Green for Life at NCC

I've spent a major part of my life at Northampton Community College in some capacity, as have many of you. My first experience with the college was when my cousin Julie began attending the college in 1992; I was only 9 at the time. I then participated in children's activities there in the summers of 1995 and 1996. The buildings and grounds of NCC have gone through multiple renovations since then, but the campus has been near and dear to my heart as an important part of my personal story.

As an NCC student, I had my favorite hangout spots: the cafeteria, the Student Activities Lounge and Mack Library. The NCC cafeteria was the center of my social world at the time. It was great for Magic: The Gathering, medieval armor, bad pizza and other junk food. The NCC cafeteria is really nice now, but before it was renovated (in the 2000s) it was quite the fun hangout spot! The Student Activities Lounge featured old, broken-down couches and tables that served as focal points for card games, r-rated movies, students sleeping and others showing off their exotic pets. It was definitely a place that created a sense of belonging.

I've always loved the view from NCC's Mack Library; you get to see the change of seasons and weather from a distance! The Quad was always a nice spot when the weather was warm, mostly at the beginning of the fall semester and the end of the spring semester. That is why Quadfest is always held at the beginning of the fall semester. You got to see the NCC Spartan dancing around - always a unique character, invariably with a super hot girlfriend! The Quad is also scenic when the leaves change later in the fall.

I went to Northampton Community College directly after high school, but took some time off in 2005. I subsequently changed my major and resumed my studies in 2006. For a while I tried out Paralegal Studies, but it didn't work out for me. At that point in my life, I didn't apply myself academically the way I should have - I'm sure a few of you can relate. I felt somewhat lost as I reached an existential crossroads in my life and struggled to regain a sense of self-control. I did learn a little bit about the legal system, however, which is critically important in today's world.

Finally, in December 2007, I graduated with an associate's in liberal arts. I made my share of mistakes, but I finally got the degree. I left NCC academic life for good in 2008, as I focused on work and my life in South Bethlehem. Since then I visit the college once a week, where I hang out in Mack Library for several hours on Mondays. As an alumni, I am allowed to use their library, so I surf the Internet and check out the stacks of informative, interesting books.

I met some great people at Northampton and learned some great things. Some of these people I still keep in touch with today. At that time, I loved hanging out with Colleen McGouldrick, Kadisha Roberts, Joe Vetter, Paul Belles, Alex Mendoza, Katy Steager and others. I nurtured my love of history and the weather. I also developed an interest in human evolution and sociology, as well as drag racing and forbidden sources of knowledge. It was a period of tranformation through rebellion.

I had some wonderful professors at Northampton Community College, including Rebecca Dean, Earl Page, Nancy Trautman and Sandra Del Cueto. They taught me how better to speak, write, examine history and explore new cultures, gaining a larger international understanding. I wasn't a perfect student, but I did learn from their knowledge and the wisdom that they imparted with us. They also provided some stability at a chaotic point in my life.

When I attended NCC there were several things going on in the world: the Bush Administration, the War on Terror, the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan. The major controversies and scandals of the period included euthanasia, Abu Ghraib, the Terri Schiavo case, Hurricane Katrina and the introduction of social networking sites. It was the flawed world that immediately preceded the chaotic world of today's times. By learning to better understand that world, I am now able to get a grip on today's world.

I did a lot of research when I was at NCC. Topics I covered included history, politics, weather records and evolution. I have my notebooks from that period! I have continued my research and this has given me a better appreciation of the earth and societal complexity. I have written journal entries since then and done copious amounts of research at other college libraries, including at Moravian College and Lafayette College. I am a lifelong student!

It was a growing time for me. I was new to adult life when I started at Northampton Community College, but, through trial and many errors, have become more mature and seasoned. I learned more about myself and the world around me. I questioned and then opposed many of the dogmas I was raised with. This created some interpersonal conflicts, but such difficulties were necessary in order for me to take a broader view of life and the world around me.

Many people throughout the Lehigh Valley either currently attend NCC or have attended at some point in the past. It seems that nearly everyone has a connection to the college. NCC makes a good topic to use to break the ice with new people that I meet in the Lehigh Valley. It seems that NCC should be called "Lehigh Valley Community Center!"

I love the setting of the campus, along Green Pond Road, surrounded by green fields and woods. The campus and environs have a rural/suburban feel to it. Due to it's relatively high elevation, the area is often slammed by thunderstorms in the summer, and it's open fields are subject to strong winds, which can drift snow, spread dust, etc. The campus is made green by the raw power and beauty of nature, as well as by a respect for the environment promoted by the faculty and administration at Northampton Community College. NCC has made me a well-rounded citizen of the earth!