The Scene Issue 5 Spring 2019

SCENE THE

THE

Spring Issue 5

April 26, 2019

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Closet monsters

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See page 3

Valuable possessions See page 4

St. Louis Community College at Forest Park

Forest Park student overcomes asthma She plans to be a respiratory therapist

STLCC license plates will show school pride

By Joshua Phelps The Scene staff Jennifer Nichole Williams has been suffering from asthma since childhood, but it wasn’t until four years ago that she became familiar with the term “respiratory therapist.”

“I didn’t realize they were the ones taking care of me,” said Williams, 29, now a student at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

The discovery prompted Williams, who already was attending Forest Park, to begin taking prerequisite courses for its respiratory care program. She will receive her associate’s degree in May. Williams already has a job lined up after graduation. She also plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in health sciences by taking online classes at University of Missouri in Columbia.

“Everything is happening so fast,” she said. “Everything is turning for me. Everything is changing.”

Williams’ career choice surprised her family because they thought she had found her niche as a singer.

She attended musically inclined schools, including Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, and performed at venues ranging from nursing homes to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

Williams’ mother, Bettie Williams, wanted her to major in music in college.

But she and other family members supported her decision to enter a health-related field.

By Neftali Acosta The Scene staff

Provided photo

Respiratory care major Jennifer Nichole Williams, 29, poses in the fourth floor corridor between D and E towers.

“I saw how she suffered from respiratory issues and how she took her pain and made it her purpose,” said Jennifer Williams’ aunt, Karen Metcalfe, a nurse for more than 30 years.

Williams hasn’t completely turned her back on music. She plans to release a single, “Turn to Me Again,” this summer.

Asthma diagnosis

Williams was diagnosed with asthma at age 3 and spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up.

“I was diagnosed as a severe asthmatic, meaning my asthma attacks were only induced by specific triggers, such as pollen

See Therapist page 3

Archers swing into postseason

Photo by Fred Ortlip

STLCC’s Sidney Litviak watches her opposite-field double that accounted for three runs in the first inning April 22 en route to the Archers’ 17-0 victory over the Central Methodist University JV team.

The St. Louis Community College softball team is on a roll heading into the postseason.

A doubleheader sweep on April 22-23 boosted the Archers’ overall record to 34-3 as they head into Region 16 play on May 3-4 at Meramec.

The team moved up from No. 13 to No. 9 this week in the NJCAA Division II rankings.

The season highlight so far is the team’s first-ever championship in the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference.

On Monday, the Archers pounded the Central Methodist University JV team 15-0 and 17-0. Then at Rend Lake College on Tuesday, they ran their winning streak to 13 games, sweeping the Warriors 7-5 and 11-5.

The Archers were scheduled to conclude the regular season with a doubleheader Wednesday at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and other Missouri residents will soon be able to buy customized St. Louis Community College license plates.

The STLCC Foundation is in the final stages of getting approval from the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles.

“It’s a great way to show school pride,” said Colleen Phillips, coordinator of alumni relations and annual fund. “You have to get (a license plate) anyway.”

The foundation raises money and distributes scholarships to STLCC students. The license-plate program Pittman will be a fundraising tool because people must donate $25 to be eligible to buy one.

The license plate shows the name “St. Louis Community College” on the left, in front of an image of the Gateway Arch.

Along the bottom is the STLCC motto, “Expanding Minds. Changing Lives.”

It’s unclear when the state will give final approval to print the license plates.

When they become available, photography major Ethan Tutor, 19, would like to get one.

“I’d like to show representation of my school,” he said. “People like to brag about their school.”

On the other hand, graphic communications major Larry Cox, 18, probably won’t be getting an STLCC license plate.

He doesn’t drive to campus.

Cox always gets a U-Pass, which allows students to ride Metro buses and MetroLink trains for free.

“I’m good,” he said. “I prefer to not have to deal with the pressure of driving myself.”

The idea for the STLCC license plate came from Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who thought it would be a good way to promote the college and show school pride.

“Hopefully, people will (notice the license plate) when they see me at a gas station or anywhere I go and ask about it,” he said. “I can tell a good story about all the great things happening at St. Louis Community College.”

Another good reason to buy an STLCC

See Plates page 3

Choose UMSL. Open office hours for STLCC Forest Park students: Mondays and Tuesdays Walk-ins only 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Advising Center – SC-200

“I can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”

Stacey Pugh Transfer Specialist

2018142/0718/jb

askstacey@umsl.edu 314-516-5161

Serious education. Serious value.SM

Fall 2019 Transfer Leadership Scholarship Deadline May 1 Exciting opportunity to participate in WebsterLeads, Webster’s co-curricular leadership development program!

JOIN US!

Connect with Webster here at Forest Park!

• May 8 - 10am-1pm; Advising Office For more information on transferring: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 • admit@webster.edu

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The Scene

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April 26, 2019

News Plates

from page 1

license plate is that a portion of the cost will go toward scholarships, Pittman said.

“We raise as much money as we can to assist students with a wide variety of needs, like tuition, books or assistance with living (expenses) as they attend school,” he said.

The planning and approval process for the STLCC license plates has taken about two years. The DMV required 450 people to register in advance and donate $25 to the foundation to show their interest and support.

The DMV set a time limit of six months, but the college reached the goal in two months.

“A great community supports the college,” Phillips said.

The $25 donations from the first 450 people totaled $11,250, but that cost was covered by an anonymous donor. After the goal was reached, additional registrants made their own donations.

Registrations are now closed, but they will resume when the license plates are printed and available for purchase. At that time, those who have already registered will receive emailed notices, as well as letters that they will need to take to the DMV. People interested in getting an STLCC license plate should email the foundation at alumni@stlcc.edu. Since any Missouri resident can buy one, current students, faculty and staff must still get parking passes to park on campus.

Correction

Social work major Joshua Blash’s name was misspelled in a page 1 photo caption in Spring Issue 4 depicting The Clothesline Project.

April 26, 2019

Therapist

from page 1

and so forth,” she said. “I can just be reading and have an asthma attack.”

St. Louis ranks 30 in a list of the most challenging places to live with asthma, according to the 2018 Asthma Capitals Report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Williams’ mother, father and sister all suffer from asthma. Bettie Williams’ condition is less severe, but she understood what her daughter was going through as a child.

“I went to the school many days to get her, and (the staff) got to know me very well,” Bettie Williams said. “I went there twice a month when she was having a bad attack.”

Jennifer Williams’ condition worsened as she got older.

“I began to get what they called recurrent respiratory infection, and I didn’t understand why,” she said. “I had to go to a specialist.”

“I can remember being on about 13 medications at one time,” she added. “That was a really rough time for me.”

‘Uphill battle’

By the time Williams started elementary school, her asthma was so severe, she had to stay indoors for fear of triggering an attack.

“I had to start undergoing what they call immunotherapy,” she said.

That is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as grass, pollen and house dust, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The treatment involves gradual doses of allergens that help patients build up a resistance.

“I was going every week,” Williams said.

“I would get two injections in each arm.

Originally, it was supposed to be short-term, but my body kept reacting to it.”

Williams said the reactions got so bad that welts wrapped around her arm. When she was 19, doctors had to reduce her dosages.

To get by, Williams took a regimen of over-the-counter and prescribed allergy medications, but that wasn’t enough to keep her reactions at bay.

“It’s been an uphill battle,” she said. “I wouldn’t say it’s completely gone. I still go through it.”

Life change

Williams has been working as a personal care assistant for 10 years and a certified nursing assistant for three. Her life changed direction in 2015, when she had to take a patient suffering from breathing problems to the hospital.

“I was watching (the respiratory therapist) and watching what she did with the equipment and how she was taking care of my client,” she said.

Williams decided she wanted to become a respiratory therapist.

Since that time, Williams has been dedicated to her studies while continuing to work part time as a CNA. Her mother said health care suits her.

“She’s a helper,” Bettie Williams said.

“She always tries to help somebody.”

Jennifer Williams has missed a few classes since January of 2017, when she was diagnosed with a form of rhinovirus that triggered her asthma symptoms.

But she has persevered in pursuit of her degree.

“She’s an A student,” her mother said.

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Provided photo

Jennifer Nichole Williams performs at True Redemption Center in St. Louis in 2017.

“She’s on the honor roll, and she was inducted into the National Honor Society. She kept her grades up, and she loved to do her school work. She is focused.”

Williams said her experiences with asthma have actually helped her connect with patients on a more personal level.

“I had the ability to understand what (the patients) were coming from,” she said. “So I was able to utilize that to give encouragement to them.”

Page 3

Campus chatter Morgan Elder, 22, software development “A ball of rubber bands that I’ve collected from all the different places I’ve been. They’re colorful, old and new, and I use them to keep my fantasy cards together.”

Abel Niyayegma, 21, public policy “My 2009 Toyota Camry.

It’s much better transportation. Before, I only had my bike to get around town, and it took too long.”

Mark Gladden, 26, general transfer “My laptop computer. It gives me the convenience of doing my school assignments anywhere. I like the versatility of working inside in the library or outside in the courtyard.”

William Minton, student assistant “My faith, because it puts everything else in perspective. Material items are temporary happiness and can be taken away. ”

Danny Collins, 19, general transfer “My cellphone. It keeps me in touch with family and friends. Also, I use it for emails, entertainment and internet.”

Caronda Brown, 21, early childhood education “Love. It gives you patience, sympathy and empathy. It helps you acquire morals and values.”

Sam Patel, 32, cybersecurity “Knowledge. It’s going to build my career and make my life better. Tangible things can be taken away, but not your wisdom.”

What is your most valuable possession?

By Timothy Bold

Ernest Spearman, 26, culinary arts “My knowledge. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do the things I’m capable of doing.”

Page 4

Joseph Rogers, librarian “My Catholic faith and Eucharistic adoration.

Plus, playing Pokemon is my most valuable recreation.”

Joanna Chavez, 28, art “My creativity. It allows me to do what I enjoy and love doing, and that’s art.”

Christopher Gates, 20, general transfer “My Samsung Galaxy 8 cellphone is the most valuable and expensive item I possess. It cost me $800.”

Tosin Adigon, 32, network engineering “My calculator, because I take advanced math courses.”

Layout by Lulu Ali

The Scene

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April 26, 2019