Dear Friends at NVCC, 

Looking back on my time at NVCC, I know, I was able to be a part of something bigger; I’m grateful for that! That’s why I’ll always keep that chapter of my life open. The memories, friendships, professors, and frequent trips across the 5th floor at Naugatuck Valley were hard to leave behind. I was not "just another student".  I was close to the staff; I made sure people felt appreciated by handing them random gifts of gratitude. For me, NVCC meant more than just going to school every day and getting work done.  

Moving to Danbury and going to college away from home was a tough transition for me. I’m not going to lie, I cried. I might have been only 40 minutes away, but I missed many things were no longer there every day- my mother's cooking, my dog's cuddles—and NVCC.  I was determined to continue the type of work I’d done as NVCC’s SGA President, serving my community as much as I could. The staff was very welcoming and made my transition to Danbury easier.  I applied for an internship at the mayor's office and interned for a semester. I’d walk from WCSU's main campus to City Hall every Wednesday and Thursday.

As a college student, life is never easy. The unexpected happens. Relationships and friendships might end. Your heart can get shattered the same night you have a 10-page essay due. Anxiety kicks in. You feel like you might not be able to do it. You stress yourself out way too much. You do not always meet your own high standards. But guess what? You are human. You need to remember the most important thing is taking care of yourself.  

That’s something I forgot last semester. I would care more about papers and exams than my well-being. I would not take breaks. I overwhelmed myself to the point where it affected all aspects of my life. School matters. But for people like myself, sometimes it matters too much. So much I missed family events and moments I wish I hadn’t. Some advice I wish I could’ve given myself last year, when transferring, would be to take it one day at a time. It’s never too late to follow that advice.  After reading this, I hope you remember to slow down. Take a moment to set up a schedule for your assignments; manage your time better. And remember to set aside time for the person who matters the most- YOU. 

Best,

Katherine