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Triton motivating students toward meeting goals
Lorenzo Webber from the Triton College student Association rallies up the students during a Commit to Complete rally held in the student center of the College. | Jerry Daliege~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 7, 2013 6:15AM
RIVER GROVE — Students, teachers and administrators gathered together at Triton College last week to make sure students start what they finish.
The event, called “Commit to Complete,” took place Nov. 28 in the college’s cafeteria and was geared to motivating students who are taking classes toward obtaining a certification or associates degree reach their goal. Students and recent Triton College graduates gave testimonials to the audience of more than 100 people letting them know that despite the obstacles they can achieve their educational goals.
Shakana Polk, president of Triton College Student Association, was one of those that gave a testimonial. For two years she and her daughter were homeless, but she was able to get help and stay in school.
“Our retention rate was kind of horrible from last year to this year,” she said. “When people have financial hardship they have to stop coming to school, single mothers who cannot find child care stop coming to school.”
At the event there was a Resource Fair going on a the same time highlighting all of the resources Triton College has to offer from scholarships to child care for parents while they are in class.
She said for those who are seeking help the event was to show if they come to Triton College the college will help students reach their educational goals. “We have what they need here to continue, because they came here for a reason,” she said.
Andrew Smith, 30, of River Grove and who is a student trustee and liaison between the students and the college’s board of trustees, was in attendance encouraging his fellow students to Commit to Complete.
He recently graduated from Triton with an associate’s degree in Computer Science, but is still attending the school, taking courses that will be transferable to a four-year college. He said there were times when he wondered if he would reach his goals in school.
“I have to thank God for everything he has blessed me with,” he said. “It took a lot of perseverance.”
At the event faculty and administrators stood and pledged to help students succeed and complete their studies. Students and staff were also encouraged to sign their name on the Commit to Complete banner as a way of committing themselves to completing their goal.
Polk said last year was the first time they put on the event and said this year it has improved greatly.
“I think it went really, really well,” she said. “We did things differently than last year.”
“It really impacted the students,” she said. “It was really encouraging.”
