My Time Management and Staying Organized for Online Classes (Ruby Jia)

My name is Ruby Jia. I am an international student from China, Suzhou. This is my last semester at SBCC, so I only take a psychology class and a math class. But it is not an easy semester for me. I am facing all of my courses online for the first time. I wasn't used to it at first, especially for my math class. But my school life gradually got back on track when I started to manage my time and organize my schedule. Before the semester started, I decided to take an 8-week online psychology course. This class was very intense. Every week, I needed to finish a large amount of reading, discussions with my classmates, and quizzes. In addition to regular participation, I also had to write two papers and take a midterm seriously since they decide the majority of my grades. I had a lot of deadlines every week, plus two other jobs on campus, so I felt overwhelmed. 

But in the third week of the course, I began to find the regular pattern of the course. I planned ahead for myself what I need to do this week and next week, and wrote them down in my daily planner. I began to move ahead and never finished my homework on the same day as the deadline. I decided to start as soon as my instructor posted the homework. In this way, I had more time to progress, and the efficiency and quality are improved. I kept adjusting my schedule and I even made time for exercise every day. As this class was a little difficult for me, I finished the paper in advance so I could go to the writing center to revise my paper and contact my in-class tutor in psychology, who also gave me useful advice. In this way, I divided the reading and writing tasks of the psychology class into Monday and Wednesday, and the math study time into Tuesday and Thursday. Besides my schoolwork, I could easily handle my 19.5 hours of working time per week. 

When I finished my psychology class, I felt relieved. Not only because I only had one math class left, but also because I think my psychology class was done well. But it didn't last long. I received the news that the school was going to turn into fully online courses due to the influence of COVID-19. Although I have a difficult multivariable calculus math class that is not generally offered online, I decided not to be anxious and stay organized. Here are the things I am doing to fulfill my last class at SBCC perfectly.

I follow the pace and study the video uploaded by my professor carefully, as if I were in the classroom. Although the notes are all online, I still print them out and follow the professor to fill them out. Then, I staple them in order. This not only deepens my understanding and memory, but also makes it easier for me to organize and use when reviewing.

I pay close attention to the pipeline emails since there are instructions from professors on course information such as office hours, exam dates, and homework deadlines. I also check my email frequently to keep myself up to date with the latest news from COVID-19.

I make my weekly plans on my Google calendar. Because all my study and work is now online, I find it more useful to use Google calendar instead of a planner on paper. I added all my meetings, online classes, and training to my Google calendar. It always reminds me before the event starts, so I don't have to worry about missing something. As a math tutor on campus, it is convenient for me to have appointment slots on Google calendar for students to schedule tutor sessions with me.

I always use online resources. My math professor has his office hours only for our class during our regular class meeting time. So it is a good chance to interact with my professor, ask him questions, or even just be there and hear from my other classmates. I did some free online training about online meeting apps, such as Zoom and Pisces, which helped me adapt to the new teaching style more quickly. Although now I cannot go to campus, the campus resources are moved online. I can still get help from tutors in the writing center or math lab. I can still look up the academic journals I want from the library website. I can even check out a Chromebook and have access to campus WIFI, which helps me succeed. 

Last but not least, now everyone stays home for safety, but that doesn't mean I should sit in front of my computer all day. After working on my computer for an hour, I often get up and walk to give my eyes a rest. I also do some stretching at home to get some exercise. To stay healthy, I ensure daily intake of vegetables, fruits and proteins to increase resistance against COVID-19. During my break, I usually read my books, video chat with my family, and embroider cross stitch.

My experience is that I figured out my own learning style first and then made and organized a plan according to my style. Remember that although it is flexible to take online classes, we still need to do our work conscientiously. Being consistent and not procrastinating is the key to succeed in online classes.

Reflections On My Time at SBCC (Lise Andersson)

In January 2017, I packed up my belongings and moved across the world. I had been wanting to do this for so long. It felt like it was never going to happen, but I stayed determined and the next thing I knew, I was was settling into my new home in Santa Barbara.

I am now finishing up my last semester at Santa Barbara City College. If I were to summarize it all, I would say that it’s been a crazy, but amazing ride. I honestly can’t imagine what I would be like, and what I would be doing right now if I never moved here.

I have taken about 24 classes since starting my first semester at

SBCC. Classes ranging from Criminology, to Graphic Design, to Astronomy, to Anthropology, to Public Speaking, to Political Science, and the list goes on. I think that one of the main differences between colleges in Sweden (where I’m from) and the U.S., is that in the U.S. you have to take classes to fulfill GE (general education) requirements, which are classes such as math, English, science, and so forth. All students are obligated to take these classes in order to graduate with an Associate’s degree.

I have learned and changed immensely since I entered my first semester. In all honesty, I didn’t have a clue of what exactly I wanted to study, and I changed my major three times. I went from Psychology, to Graphic Design, to Communication which is what I ended up sticking with. Although I sometimes wish I knew from the beginning what I wanted to study, I’m also incredibly happy that I did change my mind a few  times. It allowed me to take classes I otherwise wouldn’t and some of them ended up being my favorite classes ever. Studying at SBCC granted me the chance to really figure out what I’m interested in and what I want to get out of my education. Fast forward two and a half years later, I have gained so much knowledge and grown as an individual. I finally have a goal in mind that I’m passionate about and determined to reach.

I’m so thankful for all the opportunities that I’ve had at SBCC. I got a job at Starbucks in the campus bookstore my second semester and I have since then made an endless amounts of lattes and frappuccinos. I joined a non-profit organization called The American Scandinavian Foundation of Santa Barbara as an intern and helped them with their marketing and graphic design. I became the Vice President of SBCC Graphic Design Club, and I worked as a Teacher Assistant in a Graphic Design class. With this being said, I encourage all international students to be open-minded to all the opportunities that we are given; join clubs, get an internship, become a SBCC Ambassador, or work on campus. These experiences truly helped me immerse myself in the culture and make a web of friends in a place I didn’t know anyone at first.

So was it worth it? - 110% yes! I will forever be grateful for my experiences at SBCC. I’m graduating on Friday and it is without a doubt the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m so happy that I made this happen for myself. To be continued...

My experience at Santa Barbara City College (Astrid Sidibe)

It’s a bittersweet feeling that the semester is coming to an end. I have had such a great experience here in Santa Barbara both in and out of school. I have spent this semester with new found friends, myself and my amazing husband. In my last blog post I would like to share some good experiences I have gotten during my time here, mostly from school. The first thing was that I got this job as a blogger from the international student office my first semester here. Thank you Shelby! It made my semester even better!

The student Health Services, have been part of my support system while being here and that is a great place in school that offers a lot of different types of services. You can get 6 meetings with a counselor that you can talk to about anything for free during the semester. My counselor Betsy has been a great support during my time here. She is like mother nature herself with lots of  love and compassion.

THE WELL

I also fell in love with The Well this semester. It is a great spot for people to go to and work on their wellness. I am so thankful for Rebecca and her crew! You guys are giving us an opportunity and place to go and heal and grow. You ROCK!!

Thank you “Food Pantry” for all the food you have given us students! You are doing an wonderful thing for the students.

The CLRC center offer workshops that are very interesting and for free. I’ve been to 4 of them this semester and I have one more I would like to attend. They have been really helpful and/or a lot of fun. I hope more people take advantage and attend because you can learn so much and it gives a lot of value, at least to me. I really appreciate the workshops! It has been great! Also all of my teachers have been killing it during class this semester. They been really focused and driven to teach us what they know. So to my teachers I would like to say THANK YOU! I have had a great time here at SBCC!

San Francisco

Last I would like to share a little from our road trip last weekend. I went to San Francisco with my mother, brother and husband. It was a great weekend! We rode bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge, made a stop on our way to the bridge at the palace of fine arts, spent some time on Pier 39 and visit the famous prison Alcatraz. It is a lot to see in that city and also on the way back home especially on road 1, it was magnificent nature with beautiful views.  

If you ever get the chance to go there, then I think you should! Have a great day!

Love // Astrid S.

Dreams begin in Summer Session II

Zeynep Kolemen from Turkey

My name is Zeynep and I’m from Istanbul, Turkey. I have been in the U.S. for 8 months. I flew more than 6,000 miles to achieve my dreams. During my first 6 months in Santa Barbara, I was studying at ELC, a language school, because I didn’t feel comfortable about my English skills. After I completed my language course, I transferred to SBCC in June for Summer Session II.

The reason why I chose to study at SBCC is because it is the number one community college in the U.S. I think SBCC is the best place to improve yourself for your future goals because there are plenty of options, and you can take whichever class you want. My first day at SBCC was meaningful because it was the beginning of my dream. My dream is to create my own children’s clothing brand in the U.S. I already hold a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering from my country. I want my brand to be known worldwide, which is why I came the U.S. I chose Marketing as my major at SBCC to understand the American business culture and trading system well. After I finish my degree, I can do my OPT in a textile company to deeply understand the business life. During summer session, I had the chance to meet with Mayor of Santa Barbara, Cathy Murillo. I told her about my dreams and she recommended me to go to Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) in order to get support and start my business plan.

One of the greatest experiences I’ve had in the U.S. during these 8 months has been as a volunteer for an non-profit organization called, Worldhealer. We visited Boys & Girls Club several times and made presentations to children about cultural, social, environmental, and behavioral differences around the world. I am still trying to adjust to the culture, people, and especially the language, in the United States. It is hard, but not impossible! During our visits, I sometimes couldn’t understand what the children said while we were playing games. When I couldn’t understand, I would just smile at them and they smiled back. That is when I realized that all we need is a smile even if we are different and don’t understand each other!

In Summer Session II, I took English 98, Marketing 101 (an online class), and PD 101B (an orientation class for international students). English 98 was the hardest class that I took in summer session. I wrote 3-5 page essays every week, but I passed the class and I am really proud of myself. I feel that my English has been improving day by day. Marketing 101 was the first online class I ever took. I learned how to use Canvas, attend and do my modules, discussions, and quizzes. PD101B was one of my favorite classes because it gave me the opportunity to meet people from other nationalities, and we got to share our dreams with each other. Although I am an international student, in class, I have never felt that I am different from the other students. Our teachers are always helpful and equal to each of us. I feel lucky and happy to be here!