Survive and Thrive....

Vol 2. No 15.

Well, we have made it to the last week of the semester and we are in the midst of a number of holiday celebrations and preparations.  To that end, this blog is about how to best survive the next week as you finish up all of your work and reflect on the semester – and year – you have had.  I hope this helps some of you…

Talk to Your Faculty – If you have any concerns at all about your grades or your work, go talk to your faculty.  Chances are, they are more than happy to have a chat.  You may not get the news or the answer you want or need, but those conversations are important as well.  Just remember that faculty are also under a lot of stress and they need you to be a little patient and understanding as well.  This is not the week to ask about extra credit!

Get Academic Help – There is no shame at all in getting the academic help you need to succeed.  We have so many support services on campus that are staffed with people who have dedicated their lives to YOUR success.  That’s quite a thing to think about.  We don’t hide these offices in corners of the building, but rather put them where they might best be useful.  For science help, there is the The Science Incubator – with comfy study spaces and the science equipment you need to understand those tougher concepts.  For math help, we have The Math Center.  If you are anything like me, this place will be a lifesaver as you plan for your final work in math classes.  For writing those reflective essays and anything else related to writing, there is The Writing Center.  Last but not least, there is general tutoring for all other sorts of classes and available in General Tutoring.   Successful or struggling, confused or confident – these places are all designed to help you get the most out of your education.

Get Emotional Help – There is also no shame in realizing that you are stressed, scared, floundering, or generally feeling lost or panicky.  It is a difficult time for many for a lot of reasons, and you might find you need a little extra support to get through this last week.  Seek it out.  Counseling Services on campus will give you that support in a sensitive, confidential, and attentive way.  If you don’t feel comfortable going alone, seek out a trusted friend or faculty member to walk you there.  Your health is important, please do what you can to protect it.

Take Care of You – Even if you do not feel you require counseling services, it is important to take care of yourself.  And this means your whole self – get as much sleep as you can, take breaks from studying and working on projects, eat some healthy and sustaining foods along with those cookies from home.  Go out and play in the snow.  Go caroling.  Bake.  Drink cocoa.  Go bowling.  Call home.  Perform random acts of kindness.  Play a game.  Listen to music.  In other words, take the time to do some things throughout the week that will help you stay happy and productive when you are working and studying.

And my last piece of advice as you face this final week….

BREATHE.

When all is said and done, this is one semester in a lifetime of learning and experiencing and no matter what happens right now, life will go on and you will survive and succeed.  You got this.  You really do.  No matter how it unfolds, you can do it.

Student Voice - Convocation

Vol 2 No 14

This week’s blog comes to us from Emily White, Fine Arts Major (Class of 2019), who shares with us her thoughts on the first ever Honors Studies Convocation.

On Wednesday, December 6^th 2017 Finger Lakes Community College held the First Inaugural Honors Convocation, directed by Trista Merrill – the Honors Director. The Honors Convocation is an event that showcases the work that has been done by the Honors students throughout the semester. Throughout the day students and faculty were able to view posters which were made by students in Honors classes surrounding topics of their class and what they have learned throughout the semester. The posters on display were from four different classes: Development of Modern Horror, Composition I, Math for Liberal Arts Majors, and Analyzing Alice. These posters were on display from 10 AM to the end of the evening.

While walking the corridor to the café, three tables held seven stunning posters which people were able to enjoy. The poster creators included Devin Armstrong – illustrated by Emily White, Jillian Bond, Henry Sloth, Will Maskrey, Blinne Krieger, Jillian Duprey-Schommer, and Loren Manchester. All of the posters were eye catching and very well received by the student body and faculty of the college, as well as visitors. Each of the posters gave insight to what the Honors class was about, and the work that student had completed before hand or of their final project for said class, as well as informing about a wide variety of different topics. Between 4 PM and 5 PM people were able to ask the student poster markers questions of their posters to gain further insight on the class.

Once 5 PM came, four students of three varying classes – Composition I, Development of Modern Horror, and Composition II – gave presentations in Stage 14. Each of the presenters spoke of either their final project or a piece of completed work from the semester. Jillian Bond – of the Development of Modern Horror class – presented a 38 second trailer of her final film, which will explore the concept of fear. McKenna Guarasce – of the English 103 class – presented her research which will go into her final paper, which will be an informative essay on the importance of keeping the world oceans clean for the creatures that inhabit them. Onni Adams – of the English 101 class – presented the memoir she wrote regarding the time she realized her ethnicity gave her superpowers. Will Maskrey – of the Development of Modern Horror class – presented a short paper which recounted his experience with discussing fear with a group of young adults exploring the implications of the Christian faith.

Each student in their presentation allowed the audience to get a sense of not only their class, but as themselves as a student. The presentations also grasped the audience in different ways; Onni Adams’ memoir spoke to the audience at an emotional level while also inspiring everyone. McKenna Guarasce’s research informed the audience of the dangerous chemicals that are put into the oceans every day that endanger the lives of those who inhabit them. Jillian Bond’s trailer sent chills down the audiences spines while also alluding to the fact that not one person can truly identify what fear is. Will Maskrey’s speech and short paper informed people of the religious aspects of fear, further showing how elusive a true definition of fear really is.

The First Inaugural Honors Convocation was a success all around, from the incredible and informative posters, to the marvelous and edifying presentations. Being the first semester, the turnout was remarkable. Thank you to all who made posters and presented and to all who viewed the posters and attended the presentations. We look forward to the Honors Convocations in the semesters to come!

Photo Credits to April Broughton, Honors Librarian, and Trista Merrill, Director of Honors

Unique Spring Opportunity!

Vol 2 No 13

Looking for a fascinating course this Spring that won't require a huge chunk of classroom time but still gets you that Honors experience?  Consider the Spring 2018 hybrid course on....CHAOS.

Or, more specifically, SCI 137-01 - Chaos:  The Self-Organizing Universe.  Fridays from 2:00 - 4:50 in the Honors House.  Take a look at this amazing course description from Sam Samanta:

Do you ever wonder if the physical world and life seemingly driven by random events makes long-term predictions impossible? The course is an open invitation for developing creative insights through understanding of hidden patterns in the dynamic world around you. We will use visual mathematics to explore art, biology, business ecosystems, music, mountains, clouds, rivers and streams, solar-flares, weather, ecosystems, forest fires, stock-market crashes, flooding, earthquakes, cities, traffic-jams, internet, social-networks, galaxies, crimes, politics, wars, tornadoes, hurricanes, and dynamics of human relationships. You will come to see natural fractal shapes such as trees and network of blood vessels; and chaos in heart-beats as source of adaptability and sustainability. Through writing, discussion, lab experiences, and computer modeling, this course will explore the relevance of Chaos theory to our lives and through individualized research projects demonstrate its impact across scientific disciplines as well as non-science areas such as the social sciences, the arts and humanities.

November Honors Matters

Vol 2 No 12

Welcome Back!

Just a few points to mention as we embark on this mad rush to the end!

Come make posters with us and other wise engage in study and relaxation at the Study-A-Thon in the library this Thursday, November 30^th from 7:00-11:00.  This Study-a-Thon counts as an Honors Studies event!  Email me at honorsstudies@flcc.edu to learn how!

Nominate yourself to present and/or prepare a poster for the First Annual Honors Studies Convocation on December 6th.  Posters on display from 10:00 – 4:00 in the hallway by Stage 14.  Poster Question and Answer with poster makers from 4:00-5:00.  Presentations from 5:00-6:00 in Stage 14.  The Convocation counts as an Honors Studies event!  Email me at honorsstudies@flcc.edu to learn how!

Registration is in full swing!  Hope to see numbers in Honors Studies courses go up soon!  We have two GREAT seminars and a lot of excellent courses in the disciplines like Interpersonal Communications and Introduction to Psychology.  Don’t miss the fascinating Chaos Theory class or the Gender and Women’s Studies course, either!  Email me at honorsstudies@flcc.edu if you have any questions about these and other courses!

Head over to the Facebook page and give it a Like – no friending or membership requests needed!

You can declare yourself an Honors student with no commitment or repercussion if things change for you.  It just gives you the opportunity to have an Honors Studies adviser to help you make a plan and figure things out so you can achieve Honors Studies Scholar status.  Just fill in the ‘Change of Degree or Advisor’ available here:  https://www.flcc.edu/pdf/registrar/MajorChange.pdf

Four weeks left, folks….we can do this!

Special Invitation, Special Wish

Vol 2 No 11

An Invitation and a Wish

A Special Invitation!

In the hopes of making our first Convocation a positive start to a new tradition, we are holding a poster-making session in the library on the evening of November 30 – the night of Study-a-Thon!  So, along with making a poster in a casual, fun, AND productive environment, you will also get access to the other amazing things the library does that evening.  The Writing Center and the Math Center will be there, yoga and chair massages will be there, and even free pizza will be there!  We will have more information about WHERE in the library we will meet – but I hope you’ll make plans to join us.  Bring your poster board, your crafting materials, your course materials, and your good ideas and let’s be crafty together!  To help you start brainstorming, here are some wonderful poster making links:

• “Creating a Successful Poster” – Brown University (even more links on this page)
• “Creating a Poster” – University of Wisconsin-Madison (more in-depth steps here)
• “The Basics of Poster Design” - Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium (don’t let the name scare you!)
• “Poster-making 101” – Bates College (some technical help here, too)
• “An Effective Poster” – North Carolina State University

A Special Wish

As the rush of the holidays barrels down on us, complete with all the hectic chaos that the end of an academic semester holds, I hope that you can take some time during this upcoming break to take stock of all the blessings and positive forces you have in your life.  Being a student is a challenging role and so many of you are not just students, but also family members, friends, caretakers, employees, activists, community servers, church members, and countless other things.  There is a whole network of people supporting you, even if that network is small outside the college.  Take the time for yourself to ensure that you are as healthy and happy as you can be.  And may you take a moment to be thankful for all that you have and for all the promise your future holds.  Travel safe and be well.

Giving Thanks

The world is dark and dangerous, 

The days are long and bleak, 

And so my eyes stay close to home 

For the Thursday of this week. 

A day of thanks for all I have 

Though I feel it every day 

The rays of color in my life 

That keep back shades of grey. 

Friend and family lines are blurred 

As we lay the table fair 

And in these bustling moments, 

I lay my soul to bare. 

I love you if you’re reading this, 

My life you’ve wreathed in light 

May you find what you are looking for, 

Be it here or gone from sight. 

May each memory you have now made 

And those of days now past, 

Bring you peace and joy unbound 

And love to everlast.

T. Merrill

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Honors Matters So Much

Vol 2. No. 10

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Dr. King

Hello from Atlanta!

I’m here with over 5,000 administrators, directors, deans, support staff, faculty, and students of Honors exploring everything from social justice to building annual reports.  I’ve attended sessions on mental health, supporting trans and non-binary students, encouraging leadership in students, building community, and engaging in self-reflection.  I’ve also visited a number of interesting places in Atlanta – from The World of coke to the home where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born.  And there’s still two more days!  Lots of sessions to attend over those next two days – and I plan to also visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights as well.

One of the things that keeps coming up all throughout this conference is the idea that wellness is key to success – that wellness of the mind and the concept of self-care can be the thing that makes or breaks a student’s ability to be engaged and successful in college.  It’s also come out that Honor’s students are more prone to not only being harder on themselves, but also suffering as a result of that pressure.  Many of us know that many of the students that find Honors appealing are the ones that don’t always fit in easily with their peers.  Add to this the stigma attached to mental illness and we find ourselves with a slew of issues that stand in the way of success.   They have much on their side, though – passion, enthusiasm, a passion for learning, and a desire to find others who are equally invested in the learning experience.  They have really big ideas and sometimes, all they need is a little push to help them see those big ideas come to fruition.

And you know?  The same is true for all of us who gravitate towards Honors as faculty and support staff have the same sorts of issues – in fact, we often have trouble saying no and we often find ourselves trying to do EVERYTHING because we care so much about Honors, the things it stands for, and the students it serves. 

We had a plenary speaker today named Bryan Stevenson who wanted to talk about how to change the world.  One of the things he said is that he has spent his adult life fighting for people who are broken – the poor, the incarcerated, the excluded, and the condemned.  He said that there came a time when he wanted to quit because he was so exhausted from trying to save broken people and it really led him to question why he had given so much of himself to help them.  And his answer?

He is broken, too.

He said we are ALL broken and we – the folks in Honors – are some of the ones who are broken enough to change the world.  And he told us how to do that.

Step 1 – Get proximate.  We have the power to embrace people, get close, and exact change.

Step 2 – Change the destructive narrative of fear and anger.  What if, instead of declaring drug use a crime, we declared it a health issue?  Can you see how that would change the whole story….if we stopped being afraid of that which we don’t know or understand and stopped lashing out in anger?

Step 3 – Keep our hopefulness.  When we lose hope, we lose any drive or motivation to keep going.  It takes bravery and courage to be hopeful in the face of the world around us – but we must.

Step 4 – Good people need to be willing to do uncomfortable things. 

I have felt this last one myself recently.  As a white woman who grew up in middle class suburban America, I often feel completely out of my element talking about race in my classrooms.  I hate conflict.  I hate political debate.  I hate much of what is happening in the world around us.  But because I hate all of those things, I have felt increasingly that my role is to draw attention to these things so that the students in my classes can be part of the positive change that needs to happen in our world.

This is Honors.  So many things are Honors and I’m learning so much about how everything I believe in is infused in my Honors classes, even when I’m not aware of it.

I will not say that my classrooms are safe spaces because that term has been tainted by hateful rhetoric that does not understand what it means.  What I WILL say, however, is that I see Honors classrooms as safe places – places to be you, to find you, to celebrate you, and to challenge the things about you that need to be challenged.

This is Honors.  You are Honors.

The house where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born

Librarian(s) Matter(s)

Vol 2. No. 9

From time to time, I will invite a guest to blog in my place...this is one of those times.

Once upon a time, an English Professor befriended a newly hired librarian. The professor poked and prodded the librarian, coaxed her out of her office and out onto campus, to meet people and to get involved. And the librarian was better for it. The librarian started to notice students that could use the same sort of nudging encouragement and started reaching out to them, just as the professor had for her.

And that, right there, is why Honors Studies is so dear to me. It’s a home within a home where I have never felt uncomfortable or unwelcome. It is a group of engaged and interested and quirky individuals who are all looking after each other. Supporting and encouraging each other all while sharing thoughts and ideas and adventures.

I should probably introduce myself. My name is April Broughton, and I am the Honors Librarian. I am also an author, an editor, wrangler of chickens, artist who works with bone and hide, video game geek, and lover of plants. All of that compressed down makes for a rather lively librarian who is exceedingly happy to be working with Honors Studies. Please consider me your go-to person for library questions and assistance.

All of the librarians here at the college have subject areas they specialize in. One of my areas happens to be Honors Studies. In that capacity I will likely be helping you meet other librarians who work in the subject areas you are exploring. If you need a hand with research, citations, finding materials, or finding resources across campus please come see us.

The first floor of the Library is where we keep our circulating collection. Any book you can check out of the library can be found there. If you need a hand locating a book, just ask. We also have quiet study areas and places to relax on the first floor. The second floor, where the main entrance is located, is where we keep our reference collection. Those books do not circulate out of the library, but can be an incredible resource for your work or curiosity. Our circulation desk is where you can borrow class textbooks or materials your instructors have placed on reserve to use in the library. You can also borrow technology like iPads, laptops, and calculators. The second floor is also where you can find the Library MakerSpace, a space to create and collaborate and experiment. On this main floor you will also find computers that you can use. The third floor contains our Library Classroom as well as our periodicals collection. Many student services as well as collaborative work spaces are also on this floor. The Library utilizes an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service, which allows you to borrow books and access articles the college does not own. We have a library chat service (Ask Us 24/7), which is invaluable if you find yourself, as I often do, trying to get some work done around 2am and find yourself in need of assistance.

More important than the physical resources in the library are the Librarians. Consider us one of the important and integral resources available to you here at FLCC. My office (room 2525) is always open. You can email me at any time (april.broughton@flcc.edu). Come be involved in our ComiCon and Study-A-Thon. Visit the Human Library to hear and share stories. Experiment and learn in our Makerspace. Get to know myself and your other librarians - we are here to listen and help.