Student Spotlight

Hometown: Born in California, spent my childhood summers in Mississippi & Texas but for the most part raised in Florida.
Program of Study: Bachelor of Science in Human Services
Expected Graduation: 2023

Why did you choose FSCJ?
It’s a cherished part of my community and feels like home.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
The smaller class sizes and caring professors.

What are your goals after graduation?
I’m torn between teaching or counseling.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy practicing my flute and watching anything Disney related.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
I utilize the skills I acquired as a certified Mental Health First Aider, along with the training provided by Crisis Text Line, to become a volunteer Crisis Counselor.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I believe that it’s important to give back, not only financially, but also by sharing yourself and your time. I will continue to volunteer and look for ways to uplift others within my community.

What advice would you give future students?
My best advice is just to keep going because all your hard work will be worth it when you reach your goals. Also, don’t be ashamed to ask for help because you are surrounded by faculty and staff that genuinely care about you and want you to succeed.

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Program of Study: Undecided at this time
Expected Graduation: To be determined

Why did you choose FSCJ?
FSCJ is close by, has a great reputation, is cost-effective, and provides numerous opportunities for its students.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
My favorite part about being an FSCJ student is getting to know others in the community, both in-person and online.

What are your goals after graduation?
After graduation, my goals are to find a stable career that I enjoy and have a family.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy serving in my church, playing volleyball and using photoshop.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
Some of the things I have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community have been volunteering at FSCJ South Campus and helping at church by occasionally teaching the youth or helping to teach the younger children.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I believe, as I remain with FSCJ as a student leader and continue to pitch in as opportunities arise, I’ll be able to continue making a difference in the community.

What advice would you give future students?
My advice to future students is to understand and use the many FSCJ resources. Apply for scholarships and student leadership positions. Do a sport or play an instrument with others who do the same. Talk to an academic advisor!

Hometown: Riviera Beach, Florida
Program of Study: Associate in Science in Supply Chain Management
Expected Graduation: Summer 2021

Why did you choose FSCJ?
At first because the name was like FSU, but once I attended FSCJ it catered to my availability being that I was deployed. The academic advisors went above and beyond to ensure I took the classes that would satisfy the requirements of an A.S. and B.S. if I chose to continue.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
The attentiveness from the staff. The resources are unlimited and each department cares, whether its Financial Aid or the tutors. There is help available wherever and whenever I need it.

What are your goals after graduation?
My goal is to advance my skills and expertise in the supply chain field and utilize them in the military sector to help our fellow soldiers get the supplies they need to succeed.

What are your hobbies?
Oddly, I love criminal justice. I can binge watch criminal shows for hours. I get passionate in solving the crime and figuring out who the suspect is.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
During this pandemic, I found time to clean up and donate all the unused items to charity and habitat for humanity. With the help of my husband, we donated clothes and appliances for those affected by the pandemic.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I plan to help those less fortunate with donations from the community. My goal is to create clothing drives in our neighborhood providing an opportunity for my neighbors to donate clothing instead of throwing them away. This is helpful during the spring-cleaning months.

What advice would you give future students?
Based on my own experience, I would advise them to do what they enjoy and study in that subject. Taking classes that were relatable to my current career choice made them more interesting and desirable. I not only seek for my degree, but I wanted to learn more about my program, supply chain management, and how I can implement what I learned to my daily task.

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Program of Study: Dental Assisting
Expected Graduation: June 2021

Why did you choose FSCJ?
I chose FSCJ because I always thought that FSCJ had a lot more opportunities to grow academically because of the multiple campuses around town. I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve and I knew FSCJ would allow me to earn the professional certificate I needed to start my career.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
My favorite part of being an FSCJ student is that you can always count on your professors to teach you the most important information that will make you stand out from other students from other schools.

What are your goals after graduation?
My goals after graduation are to start off my career and further my education to a higher position.

What are your hobbies?
I love traveling, exploring new places, swimming and paddle boarding.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 outbreak I have not had the opportunities to give back to my community, but I clean up trash such as bottles or disposable masks off the streets when I encounter them.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I plan to help my community by providing educational information about proper oral health hygiene and its benefits. Assist the dentist in procedures that will leave the patient happy with a new smile.

What advice would you give future students?
My advice is to be yourself and always have a positive attitude no matter what. Study hard, always come to class eager to learn, push yourself to be the best in everything you do and if you fail never give up. Always treat others the way you want to be treated and help those who are in need.

Hometown: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Program of Study: Dance and Business Management & Marketing
Expected Graduation: Associates in Arts, May 2021 and Bachelor’s degree, spring 2024

Why did you choose FSCJ?
Great Dance program, affordable and allows me to gain my A.A. and then successfully transfer to a university.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
danceWORKS is my favorite part about being an FSCJ student. The program and professors are amazing and you learn so much.

What are your goals after graduation?
After graduating I plan to start my own marketing company, do a lot of traveling and begin auditioning for different dance projects.

What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include analyzing music, posting videos on my YouTube channel and just learning about everything I can through videos, podcasts or books.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
During this time I’ve been dedicating a lot of my time to being a student manager for the FSCJ dance department and contributing to different foundations and fundraisers in Jacksonville.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I plan on continuing to make a difference in my community by spending time teaching others about the different options they have as far as a career and school.

What advice would you give future students?
My advice to a future student would be to not let society’s boundaries hold you back from your dreams and goals. If you want to go pursue a degree or study abroad or create your own company, those are all things that you can do if you just dedicate the time to making it happen. I am a full-time student, I work two jobs, I created my own cosmetics and lifestyle company and I will be moving to France in September to study abroad, if I can do all of this in just 1 year, you are more than capable of doing whatever your heart desires.

Hometown: Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New Jersey
Program of Study: Human Services. I want to be a social worker.
Expected Graduation: May 2022, continuing on to doctorate

Why did you choose FSCJ?
I chose FSCJ because I started in the GED program and knew that I wanted to pursue my career after I obtained my High School Diploma.

What is your favorite part of being an FSCJ student?
My favorite part of being an FSCJ student is definitely the people that I have met. They are a family to me.

What are your goals after graduation?
My goal after graduation is to work in the field of social work and begin my journey to change the world one life at a time.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with friends and family as well as attending church.

What are some things you have been doing during this time to help others or give back to the community?
I love to encourage others around me. I am an officer for the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. I am currently the vice president of the fellowship for PTK.

How do you plan to continue making a difference in the community?
I plan to make a difference in those around me by being an encouragement to everyone simply by reminding them that if I can make my dreams come true with God's help and the help of others, the sky is the limit, and if I can accomplish anyone can.

What advice would you give future students?
Make a change today; become a student of FSCJ, join the family. You will not regret it!