ECC student Sitalia Mitchell speaks candidly about academic pressures, campus life, and personal goals, offering insight into how today’s students navigate school, work, and expectations both inside and outside the classroom.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you at ECC with balancing classes, studying, and campus life?
A: This semester, a typical day for me would be attending my statistics and AMP classes. I am only taking two because I deal with work and taking care of my family. So I have math, then
AMP, and then I try to study a little after my classes for about an hour or two just to get the information of what we had just learned stuck in my head.
Q: How would you describe the academic expectations at ECC and how supported do you feel by your instructors?
A: Academic expectations were definitely told to us on the first day by our instructors. Attendance is important, at least to me, because it feels like if you miss a day of class you always miss a chapter or something important. I would also say that it’s very important to be engaged, especially with your peers, because it helps you stay motivated. I would say I feel pretty supported by my professors, as they offer many resources like tutoring for example.
Q: Which classes or programs have been most engaging or challenging for you?
A: In my previous semester, BIO-110 was the most challenging to me. It was a five hour course that only met once a week and I realized that it wasn’t the right class structure for me. I think it was my attention span that made it difficult. For the current semester, my AMP teacher already gave us a heads up about the workload and that this class requires a little more studying and homework than the average course.
Q: How do campus spaces, clubs, or student activities contribute to your overall college experience?
A: Personally, I am not really engaged with activities or clubs. I see them all over the walls and think that they’re interesting and can really help a person in need. For me, I would say the library is my favorite spot. I really enjoy having a quiet space because it helps me study better, focus more, and it just serves as like a much needed study session.
Q: What academic resources, like tutoring, advising, or study spaces, do you rely on the most?
A: I’ve only ever gotten tutoring once, last semester, but the instructor was very helpful, and I would go again. The library is my favorite spot but besides that I haven’t really found a spot that helps me focus and study in a way that is beneficial to me. The library is definitely my go-to.
Q: In what ways has being an ECC student helped you grow academically or personally since you have enrolled?
A: Learning the curriculum. I would say that learning the curriculum itself is actually very helpful as it lets you know the pace the courses are going to take. Academically, I always strive for A’s and B’s especially because the route I want to go into, sonography, is known for being competitive.
