Summer — 2007

Kelly Celestin

Computers

“I thought enrolling at SMC would be a pain. But it was quick! Not even 10 minutes, because I got there early, and there was nobody around yet.”

Bulletin! Early Bird Catches Worm! If you take Kelly Celestin’s word for it, rolling out of bed just a tad early gets you on the fast-track to maximizing your time at SMC. “Enrolling was a breeze,” she says. “And you don’t have to stand in lines to buy your books, either. Just go online and buy them early!” She adds that “because they have so many classes offered at so many different times, it’s really easy to find times to study that fit your schedule, and not the other way around.”

Kelly says that ‘campus hopping’ has also helped her find focus and comfort at SMC. “I do go to the main campus, but I really like the AET facility. It’s just quiet and nice, but even with all the technology around, it’s also an easy place to study and learn.” Kelly’s into computer science and programming, of which she says, “It’s really like studying a completely different language. I’ve just always had a feeling for logic and computers, and it got to the point where, one time, my mom had to take the computer away from me. I’d be on it all day long!” she says with a laugh. And planning on a transfer to UCLA, Kelly reports being pleasantly surprised with the nontech classes she’s had at SMC.

“Oh, I had Mrs. Young for two classes in English, and she taught us so very, very well. She had workshops and handouts, and she made sure that we knew how to use commas and grammar. And that all really helped out my essays, because I began to write just like people talk. And that’s good writing.” Kelly advises that “the best thing you can do at SMC is go to all your classes. It’s not enough just to show up for tests because, when you’re in the classroom, you’re not just getting answers. You’re getting knowledge.”

Back