Navigating college life for the first time can feel overwhelming. However, there are many ways to make this journey easier. When walking through the library, you may notice a couple of offices across from the coffee shop. This is where the Student Support Services (SSS) office is located. Angela Rhodes, Program Director of SSS, explains, “SSS is a program that exists to help students change the trajectory of their lives and overcome obstacles stemming from various life challenges.”
Rhodes further explains that SSS is designed to level the playing field for incoming students. You may qualify for the program if you’re a first-generation college student (the first in your family to attend college), receive a Pell Grant, or have a disability.
One of the biggest resources SSS provides is a one-hour course offered each semester. This course connects you with SSS staff and other students who come from similar backgrounds. “I feel like people come to college and feel like they are the only ones who don’t know what’s going on. Being part of SSS helps them find that support and connect with others,” Rhodes adds.
If you are unable to take that one-hour course, don’t worry! Student Support Services also offers one-on-one meetings and workshops to ensure you get the help you need. Rosario Garcia, the Financial Literacy and Retention Specialist for SSS, shares, “I also teach students about money in workshops. I cover topics like budgeting, managing money, and understanding the cost of attending school. I also help students find jobs on and off campus. My role extends beyond financial assistance; I support students throughout their academic journey, set up services for participants, monitor their academic progress, and ensure they can enroll in classes.”
Student Support Services not only provides you with the tools necessary to navigate college life more easily but also offers amazing cultural trips to museums, theater performances, and cultural landmarks!
Even though SSS is tucked away within the library walls, it serves as a vital source of connection for many students. SSS students, Janeth Reyna and Amber Evans, mention that SSS has a unique and personal approach to connecting students with campus resources. Reyna notes, “I had no idea how to manage my classes or what each of my scholarships covered. I didn’t even know living on campus was an option for me until I reached out to the SSS staff and received the correct guidance.”
Thanks to the abundance of resources available, SSS also has student leaders, called “peer mentors,” who assist in fulfilling the SSS mission and help guide new students as they were once guided by their mentors. Keziah Segovia, a junior majoring in elementary education and a returning Peer Mentor, shares, “I love being a mentor. I enjoy supporting students and getting to know them individually and personally. I believe everyone has unique gifts, and my goal is to help them however I can, not only as a mentor but also as a friend!”
Featured Photo by: José Ramos