It was just another summer pool party for Rancho Cordova Respiratory Therapy
student Marina Zaboltny.
After a long day of finals at SJVC, Marina, her daughter and a few other
mothers and kids were enjoying a relaxing pool party – swimming, snacking and
enjoying the calm of a summer afternoon. It had been an enjoyable day that was
just wrapping up when calm turned into chaos.
One of the mothers came running into the house with a little boy.
“He was completely blue, cyanotic and his eyes were rolled up – he was not
responsive to anything,” said Marina. “There was chaos and everything everybody
was screaming and there were kids and we sent them to the other room and they
were screaming too.”
There was a pause where Marina drew a deep breath and steadied her hands –
“It makes me anxious just thinking about it.”
One of the girls started doing CPR “but I saw that she wasn’t doing it
correctly,” said Marina. “I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to do it.’” As a
respiratory therapy student at SJVC in her third term, this was the first real
life scenario Marina encountered since beginning her program.
“I was like ‘This is my responsibility’ – you kind of freeze in that moment
and you’re like ‘Wow, it’s my turn, it’s my time right now.’ I started doing
CPR on him and gave him some breaths and he started coming back to life…that
feeling when you see his lips turn pink and they were blue, blue blue…when I saw
that we just started crying.”
Marina had told this story a few times and she said she often cries in the
retelling. “Anyone would do it,” she said. “You learn all the steps [in
school], how to do it, everything, you know it but it’s just so different in a
real life situation – you step back and it’s a great feeling that you know what
to do. It’s not like ‘Oh my gosh, do I do this? Do I do this? Do I push
harder? Do I push slower?’ No. It’s knowing what to do.”
As the only person in the healthcare field in attendance that day, Marina
felt the pressure of the task but also the joy in knowing she was able and
trained to help.
From the start of her school, Marina knew she wanted to go into the
healthcare field and help people. After waiting for two years to get into
school to be a Registered Nurse, Marina started researching other related
fields.
“I want to have a career, not just a job,” she said. “I want my family – my
child – to be proud of me that I’m helping other people. Just getting an
education is really important to me – getting a career, getting something stable
I can rely on.”
But for Marina, helping people was not something that had to wait until her
graduation in March. Rather, she was able to put her skills to test and prove
successful just this summer. It was confirmation for Marina that she is in the
right vocational field.
“After…I just kind of stepped back and thought about it, how amazing it is
just to see the reaction of a person come back to life and that you’re able to
help them. It was just CPR but being in school in the healthcare field – it
just makes you think there’s a lot of other things you can do with your
education to help people in that field.”
Friday, February 3, 2012
Have you heard about our newest Online society?
NTHS
(National Technical Honor Society) is the acknowledged leader in the
recognition of outstanding student achievement in career and technical education
programs.
Thousands
of schools and colleges throughout the U.S. and its territories have honor
society chapters on their campuses. These member schools agree that NTHS
encourages higher scholastic achievement, cultivates a desire for personal
excellence, and helps students find success in today's highly competitive
workplace. NTHS awards an increasing number of
scholarships each
year to its members.
SJVC is now a proud participant and member of NTHS! Students
with a 3.0 GPA or higher will be able to take advantage of several benefits
being NTHS members, such as:
- NTHS scholarship eligibility – over $90,000 to be awarded this year.
- Online educational and career services through the NTHS website.
- Award certificates, membership cards, and acknowledgement through the website
- Eligibility to become an NTHS alumni member.
Bakersfield SIFE 'Adopts a Neighborhood'
SIFE
volunteers volunteered their Saturday mornings to clean up graffiti, liter and
illegal dumping in the Greenfield community area of Bakersfield. With an early
commitment to community clean-up, the ten members of the SIFE team were looking
for a constructive way to do so when Joseph Johnson, a business instructor on
campus, was able to connect them with the event. The event was hosted by
Greenfield Walking Group and included food, children’s activities and guest
speaks as supplements to volunteer clean up.The students were able to help both
with the planning of the event and the event itself.
“Working with Bakersfield City Waste Management as well as community leaders,
our SIFE team took part in the planning stages of the event,” said Johnson. Its
first collaboration with this particular community event, the SIFE team “has
committed to be an active partner in future events,” said Johnson.If the positive feelings of altruism were not benefit enough, the SJVC SIFE team was even thanked for their service by the Bakersfield mayor himself.
“There were many parts of the day that could fit the description of ‘the best part of the day,’” said Johnson. “That being said, I would have to say when the mayor of Bakersfield stopped by our booth to praise the team and their efforts would be the best part. It served as a great reminder of the benefits of working in the community. I was very proud of the SIFE team and their commitment to better their community.”
Great job, Bakersfield SIFE!
Aviation Campus in Fresno Celebrates 20 Years
- A fly's eye view of the Aviation Campus' hangar at the Fresno Yosemite Airport.
Twenty years later the campus is maintaining a student population of around 90 and has plenty to celebrate.
“The biggest change we’ve seen at this campus in the past few years is a wonderful and steady increase in both our student population and the aviation industry’s demand for licensed mechanics,” says Jack Macfarlane, Campus Director. “Also, in addition to extensive preparation for the A&P (airframe and powerplant) license, all of our graduates earn an Associate of Science degree, which employers feel is a definite advantage.”
In sharp contrast to the campus’s 20-year anniversary celebration, at its 10-year mark the aviation industry was experiencing its darkest days in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
“Many planes were grounded and companies weren’t hiring anyone,” says Macfarlane. “Now, however, companies such as SkyWest Airlines, the college’s biggest employer, continually hire from our pool of well prepared graduates.”
Susan Smilie-Janecek, Director of Research and Development has been with SJVC for over 22 years now. She says one of Aviation’s biggest successes is placement rate.
“SJVC aviation graduates have obtained really good jobs in their field of training. In several of the past 10 years, we had a 100% placement rate for graduates that obtained their A&P license.” Even the hiring process for graduates has changed since the beginning of the program.
“The biggest change is that we have gone from struggling to get companies to interview and hire our graduates, to major employers “preferring” to hire our graduates from the aviation maintenance technician program.,” says Smilie-Janecek.
Today, SkyWest remains a top employer with over 70 SJVC graduates hired over the years.
SJVC’s Aviation Campus invited students, staff and faculty to enjoy cake and refreshments and take a moment to revel in 20 years of success and an industry still going strong.
“The culture of the campus has remained committed to success and professionalism for our students and graduates. I am proud to represent our College in the aviation community,” says Janecek.
SJVC Student Turned Staff – Because of the Student Center
Nicky Votaw was one of the many California Valley natives that grew up
listening to both her mother and the radio sing the SJVC jingle. In her words,
she “heard it all the time, every day.”
After a run around a few schools and a job as a pre-school teacher, Nicky stated, “I knew if I wanted to do something and have my own family, I needed to go out, find a job and get some education and a real career.” But as a Pharmacy Tech student who enjoyed her externship, she never expected to stay in the Student Center after graduation.
What brought you to SJVC?
I actually went around to several colleges in town, looked at a lot of different programs and found that SJVC had not only the certificate but I was also going to get my degree at the same time. I didn’t want just a certificate I wanted to have all my education – I spent all this time and money, I want everything. I want to be marketable, I want to be out there and say “Yes, I can do the pharmacy and I have my degree to back me up at the same time.”
How did you end up with a job in the Student Center – and a passion for it?
I went through the [Pharmacy Tech] program and managed to graduate with a 4.0 which surprised everybody because I wasn’t that great of a student growing up. Halfway through I was introduced to the student center and they had me as a volunteer tutor for math and English and MyLabs. I fell in love with it. I love pharmacy and I love tech-ing and I loved my extern site – I loved doing everything I did - but I truly feel in love with the student center and helping the students. It gave me a sense of accomplishment for them to come back and say “Because of you, I was able to succeed in my algebra class.” I knew I wanted to come back and teach but that just really ran it home for me. So about a month ago, the position opened up and I applied for it, crossing my fingers and hoping and hoping and hoping and I actually interviewed and got the job – so not only did I graduate, I now work here!
What was your first impression of SJVC as a student?
I didn’t expect it to be as big as it is. I thought it was just a little, small, baby community college that offered a couple of things here and there. I was expecting the pharmacy lab but I wasn’t expecting the in depth-ness I got, the education I got –the lab was amazing to me. It was just the things they have on campus, the things they have the ability to do – that was one of the reasons I chose SJVC - they had that opportunity to get more hands on.
What were some of your goals as a student?
I was determined when I went through my first mod and managed to get a 4.0, I wanted that. That was one of the things that I wanted the most. I wanted to see and prove to myself that yes, I could pull the grades and yes, I could do the work. Even though my head wanted to explode most days, I could do it!
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started?
I wish I had known ten years ago to come here and go through the program. I probably wasn’t ready ten years ago but I wish I had known a little bit more… You come to a school like this and they interview and talk to you and they find out your personality and what would fit for you and they help you. They fit you into positions and directions that are going to be beneficial to you – they’re not going to sit you in a business job if you hate sitting in a desk and doing paperwork all day.
Do you have encouragement for other students?
If you can put your mind to it, you can do it. I mean I spent a lot of times building up some of the younger students and dragging them around going come on come on we can do this we can do this. Anybody can do it. I mean I’m 36 years old and I put myself right back through college and got a 4.0. If I can do it at 36, anybody can do it at any age. It’s the determination – the will the drive, what you need to do.
Nicky loves to read books and is a self-described “gamer nerd.” She would love go to Australia because she is in love with the accent – although if she could speak Japanese, Japan might be number one on the list.
We’re so proud of you, Nicky and happy to have you on our team!
After a run around a few schools and a job as a pre-school teacher, Nicky stated, “I knew if I wanted to do something and have my own family, I needed to go out, find a job and get some education and a real career.” But as a Pharmacy Tech student who enjoyed her externship, she never expected to stay in the Student Center after graduation.
What brought you to SJVC?
I actually went around to several colleges in town, looked at a lot of different programs and found that SJVC had not only the certificate but I was also going to get my degree at the same time. I didn’t want just a certificate I wanted to have all my education – I spent all this time and money, I want everything. I want to be marketable, I want to be out there and say “Yes, I can do the pharmacy and I have my degree to back me up at the same time.”
How did you end up with a job in the Student Center – and a passion for it?
I went through the [Pharmacy Tech] program and managed to graduate with a 4.0 which surprised everybody because I wasn’t that great of a student growing up. Halfway through I was introduced to the student center and they had me as a volunteer tutor for math and English and MyLabs. I fell in love with it. I love pharmacy and I love tech-ing and I loved my extern site – I loved doing everything I did - but I truly feel in love with the student center and helping the students. It gave me a sense of accomplishment for them to come back and say “Because of you, I was able to succeed in my algebra class.” I knew I wanted to come back and teach but that just really ran it home for me. So about a month ago, the position opened up and I applied for it, crossing my fingers and hoping and hoping and hoping and I actually interviewed and got the job – so not only did I graduate, I now work here!
What was your first impression of SJVC as a student?
I didn’t expect it to be as big as it is. I thought it was just a little, small, baby community college that offered a couple of things here and there. I was expecting the pharmacy lab but I wasn’t expecting the in depth-ness I got, the education I got –the lab was amazing to me. It was just the things they have on campus, the things they have the ability to do – that was one of the reasons I chose SJVC - they had that opportunity to get more hands on.
What were some of your goals as a student?
I was determined when I went through my first mod and managed to get a 4.0, I wanted that. That was one of the things that I wanted the most. I wanted to see and prove to myself that yes, I could pull the grades and yes, I could do the work. Even though my head wanted to explode most days, I could do it!
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started?
I wish I had known ten years ago to come here and go through the program. I probably wasn’t ready ten years ago but I wish I had known a little bit more… You come to a school like this and they interview and talk to you and they find out your personality and what would fit for you and they help you. They fit you into positions and directions that are going to be beneficial to you – they’re not going to sit you in a business job if you hate sitting in a desk and doing paperwork all day.
Do you have encouragement for other students?
If you can put your mind to it, you can do it. I mean I spent a lot of times building up some of the younger students and dragging them around going come on come on we can do this we can do this. Anybody can do it. I mean I’m 36 years old and I put myself right back through college and got a 4.0. If I can do it at 36, anybody can do it at any age. It’s the determination – the will the drive, what you need to do.
Nicky loves to read books and is a self-described “gamer nerd.” She would love go to Australia because she is in love with the accent – although if she could speak Japanese, Japan might be number one on the list.
We’re so proud of you, Nicky and happy to have you on our team!
Aviation: Where Crashing Your Toys is Helpful
It was a typical hot and sunny Fresno afternoon but unusual out-of-classroom
training was happening between hangars with SJVC Aviation Technology program
director Richard Simmons and Instructor Smith.
As he bent over Aviation Maintenance student Raj Winder’s temporarily crashed model helicopter, Simmons said, “This is what flying [model aircraft] is all about.”
“Fixing stuff,” agreed Winder.
“Until you get used to flying,” Simmons finished.
Although flying model aircraft may seem more like after-school fun then in-class learning, Simmons claims it is a practical outlet for both. Because model aircraft are made in the same style as real-life aircraft, they contain the same working parts that need to be fixed when they crash.
"And when students are just starting to fly model aircraft, they crash a lot,” says Simmons, effectively ensuring they learn while they play around.
Although starter model aircraft have fairly nominal price tags, the more sophisticated models can cost thousands of dollars and fly as fast as 300mph. Smith, an aviation instructor at SJVC, says planes do much of the higher speeds while helicopters are more about stability and control.
“I had a lot of confusion about flying,” says Winder, “but Mr. Simmons helped me to see it with the models.”
Because of the direct practicality of repairing model airplanes, Simmons, Smith and students like Winder have discussed forming a club for more organized flying. After a successful meeting this month, they hope to have one in place shortly.
Stay tuned at www.facebook.com/sjvcs for more insights into a day in the life of our Aviation students!
As he bent over Aviation Maintenance student Raj Winder’s temporarily crashed model helicopter, Simmons said, “This is what flying [model aircraft] is all about.”
“Fixing stuff,” agreed Winder.
- Program Director Richard Simmons talks with student Raj Winders about his model helicopter
“Until you get used to flying,” Simmons finished.
Although flying model aircraft may seem more like after-school fun then in-class learning, Simmons claims it is a practical outlet for both. Because model aircraft are made in the same style as real-life aircraft, they contain the same working parts that need to be fixed when they crash.
"And when students are just starting to fly model aircraft, they crash a lot,” says Simmons, effectively ensuring they learn while they play around.
Although starter model aircraft have fairly nominal price tags, the more sophisticated models can cost thousands of dollars and fly as fast as 300mph. Smith, an aviation instructor at SJVC, says planes do much of the higher speeds while helicopters are more about stability and control.
“I had a lot of confusion about flying,” says Winder, “but Mr. Simmons helped me to see it with the models.”
Because of the direct practicality of repairing model airplanes, Simmons, Smith and students like Winder have discussed forming a club for more organized flying. After a successful meeting this month, they hope to have one in place shortly.
Stay tuned at www.facebook.com/sjvcs for more insights into a day in the life of our Aviation students!
Career Day at Rancho Cordova
- Cordova students pose in their professional attire.
Students and graduates of the Respiratory Therapy Program on the Rancho Cordova Campus received a unique Career Day experience. The day was filled with tips to help graduates and current students fine-tune their career professional skills. Alumni had an opportunity to meet and network with the hiring managers of several local hospitals and current students had the opportunity to practice the career skills they are developing while attending SJVC.
During registration, students were greeted by the Respiratory Therapy Department Manager for University of California Davis Medical Center, Patricia Brown, RCP, BA. Brown later provided a plethora of information for our eager students regarding seeking employment with the prestigious organization and tips to help them interview well. She welcomed and answered as many questions as the students had, helping to resolve the typical faux pas of interviewing and resume writing.
Students also had an opportunity to hear from successful SJVC Alumni who are doing well in the field. Alumni shared their successes and failures that they have experienced along their journey which provided inspiration and motivation for our students to continue working towards the goals they have set for themselves as future Respiratory Therapists!
During our breakout session, students had the opportunity to be critiqued by hiring managers from various hospitals and career programs such as Sutter Roseville, Fremont Rideout, Mercy Folsom and SETA. Students performed mock interviews and were given feedback and tips on their personal resumes, internet job searching, and interview attire.
The afternoon session was conducted by Nadien Menke, RRT, RCP of Sutter Roseville. Her PowerPoint presentation on interviewing was very informative and opened the eyes of many of our students to improve their interviewing skills.
Ending the day with raffles and prizes, students and graduates alike were pleased with the wealth of knowledge they received at the Career Day and look forward to the next one!
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