An international student from Phu Long, Vietnam, Alex is pursuing an Accounting degree
at Jefferson Community College with the ambitious goal of becoming a Chief Financial
Officer. Now residing at Fort Drum, Alex shares his Jefferson pride and helps showcase
the college in advertising and promotion as a member of the Jefferson Cast. Alex is
also one of Jefferson’s research students, gaining valuable hands-on experience through
the Center for Community Studies, where they helped conduct the annual North Country
survey. Outgoing, driven, and passionate about their future, Alex shares what it’s
like to be a JCC student.
What made you choose Jefferson Community College, and how has your experience matched
your expectations? I chose to attend JCC because of its proximity to where I currently live, its modern
campus with various facilities, and the wide range of majors it offers. I feel supported
and motivated as a student. The staff is always willing to help with any problems
I encounter, and they are very respectful and kind in doing so.
Can you describe a typical day as a student at JCC? My classes are mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I start with my Literature and Composition
class at 11:00 am, which lasts 55 minutes. After that, I head to the library to prepare
for my next class, Intermediate Accounting I, starting at 2:00 pm. This class is two
hours long and is lectured by my favorite professor, Richard Merryman. Afterward,
I head home to prepare for my asynchronous Cost Accounting class at 5:00 pm, which
is also two hours long.
What do you love most about the campus environment? One of the things that impressed me the most when I first attended JCC was how friendly
everyone was. Staff members are extremely helpful during the admission/registration
process. I feel comfortable and respected when they let me use my nickname in class,
and they also ask for my preferred pronouns. Additionally, the campus is modern and
well-equipped, with a gym, a dance studio, tennis courts, and different buildings
for different departments.
What resources at JCC have been most helpful to you as a student (i.e., tutoring,
career services, library)?Personally, the JCC website includes most of the resources needed for students, from
the A-Z library database to the SOAR system, which helps students keep track of their
academic results and other important information. JCC also provides students with
a free New York Times subscription! Especially helpful is the INT 111 class, which has greatly improved
my course navigation, academic productivity, and overall campus experience.
How do you feel the JCC community supports its students academically and personally? The JCC community has been accommodating in enhancing my academic experience. I came
to the United States as an international student, and the International Student Club
has helped me in many ways, including helping me come out of my shell and make friends.
On-campus staff is always helpful and providing the resources you need in a timely
manner. Every professor has office hours that students can visit, and I took advantage
of them for my Probability and Statistics class last semester.
What is your favorite spot on campus, and why? I enjoy spending time in the library the most. It’s quiet and well-equipped with printers
and computers. There are also many books and movies that students can rent for leisure.
The library even has Zoom rooms where students can attend Zoom classes without disturbing
others.
What do you think makes JCC unique compared to other colleges? Personally, the modern facilities and accessible resources for studying and academic
purposes make JCC unique. Additionally, JCC is the site of the Annual North Country
Survey of the Community, which I proudly participated in as one of the researchers.
What is your career goal? My current career goal is to become a CPA and eventually work my way up to a controller
at a company. If everything goes well along my professional journey, I hope to one
day become a Chief Financial Officer.
