Housatonic Horizons, Fall 2021

FALL 2021

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06 Only Equality 08 Returning to Normal 10 HCC Revenue 11 Working from Home 12 Social Media 14 Build up Personality

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16 Health #1 Priority 18 Restful Nights 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 29 2

Financial Hardship Campus Security Childcare Grant Homework vs Homelife Creative Writing Course New to HCC Greatness in Giving Back Having Trouble Sleeping?

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Profiles

30 32 34 35 36 38

Father Student Leader Dyslexia Diploma The Power of Exercise Mortal Kombat Movie Take a Helping Hand “Failing Forward”

40 Nobody to Blame 42 Secret to Success 46 Music for your Ears & Mind 48 Older Student 50 Not According to Plan 54 Becoming an Editor 55 Body Failing 58 Perfect Pet 58 Persistence is Key 60 Autoimmune Disease 63 Gratitude

Essays

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Life Hacks

64 Food for Thought 65 Savings Saving Students 66 Connect to a Pet 67 Taking a Moment to Breathe 68 The Checker 69 Note your Progress 70 Those Pesky Homophones 71 Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 72 Invest in a Planner & Calendar 73 FNAF Movie

51 Go... Get up… and Get Moving!

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76 I Did It! 77 The Rise of a Country I Did it!

78 Are you There, God? 79 Same Strings 80 Learner’s Permit 81 Beating Fear and Ascending to New Heights 82 How COVID got me a Better Job 83 Morning Jogs 84 Working with People

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Come as You Are, Grow as We Go

Photo courtesy of Lindsey Norton

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By Guillermo Hernandez | Staff Writer The Equity Project is focused on providing students with support, connections, and resources to assist them not just in their personal growth but their academic and career advancements.

What does Equity mean? Equity means the quality of being fair and impartial.

Lindsey Norton, who is the Women’s Center Director at Housatonic and runs the women’s department of The Equity Project, said the program started in December of 2020. “It is a two-semester program. It begins in the Spring semester and goes into the next Spring semester,” she says.

“The Equity Project is part of the Foundation on campus. It started with a donor who is committed to creating a system where all people can thrive. We [the campus] wanted to create a program that highlights and is inclusive, diversity, equality, and

other. I know some of my students are comfortable with emailing or face timing. We always try to stay connected to our students to make sure we are giving them the help they need in order to succeed,” Norton says.

She says in the future they are looking to include an essay option for the next group of students. “Because it’s a new program, there are some addictions we would like to make,” she adds.

Kevin Llanes, a student in The Equity Project, says would recommend the project to others because he believes that it can truly help others become the best version of themselves.

Another student in the Project, Dillon Melendez, adds, “I think it’s interesting to see that other students are in similar situations like trying their best to do well in school, having big dreams and a lot of goals, and they aren’t afraid to ask for help,”

“ The Equity Project is designed to build a community within the groups of students. ” justice for a marginalized group of students,” she says.

Norton believes that education is the key to access: “There is a system that prevails of inequality,” she said. She says she is a point of access to her students for connections, conversation, and resources.

The Equity Project is designed to build a community within the groups of students. If you have a question, or you have a need, or you have a barrier you have someone to ask or help you with.

For example, Norton says, “I have a student who is growing her art personal business, and she’s writing a children’s book and I am trying to help her get connected to people in the community.

I have another student who needs help with housing.” The Project starts where the student is and what their needs are.

If Housatonic students wanted their chance to join The Equity Project, Norton says, “Students are selective if they are in the application committee. We look at the whole student and some of the information on the application that we gathered are having classes the student is taking, what is their income and their financial need. I think those are the important pieces to the application.” To apply for The Equity Project, go to the Foundation’s website once the application period is open.

The Equity Project requires the students who are accepted and join the program are expected to attend or engage with opportunities on campus. They are also required to once a month be in contact with their coach or coaches. “Since the pandemic, it’s been kind of hard to keep in contact with each

The Equity Project gave $500 to each student to pay for anything they needed that can support them succeeding in their education. Melendez, for example, used the scholarship he received to pay for a private tutor to help him with his studies. Ibrahima Capo-Chichi says he brought an IPad with the scholarship money that The Equity Project granted him with.

The Equity Project was established amid everything that happened in the past year. During the riots and the protests, The Equity Project was built to spark a conversation that is uncomfortable but also raw, honest, and important, according to Carlton Gill, one of the coaches in The Equity Project.

“Everything that you need to be a successful student we can be able to provide that,” Gill adds. And indeed they have. They have supported me and other students to think about what Equity really means and to have uncomfortable but important conversations. The Equity Project is there to support you every step of the way.

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What Students and Faculty

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Are Looking Forward to:

Returning to Normal Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

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By Edward Ramos | Staff Writer 2020 will go down as one of the worst years ever — not only here in Bridgeport, but the entire w o r l d h a d t o s u f fe r b e c a u s e o f t h e p a n d e m i c .

When the pandemic started, schools closed and moved online, millions of people lost their jobs, s o c i a l d i s t a n c i n g a n d q u a ra n t i n e b e c a m e t h e new normal, and social events such as concerts, sports events, and movie premieres were delayed.

But, the one thing this year taught us is that we m u s t ke e p g o i n g a n d n e v e r g i v e u p . N o w, i n Fa l l 2021, as things are improving and more classes at HCC are face to face and offices are open, what a r e s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y l o o k i n g fo r w a r d t o i n returning to normal?

“ I ’m l o o k i n g fo r w a r d t o t h e c a fe t e r i a b e i n g o p e n , a n d t h e l i b ra r y, t o o ! I f i t ’s j u s t , t h e n I ’m hoping to go to an amusement park with my family a n d f r i e n d s ,” s h e s a i d .

Sherly Montes, an HCC Educational Assistant, c o m m e n t e d o n h o w t h i n g s w i l l b e d i f fe r e n t w h e n the entire world returns to normal. But she d e c l a r e d t h a t i t ’s g o i n g t o b e a t o u g h r o a d t o s e e .

“I don’t know if anything will really ever go back t o n o r m a l . I t h i n k t h a t t h e a s p e c t s o f l i fe w i l l g o b a c k t o n o r m a l l i ke , g o i n g t o w o r k o r g o i n g t o s c h o o l a n d s e e i n g p e o p l e i n p e r s o n , b u t o v e ra l l ,

“ I don’t know if anything will really ever go back to normal. I think that the aspects of life will go back to normal like, going to work or going to school and seeing people in person, but overall, I think too much has happened. ” H C C s t u d e n t , A n t o n y Tr o n i fo g l i a , s a i d h e i s l o o k i n g fo r w a r d t o r e t u r n i n g t o n o r m a l .

“I wanna go back out and explore, I used to go and check out a bunch of cool and experiences a n d r o a d s i d e a t t ra c t i o n s a r o u n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

I t ’s s o m e t h i n g m e a n d m y d a d d i d a l l t h e t i m e .

T h a t ’s w h a t I h o p e I c a n d o a g a i n .”

W h i l e s o m e p e o p l e a r e e xc i t e d t o r e t u r n t o normal, others think we won’t be back to normal r i g h t a w a y. R a c h e l l W i l l i a m s , a n H C C w r i t i n g t u t o r, c o m m e n t e d o n h o w t h i n g s w i l l b e d i f fe r e n t n o w, and that returning to normal may not be possible.

S h e s t a t e d , “ I b e l i e v e t h e Va c c i n e s a r e a s t e p i n the right direction, but I don’t think that we will ever go back to normal. Many people have lost t h e i r l o v e d o n e s t o t h e v i r u s , i n c l u d i n g m y s e l f, so I cannot see the world going back to normal. I think that most people will continue to wear their m a s k s a n d t a ke p r e c a u t i o n s t o a v o i d c o n t ra c t i n g f u t u r e i l l n e s s e s .” S h e b e l i e v e s t h a t w e a r e o n t h e r i g h t s t e p fo r w a r d t o r e t u r n t o n o r m a l , b u t s i c k o r n o t w e m u s t s t i l l w e a r o u r m a s k , ke e p o u r distance, avoid personal contact, and stay home w h e n fe e l i n g s i c k . O n c e t h e p a n d e m i c i s o v e r, s h e believes, people will still wear masks in case they get super sick or having an illness.

H C C s t u d e n t C r i s t i n a B u s t a m a n t e i s s u p e r e xc i t e d about returning to normal and going to a place where she and her family used to go until the pandemic struck and shut everything down.

I think too much has happened. So this pandemic h a s a f fe c t e d m a n y p e o p l e , s o h o w c o u l d i t e v e r really go back to normal? I think we will have to e m b ra c e a n e w n o r m a l a t t h i s p o i n t ,” s h e s a i d .

To p u t e v e r y t h i n g o n p o i n t , s o m e p e o p l e a g r e e on what they want to do once the pandemic is o v e r. O t h e r s t h i n k t h a t i t ’s g o i n g t o t a ke a r e a l l y long time to go back to the way we love to do t h i n g s . S t a y s a fe a n d s t r o n g , a n d p l e a s e l o o k o u t fo r y o u r l o v e d o n e s a n d y o u r m e n t a l h e a l t h !

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Decline in Students Causes Decline in School Revenue

By Destene Savariau | Senior Staff Writer

Since COVID, community college enrollment and graduation rates have been on a steep decline. COVID played a considerable part in this, but other factors vary from school to school. Nevertheless, with more and more students not being in school, the college is losing money. So what does this mean for students?

During a recorded board meeting, Richard Balducci, chairman of the Board of Regents finance committee, told the board on April 9 that the community college system’s deficit will be much higher than expected. A deficit is an amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.

In Housatonic’s case, they have a spending deficit, where the amount by which spending exceeds revenue. “Declining enrollment at Connecticut’s community colleges has increased the system’s deficit from $16 million in the fall to $22 million now,” Balducci explains, “Enrollment is continuing to decline.

It’s dropped 2.4% from the levels that we had anticipated in October. Universities are down about 2,000 students, and the colleges are down about 3,600 students.”

Like many other community colleges, Housatonic has suffered a hit in student enrollment. Housatonic’s Director of Enrollment Management/Registrar, James Connolly, said that the enrollment rate for spring was down 23% compared to last year. Now, 23% may not seem like a lot of students, but it’s actually around 1,153 students out of the 5,000 students enrolled. The statistic, of course, was caused by COVID mainly, but there are other varying factors.

“Many students prefer traditional classes instead of online.

Many families have been struck by this pandemic and prioritize their finances to pay for food and rent, so school is put on the back burner. Also, some students are homeschooling their children and don’t have time for their education,” Connolly said.

With everyone now at home, whether by choice or by force, Housatonic students were slowly slipping away. Whether they go off to work hoping to come back at another time, or they have to stay at home to watch younger siblings, or they’re just at home doing school because they want to go to class and can’t. In the end, the question on all of their minds, is what is HCC going to do about it?

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Connolly has an answer. “The health and safety of our

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students, faculty, and staff are our priority. This Fall, we are offering 40% of our courses on campus, and hopefully, next year, we can get back to a normal schedule,” he said.

Nevertheless, the Spring 2022 semester isn’t the only concern students have. Many students query whether this means higher tuition fees to make up for their losses. Thankfully, Interim CCSU President Jane Gates explained in a Connecticut Post article by Cayla Bamberger how this will affect students’ tuition rates.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Connecticut students particularly hard. The Board of Regents, recognizing that we cannot ask our students and their families to shoulder a greater share of the burden during these difficult times, made the wise but difficult decision to freeze tuition and most fees for the upcoming academic year,” she told Bamberger.

There is also the concern from other students and the community of whether or not the school will shut down due to inactivity for students. The University of Bridgeport has already suffered this fate by being dissolved and taken over by Sacred Heart University, Goodwin University, and the Paier College of Art. “Because of COVID and the drop in enrollment at the University of Bridgeport, that school is now closing, and another will be using/taking over the facilities. I fear that could also happen to HCC, and if not, at least the pandemic ripples could affect the number of profs/instructors the school can afford to retain and hence the quality of instruction that students receive,” says HCC student Alva Blair. Though a valid concern, Housatonic is fortunate not to go down this path as 40% of classes have been moved to the traditional environment this semester.

With this development, one can only hope that it’s enough for students. Though an increase in traditional courses and the campus opening back up are good starting points, I’m sure we all hope that things return to normal, and COVID becomes a thing of the past.

o m r F H g n o i k m r o e and W at Sc h W o e r l king O o o l . . . iV ab ption s?

P h o to b y S o p

S

h ia Pa p p a s

By Sean Stewart | Senior Staff Writer

tudents have had varying thoughts throughout the pandemic about whether they like school better in person or at home. Both sides have their positives and negatives, making them both very different schooling experiences for people. Everyone had pretty strong opinions either way about whether they liked working at home or in school better, having good reasons going both ways.

All three of the people interviewed for this article liked working online more but everyone agreed that they feel like they learn more and are more productive when they go to class in-person. Lucas Oliviera, an HCC student, said “I get so much more done when I’m in class. When I’m in class and assignments are given out by the teacher I write them down in my planner so I have them. I begin formulating a plan at that moment as to when I’m going to get my work done during the week. Sometimes when I’m working from home I miss when assignments are assigned.”

This is something I have noticed as well. It can be very easy to miss when things are assigned. I have found it hard to stay engaged with my assignments without being fully immersed in the classroom environment.

Sophia Pappas, a student at the University of Tampa, likes school from home. “I love being home. I feel like I’m able to get things done at my own pace.” This is a positive part of being home. You have the ability to get things done on your own time but you have to make sure to stay alert for new assignments and class changes.

Other students love the convenience and luxury of being home but don’t necessarily feel like they are retaining information very well. Bianca Arancio, another student from the University of Tampa, said, “I love working from home. It’s so nice to be home but it’s hard to actually learn new things. I’m not having trouble getting work done but I feel like with less in-person instruction I’m having a harder time retaining the information that I do get done from the assignments I do. When teachers are instructing me in person I feel like I am more able to ask questions about things I don’t fully understand in the moment in order to get clarification.”

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Social Media: A Social Savior or Societal Stab in the Back?

By Jania Jones | Senior Staff Writer

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hat is the first thing you do in the morning?

When you’re eating breakfast? Waiting for your next class to start? If you are like most of the population, the answer is checking your phone and/or scrolling through social media. Social media is seen as the coalition of platforms used to connect with others and share our lives on the internet.

Furthermore, social media reaches all aspects of our lives and alters our society in more ways than what we see on the surface. We rely on it for decisions on what to wear, eat, and do. In many cases, it represents a standard of living which is often too expensive, freerange and thus, unachievable. What happens when we don’t meet the expectations of what we see plastered all over social media?

When looking back at the past two years of our lives, we can see a drastic shift from what we thought of as typical reliance on technology and social media to these new all time-high levels that we might not have ever expected. As the way in which our society functions advances, we come to realize that without social media, many of the things we do on a daily basis would not be possible. Now as a culture we have become so reliant on social media it unfortunately has taken a hold of our lives in more than one way.

“Societies’ ideals in social media are pushed by so many people that many can believe what the Internet says is true. Socially, people have become obsessed with a look on social media that if you don’t fit in the criteria you get kind of ostracized,” says Alyssa Negron, a dual enrollment student at HCC. While Negron’s situation is unique, due to her balancing the life of a college student and while still developing her identity as a junior in high school, what she is feeling isn’t that far off from what many others can attest to. Living in a society that dictates self-worth and popularity by likes and similarities can be detrimental to one’s success. Jeanna Mastrodicasa and Paul Metellus, from the University of Florida adds on to this concept in a study on college students’ behavior by saying, “ The work of Gonzales and Hancock

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(2011) showed that selective self-presentation using social media sites like Facebook can have a positive influence on self-esteem, especially when the individual selectively self-presents by editing information about the self.” We often see these idealized ways of living online and assume that, that person’s entire life is like that, when that is rarely ever the case. What we see on the internet is what people want us to see, a “rose colored lens,” if you will.

Claudine Coba-Loh, a professor of Psychology and Human Services here at HCC, conveys this by warning that, “...people [need to] know their limits with it and understand that much of [social media] is not real. They need to stop measuring their looks, and their lifestyle against what they see online because of it being so fake.

Anyone that spends too much time on social media needs to have a healthy sense of self-esteem and not let themselves feel bad about who they are because of the impact of their time on social media.”

When people have the opportunity to dictate how the world views them, they fine tune every aspect they deem relevant their life to be portrayed as something to be envious of or strive for. While this is not always necessarily a bad thing, it can create problems for people who cannot distinguish the real world from the Internet.

Students like Negron, on the other hand, try their best to represent their authentic selves on the Internet and are looked down on for doing so. Negron recalls, “Music taste is something I’ve been judged on... in a space such as school where people enjoy specific artists and liking those artists is cool, people with “peculiar ” taste such as me are judged... also because of what I enjoy watching I’ve been put into a category as being weird because not everyone else enjoys it.”

Mastrodicasa and Metellus also concluded that, “... when students were procrastinating or wasting time using technology or social media, they showed higher measures of loneliness, depression, shyness, and social anxiety; in addition to lower scores on perceived social skill, social self-confidence, and social self-efficacy.” This

Photo by Robin Worrall on Unsplash

can be looked at one of two ways. We might see it as something beneficial because it provides students with a benefiting boost of confidence when looking at it from the poster ’s point of view; or, we may look at it from the viewers side and see it as harmful due to the fact that like Negron stated earlier, people then feel pressured to live up to those unachievable expectations.

This is pertinent because proper mental health is a cornerstone to a student’s success while in college or pursuing any form of education. Being distracted and feeling unmotivated can create a stressful environment for students and hinder their abilities to fully succeed. To illustrate, Coba-Loh notes, “Any usage that is causing neglect, or pulling someone away from other responsibilities and impeding lifestyle would be considered too much.”

While finding this balance may be difficult for some, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Social media can become a positive outlet of creative expressions and interests when used properly and in moderation. Nalaya Santos, another dual enrollment student, expounds upon this by mentioning, “I think that social media... is helpful in everyday life but also keeps me in the habit of relying on social media… [social media benefits me by helping me] get into contact with others who live farther

away and sharing your life with them on social media platforms.”

From personal experience, I can relate to the benefits and drawbacks that can stem from relying on different platforms for social interaction and expressions. Finding security within yourself first is the most important thing in order to enjoy other aspects of your life. It is also important to have your priorities in check, not only to stay goal-oriented but also to establish who you are as a person and not let other people impact your behavior.

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Build Up Your Personality, Grow Out of That Shell, and Pave the Way to Greatness News

By Stefany Flores | Senior Staff Writer

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etween classes, work, homework, family, and other commitments, there can be a lot to balance. In many cases, some students prefer to stay out of the crowd and not get too involved with their schools because of their shyness or worries to associate with others. As a person who experienced bullying , interacting with other people was a big fear of mine. The thought of opening and reaching out to people scared me. However, many benefits can lead a student to succeed in a natural and helpful environment.

It requires a leap to invest in something like this thoroughly.

All you need is that push to tell you… “It ’s going to be okay. Just go out there, and have fun!”

What does it take? How is it? Should I join a club? All of these are similar questions that students ask themselves about joining a club. It all starts with picking an area of interest and sticking with it. When you agree with someone else on a topic such as music, a sport, or movies, it creates a bond and a similar stance to start a conversation about it.

Many students at Housatonic have jumped into the idea of experiencing the time and growth in a club. HCC sophomore student TJ Rosenbluh, for example, said joining a club helped him to continue his education with a positive attitude. Rosenbluh was associated and part of the Student Senate, Pride Club, and is the founder and president of the D&D club.

“It ’s worth joining a club because it lets you interact with more people and meet new friends. It ’s also a great way to stay involved on campus and stay

informed on what ’s going on,” he said. It all begins with a choice and adding your interests.

Rosenbluh chose areas where he believed he could make an impact and influence others, such as the Student Senate. For example, the Student Senate is ideal for students searching for vocations or other long-lasting participation inside any field requiring authority and leadership abilities like objectivity, extraordinary correspondence, and communication.

There is a big responsibility and obligation to commit to a club like this because of the gathering , meetings, and assignments that need to be attended in order to guarantee that student life at Housatonic is seen, heard, and fruitful. However, Rosenbluh doesn’t regret the path he’s taken. In fact, he is more than grateful for the experience to continue growing and to be more ready to take on anything that comes his way.

Yet how does getting involved work for a shy person? HCC Medical Assisting student Noemi Ocegueda describes her worries about how she took the initiative to beat the odds.

“I was a shy and anxious person; I knew that if I continued like this, I wouldn’t be able to reach out and do the things that I would like to do. For that reason, I did my research and looked into the variety of clubs that Housatonic offer,” she said.

Ocegueda always watched anime in her free time and even liked to draw; for the reason of her interests, Ocegueda joined the Anime club. Getting that extra push to feel comfortable and open up to others helped her immensely. She shared her interests with others and met new people while

“I never thought that I could gain so much knowledge combined with just enjoying something that I like.”

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helping her shell open to sprouting a great personality.

“I never thought that I could gain so much knowledge combined with just enjoying something that I like,” she adds. Ocegueda was introduced to a new perspective that she felt the urge to share with others.

Director of Student Activities, Medgine Bright, oversees the clubs. She’s experienced helping many students to branch out of their comfort zone and has seen their overall progress of growing into their own person with great qualities.

“Clubs are small groups with a common subject that helps students bounce ideas [around] together.

This helps them create a family, and they bond with others to find their person,” she says.

Bright assures and encourages students to rely on the program, and once they ’ve committed to actually attending , they ’ll learn to overcome their shyness and fears. Listening to Bright ’s words can genuinely inspire those to take that leap of faith.

I, too, was, and sometimes continue to be, shy because of past experiences, but I knew I wanted to change. In fact, Ocegueda was the student to encourage me to try out things that scared me, like associating with others; for that reason, I decided to participate in Housatonic’s activities within the school.

As I started to get more comfortable opening up and being myself in front of people, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sharing with others while studying here at college.

What are the benefits of partaking in school clubs? What ’s the catch? Students learn excellent skills that actually push them to do more in the community and to branch out to other programs. Kellie Taylor is an active member in many clubs on campus and the Secretary for the Student Senate here at HCC who has gained tremendously from being involved in these activities.

“My participation has led to my desire to contribute to the STEAM community, social services, civic and social justice. As the president of the Housatonic Community College NAACP, I have the honor and distinct privilege to be a part of an outstanding organization that believes in educating , molding , and creating effective intelligent youth leaders. There is absolutely no question that we are better equipped to serve and bring about positive change in our communities because we are organized, focused, and striving collectively as an HCC club. I am honored to have been selected by the NAACP Youth & College to join the selected youth & college students committee as a Housatonic Community College representative,” she says.

There is no doubt that there is more that students can do and take advantage of when they participate in clubs and school activities. It can take you to

achieve many great things.

Going to school gets numerous new angles and changes to a student ’s life and obligations. Depending on where you go, you may find that you should grow unique companionships and participate in another social environment as you run after your professional objectives. As mentioned and discussed, embarking upon joining clubs and associations that fit their unique advantages, requirements, and goals has made that journey simpler. A particular club or association may fulfill a few parts of revenue for a student to discover a related subject and the chance to mingle and meet new individuals. Students and others have many reasons to join and participate Bright can answer any additional questions, or provide general information about clubs; let her know, and she can answer those questions for you at mbright@hcc.commnet.edu. Joining a club will fulfill your expectations in learning new things while gaining abilities to help you succeed in your future.

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

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Your Health Is Your #1 Priority News

By Sebastian Londono | Senior Staff Writer “Whe n w e a l t h i s l o s t , n o t h i n g i s l o s t ; w h e n h e a l t h i s l o s t , s o m e t h i n g i s l o s t ; w h e n c h a ra c t e r i s l o s t , a l l i s l o s t .” T h i s q u o t e b y B i l l y G ra h a m c a n b e interpreted in many ways, but no matter how you i n t e r p r e t i t , t h e m a i n fo c u s o f t h e q u o t e c o m e s d o w n t o y o u r h e a l t h b e i n g y o u r m o st i m p o r ta n t a s s e t i n l i fe . W h e n m o st p e o p l e t h i n k o f t h e w o rd “ h e a l t h ,” t h e f i rst c o u p l e w o rd s t h a t c o m e t o m i n d w o u l d b e w o r k i n g o u t o r m ay b e r u n n i n g , b u t i n re a l i t y, t h a t ’s j u st t h e t i p o f t h e i c e b e rg a s fa r a s yo u r h e a l t h g o e s . S tay i n g h e a l t hy a l s o h a s a l o t t o d o w i t h t h e m e n ta l a n d e m o t i o n a l a s p e c t s o f yo u rs e l f, a n d t h e re a re a fe w way s t o d o s o .

O n e o f t h e o l d e s t a n d t h e m o s t u n d e r a p p r e c i a te d w a y s o f s t a y i n g h e a l t h y i s y o g a . To s u m m a r i ze , y o g a i m p r o v e s s t r e n g t h , b a l a n c e a n d f l e x i b i l i t y.

According to hopkinsmedicine.org, yoga is defined as slow movements and deep breathing to increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Research from H a r v a r d H e a l t h M e d i c a l S c h o o l fo u n d t h a t p e o p l e w h o p ra c t i c e d y o g a fo r a t l e a s t 3 0 m i n u t e s o n c e a w e e k fo r a t l e a s t fo u r y e a r s , g a i n e d l e s s w e i g h t d u r i n g m i d d l e a d u l t h o o d . Pe o p l e w h o w e r e o v e r w e i g h t a c t u a l l y l o s t w e i g h t . O v e ra l l , t h o s e w h o p ra c t i c e d y o g a h a d l o w e r b o d y m a s s i n d e xe s c o m p a r e d w i t h t h o s e w h o d i d n o t p ra c t i c e y o g a .

Researchers attributed this to mindfulness. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship w i t h fo o d a n d e a t i n g , w h i c h o b v i o u s l y re q u i re s d e d i c a t i o n o n yo u r p a r t , j u st d o i n g yo ga w i t h o u t p ro p e r l y e a t i n g i t ’s a l m o st l i ke d o i n g n o t h i n g a t a l l .

E l i z a b e t h Z i e g l e r, c o - o w n e r o f T h e J i i v a C e n t e r, a y o g a a n d m e d i t a t i o n c e n t e r i n S t ra t fo r d , s e e s t h e all around benefits of yoga.

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Photo by Eneko Uruñuela on Unsplash

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“A s i n g l e y o g a c l a s s w i l l t a r g e t m o s t o f t h e b o d y, allowing you to quickly develop strength and suppleness in the larger muscles and also in the

smaller support muscles that improve our balance, posture, and stability of movement. Due to t h e l a r g e fo c u s o n c o o r d i n a t i n g v e r y i n t e n t i o n a l breathing with the movements, yoga also quickly helps to lower the blood pressure and oxygenate o u r t i s s u e s , t h e r e fo r e h a v i n g a b e n e f i c i a l m e t a b o l i c i m p a c t o n t h e b o d y, a s w e l l ,” s h e s a i d .

Students get a discount to their center with a s t u d e n t I D, s h e a d d e d .

Yo g a c o u l d c h a n g e y o u r l i fe i n n o o t h e r w a y b u t fo r t h e b e t t e r, a c l e a r e r m i n d a n d a f r e s h m i n d s e t c o u l d g e t y o u f a r i n l i fe .

The mental and emotional state of your health is very important, but if you’ve gotten this part of your health under check, the physical aspect o f t h i n g s c o m e i n t o p l a y. H o w e v e r, a l o t o f p e o p l e s e e p h y s i c a l w o r k i n g o u t a s a “d ra g ,” a n d a l w a y s t r y t o l e a v e i t fo r t h e “ n e x t d a y.” O n e o f t h e b i g g e s t ke y s t o l i fe l o n g e v i t y i s y o u r p h y s i c a l h e a l t h according to Allina Health, and it starts with simple cardio. A study done by Allina showed that according to a study that compared the heart, lungs and muscles of active 70 year olds, inactive 7 0 y e a r o l d s a n d a c t i v e 4 0 y e a r o l d s . T h e y fo u n d that the active older men and women had compara b l e h e a r t a n d l u n g c a p a c i t y a n d m u s c l e s t r e n g t h o f t h o s e w h o w e r e 3 0 y e a r s y o u n g e r. S o n e x t t i m e , y o u s a y, “ I ’ l l w o r k o u t t o m o r r o w ” j u s t r e m e m b e r y o u r l i fe c o u l d d e p e n d o n i t .

L. A Fitness head trainer Ryan Rivera explains what an “ideal” week working out at the gym looks like. “ Yo u s h o u l d a l w a y s t r y t o w o r k o u t a t l e a s t three times, spaced out across the week, so you c a n g e t t h e m a x i m u m b e n e f i t s . T h e r e fo r e , a n y w h e r e f r o m t h r e e t o s i x w o r ko u t s i s i d e a l . I l i ke t o d o s i x w o r ko u t s a w e e k o n M o n d a y t h r o u g h S a t u rd a y, w i t h a r e s t d a y o n S u n d a y.”

If you can’t get to the gym to work out, he says, “ T h a t i n n o w a y s h o u l d s t o p y o u , s i m p l e w o r ko u t s can be done at home such as push ups, sit ups, j u m p i n g j a c k , e t c , a n d a s f a r a s c a r d i o , g o i n g o u tside and running or walking around a local park or e v e n t h e s i d e w a l k i s a g r e a t w a y t o s t a y a c t i v e .”

To p u t e v e r y t h i n g i n t o p e r s p e c t i v e , s c h o o l c a n be stressful, and you might have your head too far i n t o s c h o o l t o e v e n t h i n k c l e a r l y, t h a t ’s w h y h a v ing the ability to know of to unwind while staying healthy is just another tool that could help your t h r o u g h y o u r l i fe t i m e , y o u m a y n o t n o t i c e i t a t first, but you sure will in the long run.

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Restful Nights Are a Must

By Mateo Stisi | Staff Writer

Photo by Tony Tran on Unsplash

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ver felt exhausted when studying or working on class work? If so, you are far from alone.

To put it in perspective, the US National Library of Medicine has claimed that in 2017, about sixty percent of college students had been suffering from poor sleep. Feeling tired is all that happens without a good night’s rest, right? According to several sources, such as medical organizations and local doctors, heavy eyelids are the least of your worries.

Without sleep, there is a chance you could do damage to both your body and your mind. In some more extreme cases, long term health problems have also been seen developing from a lack of sleep.

Thankfully, experts have shed insight into this matter of sleep that include both how to improve your sleep schedule and what risks you may face when exercising an unhealthy sleep pattern.

Humans can go for days without getting proper sleep or much sleep at all, sure. But what many do not consider is the long-term effects with such a practice. Making a lifestyle of getting little to no sleep has been known to cause several kinds of conditions ranging from diabetes to hormonal abnormalities and even to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. It would be hopeful thinking to imagine that only a small number of people experience this level of sleep loss, but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) would like to prove otherwise.

In fact, The CDC reported that in 2014, about 35.2 million adults in the United States had less than seven hours of sleep daily, which puts more than a third of the entire population at risk to the symptoms stated before.

So now comes the question most people wonder.

Just how much sleep do I need? Doctor Monica Jaine, an internal medicine specialist, met this very question with a much needed answer. “Every person should be getting around eight to nine hours of sleep every single night but in some cases, seven hours may work,” she said.

Cases where fewer hours of sleep are needed, she said, generally occur in those who do less manual labor or spend much of their time being idle such as laying in a bed or watching TV all day. Of course, this amount varies based on age but once a person reaches ages eighteen to twenty-five years old,

their required sleep is, as Jaine stated, seven to nine hours of sleep.

Knowing how much sleep you need is one thing but knowing how to make healthy sleep habits is another. Many students in college tend to create unhealthy habits during their times in studies so that they can cram as much work as possible which can lead to difficulty with sleeping properly.

This was the very case for Karina Tejeda, an HCC graduate. “I was pretty sleep deprived,” Tejada said about her time in college. Karina claims that she would often stay up after one or even two in the morning just to keep up with her classes.

Yet, if you are looking for some sleeping habits to try out, you’re in luck! The AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) has provided more than just a few ways to improve your sleep! The good sleeping habits the AASM has provided include but are not limited to: staying out of bed as often as possible. This means to only use your bed for when you are going to sleep and not for simply a place to sit on and watch TV or read, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening times as it may stay in your body for several hours after intended use, and very importantly, disconnecting from devices such as phones and computers at least a half hour before bed.

With this in mind, do not go off and start sleeping as much as you can.

“Too much sleep is not good.” Jaine explains. “It has been known to cause heart conditions.”

A common heart condition that is a concern with oversleeping is coronary heart disease, which is when the body’s arteries are unable to transfer oxygen-rich blood into the heart. What makes this concerning is that it may cause heart attack and even death but also, it is unable to be cured, only treated.

Sleep is something that concerns every person, whether a child, an office worker or even students trying to earn their degree in General Studies. Just like eating and drinking, sleeping is a need that can not be ignored, yet it is commonly seen as the most neglected quality of life. Hopefully after reading this, you can evaluate how you go about counting sheep and what you need to do for a happier healthier lifestyle without jeopardizing what responsibilities you may have.

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Are You Going Through Financial Hardship?

By Rosnielys Nunez | Staff Writer

• • •

Must be currently enrolled in Housatonic Community College.

Must be in good standing.

Must be able to prove short-term financial hardship which the student was not prepared for.

Emergency awards are up to $250 per student.

Students can only get one award per year, meaning they can only apply for this help once a year and receive the payout once a year. The payment is not issued directly to the student, but directly to cover the debt or bill that the student is trying to pay. The Student Emergency Fund program can help with things like non essential-utilities, credit card payments, household costs, parking tickets, routine expenses.

To apply you can go to our college website, click on Paying for HCC, and find the Student Emergency Form tab. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, you can email Kristy Jelenik at kjelenik@housatonic. edu, Executive Director for the Housatonic Community College Foundation Inc.

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students that are going through financial hardship.

After doing a quick investigation I found out that we have a program called “Student Emergency Funds.” The Student Emergency Funds program was created by donors who wanted to assist students who are struggling financially. Now, who qualifies? There are 3 simple qualifications:

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Pho to b y: L uis Vil las ousatonic has some m il o great resources for

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By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief As the HCC fully reopens, students, academic and non-academic staff, and visitors can be assured that they will continue to enjoy a feeling of safety and security with the presence of the campus police.

According to the college’s Safety and Security Department’s web page, the department is “an integral link in the learning environment, [and] responds to the changing needs of the college by creating a safe learning and working environment for students and staff.”

One of the measures being employed by security is to ensure the safety of the school is the updating of student identification cards. Students are required to scan their cards to gain entry to

the buildings. If a card is deemed to be outdated, the individual is immediately taken to a booth to have their picture taken and card updated.

In the latest security report issued September 2020, it was noted that there are security posts in both Lafayette and Beacon Halls and that there are patrols “during all hours of college operation.”

With regard to interactions with the school’s security officers, the website says “campus police are also part of the college’s Behavior Intervention and Risk Assessment Teams, which provide policies, procedures, and training to prevent critical incidents and to remediate any incidents that might arise.”

Photo by Liana Ferrei ra

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Free Childcare

Opportunity for HCC students

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arents attending HCC can now receive a grant that will cover all costs of full-time enrollment in the Early Childhood Laboratory School at HCC. Now students no longer have to choose between their education a n d t h e i r c h i l d ’s .

The Lab School is an accredited preschool program that provides high-quality education and school readiness for children between three a n d f o u r. T h e p r o g r a m gives care opportunities to the children of t h e c o l l e g e ’s f a c u l t y, s t u d e n t s , a n d c o m m u n i t y, while also offering educational experiences for HCC Early Childhood Inclusive Education students. While students are working towards their credits, they also receive the handson experience they need to complete their degree. In the c l a s s r o o m l a b o r a t o r y, t h e f a c u l t y a n d HCC students work as a team to provide a v a r iety of activities and lessons that support the educational and developmental needs of the children.

K r i s t e n L u n d , t h e d i r e c t o r, s a y s , “ T h i s i s a n important opportunity for parents looking to c o m p l e t e a d e g r e e .” W i t h n o e f f e c t o n t h e p a r e n t ’s f i n a n c i a l a i d , t h i s g r a n t h e l p s p u t f a m i l i e s o n t h e p a t h o f e d u c a t i o n t o g e t h e r. B e i n g a p a r e n t i s a c h a l l e n g e w i t h i n i t s e l f, a n d g o i n g back to school while taking care of a child can feel almost impossible, which is why HCC and The

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By Nicole Vezina | Staff Writer L a b S c h o o l w o r k t o g e t h e r t o t a ke o f f t h e b u r d e n o f p a y i n g f o r c a r e . N o w, p a r e n t s a r e a b l e t o g e t their degrees with peace of mind that their child is in a safe and educational environment.

To a p p l y f o r t h i s g r a n t a n d e n r o l l m e n t i n t h e program, parents must go through an application process through the Lab School and children must be between three by December 31 of the calendar year in which they enter the school. Lab School is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 50 weeks a y e a r, m e a n i n g t h a t children and families can receive the care they need all year long.

For more information and questions, you can contact Kristen Lund, the director of the Lab School, at 203-332-5030

Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash

Homework vs. Home Life: Who Will Win This Round?

By Gabriella Castorina | Senior Staff Writer “Assignment on the beginning of World War II is due September 12th,” “The homework for MyOpenMath for lesson seven is due by the end of the week,” “Mom, can you bring me to school?” “Can you d-?” On the other side of the screen, your anxiety begins to kick in as if someone was sweeping your leg in the original Karate Kid movie, and your heart begins to beat as if it were a drum following the beat of the song “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. Children, friends, peers and others who you surround yourself with constantly asking for your help, even your boss calling you for a five-ten hour shift! You ask yourself, “When will this nightmare end?” Contemplating with homework and having a busy, occupied home life all at the same time is like an intense video game and the one question you have to ask yourself is, who will win the game COMPLETELY? Juggling all of this increased stress and anxiety makes you want to rip your hair follicles out of your skull. Is it a bad thing?

Yes, but look at the bright side to all of this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and all your problems will be solved, maybe...that depends. Students at a young age and even those who are adults that migrated over to remote learning have dealt with such catastrophe to begin with! However, students have learned to cope with having two different kinds of lives with having an educational life, and an at-home life. Even for professors, they came up with ideas to plan scheduling and what they want best for the students that are involved in whatever course they are taking.

HCC student Cheryl Lewis briefly interprets how as a mom, she is juggling between having a home life, work life, and dealing with school all at the same time, “I must say that it is really hard trying to deal with work, school, home, and kids at the same time. I really do not know how I do it but for some reason, I am getting through it,” she says.

In addition, she says, “It is really all about prioritizing your time and when I have class, I try to do some things ahead of time on my days when I have work, even with a twelve hour shift!” A twelve hour shift? Oh my gosh! That is a lot of hours and even dealing with life outside of work is a lot! But look at Cheryl! What a confident mom getting the job done!

Former HCC student Jessica Gallo recalls how it was when she went to HCC many years ago, “I have to admit, it was easier for me to go into a classroom, sit in a chair, and focus more instead of sitting in front of a computer screen,” she says.

That is very common amongst most students because everybody learns differently at their own pace whenever it comes to certain objectives.

Take it like this, for example, there is most likely a chance where a student can pay close attention and become a better learner inside the classroom without surrounding distractions where if you are in front of the computer in your own home, then there is most likely a bigger chance that you may or may not be more distracted to whatever is going on in your home, or if there are other distractions that are around you.

HCC student Jessica Visconti talks about the big essential ideas she has when it comes to coping with all of the homework that is given to her, and having a busy home life. “I’ve been trying to get ahead with all of my work so I do not fall behind by taking notes and a lot of preparation/studying,” she says.

“As a matter of fact, I picked fully online classes because one time, I tried video chat classes and there’s also connection issues, kid’s can not hear due to no microphone, and no webcam,” she adds. Technical issues like this come across to be aggravating, and cause difficulty for the student to learn what is going on during the lesson that is in their class.

If you are running into these or other problems with a class you can use the email function in Blackboard, look for the section where it says “Email” and then click on where it says “All Instructor Users,” and your professor will be right there!

For the tutoring center, you can get online help, or stop by campus. Check the HCC web site for current hours and other information. If you can juggle and deal with having a home life, and getting homework along with other assignments thrown at you, then you are lucky and very well-organized! Always an A for effort!

“ I must say that it is really hard trying to deal with work, school, home, and kids at the same time.”

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Photo by Estefano Torres

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I think creative writing courses ask students to look at writing in a unique way. . . I really like to emphasize that students write what they know. In other words, I believe everyone has a story to tell about their unique experience.

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Strengthen Your Original Content Universe!

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

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o whoever may be reading this, perhaps you may have something to share. Think about it. Have you ever had the sudden urge or idea to jot down something on paper, such as a small lyric or inspirational quote that was created off the top of your head?

Have you been told at least once in your life that you need to step out from “whatever world you live in” and face reality as it is presented? What if you could . . . explore this world inside your head? Throughout my time at Housatonic, I have learned something very valuable that most students or everyday dwellers tend to not realize nor care for: EVERYONE has something to write about, regardless of background or occupation. Whether it be a fictional universe forged at the peak of one’s imagination, or a poem waiting to spill its emotions on paper, I have learned that anyone has a story to tell or write about. All that is needed is to unlock this unknown potential.

When one has the desire to break free from their history, math, or science studies and explore their own skills creatively, the Creative Writing course at HCC may be the getaway you desire. Karyn Smith, Professor of Creative Writing for the Spring 2021 semester as well as the Coordinator of the campus’s Writing Center, states, “I think creative writing courses ask students to look at writing in a unique way. . . I really like to emphasize that students write what they know. In other words, I believe everyone has a story to tell about their unique experience.”

Unlike practical English courses you may have taken in high school - which consisted of book analysis, essay, test, repeat - the Creative Writing course allows you to be the author and explorer of your own writing. You will be introduced to the many storytelling, plot-building devices and techniques that will strengthen you as a writer. Exploring many genres in this course such as drama and poetry can help you discover your own unique style of writing.

For students who may have always wanted to spill your stories, ideas, or any sort of writing onto paper (or laptop), Creative Writing is for you. If you wish to create deeper relationships with your own original characters, universes, or perspectives of the real world, this course can help you reach these goals. I only inform you of the chance to discover, enhance, and master your ability to create and imagine! All that is required from YOU is to consider which classes you shall register for next semester, keeping Creative Writing in mind.

As Smith says, “I firmly believe that anyone can take this class and walk away with a useful skill, and I love teaching it.”

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New to HCC? Help from Successful HCC Students and Staff !

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

our first semester at HCC has begun!

Yo u h a v e r e g i s t e r e d f o r t h e c l a s s e s yo u w i s h to ta ke a n d h ave c h o s e n yo u r m a j o r. N o w, a s m u c h a s I l o v e t o s h o w optimism and welcome new incoming students, one question that may have now popped up to mind for many of you newcomers is “so now what? ” Perhaps you may be in need of some advice about where to go, what resources you need, or how students have been able to adjust themselves to HCC life. If you need a few very basic tips and some simple reassurance from already e sta b l i s h ed H C C m em b e rs , ke ep on reading!

It may be scary when you step onto campus or successfully r e g i s t e r f o r y o u r f i r s t s e m e s t e r, as you are suddenly greeted with all of these sites that you must sign up for and use. Since you may have just overstressed yourself with internal sensations of doom, feel free to ta ke i nto co n s i d erat i o n t h e fo l l ow i n g b a s i c t i ps to get you well adjusted with a more peaceful mindset when thinking of what to do next: TIP #1: Head to the Student Services and R e g i s t r a r ’s O f f i c e ! T h e s e a r e b a s i c a l l y t h e top two locations where you will receive the most information for any other tasks you will be in charge of throughout your HCC j o u r n e y. Yo u r a c a d e m i c l i f e w i l l b e a s s o c i a t e d with using your HCC email. This email will be crucial in getting you into MyCommNet, B l a c k B o a r d , a n d D e g r e e Wo r k s ! H e a d t o t h e Student Services Center located in Room

L-113 at Lafayette Hall for any questions or assistance with getting yourself familiar with these resources. Blackboard serves as a place for posted assignments and checking grades, w h i l e D e g r e e Wo r k s s e r v e s a s a p l a c e t o c h e c k your credits and select your courses for future semesters.

I will surely tell you all, from my experience, that gaining your password and username is the only part of this process that actually requires work. When I finally obtained that information, whether I was on campus or seated behind my desk at home, it became easy to open up Blackboard and begin studying. The MyCommnet portal serves as a directory to these sites, and includes direct access to unofficial transcripts and overall semester grades.

H o w e v e r, i f y o u w i s h t o r e q u e s t your official transcripts and check your degree requirements, t h e n t h e R e g i s t r a r ’s O f f i c e i s the place to go, located in Room L113A. “ T h e r e g i s t r a r ’s o f f i c e h e l p e d m e w i t h g e t t i n g a l l t h e p a p e r w o r k I n e e d e d ,” H C C s t u d e n t Annalisa Arias says.

With this insight and reassurance provided, please go on and give these two locations a visit in order to familiarize yourself with how to do homework and how to check your academic progress!

TIP #2: Get to know your designated advisor!

F o r s t a r t e r s , i f y o u g o i n t o D e g r e e Wo r k s , y o u w i l l f i n d y o u r a d v i s o r ’s n a m e . D u r i n g h e r f i r s t s e m e s t e r, S a b r i n a R o o k a s i n d i d n o t r e q u i r e t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f h e r a d v i s o r, f o r e v e n t h o u g h s h e

“ The registrar’s office helped me with getting all the paperwork I needed. ”

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needed time to recognize the campus, she had very few issues and was able to focus on her studies. When it was time to register for her s e c o n d s e m e s t e r, R o o k a s i n l o o k e d t o g e t i n touch with her designated advisor to see what classes she needed and which she didn’t need. “[My advisor and I] were able to work together well to figure out the right course load f o r m y m a j o r. S h e h a s a l s o b e e n i n s t r u m e n t a l in helping me prepare to change my major to anthropology when I transfer to a four year s c h o o l a f t e r I g r a d u a t e f r o m H C C ,” R o o k a s i n says. “Between my advisor and fellow classmates f i g u r i n g s c h o o l o u t t o g e t h e r, I ’ v e n e v e r f e l t t o o l o s t o r b e h i n d .”

R o o k a s i n g o e s o n t o s h a r e t h a t h e r a d v i s o r, To n y a R o n d i n o n e - a l s o a P r o f e s s o r o f P s y c h o l o g y and the Chairperson of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department - was able to help her since Rookasin had a major in Psychology herself that she was looking to change. Rondinone e x p l a i n s t h a t a s a n a d v i s o r, o n e o f t h e f i r s t things she does when meeting with students is ask about what college path they are taking before or after HCC, what responsibilities they have, and what their personal or professional goals are. This gives her insight on how to best advise them.

“A l s o , d u r i n g t h e s e m e e t i n g s I a s k a b o u t their progress at HCC, what courses they are struggling with and which they are excelling, as well as inquire about roadblocks they may be encountering. This allows me the opportunity to share resources that the student may not be aware are available at HCC, such as accommodations, financial aid/scholarships, a c a d e m i c s u p p o r t , c o u n s e l i n g , e t c . ,” R o n d i n o n e says.

B a s i c a l l y, a c c o r d i n g t o P r o f e s s o r R o n d i n o n e , the majority of resources you may require at HCC can all be discussed and explained with y o u r a d v i s o r. A l l t h a t i s n e e d e d i s t o m e e t u p and speak up!

TIP #3: Be comfortable, and trust your professors! I remember my own first day at H o u s ato n i c a s I wa l ked i nto B ea co n H a l l a n d go t lost for the first fifteen or so minutes of class. I did not wish to ask any professors or staff that were roaming the halls because I was hesitant to do so, and also refused to ask when I had questions about what resources I needed for a certain class. “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, m a n y s t u d e n t s a r e h e s i t a n t to ask for assistance, assuming they are the only student who does not know where to go or which resources are available. Often, students do not view their professors as a resource; h o w e v e r, w e c a n a s s i s t t h e m w i t h m a n y o f t h e i r q u e s t i o n s / c o n c e r n s ,” R o n d i n o n e s a y s .

A s a n a d v i s o r h e r s e l f, P r o f e s s o r R o n d i n o n e

notices that new coming students seek a s s i sta n c e w i t h p l e nt y o f t h i n g s l i ke wo r k- s c h o o l time management and especially navigating the college process and finding the proper resources. Professors are capable of being more of a help than you think!

In addition, Paul Rogen, Professor of U.S. H i s t o r y, h a s h a n d l e d t h e i s s u e s o f m a n y s t u d e n t s t h a t h a v e t a k e n h i s c l a s s i n p a r t i c u l a r. W h e t h e r it be a student in need of finding a particular textbook, a student struggling to express themselves in written assignments, or a student struggling with showing up to class due to family setbacks, Professor Rogen is one of many professors who have given their students all the attention and help they need.

“I recall the only Native American student I ever had at HCC whose grandfather suddenly died. She was a bit late on her term paper and it was handwritten and difficult to read.

We u s e d t h e p h o n e to go o ve r i t , s o I co u l d understand, and she got a good strong grade on a n i n t e r e s t i n g t o p i c ,” R o g e n s a y s .

In short, you must give your professors the opportunity to help you out and lend a helping hand with ANY questions you may have. I was always hesitant, as mentioned before, however as I personally progressed through my time at HCC, I became more comfortable to get in touch with my professors, whether it meant making calls through phone or scheduling meetings in person or via online conference. Asking your professor a question after class is especially useful. Build up the confidence, and you will see how much your professors care. Do not be shy!

Three tips may seem to be very little, but I and many other HCC members, as featured here, can assure you that following these tips can get you off to a much easier start. Of course, with time, you will learn of many more necessities a n d re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s yo u w i l l h ave to ta ke u p as a student, but these three tips are sure to get new students on the right track. All that i s n ee d ed i s fo r yo u to ta ke i n i t i at i ve . F i n d a p a r k i n g s p a c e , ste p o u t o nto t h e ca m p u s , ta ke a d e e p b re at h i n , a n d t h i n k p o s i t i ve l y a s yo u m a ke your trips between Lafayette and Beacon Halls.

To c o n c l u d e , n e v e r h e s i t a t e t o s e e k a s s i s t a n c e !

Yo u ’ l l b e r o l l i n g i n n o t i m e , j u s t y o u w a i t !

“A s k q u e s t i o n s ! ” R o n d i n o n e s a y s , “ T h e r e i s n o such thing as a bad question if you do not know t h e a n s w e r.”

Background Photo by Estefano Torres

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Greatness in Giving Back News

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ith the new school year slowly creeping in, it is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments you have made and begin thinking of a new task you can take on. Consider making a positive impact in your life and others by volunteering in your community. Volunteering is more than devoting time to participate in acts of kindness or projects that benefit other people. It’s about immersing yourself in the community, learning from it, and making connections.

When students are engaged in their community, they open doors to incredible opportunities and a more balanced life.

Community service for college students can lead to positive outcomes for the volunteer and the communities they serve.

Raven Daniel, an HCC student, calls it “a win-win situation.”

“You feel good because you’re helping others, and the others feel good because they’re getting help,” she says.

Daniel has been volunteering with her church since high school. She began when the church was hosting a food drive during the holiday season. She remembers the sweet smiles she received while serving food. There was one lady Daniel recalls distinctly who grabbed her hand and thanked her for the hot meal. “You could tell how grateful she was in her voice, it made me feel good about myself, and that feeling encouraged me to continue giving back,” she says.

Volunteering can help build on your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. I went into volunteering when I was in a rough patch and needed to leave my room, where I mostly spent my time sulking. I wanted to help others and in turn my experience helped me feel better about who I was. I was out making connections, learning, and seeing the difference I was making. It helped me realize that I was capable of living a meaningful life, I started seeing the good in the little things, and began feeling confident with different life choices. There is a natural sense of accomplishment when you are doing good for others and the community. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you will have a positive view of life and future goals.

Volunteering is also a great way to learn about career options and gain experience. Yaritza Colon, an HCC Early Childhood Education major, explains how she volunteered her way into choosing her major. “One summer, I spent two weeks volunteering with children with different disabilities. Every day, I learned something new, It kept me on my toes and en-

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By Nicole Vezina | Staff Writer gaged constantly,” she says. When the program ended, Colon said she missed working with children so much she looked into different majors, and that ’s how she started her career path at Housatonic.

There are many different programs and options in our community where HCC students can seek opportunities to become active members. Lifebridge is a program that provides a variety of opportunities, from helping fold clothes for their community closet to tutoring students after school.

“Lifebridge is a great program to start. You’re surrounded by all ages of the community, helping them while being around people who share the same passion for bettering the community,” says Annie Wnuck, the volunteer director. “There is a simple application process and an opportunity to tour the facility and learn more via google meet or in person.”

Wnuck encourages interested students to reach out, and ask questions at volunteer@lifebridge.org.

Students can also give back in simpler ways, like donating clothes to The Bridgeport Rescue Mission (BRM), where they collect toiletries, canned foods, clothes, and blankets to create Blessing Bags for residents in need. Sarah McDonagh, the volunteer coordinator at BRM, encourages students “to look through their clothes and pantries, you would be surprised by how much stuff you have, that you no longer use, but can benefit someone else.” If students have any unwanted items that can be donated, the BRM has a Donation Center where things can be dropped off.

If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, McDonagh says, “There is a volunteer registration page can be found on the BRM website. When students create a volunteer profile, they can see and register for the volunteer opportunities that we are currently offering.”The goal is to look beyond your own home and family and learn how to make the community better. Supporting your community by being proactive is a sure way to make the world a better place.

In a world where we are exposed to negativity in our world through social media and news, even the smallest gestures make a difference. By making it a habit to do more, give back, and change our perception of the world by putting ourselves in others’ shoes, we can become active members of society to promote positivity and change. When students spend time reaching out and supporting their communities together, those small gestures can add up to a significant difference.

Having Trouble Sleeping?

Try Sleeping Like An Army Soldier!

As the school year gets underway, resetting your sleep routine can be one of the hardest things to do. Try this quick and easy method used by the military to fix your sleeping woes.

By Sebastian Londono | Staff Writer

Lie down. Relax your entire face, including the muscles inside your mouth. Drop your shoulders to release the tension and let your hands drop to the side of your body. Exhale, relaxing your chest. Relax your legs, thighs, and calves. Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene. If this doesn’t work, try saying the words “don’t think” over and over for 10 seconds.

This method helps army soldiers fall asleep in under 2 minutes! Obviously, everybody reacts differently to any process, and this might not work for you at the first attempt, but if you keep trying to put your mind to the steps listed above and succeed, you can literally change your life.

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A Father, A Student, A Leader

Profiles

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

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osing his job was the last thing my father, Jorge Torres, needed. He was entering the first stages of becoming a father. The year was 2001 and now, for the majority of his daily routine, he was met with that familiar scent of freshly baked pizza.

One would normally be filled with excitement, however when delivering pizzas had become one of his primary ways of barely making a living, the aroma would devolve into a sickening stench of sticky cheese and dairy. Even if he took on two jobs in pizza delivery AND in UPS delivery, it was his wife and parents who he relied on for money and for paying bills. “ This was the biggest recession I ever faced in my life,” Jorge admits.

As he sat down with his wife, ready to discuss moving to Puerto Rico to work for his father-in-law, Jorge froze and observed every corner of his home. He and his family had worked hard to finally purchase this house. Together, they had brought in the green and brown couches, hardwood tables, and especially, assembled his newborn son’s royal blue crib. He did not want to simply give up. “ There was a drive I had within me to provide the best for my son.” He took a moment to himself, which stretched for days, weeks, and then months.

His over-confidence and determination began to get the best of him, as usual. This time, for the better.

After countless attempts of applying for higher paying jobs, he would be rejected over and over again.

Though these would be hard blows, Jorge would have the greatest of support and affection by his side in the form of his wife and family.

“I guess one thing I did to control stress was to pray,” he says. Every night, he would pray for bigger opportunities and chances to redeem himself to make his loved ones proud.

Eventually, after many rejected applications, he

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would get his chance by working in a medical equipment industry. This job would be short-lived, however, as he would successfully earn a job at ASML - a Dutch semiconductor behemoth - as a temporary worker.

Despite the instant loss of all his benefits (such as medical and vacation), Jorge remained confident and took this life-changing risk.

After slowly beginning to make a proper living for his family, Jorge would apply to Housatonic for Spring 2004 to earn his degree in Computer Science. His interests would change as he continued his education.

He would gain interest in engineering, earning him a higher position at ASML because of his newfound skill.

As he would progress through Housatonic many years later, he would once again change his career interests, this time chasing his degree in Business. After many changes Jorge would go through in his professional and academic life, he would finally go home, greet his

“There was a drive I had within me to provide for my son” now four children and wife, and share the news of his new promotion as Team Leader at ASML, one of the biggest roles within the globally successful company.

“Because I have changed my career three times, I am able to provide both for my children and go to school,”he added. Such stubbornness and high confidence would truly boost him to immensely impressive heights after all.

My father, Jorge Torres, is still not satisfied with his success and wants more. Being surrounded with nothing but his bed, desk, and laptop, he continues

to excel within Housatonic and ASML, and does not plan on stopping. Jorge now hopes that his story can influence both the future success of his children and everyday HCC members.

“As any student, I was faced with uncertainty and ended up changing my career path three times,” he said.

This is common for many students, and Jorge wishes to let them know that this is all part of the process.

In regard to his children, Jorge states, “I want them to be 10 times better than I could ever be.” As he finally settles down for the afternoon, gets comfortable on his couch, turns on his Samsung TV, and opens up his jar of pistachios. It is time to look forward to the many more challenges to come.

Photo by Jorge Torres

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eing diabetic is not the only challenge HCC student Liz Smith faces on a daily basis. One of the most significant life challenges she has faced has been overcoming her dyslexia.

She recalls being diagnosed early on in elementary school. At the time, she did not quite understand what being dyslexic meant or how this label of a learning disability would affect her long term. All she understood was the way she learned was different from her classmates.

Other kids teased her due to the struggles she faced with reading and writing, so much so that she grew to dislike school. When she would read aloud, it fueled emotions of shame, embarrassment, and overwhelming anxiety, as she watched the reaction of her peers and teachers; while she stumbled and stuttered, trying to interpret the words on the page in front of her.

“It was hard, and I felt out of place, I just wanted to have a normal day and no one understood that.” said Liz. Her school days consisted of being pulled in and out of class in a repetitive reading and writing cycle, which she found frustrating because she just wanted to get it all right the first time around.

It wasn’t until she met her third-grade teacher, who

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was also a diabetic, that Liz began feeling confident with herself. The idea that someone who had the same disability she did was able to accomplish her goals was comforting to Liz. This teacher taught Liz to accept and love her differences. Her confidence began to rise, and her grades along with it.

“Everything finally clicked,” Liz said. “It was like she was in my mind and knew how it worked better than I did.” This connection she had with this teacher still sticks with her today and is what inspired her journey into teaching.

Liz is now attending HCC as an Early Childhood Education major. In class, I would have never been able to tell in class how much effort she had to put into her schooling to get to where she is now. It wasn’t until my interview with her that I realized how hard she had to work to get here. “College was tough at first, so much reading, “ she said.

Liz explained the hours she would spend reading and re-reading chapters because nothing made sense. She was reading each individual word, and she understood those words, but when combined in a sentence, it all became a blur. In her mind, everything was jumbled together, and simple words would quickly become foreign when paired with other simple words.

Yet, she noted, “It might take me longer to read a chapter than most, and I may not fully comprehend what I read at first, but the extra time I spend rereading information, and using different studying strategies helps me fully understand and grasp what I am learning” She thought many times about dropping out and just accepting the idea of working a retail job, but she knew she couldn’t make the differences she wanted to only by ringing up customers at a register. Becoming a teacher means more than just educating children to her.

children learn differently, and instead of forcing children to learn one way, we should focus on individual needs, learn to adapt to these needs and plan lessons that support and engage each child. She wants the children in her class to come in with the mindset that they can accomplish anything, and she is there to support them in any way they need.

As Liz looks towards her graduation in May, she knows that her degree is more than just a fancy piece of paper; it’s her pathway to a fulfilling future.

“I want to make a difference, and help shape children’s lives and self-confidence so they can build a positive relationship with school early on,” she said.

She hopes to use her disability and story to influence the success of future young learners. Her idea is that all

“ It was hard, and I felt out of place, I just wanted to have a normal day and no one understood that. ”

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The Power Of Exercise During The School Year

Profiles

By Jack Price | Staff Writer

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s a student at HCC, Josh Breitbart has had his troubles in the past. During his life school was never of importance to the young man, who would fall behind in his studies.

His first semester at HCC was no different. While dealing with many personal challenges, he would hardly show up to class.

“I initially only went to college because my parents wanted me to,” he says. Breitbart claims that since he was diagnosed with depression and that he didn’t exactly have the best track record regarding school, that education was a hopeless cause. “I let my past define me,” he said somberly.

Amidst the darkness, a light would show on the horizon for him in a place completely unrelated to school–the local gym. When a fellow student at HCC began to bring Breitbart to the gym, it slowly became his place of solace and a place where he could “decompress and forget about the trials and tribulations of the day.” What he didn’t anticipate though, was that the benefits he reaped in the gym would translate to other areas of his life.

Due to the effort and dedication he put into bettering himself at the gym, how he felt about himself drastically changed.

“My confidence skyrocketed,” he said, since he was finally working on himself, something he had never paid mind to before.

The confidence did not just come because of his newfound muscles and energy, it came also because his hard work at the gym proved to him that he really could accomplish difficult things if he gave himself a chance and put in the work.

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Once in a sunken place and once dreading his future, Breitbart finally had hope. It is this hope that resulted in a string of great grades during his most recent semester at HCC. “I finally feel excited for my future, something I haven’t felt in a while. It’s a beautiful thing,” he exclaimed with an exuberance once nonexistent.

K

risten Carley, currently an English professor here at Housatonic, had a life-changing “failing forward” moment when she was a college student and was required to take a music theory class.

“I was in an auditorium type of room with 300 students, we have a lecture, and he threw the information on the screen. I have been a successful academic student, a smart student, a strong student, and everyone around me seemed to get it but me,” she said.

She recalls herself falling into a dark hole when she failed the class.

“I didn’t tell anybody, I didn’t tell my parents, or my siblings I just failed,” she adds.

The aftermath of her failure had caused her to stop attending the class altogether. “It made me feel so bad about myself. I wanted to drop it, but I was afraid to tell my parents I was dropping a class. When you don’t get it, you just stop trying, and I stopped trying,” she said.

She demonstrates the importance of embracing discomfort.

“It’s uncomfortable to not do well, it’s uncomfortable to try something new,” she says. “Embrace your discomfort.

For me, it was revealed that I had insecurities, I wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t know it all. I was going to let people know that sometimes I didn’t get it.” She was devastated by the failure she endured during that time and what she did next changed her life forever. It became her “mantra,” she says.

Carley, who failed the music theory class, ended up retaking the class the next semester. But she needed to tackle this obstacle with different approaches.

“Before I stepped in day one of that class I found help,” she says. She recalls finding a teacher who at that point was retired.

“She invited me to her home, it was a very quiet space.

It was a very safe space for me to ask for help and through her guidance and encouragement before a test, after a

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test, and doing homework the way she explained it to me unlocked the confusion.” Carley ended up with an A in her music theory class. She said she felt happy, not because of the A or 4.0. She was happy because she went through failing to excellence.

At the beginning of the semester of every class, she starts with “Go to class, Do the work, Ask for help. That is how you are going to succeed in my class.” Those words stood with me and changed my life as a student in her class.

“Those nine words that I give to my students, that’s my mantra. I developed it after knowing I had to change things So, what did I do to get out of it [the dark hole] those nine words are not only how I got through it but how I thrive on it,” she adds.

Studies show, she said, that minority students don’t ask for help because they see it as a weakness. “I have seen it too and as a woman, I’m a minority right? I had to be perfect. I was the first one in my family to go to college. I had to do this.”

She says she never felt entitled to ask for help, but she learned she should when she didn’t understand something.

“It became how I succeeded in college and Graduate school and I feel like it has been a driving force in how I teach,” she says.

Failing is a scary situation. Once you experience the taste of failure, all of your insecurities come in at once. We all strive to be perfect, to do the good thing, to succeed.

Nobody talks about how failure inflames your thoughts and pushes you to give up.

If we start using the failing forward method our lives will be changed. We will no longer be holding on to that failure but we will strive to succeed. Kristen Carley did not let that failure overcome her. Instead, she found a solution and that solution changed her whole life.

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Take that Helping Hand; It’ll Lead the Way to Victory Profiles

By Vasthiestefany Flores | Staff Writer We’ve all experienced challenging and difficult moments. It very well might be the passing of somebody we love or an issue we have to endure with nobody to help.

Some simply go through the motions quietly, not allowing anybody to engage and come in. What’s more, even while we do that, we realize that isn’t the best or healthiest reaction. However, those situations don’t define us; it’s how one rises from their lows to succeed at their highs that does.

A true story of inspiration and determination comes from HCC student Liana Ferreira, who is majoring in graphic design and is currently taking six classes. While she is busy achieving her goals and dreams, it has not always been so easy.

She describes the moment of fear and panic when her coworker and friend fell into two brain aneurysms by saying, “I did not know what to do. In that situation, I lost all train of thought I ever learned. I stayed by her side even when the paramedics came; I stayed close by. When it was time to take her away, I did not want to leave her, but I knew I would not be allowed to go.” A rush of emotions can overpower someone as it did to Liana at that moment, yet that wasn’t the most challenging part.

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Her friend fell into a coma, and the family decided to pull her life support. Weeks later, Liana suffered severe flashbacks to her friend’s death, along with negative feelings of doubt and self-blame. She was pushing people away and believed being lonely would solve the issue, but it didn’t.

“For the longest time I blamed myself for what happened that day. I didn’t notice that something changed about me that day,” she said. Her entire aspect and way of living changed completely because of that tragic event that she had to face.

That was a very low point for Liana. She felt the bruises and hardships were taking a toll on how she even associated with people. To this day, it affects Liana to get close to people, she said. “ I am still afraid to get close to people and too shy to try and make friends. It feels better to be alone when you are like this. The truth is it’s not. You become stuck in this world that replays that event over and over until it eats you from the inside out.” she said.

The days were getting longer and tougher for every living aspect that Liana had to endure. She felt like there was no escape out, but it was not the end.

One day, Liana thought thoroughly of what she wanted to accomplish in life; to feel free, focused, and motivated to get an education. What helped her grow and ultimately succeed? A helping hand. Yes, as simple as it sounds, it takes courage to open up and grab that hand. Liana had to break away from her fear of losing those she loves.

There had to be a starting point that would soon guide her to joyous heights.

Liana took a psychology class and was diagnosed with having PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). She wanted to learn more about what it was and did an assignment on it. This assignment helped her to understand better the reasons behind those negative feelings and how to overcome them.

She said she wants people to know that they are not alone. “If I learned anything from that day, it was, no matter how insignificant pain in the body is, get checked.

Not everyone is strong enough to go through what I did without help. Sometimes you need a helping hand, so when one is given to you, just grab it,” she added.

“For the longest time I blamed myself for what happened that day”

Liana hopes her story can help others reach out and find the appropriate help they need to take the necessary steps to move forward. It is a process, but anything is possible to achieve your dreams.

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash

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Nobody To Blame But Myself Personal Essays Photo by Olhar Angolano on Unsplash

By Sebastian Londono | Staff Writer High school is a time in ever yone’s life that gives them a chance to go on the road to become whatever it is that they want to be, whether it ’s be coming a doctor, a writer, or even a psychologist.

These four years are the building stones to what your future wou ld probably look like, at least that ’s what it would be for most people.

with a stack of folders and stood in front of the class and started giving a lecture on our future and going to college and learning what you want to do when you’re older. At that ver y moment it didn’t really faze me that I had basically one year left until I would have to at least have an idea as to what I wanted to do when I finished school.

By the start of my junior year, I came into the yea r ver y optimistic and ver y hopeful that I would be able to find out what I really wanted to do in life because at t his point I had zero idea of what my life will turn out to be, I was always living in the moment and never really thought about my future until one day during my English class my guidance counselor came in and talked about college applications and focusing on your future, which I hadn’t even began to do.

T h e g u i d a n c e c o u n s e l o rs sta r t s t o g o t o e a c h st u d e n t o n e b y o n e a n d h ave a l i tt l e c o nve rs a t i o n w i t h e a c h a b o u t t h e i r g ra d e s a n d t h e i r f u t u re .

Eve n t u a l l y o n e o f t h e c o u n c i l o rs g o t t o m e a n d sta r te d t o a s k m e t h e s a m e q u e st i o n t h a t e ve r y st u d e n t h a d b e e n a s ke d “ W h a t d o yo u p l a n t o st u d y i n c o l l e g e , i f yo u a re p l a n n i n g t o g o a t a l l ? ” At t h e t i m e I j u st l i e d t o h e r a n d t o l d h e r I a l re a d y h a d s o m e c o l l e g e s t h a t I p l a n t o a p p l y t o, w h e n i n a l l h o n e st y I h ave n ’ t e ve n l o o ke d u p a college at all to that point. So she handed me a fo l d e r w i t h a l l o f t h e f i n a n c i a l a i d i n st r u c t i o n s a n d my G PA i n a l l o f t h e st u f f I w o u l d n e e d t o sta r t a p p l y i n g t o c o l l e g e s .

Throughout my first two years of high school, I considered myself to be an above average student, always getting my work done, A’s and B’s across the board, it was going ver y smoothly, but the almighty junior year hit. All teachers would tal k about was “Junior year will be your big gest year yet, it will determine whether you get into college or not ”. I took this as a bluff, not realizing at the time how right t hey could be. The year went on and I started off as well as any student could, my first semester ended with all A’s and feeli ng great about the rest o f the year. After this semester, however, the school guidance counselor walked in

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A fe w d ay s p a s s e d a n d t h e n my p a re n t s c a m e t o m e w i t h t h e s a m e q u e st i o n , b u t I gave t h e m my st ra i g h t u p re s p o n s e , “ I d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t I wa n t t o d o,” a n d a l l t h e y t o l d m e wa s “ ta ke yo u r t i m e a n d f i g u re i t o u t .” I sta r te d t o o ve r t h i n k c o l l e g e s o m u c h b y t h i s p o i n t t h a t I sta r te d t o fo c u s l e s s and less on school work, and by the end of the s e c o n d s e m e ste r, o u t o f s i x c l a s s e s , I h a d fa i l e d t h re e o f t h e m .

M y s c h o o l l i fe h a d n e ve r fe l t s o h o p e l e s s i n my l i fe , n e ve r d i d h o m e w o r k , te st s w e re b a re l y g e tt i n g p a s s e d , a n d s o m e h o w w h i l e a l l t h i s wa s h a p p e n i n g , i t d i d n ’ t fa ze m e a n d l o o k i n g b a c k I c a n ’ t re a l i ze w hy. M y p a re n t s w e re i n s h o c k w h e n t h e y s a w my g ra d e s , b u t s o m e h o w t h e y w e re n ’ t a s s h o c ke d a s m e . At f i rst i t h o u g h t “ w e l l , I j u st h ave t o d o b e tte r t h e n ex t s e m e ste r, I g u e s s ”, b u t t h e n ex t d ay a t s c h o o l , t h e c o u n s e l o r c a l l e d m e i n t o h e r o f f i c e , s h e l o o ke d a t m e , a l m o st i n d i s g u st a n d c o n f u s i o n w h i l e l o o k i n g a t my g ra d e s o n t h e f i rst a n d s e c o n d s e m e ste r, a n d s h e a s ke d “what happened?”

My answer right away was “I don’t know,” but right after I said this, I started to understand. I told her, “Ever since you started talking about college and this year being the big gest year for colleges to look at, overthinking just became a habit and now I’m stuck in this hole of not being able to focus in school and do my work consistently.” My guidance counselor told me something that really changed my view of things. She said, “Before you can think about your future, you have to think about the present, if you don’t live in the present, you’ll live in regret in the future”. That just left me speechless, and all I could say was thank you and walk away.

W hat I did to tr y to ease my mind from all of this might not be the best thing to do but it sure helps, and I was taking a week off of school. I didn’t just take a week off to sit at home the whole time and do nothing , I planned out a week of relaxation for myself physically and mentally.

I took a couple days to go to the gym for a few hours a day to keep my mind off my school life.

This was the best way to start off a week of tr ying to get away from school, focusing on myself and my own physical health.

W hile I was there, however, I noticed a sign that said they would be doing a two-hour meditation session later that day, I had never done meditation before and you always hear that meditating is a great way to get your mind off of things, so i just said “yolo” and did it and that might have bee n the best two hours i have ever spent doing something in my life. That time in the room with all that peace and quiet for those two hours really hit me the perfect way, so I kept going back for the meditation ever y day of the week and while that was probably the quickest a week has ever felt, it was also the best that i had ever felt.

spent at least an hour or two a day reading different books and articles to keep my mind running. I also began doing something that I had never done efficiently, studying. The daily meditation was able to let me really pay attention to what I was reading , which led to being able to translate to studying for various tests and quizzes.

I finished with all A’s in all my classes and finished the year with honors, and whenever I find myself a situation such as that one, I always think back to what the guidance counselor told me, “If you don’t live in the present, you’ll regret it in the future”, because at the end of the day, you only live once and the years don’t wait for you, so take advantage of the moment whenever the opportunity presents itself.

“If you don’t live in the present, you’ll regret it in the future”

Going back to school felt like the first day of school was ever y day, I found joy in going to school that I hadn’t felt in a while. Those nex t two semesters all that I focused on was school. I

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Essays

Photo by Danita Jones

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My Search For The Secrets To Success

By Jania Jones | Senior Staff Writer Hot tears rolled down my face and the sleeves of my recently purchased HCC hoodie couldn’t seem to swipe them away fast enough. I glared down at my paper as if squinting my eyes harder would help the answers magically flow onto the page. Feeling embarrassed and out of place, I looked down at my watch and prayed for the rest of the time to fly by. I knew that the remaining 35 minutes wouldn’t save my score. I just wanted to leave.

Riddled with shame and disappointment, I pretended to work for the rest of the time, writing and erasing random formulas over and over again until time was called. Finally, I was freed from the constraints of that classroom and practically ran out the door. My studybuddy from another class looked up at me, expecting a smile of triumph as I exited the classroom and led her out the building, but I couldn’t even meet her eyes. I couldn’t even bring myself to acknowledge the fact at hand. I knew that I just bombed my midterm exam. We walked in silence until we arrived at the train station, which is when I picked up the phone to dial my mom.

“So how did it go?” She asked me expectantly.

“Bad. Very bad.” It was only then in which I felt safe to release the dam that was holding up half a semester’s worth of tears. “I definitely failed. I couldn’t even answer half of the questions. I don’t even know how this happened. I studied. A lot! I used my notes and memorized the techniques, but the second the paper was on my desk, my mind went blank. I’m so sorry.” The silence that rang back in my ears was far from comforting.

After a long pause my mom just said, “I know. It’s ok.

You can always try again next time. It was just one test.

When you get on the train sit down and write everything you didn’t know that you can remember.”

However, her being nice to me didn’t change the fact that I was up to my neck in confusion about what was going on. I went to every office hour session that she hosted for a solid month and a half, and I still couldn’t grasp it. Now it would be one thing if I was right below the marker for a solid pass, but I was far below. During exams and quizzes I couldn’t just ask for help, which quickly became my worst enemy. And that midterm was supposed to be my saving grace. However, I quickly realized that passing this class wasn’t plausible for this semester, so I had to make the decision to withdraw from the class. Mind you, this was during my first semester of taking college classes and I’d only been taking one other class that semester. I was devastated beyond belief.

I felt that my once strong standing, academic confidence was shattered. Over the course of the rest that semester I was able to pull through my English 101 class with a B and was ready to leave college behind and not return for a while. Despite this, after talking with family, it was made clear that giving up was not an option and that I would return in the Spring with a new perspective and a readiness to come at learning from a different angle. You see, currently I am a junior in high school and at the time of my Pre-Calc fiasco, I was in my sophomore year. At my high school, school work had always come easy to me and I never really had to worry about excessive studying or the fear of not passing on assignments. Therefore it’s safe to say that after receiving countless 60s and below on assignments in my class, I was shocked. I’d let my arrogance and previous experiences get in the way of entering this new environment with a clear mind and paid the price for it.

All I could muster back was a meek “okay” and hung up the phone.

That day was embarrassing on so many levels but was nothing in comparison to the days that would follow.

I’d been struggling in Pre-Calc for a while now and my professor, Mrs. Philips, had been nothing but supportive.

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Over the next two semesters I had to work to not only rebuild my GPA but rebuild my confidence in myself. Too afraid to touch anything that seemed too complex, I ended up enrolling in a basic statistics course at another community college to earn my math credit for the semester. While that class was a communications challenge within itself, the fact that I was actually retaining new information and gradually improving on assignments was very fundamental to the journey I had ahead. I successfully finished that class with an A- and took on college algebra in the next semester. Having jumped from going straight into pre-calculus to taking several steps back in order to catch my breath was nerve wracking at first but is what truly pushed me to the amount of progress I have made today. Once I realized that I was letting fear drive my course selection and my overall experience here, I realized how childish I was being after one simple mistake.

Originally, I allowed this mistake to define me as a student when that wasn’t the case. I learned from the experience and had a very quick shift in mentality and perspective.

This wasn’t going to be the walk in the park that I was used to. Now, halfway through my fifth semester here, I have just entered my first semester of the honors program and declared my major in journalism last fall. While I am still a little too nervous to try out Mrs. Philip’s class once again, I am not as hesitant as I was this time last year. I’ve realized the importance of how calculated risks and preparation work in conjunction.

Now this isn’t to say I don’t have my rough patches. Like clockwork, that time of the semester rolls around when it’s finals week and I am stressed like no tomorrow. But now instead of shutting down and getting worked up, I try my best to think strategically and not just off of emotions.

Acknowledging when I don’t know something and when I need help is something that I am still working on but can see improvements in almost everyday. My mom always tells me, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you are in

the wrong room. It’s the person that asks the best questions that will get the farthest.” While my “near-sighted” goal is to graduate from HCC, the skills I will have learned from my time here will propel me into the future I yearn for. I’m still searching for the book of the ‘secrets of ultimate success’ but in the meantime, I think I’ll be all right. Finding this magic book will take hard work and a crazy amount of effort, but when I do find it, this will have all been worth it.

initely failed. “ I def I couldn’t even

answer half of the questions. I don’t even know how this happened. I studied. A lot! I used my notes and memorized the techniques, but the second the paper was on my desk, my mind went blank.

I’m so sorr y.

”

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TØP: Music For Your Ears And Mind

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

W

ith the release of their 2021 album “Scaled and Icy,” my all-time favorite band, Twenty One Pilots, continues to produce amazing content. Whether it be rock, pop, reggae, rap, or indie, this greatly talented musical duo from Columbus, Ohio, consisting of frontman Tyler Joseph and drummer Joshua Dun, have gone from underground to mainstream success.

Most everyday music listeners may know them for their hit single, “Heathens,” from the 2016 film “Suicide Squad.” The duo is also known for its Grammy Award-winning album, 2015’s “Blurryface,” which spawned two hits, “Stressed Out” and “Ride.” However, Twenty One Pilots has created a passionate fan base that can agree that the band is much more than just their mainstream success, and I especially know this for sure.

Not only does the duo produce amazing music with catchy bass riffs and piano/ukulele melodies, but ever since the band’s creation in 2009, they have been able to stay faithful to themes such as battling anxiety, self-pondering, and everyday struggles. My favorite TØP song, “Heavydirtysoul,” addresses the topics of fearing death and personal struggle. Another favorite, “Car Radio,” deals with isolation.

Tyler and Josh have managed to stay consistent with their lyricism and artistry, while also experimenting with many different genres throughout the years. Give them a listen! They have helped me through many obstacles in high school and college.

Twenty One Pilots have evolved from recording songs in their basements to selling out Madison Square Garden and do not look to be stopping anytime soon.

Photo by Estefano Torres

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Fifty-Three And Pursuing My First Degree, But, Oh, The Challenges!

Essays

By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief

We’ve all heard the adage “You’re never too old to learn.”

At fifty-three, I know that’s true, because I am in my third year at community college. I would have graduated May 2021, with plans to transfer to Southern Connecticut State University had my trajectory not been interrupted by me finally getting a job after about three years of trying. That’s the first challenge.

Work and school.

Learning something new at any age can be challenging.

However, it is not so much what those challenges are, as how you approach and deal with them that makes a difference as to whether or not you succeed, as I would realize when I decided to go back to school.

I had recently been laid off and just could not find a job. My children were old enough for me not to worry about them so much – one in college and the other in 10th grade – so I thought, why not? Everything was going along swimmingly – I took three or four courses per semester, until I finally got a job in what would be my last. But I quickly realized I couldn’t do it, especially with the work schedule I had - 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In reality, my schedule really started at 8:00 (to prepare and get there for 10:30) and ended at 7:45 (to leave, hopefully, by minutes after 7:00 and get home). So, I had to withdraw from one of the two courses I had registered to take.

In previous classes, I had set a schedule and lived religiously by it. I don’t have that luxury now. I do schoolwork when I can.

I tried never to miss a deadline then (I did one or two times), but this time I am ok with doing so. It is what it is. You try your best and that’s the best that you can do. And I am ok with it.

Kudos to students, young and older, who are managing fulltime jobs and full-time school. You are to be commended.

I’m a Communication Studies student who does not like to communicate; or at least to talk to people, especially interview sources. That should be the most challenging issue for me (I’ll get to what that is later), because I’m more of an introvert who gets anxious whenever I have to talk to people I have never spoken to before. Funny enough, if it’s on someone else’s behalf, no problem. But for me, forget it! (And I sell furniture! God has a wicked sense of humor.)

So, can you imagine when I have to reach out to sources for interviews for my papers? I won’t go into too much detail, but my process is not pretty. Crafting an email is nothing – that’s my communication preference – writing! So, reaching out first via email is a breeze. However, when I have to actually call, oh boy! I first have to psyche myself up and that could take hours. I try to rehearse the words I’m going to use, because sometimes I sound overly formal and that can be off-putting or too chirpy and that’s just ugh! I try though, because I know weaving in other voices, especially those of experts, can give my essays depth and texture and color.

Now, here’s my most difficult challenge - technology. Mark you, I appreciate technology and what it allows us to do.

However, sometimes I am just stumped. Here’s an example: Why should I have to give an audio-recording app access to my “photos, media, files to record audio?” What does it need all of that for? I just want to record a little interview! And then when I grudgingly click ‘OK,’ more crap comes up with all kinds of stuff – Data usage, Battery, Storage and on and on… I already clicked ‘ok,’ can’t you just allow me to record? I still haven’t recorded via that gadget.

Then for some reason, I am usually met with that little blue circle that spins in the middle of your laptop or phone screen while you wait for something to download. Or is it...upload?

My professor, when I complained that I wasn’t able to use my phone to get to work he had posted, offered, “That sounds like an internet issue, Alva.” Translation, it’s not the work that there’s something wrong with, it’s my cellular service - I need to boost my data. Grrr.

Now, that leads me to another point. One of my young classmates asked if I ever felt “out of place” being an older student.

At the top of this essay I said that one is never too old to learn, but sometimes one can still feel “out of place” among a room

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full of bright eyed, eager, and more importantly, tech-savvy students. Have I felt uncomfortable at times? Sure. But only when tech stuff is being discussed. I listen and if I don’t get it, I ask for clarification. Yeah, I feel cute, but I love to use my gray hair to get a pass. In my experience, young people are quite respectful of their older classmates. Never once have they been impatient with or rude to me. If a teacher tries to clarify a tech issue and I don’t get it, usually one of my young classmates (I’m usually the only old person in my classes) will try. If I still don’t get it, I try when I get home and if that still doesn’t work, I know that at the very last minute I will have a breakthrough. It’s as if I have no choice (I really hate failing!) so if one way doesn’t bear fruit, something else will or I just Google and pray that helps.

Succeeding at your courses and maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA means you attract your school’s honor society. I did mine.

That’s the only time I wondered about being older. Do they know how old I am? Are they just looking at my GPA without realizing I’m not young? Do they really want “old people” in their society? Well, I had passed up a previous opportunity to be part of one society because I felt I was too old and so when another reached out to me from HCC I thought, “What do you really have to lose?” I did some research and found...nothing!

Age is nothing but a number!

Even with these challenges, as an older student at HCC I don’t stand out. As I walk the halls or have dealings with administrators and departments, I see folks my age all around - typing away in the computer lab; printing or copying documents in the library; taking the stairs or elevator to an upper floor in Lafayette or Beacon Hall, scurrying to get to classes. We are not a novelty here.

If you take a look at some of the Horizons publications you’ll see personal essays from older students who have succeeded at this institution. We have participated in groups and organizations; have been tutors and mentors; have graduated with our certificates or associate degrees, or have transferred to 4-year colleges. Despite the challenges we are here, and we are just like every other student.

Photo by Alva Blair

”

Learning something new at any age can be challenging. However, it is not so much what those challenges are, as how you approach and deal with them that makes a difference as to whether or not you succeed

”

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Things Don’t Always Go According to Plan Essays

By Amanda Mainieri | Staff Writer

I heard my teacher calling after me, but my feet didn’t By the time I was fourteen years old, I had my whole life stop moving. I knew where I was going though. The school planned out: what my career was going to be, when I was counselor. After inviting me to do so, I hesitantly walked going to go to college, when I was going to get married into her office, and wearily took a seat. I started to explain and have children. I had crossed all my T’s and dotted to her what was going on, and she helped me identify the all of my I’s. That was until things took a turn. Once I problem. For the next several months, I had made hit junior year of high school, life was starting progress with my anxiety, and was feeling to become harder, and I didn’t know why. I better, and visiting the school counselor would sit in class, and my thoughts would on a weekly basis. With the blink of an be racing. I would sit at my desk with eye, it was already senior year, and my legs bouncing, hands shaking, Photo by that’s when everything went south and my toes would be numb from Graehawk from Pixabay for me, taking a turn. My anxiety anxiousness. and depression worsened, making No one noticed. My friends it hard to simply get out of bed didn’t notice, my teachers in the morning. I was missing didn’t notice. My parents school, falling behind in my barely noticed. This was classes, and my parents were because I hid my true becoming very concerned. emotions. I acted like I was I began to see a therapist fine, when I really wasn’t. I outside of school, and I was wanted to create this facade receiving assistance in school that I was perfect, and that as well, but my thoughts were everything was still going still all over the place, and I according to plan. However, felt hopeless. When I did attend I was breaking inside. I didn’t school, I would have panic know what was wrong with attacks, and have to leave early. I me. Surely this had to be just was absolutely miserable. During some teen angst dramatic the weekends, I would sleep all period, right? Nope. It was day, and barely do any homework. crippling anxiety and depression, Then, word started spreading about although I didn’t know that at the this new illness called, Corona-virus, and time. soon enough school was closed down for I remember the day that changed the next two weeks. I was ecstatic, and spent everything. It was during fifth period, and I was my days watching “Friends,” and eating ice cream in getting ready to present. I was sweating, my cheeks were bed. However, school never went back into session, and we hot, and I felt nauseous. “It’s just a measly presentation, moved to online learning. I was happier than ever. For the it’s not that serious,” I thought, but I was still overcome first month. Then, being stuck inside started taking a bigger with nervousness. “Amanda, it’s your turn,” my teacher toll on my mental health than it was actually going out and announced. “No way,” my brain was telling me. I got up, attending school. I didn’t have the privilege to hang out and instead of going to the front of the room to present, I with my friends, or go shopping, or get something out to ran out of the classroom. eat. Then, it became the lowest point in my life. I stopped

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attending my online classes, putting no effort into my work. I stopped talking to friends, and locked myself in my room all day. I stopped attending my therapy sessions, and wished I could just go to sleep and never wake up.

My mom made the decision to get me an appointment with a psychiatrist, so I can get medically diagnosed and start taking medication. At the appointment, I told him everything that was going on with me, and how I was feeling, and my experience for the past year. He diagnosed me as having Generalized Anxiety Disorder, depression, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He prescribed me Lexapro, and I began taking a small dose. I noticed a small improvement in my mood and my rapid thoughts were slightly slowing down.

The thing about having a mental illness, is that swallowing a pill every morning doesn’t just get rid of all of your problems. It takes a lot of therapy, assistance from friends and family, and learning your self worth. I see a therapist once a week, and talk with her about the issues I am facing, and how I would like to work on them.

Taking medication will not solve your issues, even though that would be great. Clearly, I am still overcoming my conditions. I do feel a whole lot better, and I function very well, and I am very proud of where I am today.

By the end of the summer, I was prescribed another medication to help calm my thoughts at night, and I was much better, and feeling good about myself, and starting college. My thoughts would overwhelm me in the middle of the night, to the point where I would stay awake from them. That’s why I was prescribed Abilify, to slow down those thoughts, and help get a good night’s rest, so I won’t be so anxious or irritable the next day. I chose Journalism as my major, and loved all the courses I was taking.

Unfortunately more recently, I haven’t been feeling well.

I started to feel the same way I was during my senior year of high school, and began to panic, not wanting to feel like that ever again. I talked with my psychiatrist who told me the Lexapro was wearing off, and I needed to switch to Prozac. He also informed me that I may have a mood disorder, and that we need to experiment with the Prozac and see.

“Mental illness is a struggle, and alters one’s plans. Those who suffer should know things don’t always go according to plan, and the most important thing is to receive help, and get better.”

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On My Way to Becoming an Editor Essays

I

started out thinking I would be writing about the changes I have been seeing in the English language, but kept veering off instead into errors and inconsistencies in the writing of the language, my compulsion to correct them, and my attempt to push-start my editing career by reaching out to a publisher. Boy, that was a face plant!

During high school I read a lot of novels, especially from the romance genre. I know I passed Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) History because the night before the exam I read a historical romance novel set during the French Revolution and the paper had a question based on that time; I waxed eloquent on the essay. I know I also passed English because the stories I would read were so well edited it was easy for me to absorb the elements of good writing.

In those days – a few decades ago – one would be hard pressed to find an error in the writing – structure, grammar, syntax, you name it. If I ever did, I would mark the spot in the sentence and dog-ear the page, pleased with myself that I had found an error (usually it was just a dropped letter). These days, that ’s not so much the case.

I have found that a lot of the books and novels I read are rife with errors and inconsistencies. For transparency ’s sake, I read a lot of books courtesy of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, many of which are self-p ublished and seem to be self-proofread or self-edited. Whether it is because writers are proofing /editing their own works or writers/editors are not as grounded in the language and its structure as those of decades ago, a lot of the writing can be confusing and for me that ’s editing heaven. So, I figured I’d start off by proofing and work my way up to editing.

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By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief

Here’s a small sample of errors I found in one story (I won’t say which), why I think they ’re wrong , and how I think they should be corrected. I’ll follow up with my proposal to the publisher. Ha!

What I read At twenty-five, Jean-Pierre married his model girlfriend of ten years

Your music was being broadcasted

Why I think it’s wrong That would mean he was with his girlfriend when he was 15 (I’m unable to fully illustrate the context, but based on my reading he met her at 25) Regardless of tense, the word doesn’t change: present, past, or past participle (but language is dynamic and more and more I am hearing/seeing “broadcasted”

Had a real history to the violin

“With” is used when you’re referring to two things existing or acting together; “to” is used when one thing is acting on another

Nails painted and filed

One would never paint nails and then file them. And even though this isn’t a big thing, why cause a stumble in the reading if it’s not necessary

Once I would be with him, I wouldn’t have the chance

Ocean swarming around

In this case, “would” indicates a point in the future; using it is awkward

Insects swarm

written so long before. And I waited for a response.

Of course, all this time I had been weaving a bright future as an editor-by-way-of-proofreader of romance novels. I thought of the fun I’d have helping to make the reading of these novels smooth and mellow while My proposal for ensuring that the logi c of move Correction ment was practical and that the structure of the language in no Simplify. Delete “of ten years,” because it didn’t add anything to the writing as far as way impeded the palpitations of I could see. the heart that so often accompany the investment of time and spirit Your music was being broadcast in reading such works.

Had a real history with the violin... Even this is awkward, so I would perhaps say “was a virtuoso”

Nails filed and painted

Once I was with him, I wouldn’t have the chance…

Ocean flowing around or waves curling, ebbing, crashing

Had blacked both of Dr. Vieg’s eyes

Context: there was a fight. The act/verb is “blacken”

Had blackened both of…

Had served good on his promise

The phrase is “made good” meaning fulfilling an obligation or paying a debt

Had made good on his promise

Reputations proceeds you

Proceed means to continue; precedes means come before

Reputation precedes you

Relishing in the early morning

You revel in but relish; just relish

Finally, I got a response. “Passive ag gressive.” To this day that ’s what I see when I think about that email. I was thanked for my interest in wanting to be one of their proofreaders, but perhaps I could be better at proposing to do so. I was passive ag gressive.

I was stunned. I had never been accused of being passive ag gressive. What the heck was that, anyway? What does that mean (asks the woman who wants to edit)?

I Googled it! Yeah, I knew what it meant, but having that phrase thrust at my being left me floundering.

I have always tried to write as I would speak in a particular circumstance, and I thought my wording conveyed a tone of “Humbly I come. I would love to edit for you as I love the stories you publish, and I enjoy editing , as it ’s fun for me to do so. Here is a small example of how I think when editing.” I must have deleted their email in vexation as I cannot find it.

Relishing the early morning

Armed with my spreadsheet of errors and inconsisten cies (many more than I have here), I penned a letter to the publisher. And could not send it.

I couldn’t find them. At the end of the stor y the publishing company ’s name had been emblazoned in Zapfina script and I thought it would be a simple thing to click it and be transported to the website.

When that didn’t happen, I Googled. When that didn’t work, I tried tracing them through Kindle. The euphoria I had exp erienced reading and identif ying errors and correcting them and setting them up in my spreadsheet waned. Bit by bit. Until I thought of their Facebook page.

I searched and searched until I found an email address and happily sent off my email that I had

I was practical. I could read a novel in about four hours, but editing one could take days depending on so many variables. But I was ready for that.

For a while I didn’t read any thing; I was embarrassed. They hadn’t questioned my correctness or incorrectness, just told me my approach was wrong.

But as far as I was concerned, if this was my first attempt at reaching out to an editor and that was the response, would anyone want to work with me?

That kinda thinking was illogical, especially as I know that I would need to send dozens of letters to dozens of editors to even get one near positive response. But I was still floored.

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When I eventually resumed with my addiction to Kindle Unlimited’s romance stories, I resumed my whining about the errors. Until one day my husband got so exasperated with my complaints that he (practically) snarled, “ Why don’t you write your own?!” It wasn’t the first time he was telling me to do so, but it was the first time I thought I should. So, I did.

I started sometime in April 2018. I had a few really productive spurts and enjoyed the stor y so much that I would laugh sometimes as the images and dialogue unfurled in my mind. I could hear them and feel their emotions. I had a lot of time on my hands as I was unemployed at the time so I would spend days just writing. When I had school, it was a challenge as I like to produce good work and doi ng so took time away from my writin g. But I pressed dog gedly along. At one point I stalled; just couldn’t think of where to go with what I had. I was impatient as I had school and had started a program that would get me back into the working world, and so I started resenting the stor y. What the hell am I writing any way? Who is going to read it? Who cares that I am doing a really good job of editing and proofing as I write?

Nobody cares because it ’s not important that I get the grammar correct. No. One. Cares! The proof is in all those books that have been published and they boast 5-star reviews but are...rife with errors!

Over Christmas of that year I decided to finish my book and publish it on Kindle Unlimited for my birthday, Februar y 10, 2019. Anyone who knows me well knows I am technologically challenged.

So, getting my document into the template was a nightmare! I was tr ying to do this without help pride is a hell of a thing. Desperation caused me to finally reach out to an old colleague who had recently published a book. That didn’t go anywhere. I decided I was not going to ask for help again. I hunkered down and read ‘till my eyes got crossed and finally figured out how to upload to Kindle. Oh, what a joyous moment!

My husband and children had watched me fight to write this stor y. My older daughter had read a bit of it once as she passed me at the dining table (where I do ever y thing), and swore that I had corrupted her mind with the graphic scene she’d read. She didn’t read any more. My husband tried to read a bit, but was ( jokingly) outraged that I was writing a stor y about a man with blond hair and blue eyes who was built! Hey, I had jumped on the BWWM (Black Woman White Man or man of ethnicity besides Black) bandwagon that was racing through Kin dle Unlimited’s free offerings.

Any way, my book went live on Februar y 8, 2019.

It was a proud moment for me. My husband was filled with so much pride that I had done what he knew I could do. My girls were equally proud because they had witnessed my stressful process and how I had managed to rise above it. Publishing that book caused me to take a serious look at myself and helped me to wash away doubts that had plagued me for years that I could actually write, much less publi sh, a book.

When I visited the Amazon website and typed My Inevitable You by Alva Blair and it popped up, I cried. I was over whelmed. I had really done it.

Of course, I promptly bought and reread it to see what errors had escaped my eagle eyes.

I found a few, but nothing I couldn’t live with (cringe).

”My husband and

chi ldren had watche d me fight to w rite this stor y.

”

Photo by Danita Jones.

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“Go... Get up… and Get Moving!”

By Vasthiestefany Flores | Staff Writer

Photo by Liana Ferreira

Regular exercise is fundamental to maintaining a good and healthy life and is recommended for everybody, including college students. And of course proper nutrition is a must!

It is never too late to start working out. It all begins with planning. If you have only 30 minutes or even just 10, take those minutes to incorporate physical activity into your day. Try to work on a specific goal that will make you feel better and stronger.

As of two months ago, I decided to take an hour of my day and focus on getting out of my chair and doing something fun, like running or doing exercises that focus on certain muscles.

Your schedule of work and classes may be tight, but it ’s vital to bring in balance. Take little steps at first.

With regard to nutrition, for example, instead of having a soda every day, how about one every other day? I’ll have one twice per week and drink more water. Getting healthy means making changes that will better benefit you now and later.

As fitness trainer Don Saladino says, “Being healthy isn’t a race, it ’s a lifestyle, and it ’s about making those better changes that will result in a balanced and improved way of living.”

The benefits of exercise and good nutrition cannot be overstated. Since I started on this path, I’ve noticed significant changes that have helped me to stay focused.

The regular fatigue and tiredness I used to experience have slowly gone away, and I feel amazing.

Remember when you plan out your schedule for work and school to add that 30 minutes for physical activity, and get moving!

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Essays

My Body is Failing Me The Struggles of Kidney Failure, from Childhood to Adulthood

By Destene Savariau | Senior Staff Writer

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t was spring of 2010 in Snellville, Georgia. I had been sick for weeks, continually vomiting and passing out around the small apartment. My mother and everyone else around me didn’t know what was wrong. I was taken to emergency rooms from Lawerenceville to Decatur. All had doctors who just told us “it’s just the flu” or “it’s just acid reflux.” It wasn’t until I was taken to a holistic medical facility called Progressive that I found out I had kidney failure. Of course, that only happened after many extensive and kind of gross tests, the most difficult of which was having to swallow a camera pill, which was actually kind of cool. It was difficult and uncomfortable, but interesting nonetheless. After those tests, we went home and came back the next day to hear the results. It was me, my mother, my two aunts, and my two siblings. My siblings sat in the waiting room playing with one of my aunts, while my mother, my closest aunt, and 11-year-old me sat in the crisp white room in anticipation, the tension killing us. Or killing them at least, I was practically half passed out. By the time the doctor came in with the results, all I remember hearing was “kidney failure” and “lucky to be alive.”

The most specific term of my condition would be acute renal failure. It is where both of my kidneys stop working due to loss of ability to filter the waste from your body and balance fluids. To solve this until transplant, the patient will receive dialysis. This treatment will do the kidney’s job of removing excess water and toxins from the blood. Though this condition is somewhat minor in its manageability, it also has a domino effect on the rest of the body, causing high blood pressure, cardiovascular or heart problems, and lungs

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weakening.

After that, I was blacking out repeatedly until one day I woke up in a hospital bed in the Intensive Care Unit of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta - Egleston Hospital. I had a catheter in my thigh running hemodialysis, tubes up my nose and down my throat. I was on bed rest and on heaps of drugs, keeping me high as hell and unaware of my surroundings for a good month. My family was devastated and heartbroken. It was scary! When I was finally a bit more stable, I was still stuck on bed rest. At least there were no more tubes in my nose and throat, and I was able to eat.

After about another two weeks, I was moved to residential floor nine. After that, my hospital stay was actually enjoyable.

As a child in a fully dedicated children’s hospital, there were always activities to keep me entertained. Arts and crafts on Mondays, bingo on Wednesdays, and movie night on Fridays, not to mention the teen room with board games and game systems on the floor, the library with tons of books and movies to rent, and a plethora of volunteers who would come and play with you. Hell, I even got to hold a hedgehog when the zoo came to visit us. Honestly, I remember the last month of my stay in the hospital as very pleasant. Luckily after an uneventful year, I got a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in Hurricane Sandy. It takes three hours to put me to sleep, cut open my abdomen, set in the kidney, and close me up with staples and glue.

And I don’t mean the office kind. This gave me a working kidney in place of my old ones and led to my life going back to a new normal due to a few permanent changes. The main

. ad nr Co er th fa y m by o ot Ph

one being having to take medicine every day to prevent my body from rejecting the foreign kidney.

This kind of adjustment, especially as a child, was hard. But I got through it with my family and friends’ overwhelming support and an overall positive idea of what it meant to be sick. Whether I was in the hospital or not, friends from school would send me cards. People from my mother’s church would supply me with an endless battalion of teddy bears. Even the hospital staff showered me with gifts to keep me comfortable. Although I was sick, I felt like I lived in luxury, even after my health improved with the kidney transplant. However, this wouldn’t last as in 2019, when my transplant kidney would fail, and I would end up right back at square one.

When I was a Housatonic freshman, my health was deteriorating, and I didn’t know why. My blood pressure was slowly rising. My blood work levels were becoming more and more unstable. I had more frequent visits to the hospital, which was a giant inconvenience to my educational career. It got to the point where my transplant kidney finally just gave out. At first, I thought things would be like when I was younger; oh boy, was I wrong.

Being sick as an adult is nothing like being sick as a child.

It was a colossal inconvenience, fewer gifts and attention; the hospital wasn’t as fun. Most of all, it was a lot more responsibility. I had to make extreme changes to my diet, including water intake, to prevent any more stress to my kidney.

I take medicines and monitor my ever-rising blood pressure twice a day; I take pills for my resulting lung and heart problems. On top of that, I have to write down everything I eat and drink to watch my food intake and its correlation to my blood pressure. This time around, being sick actually really sucked. It was hard balancing all this newfound responsibility, as I had only recently transitioned into adulthood. Of course, I had a stable support system, but most of the duties fell on my shoulders, and I didn’t know how to handle it or balance it all. I was already struggling with school, work, and my newfound adulthood.

Having to dedicate so much time to my duties on top of that began to take its toll. I ended up slacking off on my daily rituals by missing doses of my meds and not taking care of myself the way I should be. This resulted in one of the scariest experiences of my life.

It was late morning, and I wasn’t feeling very well. I had shortness of breath and chest pain that wouldn’t go away.

When I checked my blood pressure, it was high due to the missing dosages: 200/126 high. I started to freak out, which

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after an “ Luckily uneventful year, I got

Illustration by Saida Hmami

only added fuel to the flames, and called the ambulance.

When they arrived, they immediately whisked me away to the nearest hospital. On the way there, I suddenly lost sight, which caused me to panic. The sirens began to blast as they rushed to Bridgeport Hospital. Everything went downhill from there. My eyes were stuck in the back of my head, and all I could do was listen to my surroundings. Doctors were yelling, nurses rushing, security trying to hold me down as I panicked even more. Then everything just stopped. The last thing I remember was feeling a strange jolt in my body as the voices around me began to get increasingly louder. Until they faded away, and I felt a sharp pinch in my neck. When I woke up, it took me a while to get my bearings. The doctor said; my eyes rolled back as an early sign of a seizure, which led to a stroke. Hearing that shook me to my core. Luckily, there were no long-standing side effects. Still, it provided me with a traumatic reminder that I needed to take care of myself.

Trying to live life with this condition is an uphill battle,

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a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in Hurricane Sandy.

It takes three hours to put me to sleep, cut open my abdomen, set in the kidney, and close me up with staples and glue.

”

one that I sometimes feel that I’m losing. Seeing as how this is a condition that I’m still going through, it’s still something I am trying to overcome. My leading solutions are to find creative ways to stay positive and to take every day at a time. This can sometimes be challenging, especially with the constant routine of pills and early morning dialysis sessions. But it helps to find fun activities that I can associate with my medical ones. When I have dialysis, I watch TV and play on my Nintendo Switch. When I have hospital visits, I try as hard as I can to treat it like a hotel vacation. (Just without all the needle probing and nurse visits.) I read comics at doctor’s appointments while I wait and always treat myself to a nice lunch afterwards.

Being sick the second time around may not be the same experience as when I was a kid, but I’m making the best of it. That’s all I can do until I find someone willing to donate a kidney. If you or anyone you know is willing to donate, please visit nkr.org/bhv679.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Pet? Consider Getting a Small Furbaby!

By Amanda Mainieri | Staff Writer

Are you living in a small space, but yearning for a pet? Consider getting a hamster! A hamster is the perfect pet if you don’t like big clean-ups. And even though they are small, you’ll receive a lot of love from them.

There are several different breeds of hamsters. The most basic are Syrians, Chinese Dwarf, Roborovski Dwarf, Winter White Dwarf, and Campbell Dwarf. However, two stand out: Syrians are typically larger than Dwarf hamsters and are easier to handle; the Dwarf may need some extra taming time, but both are cute.

Illu n atio s tr

All you need for basic hamster care is a cage, some bedding, chew toys, and water and food such as fresh veggies like carrots, squash, and broccoli or hamster pellets from the store. If you’d like to treat your new furry friend, buy some extra sweet treats such as raisins, banana chips, or even popcorn. This can be useful in the taming process as a reward, or just to give your hammy something special!

na Ferreir

by Lia a

Taming a hamster requires both time and patience, but once you’re done, you can have your furbaby sit in your hands and watch T.V. with you! So, if you feel like your living space is not conducive to having a dog or cat, don’t worry. A hamster is always just as nice an option, without a long term commitment, as they only live 1 - 2 years. Are you intrigued? Go run to your local pet store, and pick up a hamster now!

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Perseverance is Key; Stay Motivated

Personal Essays

By Sean Stewart | Senior Staff Writer

C

ollege started off well. In my first semester at Penn State I was able to keep up with the work, managing a 3.3 GPA while also making some new friends. While I was there I wanted to become an advertising and public relations major. My dream was to create advertisements for a company or write comedy skits for Saturday Night Live. My second semester started well but quickly things started to go wrong.

I began to feel extremely fatigued and sick during the day and not like myself at all. Ultimately a doctor discovered a vitamin deficiency that I was most likely dealing with for a long time but became exacerbated during my time at school.

While luckily it was something that was an easy fix it was also something that would take time for me to recover from.

While I was dealing with these health issues I began to fall behind in my classwork and it became clear that I needed to leave the college environment in order to recover and start to feel like myself again without the stress of completing a full load of college coursework. I decided to withdraw from their University Park campus and come home.

Right after I came home I worked my job at Fairfield Parks and Recreation and tried to keep busy, but I really started to question myself. I was wondering whether I would be able to go back to college and succeed in a college environment.

I really thought I had failed as a student. After feeling down for some time, I realized that I needed to regain some confidence in myself and my abilities as a person. That’s when I started getting into working out at the gym. I found the weights to be extremely therapeutic to me at that time in my life. I was able to get in better shape and become healthier while also letting go of the stress and self doubt that I had gained since leaving college. I pushed limits and became stronger week by week. Having found this new outlet,t I was able to enter community college classes the following fall confidently with a clear mind.

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Going to the gym helped provide me with motivation. My next goal became getting my associates degree from Housatonic, which I plan o n f i n i s h i n g t h i s s e m e s t e r. I b e g a n t a k i n g a l l o f the classes required to meet the Communications requirement and really liked them. I particularly liked public speaking and the English class I took.

During my time at HCC, my career goals changed. I became more interested in working in sports. Someday I would like to be a coach, manage a team, or work in the public relations department in any basketball or baseball league.

I loved playing baseball in high school and have realized that I really miss having the game in my life. My next step in college is to pursue classes, clubs, and jobs that will ultimately bring me closer to reaching my goal.

“Going to the gym helped provide me with motivation.”

Photo by Liana Ferreira

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Personal Essays

Why Let an Autoimmune Disease Stop You In Your Tracks?

“C

ome on! Hold it! Hold that push-up!” hollered one of the TaeKwon-Do instructors from the computer screen, as shooting pain began to escalate from the tip of my fingers on my left hand down my whole arm. Monday August 17, 2020 was a day I was never going to forget. It not only ruined the rest of my year, but made me more of a mentally and physically stronger person almost a year later.

The more pain I was in, the more I was crying and not wanting to move or anything, changing my sleeping position, the way I sat down and did things. At one point I finally said to my mother, “I need to see a doctor because I do not know what’s wrong with me.” I took the phone off the kitchen table and made the appointment with an orthopedic doctor.

The day of the appointment, I was absolutely a nervous wreck because I was still unaware of what was going on, and questions were racing through my mind: “What’s going to happen?” “Is it a heart problem?” “Would I have to stop TaeKwon-Do?” The doctor had felt my upper body that was in pain and mentioned that it was a strained muscle. I thought, “Oh great…” and he then told me that I was unable to do TaeKwon-Do for a while, which ended up breaking my heart.

After that, I went home and laid down on the couch with a heating pad against me. Then, I began to feel my chest aching and this wave of an overwhelming feeling came crashing down onto me, causing me to cry and pant heavily. Next thing you know, a panic attack began to take over, which ended up making me have pain in my chest. I was sobbing so hard that I was not able to stop. As the days went by, the only thing I was able to do was watch TaeKwon-Do class on the side but still

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By Gabriella Castorina | Senior Staff Writer observe the students no matter what. “Make sure you are in a walking stance, fifty percent of the weight on your front leg and fifty percent on the back as well but keep your back leg straight!” There were a few times where I was told to work with a group even though I was not “in uniform.”

However, the amount of times I went to observe the classes that were being held, it began to make me feel some type of emotion where I was isolated from my peers because I was not there with them in that line. While laying on the couch balling my eyes out, my mom approached me and then proceeded to ask me, “Why don’t you go watch a class tonight?” All of a sudden, I broke down and started to scream at the top of my lungs, “DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?! I DO NOT WANT TO GO WATCH BECAUSE I AM NOT THERE AS A STUDENT WITH EVERYONE ELSE, DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT BREAKS MY DANG HEART!?” I knew she wanted to yell at me for the way I just yelled at her but I did not care, it was my job to speak my mind in order for her to understand that feeling isolated from my peers makes me feel like complete garbage.

As Friday approached, I received a text from my boss.

She wanted me to come into work to help with an event.

During this time, we were understaffed over at the country club, which meant I had no other choice but to work with a limited capacity. The only problem was I was not able to lift anything because I did not want to put any more strain onto the pectoral area of my chest, and I had to mention that to her! “Hey Gerti, I am unable to lift heavy materials such as loads of dishes and other necessary material due to the fact that I injured myself in online TaeKwon-Do, no I did not kick

anybody’s butt haha but I just wanted to inform you that I have to limit myself with certain requirements.” After the text was sent, she texted me immediately and told me she understood, and was accepting that I did not want to hurt myself more while trying to maintain a hard-working work ethic. For the amount of times I worked, I was unable to lift anything but still able to put bread rolls on the plate, clear dirty dishes and glasses which I thought was a better idea!

Whereas the pain continued from my left arm to my right arm, my mom and I were able to get in touch with a neurologist located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and he was very helpful with everything by analyzing, asking questions and doing some type of tests although, the only available appointment was November 2nd of 2020.

I thought to myself, “SO ARE YOU TELLING ME I CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS?” THREE MONTHS LATER… NOVEMBER 2ND 2020

“

take everything off and put the gown on immediately because I just want to find out if I really have nerve damage or If I am okay, that’s all that mattered! *KNOCK KNOCK* “Gabriella!” The door opens and the neurologist, Dr. T, walks in. “Hello how are you doing?”

I looked at him and just said, “Eh I’m doing alright, not really that scared as I was before since I watched Youtube videos on what an EMG procedure is.” He then looks at me and we both just start laughing, “So you came prepared I see!?” He mentions as he gets everything ready. As an hour went by full of little stickers, jolt machines, and needles were all over my arms, we looked over at the screen. “You do not have any nerve damage, everything seems to be completely normal!” That was when a huge weight full of fear came off of my shoulders and made me feel a lot better than ever before. “Doc... just one question, can I go back to TaeKwon-Do?” He then looked at me and said, “Yes but you may have to limit some things, talk to your instructors and see what you can do.” I looked at him and said, “Oh I’ll just yell at the kids like I usually do, yelling is my thing since I am

Don’t you understand?! I do not want to go watch because I am not there as a student with everyone else, don’t you understand that it breaks my dang heart!?

“Come on mom! I don’t want to be late!” At times like these, I was always the first one to be ready because I dread being late to everything. On the way there, I began to feel a rush of nervousness roll over me, “Mom...what if I have nerve damage? What if I’m not able to be as active as I was before?”

At the stoplight she looked at me and said, “Honey I am sure you will be fine, you are just nervous.”

As we got there, the tension inside of me built. Texts and calls I was receiving from family and friends were coming up on my phone. “Good luck Gabby,” “I hope you can get back,” “You got this,” “You are the strongest person ever and you have been through a lot,” I heard a voice call me over into the room…”Gabriella!” I smiled through the mask as usual and walked into the testing room. The nurse had asked me a bunch of questions such as, “How are you feeling?” “What vitamins are you taking?” Of course I answered them by saying, “I still feel like garbage, and the same old vitamins I have been taking for years.” She looked at me and said, “Put this gown on and the neurologist will be with you shortly.”

After she handed it to me and shut the door, I begin to

”

Italian!” After the appointment was over, I texted my mom that everything was okay and good to go.

However, I still kept feeling the amount of aches and pains rushing through my body, which led to heart palpitations inside of my chest going crazy and making me cry like there was no tomorrow.

Now November 3, 2020, it was late at night and apparently, one of my friends who I do TaeKwon-Do with asked my mom about me one phone call, “How come Gabby has not been training with us?” “Is she okay?” She then hands me the phone, “Hello?”

Both him and I talk for about twenty minutes, and then we both had to go because the presidential debate was on.

While fasting forward two days later, I received blood work from my naturopathic physician and something with my thyroglobulin antibodies was off. “What in the name of gravy is that?” My mom and I emailed the naturopath to ask what it was and if it’s a serious thing I should take caution of. Ten minutes later, an email pops up on my mom’s computer...it was from him…

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AU T OIM

MUN

E

Illustration by Saida Hmami “While looking at the thyroglobulin antibodies, Gabriella has been diagnosed with the early start of Hashimoto’s disease.”

This...just...it took my breath away…we were able to get on the phone with him in order to understand what I need to do, if this is going to affect my active life, what supplements do I need to go and the pathway I have to take in order to get better.

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which is the butterfly gland in your neck, a lot of symptoms occur such as fatigue, achiness throughout the body, cold sensitivity to cold, slow heart rate, joint stiffness, muscle weakness and sensitivity to the heat. As a 21-year-old female, I have to admit that it does suck, but I am living through it. As of November 10th, I went back to TaeKwon-Do and just pushed myself day by day to get where I am today.

This year, I have been on multiple supplements such as Thyroid One, Calcium Magnesium, Fish Oil, Vitamin D, Digestive Enzymes, Lactoral Prime and Nettle Root. As of right now, on this present day, I feel 100 % better and that my mental, physical and emotional health is in better condition than it was before a muscle strain decided to ruin me for a period of time. On this very day, I am back to doing TaeKwon-Do, pushing myself every day and with the challenges, I never give up and tend to have perseverance to whatever crosses my way. On the bright side, I tried very hard not to lose the sense of humor that I’ve had but at the same time, the pain was trying to

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oversight my happiness as I try very hard to smile, laugh and even help my friend’s or anybody really that needed a smile on their face.

For how I handle this disease mentally, physically and emotionally, I still work out, participate in TaeKwon-Do and try to maintain a healthy gluten-free/dairy-free diet and where I see myself in the future with Hashimoto’s, it’s all about maintaining a healthy ongoing lifestyle and trying to get your head in the game with what you eat, what you do, what you drink and mainly, try not to have so much stress added onto you! As a matter of fact, I do have to keep up with the doctors in case if something goes wrong, they can always send me for bloodwork or to my medical doctor for more information.

If I slack off medications, then my body starts to experience symptoms such as fatigue, achiness, depression, cold, sensitivity to cold, weight gain and even sensitivity to the heat.

Where I see myself going/being with this disease, hopefully continuing to better my mental, physical, emotional health and working on the diet so that way, I will not have problems in the near future. Last but not least, when juggling the responsibilities that get to me, I have no problem whatsoever because taking care of myself is mainly important overall.

Actually, that goes for anybody really and let me tell you, it’s interesting not being like twenty-one year old’s out there who are experiencing diseases like me! As Dean Martin sings, “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head!”

Gratitude

By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief

I walk these paths and feel like this courtyard is a little bit of heaven Regardless of the season, regardless of the reason I walk these paths and I am happy In the summer the trees provide much needed shade and relief from broiling sun and oppressive humidity When there’s a breeze the green leaves frolic and bob and...sound happy Students young and old gather on benches or mosey along “crissing” and crossing the paths to get where they need to Fall in the courtyard - a sight to behold Leaves turn red and yellow and let go of their stems and limbs to go floating to the ground or rolling around at the whim of the breeze And the pace of those walking the paths quicken Winter comes and still I am happy Dry trunks and limbs and stems cast fascinating shapes and shadows on piles of snow that cover brown earth cut through by these paths Warm air from mouths on faces hidden under puffy hoods or swaddled in knitted scarves clash with cold air and puff out like smoke And dissipate as bodies rush through the courtyard to get out of the cold Then spring comes The profusion and intensity of blossoms quietly scream rebirth here in the courtyard Where students stroll, saunter, and ramble along paths where blooming flowers and weeds turn their faces to the sun And trees heavy with snowgoose and magnolia blossoms wait to shake and cause a free fall to make room for green leaves I walk these paths A spring in my step, a smile on my face I feel happy I feel a sense of gratitude

Photo by Liana Ferreira

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Life Hacks

O F

D O

FO

O H U T GHT R

By Jania Jones | Senior Staff Writer

et ’s be real here. When we are working we are often looking for every reason in the book to not have to continue on, from having to use the bathroom, to getting suddenly e x h a u s t e d a n d n e e d i n g a n a p . A ke y e x a m p l e o f t h i s i s t h e a g e o l d ‘g e t t i n g t o o h u n g r y t o w o r k .’

Now I’m not too sure if this counts as a legitimate life hack but having a quality snack near you while studying can create such a boost in productivity and energy levels. Not only do you get to subdue your hunger and munch on your favorite chips, but you get the opportunity to re-center your attention on your work with more precision.

If you want to get fancy and take it to the next level, you can choose foods that are high in the nutrients necessary for your brain to function and maximum capacity such as boiled eggs, and apples with peanut butter.

Photo by Pexels-Any-Lane

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Take it from me; this turns you from drowsy and distracted to meticulous and alert in an instant. And if it counts for anything, I am even snacking on mandarin oranges as I write this. Try it out, and have your life changed.

“ You c an cho ose fo o ds that are hig h in the nutrients ne cessar y for your brain to function and maximum c apacity such as b oi le d eggs, and apples w ith p eanut butter. Take it from me. ”

Savings Saving Students

By Nicole Vezina | Staff Writer Are you looking for ways to save money? Did you know that your student ID is good for more than just signing into and out of the building? It can score you freebies and great discounts. From deals on clothes to discounts for your favorite subscription services, being a student can help you save money and help you enjoy some of the finer things in life.

Check out this list which provides just a few of the incredible deals that are exclusively for students.

through Amazon, including: free two-day delivery, exclusive Prime Member deals, and discounts on textbooks/etextbook rentals!

Spotify+Hulu+SHOWTIME: Love music? Enjoy bingewatching the latest trending shows? Spotify offers students a discount bundle at $4.99 per month, providing students with Ad-free music streaming through the Spotify app. This discount also includes access to Hulu (ad-supported) and SHOWTIME streaming services. Students could save more than $20 a month! Get a 30-day free trial, then pay $4.99 for each month after that for endless entertainment.

UNIDAYS: UNIDAYS is a student-only shopping experience that connects students with instant access to discounts from a variety of different brands for FREE. If you love online shopping like me, then this is an offer you can’t pass up! With deals for all your needs, UNIDAYS can help you save up to 30% when placing orders through the app/online website!

Amazon Prime: If you shop on Amazon for anything, this is definitely a deal worth taking advantage of. Students who sign up for a Prime Subscription can enjoy it for half the price.

Starting at $6.49, students have access to many benefits

Apple: In the market for a new computer? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to an IPad. Whatever your technology needs are, students can save on a new Mac or IPad with Apple’s education prices.

So what are you waiting for? To claim any of these offers and more, all you have to do is type in your .edu email when signing up, and a world of discounts and deals awaits.

Photo by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

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Life Hacks

Connect With a Pet Photo by Liana Ferreira

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

A life hack that I use for engaging in my courses throughout the semester throughout is very minor though quite helpful for those who may have temper or “jumpy” issues. You see, there are times when I move around quite a bit while working on assignments, and this leads to me almost completely losing focus on the work in front of me. I also tend to grow just a bit irritated and end up impatiently striking my desk, attempting to turn on my thinking motors to just get the assignment done.

With this being said, I was gifted my very own cute little crested gecko, whose name is Draco (named after the character, Draco Malfoy, from Harry Potter), and he is an immense stress reliever. When I have him on me, I tend to avoid moving violently or suddenly and keep my music’s volume down a lot more. This is due to the fact that lizards, especially crested geckos, must not be exposed to loud noises, crowded places, or wild movement (like being handled by a person who is dancing) or else they may become highly stressed and experience trauma, leading to tail loss or loss of appetite. With this to my knowledge, having Draco around me, whether on me or by my side on the desk, eases my irritation, and I can now get assignments done much more efficiently.

This may solely apply to reptile owners or any pet owners: have your pet around you, and with the knowledge of your little friend’s exposure to stress, try not to be as jittery or irritated if you can easily become so. Two simple steps is all!

This is meant to help you not be as irritated or stressed when comprehending lessons and course material and can even serve as an anxiety reliever, sort of like a stress ball, for I am most certain none would want to hurt your little companion!

Do not have a pet? Consider getting any, but a little reptile is my suggestion.

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Taking a Moment to Breathe Photo by Carlos Ferreira

By Nicole Vezina | Staff Writer

A

s classes begin, the anxiety of the semester starts as well. Hearts race, scrolling through all the upcoming work. Minds overthink, to plan time out between work and classes.

Before you suffocate yourself in what could be, close your eyes, and just breathe.

to just sit, and be in the moment, has helped me improve my focus and m a n a g e m y a n x i e t y i n a h e a l t h y, i n e x p e n s i v e w a y.

“Stress is everywhere. How often do we really just take a moment to breathe? ”

Allow yourself to be in this moment. As thoughts come into your mind, try and focus back to just breathing: in through your nose, out through your mouth.

Yo u a r e s m e l l i n g t h e flowers, blowing out the c a n d l e s . Yo u ’ r e b r e a t h i n g in positivity and exhaling n e g a t i v i t y. J u s t f o c u s o n t h e moment and space you are in n o w, a n d w h e n y o u a r e r e a d y, o p e n your eyes and absorb that clarity as your focus returns to the area around you.

Meditation is a tool that I have been using throughout my everyday life. With everything going on in the world, at work, school, even in our own homes. Stress is everywhere. How o f te n d o we re a l l y j u st ta ke a m o m ent to breathe? Allowing myself time during my day

Anyone can practice meditation and in different ways. Guided meditations can be found for free o n Yo u Tu b e ; s e a r c h for specific issues l i k e s t r e s s , a n x i e t y, sleeping. All you need to do is relax and allow the video to talk you through the meditative experiences.

Another option is just to close your eyes and guide yourself through your thoughts and feelings.

Meditation can last for as l o n g a s y o u w a n t . Yo u a r e i n control. All you need is a quiet space and an open mind to begin.

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Life Hacks

THE CHECKER

By Guillermo Hernandez | Staff Writer

Classes can be extremely stressful. One thing that I started last semester is actually called “The Checker.” I don’t know why I didn’t start this hack earlier because I suck at time management and keeping track of my assignments. This hack is simple but very effective, at least for me. Everyone is different, but hopefully, this hack works for you and you can apply it to your life.

Now I didn’t start this hack. I just applied to my classes and it worked for me. The checker doesn’t only work for assignments or classes. It can also work for your daily life or simple tasks. It helps you be organized when everything is coming at you at once and you feel like you don’t know what to do. Think of it as a planner but less confusing and more effective. The checker will help balance everything out.

How does the checker work you might ask? Well, let me tell you. If you are taking online classes and every assignment is coming at you at lightning speed, just breathe and calm down.

First I want you to tell yourself these exact words “All these assignments are NOT due at once” because, in reality, they are not. Professors usually give you a couple of days to finish the assignments that they give you. Now, I don’t know how many classes you are taking, but I was taking three classes.

Now, these classes were online and didn’t have a particular time to attend, So I need to work really hard to keep up with all my assignments.

Second, I want you to get your nicest pen and a piece of paper, or you can even pull out your notes app on your phone. Write down the class you are going to work on for the day ex. “history, math or English 101” Notice how I said “class.” You are going to work on one class on that day. Don’t

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hop around to other assignments because that would only confuse you and add more stress.

Third, Write down every assignment that you have to do for that particular week. If you have five assignments write 1 through 5 and list them by title. ex. “Read chapters 1 through 5” and put a little check box next to it.

Fourth and final, Now this is the hard part. Do your assignment and when you’re done checkmark the box. Keep on doing this until every assignment is checked off and you have yourself the checker.

The checker has really helped me be organized with all my assignments. I have chosen specific days for my classes and everything so far has been flowing smoothly. Although I still get stressed over my assignments it isn’t that severe anymore. I can get everything done in a timely manner and not stressed over handing in late assignments or missing due dates etc. This method works for me. Give it a try!

“ The checker doesn’t only work for assignments or classes. It can also work for your daily life or simple tasks. ”

e t o N r s u s o Y ogre Pr

By Larry Ferguson Jr. | Staff Writer

ake note of the progress that you are making! This life hack applies to learning but it can also be helpful in other areas too. By tracking your progress, you can get a sense of perspective on how realistic and achievable your goals may be. Once you have this insight, you can make adjustments. You can either move the goalpost to make it more possible, or you can change up the way you are approaching the situation. This can help you identify the kind of challenge you are facing and know if you should be pushing yourself to do more.

First you want to approach the task with your standard work ethic. At this stage it is important to have a defined goal. Are you trying to write an entire essay, or just come up with a thesis statement? After you feel burnt out or ready for a break, you can start to examine your progress.

Check how long you have been at it, and compare that to how close you are to achieving your goal. Afterwards you can use that information to determine if your goal is too easy, too hard, and whether you have the power to solve any problems you have observed with your handling of the situation.

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Life Hacks

Those Pesky Homophones

By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief

H

ow many times have you paused trying to figure out “i” before “e” except after “c,” which, by the way, is not so true? (Because there’s ancient, concierge, conscience, and deficient and a few others.)

Be that as it may, there are some tenets that are not wishywashy like that one, and they pertain to homophones - words that sound alike but are spelt differently and mean different things. I’ve seen a few errors on some social media outlets.

Ouch! (Especially when they’re mine!)

Now, these 12 are only some of the words that are often confused, but if you remember when, where, and how to use just these few, then the payoff is huge! Your writing is clear and free of confusion and, as a bonus, you stop judgmental readers in their tracks!

So, here’s a learning hack – a mnemonic, if you may – that you might find useful (sung to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb…if you’re into that kind of thing.)

If they’re over there, then they’re not here, they’re not here, they’re not here If they’re over there, then they’re not here and so they’ve lost their space

Nursery rhymes are easy to remember, so incorporating whatever the “problem” words are into a tune and repeating them often, helps to cement the correct usage into your memory.

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n

ra

It’s a simple little rhyme, which has its place, has its place, has its place It’s a simple little rhyme, which has its place, just not in the Guinness Book of Records

Lia

re i

Make sure that your laces are not loose, are not loose, are not loose Make sure that your laces are not loose, or you will lose your shoes

by

r Fe

If you’re going over there to take your space, take your space, take your space If you’re going over there to take your space, then you will need your shoes

ion

a

If two are over there, will you go, too, you go, too, you go, too If two are over there, will you go, too, to join them in their space

I l l u s t rat

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

By Rosnielys Nunez Martinez | Staff Writer

s a lot of you may know, maintaining a healthy lifestyle during these difficult times can be really hard and for some it might look impossible due to time management. Sometimes this means that you have to choose between exercising and studying or maybe between cooking a meal or ordering food because it might be faster. I am a mom, a student, and also a part-time worker so it can get difficult to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle while taking care of other things. What worked for me was to start meal prepping during the weekends and once I get home dinner is ready, it only needs to be heated up. Besides that I decided to dedicate at least 40 minutes a day for myself which most of the time I utilize in the following way; 20 minute HITT workout and 20 minutes for me to take a shower, and breathe a little before hoping to do schoolwork in the evening.

Meal prepping can feel stressful because at first I felt like it was so hard to cook so much food at once. However, during weekdays I feel relief when I get home from work and I have something to eat ready. Meal prepping usually goes this way: the day before I get the meats I want to eat out of the fridge, cut up any vegetables, or just write down my meal ideas so next day I am not wondering what I am going to be cooking for the week.

Sundays are usually my meal prepping days, I go ahead and season all my meats, put my vegetables to cook, and once everything is ready I put it on meal prep containers I bought at Target :) and VOILA!! Something less to do on your daily routine during weekdays. For me, this has saved me lots of time especially because most of the time I am running around my baby while trying to study or when I am trying to cook myself a meal.

Remember, self care is better important and staying healthy is part of it !!

Photo by Liana Ferreira

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Invest in a Planner and Calendar Life Hacks

By Destene Savariau | Senior Staff Writer

It’s a new year, a new semester, and it’s time for a new you.

And I don’t mean anything big like cutting your hair like most people (including me) did. No, I mean something more realistic and helpful like some small life adjustments that just happen to have a big impact.

Photo by Liana Ferreira

An easy life hack that will help you not only in school but in life. That life hack would be investing in a planner and a white board calendar. You can find these almost anywhere. In fact, the best places to find both of these on sale would be Michael’s, Target, or Burlington.

I’m sure you already keep essential dates and deadlines on your phone. However, these tools help keep you organized and well informed. Between the constant repetition of keeping all three up to date, you will always have a way to remind yourself.

I would know, I have both and they help me remember assignment due dates, events, and my to-dos when my phone doesn’t.

Overall, this hack has helped me keep my sanity. I’m sure it can do the same for you.

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Five Nights At Freddy’s - The Movie?

By Jack Price | Staff Writer

A

lmost everybody has heard of Five Nights At Freddy’s, the very popular horror game for PC and mobile where possessed animatronics try to eat you alive and all you have to defend yourself are cameras. FNAF has a cult following around the globe, but what fans of the popular game franchise are unaware of is that there is a movie that is incredibly similar to the game - a movie called Willy’s Wonderland. However, Willy’s Wonderland is not a FNAF movie as it is independent from the video game franchise. Director Kevin Lewis MUST have gotten the idea for the movie from FNAF, though, due to the striking resemblance of the animatronics to those in the game.

The best part about this movie? The main actor is Nicholas Cage, one of the most famous actors of all time. This movie has it all for horror fans, action fans, and comedy fans alike as the flick has a healthy dose of all three genres. What could be better than a badass, punchy and kicky Cage letting out his fury on bloodthirsty animatronics for an hour and a half?

by Liana Fe rrei ration t s u ra Ill

“I wanted to make a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously and knows what it is. This isn’t going to be a blockbuster, but it will surely be entertaining,” said screenplay writer, G.O. Parsons, prior to the movie’s theatrical release.

This movie may not be the best ever recorded, but it does have one thing in common with FNAF. Fun and replayability!

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I Did It!

My First Novel

By Destene Savariau | Senior Staff Writer

O Photo by Destene Savariau

ne thing I am really proud of myself for doing was completing my first novel. It is called “The Rise of a Country” and is about a mysterious group of women who take over the country.

I got the main inspiration for it during the George Floyd incident, and it took me a long time to write. It is the first book of a series I have planned. I have already mapped out the second book, “The Art of War,” and have begun laying out the third through fourth books as well as the sixth and seventh, which will be prequels about how the group met, how they were created.

I am very proud of myself because writing a novel is no small feat, or so I have been told. It took much work, but it is a great way to showcase my passion, a passion that I plan on publishing one day.

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Hello God, Are you There? It’s Me Again Photo by Shelby Miller on Unsplash

I

was terrified, worried, and saddened when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States.

Apart from me, everybody in the world was out of work, and I couldn’t decide if I should be grateful or worried. Even though I was not isolated in my home during quarantine, I experienced boredom, depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions. I decided to stop taking classes at this point. During this time, I felt unmotivated, I would do the same thing over and over again. Wake up, go to work, take my break, and go home, I felt like I didn’t have a purpose in life. I didn’t realize it at the moment, but I was going through a depressive state.

By Guillermo Hernandez | Staff Writer I needed to believe in a higher power, that someone or something was looking over me, and for me, that someone or something was Jesus. I didn’t start taking it seriously until December when I bought a bible and began attending church. The road has been bumpy, but I am proud of myself for following Jesus. It turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. This isn’t a simple spiritual journey. There are days that I doubt everything, but I keep going because this is extremely important for me. Others may not comprehend my journey, but I am aware of it, it will save me at the end of the day. I couldn’t be prouder for myself.

I grew up in church and remember going to church every Sunday since I was a kid. I’ve always been a believer in Jesus and God. However, there was a difference between believing and actually following. I’d call myself a “Christian,” but I’d never go to church, have never read the Bible (I just know what I’ve been told), and have never prayed.

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I Did It!

A

Same Strings, New Hands

By Mateo Stisti | Staff Writer

few years ago, about maybe six or so, my cousin gifted an electric guitar to my older brother for him to learn how to play. My brother however, did not learn how to play whatsoever. In fact, I do not think my brother ever played it once. This being said, the poor guitar collected dust for all that time in his closet. Every time I would see the sad bag it was in, I always thought of it as a waste of space. Once we began to move out of our house, the topic of the guitar was brought up and my brother was wondering if he should just throw the neglected thing out. I decided to take the chance and took the guitar for myself. We got settled into a new house and unpacked the lovely thing from its black carrying bag. Just from a few plucks of the strings, I could tell the thing was seriously out of tune. I watched videos and even had one of those tuner devices to help me with getting the guitar into proper playing order. Now came the more fun part.

At first, I did not even know how to hold the object in my hands. I even forgot to use the amp the first few times I tried playing it. I kept at it, watching more videos and kept on trying it out at least three times a week. It took about three weeks before I started to really play. I remember how nice it felt, taking any pace I wanted to in learning how to play the guitar.

Needless to say, I am beyond proud of myself that I took up learning a new skill for nobody but myself. It feels like I am finally doing something to better myself. I cannot wait to continue to improve and get better with this newly found skill so that I may have even more things to be proud of even in these trying times.

Photo courtesy of the Author

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Achieving a Long-Awaited Goal: My Permit!

Photo by Alex Chernenko on Unsplash.

By Jania Jones | Senior Staff Writer An accomplishment I am proud of that I recently achieved was earning my Learner’s Permit. I recently turned 16 in February and felt that getting my permit was a great way to celebrate.

However, I did not expect it to be such a difficult process.

Due to the pandemic, I opted to take the Traffic and Substance Abuse Course and permit exam online, but with my luck I was randomly selected to retake the test in person on a later date.

After having to go to the DMV three different times within one week, taking my Class E knowledge exam twice, and wasting almost $100 in expenses over this, on my last day before it would be done late, I left with my permit. I was elated and felt so accomplished. And while I still am far from a good driver, I legally can drive which was the hardest part… right?

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Beating the Fear and Ascending to New Heights I Did It!

By Vasthiestefany Flores | Staff Writer

F

ear… is a strong word and feeling that can overpower anyone with its substance. It alerts people to danger, a threat, or a response of anxiety in some sort of circumstance. As far as I can remember, I’ve always had trouble making new friends and being myself while speaking up. Constant bullying always came my way and negatively affected the way I associated and viewed myself. I always thought something was wrong with me for the way that people acted around me. I closed off from many people and lost the personality and person that makes me. After the years, I started to grow out of that shell and realized that I shouldn’t shun away from my uniqueness, creativity, and ambition inside me. Last year taught me to reflect on what’s important. For the longest time, I was shy with people I didn’t know, and it took a while to open up and be myself. For that reason, while in school, I pursued the goal to talk to someone new every day, whether it was a professor, student, or someone completely new. I knew I had to break away from the fear in journalism and not worry about what others thought about me. For that reason, I dedicated every single day to reach out and talk to someone.

Photo by Vasthiestefany Flores

I slowly started to be more comfortable with people and feel confident about myself. This method has helped me tremendously in many ways. I’m very grateful to those who gave me the chance to see improved versions of my personality during this quarantine. With this new attitude, I’ve been able to pursue my art for journalism fully. I’ve had the opportunity to interview incredible people that I’ve always been fans of, for example, actors on Broadway, such as Derek Klena, Marvel actor Sebastian Stan, Chris Evans, and the list continues. I’m constantly looking for more people to interview and write more stories to fulfill my dreams. By putting myself out there, people can see me for who I am, and it doesn’t bother me anymore; I’m more positive and happy, and It has given me more reason to help those who feel lost and worried because It is time to beat the fear and ascend to new heights

How COVID Got Me a Better Job

By Nicole Vezina | Staff Writer

I

t was only a year ago that the world we knew came to a halt. A week after the COVID-19 outbreak, I was laid off from my job as an aid in a daycare. Weekdays that were once filled with busy schedules, balancing work and school, quickly became blended days just sitting at home.

Months went by before any updates about returning to work, and I was tired of waiting , so I began looking for a new job. After a few weeks of looking into different preschools and daycares for any open positions, in hopes of even a few hours, I found a listing online for an assistant infant teacher. It was just what I was looking for.

Little did I know that listing would help me take a massive step in my career path. After two interviews, I was officially offered the position of assistant teacher. My long days of sitting at home turned into crazy (but fun) days chasing after speed-crawling one-year-olds. About two months later, after working alone in a classroom with four little ones, I was offered a promotion to become the head teacher for my classroom, where I am currently typing this from, as the now EIGHT babies sleep.

This year ’s most significant accomplishment for me was deciding to take myself out of my comfort zone and accept a job that helps support my family, my career, and my future. Even on the most stressful days, I think about how this job has and will provide me with many opportunities to grow my experience.

I never thought that at the age of 21, I would be managing my own classroom full-time or starting a retirement fund!

If it weren’t for the pandemic, I would have never looked for a new job, and I would still be stuck in a place that wasn’t supporting my career growth, but thanks to COVID, I lost that job and scored an even better one.

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MORNING I Did It!

JO

GS

By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer

ne particular thing that I may find highly satisfying when reflecting on the past 365 days of COVID is, surprisingly, the number of times I have gone out of my house. Of course, I do not refer to myself going out to a movie theater or grocery store, which I did very little of during the pandemic.

Photo by the Author

Instead, especially during the months before the Spring 2021 semester, I chose to get out of my house and take a few walks and jogs around my neighborhood. This isn’t an accomplishment or prestigious achievement, and I am well aware of that. However, I was able to have nearly two hours to myself each morning wandering my neighborhood while getting beneficial exercise. There are usually very few people or cars around my area, which contributed to my jogs being enjoyable and refreshing.

Throughout the varying summer, autumn and winter breezes, as well as the inclusion of a personal playlist of my favorite artists and tunes fueling me with my energy, I suppose this may be something I look back at with immense pleasure and joy. Perhaps it may have been a great way to gain exercise or simply a method I used to bring peace to my anxious state of mind.

What I do know is that I felt accomplished and satisfied enough.

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Working with People

By Alva Blair | Editor-in-Chief

I did it!

I have always maintained that I don’t like people, at least not so much that I’d always want to be among them. So, all throughout my various careers, I have found ways to be among them but not with them. Until now.

After being out of a job for about three years, I was forced to take one…in retail. The Bob’s-Discount-Furniture-Orange kind of retail, where I am one of up to nine salespersons on the floor at a given moment dealing with many, many customers, some of whom are so rude you wouldn’t believe!

My colleagues sometimes make me either want to strangle them or hug them (trust me, one or two of them deserve to be strangled LOL), and some of those exasperating customers turn out not to be so hateful after a few minutes.

I still would rather not have so many people around me, but, surprisingly, I am enjoying my job. Getting a paycheck every week causes me to enjoy working and being with people right now because I sure ain’t won the lottery yet. And to help a girl out, if you or anyone you know wants to buy furniture, send them to Bob’s in Orange and tell them to ask for Alva.

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housatonichorizons.com

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Housatonic Horizons

HCCHorizons

Staff Editor-in-Chief Alva Blair Horizons Advisor Professor Steve Mark Staff Writers Larry Ferguson, Vasthieste (Stefany) Flores, Guillermo Hernandez, Rosnielys Nunez Martinez, Jack Price, Edward Ramos, Mateo Stisti, Estefano Torres, Nicole Venzina Senior Staff Writers Ludwick Francois, Jania Jones, Sebastian Londono, Amanda Mainieri, Destene Savariau, Sean Stewart Art and Design Director Liana Design Staff Saida Hmami, Conrad Powell

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Design Advisor Professor Andy Pinto