TCC Writes Winter 2014-15 by Tarrant County College, Trinity River Campus

“Promoting student success, one writer at a time.” WINTER 2014 - 2015

Heather Shannon - TCC Student & Photographer

contents

The photograph on the cover is “Blaze.” It was taken by TCC student and featured artist Heather Shannon. The photograph was shot from the Trinity River Campus overlook, located on the fourth floor of the Trinity building, and depicts the intense heat rising from the riverbanks of the Trinity River on a hot summer’s day.

winter 2014-15

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Our Hallmarks 8

Upward Bound

Through the Lens of Imagination

Exchanging Words

Condoms on Campus

The Red Rubber Band Not a Hero but Heroic

The Best of All Worlds

American Robin Friends

My Gift Back to the World

Double Exposure

My Glitch

A Soldierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Son

TCC Writes Online Magazine provides a vehicle for promoting the works of aspiring student writers and artists on the Trinity River Campus. Not only are the student contributions published in TCC Writes inspiring and motivational, but with each issue they have helped make TCC Writes an integral part of the Trinity River Campus culture.

Our Trinity River Hallmarks An Unshakeable focus on Student Learning Service and Community Engagement Strong, Open Communication Professional and Personal Growth Multicultural Competence and Language Acquisition Interdisciplinary Collaboration Wellness

Our Hallmarks By Dr. Tahita Fulkerson—President The Hallmarks were conceived as my way of ensuring that everyone who worked at the campus and everyone who attended classes here knew what mattered at Trinity River Campus. The unshakeable focus on student learning was the first one—borrowed from a chapter title of Dr. George Kuh, a nationally known researcher on what exceptional schools have in common. [He did give me oral permission, by the way.] I also knew that we had to have interdisciplinary collaboration. When teachers in all disciplines work together, students have a better opportunity to have a coherent learning experience. Interdisciplinary collaboration was the rationale for having our faculty cubicles be interdisciplinary. We have art next to English next to Spanish, next to math, etc. The faculty obviously know their disciplinary colleagues and know in a different and valuable way their cubicle partners.

Language acquisition is one that needs clarification because it signified for me more than learning a second language the way we teach Spanish or French or German. Obviously language acquisition includes that kind of study, and I added to the concept of “language acquisition” the desire that students would learn the language of our courses. Once a student understands the vocabularies that are unique to courses of study—marketing, accounting, philosophy, rhetoric, mathematics—they are able to be more comfortable and more engaged in classes. When we had our complete team—in order of hiring: Serafin Garcia, Robert Munoz, Bryan Stewart, Adrian Rodriguez—we sat together for hours talking about the Hallmarks, what we called our campus philosophy. Wellness was a natural because we knew we’d be receiving nursing and Allied Health programs. And because wellness was a Hallmark, we led the district in becoming tobacco-free. Clear, open communication was absolutely necessary for obvious reasons, as were the twins personal and professional growth. Service and community engagement were part of our commitment to using service learning to help students engage with their courses.

“Promoting student success, one writer at a time.” This publication is made possible though the generous writing contributions from the students of Tarrant County College, Trinity River Campus, and the Trinity River Campus Writing & Learning Center. Our Hallmark is “An Unshakeable focus on Student Learning”

Read previous issues of TCC Writes by visiting our resource site at www.tccwrites.wix.com/wlc and following the TCC Writes link.

Promote The mission of the Writing & Learning Center is to create, promote, and foster the value, growth, and appreciation of writing.

The Writing & Learning Center

Escaping the ravages of war in South Sudan, Hakim Zakaria thought he knew what it took to survive, but life in America and the rigors of earning a college degree challenged him with not only bringing out his academic best, but also critical thinking skills he never knew he possessed.

Like many graduating high school students, Hakim dreamed of attending Texas Christian University. However, he had to accept the reality that not only were there high financial costs associated with that dream, but he also had to admit that he was not academically prepared for such a challenge. While attending TCC, Hakim understood that if he ever was to achieve his goal of attending TCU, he had to make some major changes and TCC was the perfect place to begin. Here is his story.

TCC Writes: For the benefit of our readers, would you please tell us your name?

TCC Writes: So that put you in what grade when you arrived?

Hakim: My name is Hakim Zakaria.

Hakim: When I first arrived here I was in the second grade.

TCC Writes: Where are you from, Hakim? Hakim: I’m originally from a country called Sudan. But over the past couple of years it split into two parts. Now it’s North Sudan and South Sudan. I am from the capital city in South Sudan, called Juba, but I’ve been here in Fort Worth since 2000.

TCC Writes: Wow, okay. So how did you come to enroll at TCC?

TCC Writes: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

Hakim: Originally, I wasn’t planning on going to TCC. I applied to TCU and was accepted straight out of high school, but my parents and a family friend pretty much told me that, financially, it was beneficial for me to enroll at TCC because it’s an intermediate route: from the school I went to, then TCC, and from TCC into TCU. Attending TCC allowed me to transition right into TCU. If I had gone to a university from the beginning, because of a lack of preparation I probably wouldn’t be going there now.

Hakim: I’m the oldest of seven. I have four brothers and two sisters.

TCC Writes: Are you saying you weren’t ready for it?

TCC Writes: So what brought you here? Hakim: I’m the product of a refugee family. A refugee organization here in Fort Worth near the medical district got us out of Sudan and brought us here.

TCC Writes: How many of them are in school? Hakim: I have a brother that’s two years younger than myself. He’s a sophomore at UNT, and I have a sister who’s a sophomore in high school, and the other two attend middle and elementary school. TCC Writes: Once you arrived in the United States, what was the biggest adjustment you had to make? Hakim: I’d say it’s just different because it felt like everybody was kind of, you know, against you because you’re different. Not only are you different, you’re from another country. Naturally when they see you’re as tall as I am, and because of the darkness of my skin-tone, people would try to touch me. When I was younger, I used to get into a lot of fights and stuff like that. So just the lifestyle and the culture of the United States were major adjustments. In Sudan, we were a lot more laid back, and in the United States it’s a fast paced society, so you just try to keep up with it. TCC Writes: So how many years have you been here total? Hakim: I’ve been here since 2000, so a total of fourteen years.

Hakim: Yeah, I don’t think I was ready for it. At the time I thought I was, but looking back, I see 20/20 and I know I wasn’t ready for it. TCC Writes: Did you struggle with any classes or sessions here at TCC? If so, what were they? Hakim: My first semester, I had a TuesdayThursday class that was at 7:15. I guess I struggled with that more so because at the time, I didn’t have a car and had to ride the bus. 7:15 was the earliest class period, so there was a lot of adjusting to time, but as far as the coursework and things of that nature, they really didn’t hinder me. I ended up getting a D in the class, but I think it was because of outside factors. TCC Writes: So would you say that outside factors were mainly personal factors and habits? Hakim: Yeah. TCC Writes: Like what? Hakim: Let’s see, sleeping habits. I would go to sleep sometimes at 2:00 a.m. and have to wake up at 5:30 and catch the bus at 6:15. I would put off a lot of classroom assignments to the last minute, and that’s what sometimes kept me up late. I would also not write down, or would forget homework

assignments that were critical to my grade, because I wasn’t preparing for my academic future in the way that I should have been. TCC Writes: Procrastination? Hakim: Pretty much. And a lack of being responsible. TCC Writes: When did you graduate, and what school did you enroll in after leaving TCC? Hakim: I graduated in the May of 2013, and enrolled at TCU right after for the fall semester. TCC Writes: What was graduation like? Hakim: Just knowing that you finished–the hard days, everything that you worked for those two years, all the classes you took, the time you invested, all the homework–in that one moment graduation captures all of that hard work. TCC Writes: What was the most valuable lesson you learned while attending TCC? Hakim: That high school and college are not the same things. They are incredibly different. TCC, as I said before, was instrumental in my going from high school to college, and on to a university. TCC was a necessary foundational step in the process of supporting my university dream. It’s like going from the first step, missing the second, but going on to the third. You can’t do that. You must complete that second step. TCC was my second step, and it allowed me to get a taste of what a university was and how to prepare myself for it. TCC Writes: What is your major? Hakim: I’m a journalism major with a history minor. TCC Writes: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make transitioning from TCC to TCU? Hakim: The university is a lot faster paced environment. You have four or five classes, and each professor has very defined expectations in order for you to learn and progress through your degree plan. At TCU, it was extremely hard getting adjusted to that pace, but once I got that first semester out of my way, or even for some, the first year, everything slows down and you can be a lot more successful. TCC Writes: Do you think that it slows down, or do you just catch up? Hakim: I think it’s a little of both. I think it’s like conditioning yourself. You know, the more you condition yourself for a marathon, the easier it’s going

to feel for you. So I guess more so, you catch up to the pace of it. So yeah, I would say you catch up. TCC Writes: How many students are in your classes? Hakim: At TCU it’s a pretty small private school. We just reached 10,000 people as of this semester for the first time in history. The freshman classes are the ones where you’re going to find the most students. During my first semester, the majority of my classes were filled with freshmen; I was one of the few juniors, seniors, or sophomores in them. However, I did have one class with 75 people in it. TCC Writes: Wow. What kind of class was it?

Hakim: It was a criminal justice, but I would say in general, most classes there are around 25 students per class. TCC Writes: How prepared do you feel you were for your transition? Hakim: I feel like I was prepared for it. You don’t actually know what it feels like to be in a position until you are in it. You prepare yourself all you want, which is good, but when you get in that position, that is when reality truly hits. So I feel like I was prepared, so when I got here I had to perform. Everything that I learned before, I now have to use and apply as best I can at TCU and just keep learning from there. TCC Writes: You were also in a mentoring program here at TCC. Do you believe that it played any role in your success? If so, what role did it play? Hakim: It definitely did, because I had a group of leaders: Steven LeMons, Freddy Sandifer, and Christopher Douglas. All they wanted us to do was to succeed. It didn’t matter what school we transferred to or the major or minor we chose; it was just all about succeeding. They were our foundation of the organization. When you get guys like that behind you, it is kind of hard for you to let them down. When you do, you feel really bad. So naturally, you just want to give one hundred percent for yourself and then an extra ten percent for the other mentors and everyone else who has had your back for the longest time. TCC Writes: If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently while attending TCC in order to prepare yourself for a university? Hakim: I would not have wasted as much time as I did my first year. I honestly met a lot of people during my first semester who were cool. We had a lot of the same common interests and goals, so I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could, sometimes

to my own detriment. I feel as though all my time at TCC was successful. It was kind of rocky at first because I was a procrastinator and did not know how to prioritize. So, if I had to do it again, I would prioritize differently. I would balance myself by allotting some time for my friends, dedicating more time for my studies, and balancing work and family. So I would definitely prioritize. TCC Writes: So finally, what advice would you like to share with students who are currently attending TCC and may be struggling? Hakim: It is the same with TCU or with any university in general; once you take that step and apply yourself by learning what you are supposed to be learning, you reap the benefits of all that hard work because your effort will always pay high dividends. And when it pays off, like during graduation, it becomes a validating moment–all of your labor and everything you have done have now come to fruition. Basically, it does get better. With everything in life, I tell people all the time, struggles and hardships are the flavor of life. If you did not have them, how would you know if you were advancing? You have to go through those hard times in order to know what it feels like to fail. Sometimes the contrast of failure makes it much easier to know what success feels like. It allows you to put yourself in a position to be successful. So I would say that regardless of the challenge, just keep going. TCC is challenging, but it is not the hardest thing in life. If you take that step to challenge yourself and go to class every single day of every week, and take all the notes you can, and study as much as you possibly can, then you will eventually reap the benefits of it. TCC Writes: And don’t forget to ask for help, right? Hakim: Oh yes! That was my biggest problem while at TCC. Being part of the Men of Color Program allowed me to really just let go of my ego and ask for help because here at TCC, especially the Trinity River Campus, everyone you go to is willing to help. Everyone! All you need to do is just open your mouth and ask, “What should I be doing?” or “Is there anything you could do to help me?” and you will get the help in the direction you need. TCC Writes: We appreciate your taking time to answer a few questions for us. You can be certain that those who read your story can benefit. Thank you very much, and good luck.

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graduated early from high school last December and began college at TCC Trinity River Campus a week later. The academic transition was smooth but, like many students, I had transportation issues. I quickly faced the choice of whether to buy a cheap car and live at home, or live on my own near the campus and walk. After an exhausting search for cheap cars, the last one I looked at smelled like BenGay and cigarettes, I began scouring the downtown area for an apartment.

By Heather Shannon

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Going street by street, I found what I believed to be the last affordable apartment in downtown Fort Worth. Within 24 hours it was mine, and the decision was final. I chose to walk. Walking through the world instead of flying past it in a car quickly changed my perspective. At first, I felt very vulnerable, having never lived in a downtown area. I walked, nearly running at times, to get to campus and back home. I had to learn to deal with cars running red lights and people living on the streets, but after a while things became more familiar and I slowed down. I began looking at the world from the ground up. Certain buildings, over time, seemed to take on a personality. I found comfort in the shade of trees along my way. I discovered different spots with a view around campus to hang out at and do my homework. One day, I decided to take some photos of the places and things I came across. I took a couple of shots every day and went home to digitally enhance them. I wanted to reflect on the context and elevate the personal experience of the moment they were captured. In a way, the work resembles watercolor or gouache paintings more than traditional photographs.

Junior Colleges, this November. My love of photography led to my one woman art show, FLASH, being entered into a juried art exhibition on TR Campus in October, and a paid position as Staff Photographer for The Collegian newspaper on the TCC Trinity River Campus. I have always viewed art as the highest point of self-expression. The instrument and the medium, to me, are what can be interchanged. I paint, shoot photography, and write poems, songs, and now articles. I am in the Guitar Club, the Drama Club, am working on my website, and workout in the school gym 4 days a week. While pursuing my A.A. at TCC, I plan to study more about photography and journalism. I also hope to join the school magazine or newspaper staff as a photojournalist and secure an internship next summer with a local television station or Google. My next major goal is a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. By then, I may have a car, but perhaps I may choose to walk instead. After all, it is more picturesque.

Giving advice to other students, I say take the initiative and give full attention to your studies. Absorb the On a hot summer day, I gazed out the overlook on the world surrounding you. Get involved. Do everything in main campus. Heat was rising in waves from the fields your power to make your life extraordinary. You must to the riverbanks, so I captured the image and called it have a strong belief in yourself and in your future and “Blaze.” One day I stopped by the TREC Café on the know that your goals are going to be achieved. Follow Trinity River East Campus and went out on the the dream that has always been on your mind. balcony with my coffee. I checked out the two-story Anything, really, is possible. waterfall below and noticed the Tarrant County Courthouse in the distance. It seemed like an island in the middle of the city. This photo became “Courthouse Metropolis.” I shot “City Mermaid,” a fin-like skyscraper, from the same vantage point. After shooting pictures, I walked around the architecturally unique café. It reminded me of a miniature museum, with light beaming through its angled glass, bouncing off steel, and travelling across soaring slanted walls. The only thing that was missing was the art. I immediately spoke with TREC Supervisor Colton Wright. I learned he was also an artist and TCC student. I spoke to him about doing a small exhibition. Things worked out, and within a week, FLASH, my one woman photography exhibit, was on display at the TREC Café. My experience living in downtown Fort Worth and attending the TCC Trinity River Campus has been truly amazing and transforming. I had the honor of being on the Dean’s List for the Spring 2014 semester, and my difficult, hot summer of full-time classes was rewarding. This fall I was awarded a TCC Foundation Scholarship, and I will be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for

Tree of Life A majestic rendering of a dualistic and mysterious tree that is shaded like the unknown with its branches intertwined like the complex world in which it has taken root.

City Mermaid The fin-like architecture on the City Place building in downtown Fort Worth served as inspiration.

Heart on a Highway With downtown Fort Worth in the background, a 50 mph speed limit sign is morphed into a 5 and a heart at exactly 50

Courthouse Metropolis The Tarrant County Courthouse reflected in a pool of white light radiates its purpose onto the surrounding city.

Meet Sandra. Sandra is extremely upset because she will not be graduating in the spring. Sandra has contracted Non-Graduationitus, a serious condition caused when students discover they cannot graduate due to not having enough hours or selecting the wrong classes. Sandra’s problem is not unique. Many students do not keep up with their classes or the hours they need to qualify for graduation. Instead of working closely with an advisor and signing up for courses that would keep them on track for graduation, indecisiveness and lack of follow through can find them coming up short. Don’t let this happen to you. Non-Graduationitus can be controlled. Follow these simple steps and you can decrease your chances of becoming infected: first, get to know your TCC advisor and establish an academic partnership instead of using the ‘Guess-It-On-My-Own Program;’ next, work closely with your advisor to select the classes necessary for transfer or graduation; and finally, show up for class everyday and participate. There is a substantial amount of data that suggests that by following these simple steps you can minimize your chances of catching this heartbreaking condition. So, before inviting all your out of town relatives to a graduation that you will not be part of, schedule an appointment with an advisor for your free inoculation, today.

Hey dawg! Now that I got yor atension lissen up. If I had wint to the riting senter i no i wodda made a beter grade on my paper. So dont en up in the dog house like me. Make yor apontment too day. Bow wow!

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exchanging words

by casey mitchell

s modern humans living in a modern age, we tend to take for granted the presence of the written word in our everyday lives; we see it all the time in road signs, textbooks, and even that little warning label on a hot cup of coffee. As a tutor in an educational setting, I have gotten so used to seeing words on a daily basis that I, like many others, process them without stopping to examine their ever-changing qualities. A few months ago, we decided to come to that stopping point in the Writing and Learning Center, to take a closer look at how far the written word has come, and where we are now. The result was the creation of a large timeline, which now exists in graphic format on the wall outside the Writing Center. As a student of history, I went into this project with a rudimentary knowledge of the evolution of words: that a person writing in a language called “English” in the 11th century would not be able to understand what I have written in the 21st century, and vice-versa. Our understanding of words and language is often dictated by our setting (what we are used to seeing in our present time, in books, on computers, on cell phones, etc.) and our native language. We also tend to think of words as very concrete and stable, when in fact language is highly adaptive and changes in unique ways, given time and cultural catalysts. The simple fact is that words, and more specifically, writing, are every bit as ancient as we often think they are, and more. Take into account for a moment the notion that the planet you stand on is round. It does not feel that way, does it? If you stand on a beach and look at an ocean horizon, it appears perfectly straight, perfectly flat. That’s the way language is when viewed in hindsight from our present day perspective, even though we know that at some point something changed. It is just too far back for us to see from where we stand right now; therefore, finding a beginning for a timeline involving writing is incredibly difficult, because people ascribe immediate meaning to words in their minds, and give them power in so doing. The beginning of words, however, happens to be quite ironic. The Lascaux Cave paintings discovered in Spain remain the oldest versions of written communication known to man, dating back more than 42,000 years, using pictures to tell a story we may never decipher. Over the course of the remaining time span leading into the 21st century, the progression of pictures into pictographs, pictographs into symbols, symbols into letters, letters into words, and words into ideas has been more extensive than one person could fathom. When words became constant, they became powerful. Civilizations in Egypt, India, China, and Sumeria began recording history, law, and divine will. The acts of gods and moral codes followed in the Phoenician, Babylonian, and Semitic languages forming in the Middle East. Words began to collect on scrolls in the world’s first libraries and were etched in stone for the benefit of kings. Hieroglyphs gave way to Holy Scripture, the scroll to the codex, and handwriting to typesetting. Accessibility led to literacy, and literacy to literature. The written word became the typed word, and the typed word the digital word. As we continue to progress into the digital age of this world, standing on that beach looking into the straight horizon of the past, we must wonder where our words will go next.

"Making condoms available to students doesn't make them more likely to have intercourse. It just makes the intercourse that students are having that much safer" (Kate Dailey). Personal note on my own experience of having children too early in life: make all attempts to get educated and be

knowledgeable of your actions. I had three children before I was 18 years old. More condom usage on campus after alcohol binging and partying, vs. the cost of abortions and destroyed lives, could result in a more responsible campus culture. Not using condoms creates a higher risk of unwanted pregnancy and life- threating STDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. STDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are the seventh leading cause of death among U.S. youth aged 15 to 24. More than 126,000 cases of AIDS among individuals ages 20 to 29 have been diagnosed in the U.S. through June 2000.

The rate of impaired decisions around sex is causing young adults to live with a lifetime of regret and life-changing events. Unfortunately, young men and women under the influence of alcohol rarely make sensible decisions about their sexual activities, and the walk of shame once the weekend is over can last forever. Making condoms readily available and an acceptable part of the modern-day college health plan would seem valuable for today’s student. Due to high dropout rates due to unintended pregnancy and increasing STD’s in college, students need condoms. “Students are having sex regardless, and unless they have the education to know that you need to use a condom every time--for pregnancy prevention, S.T.I. prevention--and unless they have them available, they're not going to use them.'' (Lizzie Jekanowski). Education and tuition should go hand-in-hand to provide achievement in college. Paying tuition should also include funds to provide a bulk buy of condoms on campus and provide their use freely, and make them accessible in all areas. By taking an up-close and confidential survey from students on our own campus, administrators could use the information and data provided to implement a required sex education orientation, providing students with additional information focusing on how to protect themselves from the spread of diseases fueled by alcohol use and poor decision making. Condoms should be available in dorms, restrooms and designated areas on campus, counselors’ offices, and the nurse’s station, and if necessary, be provided by staff. Condom availability is a choice, allowing students to make educated and not impaired choices. The fact is that sexual activity during college happens, and being offended by the topic is outrageous. Many find it immoral to provide condoms to students, believing that abstinence is the answer. I call this fantasy over fact. Many may be oblivious to the overall statistics

and the realistic need for condom availability. The Condom Availability Program (CAP) is an organization established in the United States. The goal is to make condoms easily accessible to the public, providing them in vending machines and public restrooms. The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Acts in 2005 and 2007 never made it to the committee. It was a failed program created to provide age-appropriate information on how to prevent pregnancy and STD’s. It would have simultaneously promoted abstinence and provided information about the use of and access to contraception, including condoms. Individuals must get involved in committee discussions and prevention programs aimed at educating college students. They must become a voice, not a closed mouth. We must educate college students so that they have a complete understanding of the consequences of not wearing proper protection during intercourse. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, is bolstering the condom use and have dedicated February 13th around the world as a day to support condom use. AHF also supports local colleges by providing condoms to all organizations that request them. Promoting the proper use of protection can provide lifechanging outcomes that benefit all students. Rebecca Bentley admits she got off to a late start with her education, but knew she wanted to achieve academic success. She began by completing her GED and enrolling in TCC, where she is now a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Her long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree and work in healthcare administration.

The Red Rubber Band

By Theresa Cortez

n Aesop’s fable “The Lion and the Mouse,” a tiny little mouse is used to gnaw the great king of the jungle free from a hunter’s trap. A moment earlier in this same story, the mouse was about to be food for the lion, but his quick wit saved his own life, proving the least of them to be a great leader by his wisdom and insight. The smallest of things can be used in a remarkable way.

Take this single red rubber band. How does it

band. As I gazed outside my classroom window

have the power or intrigue to stop people in their

hoping to find a beautiful specimen to observe

tracks and compel them to think on another

and write about, I saw lying on the floor a single

level? It seems impossible, yet this tiny red

red rubber band. What was it about this tiny band

string of rubber fibers, carelessly dropped on the

that captured my attention? Was it the intrigue of

floor by its previous owner, in what appeared to

the color “red,” which somehow suggested a

be a glistening sea of blue, black, white, and grey

warning, sending a subconscious signal, setting

textures of woven carpet did just that. It has long

off an alarm in my mind? Or that vibrancy of

been said that great things come in small

crimson, which is indicative of an abundant life.

packages. This old adage may reveal some truth

Yet, the band was all alone on the floor, being

in something as simple as a dropped rubber

trampled upon by a great number of people who

scarcely even knew it was there. As I walked

and redeem our time by making better choices

through the long and brightly lit corridor with

and becoming better people? The many fibers

cheerful words of inspiration etched on the walls,

and diverse colors on the carpet suggest that

I noticed the floor was styled of tightly woven

people are waiting on a single person,

carpet of many colors. To my surprise, and right

represented here as a red band, to stand out and

in the middle of the floor, just before what

make a difference. However, in order for us to

appeared to be a fun time looking aimlessly out

successfully make that change, we must first

to the window, I was halted! By one small

prioritize our lives, recognize the need for an

specimen in time. How had such a small, ordinary,

insignificant object captured my attention? Had the color red sent a subliminal message that time was being wasted? Could it be this is the season to be more serious, or was this merely a thing out of place? When something or someone is out of place, it causes chaos and the flow of productivity stops. Red sometimes

increase in academic

Red symbolizes many things: to name a few, its vibrant color can signal an emergency, give a warning of impending danger, or direct someone to slow down or stop. This red band has caused an internal inflection and self-examination, which is necessary to successfully move forward in life.

symbolizes many things. Its

proficiency, and become

strengthened in the areas we wish to impact. An individual can change a nation of people. A person dropped in a specific dispensation of time could impact an entire generation. One does not have to be great, just effective at their craft. Character is shaped and molded by the fiery trials and many experiences of life. To me, the

vibrant color could signal an emergency, give a

multitude of colors on the carpet represent many

warning of impending danger, or direct someone

nationalities in our world.

to slow down or stop. This red band has caused

Everyone has been given a certain allotment of

a self-examination, which is necessary to

time. What is done with it is completely up to

successfully move forward in life. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

thems. What will happen when the silent red

society, many of us are in desperate need of an

alarm is sounded? Will people take advantage of

internal assessment. There has been far too

that warning and sharpen their skills, becoming

much foolery. Children are being babysat by

better and more useful for society, or will they go

computers and the internet, many parents lack

to the window of comfort and gaze their life

the skills to properly raise their children, and the

away? The choice belongs to the individual.

whole world is turning to machines to

Please choose wisely.

communicate instead of human touch. Is it time to listen to this silent alarm, a small red signal,

Sometimes getting ahead and achieving your dreams could be a just matter of knowing where to find the right resources. Visiting the Trinity River Writing & Learning Center Resource site could provide you with the necessary writing tools you need to succeed. In fact, visiting our resource site may even help you find your way to the Tarrant County College graduation stage. You can find us at

www.tccwrites.wix.com/wlc

ent and thin at twilight, finally, tenderly, he places each tool in its place. With hands like saddle leather, he is an unwilling acolyte of the sun. A master of elements, arms of flesh and bone bend steel and wood according to his will. Far away in marble halls, important men discuss his future; it will be divided amongst them. Men like him built the colossus, a brotherhood that keeps its history written in flesh and stone in the deep grooves of a well-worn face and limestone in each layer of hardened callus. It has already been decided, his most current demise, at this hour when his elongated shadow seems cast from his will. Thin and bent, like an eternal blade of grass, swaying in the breeze but always rooted. He tenderly places each tool in its place, finally arriving at twilight.

Not a hero, but heroic. By Mike A Lopez

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences combines

The Best of All Worlds By Barrett Camille Rice

What is the Texas Academy of Biomedical Science, or TABS? The Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences is a collaborative venture between Fort Worth ISD, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, the University of North Texas, and the Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus. TABS is one of Fort Worth ISD’s Gold Seal Programs of Choice that allow students to choose their course of study based on their interests and aspirations. Students who attend TABS have elected to concentrate in the fields of biomedical sciences, public health, and other health professions. Students have an opportunity to graduate high school with more than 60 hours of transferable college credit that is tuition free. Those hours can essentially translate to an associate’s degree. Plus, students have the opportunity to obtain pharmacy or phlebotomy technician certifications. As the fall semester began, the Trinity River Campus became the permanent home for TABS juniors and seniors. Troy Langston, founding Principal of TABS, commented, “Having students learn how to negotiate college courses on a college campus is an important skill. Founding Principal of TABS, Mr. Troy Having students see Langston themselves as college students is also valuable, especially for the first generation of college going students. The leadership and staff at the Trinity River Campus have been so helpful and willing to work with us. They try to make us feel at home.” TABS High School was initially launched in the fall of 2011 with approximately 100 ninth-grade students. Many of the students attended the TABS Prep Academy of Stripling Middle School. The program received initial funding in the form of a $720,000 fiveyear grant from the Sid Richardson Foundation. Le’Shawn Palmer, President of the TABS Student Council, said, “Friends that attend traditional high schools always ask what it’s like going to college and

high school at the same time, and then they want to know if we have dances.” Palmer went on to comment that TABS has dances, academic pep rallies, and many of the same clubs and student-run activities found on high school campuses. The senior class is currently in the planning for the inaugural prom to be held in 2015. Some of the organizations include Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), student council, Youth in Government, foreign language associations, UIL academic teams, Whiz Quiz, and National Honor Society. Last year, TABS took second place in the Whiz Quiz finals after losing an exciting final round to Paschal High School. TABS also has a bike riding club and has hosted an afternoon bike rally with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price to promote the importance of exercise to combat childhood obesity and to promote bicycle

Medical interventions instructor Evette Mumford prepares students for lab work.

safety and the importance of a helmet. TABS is also part of Project Lead The Way (PLTW), which encourages students to work with leaders in the community to experience the importance of clinical and research careers. Students enrolled in PLTW courses as part of a coherent sequence of biomedical courses are provided a rigorous, innovative curriculum that concentrates on math, science, and technology in an action-oriented atmosphere. Summer science camps and courses held at TCC have provided TABS students with a strong introduction to the Trinity River Campus. TCC has been instrumental in designing courses of study that complement the TABS curriculum. Past summer camps have included

ophthalmology and pharmacology. Freshmen entering TABS must complete a summer program that allows them to earn their white coats. White coats are then worn to assemblies and special occasions. Students get hands-on experience and are introduced to the importance of time management and self-directed study. Monica Prochnow of TABS stated, “For so many of our kids, they are the first in their families to

service projects and helping to fundraise for the NHS. Stevens is a graduate of Dunbar High School. After graduating from Dunbar, she went on to earn a B.S. in Mathematics from Howard University and an M.A. in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Princeton University. Stevens is vocal in her support of the TABS early college high school, saying, “The move from TABS to TCC has made the relationship with TCC more fluid and much stronger. Things are Ashley Stevens , Academic Coordinator clear, and processes that improve student learning, like registration, degree audits, and course selection, have been made much easier. It’s been great being able to TABS students pay close attention during interactive lab instruction. interact with the TCC faculty, and it has made the attend college; however, due to their demanding transition for the students much smoother. The coursework requirements, some parents may at times, students can have less interruption in their learning.” may have difficulty providing academic support.” At Stevens also commented that she “sees TABS TABS, they can get both–the support and the credits students growing and becoming mature with support from TABS and TCC faculty, many of whom possess from not only the TCC faculty, but also with the other real-world professional experiences and multiple TCC students.” Stevens hopes that in coming years degrees in their fields. the whole TABS student body will be at the Trinity TABS has recently announced that Ashley Stevens, River Campus. who began as a geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus instructor at TABS, has been selected to serve as the Academic Coordinator. Mrs. Stevens also gives her time and support to the TABS National Honor Society (NHS) by spending many of her mornings and afternoons working on community

TABS junior and senior class students attend classes at the downtown Trinity River Campus of Tarrant County College.

Three TABS students work on a lab project during their Medical Interventions course.

Barrett Camille Rice is a junior at TABS and upon graduation wishes to continue her studies in the field of neurology. She is currently undecided on which university she wants to attend.

American Robin Friends By Sarah Reckling

t is winter time, and my heart sighs for my American Robin friends. They’ve hidden away so warm they’ll stay until the winter’s end. I miss the sight of their ruddy, rusty breasts as they hop along the ground. And my heart and mind are cheered each time they sing their cheery song – “Cheerily, cheery-me, Cheerily, cheery-me…” It rises and it falls in pitch. So, now I wait for spring to make the world seem young again. When green grass grows, As blue sky shows, when my birthday comes then creeps on by, I’ll hear the sweet and jovial cry of my American Robin friends – “Cheerily, cheery-me, Cheerily, cheery-me…” It will rise and fall again.

“My father dropped me

off at preschool at 7 in the morning at the Salvation Army in Irving, Texas, and gave me a kiss goodbye and told me to have a good day. Later that day, before lunch could even begin, my mother picked me up and told me, “Daddy has been in an accident.”

By Lauren Anikwe

rushed to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. I hopped out of the car before she could even put it in park and started running to the hospital entrance, yelling and crying, “Daddy!” Mother starting running after me and told me I needed to stay next to her. We went inside and checked in to look for my father’s room. They told me I could not go and see him at the time because of the critical condition he was in. I waited for several hours until the doctor told me I could go and see him. I ran to the bed and stopped. I just started looking at all the wires and screens around him. He was awake. “Come here and give me a kiss,” he said. I ran to the bed and gave him a hug and kiss. “Are you okay, Daddy?” I asked him. He told me he was okay; it was just a little accident. We stayed in the room and had dinner with him. The next day I saw the doctor take him to a room with a white tunnel where he lay. The tunnel started closing and I screamed, “Mom, where are they taking him?” The doctor looked at my mother and told me, “We are taking a picture of him; you will see him in just a few minutes.” I saw the different colors and pictures on the screen and was fascinated. He was released a month later to come back home with us. I was going to kindergarten soon. My father was still very sick, but he never told me why. I went with him every time he was x-rayed. Little did I know that because I was born with a Tethered Spinal Cord, that I would be using one of these x-ray tunnels too. As the months went by, he could not walk as well anymore, and they admitted him to a nursing and therapy facility. I always went to see him, to walk around and talk with him. The last moment I remember spending with him was the day before Christmas Eve. My mother and father had gotten me a robotic dog, and I went to the center and saw him with a walker coming out of the room. I showed it to him, and he watched me as I walked and played with the dog, and I then let him walk the dog with me. Christmas Eve morning we went to the center and saw my dad; his condition had deteriorated. He did not want to get out of bed. We spent Christmas Eve Day

with him when I was suddenly awakened from my nap with what sounded like a long beeping noise. I saw doctors rushing to my father and then connect him to wires and machines. I started screaming because I had no idea what was happening, and my mother started talking to him, and he said, “I love you both very much. Please take care of Lauren.” Later that day, on Christmas, we saw him and spent time with him. My mother told me that my father always said he never understood why people died on holidays and before afternoon. Christmas Day went by, and we talked all that day. Then it was time for me to see the rest of my family. We left the center hoping he would still be alive because his nurse said he was not going to make it. The day after Christmas my mother got a call, and he was pronounced dead at 2:17 PM. School started again. I was in kindergarten. All my classmates made me cards to make me feel better; to this day I still have every single one. Since then, I have always I wanted to know what he died of, and how I can make sure that children like me can find out why their loved ones died. As I got older, I went through the white tunnel to correct my Tethered Spinal Cord. I was still like any other normal child; I played all sports, went to school, and had friends, except I have a twelve-inch scar on my back. I started asking my mother, “What was wrong with my father?” She told me that my father had died of brain cancer. When asked how she knew, she replied,. “Do you remember the white tunnels you and your father went through? That is what they used to take pictures of your whole body and to see what was wrong,” she explained. I really wanted to know how the white tunnel worked and how the doctors operated it. I went all through school searching for that career. I later found out the white tunnel is called an MRI and the pictures are Xrays. When I was 13 years old, my mother put me in a program with Texas Workforce Commission. It was program to learn about careers, and they paid me for coming to class. I loved going there because they helped me find the career I’ve been longing to find: Radiology.

double exposure in celebration of twins

By Jalayah & Jazelle Lumar To us, being twins means more than just being born at the same time; it is about sharing the same experiences with our best friend. My name is Jalayah, and my sister is Jazelle. We were born November 6, 1995, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Jerry and Loreal Lumar. We also have an older sister and a younger brother. Due to our father’s job transfer, our family relocated from New Orleans to Fort Worth. Ever since we have been in the world, we have been stuck together like glue and we see no signs of this changing. All through elementary, middle, and high school, we not only have enrolled in the same classes, but have attended them together. Even here at TCC, except for one course, we still take all our classes together. Sometimes being a twin can mean being mischievous. We both used to find ourselves getting into trouble. Not bad stuff; just the kind that would cause our mom to take extreme action—something neither of us wanted. For example, while growing up, I (Jezelle) had more hair than my sister Jalayah. For some reason, my

sister became slightly jealous of my locks, so one day, she asked if I wanted her to do my hair. It sounded like a good idea; after all, how much could she mess it up? But what happened turned out to be a nightmare. Somehow during the styling process, she took the scissors and chopped off my hair. Once I saw the damage, there was no stopping the tears. My mother just happened to walk in at that time. The rest is history, at least a part of history Jalayah will never forget.

As long as we can remember, our mother and father told us that we would be attending college. Our father would always tell us, “No one can take the knowledge away from you; that is in your head.” So for us, college was not an option. We attend TCC for several reasons: our older sister, who is now at UTA studying nursing, graduated from TCC. It is closer to our home, is affordable, and helps to better prepare us for transitioning to a university. My educational goals (Jezelle) are to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising and minor in business management, from California State University, in Long Beach. My goal (Jalayah) is to complete my associate’s degree at TCC and study pharmacy. We realize that after graduating from TCC, this may be the first time we both will have to separate. Hmm, we do not know if either of

us want to know what that will feel like.

By Jonah & Haden Wendt Being twins in college can sometimes seem like both a blessing and a curse. You are seemingly forever attached to your best friend, your biggest critic, a blessing, or even a burden. It is almost like being married. As twins, it sometimes includes saying the same things at the exact same time and even wearing the same clothes by accident. My brother Haden and I were born on May 9th, 1997. We both attended Saint Paul Lutheran School (SPLS) from Pre-K to 8th grade. Excelling in sports and academics, we competed in many local and state Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA) events. At St. Paul, my brother and I were starters on both the soccer and basketball teams. After we had completed our education at Saint Paul, our parents began looking at private high schools. Not only were we strong in academics, but because we played basketball and our father is 6'8, basketball coaches also saw us as potential advantages for their teams. Eventually, we narrowed our decision down to Country Day and All Saints Episcopal School. We visited both and overwhelmingly preferred Country Day. At the time, it was the only school where we chose to apply. We were all extremely excited about attending, and the school was looking forward to seeing us on campus. However, things did not quite turn out that way. When we finally received what we thought would be our acceptance letter, we were told that due to a technicality my brother and I would not be accepted. Needless to say, we were completely devastated by their decision because we now had no idea where we were going to school. But luck was on our side. During a visit to Saint Paul, Troy Langston, the founding principal of the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences, was taking with the secretary about how he was starting a new Fort Worth ISD school dedicated to the medical sciences and needed more students to fill a few final spots. This sounded not only interesting, but something my brother and I could really embrace, so we signed up. After receiving our achievement test and completing the process, it was not long before we were accepted into the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS). Since being part of the TABS/Tarrant County College collaboration, TCC has impacted our academic careers by giving us a launching point from which we can pursue our collegiate goals. Taking classes here enables us to experience what college is like without leaving the safety net that is our family. For us, TCC has been college with training wheels, and we are grateful for the opportunities that it provides. As we get ready to ride off to our next learning institution of choice, our future seems bright and vibrant. After TABS and TCC, we both plan to attend Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and major in the pre-medical field. Upon graduation our plan is to attend medical school.

“Sometimes you have to give up something in order to receive.”

 By Angelica Camacho

still remember it as if it was yesterday. It was September 29th, in seventh grade when I discovered something different about myself. Well, as we all know, we all have five senses. Wrong! In my case, I am missing the fifth one, smell. As the tardy bell rang, many of us were herded back to our classroom and back from the lunch room, when out of nowhere we heard something fly across the hallway. It was one of those nasty stink bombs. It hit the floor with a thud, filling the room with a repugnant smell that was impossible to ignore. Or at least that is what I was told. As usual, I imitated the reaction of the rest of the crowd. For my classmates’ luck, our teacher Mrs. Romero was running late. As the minutes passed, the harder it was for them to ignore that foul smell. That is when it hit me. I could

not smell a thing!! To me there was no difference in the air. That is when I came up with the courage to ask my friend Robin what it smelled like. Shocked by my question, Robin replied almost hurriedly to me with, “Are you really asking me this question, Angelica! It smells horrible. I feel like I’m suffocating with all this stench,” and in the flash of a second her hand was back at her nose. My instant response was to cover my face as well. I did not want to be seen as a weirdo or stupid after getting the reaction that I got from Robin because I could not smell. A few minutes later, Mrs. Romero arrived, and she almost instantly was disgusted by the awful smell. That is when it finally hit me: they are not the weird ones, I am! As a younger child, my fourth grade class would often do science labs. We would

go outside and had to describe what something looked like, sounded like, or smelled like. No matter how hard I tried to sniff the plant or whatever object it was, I could never catch a scent. Therefore, I could never answer those questions regarding smell and had to secretly copy my friend’s papers in order to complete my assignments.

my inability to smell has not had any toll on my being able to taste and savor the foods I eat. I am a normal person like anybody else, with just one small glitch in my olfactory system. Not being able to smell is not as bad as it sounds. It shields me from having to experience all those dreadful odors. On the other hand, I am never going to have the pleasure of being able to smell the sweet fragrance of flowers, the fresh The one thing I will never forget is the perfume aisle scent that is produced by the rain, what a baby smells at Sears. My mother and sister Lily have always had a like, or the manly scent of my boyfriend. keen sense of smell. They both took pleasure in smelling the different sample fragrances at many of After my discovery, I never really shared it with the retail stores. But the one store they really liked anybody else until I was in high school. One day, was Sears. They would sniff every single perfume in during cosmetology class, we were bleaching hair, so the displays. They would sniff the aroma of the since the smell of the chemicals was so strong, I fragrances and comment about them to each other. decided to reveal my secret to some of my To try to avoid being involved in these conversations, classmates. As usual, I was not bothered by the I would stagger back around to the clock section, not odor, while everybody else was. Jenny, a former too far away from them. Since I could not detect any friend of my cousin Christina, was amazed after kind of scent, I did not see the point in fiddling with hearing what I had said to them. Jenny softly spoke those things. But at some point I had to reunite with up above everybody else’s astonished voices to tell them before my mom got anxious about where I was. me Christina did not have a scent of smell either. At That is when they would bombard me with questions. that time I was not aware of that information, “Do you like how this smells?” “Don’t you think this considering that I did not get to spend much time with scent is too fruity?” or “This smells so lovely don’t you Christina as a child. That afternoon when my mom think?” I would always just agree with what they were picked me up from the bus stop, I decided it was saying because deep down I had no clue what they finally time to let my mom into the news of my inability were talking about. to smell. At that time, I thought Lily and my mom were crazy. To me all those different perfumes smelled like everything else in this world, plain and simple, like air. It was not until the seventh grade stink bomb incident when I realized that I had no sense of smell. My olfactory organ, which is responsible for the sense of smell, does not work. The only main and sole purpose of my nose is to bring oxygen in and exhale it out. I do not complain much about lacking my sense of smell because you can not have everything in life. You have to give something up in order to receive. Yes, I am denied the ability to smell all the aromas in this world, but I’m benefited in my health. As a consequence of my “disability,” I have a great immune system. I suffer no types of allergies and rarely catch colds or the flu. One question in specific I frequently get from others is, so if you can not smell, do you have taste buds? Apparently, our taste buds are somehow connected with our olfactory system, which is something that I did not learn about until recently. In my case, though,

“Hey, Mom, did you know Christy can’t smell?” Calmly my mom replied to me, “No? But I do know your grandfather Nieves could not smell either.” I said, “What?? Really, I’ve lived my life not knowing others in my family can’t smell just like me! Why didn’t anybody tell me about this?” After I discovered my smelling condition was hereditary, I stopped thinking of it as weird but as something special. It was like a bond that brought me closer to my grandfather and Christina. I was not afraid to share with Christina that I could not smell. In fact, I finally now had an explanation for why I was different. That is, how I was born and it was passed on to me by grandfather, my most beloved family member. Christina and I were the chosen ones, in a way, to carry on a living memory of our grandpa. 

son in a military family has high standards. Having high expectations to say the least. Your upbringing is curious to most outsiders, not that I should boast.

Welcome brother into the world I have been waiting for you. This is your older sister Saying hello to you. I have traveled the world As our father continues to get orders from our government to do his job We all travel as a family, and I will be your personal tour guide. Being uprooted Going to new schools Making new friends That is the hardest part to do. If you will allow me I will carry the load for you When you don’t think you can follow through. As your father’s son The expectations our family has for you are more than for me Following in his footsteps, a mirror image of him Is what you are expected to be. Taking the lead Setting the pace Being the best example of a soldier’s son— These are only three of your new roles. I have been there Lean on me And I will help you through your life— As a soldier’s son. By C. Slater

CONTRIBUTORS TCC WRITES

To all Trinity River student writers, photographers, staff, faculty, administrators, and supporters of TCC Writes Online Magazine, who contributed in any way to the creation of this issue, thank you.

Student Contributions

Angelica Camacho, Barrett Camille Rice, C. Slater, Haden Wendt, Hakim Zakaria, Heather Shannon, Jalayah Lumar, Jazelle Lumar, Jonah Wendt, Lauren Anikwe, Mike A. Lopez, Rebecca Bentley, Sarah Reckling, and Theresa Cortez

Photography Credits

Angel Bresi単o, Barrett Camille Rice, Donna Shannon, and Steven LeMons

Editors

Briana Ringgold, Casey Mitchell, Kaley McGill, Shawn Stewart, Shelley Smith, and Steven LeMons

Faculty and Administrative Editors

Drs. Jim Schrantz and Tahita Fulkerson

Managing Editor Steven LeMons

Writing & Learning Center Mural Content and Concept

Casey Mitchell, Kaley McGill, Shawn Stewart, Shelley Smith, and Steven LeMons

Writing & Learning Center Mural Design & Layout Christy Clifton

Special Thanks

Erica Bennett, Monica Prochnow, Sharon Maxwell, and the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences and Principle, Troy Langston

Additional Contributions

Drs. Bryan Stewart, Jim Schrantz, Scott Robinson, and Tahita Fulkerson

Printing

The Trinity River Campus Copy Center We would love to publish your work. For more information or to submit a writing sample to TCC Writes Online Magazine, please email your submission to tr.writes@tccd.edu or stop by the Writing & Learning Center at TREF 1402. Read other issues of TCC Writes Online Magazine online at www.issuu.com Enter tccwrites09 in the search window