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Friday, December 7, 2018 Blue Love: A Student's Perspective “I got good grades in high school and I really wanted to go to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, but we just did not have the money,” Nash Community College student Kizzie Harrison said. Harrison, of Wilson, is a 39 year old mother of three. She has spent most of her adult life as a work-at-home-mom preparing and selling bakery items as a way to earn income while being with her family. “My Grandmother, whom I adore, kept saying to me, honey you can do more—you would do great in college. But there was just no money.” Harrison took a few community college small business classes and decided to pursue a business degree. She enrolled at Nash Community College where she found a community of support – a family of faculty, staff and peers. “People at NCC have helped me through the most difficult times in my life,” she said. After years of physical pain, and searching for answers, Kizzie Harrison’s young daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. Balancing her daughter’s chronic illness and pain, medical appointments, dietary restrictions, and eventually surgery on top of the responsibilities and stress that come with being a non-traditional college student and parent made everyday life overwhelming for Kizzie. “There were many days that I had to leave class because my daughter was in such pain at school. I broke down to one of my professors who recommended I make an appointment for counseling at NCC’s Student Wellness Center.” She described her NCC support system as providing a gentle nudge, encouraging word, and other provisions just when she needed them. “In the Student Wellness Center, I explained that while we had insurance, it did not cover all of my family’s medical costs. I also needed to pay for books, school, gas, clothes and food. I just did not know how to manage it all,” Harrison said. NCC offers no-charge clinical counseling, Single Stop services and Blue Love resources to help students address barriers. The resources, provided in collaboration with partners and financial donors, often allow students to stay in school when their challenges seem to be too much to handle. “That place is a safe haven for students. They do so much good,” Harrison said. The center has identified more than $4 million in federal, state, and local resources for NCC students since 2016. And, thanks to generous Blue Love Fund donors, Harrison was provided gas cards, food from the food pantry and clothes from the campus clothes closet. Read More. Advanced Manufacturing Club Provides Support Each year, the Advanced Manufacturing Club provides generous support during the holidays. Because of their donations, the Student Government Association is able to help fulfill all of the wishes of the children on the Angel Tree and also assist NCC student families with a Christmas tree, gifts, and grocery store gift cards. Pictured from left: Michael Peterson (Treasurer), Bryan Angel (Secretary), Adam Marlowe (President), Kara Deans (Associate Dean of Student Engagement) and Jason Davenport (Vice President). Three Recipes in 30 Minutes Coming up with the main holiday course is easy. Deciding on sides is always difficult! On the season finale of Talking Food, Chef Carlo and Drew show you three easy holiday sides perfect for entertaining guests. They make brussels sprouts and walnuts, carrots with red hot chili pepper and honey glaze and snap beans with moon drop grapes. © 2018 Nash Community College
Friday, December 7, 2018
Blue Love: A Student's Perspective
“I got good grades in high school and I really wanted to go to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, but we just did not have the money,” Nash Community College student Kizzie Harrison said.
Harrison, of Wilson, is a 39 year old mother of three. She has spent most of her adult life as a work-at-home-mom preparing and selling bakery items as a way to earn income while being with her family.
“My Grandmother, whom I adore, kept saying to me, honey you can do more—you would do great in college. But there was just no money.”
Harrison took a few community college small business classes and decided to pursue a business degree. She enrolled at Nash Community College where she found a community of support – a family of faculty, staff and peers.
“People at NCC have helped me through the most difficult times in my life,” she said.
After years of physical pain, and searching for answers, Kizzie Harrison’s young daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. Balancing her daughter’s chronic illness and pain, medical appointments, dietary restrictions, and eventually surgery on top of the responsibilities and stress that come with being a non-traditional college student and parent made everyday life overwhelming for Kizzie.
“There were many days that I had to leave class because my daughter was in such pain at school. I broke down to one of my professors who recommended I make an appointment for counseling at NCC’s Student Wellness Center.” She described her NCC support system as providing a gentle nudge, encouraging word, and other provisions just when she needed them.
“In the Student Wellness Center, I explained that while we had insurance, it did not cover all of my family’s medical costs. I also needed to pay for books, school, gas, clothes and food. I just did not know how to manage it all,” Harrison said.
NCC offers no-charge clinical counseling, Single Stop services and Blue Love resources to help students address barriers. The resources, provided in collaboration with partners and financial donors, often allow students to stay in school when their challenges seem to be too much to handle.
“That place is a safe haven for students. They do so much good,” Harrison said.
The center has identified more than $4 million in federal, state, and local resources for NCC students since 2016. And, thanks to generous Blue Love Fund donors, Harrison was provided gas cards, food from the food pantry and clothes from the campus clothes closet.
Read More.
Advanced Manufacturing Club Provides Support
Each year, the Advanced Manufacturing Club provides generous support during the holidays. Because of their donations, the Student Government Association is able to help fulfill all of the wishes of the children on the Angel Tree and also assist NCC student families with a Christmas tree, gifts, and grocery store gift cards. Pictured from left: Michael Peterson (Treasurer), Bryan Angel (Secretary), Adam Marlowe (President), Kara Deans (Associate Dean of Student Engagement) and Jason Davenport (Vice President).
Three Recipes in 30 Minutes
Coming up with the main holiday course is easy. Deciding on sides is always difficult! On the season finale of Talking Food, Chef Carlo and Drew show you three easy holiday sides perfect for entertaining guests. They make brussels sprouts and walnuts, carrots with red hot chili pepper and honey glaze and snap beans with moon drop grapes.
© 2018 Nash Community College