Middlesex Community College: Being Active In MCC Community Makes All The Difference For Student

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

10/26/2021

While the start of college can feel like an overwhelming and lonely process, having access to student support services and resources can make a big difference.

From Lowell, Salena Mam – who dreams of one day becoming a nurse – found her path at Middlesex Community College when a friend introduced her to MCC’s Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA) and the Asian American Connections Center.

“I was alone for the first two semesters and struggling and then my friend brought me to PAASA and it’s been great,” she said. “I get to engage with other students. They help me out with whatever I’m having a hard time with and I’m gaining a lot of great communication and leadership skills.”

In her involvement with the Center, Mam has helped out with college and PAASA-specific events centering around different cultural celebrations, workshops to help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and career exploration opportunities using college resources such as Handshake for applying to internships and jobs.

“They want to make college easier for us,” Mam said about the Asian American Connections Center. “If we are struggling, you can go to them and they’ll help fix your problem, help you go through whatever you may be struggling with.”

At the Asian American Connections Center, Mam has also been able to help out new students who are in the same position she once was by participating in student orientation and teaching them about what the college has to offer.

Attending college, she believes, is an opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences.

In a post she wrote for the college in celebration of Asian American Native American Pacific-Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week, Mam spoke on the importance of being involved on campus – even during virtual events – and how it has impacted her overall success.

“I was able to make a lot of new friends and participate in fun activities,” she said. “It’s important for me to feel engaged when my first semester was so quiet and lonely, which affected my academics. I have access to these unique college experiences.”

Mam also stays busy by participating in MCC’s chapter of the Massachusetts Student Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). The organization – which is a statewide, student-directed and funded program – advocates on behalf of students for affordable higher education, public health and the environment.

In her role, Mam has worked on projects to use 100 percent renewable energy, save the bees, and participate in phone banking to let students know about voter registration week. For Mam, it has been “wonderful” to work on activities that protect the earth.

An MCC Liberal Arts and Sciences major, Mam is enjoying learning about various topics in her classes. The full-time student takes advantage of the variety of course options Middlesex offers, including attending on campus classes in both Bedford and Lowell, and online. “It helps me focus more,” she said. “There’s more flexibility.”

In classes such as Anatomy, Anthropology and Microbiology, Mam has the opportunity to gain a new perspectives and foundational knowledge. At the vocational school she attended for high school, she chose Medical Assisting as her major and grew an interest for the Health-field. Now at Middlesex, she is able to earn credits for her general education courses that will help her transfer to her next college to study nursing.

“I’m getting a lot of educational background,” Mam said. “Having the first two years of general studies classes done takes a lot off my plate. It’s easy to transfer from a community college to a university, and community colleges are financially affordable.”

For Mam, it is the support Middlesex has offered that has made the difference, including from professors in her classes. In one instance, Mam had worked hard on a homework assignment for Anthropology that had not saved. When she got to class and realized her work was gone, her professor Susan Bumbulucz made her feel better and gave her more time to complete the assignment.

From being so active around campus, Mam has come to hear about stories like her own. In addition to having easier access to resources and support, these experiences, she believes, are what lead to student success.

“There have been a lot of events featuring students and alumni and MCC has seemed to change their lives a lot,” she said. “I hope it happens to me as well. So far, it has. I’m so grateful to go to MCC.”

With MCC’s Liberal Arts and Sciences program, students can explore interests and earn general education requirements to help them go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/liberalarts/ to discover a path to a success at Middlesex.

MCC’s Mini-mester II starts on Monday, November 1. To take advantage of this opportunity and get started on a path to an education or new career, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 for more information and to register for the Fall 2021 semester at Middlesex.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.