Student support available

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller

Some semesters seem more difficult than others, perhaps because they are. Many of you are limping toward the finish line this semester with plans to quickly regroup and begin more classes in the next semester. Some of you may be coasting now because the hard parts are behind you. A few of you have fallen off course and can’t make your way back in time.

We in Student Support Services want you to know that the college offers resources to help you get off to a good start and to finish strong each semester. As an institution, we care very much about your success. There are tutors in each learning lab, professionals in the library, and faculty and student services staff waiting to listen and to help you find solutions. However, no matter how much we care about your success, we can’t care more than you. Ultimately, it is up to you to reach out to those who can help you and to use the various resources that we offer you free of charge.

Making mistakes and falling down do not equal failure. They simply mean that you are human. However, simply getting up again also doesn’t equal success. Success requires learning from your mistakes so that you do not repeat them. As we end this semester, I encourage you to look back over the past few weeks and evaluate what went well and what did not. Figure out why certain things did not go well, and identify what you can do to change those things for the future. In a perfect world, we would all have everything we need to be successful all the time. In the world that we have, it is important to first acknowledge what we do have and then to make the best possible use of it.

Whether you will be with us for the summer or plan to rest until fall, we in Student Support Services invite you to work with us to identify your resources, plan for your success, and enjoy the journey toward your academic goals.

—Mary Turner

Learning Support Specialist