“So where are you going to school?” Do you get asked that question? Invariably I try to divert the attention from the fact that I’m attending a community college. It’s strange because it’s totally nonsensical to be embarrassed about going to a junior college once one thinks about it.

Northwest Vista is an excellent school, but I still have this ingrained feeling that a community college is somehow inferior to a four-year college. One can’t rate a school on what degree the institution offers, but on the quality of the education. NVC has that quality especially in the Digital Video and Cinema Production program.

One aspect of the DVCP program that displays its quality is the chance to work in the industry before even graduating. It’s required to complete an internship as part of the degree plan, and there are great opportunities out there.

I’m doing my internship at FOX 29 in San Antonio, and I’m learning how a TV station operates on a day-to-day basis. One of my friends is designing advertising and editing video for a company that does projects for an oil corporation – you’ll probably be seeing his work on beer koozies soon. Another friend is making video promos for a company that records extreme sports events!

These are all opportunities that students from NVC are getting right now. So where do I go to school? At a community college you’ve probably heard of – Northwest Vista College.

By NVC Student Peter Northrop

Have you seen the 1,815 ft. CN Tower in Toronto or the Empire State Building? What about the Golden Gate Bridge or Itaipu Dam straddling Brazil and Paraguay? Have you ever walked upon the Netherlands North Sea Protection Works or visited the Panama Canal?

These are considered to be marvels of our modern world. Glorious as these structures may be, they pale in the light of one of the newest marvels: the Prickly Pear Garage. You may scoff, but have you used it?

The newest addition to the NVC campus is a marvel because it is now possible to find parking at 9 am! What once was a fable or a half-hour headache is now a pleasant experience. No longer is the act of following students to their cars a necessity. Gone are the days of arriving the night before to set up a tent and reserve your parking spot, and no more shall your BMW bake in the harsh Texas sun. The Prickly Pear Parking Garage has arrived!

It’s time to make the pilgrimage to the new wonder of the modern world, and have no fear; it’s free! At least it’s free until it is completely finished in October. So if you are still having trouble finding parking then make your way to the Prickly Pear, and if you park easily every day then recognize the reason why, and – you know it – make your way to the Prickly Pear and see the marvel.

By NVC Student Peter Northrop

It feels like just recently I was an NVC student awaiting Graduation…Well, technically that’s true! Saturday was commencement and now I can say that I am an NVC Graduate!

The ceremony was splendid! After putting my gown on and that infamous graduation cap that just wasn’t made for people but still brought me a smile, it was time to sign-in. There were so many familiar faces at the tables. I saw my graduation advisor, CaTS, Access, Advising, Testing…basically everyone who has made a difference to not only my success at NVC but to the entire student population!

The fantastic ushers knew exactly where to guide me and I sat next to two wonderful graduates who shared their excitement and nerves at walking across the stage. This is when the question came up that started a movement – “What are we supposed to do on stage? Shake hands? Is there a specific way to do this?”

From my experience with the Alamo Colleges Student Leadership Institute, I shared what I learned: “First, there’s the shakin’ their hand. Then you take the diploma cover. Then you wave!”

As I repeated this over and over, it became this “Shakin’, Takin’, Wavin’” catch-phrase, which started to get the interest of other graduates. Basically, it became a movement – admittedly, a very tiny one – but one that helped others get the confidence they needed to walk the stage. And that brings me a smile knowing I helped in a small way.

So then it was time to walk that stage! I started to feel a bit nervous. I shook hands with our fantastic college president, Dr. Claunch, and received a beautiful hug! Carrying my diploma cover, I stopped at the end of the stage and gave a big wave to where my family was. Then…I tried not to trip going down that steeply inclined ramp while laughing with happiness at graduating the whole way down.

Dr. Claunch congratulated our hard work and told us that the time had come to move our tassels from the right side of our caps to the left. We graduated!!

After the ceremony, I was like a fluttering bird trying to say ‘hi’ and ‘thank you’ to everyone who was part of making the night wonderful. I would like to say thank you to everyone who was there at graduation as well as everyone on campus during my attendance at NVC. You all have really helped create opportunities for success and I am grateful that each of you took the time and care to help me on my journey at NVC.

My family has been my support all through college and my life so it meant very much to me that they were there to see me walk the stage. They were so excited and told me congratulations over and over again. This was an incredible and memorable graduation, indeed!

By NVC Alumni Kimberly Redgate

Another semester is wrapping up, and Northwest Vista College has shown again that the students contribute to the San Antonio community and positively affect it more than most people know.

[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=bD-T4B1ofNY&feature=youtu.be]

 A team of students from the Digital Video and Cinema Production program produced a video for Communities in Schools to raise support and awareness for what CIS does in San Antonio’s schools.

The video was shown to approximately five hundred attendees at CIS’ donor luncheon on April 29. Leaders in education and business made up the enthusiastic audience, and the standing ovation at the end of the viewing showed how touched audience was by the difference CIS is making in the lives of the students they help.

This is just one example of many of how NVC students help the San Antonio community. Whatever the subject of study, we all have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of the people around us. The diverse fields of study available at NVC point to the wide variety of areas in which we do and will continue to build up our community. Go NVC!

By NVC Student Peter Northrop

Still a month to go until the end of the semester. Do you happen to feel overwhelmed? Do you experience anxiety at the mere thought of what you need to turn in by tomorrow?

Don’t worry if you do, here’s a page from an ancient non-verified Roman scroll; the writer would definitely sympathize with you.

April 11, 25 B.C. (Give or take a few years)

Why do I have such a miserable life? There’s so much to do today. Me, Pseudolus, a slave has to take care of my master’s love-stricken son. I must make a list to keep everything straight in my head.

Today’s to-do list:

1.Get Philia for a girlfriend for my master’s son Hero.

2.Figure out what to do with a big captain to whom Philia is already promised.

3.Dress the head servant in drag to pretend to be a dead Philia.

4.Make the big captain believe Philia is dead (that’s going to be difficult).

5.Pretend to kill myself to save me from the captain’s wrath if he finds out Philia is not really dead.

6.Plan Hero’s escape with Philia.

7.Make sure Hero gets me my freedom.

8.Don’t forget to…

The diary ends without an explanation to the eighth item on the list, but if you want to see a recreation of Pseudolus‘ life then go see “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” playing April 11-14, and 18-20 at the Palmetto Theater.

More info, click here.

By NVC Student Paul Northrop

It’s taking schools by force. Young and old join together. Never has such a force united so many people of such a variety at NVC. Such a spontaneous force can only be one thing – the Harlem Shake!

In the Palmetto Center for the Arts, a diverse group of students came together to make history in the back hall. The windows were blacked out, glow in the dark gear was passed out to the excited crowd, the camera crew set up dolly track and a jib, and the time came to crazy it up. The first shot featured NVC’s mascot: the Wildcat, who demonstrated great team spirit; and after a few moments the rest of the crowd got into the swing of the dance, and jumped up to get in on the action.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth much, much more. There’s no way to tell you everything that happened without writing a thesis paper, so instead I’ll give you something you might enjoy. I’ll give you the Harlem Shake link.

Get ready to see something, nothing, sorta’ like every other Harlem Shake video on YouTube. Turn up your speakers, throw on your special crazy hat, and try to spot someone you know in the NVC Harlem Shake video.

[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=_qA_xF5YKHc]

By NVC Student Peter Northrop

Raise your hand if you are just getting over a second-degree sunburn. Don’t be embarrassed, it’s only terrible when you are trying to be Edward or Bella, and are nurturing vampire-white skin.

Those of you who didn’t raise your hand can join my side of the table. I didn’t even get a tan. Es muy triste, but we’re not going to talk about that.

But for a group of NVC students, they got something more valuable than a tan for spring break. They took part in the United Way Alternative Spring Break in Tuscon, Ariz. that included working at Boys & Girls Clubs, taking part in educational activities and sprucing up the facilities.

The best part about the trip, it was free! I would use more exclamation marks, but I’m trying to prevent everyone else getting too excited and signing up for the next available bus before I do. The travel alone makes the experience worthwhile, but the great thing is that the group went to serve others. They had a positive impact on the people they met in Tucson, and they did more over spring break than just get a pre-spring burn. I don’t know the next time they’re going, but stay connected with the student life office if you want in.

http://alamo.edu/nvc/current-students/student-life/

By NVC Student Peter Northrop

Do you remember when money grew on trees? Do you recall when a pot of gold sat at the end of every rainbow? You might, but I’m too young to remember any of that; I don’t even know the last time I saw a leprechaun.

According to biology class, the sad truth is money no longer grows on trees. It’s pitiable that we’ve come to these times, but I’ve found something that may help! Those who are independently wealthy or have Rich “Uncle” Penny bags as a relation need not read further, but then again it might be helpful all the same.

What I discovered is something called a scholarship, and it’s pronounced [skol-er-ship]. Scholarships are great because it’s money for school that might as well be growing on a tree. All you have to do is apply. There are complainers about how hard it is to apply, there are doubters who warn that somebody else will win it, and there are those who don’t care what other people say and apply anyway. Those who are still willing to stake a bit of time on winning a scholarship keep on reading. I found a golden opportunity to apply right here at NVC. There’s one important key to applying: do it by April 1 if you want the best chance of winning, and here’s where to apply:

http://alamo.edu/nvc/academics/scholarships/

I’m off to take my chance at winning, but please let me know if you see any leprechauns.

By NVC Student Peter Northrop