Author: gccblogs

On campus housing vs off campus housing

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Hello everyone,

This time we want to talk about our experience with housing in Batavia. We experienced two types of housing here in Batavia and we want to share this experience with GCC readers.

Living on campus means that you live in College Village. For our first semester at GCC we decided to live in College Village. First time we came to College Village the staff was friendly, met us and showed us how everything works. It was not difficult to get it. Me and my sister lived together in one room and shared an apartment of B building with other two girls. The room was clean and also comfortable for two people.  While living in College Village we became a part of this little world, because every day we were surrounded by other students like us and it was a lot of fun. Every week we went to events, not every event though, because we were new and only started to become familiar to this world. We didn’t need transportation to get to GCC, every day we walked from dorms to GCC, it took us 5 minutes to get there. We could easily go to sport events or to root events (main building of CV) on weekends and it was something new for us.  College Village is safe and entertaining place to stay while studying at GCC.

Living off-campus we had some not enjoyable experience. When we came back to Batavia from summer break we decided to live in the house, so we found a room for rent on Rochester craigslist site. From this experience we had problems with raising rent, transportation to school and other things. We do not have a car so we get to college by bus or ask other students for ride. Another minus is that when we moved to new place we didn’t have furniture so we had to furnish our new room and buy new stuff for it. For now we live in another house and this is our third place, we like the place where we live now.

It is your choice where you want to live here in Batavia, but we would recommend College Village for those who like being surrounded by other students and like participating in events that College Village organize. However if you want to get distracted from College Life you should pick off-campus housing.

New Year Celebration in Kazakhstan

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Hi GCC blog readers, in this blog we want to talk about Christmas and New Year’s celebration in Kazakhstan. Holidays like New Year and orthodox Christmas are the most favorite holidays in Kazakhstan. We have two dates of Celebration New Year and one date to celebrate Christmas. The first date is 31 December to 1 January and the second date of New Year’s celebration is 22 March.

The main attributes of these holidays in our country are Christmas tree and Santa Claus like in the US Also another aspects are food and beverages, especially Champagne. In Kazakhstan people call Santa Clause differently. Santa Klaus in Kazakhstan knocks the door and come in with a lot of gifts for the kids.

Orthodox Christmas is celebrated by Christians that is not the majority of population. They spend a night on Christmas day in church and celebrate it at home on the next day.

Also we have New Year celebration on March 22. This date is celebrated only by Muslims. 22 March is a day of Vernal Equinox. The tradition to celebrate New Year on Vernal Equinox is common for many eastern countries. Many Muslim countries celebrate this date similarly. They cook a lot of traditional food. And spend this day at home with all members of family.

So about how people prepare for New Year. They buy a lot of things include food. First of all, people buy gifts for family and friends. Food is principal for New Year’s days. People cook a lot and also buy food in markets. Right before New Year people go outside to make fireworks. After celebrating New Year people spend a lot of time at home, they watch movies or TV and eat a lot.

Celebrating those holidays is so important part of the year for people of our country, and especially it is important to celebrate it with friends and family.

– Zarina & Sabina

 

Our College Experience

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Hello readers of the GCC Blog,

Our names are Zarina and Sabina, we are two international students from Kazakhstan studying Digital Art at GCC.   We are not good in writing stories about ourselves. Thus we decided to write about GCC and Digital art major.

About GCC. We found this college on Internet while searching colleges with appropriate tuition, fees and location. In GCC we love that we can learn new things that we can apply in the future job. This college gives many opportunities to international students. There are many international events and many clubs that you can join.

About Digital Art. We like going to Digital Art classes, because we love creating new projects that we have never tried to do before. We can express our ideas and share them with other students. There are not many students who study Digital Art major here in GCC. The students help each other. We can practice and develop our skills while attending digital art classes.

About MarCom. We decided to work here because we would like to get new experience. I hope MarCom will give us good experience. We want to know the many sides of Marketing, how it works and decide in what field of future work we would love to work.

We are supposed to graduate in fall 2018. After graduation we hope that we will get a good job.

My Time at Genesee Community College

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Hello everyone, I am Helmsley a current sophomore student here in GCC. I am a native of Ghana West Africa but currently live in New York City with my Dad. I lived and played Soccer in Lyon France for one year were my mom currently reside and later moved to the united states in 2011 to pursue a career as a sports agent because back home in Ghana, the ability to play soccer is a big part of the culture.

Ever Since I moved to America, I have been able to stay focused academically which ranked me as one of the top students in my grade and also my college life at Genesee Community College. My time here in GCC has also been great. I have been able to meet outstanding roommates who set an great example In the college community.

The Professors also play a big role because their able to answer any questions I might have on my project and encourage me to stay focused academically. In GCC, I have been able to collaborate with individuals from different parts of the world. Some activities we have participated in, include training with the soccer team, having fun at the student union, playing video games etc.

As I enter my second year at the college, more and more great things have been occurring, including some hours at WGCC (the college’s radio station) as a sports caster and working in the MarCom (Marketing & Communications) Office. After GCC, I plan on transferring to Indiana State University in order to gain a scholarship to Edge Hill University in England and pursue my degree in Sport Management.

How did I earn the blisters on my feet?

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By: Donna Rae Sutherland, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, GCC
The past three days I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being the ‘chaperone’ for a terrific group of GCC Fashion Business students on their annual sojourn to NYC.
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We toured FIT & LIM and I saw some amazing sites & sights! I got to know my colleagues, Professors Ehrhart & Taylor, and appreciate their dedication to their craft as well as their creativity. (I also was wowed by Busdriver Bob who maneuvered our vehicle through some tight spaces in mid-town Manhattan.) 20171006_111705_resized
Besides FIT & LIM, the places I saw for the first time that truly impressed me were The High Line, Ocula, Miss Saigon, and definitely, The 9/11 Memorial.
We were blessed with summertime weather & a full moon to boot!
#GCCinNYC was a blast in 2017 and well worth the blisters. I can’t wait to see what these students will do in April for the 37th Annual Fashion Show.

Professional Sales Students Host Guest Speaker

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By: Harry O. Rodriguez – Professional Sales Student

Mr. Leandro de Andrade Pereira, a full time employee at Genesee Community College, visited the professional sales class taught by Professor Rick Dudkowski.

Leo is a success coach for the nursing program and he’s also a baseball coach at GCC. Pereira was an international student. He is from Curaçao. Pereira shared a little bit about his background and his selling experience with the students in class. He completed a degree in DC, and then he transferred to Florida International University and earned his bachelor’s degree in early childhood. He worked six months at Home Depot selling doors and windows. He said “you have to be assertive but not too pushy that the customers walk away”. He also worked at Verizon.

He said in order to sell you need to understand your customers. For example you would use a different approach with a homeowner than a professional contractor. There is a 75% higher chance that a customer will buy if you relate the product or service back to what they were saying or satisfying their needs.

At GCC Pereira is trying to sell the nursing program. He recently hosted tours for area high school students. Pereira also stressed that the more practice you have selling the easier it gets. After his presentation, students were given the opportunity to ask Pereira questions. At the end of the class, Pereira was given a GCC Plaid Tie as a token of appreciation for coming to class and sharing his experiences with the students.

On behalf of the class, I would like thank Mr. Pereira for his time and advice. We learned a lot from him, sincerely, Harry O. Rodriguez.

Professional Salesperson, Joseph Chappius, a Financial Advisor of Northwestern Mutual, visits Professional Sales Class

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Joseph Chappius, a Financial Advisor of Northwestern Mutual, Buffalo NY, volunteered to give his advice in the Professional Sales class which is taught by Professor Dudkowski. Chappius, who lives in Albion, saw himself as a salesperson through his finance internship, many years back. He sees sales as a combination of “Art” and “Science”.

When he wanted to make sales, he followed a 10:3:1 ratio, he will talk to 10 clients and select 3 clients who he thinks he had the opportunity to make a sale to. He also stated that “Time is money” by that he means he will spend the least amount of time with the client that he thinks would not be interested in buying or investing. He stated, “I’d rather spend my time with clients that he likes and the clients who has the willingness to invest”.

Chappius shared his selling experiences with the students in the class. He mentioned that he received more “No” than “Yesses”. He said a successful salesperson had met many failures before he or she succeed. He looked at failing as “keep going”. Every time Chappius failed to make a sale, he will do a “self-reflection” and ask “what do you want for now and your future” and always “Think Big”. He said as a salesperson “you don’t want people to tell you, how much you are worth”. You want to be worth as much as you want, you do rely on a fixed paycheck. Chappius mentioned “the more people you talk with, the more customers you are going to get.” When he talked to his clients, he focused on three criteria, “Are they nice?”, “Do they want to be helped?”, and “Do they have the capacity to save?”

Chappius gave his final advice to the students in the class, which was “be a person, be yourself, know your products, never use “Me” and “I”, and always listen to your clients. After this presentation, students were given the opportunity to ask Chappius questions. At the end of the class, Chappius was given a GCC Plaid Tie as an appreciation for coming to GCC and sharing his experiences with the students.

On behalf of the class, I would like thank Mr. Chappius for his time and advice on how to be a successful salesperson. We learned a lot from him.

Kah Chan “Kevin”
President of PTK – Alpha Iota Upsilon

Healthcare Professional Talks With Sales Class

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This past week I invited a business professional to speak in my professional sales class. This woman is named Julie Kumiega and she happens to be my mother.

Julie has been in healthcare for 25 years. She sells healthcare. She went to Buffalo State College and worked in many different places all in the Healthcare Industry. Julie talked about many things dealing with getting jobs, keeping jobs and other things like that. Julie discussed being able to recognize your own value, everyone makes mistakes and that is not only natural, but it’s ok, knowing your style of learning, never pass up opportunities, admit when you’re wrong and ask for help when you need it. Julie currently works at United Memorial Medical Center, however she has worked at the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society, and more.

Bringing in professional sales people helps students get ready for the real world by being able to ask these people questions and be given real and accurate information. Thank You Julie for coming in and sharing with the class what you do and giving us plans for success.

By: Emma Shoenecker

Student Blogger: Sarah Melani

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Hi Everyone,

So, I am here in New York, a Fashion Business Major. I am studying the fashion Business, creating my own company. I love the arts. I am a singer, a writer, a fashion designer, modeling, I love the arts. I cook and play sports! This is what I love, what I do. I go places, I am traveling a lot.

My new life is amazing. I have my gifts, my talents, full force, my blessing, everything is all great. Everything is all good and the great days are endless. There are no bad days, nor bad times to look to! No one can touch me. I don’t open my mind, my eyes, nor mysarah-burnett2c ears to problems. I am fearless, I am not afraid of anyone nor anything. Except for my God. I couldn’t care less.

Focused.

One day at a time.

Using the time I am given well. My eyes stay on God, every day, everything, in and with Him, in His presence.

This is the beginning. And my life will be good for always! This is mine, and this is me. This is my blog, and I am Sarah Melani, and I invite you here to join me. Hello, I welcome you!

Next blog, Thanksgiving! There will be Pumpkin Pie verses Sweet Potato Pie, and, Black Friday shopping, and plenty of fun time, all of these I will be writing on in my next blog, hope you all enjoy!

CEO Trip To The Business Incubator: Harvester Building

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By: Christi Lotempio

mancusoThe CEO club took a trip to the world’s first business incubator. Dr.LaMattina was able to schedule the tour of the facility guided by owner, Mr.Mancuso. The tour was started with beverage at the Moon Java Café. They serve delicious coffee, teas and other beverages and have a selection of lunch items. Mr.Mancuso gave some background information on the Harvester Center explaining that a true business incubator offers more than just space. A true incubator should offer services such as the use of forklifts, or other larger equipment that start up companies may not be able to afford, as well as secretarial services, fax machines, and mail services. One of the most important parts of starting a business is networking and flexibility. Mr.Mancuso believes that talking to people and always re-evaluation of your business plan are a must.

He brought us to the Hodgins Printing Company that has been in the Harvester Building since it started, they actually made the sign that is still hanging. Hodgins Printing Company talked to us about the fact that their company has been in business for two generations. She stated that being able to look into the future and keep updating your business was really important to their success.

ceoOur next stop was OATKA Glass Studio. Mr.Lance Taylor, the owner of OATKA GLASS, was the tour guide. The OATKA GLASS offers many services such as making your own piece, taking classes and they sell artwork. Mr.Taylor expressed the importance of knowing how finances working and the importance of Networking. You need to be able to get out there and meet people and know who you are, to know what your goals are. He has a lot of experience with entrepreneurship, and expressed that it is important to have one person you trust to talk your business plans through.  At this stop we were able to make our own glass creation.

Back to the Moon Java Café for lunch. It was delicious! All of the students were discussing what they learned and how it can be applied in their own circumstances.

The last stop was One World Project.  We discussed their business goals, how they procure products from local artisans in developing countries, and their inventory management processes.  We also had a chance to shop in their gift shop.

If anyone is interested in joining the CEO club please contact Amy Conley.