Janice Trudy

First Year Experience

As part of my first year at SPCC, I took part in the “First Year Experience” program, which provided orientation to SPCC overall, the campus, and my program of study.  Immediately when I came to SPCC, I joined in campus tours, events in the library, and a social event.  Each of these activities helped to reduce my levels of apprehension about coming to college.

 

As part of the FYE program, I participated in a cohort of classes.   With the same group of my student peers, I completed CIS 110, ENG 111, and COM 231.  It was helpful to have each class with the same group of student peers.  Further, we read the same novel, and the assignments in the CIS, ENG, and COM classes were linked.  Having consistent assignments and the same students in each class helped us to form study groups and learn more from one another.

 

Beyond the classroom, I engaged in social activities through the FYE.  I played disc golf, I joined the communication club, and I participated in a student trip to a local university.  Combined with the classroom experiences, the social activities during my FYE helped to provide an effective academic and personal introduction to the college experience.

 

SP Global Scholars of Distinction

I participated in the SP Global Scholars of Distinction, which taught me to understand and appreciate the internationalized and global contexts of my studies.  To complete the SP Global Scholars of Distinction program, I took the following classes, each of which has an international perspective:

 

• COM 140: Introduction to Intercultural Communication

• ENG 261: World Literature I

• HIS 111: World Civilizations I

• HUM 180:  International Cultural Exploration

• RUS 111:  Elementary Russian I

 

As well as the coursework I took, I participated in the following “Passport activities”:

 

• SPCC Multicultural Festival, where I saw dance groups, faculty lecture, and craft vendors, all with multicultural perspectives.

• Foreign film night, where I watched the Russian film “Stalingrad.”  The film highlighted the Battle of Stalingrad, in which the Soviets fought against the Nazis for control of the city of Stalingrad.

• A lecture about the fall of the House of Romanov, when the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family were executed.  The lecture explained the global political, social, and economic implications of the Bolshevik Revolution.

• A virtual discussion with students from Moscow State University.  The discussion centered around differences between popular culture in Russia and the United States.

• International club’s trip to Pravda, a Russian restaurant in Charlotte.  We were able to order and sample different Russian foods.

• International club “potluck” dinner, where club members brought food from different Eastern European and Asian nations.

• A virtual discussion with students from Northwest Regional College in Northern Ireland.  The students discussed the impacts of terrorism on cultural development of a nation.  We discussed IRA terrorist activities in Northern Ireland and the September 11 and other terrorist attacks in the United States.

• International art festival in Charlotte, N.C., where artists from around the world presented and discussed their work.  I was able to see different styles of art from around the globe.

 

Travel Experience

For my international travel experience, I took part in a trip with my COM 140 and ART 111 classes.  We traveled to Washington, D.C., during the Passport DC program, through which we participated in the “Around the World Embassy Tour.”  Over three days, we traveled to the foreign embassies of 50 nations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Americas, where artists and artisans, performers, lecturers, teachers, and others provided educational and cultural programming.  Also, we toured the Smithsonian over several days, experiencing art, culture, and dance of countries from around the world.  Finally, we toured the Holocaust Museum.

 

Experiencing the embassies, art, music, dance, and history of so many nations helped me to understand the uniqueness of cultural perspectives and the international and global nature of the world.

 

Volunteer or Service-Learning Experience

Since I have participated in many trips for missions, I have gained cultural experience and have seen many variations of how people’s lives are different. This gave me hope that I could make a difference in the future once I complete my education. During my psychology course at SPCC, I learned to take my time before making a final decision about my “first impression” of a total stranger. I learned that I had to be careful not to judge based on appearance alone. People that are different from me are fascinating and since I learned more about myself in college, I think I am better prepared to make good decisions when it comes to others.

 

Participation in Student Engagement Events/Clubs

While at SPCC, I joined the Communications Club and enjoyed winning first prize in an impromptu speech contest. My topic was on “What Makes a Good College Student.” The point I wanted to get across is that students have to participate in their own learning. Instructors give the material and it is the student’s responsibility to apply the new information to make sure they understand and are able to present that information to others. 

 

I am in the running club to stay in shape and learn proper training techniques. It is so much fun to be a part of this group of different people with a common love of running. Running Club helps me focus on my stressful weeks and helps me meet new friends.