Year: 2019

NAME:

Nicholas Vasilevski

EMAIL:

nvasilevski@mail.roosevelt.edu

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE:

Summer/Fall 2020

HOMETOWN:

Darien, IL

WHY YOU CHOSE ROOSEVELT:

I chose to attend Roosevelt University for many reasons. Living in the Loop has always been a dream of mine. The views are breathtaking from the school and there are so many things to do around campus. The class sizes are small compared to other Universities, which is great because you really connect with students and professors. Roosevelt University has so many clubs and internship opportunities especially being in the center of Chicago. 

MAJOR/MINOR:

Histotechnology

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MAJOR/MINOR:

I chose to major in Histotechnology because of the amazing job opportunities it has to offer. Every hospital is in need of Histotechnologists. Laboratory work and using the microscope has always been an interest for me. It was very tedious work and very competitive, but I pushed through and wanted to do what I love and enjoy.

DREAM JOB AND WHY:

My dream job is a Pathologist Assistant. After mastering the skills of Histotechnology and working in the field for a few years, my next step is getting my Masters in Pathology Assistant. Being able to do the gross examination of specimens is so interesting to me.

EXTRACURRICULARS (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

I am a Chemistry Laboratory Assistant / Prep Chemist. I am apart of CASSAC and GPS.

STUDY BREAK GUILTY PLEASURE:

Netflix

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

10th floor study room with a view of the city.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

Velvet Buzzsaw

The Best Museum to Visit and Why

By: Aurora Martinez

Visit these top museums in Chicago to begin your museum adventure. You’ll be surprised by how much you will discover.

1. The Field Museum

Source: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/visit

 

The Field Museum is located on Chicago’s iconic Lake Michigan shore and is one of the largest museums in the world. Not only will you encounter Maximo the Titanosaur, which stands 28 feet tall, you’ll have the opportunity to experience how the Ancient Egyptians lived by visiting the Inside Ancient Egypt and the Mummies exhibit. You’ll practically need a whole day to explore the rest of specimens and artifacts from all over the world here.

 

Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Hours: Daily 9:00AM-5:00PM

Basic Admission: $24 Adults; $21 Students (w/ID)

 

 

2. Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Source: https://www.instagram.com/msichicago/

 

Looking for a hands-on interactive museum? If so, the Museum of Science and Industry is a fun choice for you. Watch baby chicks hatch and grow while learning about genetics in Genetics: Decoding life. Also, make sure to explore the tornados, avalanches, lightnings and other natural phenomena found in Science Storms.

 

Address: 5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

Hours: Daily 9:30AM-4:00PM

Basic Admission: $21.95 Adults at door; $19.95 online

 

 

3. The Art Institute

Source: https://inspiredimperfection.com/adventures/the-art-institute-of-chicago/

 

The Art Institute is home of over 300,000 works of art ranging from medieval and renaissance art to contemporary and pop art. Join a free guided tour and view at some main highlights of the Art Institute such as the American Gothic, Nighthawks and Sunday on La Grande Jatte.

 

Address: 111 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Hours:  Daily 10:30AM-5:00PM, Thurs until 8:00 PM

Basic Admission: $25 Adults; $19 Students (w/ID);

Free for Illinois residents on Thursdays from  5:00PM-8:00 PM

 

 

4. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Source:  Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

 

So much to see at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Besides supporting your local Chicago rising artists here, you can find pieces from Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami and retrospective artist and sculptor,  Doris Salcedo and so much more. My current favorite exhibitions are Chicago Works, MCA Screen and Atrium Project.

 

Address: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Hours: Tue & Fri 10:00 AM- 9:00PM,Wed-Thu & Sat-Sun 10:00AM-5:00PM

Basic Admission: $15 Adults; $8 Students (w/ID); Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays

 

 

5. Alder Planetarium

Source: https://www.space.com/18105-adler-planetarium-chicago-photos.html

 

Explore the planets, the stars and beyond at the Adler Planetarium. You can create your own mini crater, learn about our solar system and experience what you’ll see in outer space. Make sure to check out Alder’s newest sky show, Imagine the Moon and my favorite Planet Nine.

 

Address: 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Hours: Daily 9:00AM-4:00PM

Basic Admission: $12 Adults; Students (w/ID) receive $2 off any admission

 

 

6. Wndr Museum

 

Source: https://wndrmuseum.com/#wndr

 

Wndr Museum has been the most trendiest pop-up place to visit today. This Instagram-famous museum is known for Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room and their zero-gravity ball pit. Buy your tickets soon because it’s here for a limited time and the best way to travel here is through public transportation. Oh, and if you happen to use the bathroom…I dare you to press the red button.

 

Address: 1130 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60607

Hours: Wend 4:00-8:00PM, Thurs-Fri 12:00-9:00PM, Sat-Sun 10:00AM-8:00PM

Basic Admission: $32 Adults

 

 

 

Feel free to check out these free Chicago museum days in 2019: https://do312.com/p/chicago-free-museum-days

Events:

CASSAC Karaoke Night 2019

CASSAC Karaoke Night was a super fun event focused on promoting relaxation during the time between midterms and final. Students were able to sing to their heart’s content, and gave bold and creative performances for everyone to enjoy. All genres of music were covered. Performers hit the stage, singing anything from “Old Town Road” to “Copacabana” and from “La Vie Bohème” to “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” The Playlist was built to have something for everybody. All singers could choose to perform with various props, like feather boas, crazy hats, and sunglasses. The audience was thoroughly entertained by every performance, and they enjoyed the show, while partaking in the buffet of snacks.  Overall, CASSAC Karaoke Night 2019 was a major success, and we can’t wait until next year!

Book Drive for Incarcerated Women:

We collected around 285 books to donate to the Chicago Books to Women in Prison Organization. It is a nonprofit organization that distributes paperback books to incarcerated women nationwide, free of charge. We also sent around 115 hard cover books to Open Books. This cause is so important because reading provides the opportunity for self-empowerment, education and entertainment for all people. We are grateful for everyone’s generosity and hope we can continue to do similar events that support the well-being of others.

College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Blog:

This semester we launched our Undergraduate blog with stories about academics, student experience, life in Chicago, and much more. Since our launch March 1^st we have had 143 page views and we are hoping to keep tracking this number to see what type of content people are drawn to the most. In April, our most popular posts include:

• Faculty Friday: Interview with Professor Nobby Cordeiro (30)
• Feature Friday: Zoey Bezilla (14)
• Tip Tuesday: Tips for Commuter Students (11)
• Major Monday: The Importance of General Education (9)
• The Challenges and Fulfillment of Being a First-Generation Student (7)

We can’t wait to continue to extend CASSAC’s good work and insights to a wider audience, and share the student perspective with you.

 

 

 

EMAIL:

jfierst@mail.roosevelt.edu

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE:

May 2020

HOMETOWN:

Menomonee Falls, WI

WHY YOU CHOSE ROOSEVELT:

I chose Roosevelt for a few reasons. First of all, it allowed me to continue playing basketball at the collegiate level. Further, living in the heart of downtown Chicago and experiencing life in the city was unrivaled. However, the small class sizes and unique social justice mission still made me feel like I would be a member of the community and working with others who cared about similar issues as me.

MAJOR/MINOR:

Majors: Political Science and Sustainability; Minor: International Studies

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MAJOR/MINOR:

I chose Political Science because I have a genuine interest in how our government works and the issues that are going on around me, and I saw it as a great avenue towards law school in the future. I chose Sustainability after taking an introductory international relations class and realizing how closely matters of our environment intertwined with politics. I chose International Studies because I love traveling and new experiences, and I am intrigued about how other nations operate.

DREAM JOB AND WHY:

I would love to be an international human rights lawyer or to be a political speechwriter. After some time in the field, I would then love to potentially become a professor. I think that these are all ways that promote the ability to initiate on-the-ground change, and I would love to be apart of something that creates more good.

EXTRACURRICULARS (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

President of the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Council (CASSAC), President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), member of the Roosevelt Women’s Basketball Team, Honors Program, Graduate Plan for Success Program, and Professional Mentoring Program, work as Front Desk Aide at Goodman Center and have been a Summer Camp Counselor and Youth Sports Supervisor the last two summers, interning for Organizing Corps 2020 this summer, interned for the JB Pritzker gubernatorial campaign this past fall, have volunteered at the Chicago Marathon and organized donation drives for victims of the California wildfires and underprivileged youth athletic programs in the city

“GOING TO CRUSH THIS EXAM” PUMP-UP SONG:

“I Like That” by Janelle Monae

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” -MLK Jr.

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT…:

I am the oldest of four children, and my parents have kids in college, high school, middle school, and elementary school right now!

ADVICE FOR INCOMING STUDENTS:

Get to know and talk to your professors and peers! Some of the greatest things I have learned at Roosevelt have been while listening to others talk about their lives.

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

Ganz Hall

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM:

Milwaukee Bucks

Finding a Place to Study

By: Jasmin Acosta

Hello everyone and welcome to the CASSAC blog! My name is Jasmin Acosta and I am a senior, Biology major.  I know how difficult it can be to commute to campus and find a quiet place to study so I’m here to make life a little simpler for you!

Roosevelt has so many study rooms hidden throughout both the Wabash and Auditorium buildings. The Wabash building has 32 floors but only floors 1-13 are accessible to commuters, the Auditorium building has 10 floors all available to everyone.

In Wabash, the 10^th floor offers about 7 individual study rooms for students and sometimes even the conference room. No worries if you don’t find a study room there, there’s more places than just that one!

The 3^rd and 4^th floor of the Wabash building also have places to study! The 3^rd floor has a computer lab as well as a black-and-white printer and a “Netflix room” which can also be used as a place to study!

The 4^th floor does not have rooms but there are many small couches that you can go to when you’re feeling a bit tired and in need of a nap!

In the Auditorium building there’s the 2^nd floor and the library which are also great places to study.

Although the school does offer many places to study sometimes it’s nice to leave campus for a bit. Places like Starbucks and the Harold Washington library on State St. and Van Buren are also great places to study!

HAPPY STUDYING!

Preparing for graduation is surreal, and I’m still not sure how to explain it.  You spend so long waiting and daydreaming about what it’ll be like to finally be a senior in college, and before you know it, your senior year is almost over!  Looking back over the last four years at Roosevelt, I can’t believe how much I’ve accomplished.

Take advantage – and I cannot stress this enough – of the opportunities presented to you by being a student at Roosevelt and by attending a university in the middle of a massive metropolitan city.  I’ve participated in so many things (directly and indirectly) because of Roosevelt that I had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of them!  If you have the ability to participate something, you should give it a shot!  These things wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for me getting involved starting my freshman year.

It’s easy to get involved – you just have to put yourself out there!  That’s the hardest part.  At the start of every semester, there’s an involvement fair hosted by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), where just about every student organization on campus has an information table staffed by current members of their org who are ready to talk to you about their organization!  Even if you don’t make it to the fair, there’s a list of organizations on Roosevelt’s website, and their office always has student org members & leaders who are more than willing to help you get involved.  And if you don’t find an organization that you fit in with, or just want to see something new?  All you need is a few other students, a staff advisor, and then boom!  You’re then eligible to start your own on-campus organization.

Socially and academically, Roosevelt has an incredible amount of resources available to students.  The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) and the Academic Success Center are my two personal favorites.  Without those two offices, I would’ve struggled a lot throughout college.  CSI oversees all student organizations and Greek Life at Roosevelt, and the Academic Success Center oversees the peer mentoring program, disability services, and much more.  As somebody who struggles socially and academically at times, I turned to these offices and their incredible staff.  They were always open-ears and more than willing to help me figure out my next steps.

As for my post-graduation plans, I don’t intend to pursue a graduate program right out of the gate.  I’ve found that Roosevelt has helped create a great path for me in starting my career, and over the last two years I’ve had jobs that I would never imagine that I would have in my life – let alone at the very start of my career.  Because of that, I want to keep continuing down this path, develop a solid resume and gain a lot of experience, and then consider a graduate program in a field where I’ve develop some subject matter expertise.  Considering how I had no idea what the next four years had in store for me when I started Roosevelt – and seeing how amazing they’ve been – I cannot wait to see what the next four have in store.

 

By: Kevin Reppen

Five Tips for Commuter Students

By: Cody McHale

Attending college as a commuting student is a great option. Commuting separates school life from life at home, is generally a cheaper option than living in a college’s residence halls, and if you’re living with your family, you most likely won’t have to worry about budgeting for things like food.

That being said, commuting can be seen as a daunting task. As a sophomore at Roosevelt University, I have been commuting on the Rock Island Metra Rail most weekdays for almost two years. Here are some things I have learned to make my life as a commuter as easy as possible.

Tip 1: Have a Backup Route

As a commuter, there are bound to be delays, so commuters should know all their options. To best adapt to delays, download apps like Ventra, if you use public transportation, or Waze, if you choose to drive. Before leaving home or school, check these apps for alerts. If it is seen that delays are unknown, you should consider taking a different route that can be used to get to the same destination. For example, if I see that my normal train, the Rock Island, is delayed for an unknown period of time, I would probably take a different train, like the Southwest service. This option might normally take ten more minutes, but it is a safer bet than unknown delays.

Tip 2: Use a Five Subject Notebook

At Roosevelt University, a student is considered full-time if they are taking between twelve and eighteen credit hours. With most classes being worth three credit hours, many students take five classes at a time. These classes can be scheduled every other day or once a week. As a commuter, it is important to take necessary supplies and readings to class on the right day. A five subject notebook makes this task much easier. Five subject notebooks, which often have built in folders and calendars, eliminate the need to take multiple spirals and folders to and from school, and reorganize supplies every day. A five subject notebook effortlessly makes a commuters life more organized.

Tip 3: Utilize Your Resources

Roosevelt University has multiple student support systems to make sure that their students succeed. Services for first generation students, low income students, and students from underrepresented groups are located in the Multicultural Student Support Services Office in the auditorium lobby. Disability services and peer mentoring are housed in the Academic Success Center in the library. Tutoring and computer access are available in the library’s Learning Commons. This emphasis on student success also applies to computers. All Roosevelt students receive a CTA U-PASS. That U-PASS cost $153 per semester, which is a great deal since CTA monthly passes cost $100 per month. The U-PASS will allow commuters to ride the “L” and CTA buses. The University also has lockers that commuter students can rent for one or two semesters at a time. These lockers can be rented from the office of physical resources, which is located in WB B16A.

Tip 4: Get a Nice Coat!

Chicago is the windy city, and a commuter has to brave the windchill. Whether it is a five minute walk to the Harold Washington Stop or a twenty minute walk to Union Station, a nice coat is going to make a commute easier by making it bearable. It is certainly best to get a thick coat with a hood to make the walk to and from the train station, bus stop or parking garage as warm as possible. Other commuting necessities are gloves, a scarf, and a winter hat.

Tip 5: Budget Your Time Wisely

It is always important to remember that time spent commuting is not time wasted. For those who take public transportation, the commute could be used to read for clas, organize and write an essays, or study for test. If a student drives to school, the commute can be spent listening to class readings on audiobook or listening to news podcasts. In courses like economics and political science, current events often correspond to the subject being discussed in class. Listening to the news could give the students an edge in class. The commute could also, of course, be used to relax, listen to music, and de-stress.

Finding a Diamond in the Rough

I am one of the few college students who knew what they wanted to major in upon starting college in the Fall. A political science major and a writing minor perfectly encapsulated two things that I’m passionate about: politics and writing. I have no idea what I want to do after college, but I have a general idea of what kind of work I’d like to get into. And on the days where I’m running on five hours of sleep and an iced coffee, frantically writing in my planner and trying to organize seemingly every aspect of my life, that’s enough.

So, if I know what I’m interested in, and I’m confident in my major then why take gen-eds? I’m bad at math, I know I’m bad at math, so why do I need to take a math class? Well, the answer to the second question is simple enough: basic Algebra will, most likely, be something I need to use in the future when I’m figuring out college loans. So, there’s that to look forward to. But, in the grand scheme of higher education, gen-eds play an important role in figuring out not only what one may want to do in life, but what else one wants to do as well.

To start, for those who are undecided, gen-eds are an excellent opportunity to try out a variety of different classes. This allows you to figure out which classes you like, and which you don’t. Even if you’re required to take a class in a certain discipline, make sure you check out what types of classes that discipline is offering. For example, if you need to fulfill a social science requirement and you’re planning to do so with a Psych class, see what different Psych classes are being offered that semester. You don’t have to take Intro to Psych – you can take a Psychology of Racism class, or a Psychology of Human Sexuality class if either of those sound interesting to you. If you don’t take risks and try new things, then you’ll never figure out what you like and what you don’t.

For me, a lot of things changed when I took my first Sociology class. The class was about Urban Inequality, and when I was registering the previous semester, I figured it was something I’d be interested in. After all, I do go to school in the city and I’m interested in social justice. It wasn’t until halfway through the class that I realized how much I was learning, how much I didn’t know before, and, most importantly, how much I looked forward to the class every week. Urban development and inequality, I discovered, is something that I’m intensely passionate about. Why? Because I believe that I’m part of a generation of activists, one that can make real progress fixing decade old problems that have led to urban inequality.

At the end of the class, the professor told me that she looked forward to seeing me in her other classes in the future and that I had a real knack for urban development discourse. Midway through the semester during registration, I registered for Sociology 101 in the Fall and added a second minor: Sociology. If I didn’t have to take gen-eds, then I wouldn’t have had to take any other classes outside of my major and minor ones, and I never would have realized that I love sociology. Admittedly, I almost love it more than Political Science.

So, make the most out of your gen-eds! Try and find a class that both interests you and fulfills some general education requirements. Two birds, one stone. You may just discover that you’re passionate about something you never considered before. And while finding that passion may mean suffering through Algebra or Biology (unless you’re into those sorts of things), it’s definitely worth it in the end.

By: Kaitlyn Greenholt

 Dr. Norbert Cordeiro

Dr. Cordeiro is a current Biology Professor at Roosevelt University. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampshire College in Massachusetts, and completed his Doctoral degree from UIC. His PhD is in Ecology and Evolution. I have had the opportunity to be a student of his and work side by side during research. He is a wonderful professor of Biology and passionate about everything he pursues. During Biology 202, Ecology and Evolution, I had the opportunity for one-on-one feedback and was able to form a relationship I would not have had at a bigger school.

Because of the small class sizes and type of learning environment Roosevelt creates I have had the privilege of doing research with Dr. Cordeiro at the Field Museum. We have been working on a project with birds from Africa. He has been observing these birds for years now and through some digging found there may be a new species that has been mistaken for another.

 

I asked Dr. Cordeiro a few questions about his research and work in Tanzania, Africa.

 

“I know you are very active with research, what are a few of the projects you are working on currently?”

Cordeiro: “Most research I am involved in is over a long term span. Because there is so much variation in the environment we need long-term research to understand the processes involved with biodiversity. There are two of several projects I can tell you about currently. The first involves vegetation plots in the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, we recently received a national geographic grant to continue our work with the plots. The East Usambara Mountains are important because they are considered an evolutionary center and sometimes coined the Galapagos of Africa. The purpose of these plots is to see where continued human disturbance creates more species of lower density. It would be like converting all prairies in the United States to lawns.”

 

“And project two?”

Cordeiro: “The second project we have been working on is detailing conservation over 20 years, we did a census, collected ecological information and conserved endangered long billed forest warbler of the East Usambara Mountains. Over the last 10 years the population stabilized, which is a good sign since in 1990 it was considered to be headed towards extinction”

 

“How often do you get to Tanzania each year?”

Cordeiro: “It is dependent on funding but usually around two times. One of the two is a trip with a Roosevelt University course I teach which happens every two years. The trip entails learning from Tanzanians and full cultural immersion with the Maasai people. The students are exposed to the Saharan climate and dry often named “hostile” environments. We also travel about 6 hours one of the days to a rainforest where students see the ecology of a tropical rainforest and learn about conservation. The trip is all Tanzanian run which is what makes it unique, it caters to the students and not a westernized experience of the area.”

Dr. Cordeiro says some of his students have described the trip as “life changing”. He said some have even become world ambassadors because of the respect and social consciousness they had when interacting with the people of Tanzania.

 

“I know you have a special place in your heart for birds, do you have a favorite?”

Cordeiro: “The African Crowned Eagle because it represents strength, wisdom, agility, and the cruelty of nature.”

 

“Last question, if you could give a future Roosevelt Science student one piece of advice, what would that be?”

Cordeiro: “Follow your heart and passion in whatever you do and make that a central part of who you are.”

 

I would like to thank Dr. Cordeiro for sitting down with me and spending some time giving us a little insight into his life apart from being a professor.

 

By: Zoey Bezilla

 

NAME:

Zoey Bezilla

EMAIL:

zbezilla@mail.roosevelt.edu

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE:

Fall 2019

HOMETOWN:

Harbor Springs, MI

WHY YOU CHOSE ROOSEVELT:

I chose Roosevelt beacuse I wanted to be in the city and I love downtown Chicago, I also came here because I recieved the opportuninty to play for the Women’s Soccer team.

MAJOR/MINOR:

Biology, BS

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MAJOR/MINOR:

I love Biology and science and learning about the body, I chose this major so I can eventually go get my doctorate of Physical Therapy.

DREAM JOB AND WHY:

Own my own PT clinic with a wellness clinic or gym attached because I love helping people feel helathier and educating them on making the right choices for their bodies.

EXTRACURRICULARS (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

Soccer, SAAC, Job in the Dean’s Office, Job at Athletico, Research at the Field Museum with Dr. Cordeiro

ADVICE FOR INCOMING STUDENTS:

Get out in the city and try new things, it is the best part of being in Chicago.

FAVORITE SPOT IN CHICAGO:

Lakefront Trail because I love the water and it is a great place to walk, run, or bike.

YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:

My mom, she is the hardest worker and smartest person I know. She made me who I am today.

CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY:

The environment, because we all share this planet and its important we take care of it.

WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE COMING TO COLLEGE:

No matter what happens, everything is probably going to work itself out in the end.

On my first day of orientation at Roosevelt University, thirty students – myself included – filed into a classroom. It was one of the many seminars you receive at orientation that teaches you about resources available to students on campus. While I cannot clearly recall what exactly the seminar was about or what resource it was advertising, I do have a vivid memory of the activity we took part in. The seminar leader directed first-generation students to stand on one side of the room, and those who had parents and other immediate family with college degrees to the opposite side of the room. As I stood on the first-generation side with only one other person, I realized that being first-generation wasn’t as common as I thought it would be. In that instance, a sense of isolation encompassed myself, and there was a single thought I couldn’t shake for the rest of the day: How am I going to do this?

The isolation, while exaggerated by the physical distance between myself and the other students, was all-encompassing. I realized, perhaps not for the first time, that those students had a valuable resource that I had been lacking throughout the beginning of the college process: familial advice. First-gen students often times have to figure things out on their own with little help from parents – there are no stories about college acceptances and experiences passed down through the generations, no wisdom passed from parent to child before they embark on the next four years of their lives. Whether it be applications, college stories, or financial aid, we often times don’t have someone in our immediate family who knows how to easily navigate forms or who can bestow their college-related wisdom upon us. In fact, the very notion of pursuing a higher education is often alien, both to parents and to their children, thus making the college process more challenging and tenser than it is supposed to be.

Of course, it is not a parent’s fault that they didn’t attend college – higher education is expensive and costs both money and time, two valuable resources those from lower income backgrounds cannot afford to freely expend. In my family, college wasn’t really an option if one wanted to start making money quickly. It’s expensive, and often times it is too hard to maintain a full-time job and be a full-time student. Even today, many first-gen students put themselves through college by working and taking out large loans that help them pay their way through school. Around 48% of first-generation students can only attend school part-time, which often means that it can take up to six years for a first-gen student to get their degree if they don’t drop out before then. Drop out rate amongst first-gen students is also typically higher than others, and most will leave school before their third year (PNPI).

Depressing, trust me, I know.

Without the right resources – both before and after college – first-gen students more frequently express lower rates of college readiness than a typical student. Whether it be inside the classroom or in the financial aid office, there’s innumerable moments where I’ve felt dumb for not knowing something that seemingly is basic information. It’s not so much about not understanding the material, it’s more like having a lack of knowledge regarding the college experience as a whole that can hinders students, myself included. Questions like what’s a personal statement? Or what’s an assistantship? Or How do I apply for outside scholarships? Constantly plague our minds, and much too often we’re too nervous or embarrassed to ask faculty or friends for help.

So, what? College is nothing but challenges for those who are first-generation? Luckily, it’s not all bad – Roosevelt provides an extremely valuable on-campus resource that caters specifically to first-generation students and students of color who have questions about the college experience as it pertains to them. I cannot stress enough how important it is to utilize resources like Multicultural Student Support Services (MSSS); MSSS provides academic support created to improve retention and graduation rates of first-gen students through programs such as advocacy and financial literacy. MSSS is literally designed to help first-gen students with questions we may have. It’s natural to ask about something your unfamiliar with, and I can definitely say it helps in the end. Not only that, but creating ties on campus, both with faculty and friends as well as through various programs like MSSS, first-gen students are more likely to acclimate to the college environment (PNPI).

So, yes, there are a lot of challenges. I still dread filling out FAFSA every year because my mom and I still don’t understand what we’re doing, I still occasionally feel isolated from my peers who have seemingly endless knowledge of the college experience, and, at times, I still feel like I’m not entirely prepared and ready to be in college courses. But I’m here – I was accepted and I’m passing classes and I am most certainly not dumb. In the end, the thought that motivates me the most is that I will be the first in my family to walk across the stage at graduation to accept my degree. I genuinely do want to make my family proud, and I want to prove that even though I may have started with a slight disadvantage, I will still prevail and graduate just like everything else. If you too are a confused, first-gen student who feels insecure in their status as a college student, I urge you to remember what you’re doing it for. In the end, it will be worth it.

Sources:

“First-Generation Student Fact Sheets.” PNPI, 26 Sept. 2018, pnpi.org/first-generation-students/.

By: Kaitlyn Greenholt

 

What is the Honors Program?

An Interview with Sarah Maria Rutter

On a cloudy, March afternoon I had the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing Sarah Maria Rutter, academic advisor and administrator for Roosevelt’s Honors Program. What’s this? You didn’t know the school had an Honors Program? Maybe not sure what the Honors Program actually does? Well, good thing for you, this article is all about the Honors Program and why you, talented and exceptional Roosevelt student, should join!

The Honors program is an immersive academic opportunity for students seeking an enriched undergraduate experience with intellectual rigor. The program offers an inter-disciplinary approach to creativity and intellectualism and experiential learning. And then, obviously, the biggest difference between Honors courses and regular courses is that the Honors Program requires its students to write a thesis at the end of their Senior year. The thesis is done in collaboration with a professor from your major and is supposed to reflect your passions and interests as they pertain to your discipline.

I know what you may be thinking: so, it’s harder than normal classes? No, actually, it is not. I asked Sarah Maria if she believed that Honors level courses were harder, and she said that they were not. In accordance with the National Collegiate Honors Council, classes are not harder, but they do place more focus on risk taking and inquiry. Honors classes address the general topic, but they also make the complexities of what’s happening come to the forefront of the conversation.

And still, all of this sounds incredibly intimidating. But, in my own experience, I have found that Honors classes are not as challenging so much as they are fulfilling. Classes will require you to delve deep into topics and material, and delving in deep typically requires one to think carefully and contribute their nuanced ideas as they pertain to the subject matter. Professors in the program are always there to guide you through the process, whether that process be writing a thesis, applying research methods, or understanding your discipline the slightest bit more.

When I asked Sarah Maria how the Honors Program prepared students for life after college, she responded that the courses students take throughout the program have the intention of preparing students for whatever they may choose to do after school. The Honors Program’s classes will change the way you think, it’ll change the way you approach life after college. Whether your transitioning into grad school (as many honor students do), social service, or a job, the honors programs rigor will ease the transition.

Personally, I’ve never regretted my choice in joining the program. It’s allowed me to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to various experiential activities – like tutoring – outside of it. Not to mention that my honors classes are typically much more engaging than the average class, often encouraging discussion and careful thought. The program offers a variety of courses each semester, and this semester I was lucky enough to register for Professor Bethany Barratt’s “Honors Politics of Harry Potter” class, which has been as entertaining as it has been interesting. I mean, we talk about Harry Potter for two and a half hours, who wouldn’t love that? Well, Twilight fans, maybe.

Sarah Maria also said that the Honors Program has a lot more in store for its students in the coming semesters. Recently, the program has reduced the number of credits each student has to take. It’s also allowed for a two-semester thesis approach; in your first semester of Senior year, you will take a prep course that will prepare you for your thesis course the following semester. For those who have no idea what to focus their thesis on, this course is ideal to get ready for the thesis-writing process. The program also hopes to incorporate less formal Honors programming into campus culture, hoping to get students from all disciplines involved in events on campus even if they’re not apart of the Honors College.

This year’s Honors Program theme was “Research as Social Action” and two films were shown on campus in keeping with the theme. This year also happened to be the 20^th anniversary of the program and Sarah Maria and Marjorie Jolles, director of the Honors Program, have been busy advising and assisting Honors students, as well as keeping up with Honors courses, thesis presentations, and various events on campus. Next years theme will be “Living and Dying” because, as Sarah Maria says, “you can hardly talk about a life well-lived without using death as a comparison.” This, in my opinion seemed like a perfect quote to end on. Why? Because it is exactly a statement like this that, even on a small scale, inspires the careful thought and discussion that the Honors Program encourages. And if that doesn’t sell you on the program, then I don’t know what will.

By Kaitlyn Greenholt