Be S-M-A-R-T, Getting Ahead at Community College

As a nervous newbie, I was surprised at how easy it was to access information about courses offered by Camosun College. It is seen by some as the baby sister to UVic, essentially a stepping stone, and for me it was a friendly invite into the 'real world'. With a simple, easy to navigate website, course choices and payment can be done online through Camlink. I will admit that Registration always had a line, but for good reason. Camosun rocked. The admissions and counseling staff made every effort to accommodate each student to help them discover what courses suited them best. Despite being a smaller school, Camosun had plenty to offer in the way of financial aid and a variety of scholarships. Even though tuition was fairly cheap compared to local universities, I earned awards and bursaries that averaged a thousand dollars a year.

Unless it was sunny and tepid, finding suitable spots on campus meant specifically for studying were few and far between. The library was an option, but it was gloomy and lacked ample study room and a nice view. While the 'Caf' was noisy, packed and brighter, the atmosphere felt more normal than barricading yourself elsewhere without the option of food or speaking for a few hours. Most students couldn't wait until they could multi-task by simultaneously sunbathing and writing papers on the lawns come Springtime. Nothing beat it.

I found that once I was accepted into the Applied Communication Program (a year into college life) that's when I really started to enjoy myself. While perusing the college calender, I stumbled upon requirements for a broadcasting program, and my passion ignited. Wait-lists were commonplace everywhere from Dental Hygeine to Nursing to Hospitality, and I found myself enrolling in random courses such as Economics, Philosphy and Human Sexuality to ensure I knew where my interests laid. Courses at Camosun appealed to the masses, and typically had a 30 person limit. This gave me the chance to feel like an individual and get my feet wet, without worrying about saying the wrong answer in an auditorium.

The Applied Communication Program accepts 28 people per year, designed to give students a thorough hands-on approach to working in the media, so I was fortunate to wait only a year until I got in. My homework consisted of creating posters, radio spots or video mini-documentaries and on more than one occasion I was on campus past midnight finishing up my latest project. Like they warned in the information session, ACP was comparable to a full-time job. The onus was on me to succeed, and the teachers that led the program were nothing short of inspiring.

On any given Thursday afternoon, the Dunlop House pub- an old house transformed by the Hospitality folks- was the place to be. With a minimal cover charge, this place was great for stressed students to relax with $3 beers and cheap nachos. The student boards were packed with open-mic nights, club promotions and cheap entertainment for students only.

My years spent at college transformed me into a mature and determined young person. I am glad that I took enough courses to enable me to figure out what I didn't like, which led me to what I love.