Being a parent along with being in college seems like an unlikely feat. I have known a lot of people who have thought that having a child means their lives are over. I am living proof that this is a fallacy. I work nineteen hours a week. This semester I am taking Anatomy and Physiology I, Chemistry Lecture and Lab I, American Literature, Art History, Spin Class I, and Community Health. I am participating in the Student Leadership Institute Tier II and Student Ambassadors to gain good extracurricular activities on my university applications. My days on campus usually last ten to eleven hours and as any parent knows, do not end until I fall asleep. A lot of the time I feel like the stress is going to get to me, but then I remember my 2 year-old daughter is depending on me to make her life better. This is why I decided to come up with a plan to keep me from giving up. The plan consists of five steps:

1. Constantly plan my dream future. I envision my future home, job, and friends daily.
2. Look to friends and family for support. I do not hold back when I say I am having problems. I know that if I hold it in, no one will know how to help me. I always ask for help and I have quit trying to be super woman. I understand that my family and friends will lend me a hand without thinking I am a failure.
3. Make time for studying and family. I plan everything using my planner. This ensures none of my homework is ever late and I can plan family outings on the weekends by finishing homework in between classes or early in the morning on weekends.
4. Get lots of rest. I know it is hard to get to bed in time for eight hours of sleep. I did not believe it helped until I actually got eight hours of rest. Sleeping for at least eight hours has definitely made me feel more competent and less likely to give into stress meltdowns.
5. Turn everything into a positive. When things go wrong in my life, I look at them as learning opportunities. I try to react in a positive way towards all stressors. I admit, that sometimes I do not and end up having panic attacks or little melt downs. I do not, however, let those negative things get in my path. I allow myself some time to cope with major problems, and then I attack them head on by taking small steps to solve them.

My plan may not be fail proof, but it has helped me change my life from complete stress to manageable stress. Being a parent has made me more focused on finishing my education, so my child can have a better life than I did. Whether I like it or not, I am my child’s role model. She will look at my actions, past and present, to help her to decide her future path. I have learned that as a parent, you have to find your motivation and keep in mind that every situation is temporary.

By NVC Ambassador Mariah Rodriguez

Abuzz with over 400 students, the Fall 2011 orientation for The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) was an upbeat introduction to what this nationally recognized honor society is all about – leadership from the inside out!

Founded in 2001, NSLS has helped many students in becoming greater leaders and contributing members of their communities.  Students are invited to become members of Alpha Sigma Pi based on a minimum GPA of a 3.0.    

To become full-fledged members of Alpha Sigma Pi, there are four membership components that the student must complete after accepting the invitation to join and paying the one-time fee for a lifetime membership. 

–  The first requirement is to attend orientation. 
–  The second requirement is to attend three Speaker Events, which are seminars by renowned individuals who embody where leadership can take you.
–  The third requirement is to participate in three Success Networking Team Meetings, in which the student becomes a part of a group that holds one another accountable to accomplish personal goals. 
–  The fourth requirement is to attend a Leadership Training Day Workshop, in which, as its name suggests, the process of learning how to be an effective leader is accomplished. 

Upon completion of the four requirements for joining, the student receives an invitation to attend the Induction Ceremony, where they are formally welcomed as lifetime members of the organization.  

Should the student want to go further in advancing their leadership skills, there are steps to earning The National Excellence in Leadership Award.  These steps include the basic requirements for membership as well as three additional Speaker Events, three additional Success Networking Team Meetings, and five hours of community service. 

The benefits for students who become NSLS members are many.  Certain scholarships and awards are available only to members of Alpha Sigma Pi.  Other benefits include access to an online job bank, personalized letters of recommendation, leadership certification, resume enhancement, and personal success coaching. 

So are YOU ready to change your life, learn how to be the leader you were always meant to be, and become more active in your community?  Then take a look into becoming a member of the NVC chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success!        

– By NVC Student Kimberly Redgate

By NVC Student Kimberly Villarreal

Northwest Vista College has a beautiful new feature that will keep the community active. The new half-mile fitness trail stretches along the outskirts of the campus and is outlined with beautiful landscape.

The trail is open during daylight hours and begins just north of the boardwalk between parking lots 7 and 8. It can be used for running, jogging, and walking. The path is connected by crosswalks as it curves through the wooded area near the Live Oak parking lot, comes around the back side of the Mexican Persimmon Physical Plant building, runs parallel behind Palmetto Center of the Arts and ends by connecting to the pedestrian sidewalk on the south side of the Palmetto Center.

The fitness trail is not only for students, but for the entire surrounding community. The purpose of the trail was to establish a feature that would be appreciated by the community. Individuals can now enjoy fitness activities outdoors while in a safe and peaceful environment. This new addition to the campus is part of Northwest Vista’s continued promotion of a safe, clean environment.

Today marks my last day at Northwest Vista College. In a couple of days, I will be among the 1,000 plus students walking the stage at NVC’s graduation ceremony. I realize it’s not the most momentous occasion in the world, but it means a lot to me, and for that I want to extend my personal thank you to NVC.

I began taking classes here in 2008 at age 16 as a dual credit student. I didn’t think much of it at the time, and almost didn’t want to because the classes I took were online which initially scared me, but in the end I’m grateful I was a part of the Dual Credit program at NVC. Because of it, I learned critical thinking skills at a young age, so by the time I enrolled full time in 2009, I already knew what to expect in college.

In a way I can say I’ve literally grown with the college. I remember when MZH was the CCC. Wow, I hadn’t realized I have been here this long! It has been an amazing journey though, and one I’ll never forget.

My first year seems as though it flew by fast. The first semester at NVC, I remember feeling a bit nervous and apprehensive because I was afraid I’d be alone, as many of my friends from high school went to different colleges and universities. That changed the first few days when I met up with many old friends and rekindled old friendships while developing new ones. Along the way, I also took classes with the best teachers who really shaped me to where I am today.

My second year, I was blessed to be a part of a student leadership program, also known as College Ambassadors (it’s one of the reasons I’m writing this blog J ). The ambassador experience has truly been a wonderful one. I’ve gained much leadership experience and worked with amazing people. Our ambassador group truly is like a second family to me. Our ambassador supervisor, Darryl Nettles, has encouraged us all to reach towards our potential and made volunteer work around campus a blast! Special thanks to Darryl and also Kelly Blanco for giving me opportunities to gain ambassador hours while working with the Cat Crew as well.

With all the leadership experience and education I’ve gained, as well as the friendships and memories made here at Northwest Vista, these past two years truly have been some of the best of my life. Whoever said that the best years of your life are in high school obviously never took advantage of the college experience. Thank you Northwest Vista for making my first college experience a great one!

Marisa Luna
NVC Ambassador
Class of 2011

Well students, it’s here. The end of the semester is upon us, and for some it’s the end of an era. Whether it’s surviving your first year of college or completing a degree program, all of us are at a milestone in our quest for higher education. The advent of finals is the biggest indication of that, but for some students, finals can be pretty scary. Especially if your grade depends on it, then preparing for one can be a nightmare!

But finals aren’t all bad. Yes, a lot hinges upon them, but you’ve made it this far already without dropping the class (given that you are in the class and/or dealing with finals). Perhaps you aced the tests all year and are exempt from taking the final, if so, good for you! You’ve worked hard and deserve it! If not, don’t give up so easily. I know finals can turn even the most confident student into a nervous wreck.

If you are indeed nervous about how the fate of this past semester fares, the best advice I can offer you is don’t doubt your abilities. If you truly don’t think you can ace the final, or get at least what you need to pass the course, talk to a teacher or tutor about any accommodations you may need. The labs here at NVC (writing, math, science, etc.) are here for the sole purpose of helping students succeed. Get together with friends/classmates, do whatever you have to do to ensure you make the most of your opportunity.

Also, don’t forget to study! I know that may sound like I’m stating the obvious, but if you’re like a lot of people (myself included), studying for tests usually gets relegated to the day before the test. If you’re the type that fares well this way, congratulations! Even still, you may want to give finals preparation a little more dedication.

Good luck on your finals, students! I hope you all do the best that you can on them!

Marisa Luna
NVC Ambassador