Keeping It Cohesive

Genesee Community College’s 34th annual fashion show Fata Morgana is now only one short day away. The fashion and hospitality students have been working tirelessly to make this years fashion show a fantastic success. This year’s theme is Fata Morgana. A Fata Morgana is defined as a rapidly changing and complex form of superior mirage/optical phenomenon that is seen in the narrow band right above the horizon.

The merchandising and design students have created a very detail oriented fashion show presenting very relevant and enticing merchandise. The scenes featured in this years fashion show is as follows:

Battlefield- Designed and Coordinated by Amber Coan
Among the Wildflowers- Coordinated by Taylor Bunch & Katie Strong with apparel by Lord & Taylor and Gymboree
Transcendence- Coordinated by Angelique Porey & Sara Elliott with apparel by Porey
Inevitable- Coordinated by DJ Simmons with apparel by LovelyWholesale
Bare- Coordinated by Jocelyn Eade & Eunice Goeun Park with apparel by Eade
Bri-Jhn- Coordinated by Brittany Breedlove with apparel by B.B.
Minuit Désert By T. LaShaé- Coordinated by Tiffany Hill & Chiho Nakayama with apparel by T. LaShaé and jewelry by Na’kaylas Jewelry Box
Festival Haze- Coordinated by Ami Cornell & Kylie Dunn with apparel by Buffalo David Bitton and Lord & Taylor
Oasis- Coordinated and Designed by Abby Lee Wilcox with jewelry by Kana Tatsumi
Opulence- Coordinated and Designed by Catherine Morales
Veni Vidi Vici- Coordinated by Ariana Sneed with apparel by Candace Cooper
Sandar- Coordinated by Lekha Anderson with apparel by Charles Men’s Shop and M.A. Carr Bridal

The Tourism and Hospitality Management students took the theme Fata Morgana and ran with it. Transforming the cafeteria into a superior mirage, they have worked many hours making the reception immaculate, with a menu and decorations that you would have to see to believe. In addition there will be coffee donated from Tim Horton’s along with a large assortment of food spreads including veggie dips, cheese and crackers, hummus and so much more. After the show you can also stop over and enter to win a door prize, or even purchase something that you just saw on the runway moments ago!

Fata Morgana is sure to be an unforgettable experience so get your tickets now!

Tickets for western New York’s largest and longest running fashion show are being sold Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the forum at the Batavia campus or by calling (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616.

This blog was contributed by Fashion Merchandising Student Ariana Sneed.

Online Classes At GCC

I’m taking one online class currently. I never took an online class, except for this class, ever. Therefore, I was a little worried to participate in this online class, because it was not clear to me how the class would go. I even had thoughts that the online class would not be helpful for my own learning. But, I soon found that my original assumptions were wrong. Rather, I found some benefits about taking the online class. This class is a little harder for me, because I have a lot of work to do independently. But, I manage to enjoy it while maintaining a strong work ethic.

The Value of Taking Online Classes At GCC

You can share many ideas with your classmate through discussion. It’s a good lesson in communication.
It helps you to learn the material more deeply.
You can study at your own pace.
You can check your Blackboard Account more frequently and try to join in the discussion as much as possible.
It might cause you to join in the class more actively than taking it in the class, because you are required to share your thoughts and comments with other students.
You can absorb information, even from ideas of students, and it will lead you to consider other points of view.

These are some of the many values of taking an online class At GCC. What I can say now is that online classes are beneficial to my own learning, gaining knowledge, and even keeping up my passion to learn. To be honest, two years have passed since I came to GCC. Even now, sometimes, I can’t catch what my professor or classmate says, exactly, because English is my second language and I may possibly miss some important parts of the class. But, I manage to be focused in my classes and enjoy the everyday learning environment. I found online classes are not so hard for me, because I can see what my classmates think about the discussion. I feel that I am able to keep up with the class and joining in the class steadily, positively and actively. In addition to this, this class gave me confidence. Usually, I rarely offer my opinion during class, because I’m shy and I’m hesitant out of fear of making mistakes. Therefore, when I received comments and agreement about my thoughts from online classmates, I was glad to get a response. Online classes definitely help to keep my motivation to learn, study, and absorb more!

This blog was contributed by GCC Student Kiho Minami.

Learning Spanish At GCC

¡Hola! Me llamo Miku.

Soy de Japon. Tengo una clase de español en GCC, y la clase es muy divertida. Afortunadamente, mi profesora Elizabeth es muy simpática, servicial y bonitaJ La clase es un poco difícil para mí, porque estudio español con inglés. ¡Pero, me gusta mucho la clase de español!

¡Gracias Elizabeth!

This semester I am taking SPA 101. Learning Spanish has been one of my dreams since high school, so I am really enjoying my Spanish class! There are many great professors at GCC, and I am currently taking Spanish with Elizabeth, who is counted among them!

How fun and valuable is learning Spanish in Elizabeth’s class?

I am having fun in every Spanish class. In the Spanish class, my professor, Elizabeth, teaches us by playing games and working in groups. She always tries to use Spanish as much as possible, so we can all practice listening to Spanish. Also, to memorize vocabulary, it is important to speak with people rather than just writing. We try to speak Spanish as much as possible with playing games, so I think her class is very effective, helpful, and also a lot of fun. She always welcomes questions, so after class, I ask questions and also we talk about our cultures. She has lived in Europe before, so she tells all of us interesting things about her experiences in Europe, too. It is really a fun and valuable time for me to talk about different cultures.

Learning a third language VS. a second language

As I am a Japanese student, my mother language is Japanese. My second language is English, and now my third language is Spanish. It is a new challenge for me to learn Spanish from English. Learning a third language is very different from learning a second language. It was not what I expected. Spanish and English are similar to each other, because they both have a formal alphabet, so it is difficult for me to keep up with American students. Because I’m not used to reading the alphabet, I can’t read quickly like the American students. Also, some Spanish words are really similar to English, so other students can understand the word even if we have not learned it yet. That is why I need more time than Americans to review and prepare for the next class. However, I also have an advantage to learning a third language. As I have been learning English for a long time, I am getting used to learning other languages, and I understand the best ways for me to learn Spanish. Even though I need more time to prepare, I do not feel that it is too difficult to learn Spanish, because Elizabeth will help me!

Thanks to my nice professor, Elizabeth, I enjoy every Spanish class, and learn Spanish effectively even though I am not used to learning with English, and it is difficult to keep up with the class. GCC offers more Spanish classes, and I think other Spanish professors are also nice and helpful just like Elizabeth! So why not take a Spanish class at GCC?

This blog was contributed by GCC Student Miku Ishikawa.

Why I Chose To Study At GCC

I am an international student from Japan. I used to attend university in Japan, but I left there because I decided to study at Genesee Community College. There are three main reasons why I believe GCC is a better fit for me.

1. To improve my English

Before I came to GCC, I couldn’t speak English like I do now. There are not many people who can speak English in Japan, so I really didn’t have the opportunity to learn it. If you are an international student and are willing to learn English, you should come to GCC and live with native English speakers.

2. To study Tourism & Hospitality Management

Another reason I chose GCC is to study Tourism & Hospitality Management. GCC has many different majors including Tourism & Hospitality Management, Fashion, Sports management, etc. Also, if you come to GCC, you can do an internship that is related to your major even if you are an international student. I plan to complete the OPT program, which is an internship program for international students in the U.S., after graduating.

3. To learn about American culture

This is the most valuable experience for international students. You can visualize the many differences between your culture and American culture. There is a beautiful nature around GCC, and people are kind and easy-going.

If you are thinking about studying abroad, you should come to GCC and experience it all for yourself!

This blog was contributed by Tourism & Hospitality Management Student Yuka Ito.

Committee Chaos

Well, with the date of the fashion show almost upon us, everyone is currently working their hearts out sewing, coordinating choreography, and wrangling their models together. But what about the committees? There are five committees responsible for producing the 34th annual fashion show at GCC, they include: Public Relations, Front of The House, Back of The House, Planning, and Finance.

The Public Relations committee is a crucial part of Fata Morgana, and is also the committee I am a part of. The Public Relations committee is responsible for producing all of the tweets, hashtags, posters, tickets, and the flyers for the model tryouts in the beginning of the semester. The P.R. committee also promotes the show in order to ensure record attendance and awareness. A lot of work goes into working on the P.R. committee from coordinating everyone so that we can get the program together and sent to the printer on time, to completing radio interviews.

The Front of the House committee is in charge of all of the decorations, they made the middle-eastern inspired archway for the runway, hand-painted the decorations on the sides of the runway, and finalized the runway layout.

The Back of the House committee is in charge of all of the models, specifically they must make sure that models don’t have any gum in their mouths, assigning dressing rooms, getting photographers signed and contracted, making sure everyone is quiet backstage when it’s show time. In addition to all of these responsibilities, the Back of the House committee also has the very important job of telling each scene when its time for their cue.

The Planning committee is one of the most important committees in the show, they take care of picking the scenes, music selections, they make sure things run as smooth as possible, and they hold people accountable. Everyone has their own part to play in the production of Fata Morgana.

Each scene makes the show come together and without the help that we provide one another this show would be impossible to produce. Sometimes we may not agree on things, but in the end we all want to produce the best fashion show in the history of GCC, and in Western New York, and that is what we hope to provide this Saturday!

This blog was contributed by Fashion Design Student Ryan Welker.

Create Your Success

With only four days left until the 34^th annual fashion show Fata Morgana here at GCC I know that everyone, including myself, is stressing to get last minute details in order to ensure the shows success!

This year Katie Strong and I are producing the children’s scene in the fashion show, our scene is entitled Among the Wildflowers. Our theme is very bohemian and natural in order to fit in with the theme of the entire show; we decided to make our little models look more like flower children by having them wear beautiful flower crowns.

Since “DIY” or do it yourself crafts are turning up everywhere you turn we decided to make the flower crowns ourselves! With a few materials and six easy steps we were able to create our vision of amazing flower crowns for the children to wear.

I know that everyone involved in the show including Katie and I have visions of what they wish to see walking down the runway. Sometimes all it takes are the right accessories to make everything come together just as you envisioned. It is not only the merchandise but also the details that make the show jaw- dropping and unforgettable! I know that in only four days everyone’s hard work will pay off and the audience will be amazed!

This blog was contributed by Fashion Merchandising Student Taylor Bunch.

How To Choose A Major

– Follow These Seven Steps! –

I’m Ami Tanaka and I’m currently pursuing a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management at Genesee Community College. I’m from Nagasaki, Japan. Everyday, I have a wonderful time at GCC with professors and friends! I am really excited to learn, and love my major. Deciding your major is one of the most important steps before you begin college life. Also, it is directly related to your future career, so you should decide it carefully. Today, I will introduce “how to decide on your major”, based on my experiences. I hope it will be helpful when you decide on your major!

Consider Your Passions, Interests, And Values.

Think beyond hobbies such as sports or musical instruments. Think about the impact that you want to make on the world and the legacy you want to leave behind. Are you passionate about business? Do you want to save the environment? Are you an artist? Do you love math? Do you want to be a doctor? Keep in mind that not only may your interests change over the next four years, but that technology and the economy are constantly changing.

2. Think Of Your Favorite Subjects And Classes In High School.

Which classes were the most exciting and inspiring to you?Consider which classes you performed the best in. “Easy A” classes don’t count; think of challenging and comprehensive classes in which you performed well. In my case, I was really interested in English, Speaking, and Hospitality management classes! So, I chose to study in the U.S., to improve my skills.

3. Consider Job Prospects, But Don’t Obsess Over Them.

Don’t think of choosing a major as applying for a job; think of it as choosing your life’s path. The jobs, internships, and other opportunities that open up for you as a result of following your passion come second. On the other hand, if your passion lines up with your career plans, then choose the major that will get you there fastest. In my case, I wanted to be an international flight attendant in the future. I have a certain dream, so that’s why I chose Tourism and Hospitality Management as my major. Through this major, I could learn geography, airline industries, hotel and resort management, and great customer service. All of my classes are beneficial and important for my future career!

4. Decide What Type Of Degree You Want.

While you may still be totally lost, you can narrow down your decision by deciding between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Sciences (BS).

BA degrees include liberal arts and social science majors like Political Science, International Relations, English, Art History, Sociology, and Cultural Anthropology.
BS degrees include science and math majors like Engineering, Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Economics.

5. Read The Course Catalog At Your College Or University.

If you have already been accepted to a school, then read the course catalog to learn about the different majors, their requirements, and the types of courses involved. In my case, I also consider transfer requirements, so it is helpful to compare what credits I need to graduate from this school, as well as my transfer school. You can always talk with your advisor!

6. Consider Your School’s Reputation.

Does your school specialize in Journalism? Agriculture? Medicine? Engineering? Tourism? If the quality of the education you receive is of utmost importance to you and you are still undecided between majors, then consider which departments or majors your school is most well known for. GCC is one of the best schools for students who want to learn Tourism, because they have great internship opportunities, such as JFK and Disney World!

7. Set Up A Meeting With Your Counselor.
Whether you are undecided between two or more majors, or have absolutely no idea what major to choose, then set up a meeting with a counselor or academic advisor at your college. At my college, we have an international student advisor, so we can ask about not only majors, but also F1-visa, transfer, housing, internship opportunities, and so on. Also, your majoring professor helps you to register or build a study plan. If you want to have a successful college life, you should ask them! They will always support you.

CONGRATULATIONS! Now you can choose a major!

Have a wonderful time at College!

This blog was contributed by Tourism & Hospitality Management Student Ami Tanaka.

It’s Crunch Time!

There’s only a few days left until Fata Morgana, but no one can relax just yet. Designers are pulling all-nighters putting the last touches on their garments, models are practicing their walks and poses in sky high heels until their feet are sore, and scene coordinators are perfecting hairstyles and makeup looks for each model with their hair and makeup artists.

All of the different committees have been running around trying to perfect everything last-minute, too. On top of all of this, we are all taking at least four other classes that demand a large amount of time themselves. Since we are nearing the end of the semester, we all have final projects and papers to write for other professors. It’s not just crunch time for getting everything for the show done; we are also rushing to get other work for other classes done!

One way I handle all the course work that is given, is by doing all of the work ahead of time. I take six classes and for all of them I have my assignments done ahead of time. Doing this really helps me because I know I will be prepared for my classes and with all of that work done I can focus on other projects, like Fata Morgana. There have been times where I did not want to do any of my homework, but then I remembered all the times when I didn’t do my work and was even more stressed out as a result.

All of your responsibilities catch up with you fast once it’s the end of the semester, but it’s important to remember not to give up. Putting off responsibilities or haphazardly finishing them will set the tone for the rest of your college career, and your career once outside of college. As Lailah Gifty Akita said, “You are the only person that can create the future you want.”

This blog was contributed by Fashion Student Paige Henderson.

Top Five Things I Like About Genesee Community College

Top Five Things I Like About Genesee Community College

1. It’s Affordable

GCC enables you to attend college without having to be in debt for the rest of your life. Attending GCC is an especially great option for someone who doesn’t know exactly what they want to major in yet. You can take classes at GCC in numerous fields of study in order to find the right area to pursue a degree in without breaking the bank.

2. Small Class Sizes

You will get the feeling that your professors actually care about you. They see you as a human being and not just as a number in a room of hundreds. Since the classes are so small, if you are in need of help the professors are more than willing to assist you.

3. Diversity

The students of GCC consist of people of different ages, races, ethnicities, religions, etc. This gives students an opportunity to experience and appreciate what make us all unique. In addition. It also provides a real world feel because it teaches us to work and live with people whose opinions, views, and lifestyles are very different from our own.

4. The Dorms

This option makes GCC very unique since there aren’t many community colleges that offer dorms. It can also enhance the college experience and help students get used to living on their own.

5. Activities Galore

If you’re into sports, travel, dancing, or even photography there is a club at GCC for you. There are also activities that happen throughout the semester that you can take part in such as Open Mic Night, poetry contests, job fairs, blood drives, and almost anything else you can think of!

This blog was contributed by Tourism & Hospitality Management Student Tamika Knutt.

My Role Within Fata Morgana

As many of you may know, there are only seventeen more days until the fashion show that everyone has been working so hard to produce. Designers have been finishing their last garments, and merchandisers as well as designers are busy with rehearsals and finalizing their scenes in order to ensure success. The hospitality students are busy working on the Fata Morgana reception, hand making all of the decorations, and making it look like you have stepped into a middle eastern marketplace.

But where did my interest in fashion begin? It all started back when I was a kid. I loved seeing the Oscars’ Red Carpet and seeing all the actresses “glammed-up” with their dresses and accessories. Then I thought, “hey, I’ve always had a creative mind.” I wondered what it would be like to design for my favorite actresses who win Oscars for roles that they’ve played.

As a part of producing the 34th annual fashion show, Fata Morgana, I serve as part of the Back of the House Committee. My job is to make sure that all of the dressing rooms are set up the Friday before the show. The next thing we must do is make sure that all models are getting their hair and makeup done by ten A.M. on Saturday, April 25th. Next, we must make sure we know the scene lineup in order, and make sure before Show Time that no models have gum in their mouths, because in the world of modeling, it’s unprofessional. Being a part of back of the house is very important because we take care of the things people don’t see to ensure that this fashion show is planned accordingly and people have a fun and enjoyable experience.

Designer, Candace Cooper, and Coordinator, Ariana Sneed, during the Ethereal Fashion Show

I had the pleasure last year to intern for the best scene of the 33rd annual fashion show Ethereal. The scene name was called ÉCLAT XXIIV and the head designer was GCC superstar Candace Cooper and coordinator Ariana Sneed. Interning for that scene gave me a lot of experience to see what it was like first-hand to produce a college level fashion show. The day of the show I did whatever Candace or Ariana needed me to do because I knew how important the show was to Candace and how much work she had put into her scene. I remember that she was in the sewing room day and night working on her pieces, and I could understand why it was so important.

My next role in producing this year’s fashion show, Fata Morgana, is being on an interning team for Da-vid Simmons. Her scene is called Inevitable, which means certain to happen or unavoidable. The garments featured will be merchandised women’s clubwear clothing. My roles as far as helping DJ is to help her with whatever she needs the day of the show and to assist during rehearsals as well. When it comes time for the show I’m going to make sure that Inevitable truly is one of the best scenes because I have the pleasure of being friends with the head coordinator Da-vid and I know how important the success of this scene is to her.

Fashion to me is everything. It’s the career I want to have and pursue. Fashion is about being trendy but having the ability to have your own style too, which I think is important for everyone to have. I know that once we (the whole production class) take our bow we will know that we helped in making the 34th annual fashion show a huge success and weights will be lifted off of our shoulders.

My future plans after GCC involve transferring to Buffalo State in order to study Fashion merchandising. In the summer I plan to develop scene ideas to present and hopefully get the chance to produce one for the 2016 Buffalo State fashion show.

This blog was contributed by Fashion Student Patrick Szpylman.

Genesee Community College Blog

1st hand experiences from GCC students!

Author: Ami

Keeping It Cohesive

Online Classes At GCC

Learning Spanish At GCC

Why I Chose To Study At GCC

Committee Chaos

Create Your Success

How To Choose A Major

It’s Crunch Time!

Top Five Things I Like About Genesee Community College

My Role Within Fata Morgana

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