Housatonic Horizons Spring 2025

STAFF WRITERS

analissevega.substack.com

playlistening.substack.com

substack@allthingshiphop SARAH

THE BAKER’S PATH substack@bakerspath

DESIGNERS

SHADAE HARRIS substack@shadaesdiary

AMELIA FERRO KEEPINGITPERFECTLYQUEER keepingitperfectlyqueer.substack.com

BRIANNA ANDUJAR THE DRAMA CLUB briannaandujar.substack.com

JAMES EL-HAGE BEYOND THE BASELINE frombeyondthearc.substack.com

CHRISTIAN VILLETTE COMIC WARS substack@christianvillette333

JORDY JAQUEZ THE MIMIC!!!!1!1

JAKE KILLOY DESIGN.

RALPH DE JESUS PLAY PIKMIN 4 & MOTHER 3

MARIEL FERNANDEZ

JACOB CRUMB WHAT’S UP YA whatsupnewsletter.substack.com

BRIANNA SUERO I DRAW DA PICTURE TUMBLR: BUHBUHBRIGHT

Snapshot Profles With The Power Of Motivation, You Can Achieve The Degree

By Jacob Crumb Staff Writer

For many people at a community college, there is a certain motivation for why they are there. For some, it can be to start a new life, get a new degree, or continue their education at little to no cost. For a small group of people, they are parents who want to show their kids that they can also achieve a degree. Tis is what motivated the current Interim Director of CT State Norwalk’s One-Stop Enrollment Center; Simone Bowen.

Bowen was born in Port Arthur, Jamaica, and raised in Norwalk, CT. She enrolled as a General Studies student at Housatonic Community College (now called CT State Housa-

tonic), but her community college journey was a little rough.

“I enrolled in college later than my friends. I was a mom and taking care of my son, who was 5 years old at the time,” she recalls.

For the frst semester, Bowen struggled to understand what was going on at the campus. One of the biggest challenges was understanding the computer system and how to use it. Later on, Bowen felt like she was a part of the campus community. She reached out for help and they were quick to respond.

@Amigoamiga on DevianArt

“I never felt alienated. There was always someone at Housatonic ready to help me,”

she adds. Afer graduating from Housatonic, Bowen decided to get her bachelor’s degree online with Charter Oak State College. Getting her degree online worked best for her at the time. She had a full-time job and spent time with her family, specifcally her son.

She loved to travel and the fexibility of going to school online. In fact, she remembers a time in South Africa when she had to submit her assignments. “I woke up early one morning to ensure that my assignment would be submitted at the correct time, even though I was miles away,” she adds.

Not only did she want to further her education, she wanted to graduate so she could show her son that he could do it too. Afer all her hard work, Bowen graduated from Charter Oak with a Bachelor’s degree, with Honors.

Te key part to Simone’s success was managing her time. “Time management is the key. When I was in college, I had family and other stuf to do. To me, education comes frst,” she said.

With her bachelor’s degree, she decided to take it a step further and is looking forward to pursuing her Masters degree, revealing her yearning for knowledge, and the dedication to learn.

Bigger Than The Stigma

By Analisse Vega Staff Writer

Some say where you get an education you, and this is true for CT State Capital Alumni Nick Lebron.

There is a stigma that people believe opting to go to a community college means you are getting an education that is not as good as a four-year university. Nick Lebron breaks that stigma and shows that a two-year education is just as worthwhile as a four-year education. He went from a high school graduate who had low expectations for education to a man who found a love for it and used his education to help his community.

Nick originally had a scholarship to the University of Hartford, but the scholarship ended up falling through, which caused him to lose motivation for school.

“At the time I didn’t know if college was going to be a part of my life,” Lebron said.

He chose to attend Capital and it was there that he found a love for learning and found his direction. Coming from a high school that didn’t prioritize education, Nick had low expectations when choosing to attend a community college over a university. His expectations changed when he met professors who believed in him and helped him his way. They showed him how to appreciate education and helped pave the way for his career.

When Nick was attending Capital he had a realization that he described as “life-changing” and “motivating”. He had a professor who taught at both Capital and Yale. He gave both classes the same syllabus and provided them both with an opportunity to be challenged.

“I ended up earning an A+ in that class and that moment really changed my belief in myself and my academic career,”

“I ended up earning an A+ in that class and that moment really changed my belief in myself and my academic career,” he describes. This completely changed his mindset about the stigma of attending a community college. The school you attend doesn’t define the quality of education you’re getting. Nick graduated from Capital with an associate in social work and went on to attend Trinity College with a scholarship the staff at Capital helped him get.

He has done a multitude of things in his career from a community organizer to a family therapist and even ran for mayor of Hartford. Amongst all those things, he says, he’s proudest of his career is social work and keeping families together. His education from Capital, helped pave and make the way for his career and he said it has had “100% an absolutely critical impact in the things I’ve achieved today.”

The stigma may say a two-year education isn’t worth it, but Nick Lebron shows it is more than worth it.

Snapshot Profiles

Girl Bossing Through Life

By Mia Socci Staff Writer

If Megan Eldridge understands the importance of any resource, it’s time. Most, if not all of hers, is spent navigating her accelerated coursework to become a nurse.

“That’s eight classes, and I am counting clinicals.” she said. “It’s technically not a course, but you have around 50-page care plans that you need to understand to be ready for it.”

Though most of her nights last well into the morning, with every day beginning at 4:00, there is nothing that can deter Megan’s goals. This is why I was so grateful when she chose to spend a moment of her free time with me.

Time has always been a valuable resource to her. With little access to a support system, she had to handle everything—from school, to relationships, to money—herself.

For an adolescent, this meant she had more to balance than many of her peers. Despite this, Megan persevered, reaching major accomplishments independently. Her journey is never over, but today, Megan knows herself, knows her time, and knows she can do anything she sets her mind to.

I met Megan in 2014, when she was fourteen, and have since witnessed her journey from the sidelines. At that point, she had

already been largely independent for some time.

“Due to many unfortunate circumstances happening in my parents’ lives,” she said, “parental guidance was not something I had access to.”

Megan had only herself to blame or praise for the outcomes she would face in life. For a young person, this made it difficult for her to build her self-esteem. She viewed outcomes like grades as markers for her abilities.

“I used to think I wasn’t as smart as other people,” “I used to think I wasn’t as smart as other people,”

- Megan laughs.

At that point, she did not recognize just how much she was managing alone, and just how proud of herself she should have been.

After graduating high school, her only financial backing was savings from working as a waitress and at LuluLemon, where she remained working full-time until 2023. With no assistance on where to go next, she decided to start close to home at Housatonic Community College, now CT State Housatoinc.

“It was a perfect unity where I was able to relax, do my schoolwork and everything else was left out.”

She paused for a moment, “I wanted to learn and I was able to do that there.” At Housatonic, she said she gained perspective on her accomplishments. Her solo endeavors were now paired with a newfound confidence.

“My biggest takeaway was learning I was standing where I was because of me and no one else,” she said “And I can either stay standing here or move myself in a better direction, even with the challenges I will inevitably face.”

From there, she went to Southern, majoring in psychology and minoring in marketing, still fueled by self-motivation. Independence, though nothing new to Megan, was a constant process of learning what being successful independently looked like to her.

“I focused on learning about myself and what needs I had to meet in order to succeed at any given time,” “I focused on learning about myself and what needs I had to meet in order to succeed at any given time,”

-she said.

She feels all experiences, good or bad, help her continue to grow.

“Every time I make it through a tough season, I come out with an abundance of knowledge that I can then implement moving forward,” Megan said. “In a sense, I’m creating my own personal maps to guide me through future challenges.”

After getting her bachelor’s, she continued working as a full-time leader at LuluLemon and then a full-time marketing job at a startup company before deciding to go into nursing, beginning as a patient care tech.

Nursing school would be her most strenuous endeavor to date, and, lots of times, she finds herself drained beyond what she’s previously endured. Despite this, she now trusts herself to make it through.

“I keep pushing when things get hard because I understand life is not handed to you and the only way past it is going through it. I take on difficult times by looking back and asking myself, ‘what else am I capable of?’”

Today, Megan gets emotional when she thinks about her journey. She acknowledges that she’s proud of herself, and is thankful for every step that has been and is still yet to come.

“I prayed to be here. It’s just been such a long time coming and I’m doing it, so,” she paused, smiling. “Yeah, it feels good.”

From Iceland to Gateway

By Kaleb Walton Staff Writer

Meet Killian Einarsson, a student at Gateway. Unlike most of us, Killian wasn’t born in America. Killian moved here from Iceland when he was younger and has been embracing life in New Haven. I have the privilege of sharing a class with Killian and instantly his accent caught me by surprise. I remember after introduc-

up with eager hands to ask him where he was from. Killian isn’t afraid to share his opinions about the differences he notices between the US and Iceland. Being the son of a politician in Iceland, he expressed how he believes that the American government is failing its people.

As a second year student here at Gateway, I was curious about why he would think that he was an Ivy League student. He states, “I believe that I wouldn’t get the same sense of community at a big university that I do here.”

Killian decided to do what was best for him and that decision seems to be a good one for him. He also credits his professors and the faculty for helping him feel comfortable. He says, “This is a really friendly school and the teachers are passionate about what they’re teaching.”

Killian also adds that even when it’s a class that doesn’t spark his interest, the passion of the teachers makes him want to learn more about the subject. “From the courses I’ve taken, even if I’m not that interested, I’m having a fun time learning,” he added.

Making sure students are comfortable will help them do better in the classroom. Since I’ve been in the class with Killian, he’s been very vocal in discussions and also very friendly interacting with the class. If you’re walking around your campus, don’t be afraid to interact and reach out to people. Since being at Gateway, it’s safe to say that I’ve met some cool people with interesting back stories. Meeting Killian made me realize a lot of us aren’t different from one another and our journeys all brought us to this same place. You never know the lives that your peers live until you ask them.

Christian Studies Club

By Christian Villette Staff Writer

CT State Housatonic’s Christian Studies club is a Christian club where people in the Christian faith, meet for bible studies and discuss topics relevant to Jesus Christ and the biblical passages. In the past semesters, the Christian Studies club recruited additional students and the club is still gathering students to join the club as the semesters go by.

The meetings are currently held every Thursday from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. in Beacon Hall, Room 317B, which is the student activity room, but the meeting dates may vary depending on everyone’s availability.

The Christian Studies club welcomes anyone (Christian or not) to educate one another about the theological studies of Judeo-Christian religious criteria. It’s a great way to introduce those who aren’t familiar with Jesus Christ, who he is, and what he’s done to grab the knowledge about the Christian God. It’s also a good opportunity for believers to be more educated on the bible and its doctrines. Prayer is another activity we

participate in in the club. As part of the Christian faith, we pray consistently and passionately throughout the meeting while reading the biblical texts.

When it comes to events, the Christian Studies club plans trips to places related to Christianity. Every year we take a trip to the Sight and Sound Theater located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The theater hosts Christian musical plays based on the stories from the bible.

Last May, we saw a play called Daniel at Sight and Sound. This coming May, we’re planning a trip to see Noah.

If anyone is enrolled in Housatonic and is interested in joining the Christian studies club, feel free to stop by our meeting any Thursday, or contact Medgine Bright, the Coordinator of Student Activities,via email at medgine.bright@ ctstate.edu or at 203-332-5058.

Contact Medgine Bright, the Coordinator of Student Activities,via email at medgine. bright@ctstate.edu or at 203-332-5058.

Snapshot Profiles

Michael Garrison’s Journey to Success

By Sarah Ryan Staff Writer

Michael Garrison, a 20-year-old college student attending Connecticut State Community College-Housatonic, overcame his anxiety and fear on attempting to become a state trooper.

Garrison was born and raised in Stamford; his grandfather on his mother’s side was the 30th mayor of Stamford five years after Michael Garrison was born. He was also named after his grandfather. He moved to Shelton when he was fourteen years old, and at sixteen years he joined the Shelton Fire Department as a volunteer. Garrison always knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement, so when he was sixteen his mom suggested he join their town’s Fire Department.

“Nothing can get in my way except myself,”

“It’s very important to push yourself out of your comfort zone,” he says. He was very nervous to join the department; it was the first big step of his independence. He knew no one in the department, but he wanted to take a big jump to start working in emergency services.

Garrison is most proud of his work in the fire department. He has been in the top five responders in the company the first two years in a row. He has achieved his interior firefight er status, firefighter 1 and 2, and has his CT Q endorsement along with his hazmat operations level. When he turns 21, he plans to begin the process of getting cleared to drive the fire truck.

Michael Garrison currently is attending Connecticut Community college and is in his second year. He is majoring in criminal justice and will be getting his associates degree in criminal justice while he waits to be 21. Connecticut laws require you to be 21 in order to be admitted into the police academy. The degree is not needed by law to become a trooper, but Garrison says it is better to have one. His goal is to work as a trooper by the time he is 22 years old.

Garrison is currently a full-time employee of Norcom, working as a technical support specialist. “It’s another environment that involves emergency services and I’m able to bring a secondary skillset to my future career with this background in two-way radio communication,” he says.

Over the summer Garrison worked with members on the state police’s communica-

tion team and learned about what the academy is like and the radio system they operate on.

Garrison has had trouble attempting to try new things due to his anxiety and fear of failure, but becoming a firefighter and succeeding so well in the department has helped him find his way and persuaded him to take more risks.

As he says, “Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has been rewarding every time.”

ADVICE FROM A FIRST SEMESTER STATE OF MIND

BY ROBERT TERENTIEFF STAFF WRITER

Find your goals and weʼll make them happen.

Greetings incoming class, I would

welcome to all of you -- from those just continuing their academic journey, to those returning, I commend you for taking this next step.

It feels full circle, to say the least, that as someone who entered CT State seeking validation, I now stand here hoping to install that same security. My options out of high school were faint; I had struggled with debilitating anxiety and an OCD disorder which had forced me to pursue schooling online. I knew then that my place was yet in a fouryear college. I was ashamed. I squinted at the choices ahead of me, and it was only through the peppering of my parents that I entered community college.

things: getting through the doors and completing a semester. I remember the struggle of that night before, painfully aware of how unequipped I thought I was. Yet, I tried. I sat

the instincts of in-person schooling, and inadvertently became part of a community again.

-

er been presented to me, allowing me to

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dip my toes into higher education, I’m truly unsure of where I would be today. Because of this, I ask you to identify the things you are afraid of. Use your weakness to identify the resources that will cater your education

I still remember going into my advia similar pitch: “Find your goals and we’ll make them happen.” I found her incessant

Yet, with her guidance, the help from a luminescent group of peers, and knowledge imparted to me from faculty, many of whom I can now call mentors, I can say for certain: she wasn’t being imitative -- she had seen

the knowledge of all CT State had to offer, she understood that there would be opportunities if I were willing to take the leap towards them.

I urge you to begin this search today. Walk around campus, look for the many bulletins dotted around, and pick up a poster. Stop by the Academic Support Center and

introduce yourself. Become familiar with the Writing Center, and those that might review your papers one day.

As so many at CT State have done for me; having seen my potential before I had, I wish to leave you with that same installation: no matter your past or doubts, this institution, its faculty, and students, offers to you a new chapter.

ADVICE FROM GO AT YOUR OWN PACE

BY KALEB WALTON STAFF WRITER

WELCOME, AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY.

First off, I wanted to congratulate you all on your endeavors. I’m not so different from a lot of you. I began my college journey in the fall of 2018 at the University of Hartford. After two years, I decided to take a hiatus from school to

what I started, so I enrolled at Gateway Community College.

If there was any advice I needed back in 2018, it would be to go at my own pace. Don’t rush things, take your time, and remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. A lot of students, myself included, might be overwhelmed by the pressure of a four-year university. So why not start off small? Why not go somewhere where the teachers know your name and want to see you succeed?

CT State has helped many students across the state achieve their goals, reach the next level, and even guide people towards the career path of their desire. Many students enrolled into a CT State school without any knowledge of what they wanted to do. Those same students left those schools with a clear career choice. Whether you’re an 18-year-old studying social work, or a 24- year-old studying communications, CT State will always be there to help you.

FROM STUDENTS

If Gateway is too far, no need to worry. Since 2023, all 12 colleges across the state have merged to form one big CT State college. You can apply and enroll at any campus of your choosing. In fact, thanks to online learning, you can even take classes from your computer with students from all over the state.

know what to expect. Who will I know here? What will I be learning? How much different will this be from a four year school? I soon realized I had nothing to worry about. I was in good hands. Just because you aren’t at your traditional university doesn’t mean you won’t get the same experiences.

Don’t let family, friends, or even strangers make you feel ashamed. You will be met with tremendous amounts of support from professors and faculty, be able to join clubs and programs on campus, and most importantly, get an education. So go out there and be great, make an impression, and remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint. All journeys start with just a single step.

Thank you and good luck to you all.

ADVICE FROM FOR THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO CT STATE

BY MIA SOCCI STAFF WRITER

Hello, and welcome to Connecticut State Community College! I am a current student at the Housatonic branch in Bridgeport. First of all, I would like to thank you all for being here today and invite you to clap for yourself; going to college, no matter when, why, or how, is a tremendous accomplishment.

I dropped out of high school. And degree in a different program, I realized there was still a lot I missed out on learnState, I realized I had no idea how to “do” school. I never learned how to be successful, nor how to fake it, and after barely

something had to change. I had come this far already. To give up would be to give up on myself again. It was time to give myself a to start.

So, I reached out. I contacted professors, advisors, and even students who I was unsure would be able to help me at all. When I say,

THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION I MADE

in my college experience, it is not an exaggeration. I encourage you: engage with what is available to you. There is no guidebook on the “right” way to navigate college, which is a both liberating and overwhelming -

FROM STUDENTS STATE

lace in knowing you are never on your own; there are always people who can help.

CT State’s resources are tools to make your experience better. Use them. By simply browsing their web of services, I have found the assistance I needed regarding things from my degree to my mental health to career opportunities to transportation. People are almost always willing to make time for you, and if they cannot help you directly, they will tell you where to go next.

Aside from the provided resources

This means that the students and staff who surround you are, in some way, a part of the same journey, even if it looks a little different from one person to the next. Talk to them. connections, meet friends.

You do not have to feel lost. Your college life can be improved through the

support offered and people around you; do

not rob yourself of the success you deserve.

CT State and I am happy to welcome you into this new chapter of your life!

ADVICE FROM

Stay Real, Do You!

By Shadae Harris Staff Writer

Welcome to CT State!

If I can give you one piece of advice, it’s to stay real and do you. College is all about finding your lane, and it’s okay if your journey looks different from everyone else’s. Most of us are still figuring it out as we go, so don’t stress about having everything planned out from the start.

Like many of you, I came to college with a specific major in mind. I thought culinary was going to be my thing. But after a while, I realized it wasn’t for me. Then, I switched to finance because I liked math and thought it would be simple. I was completely wrong. Business and college math were way harder than I expected.

So,I changed again—this time to nursing because I thought being a travel nurse would be cool (mostly for the travel!). But, as much as I liked the idea of traveling, science was not my thing, and failing biology made that clear.

Eventually, I found my way to communications/ journalism, and I love it here. So, don’t be afraid to change your major or explore new paths. You never know where you’ll find your passion, and it’s all part of the journey.

Try new things! Take a class that sounds interesting, even if it feels a little random, or join a club just because it seems fun. You might discover something that really clicks for you. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay! Maybe you came to college for nursing then you took a finance class and you loved it so now you want to change your major to finance.

FROM STUDENTS

That’s amazing because you found something you really enjoyed. It’s all part of the process of figuring out what you love.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s from a professor, an advisor, or a classmate, there’s always someone at CT State who’s got your back. You don’t have to do it alone!

ADVICE FROM Support Every Step

By Amelia Ferro Staff Writer

CTState lives up to their motto that they “Support Every Step.” Starting a new school, especially college can be scary for anyone. Imagine, you go to a four year college you thought was your dream school and you have your whole career planned out, but then everything changes. You are not so sure about your major, so you change it after your frst semester thinking it will fx everything. You try to go to advisor after advisor for help mapping out your career, but they never get back to you till the next semester.

You start to feel lonely and lost at this school you expected to have guidance at to reach your goals. Then summer is around the corner. You have to make a decision: Stay at this school that makes you feel miserable, or go to a different school that will actually help

you reach your goals. This is my story. I chose to take a chance and switch schools to CT State.

According to CT State’s mission statement, “We will provide you with innovative and rigorous education and training, Focus on the success of the student, promote equity, promote positive change for the students, communities, and industries

“Support

Every Step.”

it serves, support excellence in teaching and learning, and make data informed decisions.” In my time at CT State, everyone who is a part of the CT State faculty has proven this to be true.

My frst time stepping into CT State as a student I had nothing but stress and nerves coursing through my body, but all

FROM STUDENTS

I did was ask a member of the staff for help, and one question after another was answered. I once again changed my major and it took me one day with guidance from the faculty. This mission statement shows how much they keep their word. They are always right in your corner.

This school is a breath of fresh air. I am being understood in ways I never thought were possible. I have never been excited about my career until I came to CT State. Now I enjoy doing every assignment and even going to class even when I am tired.

Even when you think you have lost your way with no one to help, there is always someone or a place that will help build you up. CT State showed me that I am important and every member of this school, even if they don’t know me, is excited for what I will do to reach my goals. They “Support Every Step!”

ADVICE FROM

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTION

BY LANNA AKIL STAFF WRITER

Iam in my last semester here at CT State, and most of my classes were taken either online or at the Gateway campus. CT State is a great option to go for, especially if you want to get your general education classes done. To be honest, we all know that college and university are extremely expensive, but we should be aware that we all have other options. CT State is open and welcoming to everyone, including those who are going back to school, want to transfer to other universities, or just want to take a class or two.

My mom, who is almost 60, decided to strengthen her English and graduated last year with her Associates degree, which goes to show anyone can do it. From CT

State, she was able to make the networks and connections to find a job and get back into the workforce. The professors and advisers here offer so much support, especially with all the students as the classes are smaller.

I was a student at UConn until I took a break due to personal and financial reasons when Covid hit. I am in my mid 20s and unlike most of my friends I did not finish school nor did I get a job in the field I wanted. When I went to reapply, I had no idea since I was out of school for such a long time. I decided to go to CT State, as the campus is closer to my house and worked with my advisers in order to get back on my feet.

Compared to UConn, I loved CT State because the classes are smaller and we are able to go directly to the professors for anything, vs UCONN the lectures can have 200+ students enrolled and the professors will not know who you are. Online

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classes are much more available at this college, making it much more accessible for students who have jobs or are too busy to go to class during the traditional class hours to attend. It has certainly enabled me to continue my education while working to fund said education.

My experience in other universities is that they don’t offer same day advising either or same day registration, which is something great that CT State offers. Here, you can make personal and close relationships with many of your professors which has been ground breaking for me. It opened up many opportunities as now I have professors willing to compose letters of recommendations for certain jobs, grad school, and even went as far as to direct me to consider other career options. At UConn, since the classes were large and the buildings were so far from each other, I never had the opportunity to make those relationships with my professors. I am considering grad school and I have profes-

sors from Gateway, who will be insulted if I do not ask them for those letters. CT State has been nothing but wonderful and great towards almost everyone here. In addition, many of the professors here also teach at big name universities and colleges like UConn or Yale.

By saying all of this and sharing all of these experiences, my best advice is to make those personal relationships and connections with your professors. You may end up transferring to another university where your classes can have hundreds of students in them, which means the professors do not have the time for each student. Make that personal connection with your adviser as well, as they will guide you to where you want to be career wise. Learning to do all of this is the best thing you can do for your future moving forward. It has certainly changed my life and made me realize what I want to do in life.

ADVICE FROM I’m Ready Now

By James El-Hage Staff Writer

Iam a student at Norwalk. Just like some of you may have been, I was less eager to go to a community college because my friends were going to a fouryear university. But now, I am more happy than ever that I went to a community college (and not just because I hear about my friends complaining about the prices they’re paying).

Personally I wasn’t ready to go off and have the responsibilities of being alone so going to a community college really helped me develop that. If it wasn’t for me going to community college first, I would have been completely unprepared for the college student lifestyle and I wouldn’t know how to manage my time. Going to a community college has helped me build study habits that are going to help me be a successful student in the future.

Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do and that is ok. Because of this I encourage everyone to go out and explore and use community college as a time to find yourself. My first semester I was really in a bubble and just stayed to myself. This had a negative effect on me and I wasn’t able to reach my full potential as a student.

“I am more happy than ever that I went to a community college.”

In order to get the college experience you have to go out and do things. It is nerve racking at first but when you go to campus events and

FROM STUDENTS

use the resources available you can meet new people and learn new things. I started to talk more in class and go out of my way to find campus events I am interested in and that’s how I’ve met most of the people I know. Just be yourself and remember “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Staying the Course While Staying Connected

By Mia Socci Staff Writer

Pre-Covid, online courses were an alternative. Today, they’re a norm. With so many individuals online— students and staff alike—CT State is taking on a new, more dispersed, form. Individuals can participate in a course with attendees from multiple different locations throughout the state. This can pose a challenge to the college community’s relationships with one another. Without experiencing in-person bonding with the faces and names on the screen, members of CTState’s faculty and student body have employed various methods to promote connection among each other.

There are many types of online courses, the main ones being live remote courses and asynchronous courses. In live remote courses, classes have scheduled meeting times through online meeting platforms. Asynchronous courses, conversely, are online courses without meeting times. All of CT State’s courses are hosted over the learning management service (LMS) Blackboard. This provides professors with their base to build their online courses off of. Within Blackboard, many professors utilize the “Discussion Board” service, which allows users to post and respond back to others. Housatonic English Professor Dr. Robert Wyckoff uses his boards to foster a sense of interaction between students, as well as assess their levels of engagement.

A particular method Wyckoff uses is his icebreaker post: to post a song to add to a class playlist. This playlist is then shared with the students, unifying the class members in a more personal way. He says, “I started to make that be a prompt later on in this semester as well. So we add to the playlist as the semester goes on.” The ongoing nature

of the playlists helps keep the momentum of connection last beyond the first week. It also creates a sort of virtual community, especially in asynchronous classes. When online, having those relationships among each other can be important to combat feelings of isolation common among online students.

Other prOfessOrs find it mOre difficult tO encOurage student-student relatiOnships that feel sincere and natural. Housatonic Art Professor Matthew Capezzuto finds the social aspect of education to translate ineffectively online, even though he recognizes its importance. “If I assign people to interact with each other, it feels a little bit artificial,” Capezzuto says. “If it were a more advanced course and people had a shared set of experience…then maybe I would really emphasize [socializing among classmates] more because if you’re invested in a major, it’s definitely important to be interacting with your peers.”

“I try to make the discussion boards both interesting enough that people enjoy participating in them, but also still designed in a way that I’m encouraging them to learn something while they’re doing the discussions.”

Some students wish there were more opportunities to interact with their online peers. Corinne Harris, a student at Housatonic, finds assignments when she is allowed to work with other peers to emulate the relationships she would get out of in-person classes; however, she notes the means of communication to be scattered and sOmetimes difficult tO cOOrdinate. “It’s a little bit harder because it’s not like you’re meeting in class,” she says. “You can’t just talk to them and exchange numbers, but the group projects definitely do help.”

Even though she has made positive connections in her online courses, she thinks there is still room for improvement.

According to Harris—in both live remote and asynchronous courses—giving students the choice to physically socialize with their class, even if only once, could make online courses feel much less alienating.

able to say, ‘I need help.’”

Capezzuto mentions how in an in-person setting, especially for art courses, help can be offered or requested spontaneously, making learning a very reciprocal and active experience.

“A huge part of teaching art is being able to respond and interact with students in real-time as they are working,” he says. “I can see what somebody’s doing and then offer a suggestion as they work.”

“It would be nice if professors had an optional ‘come and meet your class”

Not only do professors create a live environment for communication in their classroom, but, through that environment, they also create direct bonds with their students. Without the physical interaction and encouragement to engage, trusting professor-student relatiOnships are mOre difficult tO create. Without those relationships, many students find it hard to reach out and communicate their needs. At the same time, professors find it mOre difficult tO assess what needs their students have.

One ever-present issue with online courses is addressing the diverse learning needs of students. While in-person courses offer more frequent conversations and immediate feedback, online courses may rely on students’ willingness to advocate for themselves. Wyckoff says, “in the online class it really is more of the students responsibility to be

This problem, though present in all forms of online courses, is much more prominent in asynchronous ones. In these courses, aside from assignments, professors have a very limited glimpse into their students lives, personalities, and academic needs. As a solution, some professors have found ways to develop

more effective personal relationships with their students. Extending to the video services used in live remote courses like WebEx, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, professors can provide the face-to-face interactions otherwise nonexistent in asynchronous courses.

Capezzuto makes time to meet with all of his students over video chats at least once a semester. “I do think it generates familiarity, hopefully if students saw me walking down the street they’d feel more comfortable saying ‘hi.’”

“It’s a little alienating to never actually interact with somebody and their grading you on all these assignments that might not make a lot of sense”

Scheduling meetings encourages students to consider what they want the focus of their meeting to be. He says he finds that the students who do have questions and concerns will use the time to bring them up while others may just ask about their grades. “It’s sort of like a way of just catching the stuff that may have fallen through the cracks,”he adds. Harris echoes the importance of professors’ attempts to cultivate relationships with their students. The classes she appreciates the most are the ones where she feels the professors see

you as people, not numbers. She notes Gateway Professor Joseph Pisani’s live remote online journalism class as an example.

“I appreciate how he always calls us by our first name or he’ll call us to read things,” she says, “because I feel like I’m really in class.”

Harris talks about how a professor’s efforts to decrease the distance in online classes are the classes she finds herself to enjoy the most and to develop better relationships with not only the students, but the professor themselves.

Even so, she still finds the importance in self-advocating; not all professors, especially online, effectively maintain an atmosphere of open communication.

“I like to do introduction emails, especially to the [professors] that I don’t meet online,” she says. “That tends to help.”

Despite this, some prOfessOrs make cOmmunicatiOn difficult. This lack of access can directly hinder a student’s motivation in courses that are more “self-taught” than not at times. Harris shares an instance when the lack of communication caused her

progress in one asynchronous course to stutter.

“You’re kind of teaching yourself. I’ll email [my professor] a question and [they’ll] get back to me maybe two to three weeks later,” she says. “So how do they expect me to really excel when they’re not answering me within the time frame that the syllabus says?” In this instance, the professor not upholding their end of connection is at the students’ expense. Online professors who want their students to reach out frequently reiterate their means of contact. This can include reminders of their Office hOurs, links tO schedule appOintments with them, and an open inbox for conversation at any time.

can then take advantage of the custom nature of Blackboard to alter content to better suit the needs of their specific class. “You set up the Blackboard course at the beginning of this semester and then as you notice the needs of different students, you begin to make changes to the course that will hopefully help those students,” says Wyckoff.

With professors and students alike, building a virtual community is essential to their success. To get to that point isn’t necessarily easy, but it is something CT State is continuously working on in order to give everyone the best experience possible.

Empowering Students to Maximize Their Potential at Norwalk

By James El-Hage Staff Writer

It’s ok to need help. A common misconception is that tutoring and advising is only for students who are behind and don’t know what they are doing. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Student Services on campus are a great tool that all students should use whether they are struggling or doing just fine. This is because it can not only help you learn the material but it also creates better study habits and encourages self-learning.

At CT State Norwalk, TRiO student support services will help you do just that.

“TRiO is a federally funded outreach program that supports disadvantaged students who would like to pursue a higher education degree,” said Program Assistant Erica Hernandez.

The program was designed to pave the way to higher education for students with income barriers and who are first generation and/or disabled. They take pride in carefully assessing, monitoring, and supporting students to help us achieve our educational goals. Their staff understands things can be confusing so they’re committed to helping make college productive, fulfilling, and enjoyable. To be a part of the program you can sign a form. Forms can be found in room W209.

The goal of the TRiO Program is to help students like you and me succeed on our academic journey. They offer tutoring in Math, English, Chemistry and any other subject you are having a hard time with. You can schedule your tutoring session with a group of other students, or you can schedule a one on one meeting to get a more personalized experience with strategies and techniques that help you understand

Tutoring isn’t the only service they offer. They also offer counseling, transfer/scholarship information.

“Counseling sessions can be virtual or in person. The student can decide how they would like to meet with their counselor/advisor,” Hernandez said.

Counseling can be very helpful for students who are going through things in their personal life or are unsure about their future. Counselors will help you build a better understanding about Financial Aid and how to create a plan for your future.

If you are interested in raising awareness about the needs in our CT State community, Club TRiO will help you do so.

“Club TRiO helps students build strong relationships among their peers who are in the Trio program,” Hernandez said. “It is also a place where students can enjoy activities together.”

Once joining the club students will grow personally, socially, and academically when building relationships and being exposed to these needs. Students will not only get the opportunity to spread awareness about our community, They will be able to spread it worldwide. The club meets Wednesdays in W209 from 2:30-3:00 p.m.

How Do You Cope with Stress & Anxiety & feeling OVERWHELMED?

By Amelia Ferro Staff Writer

What if I get a bad grade on this test? Am I going to fail?

Whathappens aftergraduation for me? Why do I feel so alone?

I’m not going to finish by the deadline?

You’re not alone!

“I have no clue how I am combatting the stress, I’m just kind of doing it,” Isabella Luciano says.

“The stress was real. I used to work full-time while taking 5-6 classes. It was death,” Rachel Zumbo says.

“Making sure you are able to get everything done is quite overwhelming,” Professor Joseph Pisani says.

Stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed is common in today’s society. A place where it really shows is in college. College is hard for one, but can also be very lonely at points—which can make it very scary. You come out of high school and get thrown into a whole new atmosphere. You have to learn everything over again. Not only do you have to find yourself, but you also have to worry about your classes that will help bring you to what you want to do in the future.

Not only does this happen to new incoming students, returning students, but it happens to people who decide they want to go to college when they thought they did not want to. No matter who you are or your situation, college is not a walk in the park.

Your thoughts that come from the stress, anxiety, and feeling of being overwhelmed can come into high alert during these times. The thoughts of what if I get a bad grade on this test? Am I going to fail?

I’m not going to finish by the deadline? What happens after graduation for me? I am so overwhelmed and I don’t know what to do? Why do I feel so alone?

You’re not alone! There are ways to cope with the feelings of stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed.

“Usually when I am overwhelmed, stressed or have anxiety, I take a step back and try to do something calming,” Isabella Luciano says.

Isabella Luciano, a 20-year-old Theater major at CT State is getting ready to graduate with her associates in the spring of 2025, has found ways to cope with all the feelings around school itself, especially with graduation around the corner.

Luciano says she has always been an anxious person, so finding ways to cope with those feelings of being anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed come up a lot, but through her college career, she has come up with ways to make herself feel better, especially these feelings that come in play as she goes through her last bit of school before graduation.

“I know when I need a break/where my limit is,” she adds. “[I] also have to do other things to get away from the work, like seeing friends or doing stuff for myself.”

What about when these feelings and the sense of burnout start to appear for her?

“The end of the semester, because it’s the final stretch and everyone just wants to be done with it. It makes things more difficult,” she says.

It can be really hard for you to keep yourself motivated when you are anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed thinking about how this major you are pursuing in college is going to lead you into the career/job that you will have in life.

Now she has to start to think about how she will cope with these feelings as she makes her way across the stage at graduation in the spring of 2025.

“I feel like it will be an adjustment, but I’ll get used to it because I’ve been in college for a little while, so it’s not super unexpected,” she says.

For those who might wonder what keeps her going if it stresses her out so much,

Luciano responds with an optimistic smile, “The fact that I am learning things to better my career. I like to hope that I’ll at least use/take with me the stuff that I have learned. Aside from that, it’s just really the drive to keep going.”

It can be really hard for you to keep yourself motivated when you are anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed thinking about how this major you are pursuing in college is going to lead you into the career/job that you will have in life. That thought can be very dwelling but in the end everything will work out; it did for Rachel Zumbo.

Rachel Zumbo is a CT State Housatonic alumni who graduated in 2019 with her associate in psychology and then got her bachelor’s in psychology at Southern Connecticut State University in 2021.

For the last two years, Zumbo has worked for the insurance company, Cigna, as their Behavioral Case Management Lead, but the road to getting there was not always easy.

Zumbo started her journey at CT State/Housatonic Campus and was a full time student, with a full time job.

“I’d prioritize my tasks, take breaks to recharge, stay connected with supportive people, and revisit my goals to stay motivated.” - Rachel Zumbo

Zumbo would have to balance taking five to six classes and working full time. She says she coped with being filled with stress, anxiety, and the feeling of being overwhelmed as she was going through her journey through college by focusing on the future.

“Honestly, focusing on my long term goals and envisioning my future career helped keep me motivated,” she says. “Also I’d prioritize my tasks, take breaks to recharge, stay connected with supportive people, and revisit my goals to stay motivated.”

Zumbo not only experienced and had to cope with all these feelings during school, but she still feels them now.

“I still have those feelings, but I cope by taking breaks, practicing self- care, surrounding myself with supportive people, and staying organized,” she says. Zumbo offers this advice for current students struggling with stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed: “If you pace yourself, take time for yourself, practice mindfulness for stress relief, and just remind yourself of your goals will help and by balancing these elements keeps you energized and resilient.”

Not only students and graduates feel the heat of the stress of school, but teachers do as well.

“It can be hard to balance school and my personal life/other jobs,” Professor Joseph Pisani says. Pisani, who teaches primarily online classes at CT State, also covers many stories for news companies around Connecticut. With teaching online, he says, it is hard for him to feel connected and normal

while teaching the class. He says that it can be stressful to get students’ attention and even keep himself going on the right track during class to get what he wants done.

“Especially with being online. It is so hard because if we were in person and not through a screen we all would connect a lot more but with online it is hard to keep students engaged and keep them motivated to do their work,” he says. “It can be stressful.”

Pisani says that teaching can sometimes bring out those feelings of stress, anxiety, and the feeling of being overwhelmed, but he has ways to cope with those feelings.

“I manage my time, prioritize what I need to get done, and take breaks. While also having to write for multiple papers for the news companies I am a part of and grading/teaching, I still have to take time for myself and surround myself with people outside of work. Don’t get me wrong; it is still stressful, but I have ways to cope,” he says.

Pisani also has advice for students dealing with these feelings:, “There are multiple things you have to do. I would say meditate, take time for yourself, prioritize what you need to get done, don’t wait for the last possible minute to do things, manage your time, and figure out what is the most important thing you want to get out of college.”

“In the end your academic record matters, especially if you want to go to a bigger college,” he adds. “You just don’t want to give up, if it really matters to you will keep going with it, everything you do in college will be with you in your career.”

Isabella, Rachel, and Prof. Pisani all deal with stress, anxiety, and the feeling of being overwhelmed and have ways to cope with it. You can see through each of their own experiences that they all have stuff in common when it comes to coping with all those feelings. Just know that no matter where you are in life or stage of the game in school, you have people who know what you are going through and you can find ways to cope with these feelings and feel better.

HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST LIFE’S LESSONS COME AT TOO HIGH A COST?

TWO LIVES, TWO MOVIES.

REFLECTIONS ON THE NATURAL AND MANCHESTER BY THE

SEA

BY NATHANIEL GARCIA DESIGN ADVISOR

This past Thanksgiving, I found myself indulging in two thrift store discoveries: a DVD of Manchester by the Sea (2016) and an old VHS tape of The Natural (1984). Perhaps it’s the nostalgia of loading a tape or slipping a disc into a player that enhances the experience or maybe it’s the formats’ imperfections machine). Maybe it’s as basic as the lack of commercial interruptions.

In any event, what struck me most as I watched these two seemingly

Natural, a movie I’ve loved since childhood. Glenn Close, as Iris, tells Robert Redford’s Roy Hobbs, “I’m convinced that we have two lives. The life we learn with and the life we live after that.” The line stayed with me, resonating in a way it hadn’t before, at 44 years old, feeling the weight and promise of my own “second life.”

At its core, Iris’s observation is life, full of mistakes, naivety, and blind ambition, prepares us for the second - a life shaped by responsibility, resilience, and the application of lessons learned. Yet, as I mulled over this idea, it occurred to me that Manchester by the Sea offers a stark life’s lessons come at too high a cost?

Lee Chandler ( ), in Manchester by the Sea, is a man trapped in his second life, but it’s not a life lived in freedom or renewal. Instead, Lee lives a haunted existence and is weighed down by the guilt and grief of an accidental reassures him during the interrogation, yet was, indirectly, the result of Lee’s actions, or inactions, of the person he was during his

Lee’s mistakes weren’t malicious: a night of drinking and cocaine-fueled revelry

late-night beer run - but these seemingly minor lapses culminated in the tragically

unthinkable. What Manchester by the Sea recalled for me, upon a second viewing, was whether lessons learned in such cruel circumstances can allow someone to truly live their second life.

also shaped by a fall; a youthful arrogance that leads to a near-fatal encounter with a mysterious femme fatale. Like Lee, Roy enters his second life marked by loss - a promising baseball career cut short followed by years spent in obscurity, but unlike Lee, Roy’s second life carries a chance for redemption. Through determination, and the reconcile his past with the present. While he can’t undo his mistakes, he learns to transform them into a narrative of resilience and triumph.

The difference between Roy and Lee an allegorical sports drama, the other a realist character portrait) but in how each story approaches the idea of learning. Roy’s redemption arc is imbued with nearly mythic optimism and belief in self which makes renewal possible. Lee’s life resists such resolution because his grief is not a problem to be solved so much as it’s a

circle the same question:

What do we do with the

for his family when it mattered most—not because he didn’t love them, but because a cruel consequence of his self-indulgence, but it also stripped away everything that might have allowed him to grow from the mistake.

life inform his second. He learns humility, patience, and the value of perseverance. This doesn’t mean his past is erased. Instead, his past becomes the foundation for his triumph in the end.

As someone now entering what feels like my second life, I found myself thinking about what I’ve learned—and what I still need to apply. Divorce, betrayals, missed opportunities—they don’t have to be merely regrets but can be the raw material for what comes next. Lee Chandler ’s ghostly existence serves as a reminder: the lessons of a better second. They require action, commitment, and the willingness to grow.

Without those, the second life can become a purgatory rather than a redemption. Roy Hobbs, on the other hand, shows us what’s possible when we take what we’ve learned and apply it with of Iris’s words: “The life we learn with, and the life we live after that.” The challenge, it but in having the courage to truly live the second.

that destroyed his home and family, but in the choices that led up to it. He wasn’t there

the 2024-25 Housatonic's

By James El-Hage Staff Writer

Housatonic’s Take on the 202425 NBA Season By James El-Hage Staff Writer The NBA season is coming to an end and the playoffs are on the horizon. Before the start of the 2024-2025 NBA season, students from CT State Housatonic weighed in with their answers to some of the burning questions coming into the season. Before the 2024-2025 season opener, the teams with the best odds to win the NBA Finals according to FanDuel were the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Based on the students I talked to, Housatonic’s favorite to win the NBA Finals was the Boston Celtics with 60.8% of students picking them (14/23). The next closest teams were the Knicks at 21.7% (5/23) and the Lakers with 13% (3/23). “Most people that I have talked to end up picking the Celtics or the Lakers,’ said sophomore Ponce James.

‘Usually because of Lebron or the Duo of Tatum and Brown.” Coming into the season every team is optimistic about their chances to make the playoffs but in the end only 16 teams can make it each year.

Once they’re in the playoffs, anything can happen. In recent years we’ve seen more playoff upsets than ever before. Just last year the Pacers began the year with the 5th lowest odds to win the NBA Finals as their over/under for wins was at just 38.5. Despite this the Pacers were able to make the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics. What dark horse team could crash the postseason party this season? “A dark horse team I would consider is the Knicks,’ said soph omore Jaylen Wilson.

25 nba Season Housatonic's

“A dark horse team I would consider is the Knicks.’ said sophmore Jalyen Wilson.

“They have a solid team with a young core. They just have to find a way to mesh their talent and they could possibly make it far into the playoffs.” This offseason the New York Knicks went all in on a championship run by signing OG Anunoby to a 5 year $212,500,000 contract, trading for cross town Brooklyn Nets superstar Mikal Bridges, and trading away former All-NBA performer Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks open the season with the 4th highest odds to win the NBA Finals, which is the highest it has been since 2000. “My team I’m picking to make it far is the Los Angeles Lakers,’ said senior Denim Whitfield. “JJ Redick is going to change our offense for the better and have us running more plays than Darvin Ham ever did.” This offseason the Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham after being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. They also hired former NBA player JJ Redick to become their new head coach.

The JJ Redick hire has been a controversial topic this offseason because Reddick has never coached before in his life and it seems like the only reason he was hired is because he had a podcast with Lebron James. Nonetheless one thing Redick has harped on is shifting Anthony Davis to be the focal point of the offense instead of Lebron James. “With JJ Redick, Anthony Davis is going to have his best scoring year as a Laker,’ said Whitfield.

‘With JJ running more action he is going to get way easier looks than he did last year with people just standing around.” Last season was the first since 2005 that didn’t include either Lebron James, Steph Curry, or Kevin Durant competing in the second round of the playoffs. These superstars have shaped the childhood of fans around the world but could this season be the beginning of the end of the LeBron-Curry-Durant era? “

With JJ running more action he is going to get way easier looks than he did last year with people just standing around.” Last season was

include either Lebron James, Steph Curry, or Kevin Durant competing in the second round of the playoffs. These superstars have shaped the childhood of fans around the world but could this season be the beginning of the end of the LeBronCurry-Durant era?“

I do think that era is coming to an end,’ said Wilson. ‘LeBron is almost 40 playing with his son on the same team so he isn’t focused on getting a championship and Curry and Durant both look like they are slowly but surely slowing down.”

ability will likely never leave but, as he has gotten older his -

ciently has decreased. During his unanimous MVP season, Curry was scoring 5.3 points

percentage, according to the

goal percentage in the paint dropped to 49% one of the lowest marks of his career.

“The Lebron era is coming to an end sooner rather than later,” said

THE LEBRON ERA IS COMING TO AN END SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

I still think that Lebron, Curry and Durant are still going to be effective players into their 40s even if they aren’t dominating the league like they used to.”

Steph is the greatest shooter of all time and one of

He is a nightmare matchup every game because of his special ability to shoot from anywhere as soon as he passes halfcourt. Over the past ten seasons, Curry has made more outside the paint shots than any other player in the NBA. Curry’s shooting

“Even though it is the end, that era was a great era of basketball,” added Wilson. With the retirement of these long time superstars looming they have to pass the torch to the new era of superstars. Each generation of NBA talent has gone through it, with Michael Jordan passing the torch to Kobe Byrant who then passed it to Lebron James.

The NBA is now being Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wemanyama who will be the one to take the torch from Lebron James. “After Lebron retires, the Face of the NBA is going to be Anthony Edwards,’ said Ponce James. “Ant is a marketable person as I always see him cracking jokes postgame and in commercials.” Anthony Edwards burst onto the scene as a top player in the league last season after leading the Minnesota timberwolves to the At just 22 years old, Edwards is already arguably the greatest playoff performer in Timberwolves history, holding the franchise record for the most 30-point performances in the postseason. Edwards is amazing on the court, but Ponce believes that his personality gives him the edge to be the next face of the NBA.

“After LeBron retires, the future faces of the league could be Jokic or Luka,” Wilson countered. Nikola Jokic has been top 2 in the MVP voting for the last 4 years straight (winning 3 times). His skillset as a passer is what separates him from the other superstars as he leads all centers in assists per game with 6.9 for his career.

On the other hand, Luka Doncic has been a phenomenon since coming from Slovenia, becoming the fastest player since Michael Jordan to reach 10,000 career points -

dence that either Luka or Jokic will be the next face of the league because of their playoff experience and success. Both Luka and Jokic have made

2 years, Jokic winning in the 2022-2023 season, while Luka

2023-2024 season.

To ensure they will have the opportunity to make it back, both teams have made veteran acquisitions this

Can ChatGPT Really Write Our Essays?

By Robert Terentieff Staff Writer

Almost all students can relate to that feeling, a pit in your stomach as you prepare for your next essay. This can often be exacerbated by shortcuts like AI, tempting you to find ways around a looming deadline or dull rubric. However, through the Writing Center, workshopping tips, and peer collaboration, there are far more constructive ways to approach your next assignment. There’s no reason to chase that A!

The Writing Center at CT State Housatonic is one of the best places to develop confidence through participation. As an extension of the Academic Support Center, it strives on building a foundational relationship with all students, helping them to develop--not cheat--their way to new skills.

Karyn Smith, Coordinator of the Writing Center and a Professor of English at CT State Housatonic, makes this especially clear when she notes, “We’re here to make students not need us anymore,” a testament toward the center’s mission of making a longterm impact on students. Eventually, they hope that by the end of a student’s tenure they’ll have built enough skills to successfully work on their own.

From in-person tutoring to online essay feedback, the center focuses on being highly flexible to meet Housatonic’s equally dynamic student body. However, Smith recognizes, “Our bread and butter always has been and always will be one-on-one tutoring.”

“I think what it really offers students is a kind of unique mentorship,” a chance for students to “find a tutor they love and book them weekly,” she explains.

This is true for Gadiel Valdes, a tutor at the Writing Center, who often spends time with a series of recurring students. “You see students come back each semester, whether it be for any content-based class,” he says. There’s a sense of togetherness, where students can learn much more through conversation, finding answers to questions they might have never thought to ask. Continuing efforts to expand their services, the Writing Center has also opened the Writing Lab. As a drop-in classroom, it gives the students a middle ground between doing work independently and with a tutor. Smith explains, “It’s where you can raise your hand--how you might work with a professor, ask about citations. Get all your questions answered.” Students may then receive additional support or book

tutoring sessions as needed if they find that they are still struggling.

In order to further identify specific needs, Smith organizes two peer-development sessions a semester, allowing her, and the Writing Center tutors, to identify key problem areas. This year they’re focusing on reading comprehension, which seems to be becoming increasingly difficult in the digital age.

Paired with the advent of AI chatbots, and an increasing split of students taking online classes, there is a sense that the Writing Center, and teachers in general, are constantly in a state of flux. Still, Smith reiterates the need for all students to keep engaged through communication.

“Get to know your professor. Make an office hours visit just to pop in.” Simply, there is no way to succeed without trying to develop meaningful connections. And for a task as variable as writing, this couldn’t be more important.

your need to visit the Writing Center. She advises any student approaching an essay to, “know your audience and purpose.” In her classroom, she breaks this down into a two-day process. On day one, students work independently to draft their ideas. On the second, they do anonymous peer review, which, she notes, “lets students raise questions to one another, and maybe, find a way to emulate that in their own writing.”

Yet, it can often be difficult to connect your ideas to paper. Valdes explains that he approaches all essays by “having a piece of paper, ready to write down anything that might be useful.” In this way, it’s easier to develop intent and gives himself enough room to create a “skeleton or an outline of paper.” Structure can also be a way to remain on track, forcing you to reconcile with edits and thoughts.

He encourages anyone going to their first tutoring appointment to bring all possible assignment materials. It is often much easier to narrow focus with an excess of information, not an absence. It is also a great chance to begin contextualizing your essays, so that they can be developed towards each professor’s needs.

Thinking about the challenges of AI, Smith takes a nuanced approach. She handles the question carefully, “I think it’s a lot more constructive to view it as, you know, something like a calculator and sort of a natural progression.”

However, this technological leap seems to be happening at a deafening pace. “There are already

To put it simply: inevitable

Smith’s advice is applicable, regardless of

a few students who have told me when entering the workforce that their jobs require them to use AI,” Smith explains.

It also seems to be being adopted disproportionately and catering to those most disadvantaged. For ESL (English as a Second Language) students, who Smith often works with, it can be a “grammatical tool, if used correctly.” And for others, who do not have access to traditional resources, it can often be the first, or only, feedback they receive.

So, how do we reconcile? While Smith recognizes that those penalized for AI usage are often “those traditionally marginalized,” she also understands the line between being constructive and destructive.“It’s a time where I think students need to think about the choices they’re making because when you choose AI and you cut that corner, what else is being cut in response?”

As I’ve navigated going to high school fully online to now attending almost all of my classes in person, I am aware of AI’s appeal. Yet, in my second English class at CT State, I learned about the importance of peer review; how no machine could emulate a classmate’s response. I learned that when others read my writing, I had missed crucial details. I learned not

to be a victim of a one-way call and response. I came out the other end, most importantly, willing to ask questions and make real relationships. Even while writing this article, I toyed with ChatGPT. I asked it what it thought of itself, to which it replied, “I feel pretty motivated!” This confidence, I knew, could only be obtained by the markedly non-human.

When looking for answers towards amending, or increasing, AI usage, I returned to the task of writing. I asked myself whether I could ever put enough faith in describing the sky to a machine. Whether there would ever come a time when essays were nothing but algorithms. I came to realize that no matter AI’s efficiency, no student can afford to cheat themselves of the practical resources available to them.

There’s no replacement for a classmate’s smile or frown when reading your work. And I don’t think the doom of AI comes from a student getting away with its use, but the neglect to turn towards peers for help.

So, I implore all students to explore the Writing Center; talk to instructors like Smith; get to know students like Valdes. I ask that we never confuse each other’s voices for a shortcut, but take the opportunities around us, toughening ourselves to become better writers.

Even while writing this article, I toyed with ChatGPT. I asked it what it thought of itself, to which it replied,

“I feel pretty motivated!”

“I think it’s a lot more constructive to view it as, you know,

something like a calculator and sort of a natural progression.”

FINDING YOURSELF THROUGH THE CT STATE HOUSATONIC STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

BY SHADAE HARRIS STAFF WRITER

At CT State Housatonic, the Study Abroad program gives students more than just a chance to earn credits. By traveling to countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and more, students can learn about different cultures, meet new people, and grow personally and professionally. This program is not just about travel; it’s an experience that helps students understand the world better and build skills they will use throughout their lives.

The CT State Housatonic Study Abroad program offers students the chance to travel to different parts of the world, learn about other cultures, and build life skills. Each year, the program features trips to exciting locations, where students can experience new cultures. These trips are designed to help students grow, make new friends, and gain a global perspective that’s useful for both personal and professional life. Even though students may need to cover some costs, scholarships and financial aid are available to help. Through these experiences, students gain unique insights into how people in other countries live, work, and celebrate their traditions. Overall, Housatonic’s program encourages students to broaden their views and grow into confident, culturally aware individuals ready to make a positive impact.

Professor Jamilet Ortiz, who has a dual major in English literature and Spanish literature, is the founder of the CT State Study Abroad program. She describes the program as an experience that goes beyond academics, saying, “It’s more than just a class. You build lifelong friendships. I’ve had students that have taken the course more than one time, and they’ve graduated and gone off to different universities, but they’re also now the godparents to each other’s children. They’ve been bridesmaids at weddings; they have built lifelong connections.”

Ortiz also highlights the exciting activities included in the program, saying, “Every day we’re doing something new. We do things like sword making, flamenco dancing,and cooking classes which really immerses students in the culture.”

Additionally, Ortiz states the significance of cultural experiences, explaining, “The most important cultural thing to do is try their cuisine.” As Ortiz encourages and inspires students to travel more, especially while they have the time to, she says, “Traveling opens your mind and your heart to new possibilities.”

According to students in the Study Abroad program, they have had the chance to explore tons of locations across Europe, including cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and more. Each destination offers a great mix of history, culture, and art. This allows students to really con-

nect with the local environment and learn about the people who live there. They can explore museums, visit historical sites, and see beautiful artworks. By experiencing these places, students gain a deeper understanding of the local traditions and customs. They have visited memorable sites such as the Sagrada Família and the Alhambra and participated in exciting experiences like traditional flamenco shows and local culinary workshops. The itinerary is designed to provide students with a well-rounded view of each city’s unique character, ensuring their travels are not just educational but also deeply enriching. Ortiz says students have the opportunity to explore on their own because every day they have free time to roam the city. Also prior to going on the trip students may pick out a restaurant they would like to attend so the whole group could try it with them.

Former Study Abroad student Victoria De La Rosa shared that her experience in the study abroad program was unforgettable. She remembered visiting the Dali museum, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre.

“It’s just one of those experiences that I never thought i would be able to see in real life,” she added.

Victoria De La Rosa also talked about traveling to Spain and Portugal, connecting her with her heritage. “I had a wonderful experience going to those countries.”

These experiences even supported her career. “I actually truly believe that I landed my job because of the portion of my resume that had to do with traveling with Housatonic,” she added.

Other than her career and heritage, De La Rosa says she has made new habits, and lifelong friendships, and managed to stay active through the program.

Lif Torrejon also had a great experience as a student in the Study Abroad program with Housaronic. She went abroad to France and Spain and since she had already taken a French class, she was excited to put her skills to use.

She shared one of her experiences inside a store with a French customer when he told her that he appreciated her talking in their language. This experience made Torrejon feel comfortable. Although some people may say that French people are mean, Torrejon now disagrees.

“People say French people are mean, yeah I’ve never had that vibe. Yes, they correct me, but in a good way,” she said.

She did find the food challenging, especially with the croissants and butter, which she thought was too greasy and sweet, saying “croissants with jam aren’t real breakfast,” adding that she missed healthier foods.

She also explained how she was given the real European life with the bus rides. “Yet it was an experience right? How can I tell you it was sooooo packed? Half of the group can’t make it and have to wait to fight for the next one,” she recalled.

Other than that, Torrejon loved the experience, with the train ride just the overall experience and having the opportunity to travel.

“Traveling is great. It gives you an opportunity to explore and it is definitely a gift. Would I travel with them again? YES,” Torrejon said.

The CT State Housatonic Study Abroad program is more than just about school and traveling. It gives you a chance to grow, try new things, see new places, make friends, learn about different cultures, and languages, and more.

From Victoria De La Rosa learning more about her roots in Spain and Portugal to Lif Torrejon learning something new every day in France. It’s a great way to see the world and find yourself. For more information, students can check out the Study Abroad Program section on the CT State Housatonic website. Each person I spoke to had their own unique journey, showing how the program can change lives in different ways.

Does Face-To-Face Contact Help Us In A Crisis?

By Amelia Ferro

In a world where face-to-face connection is essential, Housatonic’s Counseling and Wellness Center is here to help manage your mental health, while also providing you with that face-to-face connection.

ing you with that personal connection from a counselor, especially when it comes to the person that helps you through it. Slade states, “Connecting helps us develop our emotional intelligence.”

“Connecting helps us develop our emotional intelligence.”

The Center provides free counseling in person to enrolled students with one of the two counselors, while also providing you with resources to help with your mental health.

According to Lisa Slade, Director of the Counseling and Wellness Center, “The Counseling and Wellness Center provides that face-to-face contact that you don’t see anymore.That in-person feel. It is different when you connect with someone a part of your community. Having that personal element of connection that you can’t find with a service.”

The Center will provide you with a way to connect to yourself while provid-

If you can’t make it in person, there are online services like Timely Care you can turn to for help.

If you are experiencing anything regarding your mental health, you can contact The Counseling and Wellness Center Monday through Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. You are also able to set up a meeting with a counselor through the email HC-counseling@housatonic.edu or by calling the number 203-332-5285. Learn more by looking at their website at:

New and Upcoming TV Show For Connecticut State Community College

CT State Norwalk is looking to expand its television program, and you can be a part of it. To kick off this fall semester, CT State Norwalk is in the works of making an online TV series called, “The Southern Fairfield Show” (also known as “The SoFa Show”). With its goal to share stories from CT State Norwalk and Housatonic; as well as local businesses and individuals within Southern Fairfield County. CT State Norwalk’s communications department head and founder of the show, Julie Casper Roth, talks about her ideal goals for the show. "The CT State Community College system has a system-wide marketing plan that serves potential students throughout the state. Because of this, right now The SoFa will be marketed to those within CT State-Norwalk; meaning the communities most represented on our campus,” Casper Roth states.

By Jacob Crumb Staff Writer

The show is still in the works, so it’s going to take some time to get recognition locally within Fairfield County. If it gains popularity, it would be a good starting point for “The SoFa Show” to expand to other audiences within Connecticut. “The SoFa Show” is a television show run by the staff and students of CT State Norwalk. Just because you are not a student at the Norwalk Campus, doesn’t mean that you can’t have the chance to join.

Those communities of CT State Norwalk are Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Cannan, Norwalk, and Westport. With the merger of all 12 community college campuses into CT State, there is a huge possibility that the show would attract attention from viewers outside Fairfield County. Casper Roth says, “Since the newly aligned system aims to serve students around the state, it might make sense to try and appeal to other audiences. We’ll see how this first year of web shows goes first, though. We’ll look at the data and see what is and isn’t working”.

"We welcome student participation and feedback. Students are the backbone of our community college system; that’s why we exist”

If you would like to participate in helping the show or be on the camera

Please contact julie.casperroth@ ctstate.edu for more information.

Our Next Binge Show

By Brianna Andujar Staff Writer

Scrolling through streaming services and can’t find anything you think is good? Endlessly scrolling around for something good can feel so boring. But do I have a show for you! If you have nothing to watch and you want something new, please try out this thriller series, Your Honor.

If just the name had you a little intrigued, trust me if you enjoy any type of crimerelated series, this is one worth the watch. Now, some scenes are a bit more gruesome than you would think the series would take. But this has such an impact on the story as it unfolds. As a viewer, I can say I gasped as some scenes were played out. Some felt like a genuine shock to me. So, give it a try because I can say, it will grab and carry your attention.

Your Honor follows Adam Desiato and his father Michael Desiato, after the event of Adam fleeing from a fatal car accident. The accident included the death of Rocco Baxter, the son of a mobster. His father, being a highly respected judge in the community, goes against the law and does everything in his power to help his son not be handed to the mobster. As we see the decisions Michael makes, we also see who it ends up affecting and how.

Image credited to IMDb.com and ‘Your Honor’, Showtime, Jeremy Martino.

Snapshot Profiles Pen, Paper, and Perseverance

By Robert Terentieff Staff Writer

For Mark Lamoureux, to write is to wear many hats. As a Professor of English at CT State Housatonic, he is all things: faculty mentor, parent, author, photographer–a seemingly endless pile of roles that have culminated in his decision to teach.

As I sit across from him, however, he reminds me that no path towards creativity is without hardship. From early on, his struggles have been an impetus for his work. He admits, “I suffered from a lot of undiagnosed, neurological, conditions like major depression and ADD.”

Fresh out of college, with a degree in creative writing and photography, these circum-

stances contributed to a sense of aimlessness. “I worked as a grocery store clerk and a dishwasher,” he says with a wry smile. He felt stuck, and with a promising talent for writing, he made a big city leap from his small town of Brattleboro, Vermont to Boston.

He soon found work at a publishing company specializing in Asian language textbooks. “It was a job, sure,” he says, shrugging, “but it didn’t feel like me.”

His ADD made editorial work difficult, and his spirit felt stifled. “I was miserable, honestly.”

Embracing change, he again pivoted, joining Harvard Business School as a faculty assistant. Yet, it was during this time that his depression peaked, forcing him to seek hospitalization. He learned to manage, and in fact, began to use this experience as a turning point. He found a new sense of concentration for his craft, allowing him to use expression as an outlet for angst.

In regaining a sense of place, he also found the confidence to share his writing. He began to pursue publication on his own terms by submitting to local literary magazines. Eventually, he joined a publishing collective, which pooled funds to make the professional release of his work possible, and an alternative path into the cutthroat world of authorship.

The author of six books, his developed pragmatism still remains ever important. His honesty now reflected in graded papers and an open door for students. As a teacher, he offers a realistic perspective for inspiring writers, “If you’re looking for stability, writing may not be the path.” His advice not meant to deter, but to inform; helping those who seek support with truth, not lies. Still, the aspirations of artistic fame are often fraught with elusion. There’s a sense that you have to be “hard living, like a bohemian poet, like Arthur Rimbaud, you know.” Which is a trapping that he still finds himself wrestling with, particularly as he navigates academia and the self-doubts of legitimacy.

Through a recent bout of writer’s block since his last book in 2023, he continues to show

There is no clear-cut

track,

“it all just depends on how devoted you are.”

Releasing his first book in 2003, and obtaining an MFA at the New School in NYC, he soon built upon this success. While the beginning of an extensive career, it would, again, not be without strain. He recounts, “Being a young writer, I wasn’t really that savvy or wise in the ways of the world.”

When trying to publish his first book, he notes a costly mistake, where he paid a publisher $3,000, only to never see the book released. Like many of his struggles, this soon served to teach him. Through naivety he discovered that one must consider the market of words, not simply the creation.

that his struggles are an integral part of his process.

By turning from writing, towards photography and other pursuits, there is a sense that distance can provide clarity and a chance for him to ask and consider, “Why do I write and, what am I looking for?”

But, he perseveres, noting a curiosity to succeed over a want to succumb.“Whether you’re willing to, like, eat ramen for 10 years,” he jokes, though in a way, earnest, understanding of his past, and serious about the future. He acknowledges that no written path is without sacrifice–how that can in fact be a freedom to explore, to write, and now: teach.