Marion Jones speaks about second chances

Talk about inspiring. I just got home after attending the Second Chance Scholarship Dinner that raises funds to help offenders take TCC classes. Marion Jones, former Tulsa Shock basketball player and former Olympian, spoke to a packed house at the Center for Creativity on the TCC Metro Campus tonight. She told about her experience as an inmate, and about how she has turned things around for herself and her family. But most of all, she talked about hope.

This was an absolutely amazing night, and I hope to tell you more about it in a future post. As for now, I've got to get ready for tomorrow. In the morning, I'm going to watch dozens of men receive certificates of achievement and associate degrees from TCC.  To see a clip of Jones from tonight, click here.

International students speak about why they chose TCC

OK. So we know why people in Tulsa come to TCC: convenience, affordability, credibility, amazing faculty, flexible class schedules and more. But why do people in Spain, Korea, France, Russia, China and 60 other countries choose TCC?

The International Student Services office, with the help of some very talented international students, interviewed students speaking in their native languages about why they chose TCC. The result? Multiple videos on YouTube that introduce the world to TCC through the eyes of TCC's international students.

But if you don't speak Spanish or Korean, don't fret! All the videos are subtitled in English. To watch all the videos, click here.

International Student Services: 918-595-7478

It's a boy!

Accounting Professor Jerrilyn Eisenhaur, far left, throws a mock baby shower with students Todd Streets and Ana Tamasese for infants in need via Eileen Ryan Bradshaw, executive director of Emergency Infant Services.

Accounting students threw a baby shower yesterday with all "proceeds" going to Emergency Infant Services. Want to read more? Read KOTV's report.

First Class correction

Good morning. I wrote yesterday about TCC's new orientation called First Class, but I mistakenly said this class is a one-credit class. I attended a First Class session this morning and learned that it is not a credit class.

But, it still has great value. The new students who attended today found out about financial aid, academic advisement and much more. And, students who attend First Class have the option of taking a one-credit orientation class this fall TUITION FREE.

I'll let you know more about the credit class when I know more. :)

Location:TCC Metro Campus

Feeling lost? Find your way around TCC with First Class

Where is the library? How do I log in to MyTCC? Where is there a quiet place to study on campus? Who do I call when I can't access Blackboard? When is the College closed for winter break?

College can be overwhelming for anyone, but Tulsa Community College is offering an orientation class to get you ready. First Class is a new one-credit hour course that introduces students to TCC. It's being offered at all four of the TCC campuses this summer, and if you are new to TCC, it is sure to be the best three-hour time commitment you can make before starting fall classes.

To view the schedule and register, click here.

Completely worth it: Five ways to 'stay the course'

We are shooting a commercial for TCC tomorrow, and I am really excited about the message we are sending: Complete your degree or certificate.

Every year, millions of people across the country enroll in colleges and universities only to quit before they complete a degree or certificate. Maybe it's family, health, financial or other issues, but something gets in the way and prevents them from continuing.

I completely understand this situation because I was accepted into a master's program in the spring, took one class, and I'm already wondering if I can continue. It's hard people! But like "they" say, if it were easy then everyone would do it.

How do you stay motivated to completing your degree? Here's what works for me
1. Find a friend or mentor who is adamant about higher education and reach out to him or her for mental and emotional support.
2. Incorporate studying and going to class into your current lifestyle. If you try to give up everything (family time, running, reruns of "Who's the Boss?"), then it probably won't stick.
3. Tell your family how much completing this degree or certificate means to you. Prepare them for the time commitment you will be making toward your goal.
4. Start a bank account just for school expenses. When you have a little extra cash, instead of buying a new outfit or eating at a fancy restaurant, deposit the money for tuition and books.
5. Decide that quitting is not an option. Statistics prove that students who "take a semester off" are much more likely to stop going all together. So even if you can take only one class, do it.

If you have any thoughts you'd like to share about staying motivated to complete your degree, please share!

MathPath is full, but don't fret!

Apparently, lots of you out there are just like me when it comes to retaining (or not retaining) math. The MathPath classes I told you about last week (click to read) are totally full.

But worry not! If you didn't get enrolled and would like to brush up on your math skills, there is a math refresher course Aug. 1-4 in the mornings at TCC's Northeast Campus. Just like MathPath, this class will help you remember those math equations and formulas you learned way back when. This class will get you ready for your first or "first in a while" math credit class, such as College Algebra.

Find out more about this free class by calling 918-595-7200.