Farewell

Season’s greetings! This year has been a terrific one for me. 2012 is coming to its end, and I’m excited to see what the New Year has to bring. I’m sorry to announce that I will no longer be your student blogger. I’ve decided to discontinue blogging due to personal reasons. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blogs as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. May the New Year bring you joy and happiness!

Thank You LTC

Thanksgiving is a special time of the year for me and for many others. It's during this moment that I have the chance to meet with loved ones and spend quality time together. I'm thankful for having such a supportive and loving family. I also want to point out a few reasons why I'm grateful for LTC. Lakeshore Technical College strives to develop a compelling and diverse workforce through a variety of educational programs. They have so much to offer through different program areas from student internships, student clubs, specific training, to hands-on technical courses. I'm thankful for the strong support of LTC's staff members because without them I wouldn't be where I'm at right now. During my time here, I've met some great instructors and terrific classmates who have encouraged and inspired me to keep pushing forward. I've been given the opportunity to work on campus which has enabled me to take on new tasks and challenges that is beneficial for my learning experience. Taking part in student activities and clubs has allowed me to meet new people as well as gaining a sense of involvement within the community. LTC also continues to collaborate with several job centers to provide free or affordable seminars and workshops to enhance an individual's skill level to get them back in the workforce. Their endless efforts remind me that I made an excellent decision to come here in the first place.

Half Way There

Can you believe it? We’re already half way through the semester. Winter break isn’t too far away. I’m sure most of us are super excited and have made plans to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Because of our busy schedules, it’s important to stay focused on our goals and priorities. I get distracted pretty easily, but there are steps I take that help me stay on track. I write a list of what needs to be done in order so I don’t forget. I also arrange daily routines by jotting it down in my agenda or on my calendar. By dividing my time up accordingly throughout the day helps me stay organized. I think what’s most important is for an individual to actually have a reason to do what they do. Without this drive, chances are that the individual will have no motivation. You need to know your purpose and remind yourself why it’s important to you. I would suggest maybe trying self-assessments to find out who you are and what you intend to do. I think it’s also important for you to get enough to eat and to sleep as well as taking breaks or exercising. It might actually be harder to focus on something if you won’t allow yourself to rest or to take your mind away for some time.

Let’s get involved!

LTC is filled with energy and fun! There's always something going on throughout the semester and even during summer. Next week we have all sorts of stuff happening here at the campus.

On Monday, there will be a presentation in recognition of Constitution Day Observance in the cafeteria. It is on this day that schools take time to celebrate and honor the day the Constitution of the United States was signed. Later that evening, the United Web & Marketing Association will be sponsoring a fundraiser for their club. They will be selling dinner meals from 5:30-7pm. On Tuesday, The International Coffee Cart, sponsored by LTC International Bridges Club, Student Resource Center, and Torke Coffee, will be providing free coffee to students right outside the library from 8-11:30am. Their purpose is to educate students about different countries, and for this particular occasion, they will be discussing topics about Scotland. There has been an error in our student planners. BINGO will only be held on Wednesday from 12:15-12:45pm in the cafeteria. On Thursday, there will be an OpenMic-Karaoke activity from 11:45am-12:45pm. Last but not least, wrapping up the week, on Friday there is Cosmic Bowling at Meadow Lanes in Manitowoc. LTC, Silver Lake College, and UW-Manitowoc have collaborated to provide students over the age of 18 a discounted rate to bowl for that evening.

Due to my tight schedule, I can only fit in so much. I think I'll be able to help out with the fundraiser by purchasing a meal on Monday night. I'm also going to try to squeeze in some time for BINGO and OpenMic-Karaoke. We'll see how things go next week!

As you can see, LTC is always offering their time and service to make your experience here an enjoyable and memorable one. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get involved.

Ready for more

I hardly doubt this semester will be any different from my last two semesters. I'm taking six classes and half of them are scheduled Monday through Thursday from eight in the morning until the late afternoon. For 3rd semester Administrative Professional students, courses include: MBA III, Desktop Publishing, PDF Integration, Professional & Career Development, Economics, and Psychology. Just recently a new course was added: MS Project, but because this was never a course during my time of enrollment, I wasn't required to take it.

Over the semesters I've gotten pretty comfortable being on campus and interacting with the staff/instructors, so I definitely feel a sense of gratification. Seeing new faces of first-year students and the fresh up-to-date look of LTC also adds to my enjoyment of coming to class. I would think that by now the majority of second-year students are not shy or nervous anymore and know what to expect in the last two semesters.

Personally, I'm pretty happy to come to class everyday knowing that I'm already half-way done with my degree and only have until next spring to graduate. Each day I continue to learn and study something new that I know will be valuable for my future and with that knowledge I'm also a step closer to finishing up my program.

Fresh Face at LTC

For those who haven't visited the LTC campus over the course of this summer, you are all in for a surprise! And for those who have been at the campus whether it's to work or to take summer classes, you have witnessed several weeks of non-stop drilling, hammering, and reconstructing of two major sections inside the school.

Thanks to the many tough and dedicated workers, the remodeling of LTC's Student Service and Kitchen/Cafeteria will be completed by the time fall classes are in session again. The construction is halfway finished, and I can clearly see that everything is coming together very well. Because I was amazed with the library's new look, I have a feeling that the new renovations of these two particular areas will be just as spectacular. I'm proud to say that not only is LTC maintaining their reputation and dignity, but they are also improving their appearance with an awesomely fresh one.

Busy Summer So Far

It’s been about a month now that I haven’t posted any blogs, but no worries because I’m right back at it again! So far, my summer has been going pretty smoothly. By now I have familiarized myself with the new neighborhood and surroundings that I just moved into a couple of months ago, and I enjoy living independently. I’ve also been keeping myself very busy with two part-time jobs. I’m still working as a student intern in the Marketing & College Relations department at LTC and also as a receptionist at an assisted living facility.

Some days throughout the week I’m at LTC for work, and on the other days (including some weekends) I’m at my other job. Because of my two jobs and exciting summer plans, my mind has not been entirely focused on the upcoming fall semester. I have the majority of all my school paperwork completed, and I’ve already enrolled in my classes. All I need to do now is to buy school supplies and to buy textbooks when classes start.

I’m very glad to have the opportunity to hold two positions that are relevant to my career field. I’m not only gaining just the experience and knowledge, but I get the chance to work in a diverse setting where I can keep learning and developing stronger work ethics and communication skills.

Planning Summer Fun

Finishing up the semester is a huge accomplishment for everyone. We can all finally relax and take our minds off of school for a little while. I will not be taking any summer courses, because I want to enjoy the upcoming months of warm weather. I pretty much plan on having an entertaining and active summer with my friends and families by having picnics at local parks, frequently taking walks along the shores of Lake Michigan, traveling to different cities to visit and hang out, and attending the popular Hmong tournaments that are held in Sheboygan, Green Bay and Oshkosh.

My biggest plans for the summer are to go charter boat fishing and to take a trip to Chicago. Charter boat fishing is something that I am hoping I get to do, because it looks fun and I want to try something new. In mid-July my whole family is spending the weekend in Chicago. The main reason is to go to Six Flags, but I would love to visit Chinatown too. I want to walk around and explore as much as I can, and most importantly, to spend some real quality time with my parents and siblings. It's only once in a great while that I get to do something like this with them, so I can't wait for this day to come!

FINALLY

I'll be honest. Finals week is a little frustrating and can be a bit overwhelming. Depending on what program you're in and which instructor you have, you may be required to take a final exam or present a final project. I have taken my last exam for Office Accounting about a week and a half ago and now have a final project where I need to record transactions and adjust entries in the general journal and general ledger as well as create trial balances, bank reconciliations, deposit slips, client statements, etc. to complete for next week.

I also have one more test for MBA I and MBA II and a final project for both courses that covers each chapter we have learned in the entire textbook. Because my E-Communications class had already taken our final test a couple of weeks ago, we are currently just having class activities up until the semester ends such as experiencing with Voice Recognition using Dragon Naturally Speaking, an installed program on the computer. After a few microphone and sound quality checks, the computer is ready to do what you command. I found this to be very neat and convenient if you were unable to click or type. The only issue, however, was if the computer dictated inaccurately if you didn't speak clearly enough.

My last class, Web Page Design, does not require a final exam but a final project. I have to create a website using the HTML codes that we learned during the semester. I completed my website but still need to upload it to a server, and after that I have to present it to the classroom. Remember to check it out at www.ltcstudentweb.com in a few weeks!

I'm pretty sure this is how finals are like for an Administrative Professional student. Students in other programs will have different activities and all, but one thing I'm positive we can all agree on is that finals week can be hectic! We only have a short period of time left until the semester is over, and that is why I have organized my priorities. Even if it means you have to create a check list or jot down notes on scratch paper every day to be on top of things, do it. We are getting closer, so hang in there guys and gals!

Earth Week 2012

If you're thinking about making a positive change for your community, then Earth Week is the perfect time to start considering and planning. It can be just as simple as recycling your newspaper, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, or aluminum cans. If planting your own garden sounds interesting, try it out! Otherwise, rather than attempting to grow your own vegetables, I'd go to the local farmer's market to pick up some organic foods. I have also invested in fluorescent light bulbs; it uses up less energy and lasts longer than incandescent bulbs. Instead of cranking up the heater during cold seasons, I like to cuddle up with extra blankets and rather than buying bottled water, I've bought a water filter for my kitchen sink.

You'd be surprised how much of a difference you would make preserving the earth by just making these small changes day by day, step by step. So why not celebrate Earth Week by making a few of these commitments?

In the Home Stretch

Once again before I even knew it, the semester flew by. All sorts of finals are coming our way, so LTC students, let's do it! For me, personally, I'm not as overwhelmed as I was at the beginning of the semester. I'm just really excited that we're rolling towards summer and that I'll be completing my end-of-the-semester projects. My fellow classmates are just as thrilled as I am for a terrific summer break before fall semester comes. I still have a few tests and assignments left and a final project for two of my classes, but I have never been a procrastinator so finishing up any coursework for the end of the school year will not be an issue.

During this time there are many things happening all at once. Students are preparing for exams, getting ready for spring graduation, and making plans for the summer. I also know for sure LTC instructors have got to be busy bees when the semester is about to wrap up. They're stuck with grading hundreds of assignments, organizing their files, and managing their students. What do I have to say about that? Well, all I can really say is to work hard and stick with it. Just a couple of weeks and it's summer break!

Strike a Pose

Just last week I was asked to do a photo shoot with four other LTC students for the new 2012-2013 college catalog. Although it was a sunny afternoon, the temperature was frigid. Regardless of the weather, I still had a fun time meeting with the other students and taking photos with them. I learned which programs they were in and enjoyed their friendly demeanor. We took pictures in front of the bridge and switched positions here and there, but what I liked the most was when we had our pictures taken as we were walking down the pathway towards the north lot. During this time was the most natural of the snap shots because we actually walked and talked as the photographer clicked away at the camera. I remember I had to carry a big, black purse (it belonged to one of the girls) for the picture and boy, was that one weighty luggage. The purse was half the size of my upper body! The girl and I laughed and joked about how big and heavy it was and how anyone could possibly have that many items crammed in a purse. I had a great time at the photo shoot and can’t wait to see the new catalogs!

Scheduling Time for Me

We all have our own issues that we struggle with, and it can be very challenging to try to balance school, work, and our personal life. A few challenges I faced while in college was commuting back and forth from home and school and just strongly focusing on coursework not allowing myself to have any free time.

I drive about one hour each day, five days a week, that’s 20 hours of driving per month! Although that number may not seem too bad, think about gas price and how many times I have to pump gas. The distance from where I live to Cleveland is approximately 25-30 miles, and since my vehicle gets 30 miles per gallon, I use up two gallons of gas every day. I pump gas at least three times a month. Even though I’ve been able to manage these gas bills, I’m still very limited on income. Luckily, this is all about to change in a few weeks. I’ll be moving to a new location where it’ll only take 10 minutes to get to the campus.

In the beginning I strictly concentrated on doing really well in school. What I was forgetting was to let my body and soul enjoy the presence of life. I later developed a plan where I divided my time up equally. I set up a goal time of when to work on my class assignments and when to spend some time for myself whether that’s getting some exercise or hanging out with family and friends.

So, you can say I have found some success to my challenges. I’m an easily motivated individual and always look forward to accomplishing new tasks.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

When spring arrives, the LTC campus is such a refreshing sight to my eyes. Everything that was dead or just looked dead is alive again! The sound of birds chirping gives me a radiant sensation as I walk to class and hearing the graceful flow of water from the stream is very calming. The temperature is nice and cool which makes me feel so relaxed. To me, this is an excellent start for a regular school day.

I normally take walks inside the building during class breaks, but since the weather is getting better, I definitely plan to take walks outside. Just the other day I realized how peaceful and quiet it was to sit out on the benches. Of course there were students walking by but I was able to just take in a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. I think spring is one of the best seasons because the pleasant weather puts everyone in a good mood, outside activities can be achieved, the roads are finally clear, flowers are blooming, and residents are doing yard work and gardening. Please take this time to re-embrace the joy of spring!

Spring Break!

Some students and staff may be relieved that Spring Break is on its way, but I’m on a different page. I’m looking forward to coming back to the campus to work in the Marketing & College Relations office throughout the break. On Tuesday, March 13, there will be an event held on campus called Junior Achievement, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to work with the rest of LTC staff members and local employers as they educate and help motivate high school students about business careers.

I don’t plan on doing anything major or going anywhere special at this moment, but maybe next time around I’ll have to rearrange for some time to myself. Although this may sound ridiculous, I have found that I’m always eager to come back to class while on semester break because I begin to lose my momentum. I guess I feel this way because I want to continue learning and studying until the actual semester is over. What I’m hoping to do before the break comes up is to complete all homework assigned so that it’s finished and out of the way. If the weather looks nice during that week I would like to go for a jog along the beautiful Lake Michigan. Have a safe and fun Spring Break!

Design Time

I’m currently taking the Web Page Design course, and we’re learning how to create web pages with HTML. Basically, the instructor gives a PowerPoint presentation introducing us to a chapter in the textbook. In-class activities are very important as this is practice review for the real homework assignment given towards the end of class. This is to be completed and sent to the instructor before the next class meeting.

During practice exercises we are allowed to help each other, and we can ask the instructor as many questions as we’d like. I like how LTC instructors remind students that there is no such thing as a “stupid question.” The instructor patiently explains how a code is written and goes around the classroom answering each student’s question. If she’s busy with another student, I’ll turn to my classmates for help.

What I enjoy the most about Web Page Design’s class projects is how the result will appear right away. When entering the codes for a text or an image in Notepad, it needs to be exact or else it will not show up correctly. HTML codes are not easy to remember nor are they very fun to me, but it’s something that I will have to eventually start to catch on to. At times it can get frustrating to learn where a code needs to be put in order for it to be seen on the web page, but this is where I’m given the chance to discover and to correct the error.

Sandy’s Six Tips for Student Success

College can be very overwhelming at times, but I have found ways that helped me reduce stress. Let me introduce you to Sandy's Six Tips for Student Success:

1. Set goals– It's important to know your motivation and why your education is meaningful
2. Be organized – Understand your responsibilities and do not procrastinate!
3. Study hard – Identify your learning style and learn actively.
4. Be honest – Your learning abilities and grades will be affected by academic deceitfulness.
5. Manage your well-being – Get some sleep, feed your body, go for walks. Find some sort of balance in school, work, and entertainment.
6. Get involved – Find out about student organizations and service learning to acquire skills and gain experience.

I'm most always doing my homework in a computer lab or in an area where the atmosphere is quiet and calm. The new renovation of the library and especially the furniture that is provided gives me a strong sense of comfort where I can just kick off my shoes, study, read the paper, or just lay back and relax. Do you want to know what's even better? The Academic Support Center is located right in the library; therefore, if you're having difficulties with any of your math, science or computer classes go there to get extra help.

You want to make sure you also bring a lunch or something to snack on while you're in class. Do not go the whole day without eating anything. Bring a banana, an apple or an orange to eat. Remember to drink lots of water! I usually try to drink as much water as I can from the water fountains to rejuvenate my body. Drinking lots of water also helps me from falling asleep in class. Hahaha!

Day by Day

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! My alarm goes off early at six in the morning. Some days it’s seven or eight. I get up out of bed and grab my towel to take a nice, warm shower. Scrambled eggs with rice and ketchup are my usual breakfast (believe it or not; but, I don’t ever get tired of eating the same breakfast every morning). I start my vehicle and let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes and then take off for an approximate 25-30 minute drive to LTC’s Cleveland Campus. I find a parking spot, throw on my backpack, and walk to class. This is a typical morning for me from Monday through Friday.

Monday mornings I have Office Professionalism and so far we’ve covered the use of time management and prioritization through self-assessment activities along with learning about the importance of diversity. In class, we all participate in group assignments and share ideas to educate one another. I find this very enjoyable and valuable.

The instructors are really good about giving us a 10 minute break in between classes, and during this time I either use the restroom or go for a walk around the halls to shake the cramp off my legs from sitting so long. Before my next class, which is normally in the late afternoon, I spend my time studying and researching other coursework given in other classes at the library or in a computer lab. I also make time to join student activities, such as BINGO, which is held in the Cafeteria.

At the end of the day, I’m ready to just go home and sleep!

Getting Involved

This year I plan to join the Multicultural Committee Advisory Council (MCAC), which is a committee with the purpose to “build bridges between Lakeshore Technical College and the multicultural communities to break the barriers to education and create mutual support in meeting the educational needs of our communities.”

I certainly would be interested in exploring LTC’s diverse opportunities for cultural learning and academic enhancement. Personally, I believe that participating in one or more activities has a positive impact on student gratification and college experience. What other benefits are there for outside-of-the-classroom experiences during college? You’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends and connect with people, gain knowledge about others, be able to give back to the community, and yes, you will have fun.

There are several clubs and organizations available to students that serve as a liaison for them to support their common career goals. I recommend that you become a member if you’re interested in becoming familiar with state and national activities, helping out with workshops, attending seminars and tours, and assisting with other public organizations. Check out all the clubs LTC offers: http://www.gotoltc.edu/studentservices/clubs_organizations.php.

Speaking of student activities, on Thursday, February 9, Hypnotist Chris Jones will be performing in the Cafeteria (L270) from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. See you there!

Spring Semester, Here I Come

It’s been a terrific year so far. Fall semester zipped by in the blink of an eye. The class that I enjoyed the most was Information Technology Essentials with Laurie Adelman. It was very interesting to learn about new technologies and how rapidly it has been changing and upgrading. I also had a great time preparing PowerPoint presentations to present to the classroom.

I would have to say my least favorite class was Math with Business Applications as I am not a big fan of solving formulas. To my surprise, I received a whopping A at the end of the semester. Hooray for me! All those long hours of studying finally paid off. As soon as I had thought I was done with numbers and equations, come to find out, I have to take Office Accounting. I’ll probably have to double the study hours for this one. Well, I guess I shouldn’t stress too much, because tutoring is available in the Academic Support Center located in the library. I can get all the assistance I need here at Lakeshore Technical College, either with one-on-one tutoring or with a study group.

This spring semester I’m taking a total of six classes: Office Accounting, Microcomputer Business Applications I, Microcomputer Business Applications II, eCommunications, Office Professionalism, and Web Page Design. Talk about busy, busy, busy. I know that as long as I concentrate on my objectives, I’m sure I’ll perform well just like I did this past semester. With that said, here I come!

Making Introductions

Hey everyone! My name is Sandy Yang and I’m currently in the Administrative Professional program at Lakeshore Technical College. I graduated in December of 2010 in the Health Unit Coordinator program and came back to further my education in the administrative field.

I first started out with college in 2008 with a one-year stint at UW-Manitowoc taking general education courses. You can say I had a sense of nervousness my first semester of college. Questions filled my mind with anticipation wondering: How can I adjust to college life? Am I going to do well academically? Will I be able to balance work, school, and family? Will I connect with students and instructors? If you‘re feeling a little anxious about starting college, take a deep breath and exhale! I came to realize very quickly that the new atmosphere wasn’t as bad as I had thought.

Because I had already had previous college experience, attending LTC the following year wasn’t too much of a worry for me. Why did I choose LTC? I appreciate what the college does for the community, I admire how the campus promotes diversity, and faculty and staff members are very friendly and helpful. Although it was another fresh start to have new classes, new instructors, and new students, I was able to reflect on the strategies I used before to help me get through. I continued to stay focused on my top priorities and reached out to others when I needed to.

My goals for spring semester are to pass all my courses and to gain additional knowledge and skills to apply it in the real world. And, of course, last but not least, I plan to help guide you with useful information through my blogs and to keep you all updated on student life here at LTC.

Talk to you soon.