PASQUINO November 28, 2017
Volume 97
Number 2
4-Year Nursing Degree Coming to Potomac State By Aaron Smith, Managing Editor
One patient is bleeding out, another needs his breathing and heartbeat monitored, another needs his pulse checked quickly. It would be easy to be intimidated, but you’re surrounded by medical equipment and armed with the knowledge to treat these patients. You’re not in an emergency room, but in one of the newly renovated simulation labs coming to Potomac State with the new four-year nursing program. Classes will be enriched with advanced labs and exciting equipment. “We will have one large skills lab and two smaller high-tech simulation rooms,” the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Chairperson April Shapiro said. “Some of the mannequins will blink, breathe, have a beating heart, have pulses you can feel, have bowel sounds…they are amazing!” Patient care units and equipment in both the skills and simulation labs will look like students are in real hospital rooms. Shapiro believes students will have fun with the hands-on learning that captures the environment in which they will one day be working. Students accepted in the program
Students in WVU’s STEPS lab work treating a mannequin patient. Newly renovated labs and mannequins that blink, breathe, and have pulses will be a part of the fouryear nursing program coming to Potomac State. Photo by Bob Beverly
will enjoy small class sizes while still receiving the same education provided at West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus. “We will be following the same curriculum, following the same student handbook, and expecting the same standards as the Morgantown campus does,” Shapiro said. The program will be challenging but rewarding. Shapiro added that students in the program who work hard and are determined will be more than prepared
to take their nurse licensure exam, provide high-quality care, or even continue their education at a graduate level. In 2016, graduates of WVU’s BS/BA Nursing program had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX, the standardized test for entry-level nursing practice. Those who earn their degree will likely have the hard work pay off in the career field. “Nursing is in such high demand right now. Our community – our country – faces a critical nursing shortage and employers are in dire
Volleyball Team Makes Second Trip to Nationals Congratulations to the Potomac State Volleyball team for earning their second trip in the college’s history to the National Conference. After winning the regional championships with a 3-0 victory over top-seeded Northern Virginia Community
College at the Region XX Division II Women’s Championship, the team competed in Charleston as the #15 seed. The Catamounts fell 3-0 to #2 Seed Parkland CC and lost to #10 Seed Iowa Central 3-0.
need of BSN-educated nurses to meet the complex needs of today’s patients, especially the chronic problems our aging baby boomers are facing,” Shapiro said. Having the degree program at PSC is a win-win for students and employers. Hampshire County Committee on Aging Executive Director Julie Linger said, “[Students] being able to complete their degree close to home will hopefully allow more dreams to become reality.” The HCCoA places nurses in homes of the elderly with individualized plans of care. Linger added, “Businesses will benefit from having a larger pool from which to select qualified workers.” The program is likely to be very competitive. Enrollment Services reported 149 pre-nursing students registered this fall. However, only 24 seats are available in the Fall 2018 program. Applications will be accepted Dec. 1 – Jan. 15. Those with questions about the program should contact Shapiro at the Student Health Center on campus or at ashapiro@hsc.wvu.edu. Program information and admission requirements will continue to be updated on the Academics section of the PSC website. Important Upcoming Dates Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 7-13 Jan 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 12 Feb. 16
Last day to withdraw Last day of classes Finals Week Resident Halls open @ noon First day of classes Last day to add/drop classes Last day to apply for graduation
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FACULTY PASQUINO
November 28, 2017
Professor’s Big Midterm Test: Becoming A Dad By Aaron Smith, Managing Editor
While most students were taking their midterms this year, professor Steve Oberlechner was preparing for the “test of his life”: becoming a father. His wife and fellow professor, Cassandra Pritts, gave birth to their daughter on Sept. 27, 2017. On that day, Oberlechner added “proud dad” to his list of accomplishments, which includes hiking over 2,000 miles and being a published author. Oberlechner is using his English background to pick up on ways his newborn daughter communicates. “Instead of just crying, we can hear cooing noises,” he said. “She can make some very funny faces!” The test of fatherhood is one that Oberlechner finds exciting and terrifying. He and his wife are adjusting and learning as they go. “No regrets, just less sleep!” he said with a chuckle. “It helps to have Cassie going through it with me. We’ll be supporting each other while we learn to support a child.” Juggling the responsibilities of grading midterm papers and a newborn in the hospital made Oberlechner’s time dedicated to hiking the Appalachian Trail alone seem like a walk in the park. The trail runs from Georgia to Maine, through 12 different states with hazards that include severe weather, black bears, venomous snakes, limited water and tick-borne diseases. “I really love it, despite the difficulty,” Oberlechner said. He plans to keep working his way south, finishing up the last 400 miles of the trail. The beauty of the world and the adventure in seeing it appeals to him. “Part of what I enjoy about it is just being in nature and being alone to reflect and take in a gorgeous view.”
Professor Steve Oberlechner holds his daughter, Elizabeth. She was born Sept. 27, 2017. Photo provided by Oberlechner
Oberlechner often finds inspiration on the trail, too. “There’s little to distract me,” he said. Inspiration is the first part in Oberlechner’s long process of writing. He’s had nonfiction pieces appear in The Gettysburg Review, Prairie Schooner and most recently, The Cimarron Review. His fiction work has appeared online at The Cortland Review and Connotation Press. In his published writing, Oberlechner has written about his family and growing up in rural Pennsylvania. He plans to write about his time spent hiking, and he is working on a collection of essays linked by people and places. Getting his work published is something that has taken much time and
attention. Oberlechner’s goal is to one day be published by the Alaska Quarterly Review, a biannual literary journal published by University of Alaska Anchorage. “I like the idea of my work laying around in some coffee shop in Anchorage or Juneau for somebody to pick up and enjoy or suffer,” Oberlechner said. Recently, Oberlechner received a personal note from The Alaska Quarterly Review encouraging him to send more pieces, though his submission was not published. This has driven Oberlechner to continue to perfect his work. “I don’t send out a piece unless it’s ready, and that means it can take a long time,” Oberlechner said. He tries to stress that message to his students. “If [being published] is something that excites you, [it] can
absolutely happen, but you’ve got to submit your very best work. It requires good care and attention.” That level of care and attention is something he will teach his new students in English 100, 101, 102, and 214 next semester. In English 214, Creative Non-Fiction, Oberlechner places value in peer feedback and collaboration. Students ‘submit’ pieces to the class, and the works are discussed as a group with other students offering praise and suggestions in a friendly atmosphere. Unlike composition classes, the focus is on creativity, allowing students to get concrete feedback on their concepts and ideas without a heavy focus on grammar. “Writing is a way to represent yourself,” Oberlechner said. “I hope [students] can see the broad application of effective communication, no matter the career goal.”
Oberlechner has hiked over 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, currently working his way toward the trail’s south end. Photo provided by Oberlechner
November 28, 2017
FACULTY PASQUINO
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New English Professor PSC Welcomes New Plants Roots in Keyser Math Professor By Levi Linn, Contributing Writer
Mia Martini, a new English professor at Potomac State College, has finally found where she wants to settle down. Before coming to Keyser, Martini was raised in a small town of no more than five hundred between Pittsburgh and Eyre. She eventually moved to Philadelphia to get a taste of the big city but ended up feeling out of place. Martini craved to return to the mountains while attending various colleges around the country. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia, the University of Illinois in Chicago and Purdue University in Indiana. While studying at these schools, Martini achieved a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, a master’s degree in English and a doctorate in Post Civil War American Literature. Martini said she had the same difficulties in her college experience that most students struggle with. In fact, she attributes a big strain on most students to be something called “Imposter Syndrome.” “It’s where you look around the room and think, ‘Everyone else is so much smarter than me. I don’t belong in this room’, and it’s insidious,” explained Martini. “The biggest thing is being able to look at both what you do well and what you struggle with. You’ll get those moments where you feel like you don’t belong, but you do.” Martini said that now that she’s arrived at PSC, Keyser and the college have been very welcoming. This is her first year teaching here, and she already feels like part of the community. She is developing great professional relationships with other faculty members. Martini said other professors have
been extremely helpful to her, and they don’t act like she’s imposing on them. “I enjoy being in an environment that fosters collaboration and not competition,” Martini said. An important part of her work environment also includes being in the mountains. “I wouldn’t even apply for a job anywhere that didn’t have mountains,” she said. “The Keyser street signs are accurate in calling this the friendliest town in the country. Everyone has been very kind and it’s like an actual community.” She hopes to bring that kindness into the classroom. “A lot of students are nervous about the stakes of college,” Martini said. She wants to have a place in her classroom where students can still pursue their own interests and give various things a try. “It’s about making the students feel like a part of the class. There are goals and objectives to meet, but we can do that with topics interesting to the students and their passions.” Martini said she truly enjoys reading interesting topics with unique perspectives. Along with reading and writing, Martini is an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy. She enjoys George R. R. Martin’s writing in “A Song of Ice & Fire.” She’s currently waiting for the last book in the series to be released before she begins watching the television adaptation, “Game of Thrones.” In the future, Martini hopes to still be teaching at PSC. She said she has been focused on getting a job like the one she has now, and she wants to put down roots in a community where she feels at home. It’s looking like Keyser is going to be home. “I hope I’ve found my community. Nothing has told me otherwise.”
By Zoe Sypolt, Contributing Writer
New PSC Professor Nikki Chandler poses for a photo on the Quad. Photo by Zoe Sypolt
“For me, I was coming back home.” Coming back home was a priority for new professor Nikki Chandler and her family. Chandler learned early on what Potomac State had to offer. “My first college classes were taken through PSC when I was a high school student at Petersburg High School.” Chandler’s love of math started early. “I always loved math. In high school, I think I liked it most because I naturally excelled in the subject matter and enjoyed helping my fellow students learn,” Chandler said. “As a math major in college, I realized it’s an incredibly deep and powerful subject matter. Odd as it may seem to ‘non-math’ people, I believe it the most interesting and most beautiful subject one can study.” After high school graduation, she started out in college at West Virginia University before getting married to a U.S. Air Force airman. To be closer to
the air force base, she then transferred to a small university, The University of Mount Olive in North Carolina. While there, her professors inspired her to become a professor of mathematics. “There were only three math professors in the entire math department at UMO. Those three professors became my greatest mentors,” Chandler said. Her experience at UMO led her to PSC. “Their influence led me to want to teach at a similar small institution, where the professors can get to know all the students and have the greatest impact on the entire student body.” Chandler’s best advice for students during the busy semester is to remember that college is not a sprint but a marathon. “Just keep swimming” is what comes to her mind when you may feel like giving up. She advises students to push through the semester and just do their best. In her spare time, Chandler enjoys spending time outdoors or playing tractors with her young son, who will be two in January. She and her family love the West Virginia mountains and are thrilled to now be “home.” Pasquino Writers/Design: Aaron Smith, Managing Editor Cody Brazil, Editor Molly Browning, Editor Ryan Cook, Copy Editor Contributing Writers: Rebecca Helsley SeVohn Hunter Levi Linn Logan Scott Zoe Sypolt Matthew Timbrook Join the Staff! Contact Amber Butcher, advisor amber.butcher@mail.wvu.edu
HUMANS OF POTOMAC STATE PASQUINO
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November 28, 2017
Inspired by “Humans of New York,” a diverse group of students was interviewed and photographed. To keep the focus on their experiences, the subjects are not identified by name. These are the stories of the Humans of Potomac State.
“I’ve spent my entire life in Moorefield, and I crave something new. I really want to just go out and see the entire continental United States, but I don’t really have the means to do it. I’m kind of thinking of becoming a truck driver after I’m done here. I’ll get to get paid and have a better chance of achieving my dream. I one day hope to have a postcard from every single state.” Interview by Cody Brazil, Editor
“I study and study some more. I have ANOTHER test today. It seems to never end. I guess that’s what you get when you’re a biology major. I still manage to hold an office in two clubs, actively participate in my church group and spend time with my family and friends.” Interview by Zoe Sypolt, Contributing Writer
@PSCPasquino
“When I got my first tattoo, my mother and I decided to get it together. It took me a while to figure it out, but I found the one that I liked. I showed my mom the tattoo and she told me that her grandma, my great-grandmother, would always sign ‘I love you’ through the glass door, and we would sign it back. So, it was always our little thing.” Interview by Rebecca Helsley, Contributing Writer
Check us out Online! pscpasquino.wordpress.com Be sure to follow us on Twitter!
“One day my friends randomly invited me to compete in the Hampshire County Fair Pageant. I won the title of Miss Hampshire County Fair. Once you win that title it is kind of mandatory that you become a contestant for the Miss West Virginia Pageant. Although I did not win, I got to make a lot of great connections, and I had the chance to make a difference in the state. I would say my personal favorite part of competing was getting to visit the West Virginia public schools. I currently study political science and hope to work with legislatures in the future. I created a non-profit to benefit veterans, and I really want to explore that aspect of it all.” Interview by Cody Brazil, Editor
AROUND CAMPUS
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PASQUINO
November 28, 2017
PSC Students Give Back to their Communities By Molly Browning, Editor
“I knew that giving an afternoon of my time to this unique park would be the smallest token I could give back to this piece of history,” said Potomac State College student Maddy Buss. Buss volunteered to clean up trash at the Flight 93 National Park in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. While Buss volunteered she had the chance to speak with families of victims who were aboard Flight 93. “I don’t remember everything she said to me about her relative, but I remember exactly how she made me feel: heavy-hearted but incredibly enlightened.” Buss’s experience had a great emotional impact on her that, she says, will always last with her.
“The realization that you have impacted someone’s life is a huge reward.” PSC is working to give students opportunities to get involved in giving back to their community.
WVUe coordinator/professor Andrea Schafer has made it a goal to help students develop life skills as well as career skills. In the WVUe curriculum, students are given an Outreach Engagement Assignment in which they are asked to find a way to give back or engage the community. “Life skills are just as important as career skills,” said Schafer. It gives the students an opportunity to “step out of their comfort zone.” Schafer found that this assignment impacted a lot of students. “They see a personal impact or career impact,” said Schafer. Tori Kane participated in giving meals to veterans. After speaking with them, Kane decided she wanted to go into the military. “I think it’s important to show that we aren’t selfish and only take care of what we benefit from,” said PSC student Cassidy Aldridge when talking about giving back to her community. Aldridge works at her local YMCA at the front desk, in child care and as a managing assistant. Aldridge found herself staying past her shift, helping the maintenance staff. “I noticed how hard the maintenance staff’s job was, so I decided to help out.” Aldridge was offered a higher-level position as a party handler as a result of her extra volunteer work.
Volunteering led to more job opportunities.
Maille OToole power washes sidewalks in Mineral County. Photo provided by Potomac State College
Not only does this assignment help students to develop communication and interpersonal skills, it also reflects two more of Orlikoff’s core values. Schafer says that accountability and appreciation are also very important
West Virginia University students from Keyser and Morgantown campus come together to help clean up Mineral County areas. Photo provided by Potomac State College
here. By volunteering, students are showing accountability “by showing up and going through with what they said they would do,” said Schafer. “Appreciation is realized when a student discovers they have a role and a voice on their campus and in their community,.” WVUe isn’t the only way students are getting involved. Clubs also host events that give students the chance to fundraise or participate in the community. This year, The Introduction to Event Logistics class hosted a toy drive Nov. 15th and 16th. During this event, gifts were collected and distributed through the local schools to students/families in need. “I think it is important for students to get involved in the community because it makes a difference in the lives of others,” said event coordinator Amy Weaver. “The realization that you have impacted someone’s life is a huge reward.” During the month of October, PSC students and Morgantown campus stu-
dents joined together to complete projects in various Mineral County areas. These projects included painting at the Mineral County Family Resources site as well as cutting grass, power washing sidewalks and cleaning the parking lots at the Mineral County Health Department. Students also worked on similar projects in the city of Piedmont. PSC clubs are also active in the community. Catamounts Against Cancer has hosted Relay for Life events in the past. Catamounts Against Cancer raised over $1,000 at a mini Relay for Life in October of 2016. This money was then donated to American Cancer Society and the Mineral County Relay for Life. The student government also participated in donating their time to paint a house in the community and placed American flags on the quad in honor of veterans for Veterans Day. “Our campus is an integral part of this community, and by giving back we are showing the community around us that we care,” said Weaver.
CAMPUS INTEREST
November 28, 2017
PASQUINO
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Taste One of Many What To Expect When Marvelous Munchies at You’re Expecting Finals Marla’s Bakery By SeVohn Hunter, Contributing Writer
By Matthew Timbrook, Contributing Writer
Marla Payne poses with one of her creations. Photo by Matthew Timbrook
If you happen to be walking down Main Street here in Keyser, you might find yourself following the delicious aroma of fresh-baked cookies into the charming robin-egg blue building with white trim; there you will find one of the town’s sweetest local businesses: Marla’s Main Street Bakery. Marla Payne first opened her business on September 23, 2008, after her husband was injured at work. Knowing it was up to her to support her family in their time of need, she made the decision to open a bakery. Although she had never owned a business before, Payne had knowledge of how to proceed from previously managing very large bakeries. Although she recalls having had a talent at making treats for friends and family from as early as the age of 9, culinary school was never an option while she was growing up. Owning and operating her own bakery was an unexpected turn of events, but it seems to have been a pleasant surprise. Payne provides custom cakes, donuts,
cookies and more to customers of all ages in the local area and beyond and is always seeing new faces walking through her doors. “I like to think of all my customers as my friends and some of them even as family,” said Payne. “I know people by the foods they like. I may not always know their name - which is sad - but eventually I do.” It’s refreshing to see a local business such as Payne’s operate in my home town; she provides a great service to our community, but it’s up to us to ensure that services such as hers can afford to stay open. “If the local community would come in to every small business - and this isn’t hard to do - and spend fifty dollars a month, small businesses would thrive. They would,” said Payne. So if you’re downtown and your stomach is growling, consider stopping by Marla’s Main Street Bakery for a pastry or two; just prepare to be treated less like a customer and more like family.
SeVohn Hunter is prepared for finals week, wearing her signature hoodie and UGG boots. Photo by Cody Brazil
We are finally into the fall/winter months and we are undoubtedly so excited to finally break out the UGG boots and hoodies, but there is also a darkness looming ahead: finals. There are horror stories about finals told years before you actually get to college. Getting No sleep, being super stressed and having mental breakdowns. This can be absolutely terrifying. Sleep is a human need that should never be sacrificed. A popularized way of studying for finals is cramming the night before; we should know by now that is not the way to go. It is true that if you study before going to bed, sleep will help you absorb the information you just went over (I learned that in PSYCH 101.), but cramming and then sleeping for a couple hours will not give your brain time to process the information and will ultimately leave you sleep-deprived.
The best way to study is to break it up into sections over one or two days with breaks in between. Stressing is never fun, especially when it comes to a test that can drastically alter your GPA. Using the study habits mentioned above will help you feel prepared for finals and keep you from being stressed about your grades. Whenever you start to feel that niggling in your stomach or chest, take a few minutes to focus on your breathing and be present. After a long day of studying, a hot bath or shower and some selfish indulgences before bed will relax your mind and result in many hours of needed sleep. These easy tips will calm the volcano inside of you and prevent the eruption that is a mental breakdown. If you really think about it, finals are an insignificant piece of the vast life you will live. They may seem important in the moment, and they are, but they will not determine your life’s purpose. After finals week, you can sleep for as long as you want and watch as many trashy TV shows that make your heart happy. Remember these words of wisdom, and you can laugh in the faces of those who try to scare you with their finals horror stories.
More Tips and Tricks 1. Develop summary sheets and flashcards. 2. Study in groups. 3. Eat healthy well-balanced meals. 4.Visit The Academic Success Center or your professor for tutoring. 5. Try to make studying fun by finding quiz games online.
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OPINION PASQUINO
New “Thor: Ragnarok” Film Shines By Ryan Cook, Contributing Writer
Ryan Cook with a poster for “Thor: Ragnarok.” Photo provided by Cook
Title: “Thor: Ragnarok” Director: Taika Waititi Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett In Theaters: Now Score: 9/10 2017 has been an excellent year for superhero movies. First, we were treated to the groundbreaking Wolverine film “Logan” in March. Then came the colorful and emotional “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” in May. Audiences across the world fell in love with Gal Gadot in the blockbuster hit “Wonder Woman” in June, and July reintroduced Spider-Man to fans of all ages in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Now, Marvel’s mightiest Avenger returns to the big screen in “Thor: Ragnarok.” Directed by indie-filmmaker Taika Waititi (“What We Do in the Shadows,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”), “Thor: Ragnarok” picks up two years after the events of 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is now on a quest to stop the evil goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett), from unleashing Ragnarok, “the end of all things,” upon his home world of Asgard.
After Thor’s first encounter with the goddess of death doesn’t go his way, the mighty Thor is cast off to the savage planet known as Sakaar. It’s while he’s on Sakaar that Thor reunites with his fellow Avenger, Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Comic book fans are treated to one of the most epic gladiatorial movie fights in recent years between Thor and Hulk before the plot of the film really starts running. In a year with no shortage of great comic book movies, “Thor: Ragnarok” doesn’t disappoint. Hemsworth gives his best and most comedic performance as the god of thunder yet. With “Ragnarok” being his fifth outing as Thor, Hemsworth seems to be having more fun than ever in his role. Tom Hiddleston is outstanding as usual as Thor’s adopted brother, Loki. While he still lives up to his nickname of the god of mischief, Loki has a significant change of heart in this movie, and Hiddleston plays this to perfection. The Hulk has never been more interesting than in this movie. For the first time in movie history, the Hulk speaks in full sentences, which provides some great comedic moments with Thor. What makes this Hulk more interesting is that because his intelligence has improved, Banner and his Hulk side are fighting for mental control. Ruffalo brilliantly portrays this as both Banner and Hulk. As for the new characters in the film, Blanchett’s Hela is a force to be reckoned with. Blanchett brings the perfect balance of humor and pure evil that makes Hela the best villain of the Thor franchise since Loki in the original film. Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park”) also joins the cast as the Grandmaster, and every line of dialogue he says is appro-
priately golden. No one can deliver a line quite like Goldblum, and his talent is on full display in this movie. One of the many standout characters in the film is actually played by the film’s director, Taika Waititi. In “Ragnarok,” Waititi plays Korg, a giant rock monster with a gentle, soothing voice who tries to befriend Thor. It’s impossible to do the character justice by describing his appearance and lovable personality, but it’s definitely a highlight of the film. Overall, the “Thor” franchise takes a pleasing direction with “Ragnarok.” The film has a similar look and color palette to Marvel’s other space franchise, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, but “Thor: Ragnarok” has a very different sense of humor and adventure than the other superhero movies that were released this year. The film has a runtime of over two hours, but it never feels too long. The jokes are related to the plot, and the sense of urgency in the movie makes its runtime fly by. “Ragnarok” is a funny action/adventure film to watch over Christmas break. Heads up to Marvel fans who know to stay seated when the credits start to roll --- there are two scenes during the credits of “Ragnarok.” Interesting Highlights “Ragnarok” pairs Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” with great action. One of the film’s most publicized lines was written by a child visiting the set thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Becoming known as one of the best lines in a Marvel movie, Thor says to Hulk: “Yes! We know each other. He’s a friend from work.”
November 28, 2017
Student Started in Radio at Age 13 By Logan Scott, Contributing Writer I got my start in radio when I was 13. My aunt was recording a commercial spot for the bank she manages, and she took me with her. I took a tour of the station. I reached out to Amy Ryan, the program director of WQZK. Amy hosted me as a guest on “Share the Chair” numerous times from my seventh grade year through high school. Amy took me under her wing and taught me everything I know about radio. On my 18th birthday, I turned in my application. Six days later, I became a member of the Allegany Radio Corporation family. The Allegany Radio Corporation in Cumberland is home to four FM stations and two AM stations. You can hear me on 94.1 WQZK and Magic 100.5 WDYK on the weekends. I entertain my listeners with various celebrity and entertainment news along with other breaking news: accidents, inclement weather and regional events. One of my favorite parts about working in radio is connecting with the listeners. Answering the request line, engaging on social media and interacting during live broadcasts. I work in one of the most state-of-the art studios in the country. We use Axia digital consoles, edit audio in Adobe Audition and program in Wide Orbit Radio Automation. I use these tools for production and to broadcast my live radio show. I get to work with the equipment when I cover football games, do remote broadcasts and for many other occasions. In addition to working at the radio staion, I am a full-time education major at PSC. You can find me on Facebook, @LoganScott941.
November 28, 2017
PSC PEOPLE
PASQUINO
A Day in the Life of a Nontraditional Student By Cody Brazil, Editor
Nontraditional student Matthew Thomas finds time to balance his school work as well as life. Photo by Cody Brazil
“The biggest limitation I would say is time. Being a nontraditional student is definitely a practice of time management. Everybody takes something as simple as mowing your lawn for granted, but when you’re putting in a 60 hour week it becomes something you really wish you had time for,” said Matthew Thomas, a 46-year-old Potomac State College student. Thomas is a registered respiratory therapist and the full-time manager of the Respiratory Therapy Department at the Hampshire Memorial Hospital. He decided to return to college for career advancement, as well as personal achievement. Thomas believes that he’d never be able to balance school with his job and personal life alone. He has the full support of his wife of 25 years, as well as his 23-year-old daughter Madeline and his 19-year-old daughter Jordan. “I really couldn’t be doing this without my daughters. Madeline has her degree in English so I like to get her to proofread my papers. She likes to make fun of my grammar so it works out,” said Thomas. Thomas believes that the hardest
part of balancing his school, work and personal life has been time management. In addition to his homework and studying he is responsible for maintaining his home and taking care of his elderly parents. He is also expected to cover extra shifts, so there can be some overlap in schedules. Luckily for him, it doesn’t happen too often. “I’ve found that as I grow older, my attention span grows shorter, but my priorities have always been my family,” explained Thomas. Thomas said that scheduling has never really been a problem for him while earning his degree, but he has had problems with his willpower and focus. In his current stage of life, Thomas has the time and the means to do more activities with his wife, so school is not his main focus. “I do not regret any of the choices I’ve made. If I could go back and do it again then I think I would have absolutely gotten my degree earlier-certainly before having children. But I cherish my family, and I have a great job. So I am pretty happy where I am, but my advice for traditional students is focus on your studies and earn your degree.” Thomas said that he hopes earning his Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree may help him work in the field at a corporate level. Thomas added, “The years in college are short, and they really do help form who you are as an adult. I would also say that grades are not everything, and learning is not just done in the classroom; experience as much as you can and take in the moments, good and bad, because time, well, time likes to fly away.”
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Vet Goes From Building Bombs to Hitting the Books By Molly Browning, Editor
“I was a troublemaker. I needed to get some foundation under my feet to kind of start a decent life,” Potomac State College student and veteran Steffan Chapman stated, explaining his original reason for joining the military. Chapman worked on ships as Aviation Ordinanceman during his time in the military. “I built bombs, missiles, rockets, anything that went boom pretty much,” said Chapman. His training began in Pensacola, Florida. He then was stationed in San Diego, California for a short time before being deployed to Japan. Traveling was Chapman’s favorite part of his time in the service. He’s been to Guam, South Korea, Hawaii, Florida, California, Chicago and Japan. “I have friends from all over the world now,” stated Chapman. “No matter where I go, there’s probably somebody kind of close to me.” Chapman is an Upstate New York native, so the question arises: How did he end up at PSC? “Funny story, actually. I’ve been a West Virginia fan since seventh grade. Figured I’d try to follow a dream, and here I am at Potomac State.” Chapman is studying psychology at PSC, with plans of becoming a high school guidance counselor. The laidback atmosphere of Keyser allows Chapman to spend time focusing on his studies. Although WVU and PSC are very helpful and offer plenty of veteran benefits, Chapman stated that the government made it especially difficult for him to receive the benefits. The process took over two months to finally
get them. “The government isn’t only paying me, they are paying every single veteran who’s attending college, so they get backed up a lot.” PSC also offers veteran parking and a veterans’ lounge, but Chapman said he doesn’t like to receive these special privileges just because he’s a veteran. “I’m just a normal person, you know? I had to take a different road.” Chapman is also the Veterans’ Representative in the Student Government Association. Chapman expressed how it is somewhat hard trying to make a difference on the campus for the veterans, primarily because most of the veterans he knows are commuters who come to class then leave. However, Chapman states that he’s still working on ideas.
Steffan Chapman said he has been a West Virginia University fan ever since he was little. He followed a dream and ended up at PSC. Photo by Molly Browning