Best Commencement Speeches

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Graduation is upon us, a time of celebration, a time of reflection. Here are two of the best commencement speeches ever by two men who have since passed away, author David Foster Wallace at Kenyon and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at Stanford. Both speeches took place in 2005. Rest in peace and thank you for your words of inspiration. The speeches were posted on the U-T San Diego site on May 29, 2015 and the article is attributed to Matthew T. Hall.

Helping the Homeless

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درفش کاویانی

Elvis Summers is a man who wears a blue Mohawk. He is also a person who is helping shelter the homeless. Find out how one person can make a difference in the lives of people without homes. Building Tiny Houses Into Big Help for Los Angeles' Homeless was published in the U-T San Diego on May 7, 2015

Career Advice from Stan Lee

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What does the creator of Spider-Man say about working for money? This video was shown on "Business Insider" on June 30, 2014.

Video Contest Winners!

City's Mental Health Services recently ran a contest for students to create a suicide awareness video, and these are the winners:

1st place ($500): Full Circle, http://youtu.be/eXaIedr-Syo

2nd place ($250): Directing Change: Suicide Prevention, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=couZno1OIS4&feature=youtu.be

3rd place ($125): Let's Change Minds About Suicide, http://youtu.be/UJHlesKTmiA (This video was produced by FYE student, Carlos D., with the encouragement of his peer mentor, Alma N.)

For mental health emergencies, the ACCESS LINE and CRISIS LINE is 1-888-724-7240.

What Can I Do With This Major?

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As a counselor, I often hear from students, "I want to major in __________, but I don't know what kind of career I can go into with it." Here's a tool that will help. The website was forwarded by counselor, Steve Schommer.

Biotech jobs!

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Want a job in biotech fast? Take Biology 109 in the fall semester and complete Biology 206 in the spring semester to earn a certificate of performance in biotechnology. Entry-level jobs in manufacturing, research and development, and other fields assisting scientists can pay $12-13 an hour to start, and our biotech professors will help with job leads. Also, in the field of research and development, many companies will help pay for additional education so that you can take on other positions in the industry and earn more money by furthering your education. Our biotech program has nearly a 100% employment rate for the students who complete. This info comes from Professor Roya Lahijani. Call (619) 388-3289 or e-mail rlahijan@sdccd.edu for more info.

Introduction to Applied Biology

BIOL109 Fall 2015

CRN 43847 M/W 11:10--3:55 pm
CRN 43854 T/TH 11:10 –3:55 pm

BIOL109 has NO prerequisite !

A Professor's Advice About College Success

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"For instance, the difference between 'Let's eat, grandma' and 'Let's eat grandma' is a dead grandma and my thinking you're a cannibal." From tip #5 below.



The following blog post by Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead appeared on August 6, 2014 in the Huffington Post. It's practical advice for college students:

A Professor's Pointers for Success in College: 21 Easy-to-Follow Tips

It's about that time again. Sleepy college towns will begin to awaken, abuzz with an excitement that only college students can inspire. Young scholars will soon arrive on college and university campuses, ready, or not so ready, to take on the world of higher education.

I have been teaching college students for 13 years, and I've come to know a thing or two about what makes some students more successful than others. Whether you're beginning your first year or returning as a seasoned upperclass(wo)man, I hope I can provide some practical advice as you embark on a new academic year. You see, we professors want all of our students to succeed. We want you to learn and grow and thrive, both academically and socially.

So here's to ivy-covered buildings, critical thinking, independence, making friends for life, asking hard questions, becoming global citizens, and discovering who you really are.

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1. Don't be anonymous. Introduce yourself to your professors and speak up in class, especially if you attend a large university with huge class sizes. I'm not saying you have to sit in the front row, answer every question and bring the instructor chocolates (did I say chocolates? I meant apples). Just don't hide in the back of the room and be invisible. Moreover, don't hesitate to ask questions in class; if you're wondering about something, chances are that someone else is too. If you think of a question outside of class time, visit the professor during office hours (that's the purpose of office hours) or send an email (see #9).   

2. Read all of your syllabi carefully. The syllabus is your contract for the course. There's no excuse for not being aware of essential information that has been provided to you. In addition, check your email account daily; faculty and staff members will use email to communicate additional information to you.

3. Stay on top of your work. Try not to procrastinate. "Plan ahead" should be your mantra for your academic life. Nobody ever says "Oh ****, I started on that too early," but plenty of students regret waiting until the last minute to begin studying or working on a project. Avoid pulling all-nighters (see Dr. Pamela V. Thacher's study).

Peer Mentor Job Openings

Need a job? Want to make a difference? The First Year Experience program is hiring peer mentors. For info, go to the FYE site, contact Tamika Balderamos 619-388-3888, or e-mail: tbaldera@sdccd.edu.

Padres Sign Pitcher for 20 Straight Years

A classy and compassionate deed by the San Diego Padres: The Padres Have Signed a Wheelchair-Bound Ex-Pitcher for 20 Straight Years was published in USA Today Sports on April 8, 2015.

Can A High School Senior Make a Difference?

Niki Mani: "I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that because he couldn't afford surgery he was going to go blind." Student's Nonprofit Offers Free Clinics to Save Diabetics' Vision was published in the U-T on March 17, 2015.

Playing Piano Helps Patients

How do you combine a love of music with helping people? Kevin Kim combines these two passions at Sharp Grossmont Hospital to soothe patients. Pianist Creates Oasis of Calm in Busy Hospital was published in the U-T San Diego on March 10, 2015.

Scholarship Info

The following scholarship sites are listed through the Student Affairs office at SD City. Applying for scholarships takes time and energy, but who can't use some extra money for school?

NY Community College Helps Students Succeed

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How do we help students graduate? Start with intensive counseling, provide help with tuition, and make sure they can get to school. In New York, an innovative program is doing these things, and students are completing their degrees. CUNY Program Raises Graduation Rates with Intensive Support was published on Feb 25, 2015 in School Book. The article was forwarded by Steve Schommer.  

Palomar 4-Year Nursing Degree

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Palomar College has teamed up with Point Loma Nazarene to develop a bachelor's degree that can be earned through the community college, similar to another agreement made with Grossmont College. Palomar to Offer 4-Year Nursing Degree was published in the U-T San Diego on Feb. 19, 2015.

Related article: Local Schools to Offer 4-Year Degrees was published in the U-T San Diego on Jan. 20, 2015.

Associate Degrees for Transfer

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More students are earning the Associate Degree for Transfer or AD-T at San Diego County Community Colleges, and these degrees are helping students transfer to California State Universities. College Transfer Program Sees Success was published in the U-T San Diego on Feb. 6, 2015.

Here is a list of AD-T degrees in our district.

A Photo Tells a Tragic Story

Mimo Khair captured a haunting image of a young Syrian girl at a refugee camp in Lebanon. The girl had lost her family only days before the picture. This picture/article was shown on "Yahoo" on 9-6-14.

Forgiving Murder

Author's Note: Azim Khamisa and Ples Felix appeared at San Diego City College's "Passport to Life" recently. This article first appeared in Asian Fortune in 2010.

Foundation of Forgiveness 

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Imagine the devastation of losing a son. On January 21, 1995, Azim Khamisa came face to face with this reality. His twenty-year-old son, Tariq, was murdered in a gang-related robbery over two pizzas worth $27.24. Tariq worked for DeMille’s Italian Restaurant in San Diego and went on a delivery to a North Park apartment. Four members of a youth gang known as “The Black Mob” had staged a phony call to steal pizza from a delivery driver.

Tariq refused to comply and attempted to drive away from his assailants. The gang leader ordered a fourteen-year-old named Tony Hicks to shoot the delivery driver. Hicks pulled the trigger of a stolen 9mm semiautomatic handgun and killed Tariq Khamisa.

Tariq was Azim Khamisa’s only son. He was a San Diego State University student who planned to marry a young woman named Jennifer Patchen. They shared a passion for art and thought of moving to New York together. They had been going out for a year and engaged for two months. They were in love.

When Tariq was a child, Azim worked as an international investment banker and spent a lot of time away on business travels. Then Azim and his wife divorced and he was absent from his son’s life. As adults, father and son were learning to reconnect. They frequented a neighborhood restaurant called the Hobnob for breakfasts of steak and eggs or corned beef hash. They reminisced, told stories, and discussed Tariq’s future. Azim wanted his son to go into business. Tariq was interested in photography. Three months before he died, Tariq wrote a letter to his father. The following excerpt from that letter was published in Azim Khamisa’s book, Azim’s Bardo: From Murder to Forgiveness:

Does College Choice Matter?

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Before you apply to that elite university, check out this U-T op-ed about whether college choice really affects your earnings and job satisfaction. Will Your Choice of College Affect Job Prospects? appeared in the U-T San Diego on April 14, 2014. The article was forwarded by Steve Schommer.