Category: Student Life at VC

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Nature & Outdoors Student Life at VC

Finals Are Coming

by Nancy Olascuaga

Finals week is coming, and those sleepless nights are upon us. The next two weeks is a time of studying late at night, eating junk food, and drinking so much coffee! For those who are graduating, and those who will register for classes next semester, this is a stressful time, yes its temporary, but still stressful. With this academic year coming to a close: full of successes and stresses, going to Ventura Beach will help you manage stress and self care.

Here’s a list of why and how walking or sitting on a bench at Ventura beach will help you destress and make your finals week a memorable one:

The Smell: The scent of the sea is refreshing. Take a few deep breaths and take in the fresh and salty aroma. Taking deep breaths improves lung function, lowers stress, and improves concentration.

The Touch: If you walk barefoot or bury your hands in the sand, its’ particles will stimulate your psyche and your skin.

The Sound: The sound of the waves will help you feel optimistic and positive about your upcoming finals. The sound of nature will help soothe your body and relax your mind.

The Sight: You’ll see many people walking/jogging, long palm trees, and very talented surfers. If you catch a sunrise or a luminous sunset your body will relax and reduce stress. Watching the waves will boost your confidence going into finals, you will crush them!

Make sure you add some beach time to your finals study plans, or go afterwards with friends or alone. Surviving these next two weeks will set you up for a successful future in your awesome future academic endeavors, and it doesn’t have to be chaotic or full of stress.

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Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

LEARN HOW TO “LIGHT UP BIRD CAGES”

Want a relaxing activity to do while drinking mimosas by a harbor? This upcoming event will be just that. I found out about this event through the visit Ventura CA website. They have lots of different events and other things to do in Ventura. If you are ever wanting to go out and find something to do in Ventura that site is a good place to start.

This event will show you a step-by-step process on how to create a beaded wire wrapped bird cage. It’s meant to be a decretive piece for your garden or even your room. It will be held in Ventura on April 26th from 1pm to 3pm. The entry will cost $35 per person and everything will be supplied. It’ll be a nice way to relax because on top of it being by a harbor they will also have complimentary mimosas.

For the location or more information about the event(s) click on the link(s) below.

LIGHT UP BIRD CAGES

VENTURA COUNTY EVENTS

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Student Life at VC

Ready to Graduate? Your Guide to Applying for Graduation at Ventura College

Ventura College Overview

The City of Ventura is currently home to 109,527 people. Astonishingly, it’s estimated that 10.76% of the city’s residents are enrolled at its public community college, Ventura College This institution for higher learning is part of the Ventura County Community College District, including Oxnard College, and Moorpark College. In 2024, the 112-acre campus was home to 11,789 students, with 3,383 full-time and 8,406 part-time students. Recent modernization initiatives have provided funding for much-needed updates to the college’s infrastructure and online student portal, making this college a top choice for those currently in the workforce, and returning to school to advance their careers.

Nestled at the foot of the Topatopa Mountains, and only 5 minutes from the Ventura Beaches. 

For those who wish to transfer to a 4-year institution, academic programs offer plenty of pathways to continue studies in popular majors like Business, Psychology, and Sciences. They also offer trade programs for automotive mechanics, manufacturing & welding, and agriculture or water science. 2-year programs are also available and popular choices include nursing, criminal justice, child development & early education. Smaller class sizes offer students a personal feel to students, and student support programs are available to aid in success.

It’s unique and affordable.

It’s flexible and doable.

Hang that piece of paper that society insists you have on your wall.

Going into this semester I knew I checked all the boxes needed to earn my A.S. in Social Media Marketing. No one tells you that you need to apply for your degree.

I almost missed the deadline. 

You won’t though, because here’s the how-to guide on applying for graduation (associates or certificates) at Ventura College.

Understanding the Process

Meeting with an academic counselor each semester will help you stay on track and reach completion. The admissions office can assist with applying credits taken at another institution. Academic counselors are also available to help you decide on a career path or help with Academic renewal, probation, or other situations that you may encounter.

Eligibility Criteria for Graduation

It’s important to understand the course requirements for completion of your program as defined by the college. I recommend visiting the Program Mapper page located on the Ventura College website. Locate your program, then compare your unofficial transcript with the program map. If you have checked all the boxes by the end of that semester, you’re ready to start the process (If not, then at least you know what courses remain for you to complete).

Key Dates & Deadlines

Although there is no official deadline to submit your application, there is a cutoff date to participate in the Graduation ceremony. I recommend checking the student calendar for any information about deadlines. It is also good to know when the ceremony will take place in case you need to request a date off of work or want to invite people. Holidays or office closures will also be listed to avoid unavailable staff.

Step-by-Step Guide

A staff member of the academic counseling department is the correct person to engage at this point and you can find more information here VC Website Link.

I’ll save you a click.

Call (805) 289-6457 or make an appointment through your MyVCCCD portal by clicking on Starfish

Graduation application deadlines are listed in the Registration Calendar

Starfish is located in your MyVCCCD Portal as shown below:

Schedule an appointment by using the online tool:

Select a reason for the visit: Apply for a degree or certification

Select a Counselor –  I recommend choosing one that specializes in your program of study

Make an appointment – remote meetings are available!

You will review your transcript with the counselor and they will confirm you have met the requirements. Shortly after the meeting, they will submit the application on your behalf,  and ask if you would like to participate in the graduation ceremony. You will then receive a confirmation email with more information about your application. 

The process is quick and as long as you complete your current classes in your field of study with a C or better, you’re qualified. A third party will send you your diploma or certificate about 8 weeks after the end of the semester.

Preparing for the Ceremony

You will receive an automated email from Ventura College that asks if you would like to participate in the ceremony. You can request up to 4 tickets, and children under two do not require one to enter. The email will contain all the information about buying your gown, which is about $50.

Resources and Support

If you have any questions, you can always reach out to the academic counseling office and they can do their best to assist you, or point you in the direction of the correct department on campus.

Conclusion

Congratulations. The most important thing about this accomplishment is you completed something you started. The pathway to completion is available on the user-friendly program mapper and support is available at the academic counseling office. I wish you luck on your continued education and I hope you find this guide helpful when your time to apply for graduation approaches.

Stay current by following the VC Social Instagram page or sharing it with friends. Ventura College is host to one of the only social media marketing programs, we appreciate your support and engagement. 

Cheers to the next class of students in this program and many more in the future.

Written by Nick Lerma

I am a VC student who previously attended several colleges including Ventura/Santa Barbara City Colleges, The Los Angeles Recording School, & The Culinary Institute of America. I am currently working towards a bachelor’s degree in Business. My professional experience consists of digital audio production and on-air broadcasting (Cumulus Media ’07-’10), supporting business information systems (’10-’13, ’17-’20), Hospitality (’14-’17), and Sales/Marketing (’20-’24).

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Business Food & Beverage Holiday Cook-off Local Business Spotlight Mother's Day Cook-off Nature & Outdoors Student Life at VC

Your Needs & Our Needs

Happy Earth Day(week) 2024 Folks!  💚

One Bowl, One Spoon…

(photo by Alev Takil)

What do you think about One Bowl One Spoon Living? Does “one bowl, one spoon” 🥣 resonate with your practical experience and beliefs?  Can we all eat from the same spoon, the same bowl, the same watershed, the same planet?  Ideally, yes we can and we do.  However, practically speaking, our mobility and the time and spatial scales of our perception blind us to the reality of one bowl, one spoon. 

Our groundwater contamination today may move so slowly that our grandchildren may suffer after we are long gone.  Do you love the idea of sharing as much as you find implementation of one bowl one spoon thinking painfully impractical?  If so, I feel your pain.  May I empathize with your situation more?

Emerging from COVID, most people insist on their own spoon and their own bowl to make sure we aren’t the next ones to die from contagion or at least don’t get inconvenient viruses.  Yet how many millions of plastic spoons, bowls, and even gloves have been added to the Pacific Gyre Plastic patch since 2019?  If that plastic shows up in the fish we eat as microplastics, that’s bad and sad.  So can we agree we need convenient ways to expend less plastic and also keep it out of our oceans?  

How can we correct and atone for our and our family’s pollution-sins of the past? Separation for the sake of survival and convenience was important to help us get through the short term emergency of the COVID Pandemic.  We survived.

2024 presents longer term threats; slower moving train wrecks.  Our emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), r410a refrigerant, sulfuryl fluoride, and other Greenhouse Gases have intensified our weather and our climate.  Storms arrive with more intense rain, more powerful winds, droughts last longer with lower humidity and higher maximum temperatures … and in some cases lower minimum temperatures.  Bursting water pipes in surprise Texas freezes caused by an unstable jet stream remind us how Climate Change is a more helpful term than Global Warming.  Does your (and our) behavior contribute to the Climate Emergency?  Can your (and our) choices make a positive or negative difference that is significant?  Our tragic, common “too small to matter but too common to not matter” reality of burning and releasing GHG’s merits attention:  what we do DOES matter to our climate here, now, and in the near and distant future.  Our example to others matters in our community and there are more personal, immediate effects.

As one of 8,000,000,000 people on Earth, can anyone seriously say that a monthly burning of $70 of gasoline, $70 of natural gas for water heating, cooking and clothes drying makes any significant difference to solve our current Climate Crisis?  While I admit it is difficult to grasp, the answer is “Yes.”  I believe it does make a difference.  COVID helped show how.  Combustion byproducts from natural gas cooking and clothes-drying have a real effect on millions of asthma victims.  People exposed to higher levels of combustion byproducts, including particulate pollution, for longer durations died and experienced complications from COVID at significantly higher rates.  Hypocrisy results when we are forced to choose between inconvenient results and convenient bad behavior.  Most people choose what is convenient…particularly those who earn less or those who possess less wealth…but also those who have so much income and/or wealth that they are unaccustomed to being held to account for their impacts on others.  

We are constantly rewarded when we respond quickly and early to opportunities as they arise, with seemingly no time to pause to observe and consider the effect of our exhaust. The struggle is real.  With pressure to do more, stay up later, yet still arrive to appointments on-time it is so common to feel that pressure to drive what ever car we can afford.  With electric cars generally costing over $20,000 used and over $40,000 new the shift from gasoline to battery-powered is challenging, with or without range anxiety.  The financial barriers to converting are significant and compelling.  More financially accessible options include:  

$7 to eat a meal (or cake+ice cream?) with less meat, fewer food-miles, and/or prepared with 100% Renewable Clean Power Alliance electricity…you know, compassionate eats.

$70 +/-  induction plate to cook with Clean Power Alliance 100% renewable electricity,

$700 e-bike to commute carefully with commutes twice as long as car commutes,

$70 monthly bus pass with commutes that involve meeting new friends on the bus,

$700 electric clothes dryer,

$700 upgrade for your home/apartment’s electric panel to power electric dryer &/or car charger,

$70-700 of air-sealing and insulation improvements,

$700+ portable dual function heat pump air conditioner plus heater with air filters,

$70 Lyft or Uber rides where you specifically request or select electric only options.

$170 or less on a good pair of running shoes (good for you and your planet!).

FREE and FUN: collaborate with your neighboring renters to lobby your land-lord’s conversion to 100% Renewable Clean Power Alliance Electricity.

May I challenge you to cut your CO2e in half every year?  Meet your needs, while considering Our Earth Community’s needs.  If you do, you might just learn valuable expertise and meet interesting friends to help you build a more compassionate and abundant reality for you and those you affect.  When it gets challenging, please know I feel it too and reach out to friends to talk about your struggle and successes.  

May you Balance2thrive®

G Naugles, MSBio, MBA, GISP, M.Ed., CalBRE, RCE, BSCE, CPHT

Cool Personal Action Links:

https://www.cleanpoweralliance.org or call 888-585-3788

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Duxtop-1800W-Portable-Induction-Cooktop-Countertop-Burner-Gold-8100MC-BT-180G3/169647812?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101442009&adid=22222222227169647812_101442009_165150293408_21064342255&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=692338251315&wl4=pla-2279159533639&wl5=9031615&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=5292988553&wl11=online&wl12=169647812_101442009&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw26KxBhBDEiwAu6KXtyfu8Y_djylWwqDQVcynqznQBlCkLyOssNbLat6Idi_feQmjH1zB-hoC1zYQAvD_BwE

https://www.wdcappliances.com/catalog/induction-ranges

https://www.reidsappliances.com/_CGI/SEARCH3?PN=induction+range

https://www.lowes.com/store/CA-Ventura/1734?cm_mmc=lod–c–lcl–awr–yxt–go–1734–na–0-_-0&y_source=1_MTE4NDA5MS03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D

Cool Big Picture links:

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/business-leaders-rethink-goals-climate-change-mitsubishi-heavy-industry

https://cdn.intelligence.weforum.org/insiw/v1/iframe.html?topicid=a1G0X0000057N18UAE&apikey=YOUR_API_KEY_HERE
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Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Diversity in Culture Festival

The Ventura College Diversity in Culture Taskforce is committed to recognize, celebrate, and promote awareness and appreciation of the value of diversity at our college and in our community.

Diversity in cultural festival is an event that takes place every year at the Ventura college some time around april. The festival’s main goal is to create and provide awareness as well as understanding of diversity both globally and locally. This festival enables the opportunity to promote, connect, present, display, and to engage with staff, faculty and the students. Diversity stands for including people from a range of different ethical and social backgrounds and genders. Diversity is a space for equality amongst each and everyone one of us. Culture means the different ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of groups that get passed down from generation to generation. All of these concepts together create diversity in culture.  

Arts Department: Ceramics Class selling pottery at the festival

What was your experience throughout the festival and what did you enjoy the most? 

Cory: “Our experience was positive throughout the festival. We had a good time walking through and saying hello to the vendors ,and decided on 2  booths that we wanted to do interviews for.”

Sydney: “My experience was positive and I believed I learned more about the community surrounding me in Ventura County. I enjoyed interviewing 2 vendors who were selling their unique products that were handcrafted by them. It was not that crowded so it was easier to guide my group through the different vendors and have our chance to interact with them.”

Mixtli: “My experience at the diversity and cultural festival was a good experience. I enjoyed walking around campus while listening to the different poetry slams presented at the festival by different participants. As well as looking and appreciating the vendors at the event that bring out their unique art pieces to sell. My favorite part of the festival was probably seeing the participation of the community that actually took the time to stay at the festivals and also the ones that participated in the festival. Furthermore in future festival i would really like to see more vendors.”

Bella: “My experience at the Diversity in Culture Festival was an overall great experience. I was able to fully enjoy the event at Ventura College and get an understanding of how important it is on being informed in different cultures through music and dances. Also experiencing my first poetry slam and heard people’s personal writing was inspiring. My favorite part of was being to see how lively the campus was during the festival as well as seeing vendors show support to our school.”

IG: @francescopalmieri_us

What will you anticipate for the future festival at Ventura College? 

Cory: “I am hoping for many more diversity festivals in the future that include different cultures in a more intimate way by solo events that highlight different nationalities.”

Sydney: “I anticipate more diversity festivals that have more vendors with even more cultures to highlight more ethnicities and other groups at the college. I think it will be a great opportunity for the college to have more exposure to, as we could perhaps get an even more inclusive and accurate representation of the county’s community.”

Mixtli: ” Furthermore, in future festivals I would really like to see more vendors.”

Bella: “Overall from a student perspective it was a fun way of learning and getting to know more about the different cultures. As well as getting to see more vendors in the future”

Follow Isabella’s Instagram

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/bellaeruiz/

Follow Mixtli’s Instagram 

VC Social: vcsocial.biz/author/mixtlimedina1/

Follow Cory’s Instagram

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/corypaul1/

Follow Sydney’s Instagram

Follow Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/sydneymbull/

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Podcasts Sports & Leisure Student Life at VC

Student Athlete Talk

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-social/episodes/Student-Athlete-Talk-w-Jennie-Jacinto-and-Jillian-Smith-e2hlid9/a-ab45827

On this episode of Student Athlete Talk, I spoke with VC Softball Catcher Jennie Jacinto and VC Women’s Soccer Midfielder Jillian Smith on what life is like as a Student Athlete. They go into depth of the trials and tribulations of dedicating the majority of their life to their sport. From making the best of friends, to the sacrifices their families have made for them to continue their sports careers. We discuss why they chose to continue their sports to the collegiate level and what their lives look like doing so.

Cast:

Jennie Jacinto IG: jenniejacinto

IG: VC Athletics

Jillian Smith IG: jilli._.smith

IG: VC Womens Soccer

Jessica Gomez IG: gomez.jessicaa

Podcast Link:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-social/episodes/Student-Athlete-Talk-w-Jennie-Jacinto-and-Jillian-Smith-e2hlid9/a-ab45827: Student Athlete Talk
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Student Life at VC

Just Turn on the Mic

No Responsibilities. Creating Possibilities.

Click Here to Stream

VC Social⁠ contributor Nick Lerma⁠ touches on the past 20 years in 20 minutes and how he shifted his focus from internal to external.

This solo episode covers how recent life events motivated him to return to college to finish his A.S. in Social Media Marketing.

For updates on new episodes follow Nick Lerma on IG ⁠@nicklermadotcom⁠

Snapper Jack's Taco Shack – VC Social

Snapper Jacks Taco Shack is currently celebrating their 25th anniversary. They offer a mix of Mexican and seafood from three different locations. These locations are in Venture, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. With a wide variety of items on their menu, and nine different savory salsas to spice up any item on the menu at their salsa bar. In this episode we dive right into the core of customer experience—from the ocean-themed ambiance to the enticing sound of fresh fish cooking on the grill to welcoming smiles, the relaxed beach-town vibe, or the ideal Baja-style taco, which embodies the Snapper Jack’s, accompanied by positive vibes.Jana SinsonVC Social: About MeInstagram: @_jxnxmxysnJazlyn PonceVC Social: About MeInstagram: @jazlyn_p
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Podcasts Student Life at VC

Successfully Managing Parenting, Going to College, While Also Working

Deseray and Nancy discuss how they manage to be parents, full time college students and work full time. We provide valuable information on how we have been able to manage a full schedule, find support (financial and mentally), and share advice on time management tools and study habits. We hope to empower other parents to take the leap to pursue a higher education if that has been something on their mind. By having the right support, self care, time management, and healthy study habits we strive to set the example of being able to set and achieve goals that improve and elevate our lives as we are called to become business executives. Deseray has a son and a daughter and they are all going to college at the same time. Nancy has three sons (14 year old and 8 year old twins). Both have a full student schedule and also work.

⁠https://vcsocial.biz/nancy-olascuaga/⁠

⁠linkedin.com/in/nancy-olascuaga-6520177a⁠

⁠https://vcsocial.biz/about_deserayradziewicz/⁠

⁠https://linkedin.com/in/deseray-radziewicz-3ba16122b⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/my_fourlegged_furballs⁠

Music

⁠https://click.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fandrey-rossi%2Fseize-the-day/vZub/BAW0AQ/AQ/187c28c2-428e-4cfc-ad62-4c6e02aa7798/4/jSUpJenczN

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Podcasts Student Life at VC

Post-COVID World

Five students go into depth about how COVID-19 would impact their high school experiences and how learning online would become more of a chore. The lack of motivation would impact every student differently as well as learning to adapt to their situation. Now in the present time they speak about how going back to school is a struggle to overcome social anxiety after not being able to communicate with others face to face for almost 3 years. Professor Nick speaks on his behalf over his experiences teaching during and after Covid-19. He speaks about differences he has noticed.

Follow Yahaira’s Instagram 

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/about-yahaira-arevalo/

Follow Isabella’s Instagram

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/bellaeruiz/

Follow Mixtli’s Instagram 

VC Social: vcsocial.biz/author/mixtlimedina1/

Follow Koby’s instagram 

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/about-koby-romero/

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/sydneymbull/

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Student Life at VC

Beauty Industry Affects On Female Identity

The beauty industry negatively affects female identity along with the contribution of social media. Women are constantly being reminded of what is considered beautiful in our society with standards that for the most part aren’t realistic. These standards put a lot of women in a state of mind that prevents them from appreciating their true worth. Along with this, it leads them to develop mental health problems such as low self-esteem, social anxiety, psychological stress, eating disorders, and others along with having the wrong perception of beauty.

For a long time, the industry of beauty’s main purpose has been to develop, sell, and promote cosmetics, perfume, skincare, and hair products they don’t really care about the damage they are causing when promoting unrealistic standards for the most part and although we see more divers promoting along with body positivity nowadays the industry still negatively affect women. Social media is a big contributor to the negative effects when it comes to product promotion. When it comes to social media platforms society is the one that decides what is true beauty and what it isn’t. Truly our own society is at fault for having high standards that for most are unrealistic. As for most females seeing these standards change drastically very often swifts the perception of beauty.

Women are only trying to fit into the crazy beauty industry standards but the standards are constantly changing. Therefore most females feel like they are never going to be good enough when it comes to their physical appearance. Unfortunately these standards not only affect the older females they start affecting the younger ones as well. As they enter the beauty industry world along with the social media world at a young age they start to notice the wave of what are true perceptions of beauty according to the industry and its contributors. At such a young age this will have a big impact on new generations of females by affecting their identity on what a woman should look like.

The beauty industry for the most part affects women negatively although there are sparks of hope that have positive effects on some women. There is still a lot that the beauty industry needs to do to truly focus on helping women prevent mental health problems as well as help the ones who have developed severe mental health problems along with the help of social media platforms. In the end, true beauty goes beyond just appearance it’s your own perception along with your true worth.