CONNECTIONS

Issue 1 Spring 2014 A Magazine of Student Writing

Inside this
issue:
From the Editors 2
Looking Back 4
and Looking For-
ward

Thinking about 5
the Future
Turning Points 6
Past, Present, 10
and Future

The Key to 14
College Success

Original Artwork by Arcadio Cruz, ECC Art Student

B ilin gual Studies Division

Essex County College
Page 2 Connections - From the Editors

From the Editors: Michael Pekarofski and Patrizia Barroero

Vague and Tenuous Promise - by Michael Pekarofski
In one of my first ESL classes at ECC, I received a moving personal essay submitted by a young man who was a native of
Cuba. In this writing, he described his abrupt and sudden departure from his country of origin. As a young teenager, he left his
home one seemingly normal day and went down to the beach. He noticed a group of people getting into a small boat when one
of them called out to him and asked if he wanted to go with them to Miami.

With no possessions, no warning, and no time to think, he glanced back in the direction
of his home, his family, and anything else he had known. Meanwhile, the nervous and restless
group was getting ready to depart. They whistled to him once again, his last opportunity to
say yes to the vague promise of a better life. He took one more glance back and headed for
the boat. Without saying good-bye to his family or telling them where he was headed, he
made what had to be one of the toughest and bravest decisions a person can make, especially
someone who is technically a child. He got in the boat with just the clothes on his back.

Twenty years later, I still remember that essay and more importantly the moving story
of the young man who wrote it. However, it is just one of many such narratives that I have
heard or read throughout the years. Hearing such stories brings our students lives into sharper
focus, gives them another dimension, and makes them more than just another name on a class
roster. These stories remind us of how many barriers ESL students overcome, not just in their
academic lives, but in their personal ones. Such insights into students lives help renew our appreciation for their hard work and
diligence, making us want to work just a little bit harder to help them achieve their goal - that vague and tenuous promise of a
better life.

I hope that these unique glimpses will move you and inspire you. I hope they will bring a better understanding of the ESL
students we serve. I hope that by publishing these writings, we are able to share just a little of the privilege and joy that all ESL
instructors share and the very real affection and admiration we develop for our students.

A Room of My Own - by Patrizia Barroero

While walking through the library shelves in my small town in Italy, a book caught my eye: A Room of Ones Own, by
Virginia Woolf. What a beautiful thing, I thought. How empowering and isolating at the same time. A room of ones own, I
repeated in my head. Having spent most of my life, until then, in a big empty house, I guess I had always taken personal space
for granted. If anything, I wanted to see the world, but I was like the tailless cat Virginia Woolf describes in her book. I felt like
something was missing but I did not know what. So, quite unexpectedly, such a mundane and accessible space grew into an intri-
guing, appealing, and intimate place. But what can be so special about an empty room? It screamed of freedom to me, but I did
not know how yet.

I borrowed the book and looked at the cover. An old European painting depicted a woman looking through a large
window, giving her back to the reader. It was as if she were observing the world from her safe little niche while leaving it out-
side, undisturbed. On top of the image, skinny black letters outlined the authors name: Virginia Woolf. I turned the book over
and I was able to give that name a face. She was a beautiful, confident, sad woman. She must be free, I thought.

I sat on a bench and enjoyed the warm Italian sun that is only that pleasant in the first weeks of May. I felt its gentle
rays on my face and I closed my eyes, letting it melt the ice I felt inside sometimes, during those difficult high school years. A
tantalizing aroma of berries and citrus fruit coming from a nearby market inundated my senses, temporarily placating the tor-
ments of my spirit. My mouth was salivating in response to the pungent fragrance that was somehow refresh-
ing and enticing at the same time. I just sat there, relishing a rare moment of peace and pure elation, with my
book waiting on my knees. I opened it and started reading the first page. Then, I got up and returned it to the
librarian.

I knew I was going to love it and I wanted to make it mine, scribble words on it, underline it, read it
over and over again, and take it with me to whatever place I would call home. It will become a nice comple-
ment to my very own room. The nearby bookstore had a copy for a thousand lire - the equivalent of one dol-
lar or so. What a bargain for such a treasure, I thought. I started reading it as soon as I got on my train. home.
Issue 1 Page 3

The train left the station, but I did not even notice, lost as I was in those precious words bringing me back into the reality of a
person who contributed, in a way, to so many of my
privileges. The book was so easy to read but so full of
wisdom and truths I had yet to discover, and yet I felt
they had always been mine. Every word I read paint-
ed the portrait of the woman I wanted to be one day:
a woman who would see the world and put it on pa-
per and canvas in her own little room. The conductor
came and asked for my ticket, and so I looked up and
out the window, distractedly handing it to him. I real-
ized I was in motion only as I watched the curves of
yellowish-green hills and valleys sliding away like the
fluid line of an artist sketching the contour of a woman.
For the first time, it felt like I knew where I was going,
or rather, where I would always be.

By dinnertime, I had finished the book and

started it again. It is a small, little, easy book, but it
changed my life forever. Ever since that day, I have
imagined Virginia Woolf as a woman fighting for her
right to read and write so that her voice could be
heard. In my mind, she wanted the privilege of being
alone so that she will never be lonely. To me, she
reached out for autonomy and independence knowing
she could be despised for it or maybe, one day, cher-
ished, but at the risk of never being loved. She re-
solved that writing is freedom, and she could only do
that with some money and a room of her own. While a
tiny enclosed space may be seen as a prison, it can
also be liberating, as long as it is locked from the in-
side. If one owns the key, one can never be locked out
or locked in.

Therefore, lying on the bed in my secluded

Original Artwork by Patrizia Barroero
room, I never really felt lonely ever again, or I actual-
ly enjoyed being so. People leave, die, or stop loving
each other, but books are always there, sitting on dusty bookshelves ready to be picked up or residing in a secret place in our minds.
My solitary confinement would help me explore the world outside, owning my own voice and my own views, like the lady on the cover
of the book. So this is how I started to read, paint, and write my days away in my own little private universe made of old and new
words and colors. I suddenly had room for all of my thoughts, and a room to lock them up and yet keep them close, always with me.

That day, sitting on that bench warmed up by a shy, tender sun, I knew I would always have a place on this Earth where the
world would make sense. All these wild things, my numerous incorporeal friends, are sitting on my shelves now as I am writing, and
they are turning my humble room into a tiny fortress that no one can ever penetrate or destroy. And it
all started with a small little book that cost less than a dollar.

It is strange what a difference a tail makes. (Virginia Woolf, A

Room of Ones Own)
Page 4 Connections - Looking Back and Looking Forward

From my Journal
Pascal Andre - ESL 095 - Prof. John Hills

I grew up in a small town in Haiti called Jacmel. It is located in

the South East in the country. A long time ago they used to call it Yakimel,
...When I was twelve
when Indian people used to live there.
years old, I started to
drive my fathers truck Jacmel was a quiet and beautiful place, where every family
without a drivers li- knew each other. My father was a businessman. He had his own factory
cense. It was a pick-up at that time when I was eight years old. I did not like going to school. I

truck, Chevrolet 1986. preferred to stay with my father. My mother was a housewife, and she

I used two pillows to was close to my elementary teacher who always reported my attitude
when I was in class.
reach the pedals.
When I was twelve years old, I started to drive my fathers truck
without a drivers license. It was a pick-up truck, Chevrolet 1986. I used
two pillows to reach the pedals; I spent all my vacation time driving
across the countryside buying lemons from the farmers which they used to
make a kind of oil in my father factory. I was so excited because I was
the only one my age who could drive and had that privilege in the city.

My father had been criticized by other families because he let

me drive at that age in the street when everybody walked around.
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5

Ways to Prepare for the Future

Bryam Loiza - ESL 103 - Prof. Jo Rosa Rio
All people think about their future. Most people set up some plans and projects, so they work hard to achieve them. Other
people try to acquire skills in different fields, so they can use them as advantages in the future. There are different ways to pre-
pare for the future.

First, one way to prepare for the future is to save money. Most people save money from their
jobs, so they can use this money for any situation or emergency. Also, they use this money as an
investment to start their own business. Therefore, saving money is a great support for the future.

Second, another way to prepare for the future is getting a great job. Some people often look
for jobs with high salaries because they want to have an economic balance. Moreover, these jobs
offer important experience and training, so they will be able to perform other jobs in the future.
A great job can be very helpful in the future.

Finally, one of the most important ways to be prepared for the future is to get a good educa-
tion. It provides valuable knowledge and practical skills to apply in our lives. Also, it takes and
shapes us to be successful people in life. If we get a degree in school, we will have countless op-
portunities to achieve our goals in the future.

In conclusion, the future can be unpredictable; therefore, we have to be prepared for it. I think these ways are the best options
to be prepared for the future.

The Future
Rodolfo Lozada - ESL 103 - Prof. Jo Rosa Rio
Some people believe that the best way to prepare for life in the future is learning how to work with others and being coop-
erative. Other people think and say that learning as an individual and being competitive is the best preparation for the future. I think
most people attend a college or university for many different reasons. These reasons are new experiences, career preparation, and
increased knowledge.

Nowadays, more and more people attend college or a university after graduating high school. There are many reasons for
them to lead them to apply right away to college or to the university for new experiences in life and increased knowledge. Most
people have different opinions that for people that attend college not only to prepare for a future job, but also to learn new experi-
ences for the future and going to college or to the university seems to be the best place for students to get knowledge needed for a
future career.

Others think that people should go directly to work after leaving school and earn their experiences in their job or in business.
Other people point of view is that students should work a part-time job and learn that earning money without having a career in life is
hard and it could be easy for them to have a better job if they have a career in life and their future could be easier.

All in all, I think that not only students should attend college to have a better future or a better job. Also, adult people should
attend a college or a university to have a career and have a better future for their family.
Page 6 ConnectionsTurning Points

From Boy to Man

Janffry Almonte - ESL 103/104 - Prof. Michael Pekarofski
The turning point in my life began when I was permitted to travel into the United States. I just turned 19 and I was living in
Dominican Republic with my mother, while my father was living in the United States. My father brought me to New Jersey, to offer
me the opportunity of a better life. In the Dominican Republic my mother and father pro-
vided everything for me. My mother took care of all my needs, while my father supported
us financially. As a child, I had no responsibilities or anything to worry about.

When I was told by my mother that I would be leaving the Dominican Republic, I
was extremely sad. She also told me she would not be coming with me. I had to leave my
emotions to the side and realize that I was going to have to learn how to do my own
things. With my mother, I did not cook, work, clean, wash clothes or pay bills. She was the
one to make sure I made it to school on time and had everything that I needed to go to
school.

My father works in a hotel, in the maintenance department. He always provided

for us in the Dominican Republic. I did not have to worry about supporting myself. He provided This was when my life
clothing, food and shelter for my family. I never knew where anything came from and how hard my started changing; I no-
father worked in order to provide for us back home. I came to New Jersey in September, 2011. ticed that now my father
The first thing I noticed was that my father had another family and I would have to adapt to new could not provide every-
people, their customs and their rules. thing for me anymore.
This was when my life started changing; I noticed that now my father could not provide

everything for me anymore. My father immediately made sure I got a job, in order to provide for myself and my mother back home.

My first job was with my father in a hotel. I learned how hard it was to earn my money. I had to get up at 6:00 am every morning,

even on weekends. I was not used to working at all, and now I would have to support myself and my mother. Days were very long

and I wished I was back home with my mother. I had to worry about buying and washing my own clothes. I also learned to cook sim-

ple things, like boiling eggs and plantains. My responsibilities were a lot; I provided for my

mother back home. I also helped my father with rent and gas, because he gave me a ride to

work every day.

Now, I feel that because of this big change in my life; I have become the man that I
am, it is all for the better. I am more independent because, I learned how to provide for my-
self in many ways. I now drive. I also learned how to cook and I dont have to depend on
anyone to feed me. I learned many skills at work and I can work somewhere else, if I wanted
to. I learned how to divide my money, so it can last me. I can support myself and the people
that I love. Even though change was hard, I am happy about the changes in my life.
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7

Provide a Little of my Own

Marie Pierre Louis - ESL 103/104 - Prof. Michael Pekarofski
In my country where I was born, Haiti, I was a teacher, I worked with many wonderful, smart, creative kids and I spent won-
derful times with them. Even though I did not get a good salary, I really enjoyed the good job I was doing there. For me I felt that
my life was good, and I was very happy with myself and I got good friends and developed a very good relationship with some
families. But in 2010, a bad thing happened to my country and to my life (the earthquake). Things were not going well in the coun-
try for me and for my family, so we decided to come to the United States. My daughter and I organized everything to come here to
New Jersey.

When I came here to New Jersey things were done differently, it was not easy to learn a new language. It was hard at the
beginning. I could not get any job because I could not speak English. It was difficult for me to taste the good feeling of this country.
As soon as my daughter started helping me to
learn some new words, I looked for a job.
When I went to school everything changed. I
was able to find a better job. I have good job,
so now I can take care of my daughter and
myself. I can take her anywhere she wants to
go, and that makes me feel so happy. It hap-
pens now I am doing the same job I was doing
when I was in my country. I work with some
good and intelligent kids. I love them, and I
enjoy what I am doing because I love kids so
much.

When I finish my courses, I will contin-

ue studying education. My social life will
change. I will buy a good car and a comfort-
able house to live with my daughter. I will save
money for my pension when it will be to retire
times. Then, I will go back to my country to
help my community at any level I can. I am
going to open a Day Care in my country, Hai-
ti. The kids of my country need someone to
take care of them. They need to learn because
every year many children do not go to school
in Haiti. When I finish, I will save money, and
help my family and friends. I will prepare my
retirement when I am old enough. Original Artwork by Derrick Harris, ECC Art Student
Page 8 Connections Turning Points

A New Life at Forty

Teng Yang - ESL 105/106 - Prof. Michael Pekarofski

Our family moved from China to the United States almost a year ago. It is a totally different country. We live in Livingston
in the state of New Jersey. It is a very quiet and safe place. The sky is blue, the air is fresh, and people are friendly. We live with
wild animals peacefully.

My daughter is eight years old and she is in the second grade of elementary school. After school, she finishes her homework
in half an hour, and the rest of time she can do anything she likes. She plays the piano, reads, and paints. She also does exercises
with her friends. My house is small but full of laughter and warmth. When she was in the first grade in China, she had to do lots of
homework until nine oclock in the evening. She was just like a slave, tired and unhappy. But we could do nothing. In China, teachers
only care about kids scores because their pay and promotion will be based on it. Children are the future of the country. But if they
are treated like machines without their own ideas, they only learn knowledge and know nothing about respect. I dont see any future
for them.

I was also considered to have no future because I was not a communist. No matter how hard I tried, they didnt believe me. I
had been teaching at a medical college for fifteen years, and I was still a lecturer. So I quit my job and moved to the U.S. I want to
be a doctor in this country, so I went to college again to study English first. The Professors here are good. Their teaching is very inter-
esting, and I learned a lot in the college. My classmates come from different countries, and they shared their own stories with me. Of
course, everything is tough from beginning. But it is a free country, so I think I can turn my dream into reality.

Actually we all like this country. People here have dignity and equality. You are not punished because of the different opin-
ion. You dont worry about the food you eat and the air you breathe, so I think I made a right decision to immigrate to the United
States of America. It is the turning point of my life.

...we all like this country.

People here have dignity
and equality. You are not
punished because of the
different opinion. You dont
worry about the food you
eat and the air you
breathe...
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 9

Finding Love
...and since the first
Kenia Diaz - ESL 105 - Prof. Patrizia Barroero
time that I saw him, I
fell in love. I told
my family about it As human beings, we are always seeking happiness. My whole life has been full of happy mo-
and they did not ments although I had to overcome many obstacles. There is more than one turning point in my life, but one
accept it. of the most important has been to move to New Jersey and to
make the decision to start a new life with someone who I
barely knew. This decision changed my whole life and this has been something that made
me a better person.

I moved to New Jersey from California five years ago. One of the reasons why I
consider this decision the most important turning point in my life is because I have never
been separated from my family. I am the older sister of five children and we have al-
ways been together. That is why making this decision was so difficult for me. On the other
hand, a year after my divorce from my sons father, I met someone in a social network
and since the first time that I saw him, I fell in love. I told my family about it and they did
not accept it. They thought it was dangerous to be in contact with someone that I had nev-
er met in person. Furthermore, the other problem was that this person lived across the
country. After a few months talking on the phone, making video calls, texting, e-mailing,
etc., I decided to meet him in person. So I traveled to New Jersey and a month later I
moved here. In short, I think that since the moment that I saw him, I felt that he was the
person I wanted to be with forever.

This decision changed my whole life. First, everything was amazing and I was very excited to begin a new life, but I had to
start out as a new person in a new city. I had to look for a job in a city that I did not know. Second, it was difficult as a mom because I
had my four-year old boy and he was at the time to begin school. I had no friends and no family to ask for help, so I was alone trying
to adjust to my new life. Most of the time I was home with my son all day and I only saw my lovely man at night. It was a moment that,
in retrospect, I started to think that maybe it was not the best decision. However, little by little and with a lot a patience, I started to
adapt to my new life. In the end, I think it was worth it because I am with someone that gives me all the happiness that I was looking
for. I feel blessed that I found someone that loves me and respects me for who I am.

Even though I was a single mom and I was having a hard time trusting people, he was very gentle and patient. As a result,
after a few months together, I decided to have my second child. It was one of the most memorable moments in my life. Also, he ac-
cepted my first son as his own child. He is an excellent father, so we have built a beautiful family, and since then we are trying to
maintain a relationship filled with love and respect. Although I am happy with my husband and my children, I miss my family in Cali-
fornia a lot. In addition, in my relationship, we have had to face some difficult moments, and we had to overcome our differences as a
couple. In conclusion, I would say that this has been one of the best decisions in my entire life.
 Page 10 Connections - Past, Present, and Future

Why Are our Memories from Childhood so Precious?

Ahou Malanie Yao - ESL 105 - Prof. Andrea Crocco-Varela
I grew up on a farm in Ivory Coast with a big family, eight brothers and one sister. An African adage says that memories are
the only thing that you keep when you have lost everything. Anytime I think about my childhood, family and happiness come to my mind.
I will always remember the celebration of my tenth birthday, and I will never forget my first best
friend, and I can also remember the best gift that I received from my parents. We will always
have our childhood memories. They are very important because they contain the best moments of
our lives and remind us of our true character, who we really are as adults.
First of all, our childhood memories could be a great source of joy. It is a real pleasure to
think about your childhood. It makes you feel good to think about those times because they are the
most fun. They remind you of all your first experiences in the life: your youthful love, first romance,
your first kisses, first relationships, your first best friend or your first middle school teacher that you
loved so much. The most important thing for you at this moment of your life was to have fun. You
do not have any obligations. You were so innocent and that made you think that everything was
possible and everything was interesting. You like this part of your memories; you want to share
them because they are pleasant to tell.
When I was a little girl, I used to play with my brother and friends or just hang out in the
woods after the school. We went there almost every day to pick fruits or nuts. Later, when we
come back home, we shared at that big and long table the last meal of the day with our parents.
Eating our favorite food, we joked and laughed together. We asked each other about the day.
Today, I live in The United States of America, very far away from my home. Now, I work, I need to study for my college exams and I do
not have any more time to appreciate my life, enjoy myself with my family and friends like before. I will always miss my childhood life
because I was really happy with myself.
Our childhood memories contain lessons that we have learn from our first experiences. Nothing is more powerful than the memo-
ries created by a childs experiences. They fashion the adult life and every day of adult life is touched by the memories of childhood
experiences. Our most important goals are from our childhood memories and most of the time, the choice of our career was influenced
by them. Our attitudes, perspectives, expectations and view of life are influenced by our childhood experiences and memories. We
have the example from our ESL 095 text book, Beyond the true stories. In the essay From Tender at the Borne Ruth Reichl told the story
from her childhood that guided her to find the work that is right for her, Author at New York Times and Food Critic. She was only twelve
years old when she was invited to share lunch with her best friends parents in their house. Childhood memories create our beings and
determine our characters as adults.
The fact is the values that we learn from our early age as a child, stick with us for life. I learned from my mother how educa-
tion and hard work are very important for women to get financial freedom. She taught me to never depend financially on somebody
else, including my husband. I also have the illustration of my experience with religion in childhood. I was raised in a Roman Catholic fami-
ly and I am deeply marked by the spiritual education my parents provided to me. My faith and my understandings of the religion are
from my childhood religious memories. Today, as mother and spouse I transmit my childhood knowledge and experiences to my children.
Our youth is something that we can always use and there is still much we can learn from it. We can retain those childhood mem-
ories as a great valuable possession that we will always keep and share with future generations. They carve our soul, mold our being
and impact our life. We may always refer to them in our role of parent and teacher.
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 11

Drug Legalization
Stalin Acosta - ESL 105 - Prof. Andrea Crocco-Varela
Many people did it and they like it. Drugs have been used for many years. Some people use drugs for medical issues but
some people use them to please themselves. There are many kinds of drugs with a whole variety of effects. Some are used to ease
pain, alleviate our sickness or help us to continue living even if we have a congenital disease. Then there are drugs that are not al-
lowed to be consumed because they have side effects, or effects that are uncontrollable. People use those drugs anyway. Some of
those bad side effects are produced by low quality products. The Legalization seems as a good way to solve that part of the problem.
Drugs are usually connected to problems. We can see people who damage other individuals while they are on certain drugs.
That is the main reason why they are not legal. They could transform a calm person into a potential threat. In 1918, the U.S. prohibit-
ed the consumption of alcohol but, this measure did not stop drinkers who wished to consume. At this time, Al Capone entered in scene:
he flooded the streets with alcohol and sold it with high prices. Then, Capone controlled Chicago with the money he made in selling
alcohol. Later, in 1933 the law that prohibited the sale of alcohol was revoked. Many industries started and began to sell alcohol but
this time they had to reach certain averages of quality. They started to create quality drink. Today alcohol is a problem but not as big
as it was in those times. Nowadays we can find alcoholics who leave everything for drinking.
The problem is similar to that with illegal drugs. Even if they turn legal there will remain a problem: addicts. Drug Cartels will
get smaller or disappear. If drugs become legal they will also become cheaper and the probability of a person to get addicted to
them will become higher.
There is a bright side of this situation. If drugs become legal, medical science could progress faster. Right now treatments for
people who suffer cancer are treated with marijuana. This marijuana is planted, controlled and harvested under specific conditions and
with a high quality control.

Negative Impact of the Internet

Linh Tran - ESL 105 - Prof. Andrea Crocco-Varela
Sometimes, I wonder what will happen to me and my studying if the Internet did not exist. It gives me better opportunities to
study by providing a lot of knowledge about my major through thousands of web pages. As an illus-
tration, when my teacher wants me to solve a difficult problem, I can google it and find out the an-
swer immediately. That helps me save a lot of time and that way is better than going to library and
going through whole book in order to get the short answer. Nevertheless, it does not mean that Internet
is the only way to study and work. Although we cannot deny the usefulness of the Internet nowadays,
there are always two faces to a problem, the advantages and disadvantages. And the Internet is no
exception. Besides its advantages, Internet also gives negative effect to people who use it in a wrong
way such as being dependent on Internet, and using it with bad aim.
Nowadays, the life is more modern and the Internet is developing more so it absolutely be-
comes a useful tool to everyone in any field. A good example to support this point is my sister. Few
years ago, she lived far away from my house but we could talk to each other whenever she wanted
through Internet. Also, I can chat with friends from any corner of the world. However, I do not have to
spend as much time as I used to face to face. (Continues on the next page)
Page 12 Connections - Past, Present, and Future

Generally, Internet is really good for students in getting the huge amount of knowledge in the world. Teachers have even
started giving assignments that require research on the Internet. Furthermore, it has been providing us with convenience of ad-
vertisement, shopping, and ordering food. With using internet, everyone just needs to stay at home and do quick clicks and then
he can get what he wants. On the other hand, there are still negative problems for some people who do not know how to use
effectively and depend on Internet too much.
Firstly, there is a strong argument that Internet also con-
tains negative impacts. It is evidenced that Internet makes men
become passive about problems. As an example, in communi-
cation, it is easier for everyone to show his emotion if he faces
anyone. However, through email, everyone always has a
question about the feelings of others. Although there are still a
lot of icons in email which help to show emotions, they are not
real. Besides that, today, many companies are equipped with
modern machines and technology so most employees have
their computer so that they could exchange documents or have
meetings whenever they want without leaving their desks. As
a result, people are lazier.
Then, too many parents want their children to have lots of information to study, so they encourage their children to use inter-
net. They dont know that their children are playing games online. In addition, many students are dependent on internet too much
in getting information. And in examinations, students who have smart phones can connect to Wifi and get the answers so they
dont need to storm their brains to answer the questions. Consequently, this causes the creativity and exploring of humans to de-
crease, which is very dangerous for the next generations.
Another problem is that many people use internet with bad aims; for
instance, to watch sex videos and links to everyone and propagate sensitive
political problems. Every single day, thousands of bad links are sent to every-
one in the world through social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.
Despite the laws issued to prevent everyone from watching that and keep using
internet safe, they still exist. Thus that creates many chances for young people to
get bad information. Also the danger of hackers is one of disadvantageous
points of the Internet because they damage computer systems to steal secret
information and introduce viruses that cause computer damage too. Neverthe-
less, it is impossible to solve this problem completely since as soon as a solution is
applied to destroy one hacker, immediately the new one appears. For this rea-
son, sometimes Internet is known as negative.
In closing, it is obvious that Internet includes both benefits and draw-
backs. Besides the benefit that Internet brings to human, it also brings negative
impact if men do not how to use it effectively. Especially, Internet limit mens
action and make people become passive if everyone always depend on it to
study and do business. And using Internet to show bad messages and introduce
viruses are bad ways that users do not feel safe when they access to Internet. Hence, everyone should learn to use Internet in
positive ways.
 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 13

The Importance of Education

Jean Bernard Menos - ESL 105 - Prof. Andrea Crocco-Varela
Due to lack of knowledge, people are suffering and are ignorant in some parts of the world. Education is the most urgent need
for humanity and is extremely essential in order that all nations emerge. It is the most important tool for everyone who wants a better
future. Since the world began, man feels the need to invent. This is what gave birth to science. Nevertheless, education is the key for
change that leads to great invention, realization, and industrialization.
Because of a quality education, we can enjoy a high quality of life and a strong sense of pride and self-esteem. According to
Nelson Mandela education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world. It is not only an individual change, but also it
changes us socially, financially, and leads all nations through a real development. We will have more job opportunities, more chances at
lifting the population, and more flexibility should problems occur. We will be able to confront several kinds of adversity by having more
money at a moment where the economic situation is decreasing.
Increasing knowledge and skills is the essence of a good education. It gives us the capacity to work as a professional, and by
giving us all qualities to be great professionals. Higher qualifications equip us for more responsibility and more roles until we become
mature in our chosen field. Many social service positions from nursing and secretary to management and financial services require a
good education. Professor Ducange Smith says the value of a man does not depend on having but on his knowledge. Many people
have money and do not have knowledge. Their riches can disappear in a second, but the only one thing that can stay forever is
knowledge.
Many philosophers of the 17th, 18th and 19th century left us a lot of knowledge, thanks to the enormous sacrifice they have
made to acquire a basic education. They were increasing knowledge and skills by trying every single day until they became famous.
Aristotle, Rabelais, Montesquieu, Malherbe and many others have increased humanitys store of knowledge and made the world as bril-
liant as it is today. Later, Benjamin Franklin invented lightning rod, Ader Clement invented airplane, Auguste and Louis Lumiere and
Thomas Edison made modern miracles, as did many more. They were increasing knowledge and skills to build a better tomorrow for our
generation today. Their knowledge remains an inexhaustible source from which we can draw and increase knowledge and skills in order
to do more than what they have done in the past.
Being educated will give us different ways of thinking and communicating with others. This is another importance of education.
Communication is a transmitter that sends a message to a receiver. The launch message must therefore be understood both by the issuer
as well as the receiver. Both need to be well educated to send their message. They need good diction, articulation, pronunciation, preci-
sion, and rich enough vocabulary. Any problem of communication or miscommunication is due to a bad education. You have been pulled
over and gotten a ticket just because you cannot clarify yourself. You are upset at another employee and start yelling, and your boss
arrived, and you cannot explain clearly the situation. With a good education, we communicate more at ease
with wisdom and knowledge. We always make ourselves understood by articulate, precise, and clarify our
speech. Also we will have many points of view about life by having good critical thinking.
In summary, education is the most important thing that everyone deserves. It is a necessity for the emer-
gence of all society. Education is the key that can lead through success and happiness. It is important for eve-
ryone who wants a better future in their life. Education can help to build a better community, find a better
job, and bring improvement of knowledge and skills in different fields. Being educated gives us many points
of view about life and offers many advantages, such as a high quality of life, increasing knowledge and
skills, and different ways of thinking and communicating.
Page 14 Connections - The Key to College Success

Moving Forward
Isabel Vargas - CSS 101 - Prof. Marie Girault
When I registered at ECC to study for my education career it was a bit hard because of the Eng-
lish language and because I had finished school a long time ago. But, bit by bit, paying attention in my
classes, studying, reviewing my lectures, and doing my assignments, I was able to pass the first semester
with a satisfactory result.
Later, in the second semester, for me it was harder because I didnt know anything about the
course, CSS 101, and I didnt understand. I tried to focus during the class and understand the professor. I
tried to do my homework the best that I could and I wasnt able to complete it. Those were the times that I felt frustrated and sad,
and I couldnt sleep because I was worried about not finishing my assignments. Well, I tried to work with a classmate to be able to
help each other. So far I think its working well.
I also have a son who goes to college as well, and I asked for his assistance. I asked him if this class was important. He re-
sponded yes its important because it shows you how to transition into college and shows you how to use valuable resources that are
given to you. I took his advice and decided to look around on campus. I found a lot of neat things like the library and computer lab.
In this class I learned how a person could prepare himself or herself to continue a college level class. Also, this class can help
you develop your knowledge, how to respond in an interview for a job, how to follow a learning system from the moment the class
starts until the end. Also, it can show how to learn to manage your time, work, or parenting life. It shows you how to control stress and
motivates you to continue forward with different types of morals. This class shows how one can pass their challenges. For example, it
can show how one can learn the lectures and how to discover new things for one to benefit from.
A main point I learned is that its possible to be able to go to school having children, a job, and my own duties. I learned that
if you put your mind to it, you could overcome all your worst fears. For me everyday the class is more interesting because I want to
know more and have more knowledge about my career.
We also attended an orientation that was given by Newark Policeman from the Police
Academy. He gave us tips on how to be successful in school. Also he gave us tips on how to sign up to
the Police Academy. Also he showed us on the way to be an EMT practitioner. They also offered fi-
nancial aid and they offered jobs as a highway patrol. It was interesting and very good. The Police-
man was well prepared and was able to answer every question that was asked of him.

Dont Think, Just Do it!

Charles Dontch - CSS 101 - Prof. Marie Girault
I have learned a lot of things from my CHH course. As a student at Essex County College,
taking the CSS course helps me stay in track with my college courses. This course helps me get a bet-
ter understanding of what college life is all about and what I need to do to succeed.
On the other hand, I have learned how to avoid distractions that can cause to lose focus in my education. I have also learned
about time management. That is how to manage time within the activities I have to do and not postpone the specific things I could do
to avoid becoming a procrastinator. According to my professor, one must dont just think, but do it. I now know that I dont have to
wait until the last minute. (Continues on the next page)
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 15

Furthermore, the course has taught me how to give adequate credit. When I matriculate in my major, this course will help me
to keep up with everyday challenges I may face at work and how to manage time to beat each challenge on time without procrasti-
nating.
If I had to advise a friend of mine on the CSS course, I would tell him or her that it is a compulsory course every college stu-
dent must take, and it will definitely put him or her on the right track. I would also tell him or her that the course shows you step by
step what path you need to take to find your way to succeed in life.

The Key to Success

Daren Almonte - CSS 101 - Prof. Marie Girault
This semester I started with a very positive attitude about my classes. When I registered for the CSS class, I didn't know
what the class was going to be about, but as the days passed by I started to understand how this class can be beneficial for me as a
student. I also understood that this class can also help me see life
from a different perspective. Life can be so much different when Original Artwork by Patrizia Barroero
you get out of high school. College is something more serious,
where only if you want to succeed you have to put in a lot of
effort as a student.
The first thing I learned in this class was how to manage
my time. The teacher will give me examples and tools that I can
apply in my life to manage my time better. I learned that if I
manage my time the right way, I will have enough time to do my
homework, read, and also relax. Time management for exam-
ple, can be applied for school purposes and also in my daily
life. I work for a retail store, for example, and the minute I clock
in to work I have a lot of things waiting for me. I used to get
overwhelmed but no longer. I write all the things I have to do
and manage my time to do them one at a time. I realize now
how Important time management can be for school and other
things in my life including work.
I also enjoyed the class when the Professor Girault
talked about memory. That is the way our mind processes all the
information we take in, and it stores them all as a computer. We
record it in our minds, we retain it, and then we retrieve it. An-
other great topic that grabbed my attention was about how
dedication and consistency can make you succeed in life. I try to practice that every day by finishing something I started and be
consistent in everything I do.
I believe that if I apply everything I learned in this class, not only in school, but in my personal life, I can succeed and be
who I want to become.
 Thank you to the following
Original Artwork by Jonas Larbi, ECC Art Student professors who submitted their
students work:

Andrea Crocco-Varela

Marie Girault

John Hills

Joe Rosa Rio

Thank you to Professor Barba-

ra Pogue for encouraging stu-
dents to submit their work.

Since these pieces are from

students who are still learning
and perfecting another lan-
guage, you will notice some
errors. Though students
worked with their respective
instructors on various drafts, we
wanted to publish writings
which are, to a large extent,
representative of students own
work. Therefore, we chose not
to correct every error here.

Founded and Edited by Michael Pekarofski and Patrizia Barroero