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Fun in GC
Remembering
the Day
Buster Gram
Day in the Life Duru in Kansas
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Fun In GC
Garden City is a town full of wholesomeness and a community that welcomes all who choose to live here. The community is great, and you will be sure to get a smile from a stranger whenever you are out and about.
In addition to the diverse community that is expanding very rapidly, the town is getting bigger too. This small Southwestern Kansas town progressing at such a fast rate leaves the community with various activities to enjoy. Since the expansion of Garden City, the town has been able to provide not only locals but also visitors with a few hidden gems that surely provide people of all age groups with enjoyment and entertainment. The best thing is that these activities are fun things to do seasonally or even all year round, depending on the weather or even your mood. Starting strong with things that locals or even visitors could experience year-round, the first one being Escape the Clock. This is a locally owned business that provides customers with different themed rooms that they must escape from before the clock runs out. Escape the Clock is a fun but frustrating experience that would be great for a team bonding activity, a date night, a family night pastime and more! Currently, four rooms can be used, each with a different level
of difficulty. The first room being a level three called “Spellbound,” following that is a level four room that goes by the name of “The Undead End.” In addition to those two rooms, there is also “The Vanished,” a level one room for beginners. To conclude the room lineup is a Christmas themed level two named “The Sherrif Who Stole Christmas.” Reasonable prices and flexible hours make this an even better place to swing by and check out the next time you are looking for an activity to stimulate your brain and sharpen your critical thinking skills! While keeping the theme of local places to visit that are open year-round, this next business is sure to be exhilarating! Saints of Fun offers laser tag and paintball, which is great for younger kids, early teens, or for people who are very competitive. Like Escape the Clock, Saints of Fun would be a perfect place for a birthday party, team bonding, or just somewhere to go when you need to get some energy out. Not only does this hidden gem provide the public with laser tag and paintball, but the business even showcases a haunted maze during the month of October. The haunted maze is a huge hit and worth going to if you are in town during the Halloween season!
Talking about the amusing and thrilling side of what GC has to offer sure does make me tired, I think it is time we talked about a little rest and relaxation! One of the best places to do so is Gravity Wellness Spa, a spot that provides immense amounts of services such as skin treatments, laser hair removal, and massages. Gravity Wellness Spa takes pampering to the next level with so many different packages and services to choose from. This spa is a calming place that does not just welcome adults, but even children as well. In addition to that, customers can receive medicated treatments such as IV therapy to boost their immune system. This is an ideal thing to do with a loved one as a couple package, with your child, or even by yourself. Gravity Wellness Spa is a serene place that will leave you feeling rejuvenated with some R & R!
Staying on track with the wellness category, Garden City has a few places to benefit people’s health. One of those being, The Fuel House. This is a locally owned business that makes nutrition teas, protein coffee, protein shakes, monkey bowls, and protein balls and bars. This is a place that promotes good health and the wellness of people ranging from all ages. With so many different options of drinks or food to buy and
a huge list of flavors, you will be guaranteed to find something that your taste buds will love! Energy is something people can lack at times, especially college students, so maybe this could be your new pick me up drink to get you ready for the day. Finding healthy alternatives can be very pricy, yet this one is very affordable, leaving you with an energizing drink or snack at a good price.
Now that we have touched on places in Garden City that can be accessed 365 days a year, let us talk about the best places to go to that happen to be more seasonal. In honor of the holidays right around the corner, a great place to visit during this time of year is Mainstreet. Travelling downtown is admirable in the first place but it is such a sight to see during Christmas time, whether you are a local or a visitor. The streets are filled with lights that are even wrapped around every tree in Stevens Park, this will truly make you feel like you are walking or driving through a scene straight out of a movie. In addition to the lit-up town, there is even a Christmas parade. The best part about this is it is completely free to the public; all you need is to be bundled up and ready to spread some Christmas cheer!
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Photos: Miraya Martinez story: KaMDyn Carr
Mainstreet is undoubtedly the street for the people here in GCK; considering people pack the park on Friday afternoons and evenings in the summer. This is due to the popular event that is known as Food Truck Fridays. This is where several food trucks from far and wide line up to promote their businesses and serve people food. From barbecue, to burgers, birria tacos, lemonade, cookies and more you will be sure to find a place that is just for you! Not only is this one of the most popular places in the Garden during the summer because of the delicious food and drinks but also because of the happy and cohesive community aspect.
While visiting the food trucks on a summer day you might as well stop by Garden Rapids. This is a newly built water park that is open all summer long, providing people with
an escape from boredom. The park includes a lazy river, five action-packed waterslides, riveting diving boards, an area to play water basketball, and a kiddo free section for the younger ones. This rip-roaring aquatic park is a huge hit during the summer with people coming from different areas all around to check it out. Of course, swimming and being in the pool all day long can make people tired but Garden Rapids has that covered! They have put in place a concession stand that is full of hot and cold food, drinks, snow cones, necessities that people could forget on a pool day and more. Not just that but there are chairs for those who choose to tan instead of swimming. This is one of the town’s best and biggest attractions, one for all ages to enjoy!
Right by Garden Rapids is the Lee Richardson Zoo, which is extremely convenient. The zoo has been open since 1927 and it is jam packed with a historic feel. The zoo is free for all visitors and when it is cold they allow people to drive through instead of having to walk. Lee Richardson Zoo provides people with opportunities to see animals of all shapes and sizes. What also makes the zoo so unique is the fact that there are little pieces of GCK history all around ranging from a giant black train engine at the front of the zoo, to an old school house that resonates to the museum connected to the wildlife park and even elephant foot tracks in the cement when zookeepers used to get the elephants out to bathe them many years ago. If there is one place to be sure to visit when in Garden City or a place you have not been to yet, you should go to the zoo! Garden City, Kansas is a place that has a lot of things to offer, especially with the rate it is going. The best thing about it is that there are places to visit that are seasonal and things to do to keep yourself busy year-round. These local businesses are what keep this small town a united community and give the homey feeling that those in GCK know and love. I hope that this helped those who are unfamiliar with what this southwestern town brings and that there is so much fun that can be unlocked in this town of Garden City.
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Garden City Community College provides over sixteen different courses related to fine arts, ranging from drawing to painting, threedimensional design, to pottery and many other classes in between. Whether you are interested in taking art classes for personal enjoyment, or looking for a career related to fine arts, GCCC has something for you. The variety of available arts allows students to expand their talents over the course of two years. This semester, some students were given the opportunity to showcase their creativity around the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building offering a fraction of all the talent nurtured at GCCC. So next time you are walking around campus, do not hesitate to step inside the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.
“I take art at the college becuase im surrounded by a bunch of these amazing artist who motivate me to do more, I like to look at their pieces and inspire myself to be just at good as them and to a level where I’ll be happy with my art,” Hannah Gonzalez-Barrera said.
“When I create art I want to make something thats bold! and almost directs your attention to it, I want to make things that other people can look at and immediately see that I put a lot of effort into it,” Juan (JD) Vazquez said.
“I was living in Springfield Missouri since 2022 and 2023 was a really rough year for me, I went to a mental hospital twice. Then I got offered a schoalrship from Brian and Mikey ( the art instructors ) so I moved back to Garden City and ever since I’ve returned and doing art I’ve been really happy,” Cephas Lobmeyer said.
THE MIX
BOSTON HARKER
BOSTON HARKER
Garden City Community College holds some of the most hard-working and talented athletes. Boston Harker is a one-ofa-kind student-athlete at GCCC. Boston is a member of the GCCC Basketball team. He is described by his peers, teammates, coaches, and professors as a kind young man with a high work ethic. He is a 4.0 grade point average student with high character as a player and individual. Harker is the per fect example of a student-ath lete that people look up to.
His journey to getting where he is today has not come easy, but it has shown that he has strong values toward doing what he loves. Harker is from the small community of Raymond in Alberta, Canada and he is 21 years old. He began playing basketball at a very young age.
“I’ve been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. I’d say ever since I was born, I had a basketball in my hands,” Harker
certainly helped in the process of getting recruited to play at the next level.
“I was recruited by Coach Rusty to go to Colby (community college) after he saw me at a tournament in Las Vegas. I signed about a month later, and then Rusty took the job at GCCC, and he took me with him for the 2022-2023 season,” Harker explained.
Having a coach like Coach Rusty is beneficial for Harker to get better as a basketball player, and to build new relationships being so far away from home.
“I think he’s a great coach and a great person. He coaches in an old school way that works. I played for him because of his resume. He gets guys to the next level better than anyone else,” Harker added.
Most college students experience obstacles as college is not an easy adjustment for anyone. The biggest obstacle for Harker was moving away from friends and family.
“It was my first time moving away, so I think that being on my own and having to do everything myself was a pretty big obstacle,” Harker said.
Not only was college life a challenge, but Harker endured some painful and frustrating injuries that impacted his college experience. During his freshman year season, he got a nagging ankle sprain which held him back from performing to his full potential. Ankle sprains can often
be worse than breaking a bone. Even though he had that minor setback, he still put up numbers of 9 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 35% 3FG in the 2022-2023 season. He bounced back from that ready for his sophomore year season, or so he thought.
During his 2023-2024 sophomore season he had a season-ending knee injury that required surgery. It was an avulsion fracture to his tubular tuberosity. In simple terms, this kind of fracture occurs when a small piece of bone separates from the main bone due to the muscle and tendon being pulled. An injury like that was devastating considering it took him out for the rest of his sophomore season. Recovering from a knee injury is surely not easy. Harker describes his recovery as long and frustrating.
“It took about four months to get back to 100% and by the time I was healed the season was over, so I took a medical redshirt. It required about an hour of physiological therapy a day to get back to 100%,” Harker explained.
This injury was a huge setback for Harker to get where he wanted to be, but he did not give up on the sport that he loved and was passionate about.
After going back home and taking time to heal and recover, Harker is now back at GCCC for the 2024-2025 basketball
season and has every intention of doing his best to prove and show all that he has to offer. He took the measures that he needed by training during the off season to get his body back to being healthy.
“This offseason was my hardest so far as I was coming off a knee surgery and it was hard to get my body back in game ready shape,” Harker shared.
As difficult as it was, he stuck it out and continued striving for success. One of Harker’s greatest accomplishments is just the fact that he made it to play in the United States of America.
“Where I am from, basketball is one of the most important things in my town. Most players from there don’t play past high school and even fewer have a chance to play in the states. It’s just cool all the places that basketball has taken me and I’m excited to see where it’s going to take me next,” Harker said.
Harker undoubtably has the potential to go further with his basketball career to high-end collegiate schools for his talent and diligent nature as a person. He already has multiple Division I school interests, and he will play a big role for the Broncbusters Men’s Basketball team this season.
Written By : Lexi Arwine
Layout By : Jonathan Nguyen
Remembering the Daywith Brandy Unruh
Gar-
den City Community College has been adamant about annually honoring the American lives that were lost and affected on September 11, 2001. The events of 9/11 will remain to be an important topic to talk about for the rest of American history. Going back to those tragic events, a familiar person in our community recalls that day, Brandy Unruh, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Unruh joined the Garden City Police Department as a Police Officer in 1998.
Unruh started her shift early at seven o’clock in the morning. Immediately after Unruh had started her day, she was already aware of the unfortunate events. 9/11 is commonly known for the attacks on the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City. That morning, the Pentagon was also struck and a rumored attempt to strike the nation’s Capital Building in Washington D.C occurred. This resulted in a total of two United Airlines and two American Airlines aircrafts being hijacked.
“Another officer and I were riding in a car together and we heard it on the radio ‘a plane crashed into one of the twin towers’ and we thought what kind of pilot are you that you can’t see a tower,” Unruh said. While in the work force, she and another officer discussed the incident amongst each other. “Both of us were messaging in our in-car computers, “this is bad,” and you almost feel the town go silent because now people are seeing it. They are hearing it on the radio and when you’re at home you can see it on the news. I do remember that day being very slow, you could just feel everybody was sitting at home glued to their tv,” Unruh shared. Unable to live these moments on her own terms, Unruh faced the reality of the country not only as a United States Citizen but also as a figure of safety.
“There was so much tragedy happening so fast that all I could do was hope to catch a glimpse of it on the news when I was at someone’s house, or I could get to the law enforcement center for a minute. I even popped home to go to the bathroom at one point and turned it on for just a few minutes so I could just see what the radio was telling us,” Unruh retells.
Although the attacks did not take place near Kansas, they affected all aircraft which made these devastating events specific to Garden City not only as a town but as a community.
Garden City Regional Airport was subject to allow the landing of three planes on their runway.
“I don’t remember how many of us were on patrol that day, but they started calling in our off-duty units, they call in our swat team because now we’ve got three planes-big commercial jets that are going to land at our airport,” Unruh recalls.
Dating back to 2001, Gar-
den City was less populated than it is now so three planes stationed at Garden City Regional Airport were incredibly unusual.
“They got stuck here and Garden City became real to them, for a while it became a little bit of a home,” Unruh expressed.
At the beginning of these passengers’ day, they did not picture to be dropped into the middle of the United States. Unfortunately for hundreds of people, the unimaginable became their reality.
Garden City as a community had little time to dictate their actions toward this moment of tragedy.
“We didn’t know who was on these planes, so they pulled in our swat team and some of our officers. They brought in people from other areas to help us at the airport whether it was to get passengers or to help cover later,” Unruh explains.
Throughout the day, travelers were then transported to Garden City Senior High which is now Horace Good Middle School.
Though these events were unplanned, airplane passengers had no other choice but to act in the moment. They either hopped in a rental car in the middle of America and started their venture home or made other plans to get home. Throughout the day Garden City came together to make matters better.
“There were periods of like a honeymoon period where people brought cookies and cakes, bought us dinner,” Unruh shared.
The effects of the terrorist attacks carried out to the next day throughout Garden City. Rather than everlasting terror, these moments were used to show how united and patriotic of a country the United States of America is.
“It was such a horrible day and September twelfth was so beautiful. Everybody put flags out, it was red, white and blue everywhere. We just
became so united; the United States was so united it was such a cool feeling. -That is why I think 9/11 is important to me, because I remember what 9/12 was like. It was almost like, for a little while we were all one, which is what we’re supposed to be,” Unruh expresses.
Since the life-changing events of 9/11, Americans have seen the world through new eyes. The terrorist attacks enacted on 9/11 have provided outlooks for the rest of American history. Older crowds are given sources of retrospect and younger Americans can learn from stories told remembrance in general. The events resulted in more than just the reconstruction of a singular community, it also changed the course of several lives.
“The reason this hits me so hard because a good friend of mine was in the national guard and he got deployed to fight this war and he was killed while he was serving, he was killed in 2007. So, all of this hits home and when people are dismissive about it it’s so sad because it was such a big piece of history that impacts everything we do today,” Unruh shares.
Nowadays, the Department of Public Safety holds a Memorial Ceremony every year on the anniversary of the acts. The ceremony successfully commemorates the history of 9/11 in a time-accurate manner throughout the early hours of the morning, beneath the flagpole outside of the Student & Community Service Center.
“The 9/11 ceremony that we do every year is the most important thing, probably that I do. People say, “never forget” or “always remember” and I just don’t want people to forget. We are here today because of those horrible attacks, and I don’t want us to ever forget that,” Unruh concludes.
At Garden City Community College, student life is more than just academics. It’s a place where students can join forces to make an impact on the campus and surrounding community. One of the key players in student leadership is the Student Government Association (SGA), the governing body dedicated to representing students, advocating for their needs, and creating a positive campus experience. With a weekly schedule packed with meetings and initiatives, SGA works as the driving force for student engagement, empowering students and fostering connections between organizations.
The SGA operates on the mission to represent the student voice in all matters affecting campus life. Members are elected by their peers, ensuring that a diverse range of perspectives are brought to the table. In weekly meetings, the association discusses campus issues, brainstorms improvements, and plans events that enhance student life. The SGA representatives serve as liaisons between students, faculty, and administration, making sure that student concerns are addressed. Whether it’s organizing events, supporting clubs, or coordinating with faculty and administration, the SGA’s work is rooted in creating an inclusive and engaging college environment. The Student Government doesn’t work alone. Collaboration is at the heart of their mission, and the association partners with various clubs and organizations on campus to enrich student experiences.
Art Club
The Art Club, for example, gives students a creative outlet and supports arts on campus through exhibitions, lectures, and workshops. The SGA partners with the Art Club to showcase student artwork and even helped support a club trip to see renowned art exhibitions in Kansas City last year. For students passionate about art, the Art Club is a place to belong, and the SGA has been instrumental in promoting and supporting its initiatives, ensuring students have access to creative spaces and events that make college memorable.
A.N.S.
Similarly, the SGA coordinates closely with the GCCC Association of Nursing Students (ANS), the official organization for students in nursing programs. ANS doesn’t just foster academic growth; it hosts events, participates in community outreach, and holds an annual pinning ceremony for graduating nurses. The SGA has supported ANS in planning important ceremonies, assisting with logistics, and even fundraising to ensure each nursing student feels celebrated. Working together, the SGA and the ANS exemplify the collaboration that enriches the campus environment.
SGA also supports more specialized student interests, such as the Sports Medicine Department, which provides clinical and hands-on experience for students interested in joining the medical field. Here, students help care for athletes across GCCC’s 17 sports teams, gaining practical skills that will help in their careers. Recognizing the impact of this program, the SGA organized a fundraiser to help the
department secure additional supplies and resources for students training in sports medicine. By connecting with this group, SGA helps elevate the educational experience of students pursuing medical careers.
Choir
For those who prefer the arts, the GCCC Choir and Band offer performance opportunities that showcase student talent and bring music to campus events. The SGA actively promotes these music programs, often coordinating to feature live performances at key events. Most recently, SGA worked with the Choir to plan a winter concert, which brought students and the Garden City community together for an evening of holiday music.
HALO Sports Medicine
A college campus as diverse as GCCC also benefits from organizations that promote diversity and inclusion, and the SGA is passionate about supporting these groups. The Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), for instance, is a student group that provides a space for Hispanic students to connect, engage in leadership development, and promote cultural awareness. The SGA has worked alongside HALO to organize cultural events like Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, creating a more inclusive environment where all students feel represented.
While the SGA’s work often focuses on specific events and initiatives, its mission has a broader impact, fostering a sense of belonging among students from all backgrounds and interests. From the Quiz Bowl Team to the Block and Bridle agriculture club, the SGA ensures that every student organization has a platform to share its mission and contribute to campus life. In doing so, the SGA members develop valuable leadership skills, learning the importance of teamwork, empathy, and effective communication.
The Garden City Community College Student Government Association is more than just a student body council; it is a dynamic force for campus culture, an advocate for student voices, and a bridge that unites diverse groups under a shared mission of creating a supportive, thriving campus. With its dedication to student life, advocacy, and collaboration, the SGA makes GCCC a place where students can excel academically and grow personally, developing skills and friendships that last a lifetimethe SGA makes GCCC a place where students can excel academically and grow personally, developing skills and friendships that last a lifetime.
Layout by: Juan (JD) Vazquez
Story by: Rylan Anderson
BUSTER GRAM
Photos By: GC3 Media GCCC PR
Layout
and story by
: Juan (JD) Vazquez
Duru Karagöz
Duru Karagoz is a firstyear student here at Garden City Community College, from Antalya, Türkiye. Karagoz previously lived in Türkiye for seventeen years and just now has moved to the United States of America to pursue her academic and athletic endeavors. She is a member of the Broncbuster Women’s Volleyball team as a 6’2 middle blocker. The young lady had to do a lot to acclimate to the United States, realizing the distance and difference between the two countries. One thing to keep in mind about Garden City Community College is the diversity and the fact that not everyone lived the same way with similar routines three months ago. Taking this into consideration, Karagoz feels strongly about the changes that she is aware of.
Photos
by:
Duru Karagöz
there are no dishes specific to Türkiye offered throughout the southwestern town.
T“I think a lot of people have no idea what Türkiye is like. Growing up in Türkiye the people were friendly and affectionate,” Karagoz said.
Like most countries, Türkiye offers some gorgeous scenery that Karagoz was luckily able to enjoy just before travelling to America.
“I lived in Antalya which is on the beachside of Türkiye and it has beautiful beaches, hot weather and mountains for hiking,” Karagoz explained. One thing that many international students who are new to America tend to miss is their homeland’s cuisine. As diverse as the population in Garden City is, unfortunately
ü rkiye T ü rkiye
“Back in Türkiye our food is a lot different than here, our food is less sweet, and a lot of our food is mainly meat and more healthy. For example, kebab, lahmacun and pide. We have delicious desserts called baklava, kunefe and kabak dessert. Kabak dessert is one of my favorites,” Karagoz shared.
A big difference the Türkiye native has noticed is the differences in transportation. Like many places in America Garden City is mainly traversed by automobile. In case you did not already know Finney County offers City-Link Transportation, which is accessible for a small price of just a single dollar and fortunately fifty cents for students with proper identification.
“In Türkiye a lot more people choose to walk rather than drive we even have roads where cars can’t go and its only for people. For example, we have “Old Town’ it’s like a historical place in Antalya. It has bars, clubs, and also places to eat and relax,” Karagoz said.
Reminiscing is inevitable amongst countless students attending Garden City Community College because they are far from home. While GCCC provides its many international students by welcoming them into the new environment it can also be overwhelming at the same time.
“Before I moved here, I was bored from Türkiye because I was used to everything but now, I’m really starting to miss Türkiye especially Antalya and the beaches over there,” Karagoz expressed.
Nursing Student Day in the life of a
Ryleigh’s Whitehurst
Specializing in Emergency department Medicine
To eventually become a Nurse Prationer
Ryleigh also the Vice President of the nursing department
“Hard work and determination”
Ryleigh Whitehurst is a nursing student at Garden City Community College. Depending on the day, Whitehurst’s daily routines are all different. Her favorite day of the week however would have to be Wednesday. On these days she has class at 8:30 in the morning. Before going to her class Whitehurst starts her morning off by getting coffee and breakfast. Her class time is from 8:30 am to 12 pm. During class, she observes lectures that highlight the various different chapters of her course workbook. Whitehurst mentions that she has four different instructors, with each one of them having to cover a different chapter from the text. Once class is over Whitehurst goes to eat lunch at one of the many savory restaurants located here in Garden City. According to Whitehurst, following her midday lunch break, she likes to relax her body and brain
by enjoying a nice nap that varies in duration. Right after waking from the nap, she finds it routine to refuel her body with an energy drink. On top of classes, one thing that is common among several students is finding time to work. Before work she usually passes her time studying and becoming knowledgeable of everything that has been covered in her classes throughout the week. Whitehurst works from 6 pm to 10 pm pretty much every day. Once her shift is over, Whitehurst goes home. If Whitehurst has a test that week, she stays up longer in the day to study and if she doesn’t, she goes right to bed to wake up for the next morning and the process begins all over again. Whitehurst is an incredible example of a hard-working young woman who manages to effectively balance her academic and working efforts.
Day in the life of a
Cosmetology Girly
“Don’t be too hard on yourself you have more ability than you know”
Annelle Garcia is a cosmetology student at Garden City Community College. Every day Garcia kicks her day off early in the morning by waking up at 6 a.m. to do her hair and makeup. Classes for Garcia begin at eight in the morning. Once she arrives at the college, she stores her personal belongings away while she is busy on her feet throughout the day. Classes for Garcia begin at 8 a.m. Around this time, she should have her hair and make-up finished and her ID on. Another must-have on Garcia’s day is putting on her uniform scrubs which she must dress in before clocking in for the day. While sitting for most of the morning, Garcia either begins working on her school-provided book or her cosmetology requirements. Garcia says that of the two she prefers to begin with her requirements. She starts this off by dying her mannequin’s head. Garcia then follows her dying by practicing blowouts and
ironing sets. This is done every Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday. The constant routine of practice will then allow Garcia to perfect her offerings. After she finishes practicing her requirements, she proceeds with her bookwork. A crucial part of a long day when attending Garden City Community College’s Cosmetology program is the end-of-the-day routine. Depending on the day Garcia’s classes do not end until 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Toward the end of class, all program attendees must clean up their stations in a professional and timely manner. Mandatory cleaning ensures that everyone attending class is held accountable for their messes and also prepares them for the future. When she finishes her day, Garcia must write down everything she did that day, what she wore, and how many hours she put in. Garcia demonstrates the proud and hard-working days that every cosmetology student goes through and accomplishes.
Specializing Nail technician
Annelle Garica
Layout by : Juan (JD) Vazquez
Jack Dyer is a sophomore at Garden City Community College. Dyer previously lived in Cyprus, specifically near the sea, when he then moved here to Garden City to pursue his education and play golf.
“American college life is amazing, it’s such a great experience to come over here, and experience a different way of life while being able to play my sport and gain an education simultaneously. The atmosphere here is great, with the whole college being very close and all the athletes being very welcoming, making it seem like one big family. When comparing it to a university back home, it’s a slightly smaller scale at a junior college, and more sports-based, but I think that makes it very enjoyable,” Dyer said.
However, that is not to say that Dyer’s transition from Cyprus over to America and especially into community college has been completely smooth sailing for him. There are multiples changes in terms of customs, and there are things left behind in his transition over here.
“Personally, I haven’t had any major issues adjusting to the language barriers, differences, or accents, and have seemed to settle in with that aspect rather well. When it comes to American slang or phrases it’s the differences between me being English and the Americans where we call certain objects differently which make me laugh...The biggest learning curves since being in America for myself have been managing and scheduling for sure. Having a busy workload, and a busy golfing schedule all while trying to stay connected with friends and family back home with a large time difference makes it rather hard to juggle to fit in everything in a daily timeframe. The other thing I would say is being able to fend for myself, live, cook, get around, and just do things that I would often rely on my family to help me out with. Not having that aspect here has definitely helped me “grow up” in a sense and develop into who I am now, but also prepare me for later life, in which I will take with me on my journey beyond GCCC,” Dyer expressed. When reminiscing about his hometown, Dyer also discussed the various people, things and specific activities that were custom for him that have been missing since first leaving Cyprus.
“Food is a huge part of what I miss, missing a Sunday roast dinner, and the Mediterranean Diet that I’m used to having, living most of my life in Cyprus. I also really miss the sea and the beach, which is arguably my favorite place to go and relax
Story by : Jerry Serrano
Jack Dyer
Cyprus
or take something off my mind, which is not accessible in Kansas,” Dyer added. While there are many different things in h his everyday life that have changed . since coming to Garden City . Community College, one of the things t that has also changed in some ways f for Dyer is the game of golf itself.
“ The courses are a lot different here, often being a little longer, but consisting of a different type of grass, and not half as wet. I’d say some courses I’ve played here in America are for sure harder, with the weather conditions playing a huge part, where I’m used to it being rather cold and raining, over here I have to deal with more aspects like the wind,” Dyer said.
Not only are the conditions in terms of weather and courses different in terms of Dyer’s relation with golf, but also how the game is viewed as well. After arriving in America and starting to play the game Dyer realized the change in which sports in general are viewed.
“I believe across the world we all approach the game in a very similar aspect, therefore there are no differences on that behalf. The biggest difference I can notice is the high school sports programs which aren’t a thing back home until you reach a university level or after-school amateur level... I think within America every sport even at the college and university level is taken to the next level of seriousness. It’s a good thing as I want to make a career out of my sport. There’s being serious yet relaxed, and then there’s an aspect of being serious and only serious, extremely strict and professional at all stages, which I feel America provides. I think it’s important for me to have enjoyability and fun while performing my sport, which I feel is hard for many Americans who just seem serious 24/7, just from my perspective when it comes to competition within the sport,” Dyer explained.
While the move over to America and the adjustment process could have been hit or miss, Dyer has overall found his experience in the states to be a fun one with new and lively experiences.
“America has been a great place to live and experience different cultures and environments. The food is a lot more unhealthy, alongside the bigger portion sizes and much more. The people are super nice and much more talkative than any random stranger you would have back home,” Dyer shared.
