Student Blog

Wow, this semester flew by…they seem to be going by faster each year. I guess the busier you are the faster time goes and I don’t think I’ll be getting any less busy anytime soon. This semester was good… of course it had its ups and downs as always.

I was just thinking that it’s funny how each semester we develop certain routines: what time we leave for class; what entrance we use into the parking lot; where we park; who we see and hang out with, etc. It’s nice getting into a routine but new things and change is good too. I am looking forward to a nice little break and having a little more free time. I am also looking forward to next semester. I’m really looking forward to my schedule and the classes I’m taking. I am also excited to take some professors again and getting to know a couple of new ones.  I hope everyone enjoys their time off and is able to get rested up for the new semester. Happy Holidays!

Tuition for the Spring Semester for 2009 is due December 10th! All class registrations for the spring term that are not secured with full payment or financial aid will result in students having their class schedules cancelled. So be sure to have everything organized so you can ensure your classes are paid in full by December 10th, whether it is being paid with financial aid, scholarships, saving your own money or reminding your parents.

I have personally received two scholarships from the MCC Foundation which I am very grateful for. I have continually been impressed with their organization, kindness and willingness to help. I am also very grateful to my benefactor because without him it would be much harder to reach my goals.

Regardless of what means you have to pay your tuition let’s not forget to be thankful and to use our money wisely. Especially in today’s economy I consider myself very privileged to be able to go to school, so let’s not take for granted our education and the means we have to pay for it because not everyone is as fortunate as we are.

The ARC has been a big help to me during my time at MCC. It has been a wonderful place to get away and study as well as receive free tutoring if needed. The ARC offers wonderful academic support programs such as tutors, math workshops, study skills workshops, developmental education advising, reading lab classes, writing lab classes and math lab classes. The mission of the Raymond D. Cheydleur Academic Resource Center is to empower all MCC students to achieve academic success.

The core mission of the ARC is to help all individuals accomplish educational and employment goals consistent with their values, interests and abilities. The ARC serves as a means to help under prepared students to prepare, prepared students to advance and advanced students to excel.�

I strongly believe that the ARC is meeting their mission, and it has exceeded my expectations. I have spent many hours in the ARC studying for Anatomy I & II and Math. I know that without the ARC and the help I received there I would not have done as well in classes that are difficult for me. I especially found the models and bones you could rent to be very helpful with studying for Anatomy. I am also very grateful for all of the help I have received in math and I know I will be spending many more hours in the ARC once I start 1105 in the spring.�

The Fall Lab Hours (Bradenton and Venice) are Monday-Thursday 9:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. and Friday from 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. The ARC in Bradenton is also open from noon – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.  The Bradenton phone number is 941-752-5504 and the Venice phone number is 941-408-1452. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this wonderful resource we have on campus and thank you to all of the students and teachers that dedicate their time and help to everyone!

I was recently discouraged with a class that I am taking that is difficult and involves my area of weakness concerning school. At times it seems like quitting would be the easy way out but then I just remember that I have come so far and I’m not going to let just one thing stop me from reaching my goals. I reevaluated my situation and became more encoraged not to give up and just try harder and put forth more effort.

When I was dealing with this situation and discouraged I found the poem below that encouraged me. During our college careers we are going to face difficult classes and tasks that sometimes seem like they will never end. If we just hang in there we will have a great satisfaction knowing that we stuck through the tough times and came out successful! Also let’s remember we can’t keep holding on to our past successes because often times when complacency and contentment sets in it is easier to lose track and not do as well as we had planned or hoped for. So let’s reach for continued success!

Don’t Quit

By:  Unknown Author

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit.

Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –

You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out –

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit

It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

MCC is having a production of the cherished holiday opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. Gian Carlo Menotti’s American opera classic will bring a family holiday tradition to the Neel Performing Arts Center stage in evening and matinee performances Nov. 20th-22nd. The great MCC students that are performing in this opera have worked very hard to ensure this performance will be a success. For many this has been a nice introduction to opera and it’s also great family entertainment.

Performance times for “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at Neel Performing Arts Center are 8 p.m. Nov. 20th - 22nd, 10 a.m. Nov. 21st and 2 p.m. Nov. 22nd and 23rd. Neel Performing Arts Center is located off 26th Street at 60th Ave. W. at MCC in Bradenton. General admission is $10. Tickets are $5 for Florida students and MCC staff. Group rates are available. For more information, call (941) 752-5252.

The performances I have been to at MCC provided a nice experience and a great atmosphere. Let’s support our fellow students and make plans to attend. Also remember plays/performances can also help with completing assignments in classes such as speech and sociology…so it’s a great opportunity to support MCC, have fun and fulfill assignment requirements.

The other night I had the opportunity to chat with two old friends. One of the friends I talk to every few months but the other one I haven’t talked to in about two years…as I was catching up with them and sharing old memories, I realized that we could never relive those memories. As much as we would love to you can never make the same event happen again just as it had before. As I continued to think about this I was once again reminded how truly important it is to seize every moment in every aspect of our lives because you never know when you or someone else’s life is going to change.

These next 10 years or so are going to be so exciting and busy for us as we continue to go through school, establish our careers and meet different people. I also realized as friends and acquaintances come and go in our lives it is so important to keep in touch with them as your lives take different paths. So let’s just remember everyone is put in our life for a reason and everything happens for a reason…so let’s make the most of it!

Wow! What a week, I feel like I’m the busiest I’ve ever been. I can’t believe this semester is already down to the last several weeks. I’ve found my time being consumed with more projects and already concerning myself with preparing for finals. I have also taken on additional responsibilities concerning work, which has been stressful but exciting.

This week has also been exciting with signing up for new classes. I love planning and figuring out what’s next to keep reaching my goals. I mostly love the planning part of this time of year. I have been known to help friends figure out the classes they need to take and the schedule that works best for them. I have found that it is so important to stay focused and organized during this time of year and at this point in the semester especially considering that the holidays are right around the corner. So let’s try to stay focused and finish successfully in the end!

It’s that time of year again…Registration for Spring 2009 classes starts Wednesday October 29th for students who have 30+ hours. If you have 0-29 hours registration begins Thursday October 30th. For returning students who were enrolled at MCC during Spring or Summer 2008 terms but not currently registered for Fall 2008- excluding transient students registration beings October 31st and for NEW students including transfer, transient, readmits and all others not previously registered for Spring 2009 registration begins November 10th.Online Web registration is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can register online at scf.edu and then click on My MCC.  From there click on Student Services & Financial Aid .  Then go into registration look-up classes to add to find the classes available. Next go to add/drop classes to enter the CRN number of the classes you want to take.  It’s simple and fast! Also if you need to seek advisement you can meet with an advisor/counselor by calling, vesting or e-mailing the enrollment services office at advisor@scf.edu I have always found the advisors and counselors to be nice and helpful. They are there to help you and can help to ensure you are on the right path! Also another very helpful tool for determining the courses needed for your degree is the CAPP/Degree Audit tool (Check your Academic Program Progress). You can do this by going to scf.edu, click My MCC, enter your student ID (G00#) and PIN then click student services & financial aid, student records and then CAPP/Degree Audit. I love this feature and have found it to be very helpful in figuring out what classes and requirements I still need to fulfill. Good luck in registering for classes, and try to start on the first day of registration for your current status…classes fill up quick!

I was recently inspired as I was talking with friends and co-workers about my future plans and goals. As we were sitting around talking, I began to get even more excited about what my future has in store…I’ve been thinking more about the future and my next steps as I get closer to earning my AA in psychology. I love sharing with people about what I want to do and how I want to help people in the mental health field.  I find every opportunity to apply every class I take to my major and love digging in my textbooks to see what may apply to me in one way or another. I have also found it helpful to read other books relating to my major and interests. I have found by doing so it keeps me informed, educated and excited about what it is I want to do.  I encourage everyone to make sure what they’re going to school for is truly their passion because it makes it so much easier to stay determined and focused. Some days, weeks, months or even years still may be hard while going through the process of accomplishing your goals and dreams but if it’s your passion it easier to remember that someday you will truly be doing what you love. I have a long road ahead of me considering my goal is to earn my doctorate in clinical psychology and sometimes I think to myself that day will never come.  Then I look back at how fast my time has flown by at MCC, which I think it’s partly due to the fact that I know I am doing what I was created to do, so I’m sure these next steps and stages in life will fly by too. I am so excited and can’t wait to enjoy what the future has in store. Get Inspired!

Whether it’s before class, during or after I’m sure most of us find ourselves getting hungry while on campus. The Lancer Cafe has good food at a reasonable price and a nice variety…including a salad bar, sandwiches, pizza, etc. I have eaten lunch in the cafeteria a few times and all of my visits were good. I’ve never heard any complaints and the staff is always friendly.

One of the things I like the most is that they take debit cards, which is convenient and fast. The cafe on the Bradenton campus is in the Student Union (Bldg. 14) and they are open Mon.-Thurs. from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4 p.m.-7 p.m. and Fri. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The summer hours are Mon.-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The cafe on the Venice campus is also in the Student Union (Bldg. 500). The hours remain the same as the Bradenton campus during the fall and spring terms, but the summer hours on the Venice campus are 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

I have found that the cafe is also good place to study in groups while grabbing something to eat at the same time.  Don’t forget if you’re in a hurry and just need to grab a quick snack there are always the vending machines which are accessible in many campus buildings year round. So stop in the Lancer Cafe and get some fuel for your brain!