita Thrasher and Dr. Sonja Urnowey, who promoted the drive in classes and on the campuses. Branch enjoys working side-by-side with PSC students to help them develop life skills and become mentors for tomorrow’s leaders. He is also the Life Center Activities Coordinator on both the Milton and Pensacola campuses. The Life Centers offer health and exercise options for students, staff, and the community. Professor John Holder, adviser to the PSC Philosophy Club, said the club promotes a safe environment for discussion of ideas and welcomes those seeking camaraderie and wisdom. Many of the clubs meet weekly throughout the semester and require a GPA of at least 2.0 to participate and a 2.5 GPA to travel and hold office. For the Philosophy Club, the GPA requirement is 3.0 or higher. For more information on the various clubs that PSC offers, contact Student Activities at (850) 4841503.
New head coach for Lady Pirates has impressive softball experience Over the summer Athletic Director Bill Hamilton
announced that the PSC’s Lady Pirates softball team has a new coach, Lyndsey Angus. “We are excited that Lyndsey has decided to lead our Lady Pirates into a promising future,” said Hamilton. “We conducted a nationwide search to attract someone with Lyndsey’s background and experience. I couldn’t be more proud of our softball program in announcing the hiring of Coach Angus.” Angus has already had considerable success in softball. When she was a student athlete at her alma mater the University of Kentucky, she lettered all four years for the Wildcats from 2000 to 2003. When she was a freshman, the Wildcats won the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division Crown. When she was a senior in 2003, Angus was hitting .429, pacing the SEC in batting average. In 2004 Angus became a member of the National Pro Fastpitch League. She batted .357 with 19 RBI and seven doubles in 2005, was named Most Valuable Player in 2006, and played with the New England Riptide for her first five seasons. She was a part of the All-NPF team in
2005, 2006 and 2008, charting 195 career hits and playing in 257 games. In 2010 Angus became an assistant coach at her alma mater, and in each of Angus’s four seasons at UK she was among the Top 10 in batting average in the conference. She still ranks among the all-time leaders at UK in 14 categories, including the career record for most walks. Before becoming head coach for the Lady Pirates, Angus was part of the University of New Mexico’s Lobo softball staff. Now she has moved from the Land of Enchantment to the Sunshine State. “I’m very grateful and excited about the opportunity to coach at Pensacola State,” she said. “I look forward to being part of the Pirate family and leading the softball team to continued success in athletics and academics. I would like to thank President Ed Meadows, Coach Brenda Pena, Athletic Director Bill Hamilton and the hiring committee for the kindness they have shown during this process.” Angus officially began her job as head coach for the Lady Pirates on July 16.
Coach Lyndsey Angus
PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
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Opinion/ Review
Are ‘selfies’ making us too selfish? By Kimberly Bogers
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ver the course of the summer, I took several road trips with my family. We visited quite a few national landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial and the MLK Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the September 11 Memorial in New York City. Seeing such incredible sights in person was awe-inspiring, and visiting them was a highlight of my summer. Unfortunately, my experiences at these landmarks were all hindered by one thing: people taking selfies. There were people standing in front of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial with selfie sticks, making goofy faces and silly poses. There were people taking selfies with the Martin Luther King Jr. statue, loudly laughing about how they were only visiting the memorial to get a selfie with it for their company’s photo scavenger hunt. There were people sitting on top of the September 11 Memorial, covering the names of the deceased victims in order to get the perfect angle for their selfie. Needless to say, I was pretty disgusted with humanity a few times during my vacation. In today’s society most every piece of technology has a camera built into it: laptops, cell phones, tablets
and even televisions. With high-speed Internet readily available to most people, it is easier than ever to take a photo of yourself and share it with the world in just a few seconds. Because of this, a lot of people take pictures and selfies of every single thing they do and then post them on social media for everyone to see. I don’t know about you, but when one of my friends starts posting photos of what they are doing every two minutes on their Facebook or Instagram accounts, it gets on my nerves. I might even begin to lose respect for them. I get the impression that they are living for “likes” and “comments” rather than simply living their lives for themselves. I am not against technology. I know from experience that it is quite difficult for me to get through a day without using my cell phone or computer. Also, I love photography and being able to share a picture with friends and family in an instant is a wonderful thing. However, I think that people should stop and think for a few seconds before snapping a selfie. Is the setting appropriate? Is the timing right? Is the
pose appropriate? Maybe this moment should be recorded and tucked away in your brain instead of on your camera roll. Instead of thinking about how you look or how you should angle your selfie, think about where you are and what you’re doing. Observe your surroundings with your eyes instead of your camera lens. You might be surprised at what you see.
New Jurassic Park movie is thrilling, but no match for the original I
t has been over two decades since “Jurassic Park” stormed into theaters during the summer of 1993, trumping its many competitors and giving audiences the thrill of a lifetime. After two lackluster sequels and millions in boxoffice earnings, people are still hungry for more. This is why moviegoers have been flocking in droves to see “Jurassic World”, the latest creation from this hugely successful franchise. With everyone’s favorite movie star and all-around cool guy Chris Pratt rounding out a cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard and Ty Simpkins, the film takes audiences on an actionpacked thrill ride. It revolves around two brothers who take a trip to a unique theme park centered on (you guessed it) dinosaurs. Everything seems to be going as planned until these carnivores begin to wreak havoc on the park and its many guests. Obviously some people fail to learn from their mistakes. Fans hoping for a continuation of the beloved franchise will be pleasantly surprised to know that countless references from the first Jurassic installment pop up throughout. Those who remain unfamiliar with the series, however, will be faced with a film that is mostly slow in pace and, I believe, largely miscast. The decision to cast Bryce Dallas Howard as the female heroine was a poor one since she lacks the
emotional depth possessed by most of the current female action stars of today (for example, Charlize Theron in “Mad Max: Fury Road”). In fact. Howard’s
main role in the film seems to be giving orders and running away in high heels from anything that moves. Meanwhile, Ty Simpkins, a gifted young actor, appears to be playing the role of a boy about three years his junior. I was constantly asking myself throughout the film if he was really at the appropriate age to be using a toy camera.
I will say, though, that the film definitely deserves an Oscar nomination for visual effects. The dinosaurs are absolutely astounding and tend to steal the show from the all-star cast. The unfortunate thing is that the hungry carnivores don’t make their grisly appearance until about thirty minutes into the film, which results in a lot of the film feeling sluggish and undeveloped. Whenever the mighty dinosaurs take up the screen, though, they certainly make the price of your movie ticket worth every penny. From bloody tears, open scars, and even some full body separation, these dinos make sure to leave their mark on everyone and everything throughout the movie. If you are looking for a film that raises your blood pressure and leaves you in a complete state of animalistic shock, then this film is most certainly for youthe film’s dino sequences are some of the best that I’ve seen in recent memory, and they will definitely leave you hungry for more. If your type of film tends to revolve around lengthy plot twists, well-rounded characters and a multi-layered story line, then you should probably stick to a film like the original “Jurassic Park.” I’ve always found that it’s best to stick to the original anyway. - Gary Bogers
Feature/ Hobbies
August 2015
Computer, math, writing labs among free services for students
The Pensacola campus library.
By Nena Gluchacki
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any who attend Pensacola State College are unaware of the various resources the college has to offer its students. Whether students need to study for a big final, have someone proofread their research papers, or get that little bit of extra help in Algebra, they can find many different types of help offered at PSC. Computer Lab: With a location on every campus, the Computer Lab offers students of all fields of study a place to access broadband Internet and inroom printing for both academics and personal use, with staff available to assist with computer problems or software questions. Math Lab: The Math Lab offers tutoring for a variety of math classes, such as College Algebra and Pre-Calculus, as well as current textbooks to check out and graphing calculators available to rent. The Math Lab also has computers for students to access MyMathLab, MyLabsPlus, and InteractMath. There are locations on the Pensacola, Milton, Warrington, and South Santa Rosa campuses. Writing Lab: No appointment is needed for free tutoring to PSC students at the Writing Lab. Services
Words to Inspire
PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
offered are assistance with writing assignments for any PSC course, grammar reviews, aid for prep reading courses, vocabulary development, and use of computers for word processing. Locations on the Pensacola, Milton, and Warrington campuses. You can also submit your paper to the Writing Lab for review online. Library: The Pensacola campus library provides web-based resources (PSC ID required), catalogs, magazines and journal articles, interlibrary loans, reference assistance, photocopy machines, microcomputer facilities, workshops, library courses, books and DVDs to borrow, as well as a coffee shop with a variety of drinks and snacks for purchase. Library Study Rooms: The library offers private study rooms available by request, as long as a student provides a valid PSC ID. Students can use these private rooms for group or solo study sessions or for group project meetings. Free Wifi: There is free Wifi available all over PSC campuses for personal or academic uses. L.I.F.E. Fitness Center: There is a L.I.F.E. Fitness Center located on the Milton, campuses and houses classrooms, with a fully equipped workout room, indoor track and basketball court and rooms for health-based classes such as yoga.
Oh, the Hobbies You’ll Hobby!
By Kimberly Bogers
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n today’s world it is incredibly beneficial for people to know a language other than their native tongue. Whether someone wants to travel or study abroad, work internationally, or just make some new friends who are of a different culture, learning how to speak a new language can present people with many different and exciting opportunities. People might not consider learning a new language to be a hobby, but it most definitely is! It takes time, practice and determination to become fluent enough in a language to hold a conversation in it. While it is impossible to learn a new language in a day, there are some useful ways to memorize new words, phrases and symbols with continued practice. An easy way for someone to start learning is by reading a study guide on the desired language, or making flash cards with different phrases and definitions in order to memorize them. If a person doesn’t mind doing some writing and carrying around note cards then they could write out a set of flashcards to carry around and use for practice. There are also flash card apps available, such as Quizlet, which make it very easy for people to memorize flash cards on their phone or tablet while on the go. If a person does not own a smart phone or tablet there are websites like Studyblue, where high school and college students can create sets of flashcards online and share them with fellow classmates. If an individual does not enjoy traditional studying, he or she could play foreign language games online or via an app. Sometimes it can be easier for someone to learn new words or phrases while playing a matching game or typing game rather than reading a book or staring at monotonous flashcards. One of the best ways for someone to truly become versed in a foreign language is to communicate with the people who speak it on a daily basis. While it can be very intimidating to awkwardly speak broken Spanish, Chinese, or French to someone who is fluent in the language, there is no better way for a person to improve than to try and hold a conversation in the language they are learning. GRAPHIC BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
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Feature
BSN vs. ADN: Which degree is more beneficial for nursing? By Iwona Hamrick
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or many high school graduates, or people like myself, who decide to start a professional career afresh, a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) seems an accessible, affordable, and relatively short pathway to entering a nursing profession. However, many students who are hoping to pursue a career in nursing now believe that an ADN may no longer be sufficient to find a job, as multiple state legislature initiatives and many health institutions, including nursing organizations, push for a four-year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree as a minimum requirement to obtain a licensure. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for nurses to pursue higher levels of education to meet new challenges in the increasingly complex healthcare system. The IOM’s report recommends that a number of the baccalaureateprepared nurses should increase to 80 percent by 2020. So, is the future of the associate degree programs uncertain? Are they going to phase out under the pressure from advocates of the BSN degree who claim that a baccalaureate should become the only pathway to a nursing career? I asked the leaders of the nursing school at PSC, Dr. Dusti Sluder, the Head of nursing program, and Ms. Frances Duncan, the Dean of Warrington campus, to offer their perspectives on the IOM recommendations. “I think it is a good goal,” says Dr. Sluder, who clarifies, “I am all about higher education, but the recommendations are not realistic; only 17 percent of nurses in Florida hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I have not looked at the most recent stats, but I can imagine that number is still pretty low. We are only five years away from the goal, so we have a long way to go.” According to the 2013 survey by the Florida Center for Nursing, the total estimated need for RNs in different health settings in 2014 was 14,541. A combined number of associate and baccalaureate graduates for the academic year 2011-12 reached only 9,787. This number is evidently insufficient to meet the need. “We have to be realistic and consider the needs of the community. If we had all nurses going for a four year degree program, we would really hit the rock bottom with that demand-supply for nursing,” Dr. Sluder warns. “There is a need for ADN educated nurses, who after five semesters are competent to start working in the field. Once working, they can come back to school to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Here at PSC, we encourage continual education, and we encourage our associate graduates to pursue higher levels of education. It is only going to benefit the students, patients and clinical facilities.” Francis Duncan, the Dean of the PSC Warrington
Campus also has reservations about the IOM’s recommendations. She is concerned that if we produce too many BSN-educated nurses, we will have “too many chiefs, and not enough Indians.” “Nurses trained in bachelor’s programs are prepared mainly for leadership and management roles in different
healthcare settings. They receive the same rigorous clinical training as nurses in ADN programs, but their mind-set is different; while RNs expect to assume their bedside roles to directly care for patients, BSNs have been trained to expect to become managers and leaders.” This bedside care is becoming increasingly important as the American population ages, and more health care focuses on chronic conditions. At the same time, the shift is taking place away from hospitals to community-based centers such as nursing homes, hospices, and patients’ homes. According to the Florida Center for Nursing survey, over 70% of Florida hospitals preferentially hire new BSN nurses; at the same time, only 17% of all community-
will not do it; it will be old-school registered nurses who will assume those roles.” Associate degree programs not only help solve the nursing shortages by supplying the largest number of safe, competent nurses, but they also contribute immensely to the diversity of the nurse workforce. As Dr. Sluder points out, ADN programs are especially attractive to 2nd and 3rd career students, and they bring in people with different backgrounds. For many older students, like myself, who want to pursue higher education that is affordable and can be completed in a shorter period of time, associate degree programs are the only reasonable option. Restricting nursing professions to those with a BSN degree would turn away many qualified students, who have intellectual capacity and drive to become successful in nursing. Both Sluder and Duncan agree that the transforming healthcare system needs more, not fewer professional nurses, and associate degree programs are up to par with the demand for educated and competent RNs. According to Sluder, the PSC nursing program is constantly adjusting to local recommendations by regulating the number of enrollments and graduations. “Our mission and prime concern is to serve the needs of local communities.” Dr. Sluder says, “I host advisory meetings with our clinical affiliates twice a year and they help me determine what their needs are.” There is no denying that licensed nurses should strive to advance their competencies either by attaining certificates through continuing education programs or by obtaining bachelor’s, or higher, degrees in nursing. Although ADN programs are not likely to disappear from colleges, many schools, including PSC, have responded to the IOM’s recommendations by opening RN-toBSN programs for registered nurses who want to advance their education and accelerate their careers in nursing. For now, these programs seem to be the best solution to the IOM’s recommendations for the increased number of well-educated RNs, especially since many employers offer tuition reimbursement, opportunities for promotion, or greater scheduling flexibility for nurses who are willing to go back to school. Regardless of the nurse’s level of education, nursing is a service-based profession. According to Duncan, “[Nursing] is something you have in you, or you do not have in you, no matter what level of education you have reached. It takes a special person to be a nurse.” Nursing, like other community-oriented professions such as teachers or priests, is also a vocation, and the public needs nurses who are truly committed to their work by making a patient’s wellness their priority. Photo Credit: medicalhumour.wordpress.com
“ If we had all nurses going for a four year degree
program, we would really hit the rock bottom with
”
that demand-supply for nursing. -Dr. Sluder based healthcare facilities expressed interest in hiring new graduate BSNs. Duncan observes a similar trend. “This trend will continue as our population ages, a great demand for registered nurses, especially in community settings.” Pointing to the changes that are occurring in the hiring patterns of new RNs, Duncan adds that now most of preceptors teach PSC’s nurse students in such settings. Duncan is optimistic about the future of ADN programs. “The population of baby boomers is aging quickly, and these people are well-educated and health-conscious; they will not want to stay in hospitals, but they will expect nurses to take care of them in their homes. BSNs
August 2015
Visit professors and introduce yourself, teacher advises By Paris Harman
When the fall semester begins, new students
often have questions about subjects like studying, picking majors and financial aid. Whether they realize it or not, professors have the answers to many questions concerning these subjects and more. The five PSC professors who were interviewed for this article offered some timely advice. “The first week of classes, visit the offices of all your instructors and introduce yourself,” said Jessica Petersen, who teaches anatomy and physiology at PSC. “This will make it easier to ask for help when you have questions about course material. An even bigger reason to visit your instructors is that you can often gain insight into your career field of choice and even learn about new opportunities. Office hours are posted outside your instructors’ offices, so be sure to pop in and say hello.” Professor Larry Ball of the Information Technology Programs advises incoming freshmen to meet with their program coordinators or faculty advisers as soon as possible to learn the preferred order for taking classes. Not following the recommended sequence order can delay graduation. If students are receiving financial aid, Ball added, they should postpone classes that are offered every term until later in their programs. That will allow more flexibility in scheduling and make it easier to get a full course load every term. Ball also thinks students should begin studying for their tests no later than a week before the exam date and should get a good night’s sleep before test day. Psychology teacher Jennifer A. Muskat studied cognitive and brain Sciences at the University of Nevada in Reno, where she also was the recipient of the Graduate Excellence Fellowship Award. “I would like the incoming freshmen to understand, foremost, that attending college gives you the opportunity to exercise and polish your intellectual strengths as well as discover skills and talents that you may not realize you have,” she said. “College is different from high school, mainly because it is truly for and about you. This is your chance to take the reins, to soak up all the knowledge you can, to savor the intrinsic joy in learning, and to realize your full potential, academic and otherwise.” “Don’t ever be afraid to ask for assistance or ask questions in class,” Maskat added. “Resources are abundant, and your professors truly want you to thrive.” Dr. Brian Rucker is a well-known professor of history and author of books on the Panhandle region. He believes freshmen should faithfully attend class, pay attention, and be diligent in their note taking and reading.
When the professors were asked what life lessons they personally learned in college, Ball and Petersen spoke of discipline and time management. Ball said attending college helped him to become a hard-working individual. “The most valuable life lesson I learned...is to be persistent and not give up easily. If someone tells you that you can’t do something, don’t be offended. Instead, learn how to do it to prove them wrong.” College taught Petersen the importance of time management: “There are only so many hours in a day,
begin earning a living. “Later on, you might realize there is another career path that suits you better,” Andrae continued. “You can always return to school to complete the appropriate degree and training that will help you move to that job. In fact, students could complete the [bachelor’s] degree at PSC, and this could translate into opportunities to move into management positions relatively quickly. “If students look over the information on the workforce website (workforce.pensacolastate.edu), they will soon discover there are numerous employers in the area with job openings they can’t fill because they can’t find enough people with the proper skill set to fill these positions. PSC offers all of the courses you would need to qualify for these jobs,” Andrae pointed out. “Just earning a degree is not enough. You need to earn a degree that targets that particular job and the skill set required for that job.” Students should also check out PSC’s Student Job Services, the Career Coach tool on the PSC website, and onetonline.org if they want further advice on choosing a major and a career.
“ Don’t ever be afraid to ask for assistance or ask questions in class,” Maskat added. “Resources are abundant, and your professors truly want you to thrive. ” and you quickly find out that if you spend them binge watching ‘The Walking Dead,’ then there won’t be enough time left to study and succeed in your classes. Using a planner or an online calendar can help you manage your time. The time management skills you learn in college will be valuable when you are hired into the workforce. You can’t do everything all at once. You will need to organize and prioritize your tasks. One of the secrets to managing your time is, don’t procrastinate.” Eventually students have to declare their academic majors, whether in their first two years at PSC or later at a four-year institution. All of the professors advised students to take multiple courses to figure out what they truly enjoy. “College is like a buffet,” Rucker said. “You sample all the courses you can and then go back and choose the things you liked. Too many times pressure is put on people to choose majors. Use the buffet approach instead.” Petersen also shared some advice on choosing a major: “One of the biggest steps to help determine which career may be the best fit is to shadow someone in that job,” she said. “As you work your way closer to your degree, remember that the classroom gives you the knowledge to succeed in your career, but the job itself will be drastically different than the time you spend in the classroom. Having a clear understanding of the day-to-day activities for your career choice can help you find a job you can love.” Chad Andrae, an instructor in the Computer Science and Information Technology departments, suggested that “undecided students “consider getting an A.S. (Associate of Science) degree that will translate into job opportunities now. This gives the student an opportunity to move directly into the workforce and
7
August 2015
Humans of PSC
Staff
Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Bogers
Writers
Michael Lane Reader Services Coordinator
Leslie Winston Graphic Design Major
Dakota Garner General Studies
Jakeisha McCreary Pre Pharmacy
What does your job entail? “There are two parts to library service- you have the piece that takes the books in, gets them ready to be shelved. Then you have the front of house services. If you want to check out a book, or have any questions for the reference librarians, or want to use the computers, that’s a lot more of what I do. I think I have the fun part of the job.” If you had the ability to go back in time what is one thing you would change? “I was destined to work in libraries. My dad was a fireman and the old library downtown was right next to the fire department. It was always a treat to go to the library and get the books. My first job was volunteering at a library, my first job in college was at the state archives. I guess I just kept resisting destiny. So if I can go back and change anything, I would have gone into the career sooner.”
How have you changed since you began taking classes here at PSC? “I feel like I have changed drastically since I started going to school here. At first glance I am a little bit quiet, but I’d like to think throughout the two years I’ve been here it’s gotten easier for me to put myself out there. I have conversations with my instructor all the time, because we have to speak so much in these classes. I had a conversation about how I felt speech would probably be more suited to be a prerequisite for some of the classes the instructor teaches, just because when you’re talking about something to other people you don’t want to stumble, or be at a standstill. You want to be able to get to what you’re trying to say faster. I feel like having to critique and assist others in my art classes has really helped me become more social, and put my self out there more.”
How do you think people perceive you? “Last year I had an accident. I was sprinting down the driveway racing my brother, and I just collapsed. I had a seizure/ heartattack, they don’t know what really happened. I was dead for 12 seconds, maybe longer. I lost a lot of memory from it. From weeks to years, I scarcly remember things.” Are you still recovering? “No, I just have a pacemaker now, and occasionally stutter.” I know you are a general studies major, but is there any particular thing that has captured your interest? “It’s interesting how we have WSRE next door, because in high school I was in broadcasting and that’s what I’m looking to study.”
Who in your life have you learned the most from? “I’ve learned the most from my grandma, she has such a positive attitude. I can see myself and my mother in her. She’s just a good woman, she’s dedicated to everybody in her life.” What’s the best piece of advice your grandmother has given you? “Stay focused in school, don’t worry about anything else and keep God first.” When you are 80 years old and look back at your life what would you like to be most proud of? “Getting my masters degree in pharmacy and just achieving, starting a family and having a good background, family, and foundation. Also, working in my field and helping people in my community and giving back to my community. I would also like to travel around the world and help everybody out.”
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