As the fall semester concludes, ECC students are pausing to reflect on the resources and connections that helped them succeed this semester. For many, the road to finals was paved with late nights and demanding projects, making the support systems at the ECC invaluable.
ECC student Merna Sedrak recalls the countless days she’s spent studying and doing homework in the tutoring center and library, spaces she credits for her academic success this term.
“The library and tutoring center has been literally my home, no exaggeration,” said Sedrak. “I was constantly there and there were such nice people, incredibly helpful overall.”
Similarly to Sedrak, ECC Student Camila Mussri has found a support system in the Write Place.
“I have to write a lot of essays for my English class so the Write Place has been really helpful,” said Mussri. “The good thing is that they don’t write the essay for you. They just kind of guide you and let you use your brain and to the fullest ability.”
Apart from academic support, ECC has been recognized for helping students make stepping stones towards their future career path. Dedicated faculty often go above and beyond, providing mentorship that has proved to be impactful.
Sedrak is especially grateful for her Computer Aided Design Professor Jesse Barder, “He’s the one who actually helped me make a lot of breakthroughs towards my career,” said Sedrak. She explains that he helped her reach out to architects and set up meetings, understand how to do her job in the future, and determine if it’s the right path.
With a similar experience Mussri shared the same sentiment about her psychology class this past semester.
“It’s helped me learn so much about what I wanna do with my life,” she explains. “Learning about humans and how our brains work” has motivated her to pursue a career in psychology.
Many students enter ECC not knowing anyone, and leave having lifelong friendships. The opportunity to create friendships and professional networks has given students emotional support during the end of the semester. The various organizations and clubs at ECC are a big part of what makes this possible.
“I’m in a club at ECC Swans, and I feel like it’s a little small community,” said ECC student Priya Mody. “I feel like everyone there just considers each other friends and we all just vibe”
Similarly, Mussri found friendships in The Spartan Project, “It’s been a really fun experience being a part of the organization and just getting to know everyone.”
These students all agreed that ECC is a tight-knit community, and have not only evolved their connections but also evolved as individuals.
“The people that I get to meet have opened doors that I didn’t even think were possible before. So it kind of opened my eyes, you know, and made me grow as a person.” said Sedrak
“I definitely feel like I’ve become a better version of myself and I’m reaching the potential that I know I have, which I thought I didn’t have,” said Mussri.
