Housatonic Horizons Spring 2024 (Interactive)

HORIZONS SPRING 2024 Final Draft

The Time I Decided To Live

By Larry Ferguson Jr. Editor

There I was, 19 years old, in an environment completely alien to me: Brooklyn. More specifically, an indistinct bar, in a neighborhood unknown to me, surrounded by total strangers. An outsider would make the mistake of assuming I didn’t belong. Everything from my patchy facial hair, to my outfit consisting of clothes that my mom picked out, all the way to my understated presence and timid demeanor practically shouted that I was somewhere I shouldn’t be. I was seated next to free spirit aspiring artists. They were all covered in tattoos from head to toe, but managed to walk with an aura of angelic and dignified beauty. The mix of varied presentations and personalities created a cacophonous symphony of charm and fascination that were neatly tied in a knot of their few common traits.

Although I seemed to stick out like a sore thumb, the choir of seraphs sat around me treated me with a boundless

kindness that proved that notion wrong. At every turn, I was offered food, drinks, and even polite and unintrusive conversation. There was a distinct lack of tolerance that was more than made up for with an abundance of acceptance. There were no shallow attitudes or beliefs, only love and respect. Granted, these attributes came in all different flavors, which could all be easily misinterpreted by bad faith actors, but to no one’s surprise, these around people like these there could be none. They simply wouldn’t survive.

At first, this place was nowhere near a haven in my eyes. Throughout the course of the night, I would come to learn that I was not simply a guest of honor, but rather a part of the group. The person who gave me the opportunity to occupy such a space and come to find my place within it sat next to me the entire night. His name is Leo, and for as long as I’ve

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known him, he has always been someone who brings people together. Inexplicably, he’s always exhibited an almost supernatural ability to make people feel welcome. I know because from the moment we met, I was able to experience this trait firsthand. Our bond, which started as a mutual friendship, quickly blossomed over the course of a few short months, making us family. A lot of time has passed since then, and in that time, I’ve come to recognize all of the ways that Leo had managed to care for, protect, and nurture me. This person who came into my life at the tail end of my adolescence simultaneously became one of my best friends and my greatest inspirations.

Not too long before that night in the bar, Leo had moved away from our shared home in Connecticut, away from all of our hometown family and friends. This move was a natural next step for him, since his ambitions made such a relocation an absolute necessity. He had always been a talented artist, investing his free time into art related passion projects and side hustles, while bouncing between parttime jobs to work through school, but he

was looking to leave that all behind him in favor of turning his passion for inking human flesh into a full-blown career.

When he left home, I missed him dearly. Peering through the all-seeing eye of social media allowed me to catch a glimpse of this new chapter of his life. He seemed to be thriving far more than he had ever back home. For the most part, everything was going his way. His art had become his life, and the brightly shining beauty within his soul acted as a beacon, which drew new friends and allies to him. In his remarkably short time away from home, he turned his intangible dreams into an attainable reality. He was at the center of a network of ardent artists who offered their unyielding support to one another. He had studio space to create and share his art with anyone generous enough to donate their bodies to his vision. Most importantly, in this new environment, he was liberated from the shackles of doubt that those who saw him as nothing more than a foolish man with even more foolish goals back home bounded him in.

After some time apart from one an-

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other, the stars had finally aligned. Unburdened by prior commitments or work obligations, I finally found myself ready to reunite with him. A few hours of public transportation was the only thing that had stopped me from acquainting myself with this new stage of my dear friend’s life, and after I hurdled that barrier, I was blown away. In just one night, the free-

hard to understand. Things were far from perfect. It wasn’t as if there had been no complications or major struggles that came with his decisions, so I failed to understand how he could find so much joy despite his circumstances. The only thing left for me to do was ask.

“I wasn’T OuT Of plaCe- I was wrOng

dom of spirit and strength of will exhibited by Leo and his companions proved to be more than I had ever seen in my life. It turned out that the glamour and romance that I had seen on social media wasn’t just an illusion cast through the screen of my phone. All the good things about Leo’s transition seemed to far outweigh the bad. No concern, financial or otherwise, could manage to overshadow the positive aspects of the move. For me, it was

He made it abundantly clear that he held no disillusions about what hardships he was enduring on his choosen path. He intimately understood all the downsides to the situation and could see them clearly with no frills or filters to make facing them any less harsh. The only difference between his understanding and mine was the reality of life before the move. What I failed to see was that to him, our home was nothing more than a prison, bankrupt of creativity and opportunity. For a creatively charged individual like him, being stuck in a place where everyone looks, thinks, and acts the same was a worse existence than anything he got wrapped up in away

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from home. His new home allowed him to get a new lease on life that was impossible to attain where he had come from. Back in Connecticut, he found there was a distinct lack of people who were willing to risk everything they had to live authentically. His words convinced me that he couldn’t have made a better decision, and suddenly the proud smile that he wore day in and day out no matter what hardships he faced made perfect sense.

Once again, Leo had managed to both enlighten and inspire me. Seeing someone so important to me, armed with the conviction to do whatever it takes to be genuine to his nature, evoked a vision of strength within me that was unparalleled in its magnitude. It’s a kind of strength that is impossible to find in people who don’t allow themselves to be challenged by comfort. It was a kind of strength that I didn’t have, however, he showed me the potential I had to exhibit such strength, and that changed me forever. His example proved to me that bravery and perseverance are all it takes to change your life, and in the simple act of refusing to deny such potential, he showed me that I

had the capacity to do that very thing. That night, Leo did more than just share his poetic insights on life. He showed me what living really looks like. He gave me a reason to never waste my life waiting for the perfect opportunity, and to instead seek to create my own. In one conversation, I learned why he could never turn his back on his dreams, and after acquiring that knowledge I decided for myself that I would always do the same. When I did that, I realized why I was able to feel so comfortable in such an unfamiliar environment. It was because I still had a choice to make, and that ability to choose meant that I belonged just as much as the people around me showed me I did. Anybody who thought I was out of place was wrong, and so was I.

Photo by Allef Vinicius

The Long Road to CT State: A Ride Worth Taking

By Larry Ferguson Jr. Editor

College is hard. Even if you find yourself at the top of your class, there are still many other factors that can keep you from breezing through your post-secondary education. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t wait for you while you’re in school. Scraping together the cost of living, getting access to transportation, and finding time to do what you love while balancing everything else you have going on makes college a part of life that is just as challenging as it is rewarding. Attempting to find that can be a herculean task all on

its own, but when you throw the words “CT State” into the mix, do they make that task any easier?

The big idea behind the transition to CT State was to cleanly consolidate all twelve of CT’s community colleges along with their satellite locations into one institution. According to CT State’s website, the primary goals of the administration in carrying out this transition were “closing the opportunity gap” and “improving student success rates.” These goals were decided upon in response to a “structural deficit” that was created by

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“decreased tuition revenue and increased costs.” This means that the transition was a calculated attempt to save CT community colleges from themselves, providing brighter prospects for all of their students in the process. So, how did they do?

Much like the transition itself, the answer to our leading question is complicated. To answer this, the projected benefits of the transition must be evaluated, and to properly conduct this evaluation, there has to be a clear understanding of the desired outcomes. So, what does “closing the gap” for students look like in the administration’s eyes? In an interview with CT Style, CT State’s inaugural President, Dr. John Maduko, tells us what he believes “closing the gap” looks like. To him, it’s providing a “more consistent experience no matter what campus they are on in terms of services,” continuing to specify such services as “libraries, tutoring, labs, child care, academic advising, mental health and wellness, and telehealth.”

In order to gain some insight into how well the administration has been able to deliver these outcomes to students, I spoke to Davian Zapata, a student pri-

marily on CT State’s Housatonic campus, about the benefits he’s seen from the merger. “It’s a lot easier now,” said Zapata, who attended Housatonic back in 2020 but decided to take a break from his studies at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who spent lots of time getting familiar with all of the aspects of registration before CT State who is now going into the brand new system blind, Zapata believes “the self-service features have changed for the better.” He went on to say that “the software feels more intuitive and the tools in degree works feel much more comprehensive.”

According to Zapata, ease of use isn’t the only added benefit of what CT State’s registration system has brought to the table. During the interview, he shared an anecdote from his cousin who attended West Conn in 2020. His cousin wanted a business degree that was only being offered at one of the twelve state campuses (West Conn.) Despite his desire to attain that degree, there were many other major adjacent courses that did not directly coincide with his degree program. This created a massive problem for his

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cousin since the financial burden it would put on him to take the courses that interested him while also working towards his degree was too great. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place and that pressure pushed him past his limit, which caused him to abandon his academic ambitions altogether. In regards to his cousin’s story, Zapata added, “with all the degree programs being streamlined across all the different campuses, something like what happened to my cousin could be avoided altogether in the future. And that’s a good thing.”

been gated off by the arbitrary barrier of a campus’ grounds is ready to be used to the fullest. Now more than ever the resources of the state’s colleges are exceedingly accessible. It cannot be

"eduC aTIOn beC ame affOrdable fOr all HOUSATONIC

Despite all the scrambling that it took the administration to get to this point, CT State is finally here, and that means everything CT community colleges have to offer is now unbound by location. Every opportunity and resource that may have

understated how important that access is. Access is a word that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of community colleges as institutions. The original point of the twelve state schools that have now been combined into CT State was to make sure that a college education was more affordable, convenient, and attainable for all, and although it wasn’t a smooth ride, braving the bumps along the road has brought about a consolidation of our colleges that makes that vision of a true community college that much more real.

Closing the Digital Divide

By Larry Ferguson Jr. Editor

Every day, the need for technology in all aspects of life grows bigger. Whether it is being applied in the workplace for business purposes, at school for academic purposes, or at home for entertainment purposes, many things require internet-ready devices to be done efficiently, conveniently, or at all. Unfortunately, many barriers can keep the people who would benefit the most from such devices from being able to use them, such as cost, unfamiliarity, or simply not knowing where to begin.

It can be difficult to overcome any of the aforementioned obstacles without guidance. Now, thanks to the Bridgeport Public Library’s Digital Navigator Program, no one has to be alone in their quest for digital literacy.

It is no secret that Bridgeport is an underserved community. Some of the

people who suffer the most, as a result, are those with low income and the elderly. Finding ways to make the most out of their circumstances isn’t the only problem they have to deal with. On top of everything else, they also have to worry about getting left behind in an analog version of a world that grows more digitally focused by the minute. For some, technology can be too expensive, with computers and mobile devices costing anywhere from hundreds up to over one thousand dollars. For some, the technology is advancing too fast and they find it difficult to maintain proficiency in using the devices they have because of how frequently features are being added, dropped, and completely reworked. For others, they might have never even gotten their foot in the door to learning the basics, and now they feel like the

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digital age has carried on without them and they have no hope of catching up. That’s where the Bridgeport Public Library gets involved.

Back in October of 2022, the library took note of just how many members of their community were missing out on all of the opportunities that come to those who are digitally literate. After reviewing the usage statistics of the desktop computers within their libraries and the check-out rates of their mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, they recognized that there was a need for not only internet-ready devices but one on

stand and join in the fight to bridge the digital divide and launch their Digital Navigator Program. The Digital Navigator Program is an initiative that trains library personnel with varying types of technology up to a level of intermediate proficiency, allowing them to take on the role of a Digital Navigator, and giving them an inventory of devices to lend out to citizens who would like access to them but for whatever reasons were unable to on their own.

According to Digital Navigator and Reference Librarian, Monika Anton, at the Bridgeport Public Library’s North Branch, they are giving people access to “Acer Chromebooks, Samsung Tablets, and Verizon Wi-Fi Hotspots.” As far

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as borrowing the devices goes, she was quick to let me know that devices lent through this program weren’t for a measly few weeks.

“Anyone can get their hands on the devices for three months, and they can renew their loan to keep them for another three months,” she adds.

A loan period of half a year may sound

their own they know exactly how to treat them. They teach people how to maintain their devices and use them in a variety of ways. Digital Navigators can teach people all the basics of Google Workspace as well as any equivalent services and assist with online processes such as accessing websites, and programs, and filling out digital forms.

“we wanT peOple TO apply fOr jObs They wanT

intimidating to some, considering the possibility of the items getting damaged or going missing during that time, but Anton made sure to assure me that no matter what happens “there are no fees or costs” associated with the program or its participants. This is because the library wants people to treat the devices as if they are their own. They want people to get comfortable with their provided devices so that when they have devices of

This program is not only extremely important, but it is extremely easy to participate in. There are no prerequisites. All you need to do is show up at a Bridgeport Library and be willing to use a device. You don’t need a library card, you don’t need to be a Bridgeport resident, and you don’t need to qualify for your desire to participate in the program.

In Anton’s words, “We want to give people the opportunity to apply for the

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jobs they want, do the kinds of work they need to do, take the classes they want to take, and socialize the way they want to socialize.”

After the pandemic, the library paid careful attention to how crucial it is for people from all walks of life in the city of Bridgeport to be able to use the Internet and get things done, because regardless of if you’re working from home or chatting with friends on Facebook, being connected is a big part of a community and their highest priority is to strengthen the sense of community in this city. With that being said, the library has been able to measure its success in making that effort with this program. Almost all of the devices in their inventory across all five public libraries in Bridgeport have been successfully lent out and the people in possession of them have been able to get all of the one on one support they’ve needed throughout the process to get the most out of their devices and catch up with the times.

Without a doubt, now

more than ever, access to technology and the internet are important. The use of both can give people the ability to do so much, making them valuable assets to anyone no matter what their circumstances are. That’s why word of this program must spread. Even if someone who is tech-savvy and has all the newest gadgets doesn’t need the information, maybe their grandmother or friend of a friend does. In the city of Bridgeport, there is nothing more valuable than community, and the Digital Navigator Program offers dozens of chances for us to bring our community closer together, even by way of cyberspace.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

100 Girls Leading Us to the Future

By Salene Herrera Contributing Writer

The future lies with young girls, who are often given limitations yet break through and charge toward their goals head-on. A majority of young girls are fed lies from the moment they’re old enough to understand that everyone in the world has a purpose. They are told to settle in every aspect; life, love, career, and dreams. So how do we foster confidence and strength in girls who are told to be quiet and settle for what they’ve been told they’re capable of?

Bridgeport organization leader Bobbi Brown, president and founder of 100 Girls Leading and a Housatonic alumna, has created a program that does that.

100 Girls Leading is a nonprofit organization based in Bridgeport, Connecticut that focuses on providing underserved girls ages 9-18 access to interactive mentorship programs that will empower them

academically, and economically, in their community, careers, and lives.

Brown’s organization came to life on January 16, 2019, when she held a meeting at a cafe in Bridgeport for 100 women interested in participating in mentorship and empowerment. It went from an idea to a flourishing creation fostered by a woman’s desire to connect and have fun with one another.

100 Girls Leading not only provides mentoring for young girls but hosts interactive events full of fun activities, and

Photo by Pixabay

visits schools throughout southern Connecticut encouraging girls to join their movement.

Brown says, “#100Girlsleading provides interactive mentorship for girls of color. Our services vary with each session, that consists of boosting confidence to preparing girls for college or a non-traditional career. We help girls embrace their community and also impact their community.”

flourish.

“100 gIrls leadIng aI ms TO suppOrT yOung wOmen

100 Girls Leadings aims to uplift and support young women in their lives and careers. This program is especially important for women of color, who statistically face racial disparity in wages, health care, etc. This program advocates and mentors young underserved women and allows the potential they already have to

“I believe young women need an organization like ours because there aren’t enough positive influences pointing them in the right direction. In general, the world tries to limit women overall and there is a constant fight to be placed on an equal platform. Today women have made great impact in places of power especially women of color. From Supreme Court Justice to your local news anchor, the representation is there. We need representation in our community. We need more resources like #100Girlsleading,” Brown said.

This organization provides girls with a safe and encouraging environment, as well as tools to help them succeed that they might not get anywhere else. The

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strength and potential of all women, especially women of color who provide immense knowledge and influence on our community. When so many others see that power and strength and try to limit it, 100 Girls Leading does everything in its power to help it grow.

Brown, who created this organization from scratch, with a vision and a passion for helping women, wants young girls in our community to know they’re

never alone: “I would tell any young girl struggling at this time to hold her head high. That every experience comes with purpose & that this too shall pass. There are resources to support you in any walk of your life, you are never alone, hang in there.”

To get involved with 100 Girls Leading visit their website, www.100girlsleadinginc.org.

Photo by Aidi Tanndy

Bringing Up Bridgeport’s Youth

By Kieaundria Bellamy Contributing Writer

We live in a society where there are many things influencing the youth of today. Whether that be celebrities, social media, or their older peers around them, there is something new that kids today will experience, learn, or witness, whether good or bad. While there is so much good in the world, sadly, the cruelty of the society can not be blocked from young eyes forever. Research shows that nearly 60,000 youth under the age of 18 are incarcerated in juvenile jails and prisons in the United States, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. This can be for numerous reasons, but, great leaders stepping forward and mentorship can help change the narrative for these young lives.

In fact, Bridgeport has its very own organization to beat the statistics. The “Save Our Babies” Program is a non-profit

organization that strives in changing the lives of our youth today.

“Save Our Babies” was founded in 2005 by Bridgeport native Lyle Jones, and has been thriving since. Taivon Jones, a mentor within the organization, speaks highly of this program and encourages parents to take part in this opportunity.

“If we’re being honest, kids in this day and age face a lot of challenges,” Jones added. “Between discovering problematic things within the streets, getting into fights, or even not knowing what path to take in life, this is something that this organization strives to fix.” Jones notes that this program is for young men between the ages of 12-18 who are looking to be a part of something productive and positive.

While being in a safe environment filled with joy and love, kids who take part

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in this program also get to make new, long lasting friendships, and more importantly, learn from people who are from all different walks of life.

“Whenever we get new kids into the program, we like to host career events,” Jones added. “By doing this, we feel as though this will help kids fully understand there is life outside of the streets. We want them to know that they could be and do anything that they put their minds to.” These career events have been hosted by fitness trainers, police officers, real estate agents, so more. Getting kids on the right path as far as education and a career is one of the top missions of the “Save Our Babies” organization.

While getting clear on your goals is a top priority of “Save Our Ba-

bies,” so is having fun. Programs are in place throughout the year as well that kids can partake in such as movie and game nights and fitness events. “Something we look forward to doing as we grow is host more programs in the summer,” Jones said, “Since kids have more free time during the summer, it’s just as important to keep them on the right path as we would if they were in school.”

If you’re someone with a son, or have family members who you think should be a part of this movement, “Save Our Babies” are always looking for new lives to change. The first step to greatness is having an army of people who love and support you through any and everything. With the help of this organization, young Bridgeport kids will not have to be another statistic.

Photo by Clinton Davidson

Bridgeport’s Own Southern Belle

By Beatriz Velez Contributing Writer

Quiet your mind for a minute and take this walk with me. Allow the fresh air to stimulate your energy. It is captivating every single time I allow myself to pause the rush of the inner city vibes.

There’s a historic world within the city of Bridgeport, holding memorable spaces dear to the hearts of those inclined to digest a creation’s rise, a place where the surrounding modern buildings and growing neighborhoods are incomparable to a masterpiece designed to immortalize both the space and the feeling.

This is my sanctuary. My safety zone away from home, and the chaos of my todo-list. In 1881 James Beardsley donated a hundred acres along the Pequonnock River in northeast Bridgeport to be designated a public park. Countless citizens have walked by his bronze figure without taking a second look, but there stands

a man who understood the increasingly urbanized city needed a refuge from the demands of society.

This is a place that symbolizes southern hospitality, and it is an unspoken rule whether you are taking this deep breath while the birds are chirping early in the morning, or watching the day die down from a relaxing perspective, you are greeted with at least a genuine smile.

Beardsley Park is filled with all the thoughts and desires of the citizens of Bridgeport, as well as serves as a therapeutic site for self-care and self-growth. There are no interruptions or distractions because its location’s focal points from the large trees each shaped differently, hilltop views, sloping meadows and two beautiful bridges. You truly feel like you have entered a movie about the 1800’s, and can imagine the first citizens who embraced the park’s tranquility.

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Are there moments when you crave an outdoor space to unwind and slow down?

Come take this walk with me, where you lose track of time because the moment is a gift which should not be taken for granted. Where you respectfully stop so momma duck can get her ducks into a line.

Where you are burning calories,boosting the amount of oxygen in your blood, lowering your blood pressure, heart rate, and reducing muscle tension without even noticing.

Sounds like a dream, right? It takes me about forty-five minutes to get around the whole park, and observe the diverse individuals with motivation shooting out of the sparkle in their eyes, no explanations of why neither you are there, no awkward facial expressions, no judgment whatsoever regardless of race, gender, age, identification, dress code, or physical ability, Beardsley Park welcomes you to leave your stress and daily baggage there where it dissolves and it is blown away.

My sanctuary has changed my perspective on friendships and the people who have the ability to be someone in your cor-

ner with encouraging words and optimistic attitudes if given the opportunity. You will also find yourself in the positive space of paying it forward to the next person in need of affirmation. There are folks I only know in passing because we happen to be

intertwined with our schedules.

I believe I met Yolanda De Jesus because God intended for us to cross paths, and what better space than the serenity of Mother Nature. I could tell we both wondered why our meetups had increased. For

Photo by Beatriz Velez

months we did not say a word other than “hello” and “goodbye.” There was a mutual respect for the unrevealed and the insight of foreseeing our souls were relying on each other.

felt so empowering and needed. Whomever arrived first would wait in the car for the other. The only difference which caught us both by surprise was our breathing gradually reclining. We realized at the same time when we had recovered our breath and entered our second wind. Our look then changed from eyes of understanding to eyes of gratitude, and the renewed stillness in our souls knew it was time to put a feeling we had shared for months into words.

“we dIdn’T say wOrds OTher Than ‘hellO’ and ‘gOOdbye’

“Thank you for sharing your walks with me” said Yolanda, revealing that Beardsley Park and our silent walks had been her only moments of inner peace while growing into acceptance of her mother’s passing. “No, thank you for somehow knowing that I felt alone in the world,” I replied. Tears followed with a hug, and off we went to discover a different feeling with a change of scenery.

It became a must. This silent meeting

We took the trail to the Island bridge and from there stared at the path we walked in silence for months, as we shared childhood memories of family

Photo by Beatriz Velez

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picnics at Beardsley, and visiting the zoo with our children. That day the stroll lasted for about two hours. We understood that we were both ready to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts, and return to our busy schedules.

I am sure our laughter echoed amongst the ancestors of the citizens of Bridgeport, and maybe even James Bearsdley smiled at his ageless vision, and endless Southern Belle feeling as Yolanda and I

ended our quest with an official exchange of names and phone numbers. Today, our families have expanded, our careers evolved, and our lives leave such little time for ourselves, but when times get rough, or we just need to breathe there’s no long explanation needed of reasons why, the text simply reads “Come take this walk with me”.

Photo by Beatriz Velez

A Golden Opportunity

By Lena Burton Staff Writer

Can you imagine taking pictures with your friends at the pristine waterfalls located in the Dominican Republic? What about snorkeling in the crystal blue waters on the beach?

This spring, the study abroad trip for Spring 2024 is to the Dominican Republic. The date for the trip is March 11-15.

Professor Emily Munk, who is in charge of the trip, believes that one of the most important parts of the student trip is getting to see the students “genuine, unbridled reactions when encountering entirely new experiences.” The only items needed to attend are a passport & the payment.

The total cost of the trip is 3,500 without airfare but the price can be reduced to only $2,500 with two Guaranteed scholarships for each student that applies. This means that any student who applies for these two scholarships is guaranteed to receive the money & the funds are put to-

wards the trip automatically

More information is available from Munk.

There is also help available if you need some assistance booking a flight. Another option is fundraising opportunities provided to help raise more money for the trip that will be distributed evenly. Bake sales will be held along with any other fundraiser ideas that students think of. While attending study abroad trips, Professor Munk has learned that “stepping out of one's comfort zone can change you in ways you would never have thought of.

Photo by Kamil Kalbarczyk

The HCC Bookstore: The Best Place to Get Your Tech?

By Holly McPartland Staff Writer

The bookstore is arguably one of the most important places on Housatonic’s campus: From textbooks, to general school supplies, to multiple forms of entertainment, to the tried & true right of any college student, a piece of apparel with the college’s name on it. Our school’s bookstore really does seem to have everything a student could need or want. But did you know that the Housatonic bookstore is able to offer you some hot tech items that can help aid in your studies, at a marked down price compared to other reputable retailers?

It’s a pretty foregone conclusion that, at many points throughout your time at Housatonic, you’re going to need a computer of some kind – for essay iriting, accessing Blackboard, checking and responding to emails, etc. “Student access to technology is important when taking

courses and for students I would believe the ability to get technology from the bookstore is a convenience.” says Colette Rossignol, Housatonic’s Director of Educational Technology. “As to the type of technology, laptops are more robust than tablets, but having access to tech is the most important.”

In fact, a laptop is a great tool for students, a way to get much of their work done, even (or especially) when on the go. A 13’’ MacBook Air Laptop with an M1 chip would certainly be one choice of laptop to help serve these purposes. At its native Apple Store, these laptops would cost you $999 – or you could get it for $899 with education pricing. On the other hand, at the Housatonic Bookstore, they just give you the Apple Store’s discount as the initial price point, currently offering this laptop at $899. You could

also pay in 4 interest-free payments of $224.75 through PayPal as well.*

While it’s not exactly recommended by Rossignol or a majority of professors to rely on mobile devices like smartphones or tablets over regular computers – especially as a means of turning in assignments – they still offer an array of other features that can help aid students in their education. You can get ebook versions of many different textbooks for your classes (most for a far lesser price than a print one), access many different resources via the internet, and Blackboard still has a mobile app that – while it may not be the best way to turn in an assignment – will allow you to go over your class materials. On its website, the HCC Bookstore offers a 10.9 inch iPad Air with 64GB of memory currently for $549 or 4 interest-free payments of $137.25 via PayPal.

How much is the Apple Store charging you for the same product? $50 more at $599.*

For many of us, the most efficient workspaces are those that are peaceful & quiet. Nowadays, you can find a bunch of white noise videos & lo-fi playlists on places like YouTube to help you relax and get into a headspace conducive to studying & doing work. But what good are those

“havIng aCCess TO TeCh Is I mpOrTanT

resources without a pair of headphones or earbuds worth their salt with which to listen to them? Now you can truly shut out the outside world & get your schoolwork done with a pair of Beats Studio Buds Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds. At the Apple Store? $169.99 But at the Housatonic bookstore? $149.99 with a similar PayPal plan of 4 interest-free payments of $37.50 also available.*

The Road That Lies Ahead: Careers After College

By Larry Ferguson Jr. Editor

When reduced to its simplest components, college is a means to an end. Although you will almost certainly meet new friends, discover things about yourself, and get connected to amazing resources that can impact you for the rest of your life, ultimately, the reason we all go is to get a degree. Some people have detailed plans that help them figure out exactly what they’ll be doing after college, but the majority of students don’t have a clue where to get started. For most people, even if they have career aspirations, the uncertainty of what lies ahead can be anxiety-inducing. After all, no one wants to see all the hard work and financial resources that go into getting a college degree be wasted when a surplus of ambition is squandered by a lack of direction. Figuring out what to do once you have your degree

in your hands can feel like a daunting task since your degree is the physical representation of all the work and effort you put into your education. Something that represents so much and is hailed as so important is bound to put pressure on anyone who holds it, but luckily the wonderful people in Housatonic’s Career Services office can help alleviate that pressure.

Located in Lafayette Hall, Room B145, right across from the Library, the Career Services office is a one-stop shop for any student looking for assistance finding employment and/or career resources. As stated on the HCC website, you can schedule an appointment with Career Services to meet via phone, WebEx, or in person with their career experts to discuss your individual needs. The best part about the Career Services office is that it

is open to all students at any point during their time at Housatonic. It doesn’t matter if you need some assistance looking for a job as you are actively working towards your degree, or are at the end of your studies aiming to smoothly transition from school directly into the job of your dreams, everything the office and its experts have to offer are available to you whenever you need them.

With that being said hindsight is 20/20. When classes are in full swing and you are doing everything in your power to stay on top of all your responsibilities throughout the semester, it can be difficult to find time to focus on the future. It is not uncommon for students to find themselves in a position where gradua-

tion is on the horizon and they have less than an inkling of what they will do once classes are over.According to the findings of Lead Data Reporter, Jenna Bellassai, at Forage, a company that specializes in providing mentoring and job assistance to numerous college students, just under “half of college students (47%) are not confident or only somewhat confident that they know how to get a job after college.” Although that’s a massive percentage, it just goes to show that this is by no means a small concern. Feeling like this is extremely common, which highlights exactly why the Career Services office is such an invaluable resource. Even if you’re closing in on your degree, it’s never too late to ask for help at Housatonic.

This is a sentiment that is shared by Anisha Thomas, the Director of Career Services at HCC.

When I walked into her office for my career counseling session, I led with honesty. I was quick to divulge that I was in that dreaded position that so many other college students find themselves in, filled with so many dreams and aspirations, but with so little knowledge on how to proceed. Despite my clear lack of direction, she quickly reassured me that I wasn’t out of time. “Coming right out of high school or entering unfamiliar environments don’t exactly prepare you to do things as efficiently as possible,” said Thomas. Although I was nowhere near as

proactive as I could’ve been up until this point, she made it abundantly clear that my unpreparedness to independently plot a career course was not the end of the world. I had a lot of lost time to make up for but with the guidance of Thomas, it was a painless process that was simple to undergo.

“The rIghT experIenCe C an C arry a lOT Of weIghT.

Sitting across from her, the first thing we did was a comprehensive resume review. She helped me look at all of my experiences from different angles, putting all of my transferable skills into perspective and helping me see them in the greater context of my field of interest. From there she helped me reorient my resume so that it not only read properly, as a result of my organizational errors being corrected, but also made it more appealing to potential employers by optimizing the language used to best appeal to both hiring managers and algorithms that filter applicants. In addition, she showed me how to put together a portfolio that I could share alongside my resume whenever necessary.

From there we moved on to talking

about my interests. She took her time to speak with me and get a feel for the type of work that I would find fulfilling, before providing me with a plethora of resources that targeted my interests and could give me exactly what I was looking for. Housatonic has quite a few general resources that can point students who don’t quite know what they want in the right direction, but Thomas helped me navigate them with purpose and precision, guiding me to the most valuable opportunities those resources had to offer. At this time she made sure to highlight the importance of relevant experience. Even with a souped-up resume, nine times out of ten, relevant experience wins in the job market, so she made sure not to just show me job openings, but internship and volunteer opportunities as well. Thomas noted that “depending on what kind of work you’re looking for, just having the right experience can carry a lot of weight.” After taking all of her job-hunting advice, all that was left was to do my research and figure out which path was best for me.

My experience with Career Services at HCC was phenomenal. In one advising

session, even though it was at the tail end of my time at Housatonic, I was able to get all of my questions answered and learn things about job hunting that I never would’ve been able to without the help of Thomas. I went from knowing practically nothing and having no confidence in my abilities to being so informed that I can now claim without a doubt I have a sure way forward.

If you find yourself in the same position that I did, that means that there is undoubtedly hope for you too. If you are fortunate enough to come across this article or become more conscious about your prospects after attending HCC well before you reach the point that I did, it’s important to remember that it’s never too early to visit Career Services either. ]

Thomas made a point to tell me that the best thing any student can do for themself is to “get help as soon as possible.” In her words, that means “getting connected” with “faculty, staff, alumni, and professionals in your field.” Doing so will allow you to create a network of people who are well-connected and knowledgeable in your field, which can go a long way

when working towards your dream job. As you complete your degree, Career Services can help you curate your academic journey in a way that perfectly orients you toward your goals.

Before checking out Career Services, I was a student on the last leg of my studies at Housatonic who had no idea how to proceed after graduation. I was working part-time, with no clue how to pivot and start building a career for myself. Over the years, I had put so much time and effort into honing my craft and gaining experience doing the kind of work I love, but I had no practical way to transition into making a living off of it. I figured I’d likely spend a couple of years after college floating around from job to job until the stars aligned, condemning myself to the misery of meandering around poten-

tial career paths. I had no plan until I made my appointment with Career Services, and was resigned to believing that there was no clear path for me. After hearing the expert insights from the Career Services office, new paths that were previously inconceivable had been illuminated. The abundance of knowledge shared with me was extremely reassuring and it truly made me believe that I had a sure shot at the future of my dreams. The specialists at Career Services don’t seek to inspire false hope in people who have squandered their only opportunities. They give people objective truths about their situation and help them get real results that leave them with the sentiment that they can make anything of the paths they choose, which is a feeling that can propel them to their greatest heights.

Childcare at an Affordable Price

By Lena Burton Staff Writer

Are you struggling between school or work while making time to be in your child’s life? Do you ever wish you could just have a minute to yourself and not worry about your child? Are you looking for an affordable childcare place that doesn’t drain all your money?

Did you know that most CT State Colleges offer an early learning center also known as a daycare? Students benefit the most from the daycare as they can drop their kid off during school hours for an affordable price. What’s even better is that this daycare is also open to the public and the community.

The Gateway Early Learning Center is a full-day preschool that accepts kids from the age of two all the way up to the age of five. It is a fully licensed and nationally accredited school. The daycare is run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides

breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack for the kids. The pricing is cheap compared to a typical daycare that costs over $300 per week and doesn’t provide lunch or breakfast typically. The pricing is only $175 per week for a full time student and even cheaper for New Haven residents.

The daycare is also available to the community as well for $275 per week. There are also different resources that may be provided to the parents based on need such as state-funded scholarships or care for children listed on the Gateway and Housatonic website.

Kristen Lund, who is the director of the Housatonic Early Childhood laboratory school, says that “parents who are Housatonic Students may be eligible to receive additional funding through the U.S Department of Education: Child Care Access Means Parents in School

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(CCAMPIS) Program.”

The Gateway daycare also gives the parents a choice of which area they want their children to focus on.

There are three regional models such as the Reggio Inspired Approach, Montessori Inspired Approach, and the Literature Inspired approach. The Reggio Inspired Approach focuses on language and how the children express themselves, which includes music, dance, and more. The second approach called the Montessori Inspired Approach focuses on the children’s independence and their

ability to grow in developmental areas. The last approach, known as the Literature Inspired Approach, puts an emphasis on the child’s listening and vocabulary awareness.

Jisel Cordero, who is the director of the Early Learning Center at Gateway, says a feature at the daycare center of Gateway is that it is accessible to students, staff, and faculty in addition to community members. It allows parents to drop off, go to class, use the library and computer labs to study or complete assignments.” She also noted that it is less helpful for students who take night classes and work during the day but states they “ are aggressively working or expanding hours and

Photo by Gianna Poremba

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support to ensure we remain accessible to all the needs in Gateway.”

Gateway isn’t the only college that has a daycare. Multiple schools have daycares such as Housatonic. Although there are some differences between the daycare, as the hours are different and how the place is run. Housatonic’s daycare is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

also fed lunch and given outdoor exploration time that allows them to create their own experiences. The day also consists of story time that relates to the theme they’re learning about that week. Students interested in the Housatonic Laboratory can either call the number or email listed on the Housatonic website.

“The dayC are C an be uTIlIzed fOr a Cheap prICe.

“The daycare provides food resources for families experiencing food insecurities, it provides referrals for community resources, for insurance, housing, social emotional and mental health awareness,” Lund notes.

The curriculum at Housatonic is run differently from Gateway and consists of learning about language, art, science, math, and social studies throughout the day. The children are

For students, Lund points out, the daycare provides other opportunities, such as “providing employment opportunities to current students as student laborers, or through workstudy provides professional development and networking opportunities to current and potential families and caretakers.”

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All of the community colleges that are part of Connecticut State have an early learning center that is nationally accredited although may be a different name. An example is Norwalk Community College and Capital Community college also provide a daycare for its students. The pricing may be different for each college but is typically around the same price. There are over ten community colleges that are now under one name known as Connecti-

cut State Community College but provide the same resources and opportunities for both the students and the community.

The daycare plays an essential part at Gateway and Housatonic but also the community. The daycare is a useful source that students and the community can utilize for a cheap price. It provides childcare and supports students who are struggling to balance schoolwork and childcare at the same time. Another crucial point is that it supports the community and the school and creates other opportunities for people. T

he daycare creates employment opportunities and for people to learn and grow while learning. Kristen Lund strives to ensure that “each child is unique and deserves respect, consistency, and challenges for optimum growth and learning.”

Students interested in the Housatonic or Gateway Early Learning Centers can either call the number or email listed on the Housatonic and Gateway websites.

Photo by Markus Spiske

Make School Work Easier

By Holly McPartland Staff Writer

Lesser-Known Tips and Tricks to Make Your Academic Life a Little Less Stressful

As any student would more than likely tell you, studying and doing schoolwork is hard. While necessary, it is time consuming and both physically and mentally draining. And – perhaps worst of all – sometimes, no matter what you do, it still doesn’t feel like you’re really “getting it” or doing it right. Years of schooling have probably taught you some common study tips, like taking notes or highlighting important things, but sometimes those methods just might not prove that helpful

. As such, we have sought out some tips and advice from those in the educational space that you haven’t heard repeated ad nauseam and will hopefully provide you with some tricks to help make your academic endeavors a little bit easier.

One piece of advice from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a more proactive way of absorbing and

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retaining information: “Become a teacher. Say the information aloud in your own words as if you are the instructor and teaching the concepts to a class.” From their Studying 101: Study Smarter Not Harder guide on the school’s website, they elaborate that “Simply reading and re-reading texts or notes is not actively engaging in the material. It is simply re-reading your notes. Only ‘doing’ the readings for class is not studying.

“mOve

Housatonic, advises that getting up and taking a break can do more than just let us stretch our muscles. “There’s research out there that shows your unconscious brain is still working on a task even when you’re not consciously doing that task. There’s also a bunch of research showing how walking helps people think.” Smith says.

“I’m not a walker, but I often do yoga, which works similarly.

arOund

— bOdy mOvemenT helps wITh braIn aCTIvIT y.

It is simply doing the reading for class. Re-reading leads to quick forgetting. Think of reading as an important part of pre-studying, but learning information requires actively engaging in the material…”

While you may feel it necessary to sit at your desk and just keep working in order to get your assignments done,

Karyn L. Smith, an English professor and Coordinator of the Writing Center at

All of this is why we often have ‘Eureka!’ moments when we’re not doing the work itself,” she adds.

Giving your brain some breathing room is a piece of advice that it seems both teachers and students can agree on.

24-year-old Brian graduated from Salve Regina University in 2022 with a master’s degree in accounting after five years of study. He claims, “My best advice for

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trying to effectively study is to be well rested. A well-rested mind and body will allow you to think clearly and retain the information you are learning.”

This advice really does seem to have personally done him good, as Brian now works as an accountant for Marcum LLP.

Smith, as Coordinator of the Writing Center, also shared a bit of advice to help ease the burden of what may very well be the bane of all student’s existence – writing an essay. “In terms of writing, I tell students to talk out their ideas, and either record them or ask a friend to write down what we say,” she says. “Often, we feel more comfortable talking than writing, so it’s easier to speak out a first draft. Afterward, you can use voice-to-text apps or just type up the notes and turn that into an essay.”

Finding a quiet space to work is an important factor for all students when it comes to getting their assignments done.

However, doing so may prove more difficult for some. Are earplugs just not doing enough to block out background noise? Perhaps the library just isn’t as quiet as you hoped it would be? Or maybe, you just have a sensitivity to noise? No worries – all you need to help circumvent this problem is a pair of headphones or earbuds and an internet connection. If you go to YouTube, you can type in terms such as “study lo-fi” or “white noise” and you’ll find thousands - if not millions - of videos to choose from for some easy listening while you work. Just pick a video, adjust the volume to your comfort, and voilà - distracting background noise is a thing of the past. You’ll be able to drown out the sound of your neighbor’s dog barking at a squirrel without the need of expensive noise canceling headphones and, more importantly, get your work done with your sanity intact.

prOfIles

Nurturing Your Skin

By Robin Gudger Staff Writer

As winter grips the globe, a series of harsh elements, such as wind, temperature and snow, can cause difficulties with skin. The colder months can be unforgiving to our skin, depleting its moisture and exposing it to a range of challenges. A careful and thorough winter skincare regimen becomes essential to safeguard the health, radiance, and resilience of our skin throughout this season.

The decline in temperature, combined with the rise in indoor heating, can cause a decrease in humidity levels, causing your skin to become dry and dehydrated. The chilly winds outdoors, coupled with the dry indoor air, remove the skin’s natural oils, heightening sensitivity and causing irritation.

While working as a Mary Kay Skin Care Consultant, I learned during the winter months clients should use products that incorporate ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, as they actively replenish and retain moisture, establishing a safeguard barrier against external elements.

In the winter season, it’s advisable to adopt a gentle cleansing routine. Aggressive cleansers have the potential to deplete the skin’s natural oils, worsening dryness. Choose a gentle, hydrating cleanser that effectively purifies without upsetting the skin’s moisture equilibrium. Additionally, contemplate inte-

grating oil-based cleansers into your routine, as they not only eliminate impurities but also offer an added layer of hydration. I often use natural oatmeal and goat milk soap to wash my face. It helps keep my skin moisturized and adds a natural glow. In fact, my dermatologist, Dr. Noel Turner told me that I have “the skin of a 40-year-old,” and I am 60 years young.

Eating healthy is important in skincare too. Eating healthy provides good sources of minerals and vitamins, which I learned in my Nutrition Course at Housatonic, which contributes to anti-aging and a good skin care regimen. Eating foods such as oranges, spinach, almonds, peppers and salmon help to provide moisture to your skin along with other good sources of nutrients. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily also helps protect your skin. Choose a gentle exfoliator, like a product incorporating alpha hydroxy acids, leaving your skin soft with a gentle glow.

Embracing a comprehensive winter skincare strategy aligns external care with internal nourishment. Prioritizing hydration, incorporating regular exfoliation, implementing protective measures, ensuring sufficient hydration, and introducing humidification to your surroundings. These suggestions collectively nurture your skin during the winter season, preparing it for the transition to spring.

Everything Happens for a Reason

By Lena Burton Staff Writer

Ibelieve that everything happens for a reason and what seems uncertain may turn into the best thing in your life. Sometimes God has a plan for you that doesn’t follow your goals at the time but will make sense in the future. This was for the case of Stephanie Halpin, who was attending Housatonic and majoring in Phlebotomy. One second she was learning how to draw blood from a patient and the next second she had to prepare for a child.

When Halpin found out the news, she said, she “was overjoyed but nervous at the same time.” The hardest task at the time was figuring out how to attend school while having a child. She was paying for college through her savings.

Halpin continued to attend school and faced obstacles as she had to manage school while being pregnant, and work too. Imagine having to go to school. Then you have to go to work

and then take care of your child along with finishing homework. Finally, picture doing that schedule every single day.

After having the child, she ultimately made the decision to take a break from school and focus on the baby. Halpin had a hard time trying to juggle parenthood and pay the bills even

Photo by Lisa Fotios

though she was living at home. She found a job recommended by her friend and got hired at Sandcastle Learning Center. At first, she only worked about fifteen hours per week while living at home. She wanted to spend the majority of her time with her daughter. During the hours she worked, her family would take turns watching her daughter. Her grandparents along with her mother and father would get to bond with the baby during those times.

Eventually, Halpin decided to make the transition to work full time at the daycare

As of today, Stephanie is in her early thirties and has a loving family with three kids. She is financially stable and enjoys spending time with her husband and kids. She may not have gone down the path she initially thought she was supposed to. She states that “I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for the life I have now.”

“My family was there for me through the tough times,” she adds. Her family has been supportive of her throughout her life with the decisions she has made.

“prIOrITIze yOurself and yOur ChIld fIrsT

and bring her child to work with her after her daughter turned one.It was an easy choice for her to make the decision to not go back to school. She worked her way up from assistant teacher to head teacher in only one year. In that one year, she was being trained to become head teacher. She is the head teacher of the two-year-old room and loves working with kids. She rose above the financial hardship & academic strain and found the job that was meant for her. Now Stephanie has been working at Sandcastle for over ten years successfully.

Although she has dwelled upon the thought of going back to school, she has decided not to as she doesn’t want to increase the debt she has on student loans. She also has three kids ages two to twelve and instead “wants to spend time with her family while she can.” She is always running around from supporting her daughter at basketball and soccer games to showing up for her son’s football games. She doesn’t feel the need to complete her phlebotomy degree, as she states that “I wouldn’t have time for it and would never leave my current job.”

“

Bouncing Back after Tragedy

By Holly McPartland Staff Writer

Everything happened so suddenly, “ recalls Rachell Williams of the circumstances that eventually led to her whole world being irrevocably changed. An alumna of Housatonic, a few years ago - as she was about to start her penultimate semester of college – Williams faced an unspeakable tragedy.

Shortly before the Fall 2020 semester at HCC was to begin, Williams was fully prepared and excited to begin. As far as her school life was concerned, everything was looking up for her.

Yet roughly a month before she was due to start the semester, Williams’s father began experiencing severe back pain that not only made it impossible for him to get up and do basic things, but also did not seem to respond to the pain

medication that a doctor had prescribed to him.

“His condition started worsening rapidly, and I watched my dad start to fade before my eyes…He became a shell of himself,” Williams remembers. Her father’s condition reached a critical point on the night of August 20, 2020. He developed a fever and, in Williams’s own words, “…looked ghostly,” leading the family to rush him to the hospital. For several days, Williams’s father was in hospital, being given antibiotics. However, on the night of August 24, things took a turn for the worse. Around 9 p.m., her mother called from the hospital to inform Rachell that her father had coded several times.

“She kept telling the doctors to keep trying CPR, and they continued until

there was nothing more they could do. In their many attempts, he had only come back once and only for about a minute,” Williams says. “My mom watched the medical team the entire time and knew there was nothing more she, or them, could do. He was gone.” Williams was faced with one of the most painful circumstances a human being can endure. “That night, my entire life came crashing down,” she reveals. “I felt so much anxiety and overwhelming emotional pain

run through me. I had never experienced this type of pain before in my life. I shut down and went into autopilot mode.”

After taking it upon herself to inform her brother of the horrible news and giving herself some time to pull herself together, she decided to take action.

“every ThIng happened sO suddenly

“I began emailing my bosses at the Writing Center and all of my professors for the upcoming fall semester,” she says.“I filled each of them in on my situation because I didn’t want to wait until the last minute or go completely ghost, since I didn’t know how my behavior or actions would change in the upcoming days and weeks.”

Thankfully, her bosses and professors were

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PROFILES

very understanding, encouraging Williams to return only when she felt she was ready. After about 2-3 weeks, Williams decided to come back to HCC, deeming that it would probably be helpful to her mental state if she could just keep herself occupied.

“There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but I knew that I couldn’t continue isolating myself mentally,” she says. “I reached out to my job to return to tutoring, and I emailed all of my professors, asking for assistance in getting started in each of their classes. With their help and support, I was able to catch up on my coursework within one to two weeks, dedicating each day to one of my classes.”

But it wasn’t just the desire to keep herself occupied that led Williams to keep going: “It was important to me to still take classes that semester because I knew it was what my dad would have wanted me to do,” she reveals. “He wanted me to graduate college, and by pushing through the fall semester, I was able to prove to myself that I can conquer anything.”

And conquer she did. Williams finished the fall semester with all A’s and, at the end of the following semester, was able to graduate. These days, Williams is currently still in the

Writing Center, just as she was as a student. But instead of being a student writing tutor, she has now attained the position of an Educational Assistant. Her story is an example of sheer resilience overcoming adversity in the face of tragedy, something Rachell herself is aware of:

“In the end, I was able to push through a difficult time in my life and accomplish something that I know my dad would have been proud of me for,” she says. In spite of what she experienced, Rachell managed to push forward and graduate from Housatonic.

Photo by Albert Vincent Wu

a dvICe fOr new sTudenTs

Simple Streaming

By Holly McPartland Staff Writer

In this modern age of streaming, the possibilities of what to watch are practically endless. However, endless possibilities apparently aren’t cheap. In November of 2023 alone, Netflix plans recently had yet another price hike –bumping its standard plan from $9.99 to $11.99 per month - and the monthly cost of Apple TV Plus went from $6.99 to $9.99. The simple act of watching TV and movies is becoming more and more expensive as streaming companies try to squeeze as much money from their customers as they can.

But what if it were simpler and, more importantly, less expensive? Well, good news – it can be!

On YouTube, there is a category of film and TV series that you can watch for free – labeled “Free with Ads.” The only caveat: Much like the regular user-uploaded videos on the site, you will be subjected to advertisements.

The selection isn’t anything to scoff at either; they really do have a little something for everyone. Do you like cooking shows? They have several seasons of Hell’s Kitchen and Iron Chef. Are you an anime fan? You can watch amazing classics like Naruto, Sailor Moon, and Death Note. Maybe you’re into old shows (or you’re like me and have boomer parents who complain that there’s nothing to watch)? There’s Dennis the Menace, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Mork & Mindy.

Want a laugh? Just give Tropic Thunder or Idiocracy a shot. Or you could watch some standup comedy from the likes of Sebastian Maniscalco, Jim Gaffigan, and Bill Engvall. Maybe you prefer action movies? They’ve got Commando, Air Force One, and World War Z.

The stuff listed here is only a fraction of what you can find and enjoy and the selection is constantly updating with new titles. So, next time you want to sit down and watch something, why not peruse through YouTube’s free catalog of content?

Advice for New Students!

One thing you guys all have in common is that you made it. You graduated high school and are on your way to achieving your career. Congratulations. College may seem scary at first but just remember that you guys are all going through the same thing. College is full of ups and downs. It’s where you meet your lifelong friends and make memories that last forever. One piece of advice I would give you guys is to ask questions. Do not be afraid to try new things. That’s what college is for, to think outside of the box and explore new activities while you’re in a safe environment.

By Lena Burton Staff Writer

Throughout my college experience, I’ve learned to try new things, join different clubs and more. Getting immersed in the college is the way to have the full college experience. There are intramural sports you can participate in if you enjoy athletics. There are clubs you can join or sororities as well. You can even create your own club if you desire to. There are festivals and much more.

Remember, you cannot thrive if you don’t fall from time to time. Many people who graduated wish they could go back in time to college life. Now is the time to be fearless.

Ican’twaittosee

Taylor Swift once said, “Fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.”

Photo taken by Avery Herrington

bringswhatthefuturefortheclass of2027!

Advice for New Students

You Are Not Alone

By Holly McPartland Staff Writer

Ihave been a student here – on and off – since the Fall of 2015. Because of this, you would likely be inclined to think that I have a wellspring of advice to share with you.

However, in actuality, any advice I can offer is more of a “quality over quantity” situation – I have a couple “words of wisdom” that I think may help, but they are based off of things I have experienced time and again or that I firmly believe to be true. The best piece of advice that I feel I can give to you all, as a veteran student, is something seem-

ingly mundane – but that I feel is very important that you, someone new to all this, take in and absorb: You are not alone.

Higher education - no matter where you go, no matter what you do – is going to be difficult and time consuming. But you know what makes it even more difficult and time consuming?

Doing it all by yourself.

You’re likely somewhat aware by now that your professors and student support services are available to you. If there is something you are struggling with,

regardless of what it is, do not try to “tough it out.” Because if you do, you run the risk of passing up very valuable help and, more than likely, getting yourself into a stickier situation.

It’s better for you to take my advice and heed it now than to learn the hard way later – as I’m sure any previous or returning student will tell you.

But I also want you to keep in mind your regular support system when the challenges of college learning and all it entails really start to rear their ugly head. I’ve heard people say about a loved one that “Without you and your support, I never would have made it

through such and such school.” But I have never once heard someone brag about how they got through college with no help – probably because they are minute enough to qualify as an endangered species. It just doesn’t happen.

This may be your journey to further success, but you are not making it by yourself. This is basically one big – admittedly long and arduous – group hike for you, with your peers, the faculty, and your loved ones. You needing help at some point is not ever a matter of “if”, but “when.”

Enjoy the Journey

By Robin Gudger Staff Writer

College is a stepping stone that will help jump start your future. I know the transition from high school to college may seem scary, intimidating, exciting and even overwhelming. Just take one day at a time, ask questions and take notes. Nothing in life is free or easy. Hard work and determination will pay off. Be an inspiration, when you can give someone a helping hand. The next four years are going to be life changing for each and every one of you.

Along the way, you will meet many students from every corner of the world. Some students will look like you, and some may not. But I suggest you celebrate your differences with positive intentions that are met with safety and kindness. Remember, put God first, in

everything you do, and get ready to enjoy the journey.

If ever you find yourself struggling to get acclimated, don’t give up, there are resources available to assist you to help you achieve your academic goals. Don’t be afraid to push yourselves to try new things such as joining a club, trying out for a team, or even the marching band. I often tell my children there is no such thing as failure; it is just God redirecting you.

Always, always be proud of yourselves for every step you take, even the small steps, as they often lead to big victories.

“dOn’T gIve up

Writing Staff

Editor-in-ChiEf

Larry Ferguson Jr., Jr.

Staff WritErS

Lena Burton

Larry Ferguson Jr., Jr.

Robin Gudger

Holly McPartland

Contributing WritErS

Kieaundria Bellamy

Salene Herrera

Beatriz Velez

horizonS adviSor

Professor Steve Mark

dESign Staff

dESign dirECtor; LEad of ProduCtion

Avery Herrington

art & dESign CommuniCationS LiaiSon

Kayla Desmond

Layout dESignErS

Avery Herrington

Alyssa Johnson

CovEr artiSt

Braiden Robinson

dESignErS

Fall 2023 Digital Page Design Class

dESign adviSor

Professor Andy Pinto