Welcome, 2024
Solidarity and Looking Ahead
We started 2023 in community. With students, faculty, staff, and partner organizations. You invited us and we showed up.
Community is more important than ever. It is the place we find healing, comfort, and belonging. It can cure uncertainty and bring strength. The work we do, collectively can be taxing. Seeing cycles of harm repeat themselves and bearing witness to the harsh reality of oppression.
As we move into a new year, a new time we do so with our communities in mind. With you in mind. To be a moment of healing, comfort, and understanding. It was our communities that carried us through 2023. In 2024 we take the lessons you offered us and begin implementation of our Community Engagement Plans and goals.
Please keep inviting us, sharing with us, and learning with us. We look forward to seeing you.
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Hailey Lanham is a student mentor at Chemeketa Community College. |
This quarter, our student spotlight is on Hailey Lanham. I had the pleasure of meeting Hailey at the open house for the new Chemeketa Community College Student Success Center. From the moment I met her, her drive and determination were apparent. My initial impression was confirmed by her supervisor Grecia Garcia Perez who shared her thoughts on Hailey.
“She is a very smart and bright student with a capacity to listen and be empathetic with the students she works with. She is a problem solver, that can listen between the lines, and communicate with students in a manner that makes the help feel welcomed, and makes students feel safe. Hailey is thinking of going to PSU for a bachelor’s in social work and hopes to get into the master’s program in the future. She would be a fantastic social worker, or a mental health practitioner if she chooses to go for the license in the future and become part of a new generation of mental health practitioners. I am more than confident that in the future, Hailey will continue to focus on the healing of others, and always be a safe space for those she interacts with.”
- What is your role or action in education, in addition to being a student?
Student mentoring. I have been a student mentor here at Chemeketa for a little over a year now! What this means is I work with the Navigate system in the student success center in building two (on campus) and I do outreach to connect with students about their grades, registration or connecting them to resources. I have really enjoyed this role because as I am also a student, I know how hard it can be to stay on track or trouble shoot specific problems so I know how valuable it can be to have someone reaching out to help you.
- Were there any organizations or mentors that helped you on your path?
Honestly the biggest support system I have had has been my work group at Chemeketa. My supervisor Grecia Garcia Perez has been so helpful to my success with giving me her knowledge, input and time with planning my academic pathway. My coworkers played a huge part in helping me stay on track and motivated. We would do our homework and study together at work when all of our tasks were done. Surrounding myself with other people who cared about their education and had goals really helped me to do the same for myself.
- What does being a student and a graduate mean to you?
Being a student and graduating means a lot to me. I have faced a lot of struggles to get where I am today and while my journey has been harder than I thought it would be, I have learned a lot about myself and developed lifelong skills that I am thankful for. More than that, I will be the first person in my birth family to complete college and I want to be a good example for my younger siblings so they know they can do it too. I hope to show them that we can be the change if we work for it.
- What recommendations or insights would you like to share with other students in Oregon, based on your experience?
I say take advantage of all of the resources your school has to offer. Your school is filled with people who want to help you so reach out and look for that help. I would also say to be involved in your schooling don't just go to school. Go to the events and get to know people. Reach out to your teachers when you need help. Utilize your class time and the campus space. Overall, just remember that you are in charge of your own future so it's time to really care and put in that effort.
Thank you, Hailey and Grecia.
If you would like to nominate a student for the spotlight feature, please email HECC_Equity@hecc.oregon.gov.
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