TRCC’s Niche Creating community in our communities

Written by: Talya Nicole

Three Rivers Community College’s niche in the hierarchy of colleges is the intimate option in an otherwise impersonal world. Three Rivers is, by multiple accounts, much more about interpersonal relationships than many of the larger schools.

Chris Boyle, returning student to Three Rivers Community College, and editor of this issue, had this to say on the matter. “Three Rivers’ niche is its very unique sense of community in that you really get to know other people in your major.”

Chris started his college experience at Eastern Connecticut State University. From there Chris came to Three Rivers Community College where he found the community within the Graphic Design program. He then transferred to UCONN for a semester and then returned to Three Rivers.

He had this to say on his experience at a larger college: “Whereas at a larger school you’re just another number or a face in the crowd, TRCC puts genuine effort into giving you a community backing. You’re still all in competition, which is good. But having people available to you for support, doing the same stuff you’re doing, common goals with different backgrounds. In the graphics program especially the group as a whole is very much so on your side, and TRCC like anything else is what you put into it. ” Chris recognizes that Three Rivers fosters a sense of community.

Chris also noted this from his experiences at other schools, “At Three Rivers the common goal from the students as well as the institution is to get you to LEAVE and move on, to advance, whereas a lot of programs at other schools, especially larger, almost purposely set you back and waste time. Whether out of ignorance or greed, one of the two.”

Tucker Noniewicz, 2nd year at Three Rivers Community College, also has had experiences at other bigger colleges. Tucker had this to say “Three Rivers feels a lot more personal than the university I was at previously. Most importantly it’s local.” The locality of Three Rivers or any community college for that matter, is one of the most prominent features of its niche

“My previous college was far removed from my home, and I ended up feeling isolated. I think community colleges are special in the regard that they are a middle ground between a known quantity, one’s home, and an unknown experience, university. I was much more comfortable around an area I know”