Connections Matter – Neighborhood Friends at Citrus Community College

This photo from Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, shows a few of those students who recently met with their hosts, Citrus Board of Director for Area 1, Dr. Barbara Dickerson and Student Trustee, Pat Cordova-Goff, at California Grill Express in Azusa. – Courtesy Photo

By Libertad (Libby) Rodriguez

At about this time of year, students return to school, excited at the prospects of new beginnings, and break the ice by sharing their summer adventures. Fall semester at high schools reunites longtime friends as they transition from freshmen, to sophomores, to juniors, to seniors. And, then the bottom falls out. The goodbyes, well wishes, and promises of seniors to stay connected all too often dissipate with the distance of time and space.

You lose touch with those you don’t see, unless you make a concerted effort to maintain those relationships. In the age of social media, you’d think it wouldn’t be so hard. But, without direct routine contact, and the draw of common interests, connections sever. Even the relatively short timespan of summer can have that effect.

For those entering the post-secondary educational system, the environment is so different that it is as exciting as it is intimidating. Luckily, for those high school graduates headed to Citrus Community College (CCC) from District Area 1 (Azusa/Duarte), there are friends and advocates waiting to greet CCC early admission students – Citrus Board of Director for Area 1, Dr. Barbara Dickerson and Student Trustee, Pat Cordova-Goff.

Trustee Dickerson had indicated, in her bid for the College Board seat, that students often get lost and disoriented, from the time of their acceptance into college to their entrance into college. She noted a strategy that could be helpful would be to establish a connection with students during the summer; that’s what led to the most recent event. The college has also implemented an expanded ‘Welcome Experience’ for students on campus the week before classes start. Both of these strategies are aimed to help students follow through and show up for classes with a greater measure of confidence.

Citrus Community College Student Trustee Pat Cordova-Goff said of the recent August event: “I loved the evening and felt powerful about the opportunity to help our students realize the possibilities on our campus. I know many of them are now considering new routes they can take to build social networks on campus through clubs, study groups, and sports.” Trustee Dickerson also commented, “Students asked routine questions about answers that were probably previously communicated, but sent out in e-blasts or snail mail; things often missed in non-personal communications. There were also more expansive questions, such as: ‘You mean I can study abroad during my Citrus experience?’ Both types of questions affirmed the need for this type of gathering.” The outreach of neighborhood friends, people who care about the students of District Area 1, is already making a difference for incoming Citrus Community College students from Azusa and Duarte.

The educational freedom afforded within the Citrus Community College (CCC) system is of great value, to those who learn to navigate its flexibilities and alternative paths towards the degree, or certification, of their choice. With more than eleven thousand students at CCC, the social and cultural circles of our local neighborhood students are widely expanded. Dr. Dickerson is committed to lending support to all District Area 1 students, as they embark on the educational journey that leads to their economic freedom as well as their entry towards being contributory members of our local community and our nation at large.

You can stay in touch with your representative at Citrus Community College, Trustee Dickerson, through her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DickersonForCitrusBoard.

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