Northwest Vista College Archives | Page 4 of 5

Resilient Students

Posted on March 20, 2017May 12, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

For many, college can be both a rewarding and stressful experience. As a student attending Northwest Vista, I like many other students have experienced challenges in my day-to-day routine that could potentially impact my school life. School for many can create a sense of excitement and can also build up anxiety. There are many factors that could cause this, such as new surroundings, and more responsibilities when it comes to academics.

If we are moving away from home to attend school this can also add stress by having to meet new people. Even though I live in San Antonio and commute to and from the campus, I have seen several students that are not from the local area that are homesick. For some, being away from home, and having to figure life out on your own for the first time can create stressors in personal and professional lives. This can potentially cause people to have a lack of motivation, loss of focus during classes, and even depression. We can see this the most when we have students that are away from home for certain holidays. Being that San Antonio is Military City USA, we have a lot of locals that attend our school to help give advice on how to cope.

Some ways that we can overcome the stress of being homesick, is to stay in contact with people from home. As students we can also look out for one another and if we see someone that is not acting normal or looks distant. We can reach out and give them some attention even if it’s just to say hi. It is okay to be homesick, but we should balance our feelings and emotions to become productive students. Another thing we as students could do is participate in school activities to help get us involved in the community.

No one said being away from home and attending college was going to be easy, but we should be resilient to accomplish a goal and set ourselves up for a better future.

Tips to Cope from Being Away from Home

https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-college-experience/2011/09/28/5-ways-for-college-students-to-survive-being-homesick

By NVC Student Percy Bustamante Gooden

Ready, Set…Graduate

Posted on September 16, 2016May 15, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

Hello NVC students, hope everyone is doing well and attending classes regularly. I just wanted to give reminders to our students who will be graduating this semester. This is definitely an exciting time and what better way to end the year than with your associate’s degree.

A few tidbits to keep in mind: 1. An advisor is necessary for anyone who needs to fill out a graduation application. 2. The deadline for this application is October 31^st. (So that should be an easy date for you all to remember so you can go ahead and schedule your appointment). 3. The application is free!

This is your time to start looking into which college you would like to transfer and start the application process. The cool thing about NVC is that there will be an event called “Gradtober Fest” on Wednesday and Thursday October the 19^th and 20^th. This event will give you the opportunity to apply for graduation and meet with transfer schools. It is definitely a win-win solution to have questions answered and avoid long lines. You want to make sure your transfer will have a smooth transition especially before your Christmas break.

Secondly, being it is mid-year for financial aid. Give yourself extra time to make sure you make any updates or corrections to your financial aid file at their website: fafsa.gov. This is imperative to ensure funds will be ready for you to register come this November if you plan to attend the spring semester.

Lastly, if you do belong to an organization like Phi Theta Kappa, The National Society of Leadership and Success or Psi Beta you will need to do your own research if there are any fees applicable to wear their cords at the graduation ceremony. Each club has their own set of guidelines if you plan to walk in the graduation ceremony in spring 2017 with their respective distinguish cords.

Follow these quick, simple steps above and you will be closer in attending your school of your choice with your associates degree in hand. Congratulations to our future leaders from NVC!

By NVC Jay Jimenez

Depending on Your Instructors

Posted on April 15, 2016May 16, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

“Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.” –Solomon Ortiz

Whether or not you may believe it, but having support from your instructors really does change your outlook on school. I don’t mean when they cut you slack, give you an A just because, or allow you to miss days; no, this does not help. However, if you are a student who is really trying your hardest and really want to make something of yourself, some instructors will provide you the ability to move toward your goals even if they do not make it known.

I say this because it has happened to me more than once. I must say it was a shock to me at first because I never paid much attention to my instructors when I first started college, I just wanted to pass the class and move on. But sometimes I would try to find a way to connect with my instructors and see them as someone who used to be in my shoes. One of my instructors once said, “I used to eat Top Ramen too!” That was hilarious to me because we have all been there. This is a prime example that before they were teaching the class, they were attending class.

I supposed over the years, I became more mature, because I was able to see them as someone trying to help my future rather than someone making my life miserable with homework. I never took the time out until recently to appreciate the work they put in for me to get where I am today. The instructors that I had from various subjects have made a positive impact on me so much that I decided to change schools and my major because I knew they were leading me in the right direction.

Some students may feel as if they are here every day on campus to fend for themselves. Your instructors are here for a reason, as much as you depend on your scientific calculator in that overwhelming math class, you should be able to depend on your instructor. Not for an easy way out of course, but to guide you in the right direction. All you have to do is ask, they will have the answers or will try to help you find them.

By NVC Student Traishelle Armstrong

Busy Weekend for Vista Runners

Posted on April 14, 2016May 16, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

The Northwest Vista Distance Team had a busy but successful weekend as several runners competed at the University of the Incarnate Word track meet.

Javier Ramirez got things going for the team running the 1500. He had an amazing finish, showing tremendous guts – starting his sprint at the 300 & keeping it through the end, passing up at least 5 runners at the end. He improved his time by 20 seconds, running a 4:37.

Adam Soto and team captain,Aaron Beattie, were next competing in the 5000 race. Adam came in just under 19 minutes and Aaron followed closely behind. Micah Florence finished the 800 in 2:16 and the 400 in 56.23. Aaron ran both 5000 and 800 to get some extra training in. Robert Dreamkowski ran in his very first track meet, competing in the 100. He finished with a time of 12.56.

The team had three runners compete in the Carnival of Venice 5K night run. It was an interesting experience running at night with headlamps and flashlights but all the athletes said they had a lot of fun, even though their times were slower then normal. All three runners came in first in their age group. Esther Lucio finished first in the women’s under 20 age group, team captain, Vienna Garcia, finished first in the women’s 20-25 age category and Gilbert Rodriguez finished first in the men’s 20-25 age category.

The team will compete this weekend at the Fiesta Mission 5K/10K run in downtown San Antonio. They will take a little break before their last race in May.

NVC Cross Country Team Perform Well at HEB Run

Posted on February 25, 2016May 16, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

The Northwest Vista Cross Country Team had a great showing at the HEB Alamo RunFest on Feb. 20.

We had 4 runners in the half marathon. The first finisher for the Vista Wildcats was Rhea Migdalski coming in 2^nd in her age group & 79^th overall with a time of 1:46:04. Aaron Beattie followed closely behind with a time of 1:47:51, placing him 2^nd in his age group. Vienna Garcia, also received a medal placing third in her age group, finishing with a time of 1:47:54. Rounding out the half marathoners, was Lauraly Wade finishing right at 2 hours. She finished 6^th in her age group.

The Wildcat 5kers also did great! Finishing first for Northwest Vista was Micah Florence with a time of 19:53. He placed first in his age group & 7^th overall. Adam Soto was next finishing 3^rd in his age group with a time of 20:28. Right on his heels was our first female finisher Karla Presa. She was the first overall female, first in her age group & 12^th overall male and females. She finished with a time of 20:29. Hector Sandival finished with a time of 21:43, placing him 4^th in his age group. New comers Rober Dreamkowski & Esther Lucio also ran great times finishing in 26:55 & 27:56 respectively.

NVC Students Selected to Visit NASA this October

Posted on September 14, 2015June 14, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

Jonathan Mendoza, Jose Vazquez, and Jorge Vazquez Campero – all from Northwest Vista College – have been selected to travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center this spring to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS).

Jonathan, Jose and Jorge all have been selected as one of 160 community college students from across the U.S. to be part of NCAS.

The five-week scholars program culminates with a four-day on-site event at Johnson Space Center and offers students the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers and others as they learn more about careers in science and engineering. While on site, students form teams and establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration. Each team is responsible for developing and testing a prototype rover, forming a company infrastructure, managing a budget, and developing communications and outreach.

The on-site experience includes a tour of facilities and briefings by NASA subject matter experts.

NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars is a project funded in part by the Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, which is committed to the recruitment of underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to sustain a diverse workforce.

NVC Male Students Get Valuable Advice

Posted on May 26, 2015May 17, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

The mission of the NVC Male Success Initiative program is to encourage leadership, character, and brotherhood among the male students at NVC.

The program focuses on several key character traits to include integrity, discipline, humility, confidence, respect and self-control. It is believed that instilling these traits and building on them makes a strong foundation for our male students’ success.

On May 8, MSI hosted a Leadership Luncheon for NVC male students. The luncheon consisted of male professionals that came to give advice on different topics such as balancing commitments, education after NVC, character and choosing the right career.

Participants expressed that they enjoyed the events and learned a lot from 18 plus male professionals and members of a similar male organization from Trinity University. The male professionals gave great advice to the students and they genuinely showed compassion for the success of the male students.

MSI will be recruiting new members in the fall and encourages faculty and staff to bring awareness of this program to male students who would like to enhance their leadership skills, become engaged with the campus and community and network with professionals.

To learn more about MSI, go here.

Male Success Initiative Helping Men to Succeed

Posted on May 12, 2015June 14, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

H. Stillwater; J. Rosas; K. Washington; E. Alvear; M.Uresti

Juan Rosas knows what it takes to make it. He knows what he is up against and he knows how to arm himself with the best possible weapon to fight what confronts him. What confronts him is failure.

Society and statistics say that Juan, as a man of color in college, will fail. Men of color earn community college degrees and certificates at disproportionately lower rates. Ironically, community colleges enroll more men of color than any other type of higher learning institution. Mr. Rosas has a plan though. His plan is being there for other men of color who are, statistically, going to fail through the Male Success Initiatve or MSI. His goal is to support men who are in community colleges and want positive influences to help guide them through the mind field of life.

In San Antonio, only 9.3 percent of the population has an associate’s degree while only 24.6 percent has a bachelor’s degree. These stats only show what both genders have earned but men are not going to be the ones that boosted those meager numbers up by a lot. This is where MSI comes in to assist those on the edge, if only those on the edge would reach out instead of taking what is voluntarily given to them.

All you have to do is sign up, go to a meeting and see for yourself what positivity is. That positivity will translate on the road to success and towards earning a degree, which will translate so much more in a man’s life. This is the focus of the Male Success Initiative – how to be a better man.

Most men in community colleges need guidance and, believe it or n

Recent MSI event where male students talked with faculty, staff, community leaders

ot, high expectations. Mr. Rosas and the MSI members cannot help with high expectations but they can help with guidance and positive influence. Juan exudes positivity and it’s genuine. His enthusiasm is derived from actually caring and knowing that he, and those around him, need each other to guide them onto that path of success and that path starts at Northwest Vista.

That path also starts with a man’s outlook on life and how focused they are towards their goals and achieving those goals. Those things are not easy. Yet, surrounding yourself with positive people who want to see you succeed, who want to see you grasp your goals and surmount your aspirations will give young men that extra push to make it.

While both men and women could always use a little motivation, men of color are the ones that have the most to lose and the most to gain when they succeed. The Male Success Initiative is a great starting point to make that difference. To learn more about MSI, visit this link.

By NVC Student Emiliano Saldana

NVC Sports Teams Sustain Winning Streak

Posted on December 9, 2014May 12, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

Go Wildcats! The NVC sports teams – women’s and men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and the cross country team have ended the fall semester on a high note.

The current team rankings to end the fall semester are:

The men’s basketball team are undefeated at 7-0
The women’s basketball team are 6-1
The women’s volleyball team are 6-2
Ten members of the Co-ed cross country team competed in the San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon on Dec. 6.

Support your Wildcat Sport teams at their next 2015 spring semester home games.

Men’s basketball, Jan. 28, Our Lady of the Lake Univ @ 8pm
Women’s basketball, Jan 28, Palo Alto College @ 6pm
Women’s volleyball, Feb 12, Univ. of Incarnate Word @ 7pm

Tryouts are open for the women’s basketball team starting Monday, Dec. 15 to Thursday, Dec. 18 at 4:30 p.m. You must have taken 9 credit hours and have a 2.5 GPA and available for practice on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 4:30 p.m. Games are typically on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Coach Daniel Johnson at 486-4003 or [email protected]

To learn more about the sports teams, visit http://www.alamo.edu/nvc/current-students/sports/Wildcats/

3 Tips to Balance College & Work Life

Posted on November 17, 2014May 12, 2017 by NVC Public Relations

As a returning college student, I have been struggling with figuring out how exactly to get through the semester with a 4.0 while still maintaining my home and work life.

The hardest part of this balancing act is keeping from drowning and giving up completely. I had a bit of a meltdown recently and that is when I decided to figure something out. The following tips are what I feel are the most helpful tips I have received from family, friends, and my experiences:

Organize, organize, organize – In order to keep your life together, it is imperative that you are organized. You should have a planner. Every week, write down all of the assignments, exams, quizzes, projects, etc. that are due that week and look at that planner EVERY day, twice a day. When you are organized with your school work, it is less likely that you will forget to complete something.

Make sure you give yourself at least one ENTIRE day off from everything – For me, this day is Saturday. Saturdays are my no-work, no-school, ALL PLAY days! I make sure that anything I have due on Saturday is completed a day in advance so I don’t have to log on, go in, or do anything for school or work. I use my Saturdays for relaxation and family.

Remind yourself every day that this is only temporary and it will all be worth it in the end. On the days when I feel like giving up or I am feeling guilty for not giving my daughter the attention she needs, I remind myself that this is only a temporary struggle. I think about the end of the road, when I am walking across the stage at graduation and seeing my daughter’s face smiling at me. I remind myself that I am doing this so she will be proud of me and so she can have everything she deserves in life.

We are all going to experience some sort of struggle in our college careers, but just remember – in order to get to the goal, you have to get through some struggles. That is what life is all about and that is how we become stronger in the end.

By NVC Student Christina Garcia

NVC Voice

Tag: Northwest Vista College