“I love school, and it’s fun going with Fiona - we’re being adults together,” said Vanessa. She’s in the General Studies program, and eventually wants to go into marketing or advertising.
“I’m thinking about studying business with a focus in advertising.” She’s already gaining experience through her work at the NH Youth Success Project, managing social media.
Fiona is studying history and after graduating NCC this May, she plans to enroll at SNHU for her bachelor’s degree in history, followed by a career as a curator.
“I went from ‘history teacher’ to ‘history professor’ to ‘archivist’ to ‘curator’; that’s the one I’m sticking with. It’s everything I like all in one. The ‘ethnography of work’ class really pushed me to look into it: I interviewed a curator and an archivist because the definitions were really similar. And when I interviewed the curator, I knew that’s what I wanted. She told me about the exhibit she recently put up – I thought ‘oh my god that’s what I want’.”
Guided by her high school teacher and mentor, Fiona chose NCC for the affordability and environment, “When I took the tour, I really liked the vibe. And both of my years here are cheaper than one year at SNHU.”
The first week in college was intimidating, but she quickly made connections with faculty. “The second day, I had Professor [Stephanie] Roper and I loved that class. I think it made me feel more confident in my decision to study history, and we’ve met to talk about all the things I can do with this degree.”
She also gave a shout out to Professor Jen Tripp for helping improve her writing skills, “I used to be a really weak writer, but I’ve had to write a lot more now. The only way out is through – you just have to do the things that are hard and, in the end, they get better and easier.”
While they navigated college together, they were also active in the local theater scene.
“We became ‘super friends’ when we did Frozen, because that was a huge labor of love,” said Vanessa. She convinced Fiona to join the Actor Singers production for youth actors. Vanessa directed and planned the set, and Fiona ran choreography.
Fiona choreographed Frozen and Goosebumps with Actor Singers, “Frozen was my first time choreographing a show last year. It was a crazy learning experience – I had never worked with kids before. After a while I really liked it, and I got to know a lot of the kids.” She’s a dancer as well, and her mother is a dance teacher. She credited her for helping her prepare to run the shows’ choreography.
Vanessa directed Frozen and Goosebumps, “I love seeing the creative things people do with what I give them. Two of the kids became semifinalists in the NH Theater awards, and one of them made finalist – two 9-year old actors competing with teenagers. Our ‘Olaf’ was a finalist.”
Professors Stephanie Roper and Jen Tripp attended both shows, “I have enjoyed attending two of the musicals Fiona and Vanessa have put on over the last two years—Frozen Jr. last spring, and Goosebumps last week. Fiona took my Literature by American Women class last year and then we worked together on the NCC Dance club (she as president and me as advisor). Vanessa joined the dance club, so I got to know her too. It was nice of them to invite me to the musicals they were directing. I always enjoy supporting my students outside of class,” said Professor Jennifer Tripp, Chair of the Arts, Humanities, Communications & Design department at NCC, “They are both so artistic and dedicated. Not only do they carry full course loads, but they participate in clubs at NCC, work part-time jobs, and find time to direct these plays for children.”
After high school, Fiona said her grandmother worried – and she worried – she wouldn’t get the full college experience at community college, but she found “You get the experience you put in.”
Fiona was President of the Dance Club her fist year, she’s a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and the Nature Club. While club activity ebbs and flows with student interest, she’s consistently joined Student Senate, PTK, and Student Ambassador events throughout her time at NCC.
Vanessa was also in the Dance Club, and she signed up as a mentee in the Student Mentor Program where she was paired with a mentor named Michelle who was a big help.
To future college students, Fiona says to make sure to ask for help when you need it.
“Professors are expecting to help people. They went to school to help and teach. Send emails, communicate; it’s all really important.”
She struggled with organizing college life at first, “But I figured it out and made sure I had enough time to have a break and do my school work and go to work. It’s just keeping yourself in balance and in check.”
And the good news? “Everything has gotten so much less embarrassing than it was in high school. Now, it doesn’t matter. You can just ask for help,” Fiona
Looking back on the last two years, Vanessa says the time flew by. “It’s not as scary as you think it is, it’s not this completely different experience. It’s just school – be social, try to make friends.”
“Take the fun class every semester, even if it’s something only you think is interesting. Fulfill your passions. I’ve learned that if I continue to like what I like and be passionate, then I have that no matter what.”
Fiona agreed, “If you’re excited, just be excited. Being able to be excited and passionate even when others aren’t is really important,” she said, but cautioned, “Don’t think you know everything.”
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