Hudson Valley Community College celebrates first day of fall 2022 semester
Mike Gwizdala / The Troy Record / Aug. 30, 2022
TROY, N.Y. — Hudson Valley Community College welcomed back students for the 2022 fall semester on Monday. Students were greeted with free cookies and ice cream and music outside the Siek Campus Center.
It’s part of a weeklong celebration that also includes free barbeque, a club fair, global partnerships, and perspectives webinar, a vaccine clinic, and live bands.
For students, the day marks a new adventure, experience, independence, and a sense of adulthood.
For Melody Hadley, of Cohoes, the college experience feels liberating compared to high school.
“Honestly it’s pretty cool. This is my first semester here and I’m kinda in a program where I am in high school still but I go here for college credits for graduating. I can get my associate’s degree by the time I’m done with high school, so I’m saving money. Honestly, transitioning from high school to here it’s so relieving, I feel so much more freedom,” Hadley said.
“I’m taking a whole two-hour gap break between classes, if I would’ve done that in high school I would’ve been penalized badly. So having this break time to be able to do my stuff and having classes where I feel like I can do my own thing and I can lead my own life and have my own choices. It’s just so freeing and I feel like I feel so much happier with myself right now and I know it’s my first day, I’m probably gonna eat those words when I’m struggling with finals and stuff but I am honestly really happy with being here. It’s the first day and I only had two classes but I’m so happy,” Hadley explained on her adulation with attending HVCC.
“The different environment is really invigorating. You can walk anywhere on campus as long as you’re at classes on time, you just have the freedom. It’s so freeing, it feels so good!” Hadley noted on the differences.
Hadley added that she’s looking to follow her passion of being an artist.
“I’m thinking of pursuing some type of arts degree because I’m an artist. I’m thinking of doing game art but that’s not offered here so I’m just taking general arts here. So for now I’m just going to be taking art history and stuff like that and going through my classes and start getting my credits with anything involving art because that’s what I want to pursue,” Hadley noted.
The class of 2022 saw 35 students from other countries graduate. Gaia Vallee, who moved here from France a year and a half ago, glossed about her first impressions of being on campus.
“It’s pretty good. I like the teachers, they’re very nice. It’s better than high school,” Vallee remarked.
“I’m doing individual studies. It’s more free, the teachers are very nice, it’s more social,” Vallee added.
For Annalee Herbig, of Cambridge, who is studying to be a nurse, transferring to HVCC has been a welcoming experience thus far.
“I feel good. I’m actually a transfer student, so this is my second year of college but my first year here. It’s really nice, I like the campus. The people here are super nice, so I’m enjoying it,” Herbig commented.
“I like the campus, I like that it’s not too big, the sports complex is really cool too, I enjoyed that. Everyone I’ve met has been super nice and helpful, teacher-wise too. I’ve only been to one class so far but she was super nice. I’ve been in the library and the distance learning center which has helped me out a lot so that’s really nice,” Herbig added about making her way around campus.
Also elated with her initial experience with HVCC was Tashanti Pichon, of Niskayuna, who’s studying to become a registered nurse.
“I love it! It was actually a really cool experience because at first, I was nervous like I wasn’t going to find any of my classes but everybody felt the same way I felt so I was like be comfortable, be good with whoever you’re talking to, be in your own skin. Teachers are actually very, very welcoming here as well. Some of the teachers I had, had good personalities, made you laugh, made learning fun. Personally, my first day of school was the best experience I could ever have,” Pichon said about the welcoming atmosphere.
“It’s a good day, it’s a good environment, everybody’s outside meeting new people. It feels good especially because I graduated in 2020 from high school and I’m coming back to school just now. So it’s just like feeling back to normal, meeting new people, making friends! I’m excited to continue with my journey as an RN,” Pichon continued.
“I’m already a CNA so it’s just basically getting more of a heads up of education, you’re preparing yourself for different experiences in life and opportunities and opportunities open responsibilities, so everything is just coming together naturally, it’s beautiful,” Pichon noted on furthering her educational aspirations.
“You’ll see me at 2024 graduation, I graduate in two years and you’ll definitely see me on the stage!” Pichon exclaimed.
Published: Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:15:40 +0000 by d.gardner