The Student Government Association proudly presented the newly renamed Student Success Resource Fair on Feb. 11, where departments and instructors set up tables to readily inform students of the many programs and resources available to them at Bakersfield College.
Antonio Alfara, from the career development workforce preparation department, said he wanted students simply to, “have understanding [that] services are here to help them be successful” and that it is important they take advantage.
There appeared to be a heavy turnout to the event as SGA officers handed out free T-shirts and breakfast burritos to students who earned signatures from a minimum of eight tables, which gave each representative a chance to talk about their services before signing the sheet off.
“Students might have just come in for the free T-shirts, but they’ll leave with so much other resources,” said SGA Vice President Edwin Borbon.
For example, one BC student, Marcus Mercado, a vocational nursing major, was simply walking past when he noticed the fair and heard there was “free stuff.”
Mercado, however, was pleasantly surprised after walking into the event and noticing all of the booths. “I don’t really know where to choose from…I want to know what they all do for others now.”
Choosing to stop by the Allied Health booth first, as it is pertinent to his major, Mercado met up with Gabriele Martin, a nursing instructor on campus.
“A lot of students have the idea of a medical degree, but might not have, or know, the right path; they need clarity and information,” said Martin. She then added that informing students about her program is what encourages her to be a part of the resource fair.
Tom Moran, department chair for foreign language, said, “It’s a challenge to reach 16,000 to 17,000 students, [but] it’s important that they are given a better understanding of their options for graduating and transferring.
“We’re giving them the tools they need.”
Although counselors and advisers are on-hand at the student services building, many students, like Mercado, really benefit from the Student Success Resource Fair experience.
He even admitted, “I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on [at school] besides my classes.”
Mercado directed specific questions to the Allied Health department staff and found out that he was taking the wrong classes. They also gave him further advice to better his application for the program.
After the resource fair he said, “I got what I needed—and food and a T-shirt!”
He felt that SGA had done a good job of hosting the event and said he would not only be coming back, but also would recommend it to friends and fellow students.
“Phenomenal! Better than imagined,” said Borbon when asked how he felt the fair was doing. And added, “we want to encourage students to take advantage of all these resources that are offered. It’s a part of their student fee, so why not get the most of it?”