As students get ready for the big day they reflect on all the beneficial experiences they had faced. While some take classes to excel in the world others look to the next chapter in a University.
“Most students who come to a community college are here to get vocational skills to get a job or they want to take the courses here so they can transfer,” Don Ferguson, counselor, said.
Stephanie Paranhos, 20, undecided major, said she decided to come to EC from Irvine Valley College to finish the rest of the classes needed for her general education requirment near home.
“A majority of community college students attend more then one community college; there are a number of students who bring us one or two transcripts from different colleges so we look over the transcripts and evaluate it to see if they qualify for graduation,” Esperanza Nieto, assistant director of administration and records, said.
The counselors have one goal in mind: to help the student achieve their academic goals, Nieto said.
Meeting with counselors was not a first choice for some students. Paranhos said, for the most part that she figured out her class requirements for herself.
One student said that she met with counselors at least twice every semester and now she is successfully graduating in June of this year. She plans to attend Cal State Northridge in fall after taking the summer off, Shana Rastegar-Parah, 20, psychology major, said.
The number of students graduating and those walking in the graduation ceremony is not yet certain, Nieto said.
Students with plans for graduating find themselves relieved that the semester is almost over and that they will be able to have a degree in their hands.
After taking classes for almost two years, the classes seemed to be getting easier for Paranhos, who has been unsure of what she wants to be.
After taking about 60 units worth of classes, graduation came as a pleasant surprise for Paranhos when she realized that her first two years of college were coming to an end.
“Even though I’m not sure of what it is I want to do, I’m happy to have my first degree,” Paranhos said.