CNM Community Requests a Sanctuary Statement

January 30, 2017.  By Hilary Broman

Senior Staff Reporter

Many CNM staff, faculty and students have signed a petition requesting a statement from CNM that clarifies how CNM intends to protect students, faculty and staff from threats, discrimination and harassment that they may face due to the most recent president-elect, as stated in the request.

Seamus O’Sullivan, CNM political science and sociology instructor, drafted the request, he said.

“Our primary interest is, if we see some rapid change in immigration policies, how might it affect our students,” O’Sullivan said.

O’Sullivan and other faculty and staff want to create a safe space, a sanctuary, for students who are vulnerable, he said.

“We are concerned that members of our community are at heightened risk of harassment and discrimination,” the request says.

The request for sanctuary agrees with a quote from an email that CNM President Katherine Winograd sent on November 18th, “CNM’s longstanding tradition of being a welcoming place for all” as well as its history of being “a safe haven for students of all backgrounds – including students who have been previously disenfranchised with education and their place in the world,” and then the request expresses concern for the safety of undocumented students.

“We believe a clear and emphatic statement that pledges specific supports and protections for vulnerable students is warranted,” the request states.

O’Sullivan is optimistic about the outcome of the petition, he said.

“Even though I expect opposition, I expect a lot more support than I do opposition,” he said, “Administration’s concern is the students, just like ours.”

Also, the fact that we are in New Mexico adds to O’Sullivan’s optimism, he said

Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico also have similar efforts underway, O’Sullivan said.

Brandon Morgan, a History instructor at CNM, signed the petition because he believes that it is important for CNM as an institution to make a clear declaration in support of undocumented students, he said.

“In the current political and social climate, it is imperative for us to directly and publicly side with the undocumented members of our community who we have welcomed, and who have given so much to make CNM and Albuquerque a wonderful place to live,” he said.

Morgan stated that several of his students have expressed concerns about the ability to continue taking classes or working if legal protections from deportations are removed.

“These students are hard workers who contribute to our classes, and who volunteer their time for the community,” he said.

“I love living and working in the CNM community,” he said, “I believe that as a community we espouse the stated CNM values, so I have high hopes that undocumented students will not face intensified harassment and discrimination here. Let us remember that no human being is illegal.”

125 people have already signed the petition.

Although O’Sullivan did not have a specific goal for the number of signatures obtained, he plans to turn the petition in soon, he said.

 

Read the request for sanctuary and sign the petition here.

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Surveying Student Fueled by Passion

By: Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter,   January 17, 2017

Anaissa Salgado has found her passion in the surveying program at CNM, she said.

The field of surveying combines Salgado’s love for math and her desire to have a job where she can work outdoors, she said.

“I didn’t know if there was a career for that,” she said.

Salgado discussed her career interests with one of her instructors who introduced her to Ron Forstbaur, a CNM surveying instructor.

Forstbaur introduced Salgado to the surveying program and showed her the equipment that they use as well as how they use trigonometry and angles out in the field, she said.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I knew that this was it!”

Salgado immediately decided to change her major, she said.

“She came into my office and said ‘I found what I want to do with the rest of my life,’ said Joe Schaub, an achievement coach for the school of applied technologies.

When Salgado decided to join the surveying program it had already been two weeks into the semester and Joe Schaub went above and beyond to help her get into the program, she said.

“As an achievement coach, I work with students to help them find what they want to do and Anaissa exudes what I hope every student will find and that’s doing something you love,” Schaub said.

After the first week in the program Salgado was already caught up because she was excited about what she was learning, she said.

Salgado regularly attends New Mexico Professional Surveyors meetings to network and gain experience, she said.

“She’s hanging out with professionals right now, she’s acting like one of them, she’s not walking in and acting like an intimidated student,” said Schaub.

Salgado is also the leader of the CNM team that is scheduled to attend the National surveying competition in Washington, D.C. this March, Forstbaur said.

“I want to lead,” Salgado said, “I was a little bit nervous at the beginning but it’s like being thrown into the water, that’s the best way to learn how to swim.”

Salgado recognizes that surveying is a male dominated profession but that inspires her even more to become a licensed surveyor, she said.

“Surveying is an excellent opportunity for women and to see a young woman getting in here and being excited about it is just wonderful for the profession,” said Forstbaur.

Salgado also is helping with the recruiting process for the program and hopes to get high school students excited about the surveying program at CNM, she said.

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“I know when I was in high school I never stopped to think about what I wanted to do after high school I just wanted to be done. I hope that we can change that mindset for students,” she said.

The third major was the charm for Salgado, she switched from business to drafting and finally found her passion in the surveying program, she said.

Salgado is an excellent example of a student who goes after what they want and always gives one hundred percent, said Schaub.

Salgado has almost completed the surveying program at CNM and hopes to complete her four-year degree at NMSU and graduate as a licensed surveyor, she said.

“I want to be the new face of surveying,” she said.

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CNM Students Speak Out About the Election Results

 

Illustration by Daniel Johnson, Story by Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

The CNM Chronicle asked CNM students to voice their opinions about the recent election that resulted in Donald Trump being named the 45th president of the United States.

Kase Conklin, a psychology major, was rooting for Gary Johnson to win the election but is hopeful that Trump will be a positive change, he said.

“Maybe we need a business man instead of a politician,” Conklin said.

Conklin also expressed concerns about Trump’s presidency.

“As a transgender man I hope that I am able to follow through with my transition with minimal difficulty,” he said, “I also hope that those of the LGBTQ community and those of different nationalities and beliefs can live without fear.”

Cody Johnson, a business and psychology major, was truly disappointed by the results, he said.

“I wanted Hillary to win. Yes, I realize she has her flaws, but what’s important to me above all else is experience,” he said.

Johnson is not optimistic about what Trump will do for college students, he said.

“If education is as real and important to him as was Trump University, then I can only see this being a negative impact on college students,” he said.

Donald Trump was not the right choice for a lot of people, Johnson said.

People do not trust him to run the country and they do not trust him with political affairs of any kind, he said.

He better be able to prove us wrong, Johnson said.

Nick Axen, communications major, was not in favor of either candidate, but he feels ok with the Trump win, he said.

“I am generally more conservative in my overall political views,” he said.

CNM students Tobias Sedillo, Ryan Valdez, and Dominick Louis Cobeo all voted for the third-party candidate, Gary Johnson.

Cobeo voted for Johnson because he did not like either of the majority candidates, he said.

“I was shocked by the results,” he said, “I thought Hillary would win.”

Although Valdez voted for Johnson he wanted Bernie Sanders to win, he said.

“Socialism is the only hope for the planet,” he said.

The Democrat’s minimum wage increases and the Republican’s return of manufacturing are yesterday’s solutions to yesterday’s problems and automation of labor is the greatest economic crisis of this generation, and neither political party is talking about it, he said.

Valdez said that he figured it was better to vote for the left to lose the election rather than voting left to lose its soul by supporting false progressives like Clinton.

“Now it’s time to clean house,” he said.

Sedillo said that he was not happy that Trump won but that he was okay with the outcome.

“Being a disabled vet, I hope Trump makes good on his word to take better care of the Veterans in need,” he said.

Sedillo was surprised by the results but he said that if Clinton would have won he still would have been shocked.

Beth Mestas, a modern language major, was not enthusiastic about either candidate but there was one candidate that she did not want to win so her vote was against that candidate, she said.

“I voted for the lesser of two evils,” she said.

Mestas is eager to see how Trump leads such a divided nation, she said.

“I wish him the best and will do what I can as a citizen to support and respect him,” she said.

Mestas said that she is nervous about the outcome, not because of who was elected but because of the distraught citizens who are terrorizing cities.

In response to the citizens who are expressing hurt, anger, and frustration and who are saying that their rights, liberties, and personal success are in jeopardy, Mestas quotes Barbra Bush: “Your success as a family… our success as a nation… depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.”

“If CNM Students can remember this, they will achieve greatness regardless of who is in office,” Mestas said.

Although many CNM students expressed their opinions with the CNM Chronicle, many of them decided not to vote in this election.

Mareya Gutierrez, a liberal art major, said that she did not vote because she tries to avoid politics.

She said that she woke up the morning after the election feeling strange, melancholy and scared by the election results.

“I think it’s a huge lesson telling me that it’s important to educate myself on everything whether I agree with it or not,” she said.

Cody Johnson, although fully supportive of Clinton, did not vote in the 2016 election, he said.

“I feel as though my vote doesn’t count,” he said.

According to Associated Press, New Mexico was one of the states that lit up blue on election night, winning Hilary Clinton 5 electoral votes and allowing her to defeat Donald Trump by over 8% of the vote.

Almost 10% of New Mexico voters voted for Gary Johnson.

Overall, Donald Trump won 290 electoral votes in the country making him the 45th president of the United States.

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Second Annual Fall Festival

Story and Photo by Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

The Fall Festival is scheduled to take place this week at Main, Montoya and Westside campuses, said Libby Fatta, event coordinator.

The Montoya Campus festival is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m in the courtyard area outside of the cafeteria, Fatta said.

Live music is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from a local CNM band called Team ITS, Fatta said.

A free hotdog social is also scheduled to take place during the Montoya Campus festival, she said.

The Westside Campus festival is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the front entrance round-about area, Fatta said.

Team ITS is also scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westside Campus festival.

The Main Campus festival is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 28 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the SRC lawn area, Fatta said.

In conjunction with the Main Campus festival, the Executive Council of Students will present a free family movie night, she said.

Hocus Pocus is scheduled to play following Casper and Friends, which is scheduled to start between 6 and 6:15 p.m., Fatta said.

There will also be a haunted maze in the SRC lawn area presented by the student council and the Veteran’s Resource Center, said Albert Montoya III, student council vice president and haunted maze volunteer.

The maze is kid friendly, however, there will be some scares, Montoya said.

The theme of the maze has not been released.

“I want it to be a surprise,” Montoya said, “Definitely come check it out, it’s going to be fun and worth it.”

All three festivals will include vendors from local companies, different CNM departments and clubs and organizations, Fatta said.

All events are free but Montoya suggests bringing money for the food vendors that are scheduled to participate at the event.

This will be the second annual fall festival and Fatta hopes to continue to build upon it making it an annual event, she said.

“We want to provide some entertainment and some relaxation for students as well as an opportunity to learn about local resources,” she said.

“Bring your family and friends,” Fatta said, “it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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CNM Literary Journal Seeking Editors, Writers, and Artists

Previous issues of the “Leonardo Literary Magazine.”

By Hilary Broman, Staff Reporter

Leonardo, CNM’s fine arts and literary journal, is seeking editors to work on the 2017 issue as well as pieces of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art and photography for submission, said Carly Harschlip, CNM instructor and Leonardo faculty advisor.
Becoming an editor for Leonardo provides students who are interested in pursuing a career in editing and publication hands on experience, Harschlip said.
Students interested in becoming an editor for the upcoming issue can contact Carly Harschlip at leonardo@cnm.edu, she said.
All qualified applicants will be sent a questionnaire then the Leonardo staff will choose editors and the genre that they will be responsible for editing based on the answers to those questions, she said.
Tanya Chavez, who was Leonardo’s lead editor last year said, “It was a good and fun experience and also a resume booster.”
Chavez will be a contributing editor for the Leonardo until she graduates in December 2016 and plans to pursue a career in editing, she said.
It is a great way to get involved and be a part of a community, Harsclip said.
“I truly believe that education is more than just taking classes, it’s expanding your opportunities and looking to understand who you are as a person”, she said.
Students who are interested in being published in Leonardo are able to send their digital submissions to leonardo@cnm.edu from now until Feb. 3, 2017, Harsclip said.
Students are able to submit in any or all of the five genres; poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art and photography, Harsclip said.
“We are looking for work that thinks about things in an interesting and unique way,” Harsclip said.
Some of the work that stands out is work that is thought provoking and that makes people see something from a different perspective, Chavez said.
“We are also drawn to local work about life in Albuquerque or New Mexico,” Harschlip said, “stuff that comes across as so authentic and so specifically New Mexican.”
The rules and guidelines for submissions are as follows:
• Title all work
• Visual art: Leonardo does not return original work. All submissions should be high quality copies of original work. Submit work via email in a jpeg-file and include “ART” as the subject line. Up to three pieces.
• Poetry: No more than three poems, five-pages maximum. Attach as word document and include “POETRY” as the subject line.
• Fiction: Up to two stories, ten-pages maximum. Attach as word document and include “FICTION” as the subject line
• Creative non-fiction: Up to two pieces, ten-pages maximum. Attach as word document and include “CNF” as the subject line.
• Save document with first and last name and genre (Ex: Johnny Smith Poetry)
• Students may submit in more than one genre, but must do so in separate emails. No more than one submission per genre.
The 2017 Leonardo issue is set to be published on April 2017, Harsclip said.
Each year there is a Leonardo release party where students whose work was published in the current issue have a chance to read their work aloud and win awards, Harsclip said.
“I love being able to see students try different things,” she said.
Chavez encourages students who are thinking about submitting a piece for publication to not be afraid and to just go for it.
“If it’s something that you created, that you love and that you want people to see, why not submit it?” she said.

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CNM Students Share Their Favorite Balloon Fiesta Experiences

Story and Photos by Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

Albuquerque is home to the largest ballooning event in the world and the most photographed event on earth according the Balloon Fiesta media officials.

This week the 45th annual Balloon Fiesta came to a close.

The balloon fiesta is a local tradition according to Emilio Martinez, a CNM nursing major.

Some local CNM students, balloon crew workers, and spectators shared their favorite parts of the Balloon Fiesta.

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Hundreds of balloons rise with the sun during the mass ascension event.

“Nothing beats getting up super early, hitting Starbucks before the sun comes up and witnessing hundreds of balloons taking to the skies,” Cody Johnson, a CNM business and psychology major said.

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The sound of the flames inflating the balloons is one Johnson’s, favorite parts of the Balloon Fiesta, he said.
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Father, Carlos and son, Jayden, take a selfie together as the hot air balloons inflate behind them.

Ricardo Baca, a recent CNM Aviation Maintenance graduate, recalls his first balloon fiesta experience, “I was 6 years old. I saw the sonic hedgehog and I told my mom; ‘Damn, he’s humongous, I bet I could beat the game with that sonic.’ I got in trouble and I only got my hot chocolate because it was cold. It was still a fun day though.”

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Wendy Lyons captures an image of a hot air balloon before it takes flight.
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Special shape balloon takes flight over the balloon fiesta crowd.
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A balloon from Taiwan ignites and warms the crowd.

“My favorite is the balloon glow,” Baca said. “I enjoy watching all of the shapes and colors while having a cold beer.”

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This special shape balloon comes from Belgium.

Francine Stewart, who has been on the Belgium bear balloon crew since 2001 said, “The best part about crewing is being able to meet so many new people from all around the world. Every day is an adventure. My balloon crew has become more than friends to me, they are family!”

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Popular special shape Yoda balloon looks down at the crowd that surrounds him.
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The many colors of the hot air balloons represent this year’s Desert Kaleidoscope theme.
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The Acoma Rain dancer’s performance drew a large crowd on Sunday, October 2nd during the mass ascension event.
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A group of friends gather to take a picture during the second to last mass ascension at the 2016 balloon fiesta.

“My favorite part of the balloon fiesta would have to be walking around eating a Blake’s burrito with hot chocolate and enjoying the company I’m with,” Martinez said. For anyone who has not been to the balloon fiesta Martinez recommends to dress warm, bring friends and family and get a breakfast burrito.

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A spectator watches as the first balloon stands up on the second to last day of the 2016 balloon fiesta after waiting for over an hour for the whether to become safe for the balloons to go up.
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The first balloon takes flight during the mass ascension on Saturday, October 8th.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s New This Year at the Balloon Fiesta

Story and Photos by Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

The 45th annual Balloon Fiesta is underway and this year there are some new events taking place, according to Balloon Fiesta media officials.

This year’s theme is Desert Kaleidoscope, which describes Albuquerque’s perfect hot air ballooning climate.

The theme was chosen by Charles Goodman from Florida who won the 45th Balloon Fiesta theme contest.

Seventeen new special shape balloons are scheduled to make their debut at this year’s Fiesta.

Some of the new shapes scheduled to appear include: The Flying Gator from Brazil, the Cathedral from Dominican Republic, Mr. Clown from Germany and Mr. Fish from the United States.

During the Special Shape Rodeo and Glowdeo the balloons are set to be organized into seven themed categories; Pirate Ship theme, Love theme, Sports theme, Fireman theme, Police theme, Space theme and Ocean theme.

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Over 500 balloons fill the Albuquerque sky during the mass ascension.

This is the first year that the U.S. Women’s National Championship is set to take place.

Sixteen women will compete in the championship.

The final flight of the championship is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5.

This is the Dominican Republic’s first year participating in the Balloon Fiesta and they will be represented in the Flight of Nations on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 7a.m.

The 19 other countries that will be represented in the Flight of Nations include: Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and more.

There are multiple ways to travel to the fiesta.

A free valet service will be offered to guests who ride a bike to the park as well as entry through an easy access bike trial and a safe bike storage area that will be staffed by volunteers.

Guests can also purchase a park and ride ticket that will cover the entry fee into the fiesta as well as a ride from a safe parking location to the park.

Park and ride tickets can be purchased online and cost $15 for adults (13-61), $12 for seniors (62 and older), $7 for children (6-12) and are free for children 5 and younger.

Guests can also purchase Rail Runner Express tickets on the weekends which include an all-day Rail Runner Express pass, shuttle to and from the Rail Runner station and the Balloon Fiesta park, and Balloon Fiesta event admission.

Tickets can be purchased on the Rio Metro website.

Tickets are $25 for adults (13-61), $20 for seniors (62 & older), $12 for children (6-12), and children ages five and under are free.

Events that are scheduled during the Balloon Fiesta include; Kids day, laser light shows, chainsaw carving demonstrations, special shape Glowdeo, fireworks shows, and more.

For a complete list of scheduled Balloon Fiesta events click here.

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The Route 66 balloon was one of the first to take off during the mass ascension. Leading the way with an American flag hanging from the basket.

Stand Up for Your Right to Read

Story and Photo Credits By Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

CNM libraries have set up displays to celebrate Banned Books Week from September 25 to October 1, said Varina Kosovich, CNM library outreach coordinator and reference specialist.

Banned Books Week is an annual event put on by the American Library Association which celebrates the freedom to read, Kosovich said.

Each year many books are banned or challenged in the U.S for various reasons ranging from anti-family to violence or graphic images, she said.

Some books at the main campus library display include: And Tango Makes Three, which was banned for being anti-family and having a possible homosexual agenda; Beyond Magenta, which is about transgender teens; and Bless Me Ultima, which is considered to contain satanist content, Kosovich explained.

Westside and Montoya libraries also have a banned books display, she said.

Many of these books are not banned from college or university libraries because they tend to encourage more open thought but these books are more likely to be banned from elementary, middle, and high school libraries as well as public libraries, she said.

“I think as a library our main priority is to offer as much information as we possibly can without censoring it,” Kosovich said. “If we censor one thing what’s to stop us from censoring another?”

School is about students learning, exploring and forming their own opinions, she said, and reading is a part of that process.

There have been many positive reactions from the book display so far, she said.

Many students have been curious and asking questions about banned books week which is what the display was intended to do, she said.

“We just want to bring attention to how sometimes people around the country don’t have a limitless freedom to read whatever they want,” Kosovich stated.

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From 2000-2009, 5,099 challenges were reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom according to ALA.org.  Here are the top eight reasons and the number at the bottom represents the number of challenges for each reason.  Infographic credit: Heather Hay

Students can go to the American Library Association website to see this year’s list of banned books and reasons why they were banned as well as past lists, Kosovish said.

Students can also search #bannedbooksweek on Twitter and Instagram to view different displays around the country, she said.

Kosovich said that if a book is banned it is more likely to draw people in.

“If you tell me something is banned I’m going to read it,” she said.

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Student Council Elections

By Hilary Broman, Staff Reporter

Elections for nine open positions in the Executive Council of students will be held on Friday September 30, said Tisha Hudetz ECOS president.

The open positions include: budget officer, administrative officer, satellite representatives for Montoya, South Valley and other campuses and 4 council members, Hudetz said.

Students interested in joining the council can fill out an application form at the dean of student’s office or the student activities office on main campus, Hudetz said.

The commitment for all ECOS members is a 2-year term, she said.

The council are looking for students who are able to represent the diverse nature of the CNM student body, Hudetz said.

The requirements to become a member of the council are as follows: the willingness to be an active student representing on at least one CNM standing committee; have some degree of leadership experience including leadership on the job, volunteer experience, or involvement with other student activities; the willingness to be introduced to the student body in the form of an article written in the CNM Chronicle and the ability to maintain a 2.5 GPA minimum, Hudetz explained.

“As representatives of the student body, we are held to a high standard. Active participation and serious consideration are key,” Hudetz said.

A committee made up of one student from the current council, one student who is a member of another CNM student organization, one faculty member and the Dean of Students, Hudetz stated, will choose new council members.

Current council member Tim Turner is in the running for the budget officer position, Hudetz said.

“I am looking forward to what the future will bring,” she said.

10 Ways to Conquer Stress

 

By Hilary Broman, Staff Reporter

Achievement coaches are actively working with students to help them reduce their stress levels and help them to see that there are healthy ways to manage stress, said Nicole Purkeypile, a CNM achievement coach.

The following is a list that was presented by CNM achievement coaches Nicole Purkeypile and Paul Fornell, and Engineering major Kaily Young to help students try to control stress.

  1. Attend a Test Anxiety Seminar

CNM holds a monthly seminar presented by Purkeypile and Fornell to help students who deal with test taking anxiety.

The seminar discusses different exercises that students can do before a test to help them focus.

“Stress can improve academic performance but too much of it causes strong anxiety and can even cause a complete meltdown,” Fornell said.

Students can find the seminar dates and times on the Calender of events on the CNM website or participate in the online seminar , Purkeypile said.

  1. Visit an Achievement Coach

The good news is that if a student cannot attend an in-person seminar or the online seminar they can always schedule an appointment with an achievement coach at their respective campus, Purkeypile said.

Coaches can help students who struggle with test anxiety or if they are feeling overwhelmed, she said.

There are achievement coaches at every campus, Purkeypile explained.

Students can visit the achievement coach webpage  to set up an appointment with an achievement coach

“You can reach out for help. We are here to help you,” Purkeypile said.

  1. Have a Support System

When a student is in college it is important that they have a support circle that they can count on, Purkeypile said.

“Make sure that you have someone who is in your corner, someone who understands all of these things that you’re juggling and is supportive of you,” she said.

It is also helpful to network with classmates and with the CNM community because they all understand the struggles, she said.

  1. Manage Their Time

It is important to teach oneself to efficiently manage time, Purkeypile said.

“Your planner is your best friend,” she said.

It helps to plan when, where and for which class to study, this can help eliminate a lot of stress and overwhelming feelings.

  1. Work hard at the beginning of the term.

This is a strategy to prevent stress in the long run, it allows more flexibility at the end of term when a student could be feeling burnt out, Young said.

Students should not be too hard on themselves, she said.

“Letting go of perfection is what works best for me,” she said.

  1. Take Breaks

“Don’t be afraid to take breaks.  If you exhaust yourself, you won’t be able to do as well,” Young said.

  1. Socialize

Socializing can help relax the mind, Young said.

“It’s great—necessary—to be prepared for exam material, but it’s amazing how much of a difference being relaxed makes in helping me think clearly,” she said.

  1. Utilize CNM Resources

There are many resources available to students including free tutoring, textbook rentals, online research databases, and more, Young said.

Take advantage of all of the resources that are available, she said.

For a complete list of resources available to students visit the CNM resources webpage.

  1. Talk to Your Professors

When Young experiences test anxiety she said listening to music helps her to focus.

Many instructors are willing to work with students and any needs they may have including listening to music during tests, she said.

Communicating with them will help them have a better understanding of any struggles and students will get a better understanding of their expectations, Young explained.

“Even the most intimidating teachers aren’t really that scary, overall,” she said.

  1. Remember That Stress is Normal.

Purkeypile is no stranger to school related stress, she said.

“It happened to me too back then,” she explained.

Having been an educator for 16 years, Purkeypile acknowledges that stress comes with the territory.

“It’s okay to have feelings of stress when it comes to school. And it’s okay to sometimes feel overwhelmed, but there are a lot of people in the world who support you and can help you get through it,” she said.

stress-photo Illustration by Hilary Broman/CNM Chronicle