Friendship

What GCC means to me.

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Genesee Community College is my second home. If you met me today you would never know I used to be extremely shy, or have a problem making friends. I believe GCC has had a huge impact on me and deserves a lot of credit for who I am today.

Prior to college, I had a hard time in school. I didn’t fit in well and didn’t have to many friends. I felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. In the Fall of 2012, I enrolled at GCC and became a full time student. I was very nervous but also extremely excited. It was a brand new start for me.

My first semester I learned about the leadership certificate program, and thought it was an awesome way for me to enhance my leadership skills. I also felt like it was a good first step in meeting new people and getting myself out there. Then my second semester I learned about Alpha Epsilon Gamma, the service sorority on campus. I was really skeptical at first because I really wasn’t sure I would fit in, or that anyone would like me but I decided to give it a try.

Joining AEG and the leadership certificate program opened so many doors for me. I made a numerous amount of friends, and not just acquaintances, real friends that I can depend on. I had the opportunity to work in the Dean of Students office as a work study, join the GCCA board, become orientation leader and so much more. That is when I realized GCC stopped feeling like school and more like a second home.

I got to chose classes I was interested in and met so many of the awesome faculty on campus. I never had so many professors that cared how I did and would go the extra mile to see me succeed. If I was having a hard time, they would help me or send me somewhere I could get help. They encouraged me and it was a really great feeling.

Like I said GCC has become a second home. I made a place for myself here and because of that I have become more outgoing and confident. I believe that anyone who wants to can find their place as well. There are so many different clubs and organizations on campus that anyone can find something that interests them.

So, I would like to say thank you to all of the people at GCC that have pushed me, helped me, and molded me into the person I am today. For those who feel like they don’t fit in, look a little harder because I guarantee if you do you will find your place too.

That First Day

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When I first came to GCC, I afraid of meeting new people. I grew up in a small town, and graduated with the same 90 other kids that started 7th grade with me. It was strange to think that I would never see some of them again, and also hard to know that for the most part I wouldn’t really see many of them who did come to GCC, as my major put me in a separate field and the opposite end of the building as most of my friends.

However scared I was that first day, it disappeared rather quickly as I began to hang out with a few classmates, who like me came in early to get a parking space. I found out that one of the best ways to get through class is to make friends with at least the people near you when you sit down. There are many reasons behind that fact of life.

  • Reason 1: you never know just when your pen will chose to die or go missing.
  • Reason 2: teachers are tricky and have a tendency to make you talk to each other to go over papers or during review sessions.
  • Reason 3: if you miss class, they can help you catch up.

So don’t be afraid to say hi to that person in the desk next you, chances are you’ll need their help down the road!