KC’s Strategies 1. Add Grammar Boot Camp as part of English 1301-Composition I. 2. Establish Writing Studios in Kilgore and Longview that will be staffed by professional tutors. Online writing support will be provided through tutor.com.
3. Provide professional development and support to core curriculum faculty to help them improve student performance on writing assignments.
Jamie Hwang / THE FLARE
Avery Akbar, West sophomore, talks with Ronda Lee, KC learning specialist, while enjoying free cookies. The Write Your Future campaign is part of the Quality Enhancement Plan, intended to help improve student success.
Vol. 82, No. 3 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
September 28, 2018
Finding hope, finding life White Oak student shares her mission ADRIANA CISNEROS EMERSON Executive Editor
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eing healthy goes beyond sticking to a workout or a diet plan. Individuals often find themselves struggling with the concept of mental health, as well. According to the American Psychiatric Association, sleep, appetite and mood changes, lack of energy, concentration issues, increased sensitivity, a disconnected feeling and general nervousness are often indicators of mental disorders. Due to the alarming growth in number of cases of mental illness, organizations such as “To Write Love On Her Arms” have been on the rise. “It is normal to go through phases where one is noticeably affected by something and anxiety is manifested,” said Maria Fernanda Lobato, former counselor of INVEDIN (Venezuelan Institute for the Integral Development of Children and Teenagers). However, when one starts behaving in a drastically different way from what is usual, when one notices changes both physically and mentally-such as sudden weigh loss or gain, the desire to stay in bed for the whole day and become a sedentary person, then it is imperative to immediately search for help. Time plays an important factor when it comes to this; if sadness lasts longer than three to six months, then psychological help becomes a necessity, not an option,” Lobato said. Lauren White, a White Oak sophomore majoring in biology/ pre-med, has dedicated her life to raising awareness of the dangers of mental disorders after hitting and surviving the lowest point of her life. “TWLOHA is a non-profit organization which serves to advocate and educate society on mental health (targeted towards depression, anxiety and addiction,) self-harm and suicide,” White said. “For the last few years, I have been a volunteer for TWLOHA, using my voice and sharing my story online through social media and then have been an influencer/educator both online and in the community in September of each year for Suicide Prevention Month,” White said.
Lauren White shows love to Miller, her trusted companion.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 44,965 Americans commit suicide every year. Here, White sat down to share her own story. “At the age of 11, my family went through a traumatic experience. Even in trying to heal from it, things continued to spiral out of control between us and then started affecting our lives and routines,” White said. “Regardless of the ‘picture perfect’ family people saw externally, internally there was so much dysfunction. It tore us apart, especially me, as I received a lot of the burdens for what had happened and continued to happen.” The stress followed her throughout her pre-teen years. “I felt as if my childhood had been stripped from me. I did not have many people that I could trust,” she said. “There were certain things I simply could not, or was told not to, share. This led to me bottling up my emotions and dealing with them on my own. At such a young age, I had to deal with dysfunction, guilt, blame and environmentally toxic, manipulative, abusive situations,” she added. See more on Page 3
Catie Denfeld / THE FLARE
Emotional support staff available on KC campus MARY WILLIAMS-SMITH Staff Writer KC has a variety of mental health counseling services available. These are free, for they are included in tuition and fees. At KC on the Kilgore campus, Jennifer Quine and Pam Gatton are licensed professional counselors. At the Longview campus Melissa Dobbs offers assistance as a licensed psychology associate. Their purpose is to help students, providing strategies to deal with stress, anxiety, death, depression, homesickness and other struggles that might be present. “The East Texas Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ETCADA) holds group meetings on campus on Thursday’s at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Support building. This is a support group as well as an educational group to help you learn about and deal
with substance uses or abuse issues. Group membership is confidential, completely voluntary and open to anyone,” said counselor Quine. The Office of Instructional Student Support on the Longview campus presents 15-minute Power Sessions to help students improve their study skills, test-taking strategies, test anxiety as well as others designed to help students to succeed. The 15-minute power sessions meet every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:10 .m., 10:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. at Longview North 101-C. For more information, call at 903-236-2030. The Christian Ministries on campus is a place to feel welcomed, Jayme Blankenship at the BSM, Britt Davis at the Tri-C and at The Wesley. KC also offers a nurse located in the Parks Fitness Center, health services are available free to students. The campus
nurse can be reached during the hours of 9 a.m. to noon and can be reached at 903-983-8632. For those not able to visit the nurse’s office and for afterhours assistance, a nurse can be reached through Trinity Mother Frances’ Tele CARE system by calling 903-606-DOCS or 844-606-DOCS to address medical and mental health issues. For situations in danger, call the crises line at 1-800-8321009 or 911. “The main thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are people all over campus who are willing and able to help you; or they can at least get you to the people who can help,” Quine said. “You have to make the first move. You have to speak up, ask for help, let someone know what is going on with you. No one can help with what they don’t know…and we want to help. We are here for you.”
Have your talent showcased at KC Game Club’s upcoming tournament SHELBY SELLARS Staff Writer A tournament is set for Saturday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Devall Ballroom at KC, featuring both competitive games and non-competitive games for local high school and college students. Admission is free. Featured competitive games at the tournament will include Super Smash Brothers Melee, Mario Kart Double Dash and Halo 3. Non-competitive games will also be played including Yu-Gi-Oh; Magic: The
Gathering; Munchkin; and any other games participants want to bring to play. First, second and third place winners in each competitive game will receive prizes. Refreshments and door prizes will also be provided, and many campus organizations are lending their support. Heather Fitch (English instructor) and Mark Stephens (CIT instructor) are cosponsors the Game Club at KC. The KC Game Club is a place for fun, fellowship, and a little friendly competition. Heather Fitch, KC English instructor and club sponsor, said the motivation behind founding this group was to create
a community in which students can enjoy themselves, communicate, help each other, and grow together. She also added that the club is always open to new members. The club meets at 4 p.m. every Wednesday in the TV room in the Devall Student Center. Members are encouraged to bring games or join in on ongoing ones. Fitch also said that meetings may also consist of officer elections, volunteer opportunities and discussions about team events and fundraising ideas. A goal for the club is to host a game tournament at least once every year. “We want the club to last for years, because
we see the benefit in having a club like this on campus and in using it to promote student success,” Fitch said. “My favorite part of Game Club is the community we build and how much it helps the students, often in unexpected ways. “Our group is incredibly diverse and we try to make sure that each person is made to feel welcome and included. Games are for everyone, so everyone is welcome, and I think that’s a beautiful thing”. Those interested in the KC Game Club can email kcgameclub@kilgore.edu, or attend the weekly meeting. There are no membership fees or requirements.