Hey, hey, hey. This is Lisa A. And you're listening to Who's That Star? On LCC Connect at Lansa Community College. Who's that Star? Is a behind the scenes show where I sit down and talk with the employees at the college. This is an inside look at LCC where you will have a chance to learn about their passions, projects, what inspires them both at work and in their personal lives. I'm your host, Lisa Alexander. I'm so excited to get a chance to talk to all the people who make LCC great. This show is for you to get to know the people that work at Lansing Community College a little bit more and see what makes them tick. Are you ready? Okay, let's go see who's today's star. Today on Who's That Star, we have double the fun. I wanted to showcase a very important role here at the college. This role assists many areas and we are looking for more people to fill this role. In this role, you have the opportunity to explore different areas of interest, learn how to work in a team environment, and gain new skills. Are you wondering what this role is? The role I'm talking about is student employees. I'm so glad today to introduce you to two of our student staff in academic advising. Are you ready? Today on who's that star? We have Nicholas Lane and Khadijah Dahir. Welcome, Nicholas and Khadijah. We are so happy to have you here on Who's That Star today.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you.

We're happy to be here.

Wonderful. So what we're going to do is talk about the student employee experience and learn a little bit about who you guys are and what your goals are after you leave LCC. Because I think you guys are getting ready to graduate, right?

Yep.

Yes, indeed.

All right, so we're going to start first with Nicholas. Nicholas was our first student employee that we hired since we came back from remote work. So we were excited to have Nicholas. He came and saved the day because it was hard. You don't really know how important a role is until you don't have it. And so, Nicholas, I wanted to talk to you about what it is that got you excited or got you interested in applying for a student employee.

One of the main reasons that I wanted to apply for this student employee job was because before COVID every time I would come into the Gannon Building, I would see the career center open. And I was always greeted with open arms and smiles by people that were working in the career center. So when the opportunity presented Itself, I thought it was a great position to be filled.

Okay, Khadijah, I'm going to ask you the same question. What got you interested in student employment?

For me, I was always on campus. Even if I didn't have class, I would just come here to have a nice place to do my work. And then I figured that I'm here anyway, so I might as well, like, do something to fill my time when I'm not doing anything. And then obviously, Nicholas was here and he told me about his job, and I was interested, so I applied.

Okay. So you and Nicholas knew each other before working at the academic advising?

Yeah.

Oh, okay. How did you know each other?

We were classmates in the early college.

Oh, okay. So you also were students in the early college, so that means that you were doing high school and college work at the same time?

Yes, ma'.

Am. All right, we're going to explore that a little later. So I'm not going to try to get off track, but I'm excited because I think that just showcases that there's a lot of different opportunities for students on the LCC campus. So, Nicholas, did you find it difficult to apply for a student position?

No, it was fairly simple. Obviously, because of COVID not a lot of people were coming back in person quite yet. Not a lot of people felt comfortable. So there wasn't a lot of competition when applying.

Right? That's true. So did you. Were you. Did you come in the building? Did you do it online? How did you apply?

I did it online, but I talked to people at the Star Zone about how to find job postings and such, and they directed me to the LCC website and how to find where to apply, and then I just applied online.

All right, thank you. So, Khadijah, did you have to. I'm jacking your name up. I don't know what it is. I got Tongue Twister or what, but I apologize.

You're fine.

So, Khadijah, did you have to submit a resume?

Yeah. So within the online application, there is a spot where you submit a resume and a cover letter.

Okay, so had you had that done already or did you. Was that something that you had to create for this job?

I had one done. I just had to, like, touch it up to fill in, like, things I had, like, completed after I made it at. After I made my resume, and then I just added things in there and then submitted it.

All right, so it sounds like it wasn't too difficult of a process. Right. So, Nicholas, did you have an interview?

I did have an interview? I had an interview with Marcy Fur and Rebecca.

So now was this your first job?

No, I have had a job at the YMCA for a long time. I was a lifeguard.

You kind of prepared for what the process was.

Yep. I've been through, through multiple interviews, so it didn't feel as nerve wracking as I thought it would be.

Okay, what about you, Khadijah, Was this your first job or had you worked before?

No, I've had two jobs before this and then I wasn't too nervous during my interview because I had met Marcy a little bit before my interview and she was like really, really nice. So yeah, it was, it was a good experience.

Okay, I'm ask this question of both of you and we'll let Khadijah go first this time. What are some of the tasks that you had to do in your job working in academic advising?

So we have to basically answer phones and schedule appointments for academic advisors for students that want to meet with them. And we also do career advising appointments.

Okay, so did you find that you got an opportunity to work with the public?

I did, yeah. There's so many different people that attend LCC, so just being able to see them during drop ins and answer their calls, things like that, that was very interesting.

Yeah, it's interesting to me. So Nicholas, what about you? What skill do you think that you learned with being a student employee or you improved by being a student employee?

Definitely the biggest skill that I've gained is how to be efficient on the computer. Before I wasn't as tech savvy, but because of this academic advising job, we have to be working on the phone also while entering in information over the computer. So multitasking and really learning how to use everything you have, especially when Internet connection is not working or trying to be resourceful when things aren't going your.

Way, you learn some skills about how to problem solve and you know, things do happen. So how do you work around those and do those things? And that's why I really think student employee positions are really important for, you know, character building and teaching you. But it also gives you that experience because a lot of our students who've left academic advising have went to other jobs on college campuses in this experience that they've had, it helps them. So I wanted to ask you both, how is it working and going to school at the same time? When you're, you know, student employee, you're in college, how does that work for you? Either one of you can. Either one. It doesn't Matter.

I think this is actually my favorite part about being a student employee, because everybody here, like, understands that you're a student first, and they actually enforce that for you. Everybody works around your schedule as a student and your personal life. So you. You're never going to have, like, conflicts with testing and things like that. Everybody respects that you have other priorities besides your job, and everybody's understanding of that. So I've never actually had any, like, scheduling conflicts if I needed to leave for, like, an emergency or I just needed, like, extra tutoring or something. My employers were very understanding of that. And that's what I really like about being a student employee here.

Oh, thank you. Not that I make the rules or anything, but I think it's good that you could do that. Okay, Nicholas, about you, like, what do you. What do you think? Was there any hardships that you thought to being a student employee?

No, not necessarily. I think. I think the merging of the two are very seamless. Not necessarily. Are all of the days that we work as busy. So there are some days where I could be waiting for a phone call and doing homework or getting ahead on reading, things like that. So I think the student employee position allows you to remain a student while also getting paid to be to work.

Well, I definitely think that being a student employee is one of the. I love student employees, right? Because I like messing with y' all and I like to. You guys keep me, me, you know, in the know, like, what if I say some. Something that's old? Most student employees will look at me and roll their eyes and be like, lisa, no, that is old. You don't say this. You don't say that. But I just, I enjoy it and I think I see the value in it. And so I think it's so important. So I'm glad that you guys came and took the time to talk to me about the employment of, you know, being a student employee. But what I really want to talk because I'm so proud of both of you, right. I really think that you guys are great students, and I think that, you know, I'm so excited to see what you do when you get out into the world and after you get your degrees and things. And so, Khadijah, I want you to give me a little bit of information about who Khadijah is. Talk about where you came from, how you ended up to get into LCC and what you going to do when you leave LCC.

Okay? So I went to Oakmas High School, and then after my sophomore year, I applied to the early college at LCC. And then that's how I started coming here. First semester of the early college, we kind of just were in our own little bubble. We were doing, like, high school classes, and. And then after that, we started doing regular LCC classes. And I really, really enjoyed that experience. I really felt that, like, it was a necessary, like, change of environment. Environment for me from high school and. Yeah. So I am graduating this semester with an associate's in transfer studies.

Okay, wait a minute. You gotta celebrate that. I'm super, super proud.

Okay, thank you. And then I plan on going to University of Michigan in the fall, and I am studying psychology, and I plan on becoming a psychotherapist in the future.

Oh, wow. Wonderful. So I'm in social work. Clinical social work. So you probably. Or you may be giving me a job one day. So make sure you good graces remember me. Khadijah. I think that's wonderful. U of M. What made you come to that decision?

I don't know. It was probably one of the best schools I got accepted into. And it's close to home. Not too close, you know.

Yeah, no, I think that's a wonderful, you know, wonderful school. You know, I'm pro MSU all the way.

Yeah, we know.

Every day. But I do recognize, you know, U of M is a good school and it's. Everybody's not getting into you of them. So I just want to know that that's a great accomplishment and I'm super proud of you. And. Yeah. So thank you. Thank you for coming to today, Khadijah.

Thank you for having me.

All right, so, Nicholas, I wanted to. I want you to do the same thing. I want you to tell me how you got started or how you came to LCC. You can tell me a little bit about your program and what. Where you're gonna transfer to and what your goal is.

Definitely. It all started when my sister actually went to LCC. I went on a visit to the campus with her, and I found out about the early college program in about late of my eighth grade year. And I thought it was a great opportunity for me, and not only for me as a student, but also as a student athlete. Getting ahead on college definitely cuts down on the cost when you go to university. University. So in my sophomore year, I applied. I was on the wait list initially. Luckily, I got in.

All right.

And I will be graduating this semester with an associate's in pre professional health studies.

Okay, wait a minute. Hold on. Yay. I'm sorry. I think we have to recognize these great, great, great students. Okay, go ahead.

Thank you. I forgot to mention, I went to East Lansing High School. I will be transferring to Johns Hopkins University to study neuroscience and play lacrosse.

Oh, you're gonna play now? What was the sport? I'm sorry, I got so excited. I covered it. What was it?

That's all right. It's lacrosse.

Lacrosse, okay. And are you gonna play when you get to John Hopkins?

Yes, ma'.

Am. Oh, wow. So you're gonna be playing sports, going into a difficult program, and you gonna be far away from home. Where's Johns Hopkins?

In Baltimore, Maryland.

Oh, wow. So that's gonna be exciting. It's gonna be a major change. But one thing I can say is that I think you both are prepared for your journeys when you go to your four year institution. I know LCC has great classes. And once you are able to make it here, you're able to go and be successful wherever. And so I am. You're gonna be one of our alumni coming Thursday, right? Cause that's when you graduate and then you can come back and you can tell us about your careers and all the wonderful things that you're doing. I just once again wanna thank you both for coming on who's at Starter Day. But also all the work that you did in academic advising to help us get back from the pandemic, help students get access to us. And so we're gonna be sad to see you go. Do you guys have any parting words?

Enroll in LCC.

All right.

Become a student employee.

Hey, okay, that $5 I give y' all later. No, but thank you again. Today on Who's That Star, we talked about student employment and how it is such a important role at the college. I want to again thank Khadijah and Nicholas and come back next week to find out Who's That Star? You've been listening to Who's That Star? I'm Lisa A. And you can listen to this episode of Who's That Star? and other shows from LCC Connect anytime online at LCCconnect.org. Thank you for listening. Catch me next time to find out Who's That Star.