NSCC Student Blog

SGA Meeting

2010-10-20T10:17:00.002-04:00

Hey you!
Yes You, right there reading this!

You have some free time between 1:30 and 2:30 today?
You do?! :D
Good, because we have a need for members to join Student Government!

We dont talk much about politics outside of school, but were sure do talk a lot about how we can make a difference in the school as a whole

The meeting will be held in both conferences Teleconference rooms LW329 and DB208 at 1:30pm

Be There!

MOVIE NIGHT!

2010-10-20T10:08:00.002-04:00

For those of you who live under a rock, and never ever set foot in the cafe at either campuses, there will be a showing of Zombieland in Lynn outside in the schools parking lot. It will be this Friday Night, October 22 @ 7pm

Out Of The Darkness - Walk For Suicide Prevention

2010-09-29T16:38:00.002-04:00

Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention, October 2, 2010

In the month of October, we will be participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention. This walk will take place in Wakefield, MA on October 2, 2010 at 10:00am. The walk is a 5k around Lake Quannapowitt and begins at 10:00am. We invite you all to join us in walking or to donate to our team as we strive to raise awareness and bring prevention of suicide to the forefront. The soaring suicide rates, especially among college aged students, have become astonishing and with your help, we can take a stand to “Stomp Out Suicide.”

Join Team NSCC or make a donation today!

For more information on where and when we will be meeting, or how to sign up, please email me at Vnickers01@northshore.edu or ofcourse you can leave a message here! : )

Vicki

Womens Center

2010-09-29T16:19:00.003-04:00

Hello Everyone!

My name is Vicki Nickerson and I am the Student President of The Womens Center. The Womens Center, despite the name, not only reaches out to women but to all. Everyone is welcome to join our organization and we are always open to new ideas. Our focuses this semester are on issues such as suicide, breast cancer, supporting our military, celiac awareness and healthy hygiene for the children at our annual Halloween party. I look forward to being able to work with our student body to get the word out on these issues and to bring awareness for all to campus.

Sincerely,

Vicki Nickerson

Scare Week

2010-09-23T15:16:00.001-04:00

Hey everybody, I just wanted to tell you all about a huge event were doing next month. During Fall Fest we surveyed students for what movie they would want to see to kick off our Scare Week 10/22-10/30. The movie that was chosen was Zombieland. Next month on October 22nd we will be having an outdoor movie viewing of Zombieland on the Lynn campus. Admission is free and we will be selling drinks and snacks. As the date comes closer more info will be released. Also that week we are doing a Haunted Footsteps tour in Salem. Tickets are only $5 and are very limited, if you would like to buy tickets you can visit the Student Life Office in Danvers DB132.

Sam

2010-09-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hey bloggers my name is Sam. I'm the President of our schools
programming board called Program Council. On Wednesday in Lynn from
10-2 we have an event called Fall Fest. Program Council will have our
table with a virtual rollercoaster machine. You can choose from many
different adventures from a rollercoaster ride to traveling through
the human blood stream. The cost is only $1.00 a ride, you cannot beat
that! Hope to see you all there!

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates on whats going on at campus.

Summer Heat

2010-07-14T11:26:00.001-04:00

My sincerest apologies for my lack of commitment to this blog during the treacherous season known as summer. I do not like the heat or having to take two summer in order to complete my degree within two years. On a better note, I am thrilled to now have time for this fantastic blog and getting back into the shape of things. This summer has been eventful and hectic. Although I enjoyed my summer courses, I found myself to be juggling four part time jobs, trying to keep up with school and my social life since all of my friends live in different towns among the north shore and south shore. I often wondered when the hectic lifestyle would end and it did for about five minutes. Now my cousin is flying up from Florida to stay with us and I am giving my room to her so she does not have to live on a couch. The cycle is never ending...I need a vacation from my summer vacation!!I am enjoying the little time that I have off to relax. All of the jobs I am working are rewarding, I just feel that at times I need to calm down and think about myself first (which I often struggle with doing). I put so much commitment into everything else in the world expect myself and my personal needs. I want to spend a day at the beach or somewhere i can relax and just laugh with people I care about. I am always on the go...I carry my life in a tote bag! I do enjoy the rain when it comes and layers me in a warm mist. The rain is a reminder that life still goes on whether you want it to or not. So, I am going to enjoy the small things in life that are so precious and unforgettable. Summer, please bring some nice days that are not full of the blazing sun :) I want to know how summer is for everyone else out there. Are you working? Are you enjoying the summer heat? Has anything eventful happened to YOU this summer?

The Semester Of Seven (Classes)

2010-04-22T09:19:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read the title correctly: I am registered in seven courses, and have not received a warning or withdrawn from any as of this blog post. Some might wonder why I would do such a thing. Well, I decided the minute I stepped foot on the North Shore campus, I didn't want to be a average student. I wanted to take the road less traveled, and not take four courses here and four courses there (mind you, I decided with the horrible economy, finding a job in these tough times would be hard) so this isn't a decision just anyone can make. But, like the old phrase "you can do anything you set your mind to" has never been so true. I had my doubters, more than a few, and I decided it was one of those things if I was going to do, I was going in full tilt. And full tilt I mean doing all my work. Not making excuses to professors about missing things, and getting it done. Some might still think I'm nuts, but believe in yourself and you can do anything you want to.

If anyone would like to hear abut time management and how I actually survived this endeavor, please feel free to leave comments and I will happily reply.

Arts in April Blog

2010-04-22T09:13:00.004-04:00

Last Thursday, as a part of Arts in April here at the college, Iranian-American Poet Roger Sederat came to do a reading on his poetry and a question and answer session with students and professors.

I will be the first to admit that upon hearing this is what we were doing for my 11 o'clock literature class last Thursday, I was instantly considering who I would text, what blogs I would read, and who I would try to sit next to. To most who know me and my characteristics this is par for the course. But, to shock the masses, my phone didn't leave my pocket till the very end when I had to check to see what time it was. I'm sure your curious why it didn't move and I'll tell you: Mr. Sederat, while everyone was finding seats, was mentioning how Iranians are playing in the NBA. Now to some, this might sound like a small thing. But, it already proved to me Mr. Sederat understood college students and what they are interested in. As Mr. Sederat read his poetry, he referenced his musical background and how he found a big influence in rap music. To everyone's shock, he was quite familiar with Lil' Wayne, and even threw out this Notorious B.I.G.: "Livin' life without fear / Puttin' 5 karats in my baby girl's ears" which open a lot of eyes, proving that his knowledge of rap went beyond one major artist. I for one, have a strong belief that some college professors do not understand the students they are teaching. Mr. Sederat proved this isn't always true.

His poetry was also very good. Although hard to relate to, it was very interesting to learn he, as a passport holding dual citizen of the US and Iran, he has been advised not to return to Iran for fear of government reaction to his poems (which I am told points to several Iranian government officials).

Once again, the college did a great job of bringing in a speaker that challenged and brightened the horizons of the students.

Senoritis? Oh wait..I'm in college now..

2010-04-14T19:37:00.002-04:00

Last April I was hit with a severe case of "Senoritis" also known as, I am a senor in high school and I graduate soon so I do NOT plan on doing my homework or studying! For some reason now, I have been hit with it again but now I am a freshman in college and procrastination and I do not get along. I do not know if it is because I have been feeling under the weather or the fact that my stress level is through the roof. Is it just me that is going crazy?

I have been forcing myself to get things done but my computer decided to rebel against me and cause complete havoc by getting a virus because my virus protection failed epically at detected it. Then I kept getting sick and may be faced with the reality that I now have allergies like everyone else is America. (I have never been allergic to anything besides animal fur).

I have found that non-drowsy generic brands of allergy medications are life savers. My eyes are no longer watery and red. Success!

But as for my "senoritis" - I am at a loss. I have made lists and tried to become motivated. Usually listening to Lady Gaga gets me excited and I do work but now its hopeless! To make things even worse, I am taking classes over the summer. I need to get my act in shape!

I think I pushed myself so hard first semester that I am all worn out!

Dear Senoritis, go find someone else :(

Spring Break! Or is it?

2010-03-27T17:12:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning only to look out my window and see SNOW! So much for "Spring" break.

I feel that this spring break has been very rewarding. I have done two events this break...the Reality Check with Danvers High seniors and the NCBI training. I enjoyed doing both of these events because I love to work with people within a group setting. I have been so busy this break with school work and the regular life stresses that I just need a day to myself or a real vacation! I wish I could of gone away like everyone else does when they are a freshman in college! I feel kind of left out. When everyone comes back from Canada or Aruba and asks what I did this vacation, I am going to tell them I sat in my kiddie pool in my backyard during the warm days and read The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I wonder what they will think of me?
To be completely honest, I cannot wait for school again on Monday! I miss my friends so much! Everyone is off busy doing their own thing...so I want to hear about your vacation experience! I hope it was more eventful and exciting than mine!

TALENT SHOW: APRIL 2ND ...wait --what!? where?!

2010-03-12T00:07:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone,
I've recently been interested in the talent show--- and I know it's going to be a huge success!
I've been at 2 talent show auditions, and all I've seen were great! Unfortunately, not many people showed up... and I personally think not many people knew about it.

When going to classes and walking around the school in my Presidential Scholar shirt, people were asking me what club I was from, and of course, I told them the Presidential Scholars. Then, they asked me what I was doing in the program, and I told them that currently, ---- the talent show auditions. Most reactions were the same, "what? there's a talent show?".

I know the students and faculty advertise and work hard to try and let everyone know of these things, but something is just not working. I would think, that a college of thousands would get more of a response with this type of event. Just in my speech class alone, some students spoke about talents/activities, and hobbies they participate in or do. One student loved to breakdance, and even showed the class some of his skills, while another student's musical talents were impressive considering he has recorded a CD in a professional recording studio, and is considered somewhat of a celebrity in certain parts of South America. Neat, huh?

Honestly, sometimes I'm in a rush, and do not check the Pipeline bulletins, and do not have time to check out signs around the buildings.
What about the Presidential Scholars? Our group could maybe make announcements in classes before class? What do you all think about this? Would students like to be aware about certain major events by word of mouth rather than leaving it up to finding it out?
Sorry if I seem negative, but it's sort of sad that not a lot of people know about certain things. hmmmm...

-Kristen

Meeting Deval Patrick

2010-03-07T17:30:00.003-05:00

As fellow Presidential Scholars Angela, Megan, Katelyn and I stood beside President Burton, Governor Deval Patrick, Secretary Ian Bowles, Commissioner Philip Giudice, DCAM Commissioner David Perini, and Representative Ted Speliotis I felt a numbing sensation through my body. It was such a wonderful experience to be introduced to the crowd as Presidential Scholars. Governor Patrick announced Commonwealth Clean Energy Investment Program and Commissioner David Perini introduced and explained the new financing plan that will help the Commonwealth save thousands of dollars in energy costs. The crowd was enthused by the politician's words of reassurance and power as cameras flashed. I was so glad that my mentor was only a few feet away watching at the scholars represented NSCC. After shaking hands and introducing ourselves to Governor Patrick, Angela, Megan, Katelyn, President Burton and I took a picture with the Governor! It was such a great experience! I felt so honored to be a part of the event. As I told Joanne, I was beyond excited and nervous. As we were standing in front of everyone, I could feel myself turning red. My friends said I was not as red as a tomato so I was okay. :) I'm so glad that we were able to meet the Governor and that he spent time with students shaking hands and playing ping pong in the Student Life Lounge. I have never seen such a thing! After all the commotion was over, the girls and I helped clean up the event by putting signs away and keeping people away from the tables that were set up with coffee!

Altogether, it was a lot of fun! I cannot wait for the next event!

The Storm

2010-03-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

I hope my professors don’t read this. If they do, im sorry, but I had to relieve myself of school life for one day of snowboarding. That’s because this entire season has been terrible for snow conditions. However this past week the most amazing double hitting storm came our way.
Tuesday brought about predictions of snow and rain for most of the northeast, however as most storms have been going, this one turned to rain as well. Except in the peaks of the White Mountains. Namely mount Washington and its surrounding peaks. By Thursday they had received a foot and a half of snow, excellent conditions for any snow enthusiast. By Thursday I decided it was time to cancel my weekend plans and hit the slopes. I drove up to a friend’s house to spend the night not knowing about the absolute devastation on the way.
As we got psyched (excited) for Friday’s 3ft of snow powder day, the wind started to pick up. Soon enough the power went out. It’s a good thing we had a wood fireplace, otherwise we would have froze.

I woke to a very rainy 5am sky. Trees and branches were everywhere. It was pretty bad, however not nearly bad as what lay in wait for me back home in Gloucesta. We however proceeded unhindered by the rain, lack of power, and tree filled streets. By 8am we arrived to the most epic day of snowboarding at Wildcat Mountain. While everyone else (and that includes northern VT) got rain, Wildcat received 3.5 FEET of snow. To make a long story longer, we had the most amazing day of snowboarding ever. That day was ranked the number one value of the Century. We paid 9 dollars to ski 8 hours in snow above our knees. I got stuck once and couldn’t see my waist. Thirty minutes later I was panting and sweating down the mountain.
Anyways, enough about the awesome time I had while the rest of you poor souls were studying math and whatnot. When I arrived back in Gloucesta I realized how amazing the storm had really been. In my opinion, only a few storms in the past 50 years have done more damage than this one. Outside my house once stood 2 huge (2-3 story) pine trees. They now lay across a nearby parking lot. The same is true for about 100 other trees in the area. All knocked down, roots and all, because of the extreme 85mph winds and supersaturated ground. Then there was the damage my amazing 4star motel received, (which I’ve been fixing ever since) roofing and trees everywhere. At least the vista motel is still intact. That can’t be said one of the motels on the backshore, whose entire roof came off (more business for us). All in all, the storm did some serious damage and left 229,000 residents without power. To bad for them, I had an awesome time snowboarding.

"All men are created equal"

2010-02-23T13:53:00.001-05:00

As it is stated in the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal. Of course, women are too but back in those days women were out of luck with that one. Regardless of that fact, we are all created "equal".

What I have never understood about life is how as a human race, we can be so judgmental of one another. Be judge each other by skin color, sexual orientation, race, gender and religious beliefs. Did our founding fathers no say in 1776 that we were all created equal? Sure back then it may of been in a different context but words are words and they mean the same thing. How are be supposed to function in society if we do not take each other for who and what we are? Is it moral to judge each other by appearances and beliefs? Is it moral to judge someone if they prefer the same sex or if their skin is darker than someone elses? With the world the way it is today, economical crumbling, why not come together as one, all biases aside? Why is it so hard to forget the past and move on forward to the future?

In college I have seen change. I have seen myself and others around me grow into mature, intellectual, passionate people. What if one day we could change the world as students and try to take away the biases that still linger in our country today?

We are all created equal. No one human is greater than another. I believe that as students, if we work together, we can create a world full of freedom and pride of who we are and what we should be able to accomplish as a country and growing society. We have the power to transform ourselves and other around us into more accepting group of individuals. Why not start to make the change now while we are still young and still growing?

Forgetfulness

2010-02-18T21:04:00.004-05:00

I'll be honest, I totally forgot that I had to write a blog until my mom reminded me the night before it was due. I was getting ready to fall asleep when my mom yelled, "your blog is due tomorrow!" Well thanks for telling me now when I'm in bed and I was walking around all night trying to figure put what I could do with my time before I go to bed. But it is my responsibility, sometimes I just forget. If I don't have the important thing written down on something that I check all the time then I'll probably forget about it, unless it's like a big test or 10 page paper that I'd be insane to forget about. Those things I can't seem to forget, not that I try or anything.

My parents use to say I forget because I want to forget, or I just don't care about things like school or chores. Then I would reply, no sometimes I just forget, doesn't everyone forget something sometimes? And they would reply with the familiar state that if it was a song, or artist that I really liked I would remember it, and make sure I didn't forget it. Which is half true. I'm not the type that needs to know everything about an artist to the point where it's considered stalking but if I'm curious about something I'll look it up and I'll usually will remember it because I made an effort to look it up. And with songs more often then not they just stick in my brain, whether I want them to or not.

Like I'll hear a song once and then I'll hear it again, and I'll be able to sing a few words and hum the chorus, which will lead my parents to think I've heard the song 50 times, then I'll tell them I only heard it once. They usually don't believe me. It's not like I want to forget the important things I have to do, it's just that I temd to remember the things that I like and in the hustle and bustle of life the things that I don't nessesarily like are pushed to the back of my mind, they're probably there I just don't think about them. Some people have the problem of procrastinating, I have no problem with that. I map out my schedule in my mind and figure out when I can get my work done. I do have the problem of forgetting until the last minute and then making it seem like I'm procrastinating but I really just forgot. I just have to rember to write everything down in a place that I always look, or write the important things down in multiple places and where I would least expect it and then be surprised and reminded at the same time! I think it all comes down to prioritizing, and once I get all my priorities straight, I'll have no problem remembering important things.

How to be thankful

2010-02-06T22:24:00.001-05:00

I want everyone to try something that I tried earlier today. I was talking to a close friend of mine who I have met here at NSCC and she told me to do something to help me grasp hold onto my life. (Mind you, she is the most comedic person I have ever met and it was hard for me to take her seriously).

She told me: "I want you to step out of your body (not literately) and look at your life as an outsider. Look at your life in it's entirety and you will notice a few things. You will see things in a different perspective. Things are not always as they seem to be and sometimes you have to listen to the person whose on the outside looking in. You do not notice your mistakes, you do not think you are doing certain things wrong and you do not always see how your life can impact another's." Needless to say, she was right. (As always).

While I looked from what she referred to as the "outside" I noticed that I should be more thankful for my life. I saw some mistakes I had been making and realized that I need to make more of an effort to get things in order. I also saw the beauty in some of the things I have done and people I have chose to share my life with. I am incredibly thankful for what and who I have in my life at this moment in time. I am thankful for the opportunities that have come to me. I took so many things for granted and I took myself for granted.

For awhile I did not see what my life truly consisted of. I am considerably lucky for the life I have. In order to become truly thankful for what you have, you have to look at your life from the outside. From the inside, you see the black and white details and but do not always see the color of your life. It is color in your life that blocks out the gray, shady areas that may make your life seem dim. So take a step back, become thankful, and see the colors of your life.

KRISTEN: BACK IN THE BLOG

2010-02-02T22:29:00.001-05:00

Kristen: Back in the Blog

Well hello fellow bloggers and readers! --Hope everyone had a fabulous winter break!—minus the weather. I actually went to Florida... to Disney World… and it was about 30 degrees on some days. The Florida people didn’t know what to do and how to handle the cold! Crazy! But anyways…

Back into the swing of things. I think of a new semester as a new year sometimes – resolutions. I always think of things that I would want to do differently or new goals I want to set for myself. What are some of your “resolutions”? I personally want to devote more time to activities.

I actually just became the Assistant Director of the PSIence Society last semester. The PSIence Society, (pronounced: science society) is a new group/club in the school that examines the consciousness of the mind, and links it to science, quantum mechanics, and physics. (No science or physics background is necessary)
It’s really neat how we talk about meditation, experiences, and new discoveries/research that are being done regarding states of consciousness, awareness, and interpretations. In addition to this, we talk about different abilities that come from these states of consciousness like remote viewing, ESP, telepathy, psychokinesis...Etc. There is also a chance for individual testing to see one’s potential, and to see if one has any unique spiritual gifts.

If you would like to become a part of this new group, you can email the club at PSIenceSociety@gmail.com. We meet at the Danvers campus bi-weekly, and are hoping to host meditation classes for stress relief with other clubs soon. The first meeting has not been announced, and our advisor is Mr. Sean Hanlon.

If you are currently involved in any clubs or groups, list them!--I'm interested to see how everyone is involved...and what other interesting clubs/groups Northshore has!

Cheers to a new, happy, enjoyable, and safe semester!
-Kristen

First Days

2010-01-28T15:43:00.001-05:00

The first two days of school have been great. I am taking five classes consisting of world civilizations 2, spanish 2, algebra 2, composition 2, biology and of course the mandatory biology lab. I guess that actually comes out to six classes... It is a big responsibility and I am nervous for the transition. Luckily, I have three teachers who I had during first semester and they seemed to be happy that I chose them as my teachers for the second sequence of the courses. The other two teachers that I have seem really nice. My math teacher is very funny and out going. She makes math fun. I never thought I would use the words "math" and "fun" in the same sentence. Unfortunately, my biology teacher is in Kenya directing a foundation she founded that helps children with disabilities. She left us a video introducing herself and I really appreciated the fact that she took the time to do that. She has one of her old professors that she had in college substituting for her. The substitute was polite to us and was honored that my teacher asked him to take over for her until she comes back (which should be by next week?) He introduced us to the basics of biology and gave an interesting and intellectual lecture about human life and nature. I never thought college would interest me as much as it does. I am so glad I chose to come to North Shore. :)

I want to know how everyone else is doing and how their past two days have been so far. (Positive or Negative...PLEASE leave out names as I have done. No need to hurt feelings!)

Words To Live By

2010-01-19T09:53:00.001-05:00

The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee

On Sunday, I was getting ready to leave my job at Walgreens and head down to the South Shore with my boyfriend for his mother's birthday. Before punching out, I noticed a piece of paper taped onto the wall next to the office door. I walked towards it, curious of what it said. The title was "The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee". I thought to myself, "Hey, that is a funny title for a story" and I began to read it. It stated...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

I thought that this was true, and I began to think about it. Why not let go of the little things and focus on what is important to us most? Things that family, close friends and your beliefs. Do not let the little things like stress get you down. Life is too short to fill your jar with sand.

2010 is here!

2010-01-13T22:07:00.000-05:00

Finally a new year has come! 2009 was a hard year for me, and I am really glad it is over. A new beginning is on it's way for this spring semester. I am looking forward to meeting new people and doing more scholar events. I hate that my life is so busy and hectic because it is hard to fit in events and keep on top of work, school, my social life and my sanity. I get stressed out very easily, and expect myself to keep up with everything and maintain being good at what I do. One thing that has helped with my stress is my new boss at work. My old manager was mean and miserable but the new manager is really out going and helpful. She is a great addition to our staff! I am actually looking forward to working with her to see how things play out.

I am nervous for school, as always. I have faith in myself, and I am looking forward to seeing what I can achieve. The more I look into UMASS Boston (the school I plan on transferring to when I graduate from NSCC), the more excited I get about my future. I consider myself to be a fairly lucky girl. I am young and have the world in my hands. I have been focusing on my writing and reading more books. I have also been doing research about career choices for my major which will be Social Psychology when I go to UMASS Boston.

For 2010, I have chosen to look on the bright side more often. Instead of freaking out and giving myself a panic attack, I am going to logically figure out the tasks at hand. Nothing in life is perfect, so I have to deal with it and get over it. All I can do is live for today and hope for tomorrow. I might get stuck along the way, but I know there will be better days not too far away.

Enjoy your vacation folks, it will over sooner than later!

A Perfectly Good Heart

2010-01-05T18:28:00.003-05:00

During this winter break, I decided to go through some old "rubbish" I had laying throughout my disaster of a bedroom. Within my room I found things from my previous years of high school. Old projects, homework assignments, pictures and letters from friends (and exes) that brought back many memories, good and bad. While rummaging through the clutter I realized that high school was a truly grueling experience for me. For the four treacherous years that I was at Stoneham High School, I went through hell and back. Whether it was with teachers, friends, stress or just the overwhelming realization that what I did in high school would ultimately have a huge impact on the rest of my life. I struggled with my acne and self esteem, confiding in writing and music. I found comfort in friends who turned into enemies and realized that life is not always fair. I no longer let these memories haunt me. Instead, I learn from them and I decided to move on from it by discarding some of these items...

Although I got adequate grades in high school, I never felt that I was smart or somewhat of a good student until I got into the Presidential Scholars Program at NSCC. The effect the program has had on my life has been amazing and I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world. I feel like I have finally felt a place where I can be myself. I had a big personal break through at the last meeting when I came out as being bisexual, something I have struggled with for many years because of not being accepted for it by certain friends and family. The encouragement and feeling of weight being lifted off my shoulders was enormous and a great life changing experience.

I wish I could be flawless, perfection at its greatest. But I know that I am just a girl who grew up in a small town twenty minutes north of Boston with the perfectly good heart full of love and a back bone stronger than concrete. I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished. NSCC and the people I have met have made me see how much I am able to accomplish and overcome in such a short amount of time. I am a hard worker and believe that as a person I have changed for the better. I am on a road to better and greater things. My first semester of college has taught me to leave the bad and grab onto the good. Your past should not make you into who you are going to be. I get to choose who I want to be and who I want in my life along for the journey into my new beginning.

Thoughts Before Christmas

2009-12-22T13:47:00.002-05:00

I am not excited for Christmas this year. I used to enjoy the holiday music and cheer, snow and cold weather. This year, for some reason, just is not the same. Maybe it is because everyone is grouchy, the economy is still in a rut and shopping just stinks in general. I already miss my classes and my professors, sad isn't it? I also miss the amazing friends I have made that I really want to see as soon as possible. I enjoy school and the freedom that comes with it. I love roaming around the building, talking to people and making new friends. Its been a great experience and hate that I have to wait a month for it to all come back. I wish winter break was only a week like it was back in high school. I have no holiday cheer this year, I feel like the Grinch. :(

I am usually festive and cheery during December but I feel like everyone else's lack of happiness has affected me dramatically. I can only hope everyone else has a great vacation and a Happy Holidays!

And do not forget about signing up for classes and financial aid if need be! Best of Wishes!

Uncertainty and Clarification...

2009-12-03T15:01:00.004-05:00

Lately I've been getting tired of going to school. Tired of waking up, at 7:00 every other day, after less than 8 hrs of sleep, and dragging myself to math class. And then sitting in school for the whole day until 2:20, and then sitting outside for at least 15 minutes waiting for my mom, even though we live less than 5 minutes away. Sometimes I just don't want to get out of bed, but then I remind myself that my parents paid for my education and I need to go to school. I think this has taught me not to pick classes at 8:30 in the morning when your definitely not a morning person. I'll know for next semester to build my school schedule around my sleep schedule. And no more night classes. I love English, but if I have to take another night class after spending the whole day in school, I think I might scream.
As I get closer to transferring (which won't be for a while since this is my first semester) I start to think that I might not want to transfer. On the one hand, I need to transfer. On the other hand if I don't want to. I don't hate school I just don't like the work, which is bad because school is work. But I guess I'll I just have to suck it up and do it, and when I finish, I finish.
I'm trying to enjoy my time at school, without a job, because things can change and you never know what might happen over the next few days, months or years. I have a friend that works, goes to school full time, takes care of family, does extra work at church and still finds time for her close friends. I would never be able to do that, I would fall apart, but that could be me in the next year or so. (I hope not, haha) it's kinda bad, but I look at that and tell myself to be happy with the place I'm in right now. I don't have to work, (at a job at least) and my schedule is not jam packed with things. Even though I don't like work I have to get used to it and become better at doing it on time and to the best of my ability.

Any one out there stressed or not sure about something at school? Please comment and share your story.

THE EVENTUAL HAND-SANITIZER STORY

2009-11-27T22:23:00.004-05:00

Hello North Shore students! I hope everyone had a really awesome Thanksgiving!

Well, today, being “black Friday”, the malls/stores and roads were a cluttered mess with people. I really wanted a digital camera that was being sold at Target, but when I arrived at 4:45 am it was sold out! This was very disappointing. However, I honestly must say that it was fun to watch people “racing” down the aisles and yelling at their spouses/shopping buddies/relatives for being too slow, and not “looking alive” as one woman said this morning. ---what a riot. (both funny and chaotic)

Anyone get up to go “black Friday-ing”? If so… what did’ya get?!

Even though it is important for some to get up, wait in line, and scramble through hundreds of people… is it worth it? I was honestly thinking about this Swine Flu sickness the whole time.

.. I'm getting to the point I promise. ...

I’m SO glad that North Shore has the hand sanitizing stations but don’t you ever find yourself going up to one, to find it empty? You take your sparkling clean hand (… not likely and an over exaggeration) and go to push/touch on the level to dispense the solution, and its empty! Ahhh! This is so frustrating! Some of them are automatic but some aren’t. I really appreciate how they give us the opportunity to sanitize ourselves but they should really keep on top of refills especially during this crazy flu season. Ugh.

- Kristen

P.S. --> I was recently informed that all of the hand sanitizer beliefs on how it's unhealthy if you use too much etc. ... is all a myth. Not sure how I feel about this. I personally believe that it obviously just dries out skin. So, try to use one that is lotion based (ie. one from Bath&Body Works) ... or just lotion up after using alot! :)

State House Visit

2009-11-23T18:07:00.002-05:00

Joanne, Victoria, Cala, Laura, Angela and I had the pleasure of visiting the State House on Monday. We were invited by the very friendly Representative Theodore C. Speliotis and we got to spend some time with him in his office and we talked about the Scholars Program and what his job as a State Rep entailed. We learned that he is the Chair of the committee in charge of licensing in the state of Massachusetts (all issues concerning consumer credit, consumer protection, the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages, the registration of various trades or professions.) We also learned about the complicated process of how bills were discussed by the representatives and passed. We even talked about how some of them make the public angry. Mr. Speliotis talked about how people can have a strong opinion about something but when they vote in the house they need to review all perspectives and angles and that what they vote for might not be what their personal opinion is but what is right, based on all the facts presented.Mr. Speliotis was so kind, and he prepared us lunch and we got to eat with him and his secretaries and assistants.

After lunch we took a picture in front of the grand staircase with the Representative. It was so much fun! Then we took a tour with a delightful old woman named Mary who although she was old, she was very up to date with her history and very amusing with her story telling about the state house. While we were there we had the privilege of meeting former Governor Michael Dukakis who served from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was also the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. After our intellectual adventure to the state house Joanne kindly drove us to Sonic where we got slushies (although she didn't get one because she does not like them). We got back to NSCC and parted ways.

I really enjoyed our trip to the State House and got to know the other girls a lot better. It was a great learning experience and hope we get to go again!
Thanks again Joanne and Victoria, I had a blast!

(Thank You Victoria for your help with this blog)

SEMESTER: ALMOST OVER AND OUT

2009-11-13T14:39:00.004-05:00

Well, I haven’t posted in awhile, and it’s great to finally be back! Sorry all for not posting on Halloween; must have missed that one because I wasn’t sure if it was my turn to blog.
So... The good news – I’m just going to have to make up for it! :) I hope everyone had a nice Halloween, and a nice Veterans Day. I am just so thankful for everyone fighting for our country. Past and present.

So, I’m VERY excited that this semester is almost over. I don’t know about all of you, but this semester has been kicking my you know what. I’ve never taken as many tests, quizzes, and done this many lab reports in all of my 19 years of living. NO JOKE. Going to both campuses and working doesn’t help either! However, I know my education is going to pay off in the end. (let us hope.. haha)

The best thing to do is to think forward and positively.
What is everyone’s outlook on this semester? Any regrets, thoughts, experiences, etc?
The best part about this blog is that people can post anonymously. It’s so good to get things off your chest, and just to vent! (Just be courteous, and obviously... don’t mention names!)

For me personally, aside from all the work, a few things came to mind. I’m not a smoker, but it bothers me how as I’m walking into the building, I end up smelling like a smoker. Anyone else feel this way? I just think smoking is gross, and the smell just grosses me out. I know there is nothing I can do, but at some campuses, smoking is not permitted anywhere near the building; smokers would have to smoke in their car, etc. Just thought I’d throw this smoking situation out there.
Hmm.. ...

-Kristen

The Freedom of Choice

2009-11-12T09:12:00.004-05:00

We live in a country that within reason lets people do whatever they want. Some choose to smoke cigarettes, which is perfectly fine. No one individual can stop you from smoking are they responsible for you increasing your chances of cancer. But smokers have a responsibility to be thoughtful of people who are non smokers, and to their wishes to not have to be too close to second hand smoke. A few weeks ago I found myself walking through a mushroom cloud of smoke at one of the entrances of the school and due to inclement weather, the smokers all wanted to stay dry. Is this fair? Absolutely not. Although their is not a designated smoking area on North Shore property, the smoking crowd needs to be placed in their own isolated area (I know of a few colleges that have smoking "gazebos" that students can go to and smoke and be away from the general public) or smoking needs to be outlawed all together on campus. To add a little fuel to the fire, the smoking crowd toss their filters into when they are done are total eye sores, and the worst part is some students don't even use them. I found myself enjoying some warm weather recently, and was sitting on the ledge which is abutted directly with grass and saw a insane amount of filters just sitting their. Change needs to happen, and it needs to happen soon. If you are a student who feels the same way, find someone on the Student Government, and voice your concerns.

Swine Flu Scare.

2009-11-10T18:40:00.004-05:00

I was diagnosed with a mild case of the swine flu this past week so I spent most of my time laying down, feeling like crap, for lack of a better word. While in bed, awaiting what seemed to be death, I realized I should of taken better precautions and I wouldn't be throwing up and have a fever of 101 due to the H1N1 virus. SO, to all you happy and healthy folks, here are some ways to not be stupid like me and prevent yourself from getting the dreadful flu! (Don't worry, I'm all better now).

And sorry if I sound like your grandmother trying to tell you what to do, but seriously, this thing, is horrible to have.

1) WASH YOUR HANDS!
2) Use hand sanitizer after touching a million things..like money, door handles etc.
3) Keep your hands away from your mouth (NO BITING YOUR NAILS LIKE I DO!), eyes etc.
4) Get some rest. Don't be an insomniac!
5) If you do think you are getting sick, stay home, take meds and stay away from the elderly, pregnant and small children.

Symptoms of the H1N1:
*fever
*cough
*sore throat
*runny nose
*body aches
*headache that will not go away
*chills
*fatigue
*diarrhea (in some cases)
*vomiting (in some cases)

Unfortunately, doctors offices are currently flooded with cases of the flu, but if you are experiencing these symptoms, make an appointment and they may prescribe you something to help ease the aches and pains.

PLEASE take care, and don't freak out over the flu. Keep yourself clean and healthy.

Guide for the Eater

2009-11-03T08:43:00.002-05:00

Seeing as I have been doing a couple guides by experience, I figured I might as well continue. So here are some suggestions on how to save your hard earned money.

If you’re like me you’re trying to hold onto every last dime that you barely have the time to earn. So it can get kind of hard when you end up spending 10+ for various snacks and food at school. Here are a couple tricks, and how I try to do things

1) Always always always bring a drink with you, I suggest water since most of your body is made of water, but its up to you

2) Bring your own snacks, I find that a mega pack of snacks is a lot cheaper at BJ’s than at school

3) Bring a piece of fruit. Not only can you barely find fruit at school, but it’s also expensive when you do. So do your wallet and body a favor and bring some fruit

4) Eat breakfast! Everyone’s heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it also saves a few bucks as well so you don’t feel the need to grab that caramel macchiato and coffee roll.

When I follow my own rules I find that I only need to buy a sandwich or burger each day. It costs around $5 but is a lot less expensive than buying a whole meal and lots of snacks in between. However that’s only when you eat at school. If you go to Lynn, like I do, than there is a large selection of equally expensive meals within walking distance from the campus. I find that its just easier to stay in school since the food their tastes just as good.

Mentors

2009-10-27T22:55:00.005-04:00

When you join the elite group of President Scholars, you are assigned a mentor who you meet at the luncheon before the school year starts. Each scholar is given a mentor, usually someone of high capacity at the college [some even with three funky letters at the end of their name], to which they meet with and discuss everything from life at school to things bigger than North Shore (life skills to be exact). My mentor happens to be a very busy man at North Shore, so when we are able to meet, I like to squeeze every last drop of information out of him. This week, I had a issue with something at the college, something that I really didn’t know how to deal with without offending the professor I was dealing with. So, I did the adult thing, and seeked out my mentor, with who sat me down and give me one of the best lessons in life you can be handed: when dealing in a situation like this, you need to craft your words so carefully so that you can get your point across, not offended the other party, and find a resolution that fits both parties. After being told this, I realized how valuable that lesson from the my mentor was.

Dealing with difficult situations is a fact of life, but dealing with them respectfully and in a proper manner can make all the difference in the end result. Its get better though. I found out that day I had two mentors: I walked across the hall to check in with one of the three-at-the-end-of-her-names and asked her opinion. This young lady stressed something that my other mentor stressed: grades aren’t everything. They aren’t the end all be all. Its what you take from the class and can go forward with that matters at the end of the day

Agoraphobia: The Fear of Embarrassment or Losing Control

2009-10-26T11:49:00.010-04:00

Before entering college I had a few thoughts in mind:
1) I was going to let go of my past & look forward to the future
2) I was going to keep to myself, not let anyone get to close to me because I was scared of drama (a lot like in high school) ruining my plans and dreams
3) Study my hardest, and make something of myself by doing so

Well, numbers 1 & 3 weren't so bad right?
Number 2 was my biggest issue.

When I did enter NSCC I didn't talk to ANYONE. I'm not too shy of a person, but I had my walls up. I figured I'd just make it through by keeping to myself and not making any friends. I also thought I had plenty of friends back in my hometown of Stoneham, so why would I want more!?

Making friends always ended up in some sort of embarrassment for me. People would only talk to me first if they wanted some sort of information or to start some sort of fight. I realized I was so scared of this happening in college, that I had closed myself off completely from the world and was missing out on the greatest years of my life.

I was also afraid of losing control by going out too much and partying. (Although I'm not that kind of person at all, my fears where out of control). I was also fearful of losing control of homework and due dates and my stress level reaching an all time high. Because of these fears I came to a realization and I decided to make a change in my life. I was driving myself insane with "What Ifs" and "If I don't do well this will happen" and stumbled across the idea for this blog.

I made friends with a girl in one of my classes who is actually from Stoneham, but was home schooled so I never knew who she was until now. I was talking to her about my fears and she gave me some advice that I would like to share with you:

Fear is something every human has, you just have to be control of it. Don't let it get the best of you. You have to put yourself out there and meet new people. Sure, some will be TOTAL jerks, but others will be kind and generous and want to help you out. Don't be afraid of what might happen, be afraid of what you will miss out on because you've decided to live under a rock. Life is too short to be scared and not take chances. Do what you have to do, like homework, projects, going to work and hanging with friends. Those are things you get one shot at, one shot to do it right. So work and try your hardest, don't be afraid of messing up or losing out. This is college, a new stage in our lives. So lets live it and love it.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS AND OTHER GROUPS

2009-10-23T14:42:00.004-04:00

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS AND OTHER GROUPS
Does anyone know what a Presidential Scholar is, or what the Presidential Scholarship Program is? Most people don’t. As a Presidential scholar, I represent the school at various events on and off campus. Also as a scholar, I have a requirement of attending a certain number of events each semester. This can be difficult with academics, extra-curricular activities, and work. Some of the events require not only attendance at certain things to represent the school, but active participation. For instance, I was invited to speak at an incoming student orientation in front of a large crowd. I was also encouraged to put together a small presentation at a local Rotary Club meeting. The events are a lot of fun, and are great opportunities! The scholars are given a reward for participating in this program, but above all, not everyone is invited to a Chamber of Commerce breakfast! It’s pretty neat!

To get into the program, I had to obviously apply, and put together an essay, or personal statement. In addition to this, I had to get recommended by staff members from my high school and have a certain grade point average. My goal is to eventually provide more awareness for this program, and for other students to realize that as Presidential Scholars, we help to keep North Shore’s reputation alive in the perspective of advertising how the college is full of opportunity. Another goal of mine being a Scholar, is to promote the Spark Literary magazine. Many students just don’t know about it! There are so many students that have an abundance of talent in writing, poetry, and art. Anyone ever submit to the magazine before? With any questions or submissions, please email SPARK@northshore.edu.

With all of this in mind, does anyone have any ideas for a new club or group? Share your ideas by commenting! :)
-Kristen

Guide for the Commuter

2009-10-20T18:45:00.026-04:00

For anyone who commutes to the Lynn NSCC, I’m sure you understand my pain and frustration. You see I live in Gloucesta, and from all the possible colleges, NSCC was one of the closest. What I didn’t realize was that the train would not always work. And worse still, traffic in the city is a real pain! Therefore I will try and help anyone who is wondering what to do by telling you about my experiences

The Train: the train is nice, while your riding on it. That’s about it. I only live 5 minutes away so it’s easy to get to, and I know some back roads, so it’s free parking for me. But then I usually wait about 10 minutes for the train to come because you simply CANNOT MISS THE TRAIN. Anyways, once I’m on it is a nice relaxing trip, where those who don’t procrastinate could get some homework done or write some emails. The down side is that it takes a solid hour from Gloucesta to Lynn. Not to mention the fact that they have such weird schedules where I end up getting kicked off the train, have to wait 10 minutes, and then get on another train, just so that they don’t have to stop in Lynn (jerks).. Then theirs the ride back. My classes always end at 2:10; the train doesn’t come until 2:45. If your like me and don’t like wasting time, then that is a long time to wait. I guess I could try to do some homework, but why bother.

Driving: Ahh, the joy of being able to drive your own car, at your own pace, knowing you have a ready available transportation system. Then theirs the other side… Lynn. I personally had never driven in daily traffic until I started college. Let me tell you, it takes 15 minutes to get from Gloucesta to Peabody, and 30 minutes to work my way through the city. In the dead of night, I might be able to cut my trip down to half an hour. On a bad day (every day I drive) it takes at least 50 minutes. Not to mention the gas I wasted, and the miles I put on my new car.

So there are your options. Take the train and end up wasting an hour of hour day, paying 7 dollars, and have the hassle of being on their schedule, or drive your car, waste about 30 minutes of your day, get really stressed out during traffic, and spend 7 dollars on gas. My finale say: take the train, you end up feeling like your helping the planet and that your better than people who drive their cars… and that’s a nice feeling.

The Promient Dean

2009-10-20T18:44:00.002-04:00

As a Presidential Scholar, I get asked to go to many different events on and off campus. These events can range from open houses, to chamber breakfasts and to special events that don't occur often. Today, I went to a event that is very near and dear to everyone at North Shore's hearts: a welcome dinner for the accreditation team that will be accrediting North Shore over the next few days. This event was very interesting in many ways, because going into the doors at the Sheraton, I had no idea what to expect. After walking around for a few minutes, I finally found the reception and met up with President Burton and the accreditation team, I was introduced to several members of the team and made small talk with them, comparing North Shore to their colleges. It was interesting to hear about various programs and events they have or about their expansions/renovations. As we started to come together to break bread, I saw a seat open at the table with a prominent Dean at the college at decided to take a seat next to him, and get to know him quite well. Turned out, that was my smartest decision of the night, besides turning down the fried chicken at dinner. This prominent Dean, happened to be quite the interesting character. I knew very little about him before I sat down next to him, and walked out feeling like I had just made a friend on the spot. This Dean, who holds three degrees from Ole Miss, was a great resource to discuss every aspect of school, and the future. This Dean projected a very important point to me: no matter what you get degrees in or take classes in, you never know where you will end up.

Molly's Story and Advice from a Single Mom

2009-10-19T10:22:00.001-04:00

I was sitting in class next to a girl named Molly*. Molly told me she was 21, and has a 2 year old son named Austin*. As we were getting to know each other, I told her about this blog and that I needed a new topic to write about. She told me to write about her story.

Molly was 19 when she got pregnant and gave birth to a 7 pound 6 ounce baby boy. Austin's father, Justin*, denied him from the moment Molly got pregnant and has never been in the baby's life. Matter of fact, Justin kicked Molly out when she was 3 months pregnant and has since lived with her adoptive parents and sister. Molly got a court order for a paternity test and it was confirmed that Austin was indeed Justin's baby. Justin, after 2 years, just began making child support payments in August.

Molly decided to go back to school (she was at NSCC before she found out she was pregnant) to better her future. She told me of her struggles and current problems while being a mom, going to school and working overnight shifts.

I know that Molly isn't the only single mom going to North Shore and she asked me to give out this advice to those in a situation just like her own/how to prevent yourself from being in one:

1. Never give up, you have to keep pushing yourself forward.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

3. Go back to school! And continue on if possible. (Starting back at a community college was the best choice she says she has made and wants to transfer to a 4 year school and major in Nursing.)

4. Use protection! (As corny as it sounds, do it!)

I personally look up to Molly. She works close to 35 hours a week, mostly overnight shifts, to support herself and her baby. Thankfully her mother will watch Austin while she can but they struggle with money and keeping up with bills and payments. If you find yourself or someone you know in this situation, leave a comment with your own comments, concerns and advice.

* The star after the name means the name has been changed for the privacy of the person being talked about.

"GO GREEN" IN DANVERS! WELL... SORT OF.

2009-10-16T11:19:00.003-04:00

Currently, the Danvers campus is building a new "green" building! Isn't this exciting?! I must admit, it was pretty cool watching the huge construction trucks easily rip an entire tree out of the ground. Anyone else get to see this happening during the day? The giant "claw" part of the truck looked like it could definitely be out of a movie scene. It was wild. Even though it was pretty cool to watch, let's just look at the big picture. They are building this "green" building... but are tearing down trees. Am I missing something? LOL -I realize that the construction requires this needed space, but this is just so humorous to me!

Alright… so does anyone actually know anything about the new building being built at the Danvers campus? I actually looked in the Pennon (school newspaper) and it had mentioned that the new building will be replacing the classrooms at the Essex Agricultural building. I personally have never been there, but I’ve heard it’s falling apart. Anyone have a class there? Also in the Pennon, I read that this will be the last major renovation for Danvers since there is no more room for expansions! This really didn’t surprise me…
It did mention something about moving to the Lynn campus next for renovations. It could use some updating, but I still think it’s in good shape considering its 27 years old, and considering the amount of traffic going through it each day. Craziness!

So… what does everyone think about all of this?
-Kristen

...Good thing he said something...

2009-10-15T09:40:00.008-04:00

So, it's the first day of school, I just finished my first class of the day. Math. Things were going well so far. I looked at my list of classes and went down to the second floor for my next class. Biology. I got to the room early and waited with a bunch of other students to get in the room. Once the previous class got out, I followed a line of students into the classroom, and sat in the front row. A sigh of relief came over as a slumped in my seat. But then I heard a guy behind me asking another guy if the class was biology...he said "no", it's something else, I couldn't make out what he said. I swung my head around so fast it hurt my neck.

The guy looked confused and he looked at a piece of paper and said room 211. I looked at him and nodded my head in agreement. Then a girl that was sitting next to me said "oh that's in the other building." I looked at her blankly, "where's the other building" I said, even though I knew where it was. She looked at me and said "the health building." My nerves began to tense again as a I got up and realized that I was sitting in the wrong class for the first time, EVER, and if I didn't find my class soon, I would be one of those late people that couldn't find the class, and that's the last thing I wanted to be. So I got up, and followed the guy, that had spoken up, and we walked over to the health building. We got there and walked up the steps to the class rooms, he looked back and noticed I was following him. "I'm following you" I said with a smile. He said, "ok, but I don't know where I'm going, I'm taking us in circles I think" That scared me a little. But at last we found the class, it was almost full, luckily there were a few seats left, and a couple seats left in the front. I sat down in the 3rd row from the door, 2nd seat from the front. I sat down, with another sigh of relief, and waited to see if this was the right class, I had a good feeling it was. Lesson learned always ask if your not sure, and listen up if people ask questions, I'm so glad that guy asked, otherwise I would have been embarrassed and late on my first day of college.

A Quick Change of Scenery

2009-10-14T21:26:00.004-04:00

As I sit here on the brisk first day of October, a lot has changed since I first arrived on the Danvers campus a month ago. On the first day, anyone that took a second to look around would see people fighting for “primo” parking spots, Campus Police trying to catch students parking on lawns, shorts and t-shirts, new students rushing to find their first classes before the Professors start their lectures and a sense of wanting to go out and sit on various walls and lawns between classes to catch a breath of the summer air. Today, upon arrival, I noticed people journeying way into the deep woods of the campus to the already paved parking spots, and Campus Police at ease. Shorts and t-shirts have been replaced with jeans, sweatpants, and of course, “Uggs” boots for the female population. No longer are their students with lost of confused looks on their face, only looks of “I should have studied longer last night but fell asleep on Facebook”. Lastly, the walls and lawns looked very bare today. It seems as though North Shore does not have a outside heater for students to use while catching a wisp of the brisk fall air. As we roll into fall, Professors get more and more intense, and thoughts of mid terms and final exams are on the horizon. As a reader, what part of North Shore inside or outside of the classroom would you like to hear about? For this interested in the inside, here is a snippet of a Professors quote on the first day of classes referring to final grades “I drink wine the night I figure out final grades”.

Procrastinating Through the Day- an Introduction to the NSCC Blog

2009-10-13T08:43:00.040-04:00

To start off I would just like to say to anyone reading this, welcome to the first NSCC Blog. My name is Ortiz. The whole idea of this blog page was to try and get students connected, and for future /prospective students the opportunity to see what it’s really like in NSCC, not just what the pamphlets tell you. And so to start things off I thought that whoever might be reading this would probably want to know a little bit about myself and what I’m suppose to be doing at the college.

I’ve always been a person who likes to do things with my hands. Whether it be legos, chairs, robots, kitchens, or houses, I liked to build it. I am also a Maintenance Worker/ Landscaper. Therefore I knew I wanted to pursue a vocation. I ended up choosing the Energy Utilities Program here at NSCC for a variety of different reasons, the major ones being cost, location, and it was one of few focused, hands on programs. So the one year E.U.T certificate fit the bill (more information about E.U.T can be found on the main website). Anyways that being said, I would like to let everyone know what a day in the life of a nscc student is like.

6.00 AM

Adjusting to a 6 am wakeup isn’t the easiest, but I begrudgingly start my day and get ready for the hour long trip to the Lynn campus. Some days I pack a lunch, some days I’m just to lazy and will have to buy a $3-5 lunch later.

6:52 AM

Drove across Gloucesta to get to the train. I hop on and pay the $7.00 round trip fair. I’m considering getting a charly card. As we start off I think of all the readings I should have done the day before, unfortunately for me, I’m and extreme procrastinator and decide that watching the scenery is better.

7:50 AM

As I arrive in Lynn I decide that I should have done my work and plan to do it the next time. I have 4 classes today ( on Fridays I only have 2) and they begin at 8:00 Am and last till 2:10. So ill go through each one quickly.

Computers:

Judging from the book that I skimmed, this class seemed real easy. However as the teacher starts to talk about how the internet exactly works and hexadecimal languages, I realize I better start taking notes. Unfortunately I decide that listening is sufficient. Some days it ends up being ok and some days it’s a nightmare to even try to keep up with this entirely new language that my teacher/program leader is talking in. for the most part though, its works out.

Intro to Energy Utilities

Its a fun class with a teacher who isn't a real teacher, he's just doing this for retirement, and so he makes it fun and easy. unfortunately the class includes history of electricity and economics of the Electric power industry. in the end, lots of movies and lots of crazy lectures make it a nice class. the teacher also helps us understand any other classes

Science of DC/AC

a relatively simple class made confusing by my computer teacher/program leader. its a good thing our other teacher helps us out. a few formulas such as p=iv and v=ir can get you through most of the chapters.

Mathematics

we started out with basic algebra which is relatively simple stuff (although my perspective as a slight math wiz is bias). however the teacher is making things so complicated. its gotten to the point where she says something , and then i redistribute the information to my classmates in the back of the class. this class is LONG (around 2 hours) so its a lot of math to take in each time.

2:50 PM

Well, i made it through the day, and am now waiting for the train, which is only a block away. while i wait i decide to study, but end up getting distracted by the interaction of pigeons and people. then i jump on the train and enjoy the scenery (should have been doing my homework) on the way home

4:00 PM

I shot over to work and am now doing some awesome landscaping here at the Vista motel (www.vistamotel.com = best motel on cape ann). gotta work for a few hours at-least so i can afford living (which costs a lot btw).

7:30 PM

Finally get home and decide that i deserve an hour of mindless TV brain sucking, after all i can just do my homework tomorrow....

It came to my attention that sometimes we all need a little advice…no matter how old we are

2009-10-10T17:12:00.002-04:00

Entering college can be as frightening as riding your bike for the first time without training wheels. But, once you get the hang of it, it’s easy. Along the way, we all need some guidance and advice. Your best friend may go to a school fifty miles away (which is hard because now there’s no one to bail you out of those sticky situations you get yourself into), your parents have you under pressure to get good grades, and trying to make time for yourself seems close to impossible. BUT! There is hope! It may take some effort and hard work, but your busy schedule will become organized and you will adjust to your changing lifestyle. Thankfully here at North Shore Community College we have people who are willing to guide you in the right direction, answer your questions and lead you to success. It came to my attention, that sometimes we all need someone to talk to who is within our own generation and who can understand where we are coming from. I also know that I want these things to remain confidential, so that’s what I’m here for.

I am here for you to vent to, to take an emotional load off your shoulders and help make college a bit less stressful and more fun. For example: Your professor, Mrs. So-So is cramming you with homework and you need a tutor, ASAP! I am here to help guide you to someone who can make Mrs. So-So’s class a little less stressful. Steering you in the right direction here at North Shore is my plan. You may also need someone to vent to, anonymously, about that girlfriend or boyfriend of yours who’s giving you trouble because your lab partner and you are becoming close friends.

Post your thoughts, ideas or problems here (anonymously or not) and I will do my best to guide you and help you in whatever way I can. Keep in mind of course I don’t know any good magic tricks to get you straight A’s or a better significant other, but I can help put you on the road that can. I will be posting every Monday. If you have any special requests or ideas, feel free to leave a comment.

(Please note: if you wish to mention or speak about a certain person and you feel that what you might say may be hurtful or start a war, give them a code name that isn’t so obvious or mean.)

NSCC Student Blogging

2009-10-01T09:23:00.000-04:00

What better way to get to know North Shore Community College than to read what current students have to say as they experience it firsthand? In the coming weeks NSCC will be publishing a blog for current and prospective students written by current students. Students will be posting about their day to day thoughts as they adjust to, and take part in, the busy life of an NSCC student.

Our bloggers will be posting here weekly throughout the semester. We invite you to check back often and read what they have to say. If you have something to say back, we encourage you to share your thoughts and interact with them. Let your voice be heard. By taking part in the College community you add to the completeness of your NSCC experience.