Category: Student Life at VC

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Local Business Spotlight Student Life at VC

Thrifting in Downtown Ventura

When it comes to shopping in Downtown Ventura, many people stop by the thrift stores on Main Street. There are an assortment of different types of thrift stores a person can find when they visit Main Street. There are thrift stores that support different organizations or charities, resell thrift or “vintage” store, and up-cycle second hand clothes. Each of these thrift stores offer something to different people depending on what they are looking for. I took a couple of people with me, Devonte Stepter and Ahmad Albanez, to go thrifting in order to find out what thrift store is the best overall.

The first thrift store we went to was one that everybody has gone to at least once in their life, Goodwill.

When we walked in they had recently changed the layout of the store. Ahmad looked at the clothes first while Devonte browsed the T- shirts. Nothing was found in the clothes. While looking at what other items Goodwill had out on the floor Ahmad found a purple ceramic bowl he decided he wanted to purchase. After leaving with just a ceramic bowl Ahmad and Devonte were asked their opinion on what they thought about their visit to Goodwill. Devonte said, “The organization of the store was up kept but they did not have much to offer. This store is a good one for buying knick knacks.” Unfortunately nowadays goodwill picks through their inventory and pulls their higher end items and the more sought out pieces. They do this in order to send it out to their e-commerce website which is like an Ebay for Goodwill items. Ahmad also had some input saying, “I found a cool purple ceramic bowl that I can place my chopsticks in. Other than finding the bowl the store seemed grey and cold, there wasn’t any clothes that stuck out to me and that is a good majority of the stores space. I don’t think I would not revisit the store unless someone I was with wanted to explore it then I wouldn’t be opposed to it.” After talking about what they thought of the store both Devonte and Ahmad agreed Goodwill would be a 4/10 rating on their scale.

The next thrift store we stopped at was called the C.A.A.N Thrift Store. The name C.A.A.N stands for Child Abuse And Neglect. This thrift store proceeds go to helping support children who are victims to abuse, the Safe Haven Emergency Shelter, and the Safe Journey Transitional Shelter.

As we walked in we were greeted with the sound of the radio playing throughout the store on the store speakers. As Ahmad and Devonte browsed the different sections of the store they did not seem too thrilled when looking around the store. By the end of the visit to this thrift store neither one of them found a single item they were interested in buying. When asked what they thought of the store Ahmad commented, “The atmosphere in the store is cold and grey. There is nothing that is catching my eye but the cassette collection is enjoyable. I like seeing the old cover art for albums and the recordings of old comedy shows was interesting.” Afterward, Devonte said, “I’m not a big fan of this thrift store due to how unorganized it is. it makes it harder to locate anything I had on my mind.” At the end of the visit they decided that this thrift store would be given a 3/10 rating.

The third thrift store we went to was The Coalition thrift store. This thrift store used to be more of a thrift store before than it is now. Nowadays if you go to The Coalition do not expect to be paying thrift store prices because this “thrift store” specializes in selling vintage clothes at resell prices.

As we walked in we noticed that this store was way more busy than the other ones that we had been to that afternoon. There were people in every aisle searching through the racks trying to find the next vintage piece to add to their collection. There was clothes, media, furniture, hats, accessories, and old quilts. We all spent a good amount of time looking through everything because there was so much that would catch our eyes. When asked about what they thought of the store, Devonte said, “I instantly fell in love, the store is so well kept which seems to be important to them as well as how they keep it all so organized. it was very easy to find my size in shirts and pants which also made my shopping experience more enjoyable.” Ahmad also seemed excited to share his thoughts and said, “The Coalition is probably my favorite store that we’ve gone to so far. They offer a wide selection of clothes to household goods. Their media section is a good spot where I spent my time looking at their DVD’s. I bought “The Devil Wears Prada” and I’m so excited to watch it. I really enjoy physical media such as DVD’s. The employees are very friendly and helpful. The only downside is that due to the store selling a wide selection of goods it can be hard getting through the aisles when there’s a large amount of people shopping.” Unfortunately after this thrift store visit Devonte had to leave early but before he left he and Ahmad gave the Coalition a 7/10 rating.

The final thrift store that was on the list was Buffalo Exchange. Buffalo Exchange is more of a second hand/up cycle store. Customers can come in to buy or sell items that they have. The way it works is if you sell your old items to Buffalo Exchange you can get 50% of the total sold in store credit or 30% cash.

When coming into Buffalo Exchange it was a different vibe than the other thrift stores. The workers greeted Ahmad and I, they had a store playlist that played up to date music, and the demographic was people between their early 20’s to mid 30’s. As we looked around nothing seemed to catch Ahmad’s eyes too much to want to purchase. There were a few things he hatred on but decided not to purchase. When asked about Buffalo Exchange Ahmad responded, “The atmosphere felt welcoming and warm compared to the other shops. The only thing that I could see being an issue is maneuvering around the store can feel a bit like I’m a running back trying to find a gap in the O line. It doesn’t bother me though.” Ahmad also shared one of his favorite finds from Buffalo Exchange, “One time I found a dope Minnesota Viking’s Starter Jacket here and now it’s probably my most reliable thrift store that’s local. I love that jacket!” After our trip Ahmad decided the rating on this saying he would give Buffalo Exchange a 7/10.

Below are Ahmad’s and Devonte’s finds:

Ahmad found the ceramic bowl at Goodwill and “The Devil Wears Prada” Blu-ray DVD at The Coalition.

Devonte found both pants and the Don Jon Bluray DVD all at The Coalition.

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Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Feeling Moody? Just Hit Play!

Music has always been the universal language. No matter what country of origin, listeners are able to distinguish an emotional presence and overall feeling from the melodies, rhythm, and movement of the song. So this got me thinking about the overlooked behavior of choosing music when we have those emotional moments. What makes people put on certain songs? Specifically, when you are feeling sad, happy or angry, does the listener choose music to lift them out of that emotion or stay present in that mindset. I decided to set out get some answers!

The Psychology behind music selection

A lot of different choices can be made based on mood. Picture this, two people are having the exact same awful of a day then return to their respective places of living. They decide they want to decompress their day by turning on their speaker and putting on some music. Regardless of them going through the same awful day, even then, they would still most likely choose music from opposite sides of the spectrum. One might put on more of a Midwest Emo/EmoViolence/ Emo Hardcore and sit in their respective emotions and ride it out. The other might put on more 80s New Wave/ Synth Pop/ Goth Rock and dance it out right there in their living rooms to exert that awful day away. Why does this happen? I wanted to find out what music listeners choose based on their moods.

Instagram poll results

I took to my instagram, posted some polls on my story, and gathered my own data. These polls were centered around 3 major emotions. Sadness, Happiness, and Anger. Respondents were asked about their music choices when experiencing any of those three emotions. Do they choose music that matches the mood or do they choose music that pulls them out of that given emotion. About an average of 50 users participated in the research below. Heres what I found.

Sadness

First up, we have everyone’s good old companion, sadness. When asked about what music they choose, most people chose music that matches their mood. This means they are pressing play on the tunes that make them shed a tear or amplify those sad thoughts. In this way, they’re riding the wave and getting off it when they feel ready to. I think it is important to think about how a lot of the music in the mainstream, regardless of the genre, has a reoccurring run in with sadness. Whether this would be with an Electronic Pop hit about a breakup or a Indie Rock song about hating your 9-5, that all point to the same baseline of sadness. It’s a more normalized emotion within the music sphere and in our everyday and one to be processed, this is where music is often the helpful tool. When in comes to the other 19 percent in the poll, they are the ones to put the tunes to get them out of the pit of sadness. This would consist of upbeat, pop, bright songs to pump up the energy to move through it.

Happiness

When respondents were asked about they hit play on when it comes to happiness, there was also a huge gap that presented itself across the data. It appears that when users felt that they were having a good energy in their day where they felt energetic, happy, and joyful most users wanted to continue that vibe with some tunes to encourage rather than mellowing themselves out. In this instance more fast paced, high energy, bright songs would be in the rotation rather than some stripped back, calm, and grounded songs. This again would be another emotion that would be normalized in our mainstream with songs being used to get us hyped up and happy. This would be considered a more accepted emotion alongside sadness to be able to process through music in a healthy way. Feeling warm, joyful, and excited? Great put on some ABBA!

Anger

Here’s where it gets interesting! Given that the previous polls had a rather huge gap between the answers, this one was actually cutting it quite close. When users were asked about moments where they felt Angry, 55% of them said they would much rather choose music to continue on the rage. 45% said they wanted to put something on that would help them calm down and get to a better headspace. I think with the other emotions in the study, I can’t help but notice how Anger is more of the emotion that is not as easily accepted in the mainstream and in our everyday. It’s violent, its dark, and it can be visceral. As we should know, Anger can and is a healthy emotion to experience yet many user were wanted to choose music to calm them down and contrast the anger overall. When it comes to the choices for matching the mood this could consist of Hardcore, Metal, and maybe even a sprinkle of something Punk adjacent. Those wanting to calm themselves down are going more for the soft and mellow tones of Jazz, Acoustic, or Folk.

Let’s Rewind

At the end of the day, music choice is all subjective and changes from person to person! As mentioned previously, but two people feeling the same emotion and going through the same type of day, won’t neccessarilay mean that they will end up choosing the same music to decompress after a long day. That in of itself is really interesting! The main take away from this study was really the curiosity of how people make their moody music choices and present the findings. This is to get us to be a bit more aware of what we hit play on when we are feeling emotional. Do we go with the flow or go against it?

Moody Playlists

To finish things off here are some of some playlists of songs from my personal library that I would put on for when I fell Happy, Sad or Angry. When comparing myself to the results, I am definitely more of the listener to choose music that matches the mood entirely. I think this is a pretty good representation of myself but I encourage you to make some playlists to have ready when those emotional moments happen!

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Student Life at VC

How To Build The Life You Love.

Do you ever feel stuck going through the same motions in your everyday life? You wake up, go to work, or take care of your family and hope you get some of your “To Do” list done. I completely understand because that was my life for a very long time. As a single mom, I was just trying to work and provide for my daughters. There was never enough time to do everything that needed to be done, leaving me feeling discouraged. Years later when I got remarried, my life only got more complicated. My plate was stacked so high that I didn’t know where to begin. I knew I wanted better for myself and my family so I decided to make a change. I read books, and watched YouTube videos, and here’s what I found.

Create a Plan by Building Achievable Goals.

Take time to sit and write down your goals. If you don’t know what your goals are then chances are YOU should be your goal. That’s right, you can be your own goal. In fact, this year, I am my goal. This year I have committed to putting myself first by building the life I love and was meant to live. During this process take time to write down “why” each goal is important to you. I am my goal because I am tired of feeling lost and want to feel better about my life and myself. Lastly, be very specific about your goals. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money” is not specific and won’t get you anywhere. Since my goal covers different areas I have broken it down for you in the next step

Breaking Down Your Goals

Since my goal is “Me” I needed to write down exactly what that meant. 

  • I am going to lose 20 pounds by December 31, 2024, by working out 3 times a week, taking my dog on daily walks, and not eating past 9 pm. 
  • I am going to be more organized and intentional by developing better time management by creating a detailed calendar of everything that has to be done each day. 
  • I am going to build stronger relationships with my family by setting time for my family and working on my relationships with better communication. On this goal, I wrote down the current state of my relationships and where I’d like them to be by December 31, 2024.
  • I am going to build a stronger spiritual relationship by taking time to pray each morning and go to church every week. 

Write Down Your Plan

Now that you have everything broken down it’s time to write it all down. There are several tools people use to write down and organize goals. Here’s what I currently use:

  • Better Life Journal- I like to manually write stuff down and be able to check stuff off at the end of my day. I journal each morning while I have my morning tea, writing down what I am going to do during the day. At the end of the day, I take a few minutes to write down how my day went and any new thoughts or ideas. I’ve used multiple planners and journals but I have enjoyed the Better Life Journal by Dean Graziosi. 
  • Google Calendar- Create a yearly & daily calendar.
    • Write down every event planned for the year. (vacations, and special events)
    • Block and schedule time for each item that has to be done during the week for each of your goals. For example, I have timeslots for my daily walks, work, workouts, classes, and date nights all blocked on my schedule. 
  • Share your calendar with your family. By sharing your calendars you’re able to see each other’s free time and create events or tasks. 

Work And Manage Your Plan!

Brendon Burchard, a highly successful productivity coach recommends looking at your daily calendar every day. During your morning coffee or tea is a great time to review your plans for the day. By journaling daily, you’re able to monitor your progress. Remember, you manage what you measure. Now that you have done all the steps it is time to work your plan. 

Conclusion

These are things I am doing to build a life I love. Although there are days that I fall off the horse and don’t follow my schedule, I catch myself more often and get back on track. Studies show it takes about 30 days to create a habit. Also, watching videos and reading books by Dean Grazios, and Tony Robbins has been a great tool that I highly recommend. Find someone who inspires you to be your best self. By working on your plan daily you are working to create a life you love. 

If you are on a mission to build the life you love what tips or habits are working best for you?

Leave a comment

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Food & Beverage Student Life at VC

Ugly Sushi

Do you love sushi, but maybe not the price of a night out for a sushi dinner? Make ugly sushi with me in the comfort of your own kitchen. Yes, it may look ugly, but the taste is grade A! It’s not easy to make sushi the first time, so I will help prepare you for your sushi journey with my own experience.

Skip to Steps

We, Ventura Locals, has access to county’s best sushi grade fish. I found mine at Ocean Pride of Ventura. This fish market has been open since 1999, only carry’s fresh fish, and was even named in The Ventura Reporter’s “Best of Ventura”. It’s a little hidden among the industrial buildings next to the Ventura Car Mall. Just let owner, Tom Moore, know you’re making sushi tonight, and he’ll help you with what you need. Check out their website for peek at their menu.

To be honest, knowing that I had access to fresh fish cut at a sushi grade, I wanted to take on the fun task of making sushi at home. I called up my sister and drafted her for sushi fun.

Step One: Prepare yourself

I watched a couple of YouTube videos that took me step-by-step through making sushi rolls with various ingredients. This step is important; you don’t want to explore the art of making sushi blind. Plus, it ensures you have all the items you need, and it gives you ideas you may not have had.

Step Two: Equipment

Feel like the professionals with a bamboo mat to roll your sushi. I didn’t find this at Ocean Pride, so I took myself to Seafood City Supermarket for any other equipment I needed. There, I found a cute sushi set that had a bamboo mat, a wooden bowl, and a wooden rice scoop. 

Step Three: Ingredients

Have fun here! Find the ingredients you’d normally like when going out for sushi, even the sauces. Here’s a list of the core ingredients:

  • Sushi rice.
  • Rice Wine Powder or Vinegar.
  • Bamboo mat.
  • Plastic wrap.
  • nori (seaweed sheets)
  • soy sauce.
  • Toasted sesame seeds.

Don’t forget your fish! I bought a pound of King Salmon and a pound of Ahi Tuna from Ocean Pride. This did cost me a pretty penny, just shy of $90. But I bought enough for four people, and I think $90 was cheaper than taking four people to a sushi restaurant.

Step Four: Get cooking! 

Preparing your sushi rice should be the first thing you do once you start putting together your rolls. You want some time for it to cool off, and this is the most challenging part. I didn’t believe this until I started making sushi rice for the first time; it’s more important than the fish itself! It’s best to refer to the instructions on the sushi rice package or YouTube. I used Nishiki rice.

*Warning: Be careful with the amount of rice vinegar you put in the rice. The vinegar’s flavor can overpower the flavor of your fish. I sadly failed to notice the instructions on the back of my rice package and did just that. 

Once your rice is finished, you can start rollin’!

Final Step: Enjoy!

Dinner time! Now you can enjoy your creation. Even though my first time making sushi didn’t come out as I would have liked, my rolls may looked ugly, but they tasted almost restaurant status. My company and I had fun, and I cannot wait to do it again.

Would you make sushi at home? Comment below telling us if you will or any past experiences.

Back to Steps
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Student Life at VC

Post College Journey

Graduating is a huge milestone that one will always remember. It’s about celebrating your accomplishments and recognizing the sacrifices you made to reach the finish line. After graduating high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to continue my education. Now that I’m about to graduate from Ventura College, I still don’t have all the answers. There’s no one size fits all answer to what one should do after graduation. Discovering your passion takes time, and only you can determine what feels right for you. Even though I’m still uncertain about my post graduation plans, I know it’s not the end of the world.

Here are some steps to consider after graduation:

Start your own business:

Starting your own business can help you discover your passion for entrepreneurship or pursue something you’re passionate about.

Take a gap year:

Feeling unsure and overwhelmed is the perfect time to focus on yourself. This can help you gain clarity on what you want to do and determine your next steps.

Continue your education:

Furthering your education may be the right choice for your career. Additional education can provide the opportunities necessary for certain jobs.

Find internships:

Internships offer valuable experience in your field you study and can help your career by gaining practice skills and networking.

Turn your passion into a job:

If you’re passionate about something, consider turning it into a career. This is your time to invest on what makes you happy and willing to peruse each day. 

Advice after college:

The best advice after college is to embrace what makes you happy and always continue learning. Be open to new opportunities and experiences, even if it takes you outside your comfort zone. Remember that setbacks are part of growth, so stay calm and maintain a positive attitude. Always trust in your abilities and pursue paths that will align with your values and aspirations. At the end of the day, your journey after college is about your personal interests, strengths, and aspirations.

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Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Ventura College Mural Project – 100th Year Celebration and $3,000 AWARD!

The Ventura College Art Department with Sharla Fell as Chair, continues to evolve, expand and launch more opportunities for Art students. With the support and enthusiasm of Philosophy Professor Ron Mules, Sharla and her team of professionals in the department and supportive administration have an announcement.   

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Ventura College, history and inclusivity of its students, we are proud to announce a collaborative large scale Mural Project! This 20’ x 16’ painted exterior mural on the New Media wall will enhance our campus environment. The Art department is now calling on local Artists to beautify the campus by Designing a Mural!

A non-profit mural painting company, muralism.org, will be painting the large work of art with the help of our Ventura College students in fall 2024. To oversee the mural process, there will be a new class offered here as well. Mural Painting: History and Practice, ART V21. There are no prerequisites for this Mural class but any of the the following are recommended prep: ART V11A, ART V13A, ART V15A and V16A. 

“This is something for everyone to enjoy, from the Art Department, that will be enjoyed for many years.”  said Chair Sharla Fell.

Furthermore, this involves an AWARD of 3,000 for the Best Design!  

This is a unique opportunity for Ventura County residents, students and faculty. Eligible artists must reside in Ventura County. Please join us as we participate as a local community in sharing creative visions. It’s time for a Call for Entries NOW! Get creative, design and submit your vibrant, diverse, thought provoking imagery/artwork. Entries are due by August 2nd, 2024 ~ 5:00pm 

Please Email your submissions to: VCSocialSci@vcccd.edu Include your full name and cell phone.  

Submission Details 

  • File size – No larger 20mb.
  • Format – JPeg or PDF
  • Include short description of the artwork and how it meets the Mural Details section
  • Artists must be residing in Ventura County

 Mural Details

Mural must include elements celebrating:

  • Ventura College and its History
  • Ventura Colleges 100th Anniversary
  • Diversity and inclusivity of our students

Projects Specs

  • Location: Ventura College New Media Gallery ~ Exterior Wall
  • Mural size: 20’ width x 16’ height

Due Dates

  • Submission Deadline : Friday August 2nd by 5:00pm
  • Date of Mural Completion: October 2024

         www.venturacollege.edu     www.VCSocial.com 

   There will be a special unveiling ceremony at completion in respect to the 100th Anniversary, TBA

For further information or inquiries regarding the project, please contact: Sharla Fell at sfell@vcccd.edu or (805) 289-6265

   

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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!  đź’š

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