With all the hustle and bustle you might have just cruised on by some very important information! The college is packed full of bulletin boards and flyers advertising everything from club meetings, sports tryouts, and new classes and seminars! So stop and take a look around! You certainly don’t want to miss out on the activity of your dreams, just because you didn’t see the sign. I snapped some pictures of a few very valuable signs around the campus, but there’s lots more where these came from!

Open Mic Night, feeling daring??Historical Horizons: A Fall 2015 Lecture Series. Anybody want to be pitch perfect? 😉You just can’t beat learning, AND pizza!Grammar & Paragraph Mastery could be an amazing class for anyone struggling with college level writing practices.The opportunity to work for a real radio station?!? That’s amazing!!

Now you know some of the great opportunities you might have missed just strolling around the campus. What are you waiting for, go check them out! You won’t regret it!

*Just a side note, how adorable is this lovely fairy house?!

I have breaking news for you today! My business classes at Genesee Community College have been so marvelous, and inspired me so much, that I’m starting a business! “What kind of business?”,  you may ask. Well, I’m more than happy to answer that question. For the past few weeks I have been busy crafting resin jewelry, and just this week I excitedly entered the realm of decoden. “What’s decoden??”, some of you might say. Well, here’s an explanatory picture:

Anyways, I will be selling resin jewelry, decoden phone cases, compact mirrors, handheld game console cases, and contact lens cases, and in the very near future I plan on expanding into cameos and rings. I will be putting together an online shop shortly (I’ll keep you posted), and i hope to also sell products physically at local events/conventions. This is incredibly exciting for me, and something that I have always wanted to do. Without further ado, check out some pictures of what I have going thus far!

Lots more in progress!!This case was made for my sister.This one, is a gift for my mom.This one is for me!

And here is a cute Steampunk/Victorian one that doesn’t have a home yet.

I can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

The purpose of today’s blog is to explore healthy ways to stay in creative shape. This is important to me because I really like the arts, but my field of study is science and math based. I’ve spent a lot of time doing homework over the past few weeks, and no time in enjoying my hobbies, like photography and graphic design. So I’m writing this blog to myself and others who want to find small ways to stay in creative shape until you have time for that next masterpiece.

My Career and Education Planning textbook described something called “free association” as an ability that allows people to focus while not being entertained by the internet, a movie, television, a cell phone, Snapchat…etc. Drawing in a coloring book, having a face to face (not video chat) conversation, and making things with your hands are ways that we can free associate. Free association is a type of focusing ability that’s required to stimulate creative juices. So the less amount of time we spent behind a screen, the more we cultivate out creativity. Yea!

The next thing that helps to build and maintain creativity is doing weird things! Art doesn’t always make sense, and it doesn’t seem to have any boundaries or formulas. It’s subjective. What may be weird to one may be cool to someone else. Also, sometimes doing things that don’t seem normal can remove mental barriers that hold back true potential. So if you feel like going outside with two different colored socks on today, why not do it? It’s a safe way to express yourself creatively.

Here are some weird cell phone photos I’ve taken since school began.

The shadow of my hand, the ceiling, two iPhone 5c’s having a staring contest, and a fly. They’re nothing major, but still fun and interesting to me.

Going outside for a walk, picking flowers, bike riding, doodling, are some other small ways to free associate. Find something that pertains to your field of artistic interest. Make time to practice, and appreciate other’s artwork too. Do artistic activities with your friends. And most importantly, enjoy it!

See you next time!

As promised, here’s a little summary of the Disney internship meeting I attended. Hopefully this will help those of you who weren’t able to attend, or who are still tossing the idea around!

Alright, time to consult my neon pink Walt Disney World College Program Frequently Asked Questions handout, or “What to know before you go.” Let me just highlight the most important information for you:

*The most current information on the Disney College Program can be found at http://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com

*All GCC students are eligible to participate, even if your program of study does not require an internship or cooperative education.

*You must be enrolled in classes at least part-time the semester PRIOR to participating.

*Participants must be in good academic standing, and have completed at least 24 credits.

*GCC suggests attending in your second year of study.

*Disney arranges interviews and hires interns twice a year.

*If you interview in the Fall and are selected, you can attend from January-March (Spring), or January-August (Spring Advantage). If you interview in the spring you can attend August-December (Fall), or May-December (Fall Advantage).

*If you need to be a full-time student due to financial aid or other reasons GCC can work with you, and offers many online classes.

*Walt Disney World offers many courses, however only some are accepted by GCC. Disney courses are FREE, and provide tremendous educational opportunities, and are great resume builders.

*The jobs offered are mainly entry level positions that Disney will train you for. A complete list is available on their website.

*Yes, you will get PAID.

*A $100 deposit is required when you accept a position, a $200 non-refundable housing/recreation deposit and the cost of transportation to and from Orlando is also an expense you will incur.

Curious to know even more? Maybe you want a first hand perspective? Check out this great blog post by Theme Park Princess, a veteran of the Disney college experience.

I really hope that this was helpful, and that it will inspire you to go for it, and chase the Disney dream! I can’t think of a more magical internship experience. 

Last week I went to a church service that celebrated some boys and girls who made the choice to be abstinent. They were presented with rings and stood upfront with their families as the pastor prayed over them; the audience was filled with smiles and  the sound of clicking cameras. As I stood there watching, I felt two things. I was proud of them for making the harder choice. It’s not easy to be an abstinent young adult, especially not in 2015. Sexually inciting ads, and images are everywhere; YouTube, the radio, television,etc… Peer pressure also contributes to the struggles of  abstinence. It’s not uncommon for a young person to be criticized by their peers because they are making an unpopular choice. So I respect them for their decision.

As I saw father’s standing there with their daughters, I wished that my dad had stood upfront in a church with me. But envy and regret were not ingredients in this gumbo of emotion, just thoughtful wondering of the possible outcomes my life could have altered into. I know that our experiences make us who we are, and I’m glad to be the person I am today.

It’s ironic! The topic of my HIS-105-02 class earlier that very day was chastity. The teacher showed us an old artifact that no one in the class knew the function of. He encouraged us to make guesses about what it was, what it was made of, and what we could discern from the shape of the thing. To me, it looked like an ancient piece of groin armor. I was a little embarrassed at my guess but when he asked us to call out what we thought it could be, I did. A few people chuckled, but guess what it turned out to be. It was an old anti-masturbation and premarital sex inhibiting device.

It was developed shortly after machine manufacturing became possible in Europe, and it was primarily purchased by Christian parents who wanted to prevent their child from doing…stuff. Some had spikes…ouch, and there were female versions too…oh ouch.

My teacher went on about how ludicrous this device was, and I agreed. He said that the lack of trust parents had in their children was reveled when they made them wear a device that physically blocked off their genitalia.

I like that parents encouraged their children to wait until marriage for sex, but don’t think that exposing them to a painful device that forced them into it was effective. It was probably emotionally and physically scarring. People should have a choice. Choosing to make a commitment is always more effective than being forced to commit.

The men, women, boys and girls, who choose to abstain today, because they’ve considered the matter in their heart, are more apt to complete the task than people who do it out of fear or people who feel like they have no choice.

What we decide to do with our bodies is something that students here think about. This is my perspective. May you share it. Until next blog!

Over the summer my sister and I volunteered in an ESL class here at GCC, taught by Mr. Kia Banej. Every Tuesday and Thursday we would walk into the school, and check the cafeteria with anticipation. If you attended classes here this summer, than you know that the area with all of the dining stations was under construction until very recently. We had to make due with pop and little snacks from the vending machine, while we excitedly awaited the return of the dining stations for the Fall semester.

Now I am ecstatic to say, the food is back! I came in really early in the morning to score some pictures of the newly renovated area, before the big rush of students hit. 

While all of the food offered here is exceptional, my favorite part has to be the salad bar. I’ve been getting a giant salad almost every day. Best part is (for me anyways) they offer fresh avocado, and lots of it!

Before

After
One of my typical salads…

For those of you looking for a little sugary pick me up, have no fear; we have munchies to satisfy your junk food cravings as well!

Although I highly recommend salads… 😉

Also, how many of you have seen these little flyers posted around the school? Disney internships, what could be better??! I will definitely be attending the meeting, and I’ll be sure to blog about it!P.S. It’s Paid!

It’s week number two here at GCC, but if you’re like me, you might still be having some trouble finding your way around these hallowed halls of learning. Well, I’m here to help! As I’m sure you already know, the Batavia campus is divided into three floors. Each floor however is divided into sections: A, B, C, and D (sometimes E, S, and T). The placement of these sections remains the same on each level. Jutting out from the school’s main hub are the Genesee Center For The Arts (Stuart Steiner Theatre), and the Conable Technology Building, labelled as E and T respectively. Building S contains meeting rooms, and Student Service Activities offices.

On the college’s first floor you can find the Gymnasium, and Campus Bookstore in Building A. The Cafeteria, Health Services, Public Safety, the Adult Education Opportunity Center, and the Child Care Center are in Building B. A lot of administrative offices including the President’s Office can be found in Building C, and the Library and Marketing Communications are in Building D.

On floor two you can find all sorts of classrooms of course, but let me point out some of the big destinations. In Building A you can find the Fitness Center, and the Swimming Pool, in Building B, the Career Services Center, Photography Darkroom, and the Sleep Lab. Admissions, the Financial Aid Office, the Dean of Students, and the V.P. of Student Affairs can all be found in Building C, and the Tutoring Center, Center for Academic Progress, and the Testing Center are all located in Building D.

Finally, the third floor. In Building A you can find the Language Lab, and WGCC. Building B has the Social Sciences Division, and an interactive classroom, and Building D contains the Physiology Lab, Veterinary Technology Offices, and the Computer Services/ACE Career Center.

This semester I’ve been really lucky, all of my classes are on the second floor, in Building D. A visitor’s guide, driving directions, and a map of the campus are all available HERE. Just in case you want to print out a copy of the map to keep on hand.

The new semester is here and classes are rolling. Teachers are giving students the intimidating yet all important “This is how it’s gonna’ be” speech, the bookstore line is zig-zagging out the back door, and students are drooling over our new cafeteria. The New Academic Year Hustle and Bustle (officially abbreviated N.A.Y.H.B.) is exciting, and I don’t think any other school does it better than Genesee Community College.

As for me, I’m taking 5 classes. Math, Biology, History, Career & Education Planning, and of course Sci-Fi. You can add that one to the list of unique courses that G.C.C. has to offer.

My goal is always to get an A in all of my classes. Here are my top 7 tips for getting that done.

7 TIPS FOR EARNING “A”s IN COLLEGE:

• Make a Daily Schedule: Know what you have to do that day, and plan time for important task. It’s best if you do this the day or night before.

• Get At Least 7 – 9 Hours of Sleep a Night: The science of sleep can be complicated, but simply put, the more you sleep, the more you memorize. Not to mention, good sleep habits keeps your immune system healthy.

• Don’t ALWAYS Hang Out With Friends: Don’t get me wrong, a social life is needed! But too much fun and socializing can lead your focus away from your school work. So don’t forget why you are here.

• OVER DUE Your Assignments: Meaning, impress your teachers! Using your best vocabulary, show off how much you learned! Go Geek! M-W.com is a free online dictionary. Use it to look up words you don’t know while reading material that your teacher assigns, and write the meaning in the margins of your text-book.

• Study for test in bits and pieces: Don’t cram the night before a test or try to go over all the material the day before. Study a little bit each day and do an overall review at the end. This means starting your studying process a week or two before your test. Give the harder classes more time, but don’t neglect the easy ones.

• Keep it positive!! : You can do whatever you set your mind to. Believe and live like you know it’s true, because it is. Don’t let anyone make you settle for less in any area of life. Be your true self 100% of the time, especially when others try to knock you down.

• Ask for Help: For some, this can be the hardest thing to do. If you don’t know what to do or how to help yourself (or others), you need to admit it and ask someone for help.Visit your professor during his or her office hours. Not only can they help clarify information, but most instructors enjoy meeting and getting to know their students outside class time. And, don’t forget about G.C.C.’s great student support services. I’ve provided the contact information and links:
  • Student Support Services: 345-6840
  • Tutoring Center: 343-0055 x 6204. They are located in D207
  • Avoid being prideful, and lean on somebody every once in a while.

Well that’s it! Good luck, and work hard hard in all of your classes this semester! See ya!

After months and months of anticipation, classes have begun for GCC students! I’m on my third day of school, so I’ve had the chance to experience all of my classes (some are Monday/Wednesday and some are Tuesday/Thursday) and I can honestly say that so far I love and am excited about each and every one! Just in case you missed my introduction post, I am a Fashion Business Merchandising student, and my concentration is apparel design. This essentially means that over the course of two years I will be sewing lots and lots of clothes! I can’t wait! I just want to dive in right away! All of my professors are absolutely wonderful and kind people, and I know that I can learn so much from them. Anyways, in my family this wasn’t just my first week, my sister and brother-in-law started school too! I am so excited that we will all be attending GCC together, it makes it that much more fun! Plus, it lets us all carpool, hang out between classes, and have lunch together! It is really such a positive boost to my entire GCC experience.

Just look at all my fun new sewing things!!!

My sister Emily is in the Human Services program, and my brother-in-law (bro) Aaron is in the General Studies program. He plans to get all of his required general education classes out of the way, and then see where life takes him. Oh! There’s another insanely cool thing I have to mention. I’m featured on the Genesee Community College homepage, along with my fabulous fellow blogger Iesha!! It’s amazing, and I still can’t get over it! Thank you so much GCC for liking my blog posts enough to promote me right on your homepage!!

Okay, now I have to tell you about something else that is very exciting. In my Apparel Construction Fundamentals class we were fortunate enough to be allowed to take home donated bridal gowns (if we wished), to re-purpose into something fabulous of our own creation! These gowns are exquisite, and we have been given carte blanche to dye, rip, cut, or do literally anything to these garments, and if they happen to turn out amazing we can enter them in the annual GCC fashion show. The GCC fashion show happens to be the largest professional fashion show in Western NY by the way.

Needless to say I am beyond excited at the possibility of doing something really fun and interesting with this dress. I’m not going to touch it for a while, I want to feel really confident about my decisions with it.

I would love to be able to turn it into something along these lines though. We’ll just have to see how it goes. Any suggestions?