WWW.SANJAC.EDU News From San Jac Cares Miss Kemah: The 2 Your College 5 offers key support 7 crown that gives back SANJAC.EDU HOUSTON CHRONICLE CUSTOM ADVERTISING SECTION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020 2 <<< Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section | Opportunity News | Sunday | October 4, 2020 sanjac.edu News frOm YOur COllege day, and custom airbrush T-shirt art by The LyondellBasell Center for vice chancellor and senior vice president interactive airbrush artist The T-Shirt Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology for CPET. Guy. To join Welcome Week virtual (CPET) hosted a virtual Legislative During the visit, Senator Creighton events, students registered via links Learning Initiative visit focused on emphasized “the importance of helping provided on SEA social media accounts. workforce training programs and adult learners re-engage with higher Photo courtesy of San Jacinto College In addition to these Welcome Week adult learners. education and earn in-demand industry Welcome Week events, SEA is also promoting upcoming The initiative—funded by the Gates credentials of value that are proven to virtual events for the fall semester that Foundation and facilitated by the Hunt meet the needs of regional employers.” 2020 goes virtual include Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff: Institute, Educate Texas, and the Texas One such adult learner, process Virtual Loteria (Sept. 15); National Arts in Success Center—familiarizes legislators technology student Charles Wilson, Welcome Week for the fall 2020 Education Week: Paint Jam, an interactive with educational needs in focused areas. shared his story with the senator and semester looked a little different for art demonstration and discussion (Sept. Senator Brandon Creighton, chair other guests. San Jacinto College students. Instead of 15-17); LGBTQ Day of remembrance (Oct. of the Senate Committee on Higher “As an older student, I have come to hosting on-campus events, the Central, 26); and a Spooky Story Slam (Oct. 27). Education, was on hand to learn more appreciate that you are never too old to North, South, and Generation Park about CPET's groundbreaking workforce learn and evolve as long as institutions Campuses combined virtual events for Senator Creighton training programs offered at CPET. like San Jacinto College are around,” students through the student engagement Also attending were San Jacinto Wilson said. and activities (SEA) offices. visits San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer; The recorded visit will be used in a This year, students could register for CPET virtually for Michael VanDerSnick, senior vice larger project to familiarize legislators free online events that included a trivia president of Americas manufacturing for with educational innovations and needs game show, campus coffee hour, game Legislative Learning LyondellBasell; and Jim Griffin, associate around Texas. RiSing StAR BlAnCO pAintS A CuStOm futuRe in AutO COlliSiOn RepAiR By Melissa Trevizo In fact, Blanco didn’t even tell her helped Blanco learn so quickly. By doing SAN JACINTO COLLEGE parents what she was going to major side work on her own time she was in until one week after she started “able to learn from her own mistakes When Emily Blanco entered the auto her classes. and experiment.” collision repair classroom at the San “I have always been different and Her biggest project was on her own Jacinto College North Campus for the thought outside of the box. My parents car, a Lexus GS350 that was involved in first time, she was nervous. assumed I would go to school to get a a major car accident earlier this year. “I had never worked on a car before,” license to do makeup, and for a while “Emily is definitely a rising star,” said Blanco said. “I didn’t even know how to I was going to do that,” Blanco said. ron Daugherty, auto collision repair mix paint or anything. So many of the “I started getting into cars in 2017. instructor. “I helped coach her on the other students had been doing this for Then I started thinking, ‘I want to do body work of her Lexus. She picked a years with parents or grandparents, but something different.’ I want to challenge very difficult paint color and when it it was all brand-new to me.” myself to learn something new and go came time to work on it, the College was into a field where you don’t see women closed for COVID-19.” very often.” At first Blanco thought she would After only a month of instruction, have to wait until the College reopened Photo courtesy of San Jacinto College Blanco had her father, who owns a to work on her car again, but then she heavy-duty towing business, ask her to felt inspired to complete it on her own. the way through trial and error.” paint one of his 18-wheelers. “I took my car to my dad’s shop and Blanco continued to work on the “I was shocked,” Blanco said. “I barely I just went to work. I sanded the entire car throughout the COVID-19-altered knew anything, but he had complete car and started adjusting my doors, my operations of the College. With four faith in me. To date, I’ve painted about trunk and re-welded part of the quarter days left before classes resumed, Blanco seven of my dad’s vehicles.” panel,” Blanco said. “I didn’t know prepped her car for the final paint job. Photo courtesy of San Jacinto College This practice outside the classroom much about it but taught myself along Blanco continued on page 7 sanjac.edu Sunday | October 4, 2020 | Opportunity News | Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section >>> 3 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT STUDENT AMBASSADORS OFFER ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS By Andrea Vasquez should students do in this situation? SAN JACINTO COLLEGE A: Ask for help when you know that you are struggling or falling behind Some of the first faces new San before it gets to the end of the semester. Jacinto College students see are those If you are struggling on a topic or Photos courtesy of San Jacinto College of their student ambassadors. Not something in class, ask questions! Send only do the student ambassadors lead emails to your professors if you have any Ashley Rodriguez orientation sessions and campus tours, questions or need help with something, college experience? but they also serve as go-tos for new or schedule a time to speak with them A: When I first started at San Jac, students throughout the semester, during their office hours. I was coming from a background of offering assistance in a variety of ways being homeschooled. I was nervous and hosting some of the orientation Ashley Rodriguez about being in a completely different and campus tour office events. Since Jacquelyn Vega Q: Some first-time-in-college environment. However, San Jac made the everything about this semester is (FTIC) students experience transition smooth, and any time I had different, student ambassadors have Jacquelyn Vega self-doubt and insecurity at times. trouble, the counselors were always a some great advice for students who are Q: For students who are new What would you say to those great help. Any incoming student should just getting into the swing of things. to online classes, what advice students who need to know that it’s ask for help if they need it—even when do you have to help them ease totally normal and a big part of the you don’t think you do. Alicia Gonzalez that transition? Q: What are some of the best A: Start off slowly with your lessons you’ve learned about being classes. Don’t Overwhelm yourself in a student at San Jacinto College that the beginning—work your way up. you feel would help new students Make yourself familiar with SOS and this semester? Blackboard. Always ask for help. A: Make sure to communicate with Don’t be afraid, since everyone doesn’t your professors. I was so nervous about know something. meeting my professors, but once you do, it will definitely pay off. Take advantage Kates Mangasep of the resources the College has to offer. Q: It’s easy to fall behind in some For example, the educational planners subject areas, and some students may will help you choose the correct classes not know when they need to ask their that will benefit your career path. professors for some extra help. What San Jacinto Your Success WINTER MINI AND SPRING REGISTRATION OPENS OCT. 19 WINTER MINI CLASSES START DEC. 14 SPRING CLASSES START JAN. 19, 2021 CENTRAL CAMPUS MARITIME CAMPUS 8060 SPENCER HWY. 3700 OLD HWY. 146 PASADENA, TEXAS 77505 LA PORTE, TEXAS 77571 NORTH CAMPUS GENERATION PARK CAMPUS 5800 UVALDE ROAD 13455 LOCKWOOD ROAD HOUSTON, TEXAS 77049 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77044 SOUTH CAMPUS 281-998-6150 | sanjac.edu 13735 BEAMER ROAD HOUSTON, TEXAS 77089 An Equal Opportuninty Institution Alicia Gonzalez Kates Mangasep 4 <<< Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section | Opportunity News | Sunday | October 4, 2020 sanjac.edu STAFF SPOTLIGHT SAn JACintO COllege pAir’S mentOring relAtiOnSHip SpAnS twO deCAdeS By Courtney Morris deeper, asking Goldstein questions Soon Goldstein donned her mentor hat SAN JACINTO COLLEGE about law and case studies they were again, guiding her through the bumpy examining. It was only time before an transition from corporate work to If there’s one thing Amy Weaver informal mentorship started. higher education. believes in, it’s the power of mentorship. “Sometimes we just all need a safe “She helped to mold me into my new The San Jacinto College alumna’s environment and a good listener to role and once again encouraged me to mentoring relationship with a former express ourselves and work through achieve my best,” Weaver said. professor has spanned almost 25 years the challenges life presents us,” and shaped her career trajectory.