COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
April 2017
CollegeTracks MM/DD/YY
 
    Ms. Jenni Adams
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BOOK YOUR CHECK INS WITH YOUR COACH:

1) Look at your schedule to see when you're available for a 1-hour check in.

2) Go to your coach's youcanbook.me link (below).

3) Choose an appropriate time slot and fill out the necessary information. Note where your coach will be that day.

4) Book it! A confirmation will be sent to your email. Now, put that check in on your calendar and set your reminder.
 
Ms. Jenni:

Ms. Lindsey:

Ms. Nneka:

Ms. Rachel:
COACH Q & A:
This month, we asked each of the Success Coaches what strategy or technique has given them the courage to persevere at a time when they thought they might fail. Here's what they had to say:

Ms. Jenni
"I try to remember that I fell several times before I learned how to ride a bike. Sometimes I think it'd be nice if I could learn things immediately, and didn't have to fall so much in the process. But then I think, if it were so easy, maybe it wouldn't feel so good when I finally figure it out!"

Ms. Nneka

"I always look at failure as an opportunity to improve, because I believe in failing forward! I look at the situation and ask myself, Did I do my absolute best? What could I have done differently to foster a better outcome? What is holding me back from improving next time? Failure is a necessary step to becoming my absolute best self. This is how I like to think of it."

Ms. Rachel

"If there is something I have to do that I am feeling really anxious about, I remind myself that I do not have to judge myself based on the success of this one event. Instead I try to look at each challenge as a learning experience. Like with speaking a language I am studying--if I do not make myself understood the first time, I can always try to communicate my thought again in a different way." 

Ms. Lindsey

"Some of the best things in life have come from taking a risk when the outcome was not guaranteed to be successful. I try to remind myself of that fact, and trust in my ability to adapt and recover if things don't go the way I'd hoped."

Mr. Danny

"As a kid I learned that it took me multiple times to get something right. It started with having to spell my long last name in kindergarten. In college, I always had to take the first exam in a course to really know what to expect. As long as I knew I was challenging myself and was learning in that process, I was okay with mistakes along the way." 

Looking for a summer job, but still need help with that resume?

Have a job interview coming up, but don't know how to prepare?

Not sure what careers are related to your major?

If you were wondering these similar questions, you are not alone. Check out the CAREER CENTER or CAREER SERVICES OFFICE on your campus.

Remember, it's never too early to check out this resource so you can plan ahead for the summer or even after graduation.

If you are unsure where to find the Career office at your school, talk to your coach.

WHERE TO CHECK IN?
ROCKVILLE CAMPUS

Coaches are located in the
  SCIENCE BUILDING
(on the 1st floor , near the entrance closest to the bus stops )

If crowded, coaches may move to the 2nd or 3rd floor in the same corner of the Science Building.


A VERY SPECIAL SHOUT OUT THIS MONTH IS RESERVED FOR MS. Z AND HER FAMILY! CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW ARRIVAL OF MASON, BORN ON MARCH 3. MS. Z IS OUT ON PARENTAL LEAVE UNTIL MAY, SO PLEASE DON'T EMAIL HER, BUT YOU CAN TEXT HER AT 240-244-9783.

 

  
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The road to success is not always a smooth ride. There may be bumps along the way like a flat tire or detours that may slow you down or steer you off your path. That's why your Success Coach and CollegeTracks are there to ride along with you. As you will find out in this issue from your coaches (see Coach Q & A), failure is a part of learning. It's okay to make mistakes because that is how you can improve and grow.

In this issue of the newsletter we talk about how to overcome the fear of failure, introduce you to our MC Tutors, shoutouts, scholarships, and more. Enjoy!

~CollegeTracks College Success Team

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF FAILURE


Fear of failure is very real and normal --it's human nature. We love our comfort zone so much that when we leave it, we feel scared. So as students, we were taught that we need to get an A to prove we learned and it defines us as a good student. When we get any grade lower than what we expected we become engulfed with the feeling of failure. But, can we use this feeling to our advantage? Yes we can. Here are five ways to get over the fear of failure:

1. Be flexible with your goals. Reframe your goal to acquiring new knowledge or skills because there is always room for learning. For instance, instead of aiming for a 3.5 GPA for the semester, aim for how to manage a full course load of 16 credits and hold down a job and commute to school. You can still aim for a 3.5 GPA, but at the same time you're accomplishing a goal of managing a busy schedule.

2. Expect the unexpected. While it's great to be a positive thinker, it's important to keep in mind that there may be uncontrollable obstacles that could get in your way. When you've got a project or a task to do, think of what could go wrong and how to deal with it. That way you've thought through some potential obstacles beforehand.

3. When in doubt, ask these questions: What did I learn from this experience? How does this experience help me develop? What good came out of this situation? Asking these questions about your perceived "failure" can help uncover "successes" that you hadn't considered. Like, getting a C- in Chem 101  allowed you to see how tutoring helped during the second half of the semester, and moving forward, that is something you'd incorporate in Chem 102  from the very start of the semester.

4. Rewrite what you've been told. Some people may say that certain things aren't for you or that you'll never become X, Y, or Z. We hold onto messages like that which simply aren't true. We translate them to mean "I'm not good enough" or "I'll never be a good student." Rewrite it to say, "I'm going to be a better student and I'm willing to go to office hours, get tutoring, and meet with my professors." It could just be that you have not acquired certain skills or abilities yet--you're still developing.

5. Accept your feelings. It's completely normal to feel frustration, fear, or anxiety after something doesn't turn out the way you expect. But don't let those feelings stop you dead in your tracks. You'll start to recognize them once you start feeling those emotions. Give yourself quiet time. Take deep breaths. Repeat. Eventually you will be able to respond to these emotions with ease.

So don't be afraid to make mistakes. Because you do learn from them. You've heard that one before, but it's true whether you're a teacher, a student, a business person, a superhero, a success coach--you've got to use failure to your benefit. Learn from it rather than dwell on it.

MC Tutors Spotlight

This year the CollegeTracks Success Program piloted a new initiative at Montgomery College--The MC Tutor Program. CollegeTracks Success scholars who attend MC have the option of working one-on-one or in groups with our amazing tutors. We would not be able to pull off this program if not for our tutors. In this issue, we would like to give many thanks to our MC Tutors in this special spotlight for them.



Richard Binder
Richard is tutoring students in Biology. He strongly believes that "education is the foundation of progress and society. Teaching is a way of supporting this. We all improve in this process."



               

Bill Goldman
Bill was a math major in college and for many, many years, looked forward to being a volunteer math tutor in retirement. "I am now following through on that long-held goal and greatly enjoy working with the MC students. Also, because the need for tutors is so great, I have the satisfaction of doing something that I believe is truly important."




Richard McUmber
Richard is helping Success scholars with Physics. He is dedicated to helping these students because he believes that "a college degree is one of few things that can make a profound, strategic impact on life."




Alva Powell
Alva is tutoring our students in Biology because she believes "that eve ryone who desires an education should have the opportunity to pursue one." She further noted, "I also know that for some people pursuing the dream of education 
comes with special challenges and obstacles. My goal is to help make those obstacles a little easier to overcome for others because someone made them easier for me."




Bob Stearns
Bob was a math major in college and an economics major in graduate school. He is tutoring our students in math and he "loves sharing his knowledge and problem-solving techniques with the students at Montgomery College."

  Don't miss out! Scholarships are a great way to help pay for your school, books, transportation, etc. And best of all, you don't have to pay them back!

NAME: Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship
DUE DATE: Opens in March 2017
AMOUNT: $2,500
ELIGIBILITY: College Student, US Citizen, demonstrated financial need, community service, pursuing a technical degree/certificate.

NAME: Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
DUE DATE: March 1, 2017 - May 1, 2017
AMOUNT: Varies
ELIGIBILITY: Have 3.0 GPA, full-time student, enrolled in an engineering or computer science degree program, US Citizen, financial need.

NAME: Primary Intelligence Scrappers Scholarship
DUE DATE:  April 14, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500
ELIGIBILITY: Current college student, plan to enroll full time in fall 2017.

NAME: Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
DUE DATE:  April 15, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500
ELIGIBILITY: Current college student, plan to enroll full time in 2017-18, pursue a career in health and fitness.

NAME : MC Transfer Scholarships (For current MC students planning to transfer in fall)
DUE DATE:  Varies
AMOUNT : Varies
ELIGIBILITY : Varies,  check individual scholarship requirements (links below)

NAME: Verbal Ink Transcription Services Scholarship
DUE DATE: April 15, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500
ELIGIBILITY: First-year college student (finishing first year this spring), 3.0 GPA, attending a 2- or 4-year school, write a 500-1000 word essay.

NAME: LendEdu Scholarship
DUE DATE: April. 15, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,000
ELIGIBILITY: Full-time College Student, US Residents, 2.5 GPA.

NAME: The Joshua David Gardner Memorial Scholarship Endowment
DUE DATE: April 30, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500 - $6,000
ELIGIBILITY: College Student, 2.8 GPA or higher, under age 25, ACT score of 21 or SAT of 1200, 500-word essay.

NAME: HENAAC Scholarship Application
DUE DATE: April 30, 2017
AMOUNT: $500- $10,000
ELIGIBILITY: Have 3.0 GPA or higher, pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math degree (STEM), must demonstrate merit through academic achievements, leadership and campus involvement, attend a 2- or 4-year school.

NAME: GotChosen $10,000 Upvote Scholarship
DUE DATE: April 30, 2017
AMOUNT: Up to $10,000
ELIGIBILITY: Be 18+, follow online instructions for entering, no GPA requirement, open to US and international students.

NAME: SunTrust Off to College Scholarship Sweepstakes
DUE DATE: Every two weeks until May 12, 2017
AMOUNT: $500
ELIGIBILITY: College student, must be US citizens

 * MC SPECIFIC INFORMATION *

Register Now for USG's Spring Undergraduate Open House!
Looking for a great transfer option to complete your bachelor's degree? The Universities at Shady Grove is hosting an undergraduate Open House on Saturday, April 22! The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) is a campus where nine top Maryland universities bring their best programs to YOU on one convenient campus in Rockville. You can take your classes at USG and earn your degree from the university offering your major.
Open House Details:
Saturday, April 22
8:30am Check-In / 9:00am Welcome
9:30am-12:00pm Sessions & Info Fair

THANK YOU FOR READING THE SUCCESS PROGRAM'S E-NEWSLETTER!

CollegeTracks College Success Program Team:
MS. JENNI ADAMS
MS. LINDSEY REED
MS. NNEKA ONYILOFOR
MS. RACHEL LOSTUMBO
MR. DANNY KHOTSOMBATH