Personal Narrative: My Journey To A Community College

1) I couldn’t have imagined starting out my Columbia experience any other way than gliding up and down the hills of the Hudson River Valley, recounting scary stories in our dark tent, and looking at the city having climbed Bear Mountain. It definitely spoiled me to be able to go camping for the first time before being thrust into the greatest city on earth, and I want to be able to share that experience with others again but now from a different perspective. Columbia is a big transition for many, as I know it was for me, but COÖP gave me a sense of comfort and support that made my first semester a lot more comfortable and easier, so, as I’ve adjusted to life here, I realized that I would like to be able to not only continue to be a part of

I managed 2 employees.

b) Volunteer at STEMEast: attended education conferences and worked with the organization to help develop the community college-to-STEM-job pipeline; the purpose of STEM East is to help diversify the economy and improve development levels of Eastern NC, one of the poorest regions of the US, as it enters the post-tobacco age.

c) Worked as host at the first vegan restaurant in Raleigh,

It’s easy to feel lost in such a big environment, in the city, the classes, and the activities, so COÖP gives students an opportunity to help build their own community independent of the whirlwind of modern, urban life. There is no better way to get to know people when there’s just you, other people, and your imagination. During the program itself, leaders straddle the boundary between a supervisor and friend; it’s important for leaders to be cognizant and prepared for safety issues as well as issues the incoming freshman have, but, just as important, the leaders should also help facilitate students’ transition to Columbia by giving advice and also help the students live in the moment and create the bonds that will be integral to their first weeks at Columbia and beyond. On-campus leaders should continue the support system that they helped develop while off-campus. Regular but non-obtrusive checkups as well as organizing group get-togethers is crucial to continuing the sense of comfort and ease created during