HCC Horizons Spring 2023 (Interactive)

WRITING STAFF

DESIGN STAFF

Editors

Kieaundria Bellamy

Larry Ferguson

Chloe Hodnett

Staff Writers

Kieaundria Bellamy

Larry Ferguson

William Ferguson

Chloe Hodnett

Cierra Johnson

Estephanie Ponce

Gilberto Villegas III

Senior Staff Writers

Samuel Almazan

Salene Herrera

Nhathalie Jean-Baptiste

Horizons Advisor

Professor Steve Mark

Art & Design Director; Layout Designer

Whitney Marshall

Art & Design Communications Liaison

Sarah Fazekas

Design Assistant Floater

Lorens Michael De la cruz

Design Staff

Kadeija Bond, We’ve Been There

A’mayah Boyd, Profiles

Lorens Michael De la cruz, News You Can Use; Profiles

Sarah Fazekas, News You Can Use; News

Whitney Marshall, News You Can Use

Aurora Mendez, Profiles

Melissa Mondesir, News

Shia Stewart, Personal Essays

Design Advisor

Professor Andy Pinto

Cover Photo by Whitney Marshall Interior Cover Designs by Shia Stewart and Whitney Marshall

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Estephanie Ponce

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Kieaundria Bellamy

Kieaundria Bellamy

Samuel Almazan

Chloe Hodnett

Kieaundria Bellamy

Larry Ferguson

Cierra Johnson

By Chloe Hodnett

By Cierra Johnson

By Gilberto Villegas III

By Estephanie Ponce

By Kieaundria Bellamy

By Larry Ferguson

Bellamy

Salene Herrera

Samuel Almazan

Removing Cupid’s Arrow

By Chloe Hodnett Editor

Valentine’s Day has been regarded as the highest Hallmark holiday of them all. Throughout the short but grueling month of February, we’re bombarded by kitschy hearts and chocolates at every turn, and subjected to the collaborative performance of countless couples on social media competing to see who can be the most #goals of them all. It’s all a bunch of baloney, as we all know, but the true goal of goals is more pervasive and sticky than it seems. Sometimes, those who seem to be the most in love are the most unstable and unhealthy.

It’s only natural to believe in the comforting fantasies of beds of rose petals and the one, particularly when the reality of a person’s relationship is too horrifying to confront, especially for women. However, HCC has multiple resources that work together to create a proactive net of support for students struggling with violence from a loved one.

The HCC Women’s Center acts as a safe space and source of empowerment for

students who identify as women. Katrina Camerato, coordinator of the Women’s Center, has created a safe-haven for women on campus within the warm walls of Beacon Hall 336. The air within the room is calm and clear, helped undoubtedly by the assortment of houseplants that Camerato has propagated. Empowering words and artwork adorn the walls, making sure women never feel small or intimidated within the space.

When faced with a student confiding about domestic violence, Camerato explained how she and the HCC Counseling Office approach in the most constructive way possible. Every situation is different, she says, and so is the approach. Regardless of the situation, the Women’s Center works with the counseling office to provide assistance to the victim and additional resources if needed.

“We all have to work together to provide care and assistance to those who come to us looking for help,” says Camerato, “It’s never a job for just one person.” If the situation warrants immediate action, both the Women’s Center

and Counseling Center will contact law enforcement to protect the student from future harm.

While within the spiral of domestic abuse, however, those suffering may find it hard to confront the severity of the situation, and are often wary of asking for help. This past October, the HCC Women’s Center invited students to attend The Center for Family Justice’s Domestic Violence Vigil at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater. As a part

and universities, including our own HCC, Sacred Heart, Fairfield, and the University of Bridgeport.

of Domestic Violence Awareness month, the vigil was in honor of victims and survivors, including the thirty-two deaths caused by domestic violence in Connecticut last year. Rebeca Garcia, Bridgeport police chief, spoke deeply to those in attendance, saying, “Love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to manipulate and control.” The non-profit provides sanctuary, support, and education for survivors and those not directly affected by abuse. The organization also works to advocate for and empower women within various Southern Connecticut colleges

Garcia’s words struck a chord in me, as I’m sure they did with many attendees. Personally, I have both seen domestic abuse and been a victim of domestic abuse. When caught in the current of an abusive relationship, you feel paralyzed with fear, too wounded to run away, and yet somehow still in denial, unable to realize how bad things have become. Abusive relationships don’t just affect the partners involved; they impact everyone in their orbit. Seeing a loved one be abused is a heartbreaking experience, especially when you don’t know what to do to help. The HCC Women’s Center, Counseling Center, and The Center for Family Justice’s Domestic Violence all provide education and advice to bystanders of violence as well as survivors. “The most important job for us is to listen, to be there,” added Camerato.

Being a present, proactive bystander is crucial when made witness to possible domestic violence. The tiny, red flags that have adorned our campus this school year aren’t just for decoration; they are reminders to be on the lookout for red flags within your own relationships, as well as within classmates’ and friends.

“Love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to manipulate and control.”

One of the many red flags meant to remind us to always be on the lookout for behavior we see that may be an indicator of domestic violence. Photo by Chloe Hodnett

Domestic violence often goes unreported or unresolved, and the visible warning signs are sometimes subtle. The obsessive monitoring of a partner’s social media, controlling finances, a withdrawal from one’s hobbies or interests, and obsessive criticism or beratement are all subtle warning signs of domestic violence. Once you feel something may not be right with one of your peers, it is crucial you do something, despite feeling like “it’s none of your business,” because the safety of one’s peers is everyone’s business.

As written in flyers you may have seen around campus with information on the Red Flag Campaign, students are encouraged to follow the 3 D’s, Direct, Delegate, and Distract. First, directly intervene within the situation if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, delegate the task to someone who will be able to do something, like Camerato, a Housatonic counselor, or a security guard. Creating a distraction can also help attract attention from others to your area, as well as give a peer the chance to leave if they are uncomfortable.

Love is not always what it seems. Behind closed doors and behind closed eyes can lie a cycle of relentless belittlement and torture, one incredibly difficult to break free from. Thankfully, there is always support available, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

If you are grappling with the effects of domestic violence, visit the Women’s Center at HCC for a safe space to decompress, book a tele-health or in-person appointment with HCC’s Counseling Center, or seek support from The Center for Family Justice’s Domestic Violence. In addition, you can call or text the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To learn more about the Housatonic Counseling Center visit:

https://www.housatonic.edu/counseling-wellness-center

Unknown Scholarship

By Estephanie Ponce Staff Writer

We all know about general scholarship opportunities, but could there be a specific one that applies to a small group for someone like you? Here is your chance to find out and how it will save you $3,000 during your school education! Have you ever found interest in a career which always has the opportunity for work during the lifetime of your profession? Then you might consider working in the construction-related industry.

HCC provides the gateway for aid in this field. The Professional Women in Construction (PWC),

Connecticut Chapter scholarship is looking for students, either male or female, who are starting or continuing their education in Construction, Construction Management, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Design, Construction Trades, or Civil, Mechanical, Structural and Electrical Engineering for a undergraduate or graduate program. This scholarship is provided annually to students who might be interested in pursuing these fields of study.

According to PWC website, to have the opportunity to qualify students must provide a general scholarship

application cover sheet, official high school transcripts, official undergraduate/graduate transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, a 300word essay describing how you plan to use your studies to a career in construction and why you should receive the award. An optional cover letter is recommended to include providing information which you weren’t able to mention in the application materials that ought to be considered by the committee. Students must also be attending college or university on a full-time basis.

According to Roxanne

Looking to pursue a career in architecture, construction, or engineering?

Perugino, the Sr. Project Planner for PWC, “We usually give 10 to 15 $3,000 scholarships,” so students better act fast and do their best when applying!

January applications are available and the deadline is in March. Applications must be submitted through email to Roxane (roxanne.perugino@stvinc.com).

Any questions please reach out and call the number at (860) 748-5198.

Be sure to check out their website for more information and to apply:

https://connecticut.pwcusa.org/get-involved/scholarships/

Photo by Daniel McCollough on Unsplash.

Check out the chance to apply for a $3,000 scholarship opportunity!

Bookstore: Much More Than Just Books

By Gilberto Villegas III Staff Writer

Located in Beacon Hall, the bookstore is tucked away on the first floor, and is most often used for buying books. What about the other essentials you may need to continue your scholastic adventure, but don’t have the money to purchase?

Well, if you are eligible for financial aid, you are able to buy anything your financial aid qualifies for at the bookstore. The bookstore has many items, from Iphone and IPad chargers and accessories, printers and your school books with the correct labels to indicate the course you are taking. That’s not all, you can even get the newest pair of Airpod Pros and laptops, and it

can be bought right in your HCC bookstore!

However, knowing your financial aid status as soon as possible is very important. If you’re like me and have delayed purchasing books, you may find out the books will soon not be rentable and/or buyable.

To check your status, Bookstore Assistant Manager Christine Lazurek says, “Enter your student portal and locate the financial aid on the HCC website, and it should tell you to enter your information and you will be able to see your financial aid status.”

Around The State In 152 Days

By Larry Ferguson Editor

What do amazing food, top-tier entertainment, and the wonders of the world have in common? The answer is that they’re all just a few stops away! Whenever you catch wind of an awesome event, the location is always a big factor in deciding whether or not you’ll go. Sometimes doing something fun involves traveling a lot more miles than we can or are willing to take ourselves. That’s where the U-Pass comes in. As an HCC student, you can use it to go anywhere in the state of Connecticut via public transportation for a small fee.

Nowadays, the cost of living is one of the biggest issues

that people have to deal with, and for a lot of people, that means creating a travel budget so that we can go places and enjoy our lives can be a huge stressor. Gas prices are ever fluctuating, and that’s only something you have the luxury of worrying about if you’ve been able to scrape together enough money for a car and have enough on hand to keep it running. Due to these factors, the cost-effective solution of public transportation is a fantastic option to keep open. Despite how cheap it can be to travel by taking a bus or a train, those fares can start to add

up very quickly if you’re someone who likes to move around and find fun wherever it may be. With a U-Pass, whether your destination is one for business or pleasure, you can get there as many times as you like for a small fee every semester, which may even be covered by financial aid.

Connecticut is effectively your oyster as long as you have a U-Pass, so how exactly do you get your hands on one? All you have to do is make your way to the Housatonic campus and pay a visit to the wonderful

Illustration by Melissa Mondesir

people at the Student Accounts Office in Room L-123 at Lafayette Hall anytime Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. To investigate just how much effort goes into getting a U-Pass, I attempted to get one myself and find out firsthand. When I entered the Student Accounts office, I was greeted by Khanh Ngo, an accountant from the Housatonic Business Office, who was extremely helpful and answered all my questions about the U-Pass. When asked, Ms. Ngo said that all a student needs in order to get a U-Pass is their “banner ID number” and a sticker for the current semester on their Student ID to verify that they’re currently enrolled at Housatonic. Once I produced everything she needed, I received my U-Pass. The entire process took about two minutes and was extremely simple. A standard U-Pass typically costs $63 a month, but this easy -to-obtain student U-Pass is $40 and is good for an entire semester (about five months.)

Once you’ve got a U-Pass, it is officially adventure time! Using it is hassle-free. All you have to do is board one of the eligible public transportation services and present your U-Pass alongside your Student ID to a ticket inspector, and you’ll be on your merry way. (Visit https://housatonic.edu/u-pass to view the full list of U-Pass-eligible transportation services.) With so many cities and towns eligible for you to explore, it may be intimidating to choose a place to start, but if you want to

try somewhere that gives you a little taste of everything, South Norwalk is the place for you. Once you arrive at the South Norwalk train station, you are within a fifteen-minute walk of numerous awesome attractions.

If you love movies and have been starved of a classic theater experience since the times of the pandemic’s peak, you’re in luck, as you’ll find that you’re only a nine-minute walk away from the AMC SoNo 8 movie theater. This theater has a beautiful exterior that will take you back in time. The building is constructed with beautiful brick that evokes an older era, and an interior aesthetic to match. This building even has an old-school marquee letterboard outside to affirm its vibe. Even more enticing, the theaters inside have been updated with all the amenities of modern theaters with comfortable reclining seats, food trays, and bold, vivid, audio/video systems, giving you all the benefits of an antique movie-going experience and none of the drawbacks.

“Connecticut is effectively your oyster as long as you have a U-Pass.”

If movies aren’t your speed, how about a trip to the aquarium? If you love aquatic life, or perhaps want to experience the wonders of an aquarium for the first time, the Maritime Aquarium is just an eleven-minute walk away from the station. For about $30, their beautiful collection of marine life can be viewed and enjoyed to your heart’s content.

Of course, if you don’t want to limit your adventure to one big moment, after just 15 minutes of walking, you will find a place with plenty of variety: the modern and

upscale mall, The SoNo Collection. Here you will find a plethora of stores, boutiques, restaurants, and services you can treat yourself to within a luxurious shopping center.

The surface of what Southern Norwalk has to offer is just being scratched here. There are hundreds of other places to visit and thousands of other ways you can spend your day while there, but Southern Norwalk is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring the treasure trove of amazing places the state

of Connecticut has to offer. The best part about it all is that all of these potential activities you can partake in will be unrestricted by the cost of travel thanks to the wondrous power of the U-Pass. The downtown areas of many other beautiful cities like Fairfield, Milford, and New Haven have plenty of unique yet equally fun and exciting places for you to explore using public transportation. The only thing keeping you from your next adventure is a trip to the Student Accounts Office!

Fighting Food Insecurity

By Salene Herrera Staff Writer

With the universal increase in food prices, people are now struggling more than ever to get the food they need. This issue has impacted college students so severely that food insecurity in the student population is at an all-time high.

The extreme increase in prices has put college students in situations where they cannot get the food they need. According to Drexel University’s Center for HungerFree Communities, over 39% of students are facing food insecurity. To combat this issue Housatonic has three food pantries available to students. HCC has partnered with Shop & Stop and The StoreHouse project to provide food pantries for the students at HCC.

Assunta Franco, the food pantry coordinator at Housatonic, helps ensure that HCC students get the food they need when food insecurity is at an all-time high. Franco volunteered to help with the food pantry in 2021 when they handed out students’ bags of food during COVID. Now, students are on campus, and the food pantry has made it possible to self-select food with nothing other than their

Banner ID for qualification. Students can visit the pantry in Lafayette Room 207, twice a month, and take 10 items per visit.

“If a student is hungry, learning is difficult. We really need food. It’s a terrific effort to combat food insecurity. It gives the students assistance to receive nutritional food so they can concentrate on their classes for the day. They don’t have to worry about what they will eat for dinner,” Franco says.

There has become an increasing worry about whether people can afford to eat with the rising food prices. This worry has impacted students greatly, and has become a distraction. Despite this, some students may struggle with asking for help.

“There are no students that should feel like they shouldn’t go to the food pantry. Everyone is welcome. A student can come to me privately if they want to,” Franco says.

The food pantry is open daily from 9-5 except for Tuesdays when the hours are from 9-11 to 2-5. On Wednesday fruits and vegetables are distributed in the Beacon lobby

at 11 am. Once a month a mobile pantry provided by The Storehouse project is held in the Lafayette drop-off and pick-up area at 10:30 where they give out bags of food to students. Unlike the other pantries that only cater to HCC students, the mobile pantry is for the entire HCC community.

For more information about the hours and dates of the food pantry, you can visit the Housatonic website and find the food pantry under resources and offices, or you can email the food pantry at HC-FoodPantry@hcc.commnet.edu.

“There are no students that should feel like they shouldn’t go to the food pantry. Everyone is welcome. A student can come to me privately if they want to.”

Photo By Julia M. Cameron on Pexels

The Center For Male Success

By Samuel Almazan Senior Staff Writer

A Center for Male Success at Housatonic? Finding out that HCC had such a center was quite surprising, even confusing. Why does such a center exist?

As you may already know, Housatonic has the Women’s Center. The main purpose of the Women’s Center is to create an environment that works towards a climate of gender equity and social justice that will enrich the lives of all members

of the HCC campus and community. The Women’s Center serves as a space for support, and education by programming, discussing, and advocating for women and other marginalized groups in our society. Overall, it’s a space for women of HCC to find comfort and help.

So, finding out that the center of males exists at HCC, as stated before, was quite a surprise. Finding out why this center exists and what it offers, was the next step in this journey.

The Men’s Center’s main purpose is to create an ongoing learning community for male students. It also supports students navigating through the difficulty of college life. This center has dedicated individuals who advocate for an improved educational experience and quality of life for male students at HCC.

“We point people towards resonating what they might need or want in life”, said Omed Hossaini, a student worker for the Center. Omed is a sophomore at HCC, and he’s been working

at the Center since Spring 2022.

Omed adds, “The Men’s Center is focused on helping males with finding resources, studying for classes, and making connections for future careers.”

Even though the Men’s Center is oriented toward males, it also helps with the Women’s Center and other communities at HCC. Last semester, the Men’s Center made connections with the LGBTQ community, to work together and create future projects at HCC.

“The Men’s Center is a support and resource hub for anyone that identifies as male,” said Alexandros Valiantis, who is the coordinator of the Men’s Center.

Valiantis notes that part of the reason the Center is needed is that growing up, boys are taught to be tough and push through any challenge they might face. Young men aren’t taught to seek help.

“Males aren’t taught to ask for help and be vulnerable. But The Men’s Center is teaching male students

The Men’s Center is here to set up students for future success. Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash

to ask for help and be vulnerable,” he added.

The Men’s Center’s focus is to set up connections for students, where they can use these connections to find success in life. The Center also provides mentorship for males to stay on the path of success.

The Center for Male Success is a wonderful resource for students; doors are open for everyone. This goes to show that at HCC, there are resources and help in every corner. All you have to do is just reach out. Visit the Men’s Center in Beacon 325, or learn more at https://housatonic. edu/mens-center

“The Center for Male Success is a wonderful resource for students; doors are open for everyone.”

By Cierra Johnson Staff Writer

Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, and you might find it hard to put yourself out there. It might seem like these factors are out of your control, but it’s time to take back your life and get out of your comfort zone. Here are some things you can challenge yourself to do to break out of your comfort zone and start building a brand new you!

For anybody who suffers from both depression and anxiety, I feel like starting up a new hobby is always a good place to start, whether it’s a hobby that you do alone like reading, meditation/fitness, or something creative, or hobbies that require you to be around other people like sports, taking a class or

starting a group/club. Get up and get it started. Even if you’re not consistent with it, you know that it is something you can always come back to when you need that “me” time. Having depression can feel like an endless fight. Some days you might not feel like getting out of bed, and sometimes you might rely on others to try and boost your mood. But people are not always going to be available whenever you need them, and with anxiety, always having that constant fear hovering over you like a dark cloud when it rains, everybody tends to stick to what they are most comfortable with. Don’t get me wrong, comfortability

is a good thing. But putting yourself in a box and never coming out for any sunlight or air can make comfortability feel like entrapment. We need to be able to open that box and experience all the things that the world has to offer and one good way to do that is to take yourself out on a date.

Put yourself out there, try new things and talk to new people and have conversations. Be adventurous. Don’t let your fears hold you back. If you let your fears hold you back, you will never experience life. Do not sit and continue to allow your depression and anxiety to change your life. Take back control and be a new and improved you!

Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

News You Can Use

Stories Down the Street

By Larry Ferguson

Editor

Media is magical. Whether it be in the magazine that you flip through while waiting in line at the grocery store, the book with a cover so interesting that you just had to read the back cover, or the movie with a title so intriguing you just had to see what it was all about, indulging in good stories is always a great way to spend your time. Unfortunately, when you encounter these stories and want to dive into their deepest depths, odds are someone’s going to ask you to pay for it before you leave the store. Trying to immerse yourself in all different types of remarkable media can be challenging when you have more boredom than disposable income. That’s where the Bridgeport Public Library comes in.

The Main Branch Library of Bridgeport is right down

the street from HCC, at 925 Broad Street. There you can find an extensive collection of numerous magazines, books, CDs, and DVDs all available in both analog and digital formats for you to borrow at your leisure. If you’re a Bridgeport resident attending Housatonic, you can register for a library card in less than 10 minutes and gain access to every item in their collection, alongside the materials of every other library in their massive interconnected system, which can be delivered to the Main Library for you to conveniently pick up on your way to or from campus. Best of all, even if you commute to class from out of town and aren’t a Bridgeport resident, you can still borrow from the Bridgeport Public Library. All you need to do is pay a visit to any of the five Bridgeport Public Libraries with a card

from your hometown library. The wonderful staff will integrate your account from your home library into the Bridgeport system and you will be able to access their materials as if you lived there.

Worrying about having to splurge on yourself just to enjoy a good story is a thing of the past with the library by your side. Whether the media you’re looking for is a classic, or something brand new, odds are at least one of the hundreds of libraries in the state of Connecticut will have

it on hand and be willing to send it right over to the most convenient pick-up library.

Even in the unlikely case that no library in Connecticut has what you’re looking for, all you have to do is submit a request slip for the item, and the library will purchase the item you’re searching for just so that you and your fellow residents can enjoy it.

Don’t let a price tag hold you back from your new favorite story, use the public library system to your advantage and enjoy it today!

Illustration created by Whitney Marshall

Inside “A Little Life”

By Salene Herrera Senior Staff Writer

In life, there are moments of extreme happiness, extreme pain, and moments that fall somewhere in between. “A Little Life,” a novel by Hanya Yanagihara, explores all of the ups and downs of life through the friendship of four college classmates who navigate their way through New York City.

“A Little Life” is a novel that I feel many people can read and walk away from having a better understanding of the duality of life. The book focuses on the trauma, dreams, fears, and hardships

that these four men face. While you cry for them and all that they go through, you find yourself smiling at their resilience and ability to love and find joy through hard times.

They battle with addiction, insecurity, falling outs, jealousy, traumatic childhoods, and much more. Though this book could feel heavy at times, there is something hopeful about it. Each friend has their own individual struggles and hardships, but they all share a love for one another and that is something that never changes.

“No matter what gets damaged, life rearranges itself to compensate.”

I recommend this book, not because it is a story that will make you feel good in the end, but because it shows the harsh realities of healing and trauma, and that life goes on regardless.

As the author writes, “Things get broken, and sometimes they get repaired, and in most cases, you realize

that no matter what gets damaged, life rearranges itself to compensate for your loss, sometimes wonderfully.”

“A Little Life” is a heartbreakingly beautiful display of the reality that not all pain can be remedied, and that is natural. It tells the story of a life that may seem unrealistic to many, but a life that is

a reality for some. This book tells stories that aren’t told enough, the stories of people who are broken beyond repair but are still very much worthy of love. I recommend this book to anyone looking to reflect on the hardships of life, but also the love and joy.

Photo by Salene Herrera

The Importance of Exercise

Exercise is one of the top priorities that every single person should have in their lives. To some people it may not be important or quite simply with their lives they find it difficult to make time

for it. But, there are 168 hours in a week. Out of those hours doing a minimum of 90 mins every week to exercise will change your wellbeing. That would leave you with 166 hours and 30 mins to do the

By Estephanie Ponce Staff Writer

rest of your responsibilities. When looking at it that way, it seems pretty achievable, right?

This is important because our bodies need

Choose to strengthen your mind and body while still fitting in your other responsibilities! Photo By John Arano on Unsplash

strengthening, cardiovascular work, and mobility not only to look good, which is a plus to working out, but it’s important for our bodies to do these things to function normally. This can be as much as working out at the gym and lifting weights or as simple as opening the door and going for a walk outside. According to the CDC, more than 60% of adults in the U.S. do not engage in the recommended amount of exercise, which is a minimum of three times a week for 30 mins. 25% of U.S. adults are not active at all.

Being in school takes a toll on your body. School may bring stress, mentally and physically, since it is very likely you are going to be sitting for several hours studying and completing assignments.

It’s common when these tasks at hand are important but we don’t find the same importance for our health. Taking small breaks training

our bodies to get stronger is a great service we will do for your health and future. The more frequently we train, the more likely we are to build muscle, reduce body fat, bring the body weight to normal, strengthen our joints, and minds. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and increase dopamine, the hormone for happiness in the brain, and improve natural energy levels as well.

But it’s important to remember that this isn’t something that happens immediately. It’s something that takes time, dedication, and discipline. It’s true that school, work, family, or many other things may take much of your time, but remember that if you’re not thinking about your body’s health it can take a huge toll on these other responsibilities you may have. Choose to show up for yourself and your future.

Photo by Tembela Bohle on Pexels

How to Improve Your Health Using the Sun!

By Estephanie Ponce Staff Writer

With spring on its way, it’ll be time to take off your winter coats and leave behind the winter blues to enjoy more time out in the sun. Well, it might not be exactly the warmest of weather but, it sure is better than what it used to be. The sun begins

to stay out for a much longer period of time and you just begin to feel in a much better mood. You become more productive and you even start to sleep better at night. Why could this be?

Actually, it’s because you are starting to expose yourself

more often to the sun, leading to all these positive benefits. Being a busy student, all of those things, plus more, become key when also needing to maintain your grade and mental health during the school year no matter what time of year it is. But, spring

Feeling drowsy, down in the blues, or unproductive? Need a pick me up? Look no further but outside! Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

makes it effortless. The next question is, is this something that you may be missing out on? Not only will these rays of sunshine warm and light your day, but they truly bring on many more benefits that you could be leaving out.

First, let’s talk about what could be making you feel less productive and having a higher chance of seasonal depression as cold weather and reduced sun exposure arises. Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a type of depression related to seasons during the transition from fall to winter. According to Rachel Nall from her article, “What are the benefits of Sunlight?”, this is due to a dip in serotonin which is a hormone released from the brain, boosting one’s mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. Serotonin is triggered when sunlight reaches special areas in the retina. This makes it more likely to experience this type of depression during the winter since the days are

shorter with less exposure to the sun. These symptoms are more likely to be found in people who live in areas further away from the equator. Longer nights also cause issues with sleeping too much along with tiredness, sadness or feeling down most of the day, difficulty concentrating, and could even feel hopeless or worthless. SAD can even cause a craving for carbohydrates, alcohol, and sweets, so coupled with the tendency for inactivity and heightened consumption in carbohydrates may cause weight gain, which can create further feelings of despair.

“As a clinician I certainly see students affected by the season change,” Lindsey Norton, a school counselor at HCC, said. Norton also encourages to spend more time in natural light and outside in nature, “even if it is frigid out!”

Norton also suggests that a lightbox might be a useful tool during this time, as it

mimics sunlight, as well as taking a vitamin D supplement since it is less likely to be in the sun during this time of the year. A light box has been found to suppress the brain’s secretion of melatonin allowing the body to reset its sleep/wake cycles. Taking a vitamin D supplement is a good replacement because research has found that it may help with regulating

“Not only will these rays of sunshine warm and light your day, but they truly bring many more benefits that you could be leaving out.”

mood and decreasing risk of depression.

It’s important to know that you’re not alone! Also, keep in mind that it’s normal to have some days where you feel down, but if it’s too frequent with no motivation to do the activities you normally enjoy, as stated in “Distinguishing Winter Blahs from SAD,” you might need to reach out to your health care provider in order to make the distinction.

Now that we have a better understanding why we could be feeling this way during the colder seasons, let’s dive into how to take advantage of the sun with spring around the corner! Learning this new information that the sun will give us a mood boost, it’s important to know that being in good spirits isn’t the only benefit from the sun. With exposure to the sun, ultraviolet-B radiation from its rays will make the person’s skin produce vitamin D. This makes the sun important to having healthy bones. Once

vitamin D has been created by the body, calcium can then be absorbed in order to strengthen the bones and muscles. If the vitamin D is not used right away it can actually be stored away in the body’s fat for later use as well.

Vitamin D can also be used to assist in cell growth and immune function. This allows your body to keep inflammation in order and allows your nervous system to continue working properly. HCC Professor of Nutrition

Janet Yarrow agrees saying, “Vitamin D and immune system are really important.” Now more than ever we must protect our immune system, which defends the body against infection while still protecting the body’s cells and recognizing cells that the body has fought against in the past and destroys if it enters the body again, as said in a Better Health article “Immune System Explained.” So cool!

There are other benefits to spending more time in the sunlight or using the natural light in your workspace. Plenty of daylight actually improves your sleep at night since the light impacts the circadian rhythm with natural levels of melatonin being released. Studies from neuroscientists researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago assured that the relationship between a workspace in daylight exposure and worker’s sleep quality is strong. Due to spending more time in the daylight these studied workers slept an average of 46 more minutes per night. These same workers also experienced higher sleep quality with more “with more time typically spent in deep sleep – as well as being less likely to experience sleep talking, sleep walking or snoring,” as mentioned in the Us&Co blog.

Also working or spending time using sunlight as a natural source of light inarguably helps learn, think

creatively, and become more productive. “Research published by Eco Business showed that workplaces with sufficient daylight saw an uplift of between 5 and 40% in productivity and sales” the Us&Co blog noted. This blog also states that studies that have taken place in schools have shown that “pupils retain information far better if regularly taught in classrooms with plenty of windows.” This can also be applied to your own workspace at home when doing assignments for classes.

A simple change to try, mentioned by Ruth A. Wienclaw in her article “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” is to arrange your home or office space to take advantage of the sunlight during the day and maximize your time outdoors under the sun. Small changes in your living space or dietary changes may create improvements in your health and wellness.

So who doesn’t like having a good night’s sleep? Why wouldn’t someone want to improve their mental health with just simple changes and improvements? Do your body a favor and go outside when you can. Do it yourself for some alone time or do it with your significant other, friend, or family member. But nonetheless, choose to use the sun and time in nature as a way to better yourself!

“Vitamin D may help with regulating mood and decreasing risk of depression.”

Keep Your Mind Healthy, and Your Body

Trust me, I get it. The hectic schedules, the loads of homework, and the constant disorganization and balance between school and your everyday lifestyle. School can become stressful for many students, and sadly, will make students feel as though they are incapable of completing the semester with high grades. There are many pieces of advice from all around that can help improve your work ethic, but many do

not talk about this one major key tip: adding fitness and healthy nutrition to your daily routine. Adding these two things to your lifestyle can help your mental health, physical health, and overall make you feel better about your semester, and well being.

There is a saying that you might have heard of before, which is “When you look good, you feel good.” This can go hand and hand with your education.

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor

“Fitness and nutrition is a lifestyle that should be taken seriously to benefit your mental health. Your older self will thank you now!” Taivon Jones, Certified Personal Trainer.

Photo Courtesy of Taivon Jones

Having a fitness routine added into your lifestyle, whether that be morning or night, can help you remain focused, stay alert throughout the day, and ultimately, get you on a consistent schedule. Certified personal trainer Taivon Jones, of Bridgeport, can vouch for this tremendously.

“I graduated from the University of Bridgeport with my business degree,” Jones said proudly, “But when I was in school, I found myself becoming stressed in certain situations. When this occurred, that’s truly when I fell in love with the gym.”

Jones reminisced on moments in college where he needed more energy, needed an outlet when he felt overwhelmed, and needed a method of staying focused.

“I used to be a college student who was unorganized

and overwhelmed. When I incorporated going to the gym in my everyday routine, it helped me create a plan for my everyday life and become more organized. When I feel good from a workout, it makes my day better.” Jones said. As a personal trainer, he is fully aware of the demand on fitness and how some may think this is a hard task to achieve.

“There’s been many times where I’ve heard clients say they feel like they can’t reach their fitness goals,” Jones expressed. “The key to starting is to just start! Start small with just walking for 20 minutes on the treadmill or outside daily. This will build discipline, and eventually, lead you on a fitness journey that includes many other workouts.”

Even though incorporating a workout routine seems like a tedious task, HCC nursing student Destiny Jefferson feels otherwise.

“My typical fitness and wellness routine is to at least get 30-60 minutes of cardio in 3 times a week,” Jefferson said. “I also try to incorporate healthy good choices in my diet and stay hydrated daily”.

For college students, it’s very common to add too much to our plate. But, think about the long term effects of the one simple step of adding fitness to your lifestyle. Jefferson expressed that doing this can drastically change the lives of college students of any age. “College can be stressful for sure,” Jefferson said, “But staying active and eating well can

“ Try to incorporate healthy good choices in [your] diet and stay hydrated daily.”

give you the extra energy to power through lectures, studying, and test taking.”

Although working out has an enormous impact on your life, adding nutrition is also a key factor. Eating the right foods can have you more energized and alert in most cases. When you’re sluggish and almost experiencing “brain fog,” this can be from not having a balanced diet as well.

HCC professor, dietician, and nutritionist Janet Yarrow strongly supports the idea of living a healthy lifestyle. “Incorporating healthy nutrition into your everyday lifestyle can benefit you in many ways,” Yarrow said, “In order to have optimum health, not catch viruses, and to have energy throughout the day, it’s important to have a healthy diet.”

Focusing on nutrition can be hard, especially as a college student. Since students are on the go and looking for the closest area to study or get homework done, eating healthy can be the last thing on their mind. Also, eating healthy can be quite expensive. However, the certified nutritionist has tips on this as well.

“The key component to eating healthy is to learn how to read labels, and buy fresh ingredients,” Yarrow said, “Focus on buying fresh products during their buying season, go to farmers markets, and see if you can catch sales. Also, only buy what you know you are going to eat. Don’t spend extra money if you know that you won’t enjoy it.”

When thinking about how to improve your mental health and work ethic in school, consider switching up your daily routine with these simple steps. Keep in mind that adding a nutritional diet and a consistent workout routine can not only improve your mental health, but your body will thank you in the long run.

To make the idea of working out cost friendly and fun, Jones offers a discount on all fitness classes for college students! For more information, he can be contacted via email: badbodygym@gmail.com.

Ten Steps This Time…Maybe?

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor

Learning the steps of a routine doesn’t only include the “Cha Cha Slide.” The steps of your morning and nightly skin care routine are just as important! Skin care is a universal topic that some may love, others may find confusing, and some may find, well, pointless. But, as a licensed esthetician, I am here to tell you that your skin matters, and so does your routine!

Although skin can be complicated, it’s important to know the steps it takes in order to achieve glowing, healthy skin. The current trend in the skin care industry is the Korean ten-step plan, which includes cleansing, exfoliation, masking, toning your skin through

every step, treatments, moisturizing, and balancing. I know! It’s intense!

While the Korean skin care routine is very effective and can work wonders to your skin, I’m here to remind you of a tip that I tell most of my skin care clients: Don’t overthink and overuse. Some people can be very basic, and that is completely OKAY! When it comes to your skin care routine, you do not have to have ten steps if you truly don’t want to.

So, I know what you may be thinking: If I don’t use ten steps, what can I do? The basic

four steps to a generic skin care plan are the following: 1. Cleansing, 2. Toning, 3. Moisturizer, 4. SPF. With these 4 simple steps, you can still achieve healthy skin!

Some brands that are useful to new users are CeraVe, Skin Script, The Inky List, and Glow Recipe, just to name a few. The next time you’re worrying about whether or not you should be applying your fifth serum of the night, don’t forget that just like other skin care consumers in the world, it’s okay to keep it simple!

Skin care doesn’t have to be complicated, but it also doesn’t have to be short and boring. Photo By Brit+Co

Choosing To Stay Active

By Samuel Almazan Senior Staff Writer

It’s the Spring Semester, which means excellent and beautiful weather is among us, right? Well, here in Connecticut, and everywhere else in New England, the “spring semester” doesn’t start feeling like spring till the end of the semester.

We start the semester wearing our winter coats, hats, and scarfs. It’s too cold to be outside, which limits our options on activities we can do during the winter time.

As a result, being active can seem hard to do. It’s too cold. Going outside isn’t an option until later in the semester. However, it’s best to remain active during the winter. At HCC, they have a Fitness Center, which is available to all students, staff, and faculty members. Being active, like going to the gym, can be very beneficial for your health and mental state.

With the HCC gym available to students, students have easy options to stay healthy and being able to work on themselves.

“If you’re stressed, come to the gym at HCC to relieve that stress you might have,” said Joshua Gee, a student worker there.

“We are looking to start classes such as Yoga, Kickboxing, etc…” added Jessica Maldonado, a student worker who is heavily involved with the fitness center.

A college semester might be stressing you out, and being active, like going to the gym or doing yoga, can help you let go of the stress.

I understand that school can take a lot of your time. Not only school, but work is another factor that an cause us some stress and take away our free time.

At the end of the day, though, it’s up to us to choose to stay active. And with this, you choose to be healthy and work on your mental state.

For me, when I go to the gym, it helps relieve all the stress that I have. Especially during the semester, I feel like I can’t breathe

at times. I have to find something to get my mind off of things, and what’s better than going to the gym where I can forget about the stress and also work on myself?

“During the beginning of the new year, we see an increase of college students joining the club,” said Phillip Pim, the general manager of L.A. Fitness. “We see an increase due to the fact that students want to remain active during the cold months and the nice weather is around the corner.”

And we may start the spring semester in the cold

months of winter but, once the semester is about to finish, we now have the nice weather among us. During the middle of the semester, we have spring break available to us. With all that being said, choosing to remain active will have you ready to look your best. Either for spring break or the upcoming summer, you’ll be ready. All that is available to us, if we choose to remain active.

So, when the spring semester starts, and you’re thinking of ways to stay active, and looking for ways to improve your mental health and overall health, adding a

fitness routine will be beneficial to you. You can also add a nutritional diet to this new routine, which will help you stay healthy. Now with a consistent workout routine, you can now improve your mental health, and your body will be ready for spring break and the summer.

If you like the idea of joining a club to workout at, you can go to the HCC Fitness center, located at Beacon Hall room 117 or you can join L.A. Fitness, where they offer a student discount. All you have to do is present your student I.D. to receive that discount.

Working out can help with your mental health and having the body you dream of.

Photo by Anastase Maragos on Unsplash

Trash or Treasure?

By Chloe Hodnett Editor

You say trash; I say treasure. I am a thrifter, a forager, and I am a seasoned dumpster diver. You should be too, especially if you care for the planet (and your wallet.)

Actually, today I picked up the most exquisite armoire from the side of the road. Its green and golden fabric caught my eye amongst the streetlights, and there was really no question about it --that armoire was mine. Through much labor and the slight scratching of my car door frame, I made my throne fit into my little sedan and up the three floors to my apartment. There is some slight danger in side-of-the-road treasures

containing critters or crawlers, but I tend to lean on the dangerous side of the road, and am willing to take the risk. I wonder if my habits of finding are hereditary, as my mother and I would frequent the dumpsters of furniture stores and haggle with yard sale entrepreneurs looking to snag a much-needed lamp or dresser.

I know I’m not alone, though, there are many Facebook groups documenting their own trash-turned-treasure adventures. In fact, Facebook Marketplace is a virtual goldmine to dig through; People love to put their old kitchen sets on there for little to nothing.

“I think the most important and rewarding aspect of finding is the history behind every item.”

The truth is, it’s less work for people to post for someone to take their sofa than taking said sofa to the dump. It’s a winwin for everyone, even the happy bystanders congratulating each other on their foraging successes. The environment also benefits from all this, as even something as simple as a t-shirt takes gallons of water to produce.

However, I think the most important and rewarding aspect of finding is the history behind every item. Someone else sat on this chair, cherished it, and the chair remains a part of at least one living person’s memory before me. A bookshelf found on the sidewalk once held someone’s favorite books, stories that are intertwined into the personality of the bookshelf’s former owner. I am surrounded by objects of unknown origin, and that’s exactly how I like it. I’m saving money, the environment, and having an adventure while I’m doing it.

With spring cleaning coming up, many will be flocking to their street corner to drop off the random objects they no longer need. Keep your eyes peeled, because someone else’s trash is free to be treasured.

Get your paws dirty and get finding!

Photo “Dumpster Diving” by ninachildish on Openverse

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor

Food Beyond the HCC Cafeteria

With all of the hard work students do at Housatonic, it’s no doubt that you’re going to need a snack eventually. As we all may know, the cafeteria is open morning and afternoon for students. However, there isn’t a huge variety on their menu. Fun fact: the HCC cafeteria menu hasn’t changed in years! Because of this, food options can become tiring and boring in a way.

Because students are so used to walking over to the cafeteria, they do not realise the many options that are around campus. After viewing the different options, leaving the HCC cafe may be the best decision you’ve made!

From soul food to healthy juices, there are tons of options you can have during

your study break just a short distance from the HCC campus. Let’s go on a journey: If you’re walking out of Lafayette Hall, and you’re looking for healthier options, you’ll go straight down Lafayette Blvd and head to Fruta Deli & Cafe. There, you are able to make your own smoothies, order cold pressed juices, and they have an enormous salad menu to choose from! They also have a variety of sandwiches and breakfast options.

Although having something healthy is a great option, you may be in the mood for great tasting comfort food. To most, comfort food and soul food can go hand and hand! Two places around the HCC Campus are Miss Thelma’s Soul Food Restaurant and Bar, located

on 140 Fairfield Ave, as well Queen’s Delight Cafe, located on 130 John St. For Miss Thelma’s, they have a dinner variety which includes meals such as southern fried chicken, mac and cheese, yams & greens, and quick bites. Queen’s Delight is more of the brunch scene, which also has a tasty menu. Queen’s offers brunch favourites such as chicken and waffles as well as shrimp and grits.

These are great places to experience good energy, customer service, and of course, great dishes. “I love stopping by at Fruita Deli Cafe,” Charlese Jarvis, business major student at HCC expressed. “It’s a great place to get a salad or sandwich, but also a calm environment for me to get homework done. The restaurant is spacious, and I like to take advantage of the good atmosphere to complete my work.” It’s easy to notice that this cafe is truly student friendly!

It may be hard to believe that these hidden gems are around the HCC community. However, there are many options to choose from for all different taste buds. The next time you are finishing work or studying for your big exam, take a ride to these hidden gems of food and flavor!

Hungry for just more than regular sandwiches and quick bites? Spice up your meals by taking a visit to Queen’s Delights downtown Bridgeport!

Photo by https://topbrunchspots.com

“I love stopping by at Fruita Deli Cafe.”

Plant Parenthood

By Larry Ferguson Editor

Anxiety, low self-esteem, and lack of focus are extremely common issues when you’re a hard-working college student. Sometimes, it’s a little too easy to forget about all the progress you make and all the amazing work you’ve done in light of tough times. With a new semester of prospective successes awaiting you, there’s a fun and engaging way that you can kick off the spring that will ameliorate all of the nerves that may be holding you back: horticulture!

Starting a little green family for yourself might be the perfect niche activity for you to dive deep into as the flowers begin to bloom this year.

The art of garden cultivation and management, also known as horticulture, is a practice that goes back to the roots of civilization. For as long as societies have had the means

to grow their own agricultural products, the door to recreational gardening was busted wide open. However, according to Geoffrey A.C. Herklots, former Principal and Director of Research at Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in Trinidad, it wasn’t until the European Renaissance that “the emergence of the garden as a form of creative display properly began in the 16th century.” From that point forward, people who sought to produce elegant and refined art using nothing but nature itself as their tools found a medium of expression “in composing harmonious forms in the garden,” Herklots said. Tracking the life of this art form into the present, there isn’t much change to be observed. The only noticeable differences are the increased access to the materials necessary to do successful gardening, causing a slight shift from an exclusively artful and regal endeavor to more of

The kind of joy that you can grow in your life! Pictured is Max Csedrik standing in his bedroomturned greenhouse, surrounded by beautiful plants.

an everyman’s hobby, and research that gives us insight into what good the growth of this scene has brought about to certain groups of people.

Over the years, numerous studies have sought to understand the value that recreational gardening can add to people’s lives. The findings conclude that people stand to benefit both physically and mentally from engaging in the hobby. If you’ve found that you’re riddled with nerves or aren’t all that confident in how you may perform either socially or academically during the Spring Semester, it turns out horticulture might just be therapeutic for you. According to the former president of the Royal College of Physicians in London, Sir Richard Thompson, green spaces, including home gardens, are “associated

with less depression, anxiety and stress.”

Even though quality research has affirmed these findings, for someone who is looking for a way to work on some of these issues it’s important to understand the specific ways this hobby may improve their quality of life.

Environmental Science Major at Southern New Hampshire University, Max Csedrik, who is deep into the hobby, had a lot to say about the topic. Lessening depression, anxiety, and stress probably sounds too good to be true for a student who is having those problems, but according to Csedrik, it’s no lie.

When it comes to depression, in reference to his plants, Csedrik said “They make me happier. They add life and color to my room, which keeps the space from getting drab and depressing. Seeing the big leaves and the

Photo by Larry Ferguson

long vines always puts a smile on my face.”

After talking to him for a good while, it was plain to see that the plants were more than just a way for him to have a more vibrant and lively living space. Csedrik was quick to admit that he has always been an anxious person, but when pondering the proposed effects of the study over his own experiences, he made a correlated connection between his anxiety and stress and his hobby.

“I guess I would say that working with my plants has become an outlet for my anxiety. It’s like when I’m taking care of them, I’m also taking care of myself. Whatever bad feelings I have are kind of transformed into positive energy that I then put into the plants,” he said.

These factors, combined with the confidence boost that comes with cultivating life with his own hands, has without a doubt made finding a love for plants one of the best things that has ever happened to him.

Despite how appealing the mental health benefits may sound, the physical benefits are just as alluring. In addition to easing the nerves flooding your brain at the beginning of the semester, gardening is also a convenient way to get some exercise all while in the comfort of the cushy green space you’ve created. According to the Julia Darnton, a District Director for the Michigan State University Extension, “moderate-intensity level activity for 2.5 hours each week can reduce the risk for obesity, high blood pressure,

Illustration by Sarah Fazekas

type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death” and it just so happens that “The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity level activity.”

It may initially seem hard to believe that kneeling down for an hour or two while playing in the dirt could help you progress toward your fitness goals, but it is true. During our interview, as he was speaking, Csedrik was actually repotting a few of his plants that had grown too big for their old pots. The whole endeavor lasted a little over an hour. Between moving the heavy pots, dumping the soil, separating the roots, mixing in fertilizer, watering the plants, making them look pretty, and cleaning up all the mess that has spilled on his floor, Csedrik had engaged in a large amount of physical activity. When everything was said and done, his sweat was dripping onto the floor.

Don’t be discouraged by this, though. You would only work this hard if you had a massive terrarium in your room like Csedrik and like to do work on all of your big plants in one sitting. Taking your time and pacing out the upkeep for your plants will allow you to hit that 2.5-hour mark over the course of a week easily.

Springtime has always been considered a time for new life to grow, both figuratively and literally. Picking up recreational horticulture as a hobby at the beginning of the Spring Semester is your opportunity to do both. You can allow external life to bloom with the power of your own hands while simultaneously breathing new life into yourself by becoming healthier on all fronts. All along it turns out that a little bit of dirt, water, and sunlight isn’t just a recipe for plant growth, but happiness as well.

By Nhathalie A. Jean-Baptiste Senior Staff Writer

Everyone has a story they either won’t, can’t, or want to tell. I was all of those, I was all of those, and more. I just couldn’t tell one person how I felt because she is gone, my maternal Grandmother Alice. She was a rock for me and an ear to listen to as well as a shoulder to cry on. When she started getting sick at the end of 2017 going into 2018, I felt the shift. I felt that she was going to leave us. She left us on March 4th, 2018, due to complications after her first radiation treatment for her Stage 4 cancer. We just wanted her to get radiation, just so she could last long enough for my mom to send her back to Haiti and she could die surrounded by my aunts and many cousins. Unfortunately, she passed on my cousin’s birthday. She didn’t even get to celebrate her 80th birthday.

After she passed, I fell into an intense depression; it was like all I knew was gone, only because me and my mother always butt heads, and she was the mediator between us. With her gone I didn’t care about anything,

I went to class, but I wasn’t present. I decided to just stop. All of a sudden I began feeling unprovoked anger, especially towards my mother. It got to the point my mother suggested I get help and figure out what was wrong with me.

So I did. Back in 2019, I was diagnosed with Major Depression and Borderline Bipolarism. The funny thing about it is that the psychologist also told me that from the way I answered the answers on the test they gave me, I have been harboring a lot of anger, and probably my grandmother’s passing is what triggered the borderline Bipolarism, but the depression had always been there. That is a whole other story.

When I finally understood how I felt and what I was feeling, I tried without medication, and yes it was hard. Still, I managed to do it, even though it took me to go through a pandemic to put things into perspective and to listen to my mother every once and a while. It was

like a thunderbolt had hit me; figuratively, I thought I heard my grandma tell me to pick myself up and not let my disability cripple me. It was like somehow a new life was breathed into me. Even though I did begin to get better it was still a struggle.

There were times my depression would sneak up on me and take me out, for instance back in April, I was so down, that I didn’t even call out of work for a whole week. My job would call me and I wouldn’t pick up, I just stared at my phone wishing I would just disappear. I was so out of it, that I didn’t even get out of bed. My mom would yell at me to get up or call my job, but it was like

she was just like the adults in Peanuts. All I heard was a cacophony of muted trombone sounds. After that week, I went back to work and explained to my managers about my condition and they understood. They just wished I called and informed them, but at the time that was far from thought.

Now, I have my ups and downs, but I muffle the sounds of depression, but sometimes can’t muffle the screaming of Bipolarism. I keep them out of my head by either writing, listening to music, watching videos on YouTube, or watching shows and movies on Netflix or Hulu. Even though there are times they do not work; I always force myself

Photo by Shane Hoving on Unsplash

“Even though I am gone, just know you can always speak to me.”

to try to hold my emotional baggage back, because I know my grandmother would never like me to suffer. It has been a more tolerable life so far. My favorite things to do to get my mind off of thinking negative thoughts that lead to the darkened door of my heart is that I watch Karen getting instant Justice videos on a channel called Top10 Central, I watch shorts, watch other channels like All Def Digital, Chiseled Adonis, and Aba and Preach. If I am not up to watching anything on YouTube, I watch movies and shows either new ones or ones from my childhood; if I didn’t want to view those I watched Korean movies and shows.

Even though she is gone, I still have good memories of the both of us just sitting and just talking/ We never had a subject, but it was good. I always keep that with me. Yes, there are days I just want to cry when I think of her, but I remember her words to me in her last days, “Even though I am gone, just know you can always speak to

me.” I never wanted to believe that, but as I progressively started to get better, I started feeling as though it was those words, and our memories together that started helping me. Even though I probably will always have Major Depression with Borderline Bipolarism, I now understand what she meant. At times I catch myself speaking to her, when I am in a rut. Even if I do not get a response from her, I believe that she heard me and is always looking out for me.

With my Savior being gone, I had to learn the hard way; how to pick myself up because she couldn’t do it anymore. I had to learn that even though she is gone, she will never be gone, because there is a little bit of herself in me, like my stubbornness, my need to always improve myself, and to be brutally honest.

Two-Way Road to Recovery

By Salene Herrera Senior Staff Writer

For 14 years I blew out my birthday candles wishing for the same thing: my father. Some years I would waste my wish on a text message from him, or if I was feeling hopeful I’d wish for a visit. Each year I wished, and each year I realized that my wish would not come true. That was how I spent most of my childhood, hoping that my father would show up for me, but he never did. Though I could never recall a time when he was present, I mourned for that relationship for as long as I could remember.

I did not know how to feel anything other than hurt and abandoned by my father’s absence and the weight of those emotions weighed very heavily on me. I never got used to not having my father

in my life, even though it was all I’d ever known.

When I was 14 years old, I went from not knowing where my father lived, to seeing him for the first time in what felt like years, and I was furious.

My father came back into my life and revealed that he had a girlfriend and she had two children, and they lived only ten minutes from where I lived, and suddenly all the pain that I felt had turned into anger. I felt cheated. I felt like he had completely replaced me and my brother, and even my mom.

For so many years my only wish was to feel loved by my father, and seeing him now with his “new family,” I wished I would never see him again.

My father was finally sober after years of addiction and he was trying to repair his relationships with me, my brother, and the rest of our family. I didn’t see it this way. I saw a man who had abandoned me, started a new family, and realized that he should have some sort of space in his life for me. Not because he wanted to, but out of obligation.

I disliked his girlfriend and her children without knowing them, I hoped that my father would stop being happy and feel the way I felt.

“For so many years my only wish was to feel loved by my father.”

I wanted everyone to not only see that I was hurting, but I also wanted them to hurt with me. I was heartbroken. I did not make any effort to see him and when I had no choice I would do everything I could to avoid talking to him.

I sometimes look back on the way I handled this time in my life, and I feel sad for myself because I could have handled it with grace, but I remind myself that I was young. The pain that I wished for others was not a reflection of who I was or who I am.

I think a turning point for me was when my brother looked at me and asked me to “Just give him a chance. He is our dad.”

My brother is older than me. We are opposites. He is steady and level headed, calm, and collected, whereas I always went through life with my emotions ruling over

me. He never asked me for anything, but he was asking me for this.

For the first time in my life, I put myself in my father’s shoes and tried to imagine his pain. I imagined what this must have been like for him, not truly knowing his children, being alienated by his family, having little control over himself, and wasting so many years of his life.

I lost a lot because of my

father’s absence. I lost my home, time with my mother, my freedom, and my belief that I was someone that could be loved by anyone else, but I also gained more than I cared to admit at the time.

I was closer with my grandparents, I learned what being a strong woman was watching my single mother provide for us, I valued any time spent with my family, and most importantly I learned to feel deeply not only for myself but for others.

I looked at all that I had, and how this pain had made me stronger, and for the first time I was not angry. Instead, I felt like I could finally take a deep breath, and I accepted it. I accepted that our relationship was what it was, but I also accepted that I could change that. I accepted that I was hurt because I was holding onto this anger, and I accepted that holding on the way I was, was a choice.

“I learned what being a strong woman was watching my single mother provide for us.”

There are a few things in life that we have control over, but we have control over ourselves. So, I chose to try to forgive my father, and not for anyone but myself. I decided to heal myself so that moving forward my life was not tainted by this anger.

I had to accept that my relationship with my father will never be what I always wished it would be. I will always be the girl who watched the door during Father’s Day teas at school praying my father would walk in, the girl who cried on her birthday, who hated my friends who had fathers, who never felt like enough. That will always be a part of who I am, and instead of pushing her down, I embrace her and all she has taught me.

I still hurt over all the time I lost with my father, but today I see him a couple of times a month. I see my stepmother, whom I adore, and my stepbrothers, who are kind. I see what his absence in my life has given me. It has made me who I am, someone who loves deeply, empathizes, and forgives and I am better off because of it.

“That will always be a part of who I am, and instead of pushing her down, I embrace her and all she has taught me.”

Illustration by Shia Stewart

Life Has Its Plans

By Samuel Almazan Senior Staff Writer

Once you graduate high school, you’re expected to go straight to college, get a degree in four years, and start your career. And I started on that path. When I graduated in 2016, I went straight to the University of Bridgeport. Everything seemed to be going well for me. In the sense of following the path I originally set out for myself, things seemed to be going as planned. I thought I could do no wrong and live a stressfree life. But as I would soon come to find out, life has its plans.

In the spring of 2018, which would have been my fourth semester at UB, I found myself working full-time at my job instead. At that time, I was okay with my

job. I enjoyed what I was doing. I was working for a soccer academy, so I got to be around the sport I grew up with and loved. I was promoted to director of the youth programs. I was in charge of hiring coaches, training the players, and creating new opportunities for the academy. This promotion wasn’t the sole cause of my dropping out of school. Toward the end of the fall semester of 2017, I had family issues that distracted me throughout the semester. I couldn’t focus as much as I wanted to. I found myself at a crossroads: Do I continue school or pursue a career that my job had to offer?

Accepting that promotion made sense at that time, but

stepping away from getting my degree was something that bothered me. I fell off the path I set for myself. I didn’t let that slow me down. I continued with my life.

I was working full days at my job (which I still currently work at.) From 9 a.m., all the way to 10 p.m. I drowned myself in my work, trying to drown out the feeling of not being in school anymore. To be honest, I felt a sense of accomplishment while working. I felt productive and successful. I was doing what I loved and getting paid for it. That’s the dream, right? Again, I felt like everything was going right for me. But as I learned before, life has its plans.

March of 2020, when the

world shut down. For many, this was one of the most difficult times of their lives. It was the hardest and most confusing time of my life. Before COVID shut down the whole world, my world had already been destroyed. My cousin, who was a brother to me, passed away on March 10 Talk about life throwing curve balls, well this was something I never saw coming. Everything happened so fast. To this day, that week still feels like a blur to me, yet I still remember

every single detail that happened that horrid day. Dealing with his death and the world shutting down, I didn’t know what to make of it all.

As the world stayed on pause, I took that time to examine my own life. I had no degree, and no job at this point because of COVID, and I just lost the most important person in my life. I felt like life was moving on and leaving me behind. I felt stuck in the world I was living in. At

this point, I had no sense of direction. All my pieces to the puzzles were scattered everywhere. Where do I go from here?

Eventually, my job reopened, which allowed me to find myself again. But as I was drowning myself with work again, I still felt like something was missing from life. With my cousin’s passing, I was reevaluating life. I wanted to make something out of my life. I wanted to make my cousin proud. I wanted to get my degree, something I

As long as you continue to believe in yourself, you’ll be able to conquer anything life throws at you. Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

know was missing from my life. So, what I did next might seem out of nowhere, but this was something on my mind since graduating high school. This was something I had originally planned for myself, but going to UB pushed that to the side. On November 20, 2020, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. I left for basic training on March 21, 2021. During that time, I found myself challenged daily mentally and physically. I pushed myself every day, reminding

myself why I’m doing this. I reminded myself about all the failures and deadends I had in life. I used all that as fuel to push through that finish line. On graduation day, I relived all those moments of difficulty in my head, with a smile on my face because I was able to conquer it all and put myself in a position to succeed in life again. I felt like I was able to get back on track in life.

Once I came back home, I enrolled in classes at Housatonic. I was going to

get my degree.

Today, I’m in my third semester at Housatonic, on the verge of getting my associate’s degree. I had given up on myself a couple of times but I always found the strength to continue the fight with life. It wasn’t easy at all. Of course, I have some regrets and made mistakes I wish I hadn’t made, but that’s life.

Life has its plan, but as long as you continue to believe in yourself, you’ll be able to conquer anything life throws at you.

“To be honest, I felt a sense of accomplishment while working.”

The Purpose of Sunday

By Chloe Hodnett Editor

Stepping off the plane and onto the drab, gray LaGuardia airport carpet below, Jerónimo EscuderoYepes had accomplished what he was striving towards since he was twelve years old: moving to the United States to study engineering in one of the American universities he had seen in movies. Though excited, he couldn’t help but feel the ache of homesickness, as he’d just left his mother, his beloved dog Napóleon, his girlfriend, his friends, and the green pastures of his small Colombian farmtown behind him.

He now lives with his sisters and his father, who had

moved here about 10 years prior. His lust for life is evident, both in his manner of speaking and the way he describes his life back home. He is in this life to live, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

This new stage in Jerónimo’s life is currently characterized with the juxtaposition between his idealized perception of the US and his view now, from the inside.

“Don’t come to the United States if you don’t have a goal, or you’ll get swept up in the current of moneyProductivity,” Jerónimo told me, having been bombarded by American billboards

advertising get-rich-quick schemes and energy pills.

Though his objective is clear, his goals steadfast, he still finds time to be human - to breathe. He’s spent his time between work and school reading, playing guitar, taking walks, talking to his friends and family back home, and looking out at the stars above. Many, like me, are consumed with achieving, garnering clout, clothes, success--whatever to feed the monster of productivity, without ever allowing ourselves the space to breathe. Jerónimo, on the other hand, has achieved both the greatest goal of his adolescence and

the greatest goal of each day, and by default, the greatest goal of one’s life: maintaining one’s personhood; a skill underdeveloped in today’s world. Using strength garnered through hundreds of late-night chats with friends and early morning dog walks, Jerónimo has put his smalltown sensibilities to the ultimate test: withstanding

the heat of the fifty states’ frying pan.

“No one talks to each other…....people have forgotten what it means to be human,” he says. When describing his friends back home, he noted how each of them were vastly different from himself. He talked of their intense and lively conversations, of parties and potlucks on plowed

fields, and the feeling that his friends weren’t just with him for a good time--they were with him, as a brother or as a sister. This sort of community camaraderie is exceedingly rare in the states, particularly among our generation. Maybe it’s because of social media, maybe the urge to succeed trumping our humanity, or maybe

Jeronimo pictured with his dog, Napóleon, who is currently keeping his mother company back in Colombia. Photo Courtesy of Jerónimo Escudero-Yepes

it’s something else. Either way, Jerónimo’s achievements and perspective serve as a helpful reminder (or maybe a desperate plea) to never forget who we are, beyond all goals.

“Think of me as your reminder of the purpose of Sunday,” Jerónimo said. “I am your reminder to rest, to let yourself be, to be human. Tomorrow you will need another reminder, whether it be a book, a walk, or just a breath, but you need to remind yourself every day that you are alive.”

Join in with your community.

Photo by Alexander Suhorucov on Pexels

When the Camera Focuses

By Cierra Johnson Staff Writer

Being able to capture every exciting moment in a person’s life is a beautiful thing. But trying to become somebody in a world full of competition and unexpected transitions, can take your dream and throw it out the window. Joshua J. Gee, a Housatonic photography student who didn’t allow that to happen to him. In 2019, I met Joshua through the HCC non-credited Pass Program, a program created for students who have fallen into academic probation and helps them get back on their feet.

“My head was on the wrong focus. At the time I had a girl that wasn’t in my best interest but I was love struck and I couldn’t get my head out of the clouds. At that time too, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and on top of all that, I went through a state of depression as well,” he said.

After dealing with all this in his personal life and finding himself on the verge of losing his financial aid, he came across an opportunity to do a

“Don’t give up because something big is about to change for you.”

photoshoot that changed his whole world around.

“At my church, it was a holy convocation night and the photographer that was supposed to take photos couldn’t do it because he had to play the bass. When I asked if I could take the pictures for them, they let me. When they put that camera in my hands, I felt power, I felt control, I felt like we belonged together,” he said.

Starting off as a Computer Science major, he took it upon himself to put his focus toward photography and took his first ever photography class. At that point, everything in his life was coming together. He changed his major to photography. His grandparents were able to save enough money to buy him his first camera, and he was able to start his journey, practicing on friends, family, and slowly

increasing his clientele. At the end of it all, he even managed to get out of academic probation. All was well until 2020, the year of Coronavirus, the pandemic that had the world on lockdown. This aspiring photographer hit yet another crossroad, but this time, he didn’t let it bring him down.

“I couldn’t really do the things I wanted to do as a photographer. Couldn’t go anywhere, didn’t have

Photo Taken at Twin Brooks by Edna Rodriguez

a lot of photoshoots… I always knew that I wanted to be one of the top photographers. My own doubt sometimes made me feel like I couldn’t do it because I’d compare myself to photographers who have done this for years. I always loved photography, but I never thought I could make a career out of it. Dry spells came, but I never gave up… I would mostly just practice on statues and buildings because there was no one around,” he said.

“[I was] still going to school, but it felt like I was at a standstill. I did get to meet some great photographers around that time. They gave me a lot of knowledge about how to do things…. My work shows that I’m more than capable of doing what needs to be done and it’s more than just a job, it’s second nature. I started to understand that I have

to go at my own pace and look where that got me. All thanks be to God.”

Navigating through Covid, Josh was able to turn an unexpected crisis and create his own light to continue his journey. Even though it delayed his graduation progress and provided him with little to no opportunities in photography, he never gave up. He was able to find a way to continue practicing his skills to become the best photographer he can be. Today, two years into the pandemic, Josh’s photography career is beginning to take off. With him being able to build his name through social media, starting up multiple photography pages with countless opportunities coming his way, He have never been in a better place than right now and it’s all thanks to not giving up.

“He came across an opportunity to do a photoshoot that changed his whole world around.”

“The reason why I became a photographer is because I love taking photos that capture the moment. I’ve recently gotten into sports so taking sports shots is one of my favorites. After having a talk with the security guard here at school who goes by the name of Q, who owns a lot of businesses and has a lot of connections, he was able to pull some strings for me and put me under his magazine to work for the arena here and the NFL next year,” Gee says.

“If it wasn’t for my grandparents encouraging me to follow my passion and buying my first camera, I wouldn’t even know where I’d be. Sometimes you gotta understand that when life is not going your way or your timetable changes, don’t give up because something big is about to

change for you. You might not know it yet but if you stop, you might never know. Sometimes what you’re going through is good for you. It’ll mold you to become something greater than you thought. One day, you’ll look back at yourself and see how far you came and it’ll only make you want to go further,” he concludes.

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels

Exploring the World of Mentoring

By Gilberto Villegas III Staff Writer

help they may need at the time. If they need help submitting their FAFSA and college applications? You can help them complete it to the best of your ability.

The MAACS program aims to get college students to pass down some of their experiences and wisdom to high school students, helping them figure out the road they would like to take and what they would like to accomplish before they even step foot on campus.

If you are a student who would like mentoring experience and like to help out high school students with work that they are possibly struggling in, you may partake in the MAACS and CAP programs.

The MAACS program is a program where you can travel to the surrounding public and inter-district highschools (Central, Fairchild Wheeler, Bassick, Harding, BMA) and assist public school students with their college preparation process. When working with the MAACS program, you are sent to one of the schools you are assigned to and you can spend up to 45 minutes to 1 hour talking to your student, helping them with whatever

Throughout the semester, there will be workshops here on campus with senior high school students that will take place here, giving them a taste of the college feeling before the program ends for the school year.

When a part of the program as a college student, you also can receive a $50 check each semester by submitting your college course schedule.

Working around your schedule,the MAACs program is a great way to give back to the community and gather experience and good benefits, all while still attending Housatonic during the semester. To learn more about the program, visit:

https://maacscap.wixsite.com/my-site

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Believe in Yourself

By Estephanie Ponce Staff Writer

There has never been a success story without challenges. In order to achieve success there will likely be failures, bumps, and a lot of pressure. Janet Yarrow, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, who is currently a professor at Housatonic, for example, faced many obstacles before arriving at her profession. Her story begins as a discouraged 7th grader in Biology class. Each time that she stepped foot into Biology class, she knew she felt stressed. Asking the teacher for help felt impossible due to the lack of support he failed to provide. She worked hard in

this class but in the end she did not earn the grade she hoped for. This experience gave her a bad taste for any science class going forward. After graduating high school, she then continued her studies at her university, where she went for her undergrad in Psychology. By the end, there were only six credits to complete her degree but because she grew unsure of her decision of becoming a psychology major, Yarrow dropped out. She continued her life’s journey by moving to England. This is where she married her husband and worked in two separate fields, but did not enjoy them

“Thoughts began to stir in her mind about what she was really supposed to be doing.”

at all, remaining unsatisfied. She made her decision to return to the US and to finish her studies in Psychology. With each day, she worked and studied hard to complete her major. Then came the moment that she finished, got her degree, and finally majored in psychology. But still, something didn’t feel right. Every moment after felt like she wasn’t where she was supposed to be and it didn’t sit right within her. Thoughts began to stir in her mind about what she was really supposed to be doing, searching for her true

potential. Her mind soon returned to her original plan knowing she was absolutely sure that becoming a nutritionist is what her life’s calling was.

Janet returned to college again, but this time it was different. There was a plan, and it was a concrete plan with a determined attitude that would flip her life around to do what she loved. To become a registered dietitian nutritionist, it took her 20 years to complete, but nothing during that time could stop her from achieving this. Soaring

through all her science classes she received all A’s and found that she loved them. Not only was Janet working hard to become an RDN at her return of school but was learning on how to become a mother. The birth of her child made it necessary to find aid from a babysitter while still working towards her degree. Then a few years later was pregnant with her second child. Being a mother of two may have brought on more responsibility, but it did not stop her from reaching her goals, it fueled her.

Illustration by A’mayah Boyd

Success isn’t linear. Read about someone and their challenging story before reaching their achievement. Photo by Timothy Chan on Unsplash

After completing her bachelors and masters degree in human nutrition, including a six-month internship, she can call herself an Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and has happily been doing that for the past 20 years. Now, she helps students who are interested in going in her same direction and navigating them through to reach their success.

No one ever knows what their future holds, the only thing that we can do is work hard and believe in ourselves that we can reach our goals, even if that means giving Biology class a second chance.

Keep the Faith

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor

When you’re a kid, we always get asked the same question as we get older: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some may say an astronaut, a “superstar,” a doctor, or a famous actor. For Tiana Bolton, Housatonic Community College 2022 graduate, she knew that she wanted to be a help, a help to her community, family, and friends.

As she grew older, she decided to take on the journey of becoming a therapist. Mental health has always been an impactful focus for her because she believes that everyone should be internally and mentally well. This became her focus for her early 20’s, and during that time, she became a mother, and a caregiver for her grandmother who became sick with COVID-19. On the road to becoming a therapist, the mental health advocate also faced many challenges.

While attending HCC, she was a single mother, caregiver, full time worker, and full time student. “This was truly one of the hardest moments in my life,” Bolton says. “There were points in time where I wanted to give up everything when it came to my dreams of helping others. Being a full-time mother and a caregiver to my grandmother was my main focus, but I knew that getting my degree would benefit all of us.” This was a time for Bolton to sit, reflect, and analyse her next move. Because of the overwhelming lifestyle, she began to make a better schedule for herself, and began therapy. Starting therapy was truly the turning point in Tiana’s life.

One of the many reasons why she’s a mental health advocate is because she struggles with mental health issues as well. “I know first hand what it’s like to be depressed and

“This was a difficult time, but I knew that giving up was never an option.”

experience anxiety,” Bolton says. “Because of this, I want to be the person that people can talk to. I take pride in giving yourself grace, and I think that everyone should do the same.”

As someone who is taking on these tasks, and also focusing on her own well-being, this can become draining and overwhelming.

Although Tiana knew what she had to do to be a successful graduate, times became harder. “My grandmother passed in January of

2022, which was the semester I was graduating.” She was overwhelmed and exhausted, but soon began to see the brighter side of things. “I’m blessed to say that I received my associates spring of 2022 throughout all of the adversity,” Bolton said. “I had to collect myself for my child, and my graduation. This was a difficult time, but I knew that giving up was never an option.”

The biggest moral: never stop believing. With her being full time with school and

work, on top of being a single mother and caregiver, anyone would want to give up on certain things. “My biggest advice to anyone would be to keep the faith,” Bolton said. “Faith is what got me here. I have a dream, and I am determined to achieve it.”

If you are someone with a lot on their plate mentally, physically, and emotionally, always remember things get better, and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Things may go wrong, but bad days aren’t forever!

HCC graduate Tiana Bolton celebrating her great accomplishment with her son, Xavier. Photo Courtesy of Tiana Bolton

The Myth of The Lone Survivor

By Larry Ferguson Editor

Children are very seldom afforded the freedom of choice, and unfortunately, when it comes to deciding whether or not they are safe in their homes, that is absolutely the case. Although the primary responsibilities of a parent are to nurture and protect their children, it is all too common for them to fail at fulfilling those duties on some level.

This was the case for Housatonic Student Anthony Mendoza in an extreme way. Life was never easy for him. Just breathing the wrong way after his dad had a stressful day at work could spell disaster for the young boy. He grew

up with a father who was highly physically and verbally abusive and a mother who was equal parts neglectful and too afraid to defend her son. This left Anthony with no saving grace.

For Anthony, his early childhood was the hardest part of his life. As an only child, his well-being was always in question as he truly had no safeguards against the abuses of his parents. This led to him feeling nothing but isolation and fear. With no other options, Anthony did what any other child in his position would. He had to learn how to survive by any means necessary.

“You are not your trauma.”

In his case, survival meant repression. Taking all of his pain and fear and tucking it away where he wouldn’t have to face it was the best way to proceed. To him, feel ing nothing was better than feeling helpless, so he almost completely cut himself off from his emotions.

The moment he was old enough to participate, he began engaging in sports to strengthen his body and buy himself time away from his dangerous home. He was content with having his trou bles unseen and unheard. He thought that his physical strength and lack of emotional vulnerability had turned him into a lone survivor who could muscle through all of his hard times. Little by little, day by day, unbeknownst to him, his maladaptive coping mechanisms were bringing him to a breaking point. It

where he thought it was im possible for him to feel safe around others, but when he and his newfound friends were able to seek community with one another, connecting through their pain and knowing that they were no longer alone, Anthony started to develop what he referred to as “real strength.”

own… but by sharing parts of our hearts, mixing and matching them by helping one another heal, we were all able to become whole again,” he said.

The love that they felt for him allowed him to finally see merit in loving himself. His friends pushed him to

Illustrations by A’mayah Boyd

from the ledge the same way my friends helped me, I know I’m doing the right thing,” he said.

With a real support system to help him through his tough times, Anthony now has the confidence to proudly dismiss the myth of the lone survivor and build a better life with the people who truly care for him the way that he has learned to care for them.

We’ve Been There

About These Tips

By Professor Steve Mark Advisor to Horizons

Horizons staff was asked to imagine they had been invited to speak at a future convocation to offer a brief address to new students.

What is the most important

they would want to give a new student?

piece of advice

These articles explore strategies, words of encouragement, and insights into being a successful student at HCC, all from the perspective of other students.

Scrambled Eggs with Extra FOMO

By Chloe Hodnett Editor

Hieveryone! My name is Chloe Hodnett, I’m a fellow student at Housatonic with you. I honestly never thought I would even be going to a school, let alone sharing my advice about it. I had always HATED school passionately. I hated that I had little say in my classes, I hated the “popular kids,” I hated it all.

because I simply wasn’t made to be a student. So I dropped out. I dropped out at 16 years old with a fervent disdain for any organized learning environment, scoffing at any inflated institution charging 70k to be paraded around and fed dining hall scrambled eggs. No thank you.

I was, however, very lonely. I had grown up with kids who did the whole four-year pipeline, and going completely against the “normal” behavior was isolating. I felt the dreaded FOMO many of us are familiar with. It’s easy to forget the insurmountable debt my former classmates are facing when I’m seeing their dorm hijinks on their Instagram stories. I recognize these problems are trivial, but I think a lot of you will understand what I mean.

I thought the reason why I was always falling asleep in my classes and failing tests was

We all know that it is beneficial to have an education. I had been educating myself with Youtube, but as it turns out, Youtube does not give you a diploma. The truth of the matter

“It keeps you here, bettering yourself, because the only thing you need to be missing out on is student debt.”

is, having a diploma helps, not just in the job market, but in developing confidence and strength. Despite my quarrels with quizzes, it says something about someone when they’re able to do things they don’t necessarily always want to better themselves.

So, here I am, and here you are, bettering ourselves, one quiz at a time, without all the debt and scrambled eggs. We should all be intensely proud of ourselves.

Housatonic is a campus filled with hardworking, interesting people. This being said, I don’t know enough of you. Though my feelings towards schooling have changed, the

fear of missing out is still there, nagging at the back of my neck like a hungry mosquito. But I think that’s something we can fix easily.

Even though it may seem uncomfortable or scary, I want each and every one of you to start a conversation with someone in the courtyard, or bring an instrument to play in the music room, or compliment someone on their outfit. Something. Social interaction bridges the gap between quizzes and the things you might not want to do. It keeps you here, bettering yourself, because the only thing you need to be missing out on is student debt. There’s your homework, See you next class!

Illustration created by Kadeija Bond

Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor

When you’re new to a school, there are tons of emotions and questions. Will I be late to class? Will I like my teachers? Will I make friends? Trust me, the anxiety of starting a new journey with school is through the roof. But, always remember you’re not the only one feeling this way. College shows you that everyone is truly on their own journey. My message today for you is to take your time, do not rush, you are on YOUR specific journey.

During my experience in college, I unfortunately got caught up in age. You know, in our generation, you’re supposed to have “everything set” by the age of 25. The degree, the career, the house, the list goes on. As a 24-yearold woman still on her college journey, there

are times I will catch myself discouraged because I did not reach the “perfect” lifestyle my peers, and more importantly, social media told me to have. Believe me when I say, here at Housatonic Community College, that

“My message today for you is to take your time, do not rush, you are on YOUR specific journey.”

Graphic created by Kadeija Bond

mindset will clear its way as soon as you enter the hallways. Here, you are surrounded by people of all ages, all different walks of life, and all different goals. Hey, there may be a point in time where your biology partner is a 30+ year old woman just getting started in her schooling.

Housatonic truly embodies a judgment-free zone. There are teachers, students, and staff members who will encourage you to not rush the process. There are peers who will explain to you that they’re parents striving to get their degrees to better their lives, as well as their children’s. There are teachers

who will push you for greater things, and inform you that everything will be okay. So, take a moment and reflect while you’re scrolling through social media. The media will tell us that we’re behind when in all actuality, we’re just getting started. Do not rush. Your journey is specifically for you, and everything works in its divine timing. Best of luck, and, trust me, there’s time!

The Community in Community College

By Salene Herrera Senior Staff Writer

Before me sits a group of students, all of whom are ready to begin their newfound education. Some are straight out of high school. Others have put off college but are ready to begin. Then there are those who already have one or two degrees but strive for more. Regardless of which group you fit in, you all share one thing. You’re all here to take your first steps into a new stage of your life, a stage that will help you all decide your future.

Though before we talk about your future, let us talk about your present. I’m sure you’re all sitting there thinking to yourselves, “now what?” The funny thing about college is that in our lives we have so many people telling us to go, but not enough telling us what to do when we get there.

We do as we’re told, but then we’re unsure of what to do next after that. And the worst part is, this is all new to you. You don’t know

anybody. You don’t know who to ask. But

I’m here to remind you all of one thing: the word community in community college. The best part of this campus is that we are a

community. We are a group of people who all come from different backgrounds. Some of you are eighteen-year olds who just became

“Nobody here is alone. As I said, the most important thing you need to remember in community college is that this is a community.”

old enough to vote. Some of you are forty-five-year olds with four kids and a mortgage. And the greatest part about that is that you guys can use one another to help guide you through this college experience.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “What do I have in common with that child?” or “What do I have in common with that old man?” Yet the point is, it’s not what you guys have in common, it’s about your experiences. For all you know, that “kid” can help you navigate a website needed for your next big assignment. Or that “old man” can give you advice for your upcoming interview. You guys aren’t just here to learn; you’re here to grow. And you can’t do that alone.

So, as you walk through those doors, remember that kid, remember that old man. In a small community like this one, you don’t only have to rely on someone to point you in the right direction of a classroom. You can also rely on someone to help point you in the right direction for that

next big decision in your life. Nobody here is alone. As I said, the most important thing you need to remember in community college is that this is a community.

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

Staying Focused

By Samuel Almazan Senior Staff Writer

I’ve been at Housatonic for three semesters now, so, I believe I qualify to advise incoming or new students. I can tell them about the HCC cafe, gym, or events that take place at the school. Instead, I’m keeping it cliche with this advice to the new students, whether you’re at HCC or any other school: always stay focused.

It’s easy to lose focus with whatever you’re doing, especially with schoolwork. Getting all these assignments and readings, it’s understandable to find yourself getting entertained with something else. When I started doing classes at HCC, I always found myself scrolling through my Twitter timeline, rather than doing my homework or assignments. Most of the time, I would be in that typical college situation, where it’s 11:30 PM and the paper is due at 11:59 PM, and I’m just barely getting through it. I wouldn’t be in that situation if I had stayed focused from the beginning.

When I started at HCC last year, it was the first time I had to take an online class. That was completely new to me, as I always had

in-person classes. I had previously taken classes at the University of Bridgeport, where I did all my classes in person. I was used to that. I was an old-school type of student. I preferred that in-live class situation, over the online experience.

So, when I enrolled for classes, the majority of classes were only online, leaving me no choice but to take those classes. At first, I thought it would be a little easier than in-person classes. I had the availability to do my work whenever I wanted, without having to go anywhere. Attendance wasn’t a thing. And after a while, I lost my focus. I got too comfortable with the laidback rules.

After I saw how the work piles up when you start to look focused, I took things more seriously. I engaged with the work and made sure I didn’t fall back again.

As I said, losing your focus is easy, but you must remind yourself about your goals. The only way you’re going to achieve those goals is if you stay focused.