I have had the pleasure of
interviewing yet another extraordinary student, Ms. Sofia Duarte, whom was an
exemplary engineering student and will now be proceeding on to VCU. She
describes her experiences as a student here at Reynolds Community College, from
the classroom to her extracurricular activities.
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| Sofia spoke at the 2016 Reynolds Graduation ceremony |
D.C : What was the toughest
part of your transition from high school to Reynolds?
S.D : I think
the toughest part in my transition from high school to Reynolds was learning to
learn on my own. There is less time spent in class but more time spent on
studying the material out of class and that is something that can take time
adjusting to.
D.C : What was your major at
Reynolds?.
S.D : I majored
in engineering at Reynolds and am going on to VCU in fall 2016 to pursue my
bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering.
D.C : I heard you have been
very involved in student engagement while at Reynolds. What organizations are
you engaged with and tell me what it was like to be at Reynolds before you got
so involved in activities and what it is like now?
S.D : I have
had the pleasure to be a Student Ambassador, Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa
Honor Society, and a tutor at the Academic Support Center here at the college.
Coming out of high school I knew I want to be involved on campus in college. I
have to say that before getting involved in activities I felt less motivated to
stay on campus and did not have as many friends, but after I starting getting
involved, I have made many friendships and have had many amazing opportunities
and experiences by being involved.
D.C : I heard you have taken
some Learning Community classes. What have you taken and how have they worked
out for you? Would you recommend them to other students, and if so, why?
S.D : Although
I did not personally take Learning Community classes, I have spoken with
students that have and I have only heard positive feedback from the experiences
they have had. If you are a student that likes to see a link between subject
matters, this is an excellent opportunity for you.
D.C : What advice would you
give to someone that is taking Learning Community classes?
S.D : Be
engaged with your classmates and see how you can apply to what you are learning
beyond the classroom.
D.C : If you had one piece of
advice for a Reynolds student, what would it be and why?
S.D : Make the
most of each opportunity you get whether it be a position, scholarship, or even
getting to know your instructors and advisors because they can definitely give
you pointers on how to be successful.
D.C : How have you seen
Reynolds change during your stay here?
S.D : I have
seen people become more engaged at Reynolds. It was especially a great year for
Phi Theta Kappa as we kick-started a program called IMPACT (Individuals Making
Positive Accomplishments and Challenging Themselves) geared toward getting
first year students involved in the clubs and activities here at Reynolds.
D.C : What are you going to
miss the most about Reynolds?
S.D : Where do
I even begin?! I am going to miss the faculty and staff I got to work with
throughout my time as a Student Ambassador as well as those I was able to help
during SOAR (Student Orientation Advising and Registration) who I now see
becoming leaders at Reynolds.
D.C : What do you hope to
major in at your next institution, what career path are you considering, and
where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?
S.D : I am
hoping to major in electrical engineering and thereafter enter the workforce to
put my passion toward the problem-solving and design aspect to overcome trials
to making a more sustainable and innovative environment for all to live in
while looking toward going back to for Graduate School if I decide to go into
research.
Story provided by Dylan Chaplin - While at Reynolds, Dylan served as a PR Assistant as
well as a Student Ambassador. He also
served as the Vice-President of The H.E.A.R.T Service, which is a community
service and civic engagement club designed to create connections between Reynolds
and its surrounding communities. During his first two semesters at Reynolds he
successfully completed the college's Leadership Program, JSR LEAD. In his spare
time he likes to blog.
