FEATURES

6September 23, 2021 FEATURES

The Arroyo reported on the numerous on-campus events such as dances, rallies and operas that were free for students in the 1930’s.

Tips on how to succeed at RCCD

Seasoned students offer advice to overcome diffculties

DAESHA GEAR OPINIONS EDITOR

In-person education at Riverside Community College District has returned for the fall semester, but many new and returning students may feel unprepared.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the district into distancelearning in March of 2020, which caused both new and returning students to adapt to an online environment.

Now, after a year and a half of Zoom classes, studying in our pajamas and going through college from our bedroom, student life is returning to normalcy through the reintroduction of in-person courses.

However, due to the absence of face-to-face learning for such a long period of time, reverting to in-person classes may be challenging.

Several seasoned RCCD students have helpful suggestions for frst-time and returning students to overcome these diffculties and achieve a prosperous semester.

Quizlet is an online study tool that allows its users to create digital flashcards on various subjects.

It’s resourceful to individuals like second-year Christian Arrcola, a business administration major at Riverside City College.

“When preparing for an upcoming exam, I would create fashcards that would pertain to the material I was currently learning,” Arrcola said.

Text-to-speech is benefcial when taking an English, history or political science course as it provides convenience for students like third-year, Remy Tate, fne arts major at RCC.

“Usually, I would have textto-speech activated whenever a professor assigns me an online article to read,” Tate said. “Listening to it helps you become more effcient in decoding an article.”

Discord is a popular messaging app that conveniently unites students together.

Discord benefts fourth-year Josue Ortega, psychology major of Moreno Valley College, when

JULIANNA HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS Students have learned to use a variety of online resources to help with their studies throughout the pandemic and are now applying them to in-person education.

organizing study groups with classmates.

“You can invite classmates to it to create helpful study groups through messaging, video or phone calls,” Ortega said. “Being able to chat and study together conveniently with peers can emulate the excitement of an actual class.”

Online Resources provided by RCCD administers academic support to its students through the Virtual Library, online tutoring and Writing and Reading Center.

“When it comes to using MVC resources, I like to use the virtual library to fnd scholarly sources for my paper,” Ortega said. “Retrieving sources from the Virtual Library or Google Scholar helps you fnd exciting facts for your paper.”

Approaching your professor as a first-time or returning student may seem frantic. Still, it is another essential tip from Arrcola.

“Since RCC is back to inperson learning, it’s easier and better than online courses because you have more time to communicate with your teachers,” Arrcola said.

Other valuable tips listed by the students include: reviewing notes, attending tutoring sessions and staying in contact with your professor.

“Do not be intimidated by the number of students in your class when you’re asking a question,” Tate said. “Emailing is another option if you’re shy, but they (professors) aren’t going to bite; they want to help you.”

A break-down of Hispanic Heritage Month

Mixture of cultures come together to celebrate community

BRIANNA GOMEZ ASST. FEATURES EDITOR

In the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanics and non-Hispanics are often faced with the question of what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them.

Riverside City College Chicano Studies instructor Steven Moreno-Terril gave an educational view on Hispanic Heritage Month and went into depth about what it means to be Hispanic and Latino in the United States.

Though Hispanics and Latinos all come from different regions, their heritage all comes together as one here in the United States, where they helped in building the nation.

“You can’t tell the story of the United States without including the history of Latinx communities throughout our country as well as the Americas as a whole,” Moreno-Terril said.

While the United States was built off the labor of a combination of different people and cultures, the Hispanic and Latino community often experience a disconnect from their roots.

“As you go on through generations in a country, there can be a thinning of the close connection to your heritage culture,” Moreno-Terril said.

With all that being said, Hispanics and Latinos are all a mixture of different cultures as opposed to just being one; this is what makes Hispanic Heritage Month such an important time here in the United States.

As much as it is a time of celebration and appreciation, it also can be a time to bring awareness and advocate for Hispanic and Latino cultures. One important issue during this time is the way Hispanic Heritage month is presented to other cultures.

“Hispanic or Latinx Heritage Month can be like a commodification where it is commercialized ... the other aspect is where this month just focuses on the heroes,” Moreno-Terril said. “And this is not to dismiss or denigrate their accomplishments, but if that’s all that’s done and there’s no discussion of the struggles of Latinx communities throughout the history of the United States, it gets pushed aside.”

There are many ways to get involved in advocating during Hispanic Heritage month, even for non-Hispanics and Latinos.

“There are plenty of different resources of different organizations and even social media accounts to follow such as The Daily Chela and Smithsonian Latino Center, there’s so many… there’s also books and podcasts,” MorenoTerril said.

What Hispanic Heritage Month means differs from person to person and though each meaning may be different they are all equally important.

“In my role as a professor and as a historian, I get excited… it’s a good opportunity to share information with folks and to say, hey let’s make this month count in ways that are really critical and meaningful and are not just surface level or watered down” he said. “Learn a little bit about the history but also make sure you’re learning about the struggles.”