Campus Voices

I’m proud to announce a new ally in the FNC blogosphere: “aperpetualstudent”. In an effort to keep our blog content fresh, innovative, and relevant to our students, a fellow blogger (and FNC student) will be contributing to the FNC Student Services blog.  Our new blogger looks forward to your questions and comments, so stay tuned (i.e. subscribe to the blog) for posts from a student perspective.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage other members of our faculty, staff or student body to join us. If you believe in the value of building community, just as we do, feel free to contact me about becoming a contributor yourself at the Office of Student Services.

 

Student Applause Winner Jesus Diaz

The Student Applause Award was first introduced in June 2008(http://fncstudentservices.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/introducing-the-student-applause-award/). Although the majority of our students are still learning about this recognition opportunity, one South Campus teacher inspired reams of support from his students. Yes, I mean that literally . . . well almost.  We received quite an impressive stack of nominations for Mr. Diaz, ESL instrutor at the South Campus. However, as per our selection criteria, it was not the quantity of the nominations that won Mr. Diaz the award, it was the quality. After reading the comments supplied on all of those nomination forms, it was quite clear what a positive impact Mr. Diaz has made on his students.

We at the Office of Student Services would like to join the students of South Campus in thanking him for a job well done!

Jesus Diaz, Winner of the Student Applause Award: Summer Semester 2008

 

Click here more information on the Student Applause Award and the nomination process.

 

Winner of the Student Handbook Scavenger Hunt

[The Office of Student services delayed the publication of this story, hoping the Hialeah winner would stop by to collect the prize. Since the individual has failed to return our calls, a new winner will be drawn.]

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Noel Perez: South Campus Winner!

Throughout the month of October, the student services department ran a fun activity for the student body in the Training Center, Hialeah, and South Campus.  The Halloween Scavenger Hunt encouraged students to read the Student Handbook and become more aware of the institution’s guidelines and procedures.

 

 

 

All students could participate by answering a short questionnaire with key information in the Handbook. Once they had the information, they returned their forms and received a delicious bag of goodies as well as a chance to participate in a raffle at the end of month for a $ 25 gift certificate to Target stores.

Students’ participation was really satisfactory and the Office of Student Services is happy to announce the winners who not only received their “trick or treat” bags but also received gift cards to selected stores.

 

Defining Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. If we approach the word from the perspective of Virginia Woolf, we could talk about the connotations and denotation of a word so steeped with tradition that it has expanded far beyond the borders of simple definition.

 

What images come to your mind when you hear the word Thanksgiving: food, family, parades, anticipated sales events? Do you envision pilgrims and the Mayflower of 1621, or the relief of a national holiday that was not officially recognized until 1863? Do you hold hands around the table or clasp your palms together under your chin? Or, do you maintain a white knuckled grip on the remote during the NFL Thanksgiving Classic?

 

The word Thanksgiving conjures different images for everyone. These images combine like the ingredients of your favorite Thanksgiving recipe to create something far more complex than the ingredients themselves.

 

Thanksgiving is such a complex idea. It goes beyond the sentiment of “giving thanks,” two words loaded with their own composite definitions: 

 

to give - contribute, bestow, convey, entrust, relinquish, transmit, or vouchsafe

to thank – acknowledge, appreciate, praise, credit, or be obliged

 

I think Woolf would agree. It’s impossible to define Thanksgiving–not with a history book, not with a prayer book, or not even with a dictionary. Thanksgiving exists in the space between noun and verb, something that is and something we do. The concept of Thanksgiving crosses back and forth through these boundaries and becomes something beyond linguistics, it becomes something quintessentially human. Whatever Thanksgiving conjures for you, may it bring you closer to your humanity.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Una Definicion para “Thanksgiving”

 

“Thanksgiving” (Accion de dar Gracias/Accion de Gracias). Si nos aproximamos a la palabra desde la perspectiva de Virginia Woolf, podriamos hablar de las connotaciones y denotacion de una palabra tan impregnada de tradicion que se ha expandido muy por encima de las fronteras de la simple definicion.

 

Que imagenes vienen a su mente cuando oye la palabra “Dar Gracias”: comida, familia, desfiles, eventos de ventas anticipadas? Puede usted ver los peregrinos y el Mayflower de 1621, o la ocasion de descansar gracias a una festividad nacional que no fue reconocida oficialmente hasta 1863? Unen ustedes sus manos alededor de la mesa o solo las unen bajo su barbilla? o, mantiene empuñado el control remoto con fuerza hasta blanquear sus nudillos durante el tradicional partido de Accion de Gracias de la Liga nacional de Baloncesto? La palabra Accion de Gracias evoca diferentes imagenes para todos. Estas imagenes se combinan como los ingredientes de su plato preferido del dia de Accion de Gracias, hasta crear algo completamente diferente a los ingredientes por si mismos.

 

La idea de “Thanksgiving” es una idea tan compleja, que va mas alla que el sentimiento de “dar gracias”, dos palabras cargadas por sus propias complejas definiciones:

 

dar – contribuir, conceder, convenir, entregar, relegar, transmitir o ceder

agradecer – reconocer, apreciar, venerar, dar credito, sentirse en deuda

 

Pienso que Woolf estaria de acuerdo. Es imposible definir Thanksgiving - no con un libro de historia, o un libro de oraciones o un diccionario. ”Thanksgiving” existe en el espacio contenido entre “sustantivo” y “verbo”, algo que es y algo que hacemos. El concepto de “Thanksgiving” cruza de ida y vuelta los limites y se convierte en algo que va mas alla de la linguistica, se convierte en algo mas alla de la quinta escencia del ser humano. Independientemente de lo que “Thanksgiving” evoque para usted, deseamos que le de la oportunidad de acercarse un poco mas a su propia condicion humana.

 

 

 

 

Job Fair

 

Free Seminar Thursdays

If you’ve taken a moment to peruse the activities calendar, you may have noticed a number of seminars scheduled throughout the fall semester. These seminars were created to contribute to the cultural, social, professional and intellectual development of our students here at FNC.

There is no charge for attending these seminars, simply register in advance with the Office of Student Services. Some of the seminars offered include:

“How to Get Along with Your Professor” This insider look at proper academic conduct will help you understand your professor’s expectations and help you build a positive relationship with your instructors.

“How to Get Good Grades” This ten-step overview, presented by Academic Advising, is intended to compliment the more extensive SLS 50 College Skills Course. Use this is a crash course to get a head start, or a refresher course to help reinforce the successful study skills you are trying to develop.

“Hidden Potential: Claiming the Success You Deserve” This insightful seminar examines the character traits of the truly successful. With a little practice, you can develop these traits and achieve the success you deserve with the least resistance.

“Managing Conflicting Priorities” This seminar focuses on advanced methods of time and stress management. Time management is easy when you only have one thing to focus on, but what happens when you have multiple priorities all vying for your attention? “Managing Conflicting Priorities” has a number of suggestions to help you maximize your efforts and minimize the anxiety.

“Building Relationships: Before You Need Them” Think of relationship building as investing in your future. You can’t withdraw funds from an empty bank account, right? The same can be said for personal AND professional relationships. This seminar will discuss some of the simple ways that you can build relationships now—before you need them.

 

Welcome Back Students!

The Office of Student Services is thrilled that you’ve taken the time to check out the FNC Blog . Blogging is the fastest and easiest way for Student Services to keep you abreast of current events and information. Let me show you around.

You will notice a number of tabs at the top of the blog. Each tab will lead you to further information:

On the ‘About Student Services’ page you will find our Statement of Purpose and Campus Life.

By clicking on the ‘Activity Calendar’, you will find a schedule of campus and community events that may be of interest to you.

Check out the ‘Applause Award’ page for information on nominating your favorite FNC faculty or staff member.

The ‘FNC SGA’ page contains the by-laws of the Florida National College Student Government Association as well as the job descriptions and academic requirements for each office. (Elections for the 2008-2009 academic year will be held September 29-30.)

Finally, the campus organization page is ready and waiting for the development of future student organizations. The development of student organizations depends on the interest and participation of the FNC students. This is your opportunity to develop your organizational and leadership qualities. Stop by the Office of Student Services for further information.

 

Congratulations Jose Regueiro Scholarship Winner!

The Office of Student Services would like to congratulate Patricio J. Estupinan from South Miami Senior High School, recipient of the Jose Regueiro Scholarship. The scholarship will cover the complete tuition cost of any A.A. or A.S. program here at FNC.

Estupinan graduated from his class with a 3.5 GPA and participated in a number of co-curricular activities including the Spanish Honor and Spanish Spirit Societies.

Mr. Estupinan was awarded the Jose Regueiro Scholarship based, in part, on his essay “The Importance of a College Degree,” and the recommendation of his Guidance Counselor, Rodolfo J. Carbajales.

In his essay, Estupinan wisely characterizes higher education as an “investment” in his future and warns that short-sighted goals often lead to short-lived results. For Estupinan, a college degree is more than just a piece of paper; it’s the key to social and economic freedom, the opportunity to pursue a life of peaceful prosperity.

In his letter of recommendation, Mr Carbajales writes:

Patricio is an extraordinary young man with many talents and an excellent role model not only for his peers, but also for everyone with whom he comes in contact.

We look forward to Estupinan’s student leadership and academic enthusiasm here at Florida National College.

For more information on how you can apply for the Jose Regueiro Scholarship, visit FNC.edu > publications > Florida National College Catalog .

Other Scholarships include:

Diaz-Balart Scholarship

FNC/Government Scholarship

Upward Bound Scholarship

Dr. Manuel Viamonte Scholarship

 

Community in Crisis?

According to a recent Associated Press article, Miami ranked last in a 50 city survey on volunteering. For an idealist like me, the news was depressing to say the least. I firmly believe in the concept of unlimited human potential and the strength of community, but ultimately, it is not my belief that is important.

Miami’s volunteerism rate of 14.5 percent displaced Las Vegas (yes sin city!) at the bottom of the philanthropic barrel. (The top city had a rate of 39.9 percent) The article cites some possible influences:

Miami’s poverty rate and average commute times are slightly higher than the national average, while other factors influencing volunteerism — home ownership and education level — are slightly lower. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/ap_on_re_us/volunteering).

I’ve heard these arguments before, but I have to wonder if these are the causes or the effects. Has Miami become the city of “every man for himself?” Have we lost our sense of community? Just last year, a USA report noted Miami ranked number one in the rudest drivers:

The most frequent cause of road rage cited in the survey was impatient motorists. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-15-rude-drivers_N.htm)

Have we forgotten that we are all connected in a social ecosystem? Road rage is a good example. How often have you seen your fellow commuters fighting over a few yards of roadway? How many minutes of commute time did they actually gain? When was the last time a rude driver ruined your stress free commute? Unless you’re a Zen master, I’m sure you passed that stress on to someone else.

Of course, there are courteous drivers out there. They allow you to merge into traffic, signal for you to go first at the stop sign, slow down when you put your blinker on to switch lanes—but it seems a rare event to me. Perhaps these courteous drivers are the same 14.5 percent who volunteer. The same people who realize their actions reverberate through the community and return to them intensified.

Yes, rudeness is contagious (watch how quickly a customer reacts to a rude cashier), but I don’t think that is the biggest threat to our sense of community. I think the biggest threat is ambivalence. How often have you heard the phrase “People just don’t care” or “I’m just too busy”? How many times have you said it? Have we accepted the dissolution of community values?

No, what I believe is not important. I may believe every individual has the potential to change the world, but if those individuals don’t believe it, it won’t make a difference—they won’t make a difference.