Learning

5 Tips for Succeeding in Online Classes

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Students using computers in the Hasbrouck lab

In college, few things bring out more polarized emotions than online classes. Whether you love them or hate them, there comes a point in nearly everyone’s college career when it makes sense to take at least one, be it to catch up on necessary classes over break or to streamline a class schedule. A number of people consider them very easy; others find them impossible. In the end, the same rules apply to them as to any other college course; it’s mostly dependent on the professor, the class, and the student. However, no matter your particular situation, you can succeed!

#1: Plan Ahead

More often than not, the reason students fail an online class is the same as why they fail their regular classes: they didn’t set aside enough time for the work. With an online class, you have to find out when things are due and prepare for them in a timely manner. Find out at the beginning of the semester what days big projects will be due, and write the dates down in a planner. Then look at your own schedule and find a time each week when you can work at smaller projects that occur regularly. And there will be smaller projects! Since there is no in-class lecture, professors have to find other ways to make sure students learn the material, and this is often done through weekly quizzes or forum posts. These will probably be due on a specific day each week, and you will not want to miss them.

#2: Understand the Course Website

Personally, I’ve been through three different online learning platforms. They’ve all functioned differently. They all look different. Worst of all, none of them have ever worked properly, and I’ve lost countless essays, posts, and quizzes into the digital abyss. But guess what? Learning both the platform and your specific course’s site is half the battle. Test all tabs and links to make sure you can access them; sometimes it can be a problem with your computer, and sometimes it’s an uploading error, but the important thing is to find out if something is unavailable as soon as possible, so the situation can be corrected and your work can be submitted on time. Of course, plan to upload a bit before the due date (or hour, let’s be realistic here) so there will be time to resolve technical problems. Additionally, make sure you know where your professor keeps links for assignments and lectures so you won’t miss important information.

#3: Purchase (And Use) All Required Outside Materials

Basically, if your online class recommends a textbook, get the textbook. Professors usually use a combination of their own lessons and textbook material, and the emphasis is almost always on the information in the textbook when it comes to quizzes and forums. It pays off to use your textbook in the end. The same also applies to outside resources such as software and study guides, since it’s quite likely they will be utilized at some point during the course.

#4: Keep an Orderly Study Space

Just like for all other classes, it’s important to have a stable, quiet space to work and study in. For online classes, this is twice as important, since you are both learning the information and working on assignments in this area. You’ll be spending a lot of time in your work space, so make sure it’s as neat and comfortable for you as possible. Keep your textbook and planner here in a prominent place so they won’t get lost or forgotten.

#5: Check All Work

Online courses are often writing-heavy, since there are usually forum posts and papers that take the place of classroom discussion. Since you have the opportunity, make sure you check your writing for grammatical errors and message clarity. A quick proofread can make all the difference to your professor and earn you a much better grade. Checking also applies to uploading; make sure your essay or post shows up on the site after you’ve uploaded it. The only thing worse than uploading poor work is finding out you didn’t upload anything at all!

Like with any college class, a bit of self-reliance and proactivity does a great deal to help you get A’s. If you treat your online class with the same importance as on-campus classes, you will do just fine. And enjoy it! After all, who doesn’t like earning college credit while curled up in pajamas at home?

Fun Electives Offered This Spring

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People observing the night sky

Are you looking for an intriguing and fun elective to fill up your schedule or fulfill a requirement? Though it sometimes takes a bit of searching to find, Ulster offers a number of unique and innovative courses to bring some excitement into your semester. Here’s just a few you can sign up for this spring!

History of Rock Music – MUS 175

Personally, I’ve seen enough students with band-related apparel to safely say that many of you love rock music. Why not learn more about it in this informative class that covers every aspect of the genre? You get to learn about the history of rock music from its pre-50s roots to today, including its social causes and effects, style trends, and the backgrounds of many performers and songwriters who worked within it. Every other aspect of the business is covered too, as the course description says other topics are “language geared towards the non-musician musical features of rock: instrumentation, melodic/harmonic/rhythmic details, performance styles, lyrics, visual aspects (personal appearances, album covers, etc.), and production/recording techniques.” Of course, you get to listen to a great deal of music, both in and out of the classroom. What could beat receiving college credit for listening to music you already love? Professor Gregory Dinger, who teaches the class, says “The students are assigned a lot of listening outside of class, and we do some playful things in class like “create” appropriate song titles or group names.  Some of the written assignments include “Your Favorite and a Least Favorite Song,” reactions to a reading on the “Negative Reactions to early Rock & Roll,” and interviewing someone (of the right age) as to who they preferred in the 1960s:  The Beatles or The Rolling Stones.”

Feature Journalism – COM 201

If you like writing, this is the course for you. Although it’s a 200-level Communications course, this class can be taken by anyone who has taken ENG 102. Students get to learn about many aspects of the journalism industry, including the development and research, writing, and editing processes used to create feature stories for newspapers and magazines. Best of all, students in the class staff the campus newspaper and contribute articles for credit. Anyone interested in writing or journalism can benefit from this experience and exposure! Professor Robert Pucci, who teaches this class, offers, “The feature journalism class gives the student an opportunity to experience the working environment of a freelance article writer. Students research markets, target publications, write query letters and complete three magazine articles geared to their interests. In the past feature articles written for the class have appeared in local publications.”

Solar System Astronomy – AST 102

Who doesn’t love looking at the stars? The astronomy course here at Ulster offers not only the opportunity to attend a night sky observation (with a telescope and professional input!), but also the chance to learn more about the fascinating world outside our planet of moons, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Professor Steven Schimmrich, who teaches the class, says, “Students learn to use a freeware program called Stellarium which allows you to view the night sky from any location on Earth at any date or time which allows them to predict when and where to observe planets and other celestial objects. Students are introduced to the latest data being returned from NASA missions to various planets, moons, asteroids, and comets in our solar system.” The history of the solar system up through the current search for extraterrestrial life and new planets is also covered. This course is designed for all majors, and actually fulfills a Natural Science elective you might need for graduation.

Register Today!

If you can fit one in, it’s always good to have a class to take purely for the joy of learning! Read more about the courses and find out what requirements they fulfill by clicking on the names above. Be sure to register for these and your other classes before they fill up!

Get Ahead with Winternet Classes

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Girl Working at Laptop in Library Smiling at Camera While Doing Homework

As the days grow shorter and the last leaves fall, college students have two important issues to deal with: surviving the upcoming finals and planning spring schedules. Nick gave us some final exam tips a few months ago, but we haven’t talked much about class planning until now. If you think you might be behind on some credits, or if you’d like to get ahead, Winternet courses can be a great option!

Winternet classes, for those not familiar with them, are online, full-credit classes that you can take for a three-week span between Christmas and the start of the spring semester. You’re probably asking yourself, “Why would anyone want to use up their winter break by taking more classes?” Well, there’s a few great reasons to do so. If you’re like many students, you have at least a couple of grades on your transcript that aren’t that great. Perhaps you’ve switched majors and ended up with a few classes that didn’t transfer into your new program. Maybe you have a cap on how many classes you want to deal with in a semester. No matter your situation, you know the extra classes are going to affect graduating on time. So, what can be done?

Online Winternet Courses for 2018-19Winternet offers a solution: take a class or two to get back on track. Most classes offered for Winternet can be applied toward at least one general education requirement. Look at the list on the left. Almost everyone at Ulster ends up taking Western Civilization, so getting that out of the way over winter break frees up more space in future semesters for classes which may be offered infrequently. Also, if any of these classes are not enjoyable to you, there is the added benefit of powering through them and getting done in a short amount of time. Would you rather sit in a class you find boring for 15 weeks, or work through it online in 3? This is also true if you have taken one of these courses in the past and not gotten a passing grade; if you already know the information, but didn’t have enough time to devote to the class while dealing with your other courses, a Winternet class can be a good way to quickly review and get through with a better grade.

I personally recommend that anyone needing to take Information Literacy do so through a Winternet course. Info Lit is a one credit class that’s required for almost everyone, and it’s a lot easier to take online rather than taking it on campus while also working on five other classes. I took mine over my freshman winter break, and not only was it enjoyable, it also gave me a head start when I took English 102 in the spring, the class for which it is a pre- or co-requisite. It doesn’t just benefit you; professors will appreciate that you already know good research and citation strategies!

Worrying about extra semesters and late graduation isn’t fun, and Winternet offers a potential solution. Registration has already begun for this year’s Winternet courses, so if these classes fit your requirements, register online today!

From SATs to SUNY: Adjusting to College Courses

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Student taking notes in class

Are you a recent high school graduate or GED recipient coming to college? If so, we have a few tips for succeeding here at SUNY Ulster and making the transition easier.

Manage Time Wisely

Have you been told that college students need two hours of study for every credit hour? While full-time students will probably not spend 30 hours a week reading their notes, it’s important to consider the rule when designing your job and school schedule. Depending on the classes you take, you could have a relatively relaxing first month of college… only to have three papers, a major presentation, and two tests due right before midterms. Tyler Williams, a recent Ulster grad, says, “Make sure to keep up on every part of your studies; there’s nothing worse than typing a 10 page research paper the day before it’s due and having to sacrifice sleep and the quality of your work.”

Attend Classes

Even though your whereabouts are no longer closely tracked each day, there’s no reason to stop going to class. It may sound obvious, but if you want to do well academically at Ulster you must attend as many classes as you can. Don’t sleep through them, either. Not only is attendance important for getting all assignments and notes, it’s also necessary for staying enrolled. Grades are significantly decreased when you exceed the number of allowed absences, and you can get kicked out of the class altogether if you don’t pay attention to the number stated in the syllabus. It also affects your Financial Aid. Don’t risk it!

Befriend Professors

In college, faculty members are active participants in students’ lives and futures. Professors here at Ulster are happy to help students with their work and careers. In class, they will often give tips about what they want to see in your work. Taking note of this can be the difference between a passing grade and an A. Outside the classroom, they will give you valuable insight about working in your field and can recommend you to future employers and colleges. One will also be your advisor at Ulster, so make sure you start building a relationship with them early on.

Know How the Work Differs

Courses are designed differently in college; rather than having a number of small tests and homework to make up a grade, classes tend to rely on heavily weighing two or three tests and, depending on your major, the contents of your portfolio, a research paper, or a class project. Ulster professor Dina Pearlman stresses the importance of self-motivation, saying, “Often assignments will only be given once. Students are expected to research and follow through on their own. However, if you are struggling with questions, we are all happy to help and guide you.” Professors are ready to help with any material you don’t understand, as long as you take the initiative to go to them.

Take Responsibility

To succeed in college, you must know how to handle your own responsibilities. With the help of your advisor, you will make your own schedule. Be smart with it and register as soon as possible, so you’ll be able to take the classes you want at decent times. A number of classes are only available at one time during the semester, so you’ll want to be sure you get a spot in the class. When it comes to the classes themselves, be organized and know when assignments and exams will be. Ulster student Kristy Lyons has a great tip: “Check your email and portal on a regular basis. Professors send emails and post on the portal for assignments that are due.” Your college email is also how professors let you know about cancellations, so you could save driving in by just taking a few seconds to check the portal.

Know Your Limits

If you’ve never done it before, college work is a big change. Even if you did well in high school, you shouldn’t expect to get straight A’s right off the bat. You will probably have to adjust your methods of studying and thinking about the work. You may find you need some extra help to do well, and Ulster has an abundance of resources to help you. The Learning, Writing, and Math Centers are there for you, and almost all the gen eds have tutoring available from both professionals and peers. Don’t be afraid to go to them for assistance.

Work Hard, and Have Fun!

In the end, you are the only person who can make sure that you are prepared for college and will take your experience seriously. By keeping an open mind about your education and taking advantage of the opportunities available to you, there is a good chance you will be successful and have a great time at Ulster.

SUNY Ulster COIL Scholarship Trip to Mexico

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COIL partners group shot

Hello everybody! My name is Joan Mena, and I am a Graphic Design major here at SUNY Ulster. The design program had the opportunity to take five graphic design students to Mexico through a SUNY Ulster COIL scholarship to meet our COIL partners, and grow our knowledge about design in another country. Of course, qualifying wasn’t an easy process. Each graphic design student had to have a high GPA, write an essay, and create a portfolio with their best work. I was one of the lucky five who got picked for this great opportunity.

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Day 1

We left very early in the morning March 16th, 2016 and arrived at 1:00pm Mexico time. The first thing we did was take a cab to the La Salle University, which is the university where we are doing a COIL collaboration. We met Marguerite Pajot, who was the woman in charge of accommodating all international students with their host families, a La Salle ID, and in charge of giving us a tour of the school as well as some information about Mexican culture. La Salle University had a beautiful set of campuses; there were 5 in total. Every campus is divided by major, and they also share campus with the high school. After getting a quick tour of the school, we had lunch in a beautiful dining hall. Guess what we had for our first lunch in Mexico? Tacos, of course! They were delicious, as expected. Later we waited for our host family to arrive and take us home. Mrs. Rosa Maria Sotres Gutierrez, or as we called her, Rosita, was the host mom for Liz, Morgan, and me for the week. She was the nicest woman I have ever met. She spoke English perfectly, and we didn’t have any trouble communicating. Since I am fluent in Spanish, I was also able to talk to her in Spanish. After getting all settled in the house, we had our first Mexican dinner, which Rosita prepared for us: chicken and rice. Muy rico! (Delicious!)IMG_4910-Edit

Day 2

The next day was the big day. We finally got to meet our Mexican COIL partners. I was so happy to finally meet Chio Castañeda, my partner, that I couldn’t help but run and hug her. We had been talking through Facebook and Skype, and I instantly connected with her since our personalities are so much alike. We didn’t have a lot of time to spend with them that day, but we did make plans for the next day to have dinner together. After having some classes on an overview of Mexican History and Mexican culture, we met Roberto de Ulsar Alexander, the Design professor at La Salle, and went to El Tizoncito and had the most incredible tacos al pastor in the whole world. They were 14 pesos each, which is 80 cents in U.S dollars. After eating many tacos, we went to a private tour in Luis Barragan’s house, Casa Gilardi. This house was breathtaking; pictures can never show how beautiful the architecture of this house is. We found out that Louis Vuitton was going to have a photo shoot in the same house we were in!

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Day 3

Friday, March 18th, we came back to the university and had Graphic Design classes. Our professors, both American and Mexican, critiqued our work and gave us advice on how to improve it. It wasn’t a long class, and we then headed to the Mexican market. We bought a lot of cool souvenirs for our families and friends back home.

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Days 4 & 5

Saturday and Sunday were the busiest days; we visited the Aztec Pyramids in Teotihuacan, climbed the Pyramid of the Sun, and walked around the Pyramid of the Moon. Before moving to the next location, we stopped at a restaurant called Tlacaelel. Women were performing traditional Aztec dances, and we were serenaded by mariachis while we ate. Later, we went to the Basilica of Guadalupe and walked around the seven churches that were all close to each other. We went to the Museum of Anthropology and Chapultepec castle. We also went on a Turibus, which was a double decker bus that traveled along the city and explained a brief history of each building in Mexico City. We decided to walk around the city and take a look at stores and mini markets. We passed by Mexican Chinatown, which is the smallest chinatown in the whole world. We saw the Palacio Nacional, Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Cathedral, and many others.

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On our last full day, we visited Frida Kahlo’s house and three design firms. I was always a fan of Frida, and I couldn’t help but get tears in my eyes when I went inside her bedroom. It was so surreal that I was standing in the same house were Frida and Diego Rivera once shared memories in. Finally, we visited the design firms. They were all very different in terms of how big they were and what kind of designs they did for their clients. I really got a sense of what I want to do in the future and what kind of firm is the right one for me. For our last night in Mexico City, we decided to go have some street food with our Mexican friends. Again, it was delicious!

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This trip was a great opportunity to see a different perspective in design. Mexicans are not afraid of vibrant colors and shapes, and they are not afraid of combining indigenous designs with modern designs. Since the first day in Mexico the people were nothing but friendly, kind, helpful, and warm. I would like to visit again and travel to the rest of Mexico. It was such an amazing experience; I will never forget it. I want to thank SUNY Ulster, Professor Sean Nixon, Hope Windle, Roberto, my fellow classmates, and also La Salle’s Mexican students.

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Cleaning Up Your Social Media for Graduation

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Person holding cell phone with two hands, sitting between two other people

According to the Pew Research Internet Project, approximately 74% of those with access to the internet use social media. Included in that 74% are recruiters, headhunters, and hiring managers looking to get a better view of who you are as a person. Companies are becoming more interested in the whole life of their employees, either to help create company culture fits or to weed out those that may not fit from the start.

The reality is that some of those Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram posts can land you in serious hot water. Let’s remember the young woman who was fired before her first day at a pizza place because she decided to complain about it on her Twitter account. It’s your choice to share, but keep in mind you could be risking your chances of getting a new job or even keeping the position you already have.

Your social pages are basically your personal advertisements. You’re building a brand here, people!

  • Be outgoing.
  • Be yourself.
  • But be conscious.

What’s your end goal? Are you on these channels to network with desired industry insiders? Socialize? Either way, people are looking, from friends to the public. Don’t let your social media channels hold you back.

Pay close attention to these tips on what to leave off the web – for good:

Complaints About Your Current Job or Internship

This is one of the worst offenses someone can make. If you’ve had a bad day, week, or month, the last place to vent is online. Your current employer may never see your comments, but there’s always the chance a future employer will. Or worse – a fellow employee with a chip on his or her shoulder. Also, recruiters and hiring managers will look at how you present yourself online during an internship or work you currently and form an opinion about how you may act online in the future.

Also, the way you interact with your school, professors, and administration online will be watched as well. To sum it up, how you interact with people is important as it does reflect on your personality and ability to blend into community culture.

Takeaway: Save yourself the drama, and address the situation head-on in person but not online. Even if you and your manager don’t end up seeing eye-to-eye, you’ve earned their respect in the workplace.

Passive Aggressive Comments

There’s a lyric to go with every mood, person, and situation. That doesn’t mean you need to put those cryptic words on blast to your 700+ Facebook friends when someone at work crosses you. Nine times out of ten you’ll delete this post later, making it seem like you can’t handle your emotions.

Takeaway: Leave the salt for your food. Grudges can only last so long, but your social-savvy friends and coworkers will always remember the time you called them out – not so discreetly.

Inappropriate Photos and Videos

While you may have already deleted all your Facebook albums after starting to read this article, don’t forget to look at your tagged photos as well. These are often overlooked – but not by employers or recruiters. If you have public accounts, employers can use these images as a benchmark of how you’ll perform on the job. Private accounts are not as private as you think. Photos and videos can be shared, and screenshots can be made. Some very popular memes were created from private photos.

Takeaway: Snap your best foot forward. What if your Instagram was filled with such great food shots, your manager hires you to be the official ‘grammer’ of the company? Leave your options open. Keep it clean, folks!

In The End, Do You.

If you’re thinking, filters be damned – I’m posting whatever I want, whenever i want, then make your page private. Most social media platforms allow for customized privacy settings.

Our tip? Use social media, but use it wisely. Put the same efforts into your posts as you do in choosing the right Instagram filter. And if you currently have a job – don’t use social on your shift.

Giving Thanks

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Apple on open book in front of blackboard with math equation

Apply on textbook
Now that we are towards the end of the semester, there’s time take a look at your grades, your efforts and your teachers. I looked and realized that there was one adjunct professor that I really felt grateful to. I decided that it would be nice to give her a professional recommendation for her personal file. If there’s a teacher who you feel has gone above and beyond, you may do the same. Don’t worry about whether it’s geeky or not. Yes, being grateful may not look cool to your friends but it’s good karma and you can use all of that you can get, especially when you’re the one looking for a job later.

Here’s my letter, and yes, you may use the format or any style ideas from it to thank the professors who are making a difference for you.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter of recommendation for Heidi L. Ferry because I truly believe she needs some credit for being a terrific math teacher. She is currently teaching Basic Algebra 091 and is the only math teacher that I’ve ever had that could explain to me the “why’s” of the math operations clearly. She has a lot of patience and checks with us to make sure we are getting the concepts right. Before tests, she gives us reviews and for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like a hopeless dunce in math. I have an A average; me, the girl who in first grade was told nicely by my math/reading teacher that “It’s okay, not everybody’s a math person.” I thought she was being kind pointing out that it was just the way nature made me. My non-mathematic-English-artsy brain just couldn’t deal with all those number thingies.

Thirty some-odd years later, I’m happy to say she was wrong. It is with the help of Professor Ferry that I have this confidence. Most of my class and I wish she could stay our teacher throughout our college experience but know this cannot be the case. I hope my next algebra teachers will be as thorough and patient as her and I wish her all the best in her career.

A Very Thankful Student,

Jennifer Smith-Jamieson
SUNY-Ulster Community College

Thanks to Professor Heidi L. Ferry.

“Bees Shouldn’t Be Able to Fly”

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Honey bee flying to dandelion

My grandfather brought this to my attention when he was in his nineties. He had just read an article in a magazine (most likely waiting for a doctor) in which physicists had determined that, due to their body weight versus wing-size, it was a mystery as to why the honeybee could fly at all. It should be impossible for it to get off the ground. The article had many platitudes about this being an inspirational metaphor for humans “doing the impossible”. What my grandfather wished to impress on me was that he had lived ninety some-odd years not knowing this, “There’s a great-big world out there and something new to be found out every day of your life if you look hard enough.” in thick Alabaman.

 

He was right. He was born in 1908, in Alabama, to a farming family. His father died when he was 13 and he left school in 3rd grade to help out on the farm. He married in his 20’s and got a job at a mental hospital as an attendant. He quit there when one of the patients, during one gardening session (Yes, in the 1930’s mental-hospital patients grew their own food. What could go wrong?) a patient started running after him with a hoe. Just like any good horror movie, Grandpa tripped, closed his eyes, and prepared to meet his maker. Unlike every horror movie, the patient raised the hoe above his head, brought it down gently, tapped him and said, “Tag, you’re it!” Then gleefully put the hoe down and ran, giggling, presumably expecting grandpa to tag him back, which, if you knew my no-nonsense grandpa proves this man was not living in reality. My grandfather joined the military the next day.

 

In the military, he served in WWII then went on to become a Sargent and head of the mess hall during the Berlin Airlift. When my mother graduated high school, my grandfather had been taking night classes and graduated the same year. After my father died, my mother went back to college and got her Paralegal degree. She graduated with her class, even though, for the first year she was undergoing chemotherapy and had a mastectomy. That was no small feat in the days before online classes. Years later, Grandpa would happily boast to anyone in earshot that three of his four children graduated college. As for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it’s a mixed bag of college, careers, entrepreneurs, military, and parent-hood scattered across the globe; we’ve lived from Afghanistan, Germany, Puerto Rico, to Switzerland.

 

This is Walter B. Smith’s legacy and it’s what keeps me going forward here. When things don’t go right, I adjust and do something about it. Half the time it may be a wrong move, but at least I’m moving and learning from my mistakes. If grandpa just stayed put at the mental hospital, shook off the feeling that there’s a better life elsewhere, I might be an Alabaman facing the lack of opportunities that Grandpa faced.

Field Work on Vacation

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The Carnival Pride ship from the Lagoon in the water

During the week of September 13th my boyfriend Mark and I went on a cruise to Grand Turk and the Bahamas. Upon my departure I was asked by Professor Jessica Moore, who teaches Planet Earth, if I would mind taking sand samples from the different islands (and as many photos as I could). While I wasn’t able to bring back sand samples from all three islands, I was able to bring back a few other treasures instead.

These are different rocks that I found on the beach in Grand Turk, as well as a Conch Shell (that I found) and a real sponge (that I purchased. It is illegal to harvest them unlicensed).
These are different rocks that I found on the beach in Grand Turk, as well as a Conch Shell (that I found) and a real sponge (that I purchased. It is illegal to harvest them unlicensed).

 

Half Moon Cay is an island in the Bahamas that is owned by Carnival. It was leased to the for 99 years at a little over six million dollars.
Half Moon Cay is an island in the Bahamas that is owned by Carnival. It was leased to the U.S. for 99 years at a little over six million dollars.

 

A storm on the Atlantic Ocean.
A storm on the Atlantic Ocean.

 

A school of Yellow Snapper that were swimming around the Glass-bottom boat we were on.
A school of Yellow Snapper that were swimming around the Glass-bottom boat we were on.

 

Although, it is hard to tell this is Brain Coral. It was taken through Plexiglas, hence the blurriness of the photo.
Although, it is hard to tell this is Brain Coral. It was taken through Plexiglas, hence the blurriness of the photo.

 

A replication of an Arawak Village. The Arawak are the original natives of Half Moon Cay.
A replication of an Arawak Village. The Arawak are the original natives of Half Moon Cay.

 

This is the sole opening in to the Atlantic Ocean from the Half Moon Cay Lagoon.
This is the sole opening in to the Atlantic Ocean from the Half Moon Cay Lagoon.

 

Back in The Port of Baltimore
Back in The Port of Baltimore

Looking Back and Moving Forward

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Rachel Weiner being held by her father

For the past year I have been yearning to go back to school. For financial reasons I was not able to return for the Fall 2014. I was determined to return for the Fall 2015 semester. Ever since I found out that I was eligible for Financial Aid I have been over the moon. I had missed being in school. I missed being at SUNY Ulster. Most of all I want to finish my degree. I want to finish what I had started. My educational life has always been a difficult one. I suffer from Dyslexia and ADHD and was never really given the tools to deal with these disorders. My father, who also had Dyslexia, felt there was nothing in this world more valuable than knowledge. This belief extended way past the classroom. My Dad felt that every day brought a new lesson to learn. My grades may never have reflected my love for learning, but make no mistake I love learning.

The Gift of Learning . . . Priceless

Three years ago my dad passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s; a disease that robbed him of the mind he valued so much. My brother and I grew up admiring a man who worked so hard every day of his life so that we would have the opportunities he had to work so hard to obtain. He starting working in a Steel Mill in Baltimore during his teens and worked as a waiter and lifeguard all through college, graduating from both University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins. And went on to be a prominent Eminent Domain Lawyer for the Justice Department and the City of Miami Beach. He loved every minute of it. This was all he wanted for us; find something you love and don’t ever let anything or anyone get in your way of achieving your dream. I know that my life would be different if my dad had not gotten sick when I was so young. I also know that I cannot change what has already happened. I do know that despite how long it may take I will never give up on (his and) my dream of continuing my education and getting that degree.

Day One

So that is what I am doing. I am going back to school, whatever it takes. I will finish my Associates. On Monday, August 24th 2015, I made a promise to myself that this time I will not let anything stop me and I will not crack when things get hard. The days leading up to Monday were definitely nerve-wracking. Like I said I hadn’t been in school in over a year and this time I would be doing it with three jobs at the same time. Being nerves and excited is a common feeling for the first day of school, but once I made it on campus I felt invincible. Every time I walk in to a new class on Monday and Tuesday I felt more comfortable and confident that I could really do this; I could make my dad and myself proud. I have been told that I should reconsider taking five classes, start slow, but with every passing day I feel more empowered and overjoyed to be back that I don’t want to drop a class or two. I don’t want to do less; I want to do more. I want to make up for every opportunity I have ever let pass by me.

Support and Dedication

Going to college is expensive, time consuming and requires dedication. Dedication from the student to be present, attentive, prepared and most importantly read to learn. It takes the dedication of the faculty and staff to help the students succeed. Dedication of friends and family to be supportive and understand. Although it has taken me longer than most to fully commit to school and finishing my degree, this time I’m ready. College does require money, time and dedication, but without a great support system: parents, professors, boyfriend or girlfriend, and friends in general. “No man is an island.” This is especially true for the college student.

We are so fortunate to go to a school where support is everywhere you turn: Trio, Time Square, the learning center, just to name a few. We also have the support of the staff and faculty to go over and beyond to see that we succeed, even when we are ready to call it quits.

Looking Forward

I could have tried to go back to school somewhere else. I decided to come back to SUNY Ulster. The week isn’t over yet, but I can feel the difference already. I am prepared for what is to come and am more confident than ever that this is the right time to go back to school; as well as the right place. I am so fortunate to have the support system I do. I know that this isn’t true for everybody, but find someone, anyone to tell you, “It is okay. You will get through this”. The campus is filled with people who want to help, want to support you in any way they can. I leave you with this never underestimate yourself. Never let anyone underestimate you. Most importantly don’t do it for anybody else, but yourself. That being said I am dedicating this academic year to my dad, a part of my support system that isn’t here anymore), a man who gave me the greatest gift of all curiosity and a love of knowledge.

I wish everybody a great semester and good luck on the coming Academic Year!