We will take a moment to acknowledge all indigenous and first people of land and space in which we live and breathe. For our community at Highline College, we recognize that we are on stolen and occupied Duwamish Coast Salish, Marko Shield, and PL of lands. And we want to thank all relations and tribes today as we prepare to hold space as a community. We recognize that all of us joined this conversation from different locations through Zoom. And so let us acknowledge the indigenous and first people of land and space in which you currently occupy. Furthermore, we respectfully acknowledge the enslaved people primarily of African descendants who provide exploit labor on which this country was built with little to no recognition. Today, we are in depth to layer labor and labor of many black and brown bodies that currently work in the shadows of our collective benefit. I would now like to pass our virtual mic to our main host Tatiana. Who will introduce our student panel for today's program. Hello everyone. Hi Highline family. My name is Tatiana Matthew, and I use she her pronouns. I'm that you program advisor and peer navigator coordinator here at Highline College. This morning I have a pleasure of introducing you all to our students speakers who have a huge influence on our team this year, disability joy, a mindset of apologetic liberation. Today's presenters are former and current achieved students and a peer navigator who helps students to navigate campus and college system. A little bit about achieve program and what we do and also community employment services so you know what we do here at Highline and how we help our students. So achieve program is a comprehensive post secondary transition program that includes credit and non credit classes intensive advising involvement in campus life community based internships and assistance with job placement. Every students work with an intensive advisor and career specialist to draft and implement a comprehensive individual plan for college and career specific courses campus activities and work based learning experiences are determined based on skills needed for the students to achieve his or her or their identify goals achieve is partially funded as one of the transition and post secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities through the office of post secondary education, serving as a model demonstration program for Washington. Community employment services is committed to recognizing the value and promoting the contribution of people with intellectual disabilities into the workforce. Our staff of skill professionals work to connect businesses to qualify skill applicants and to create jobs that deliver measurable benefit to everyone involved. We work with job seekers to assess and develop their skills, find and successfully retain jobs. So, today's presenters are part of the achieve program, and some of them already graduated from Highline, but the joy that they found here is still with them. That joy keeps them on the top of the leaders in the top list, the community leaders, and they always volunteer and spend their time sharing their experience and sharing the joy with other people with disabilities and inspire them to fight fight for their needs and to work on achieving their goals. I will add our students speakers to introduce themselves, and we'll start with the panel questions. So, are you guys ready. Introduce yourself, pronouns, and what community or identities you're bringing into this place. Are you current or graduated Highline college student. Who goes first, my heart. You're muted my heart. Sorry about that. The most common thing on zoom for the last two years right here. Hello, friends, and it's great to have it's great to see you all here wherever you may be watching. My name is Mahatohir and I use he and him and prone as pronouns, and I am the son of a refugee from Somalia. And I really want to talk about today like how like how many immigrant families, they don't have enough resources for in a for their loved ones who have disabilities. And I'm also occurring in a student here at Highline college I'm working to graduate with a computer science degree. And it is so wonderful to be here as we conclude a week that is dedicated to highlighting disabled people and their stories of success. Hello everyone, my pronouns are he and him. I am wearing a blessed polo and my background is a picture of Hawaii. And I'm happy to be here and shout out to everyone on the call and it's going to be a good presentation. Thank you for having me. Thanks. Juliana. Hello, I'm Juliana plumber. I go by she her hers. If I said that right. I am a current student at Highline college of, and I'm getting my bachelor's degree for integral design, and also I'm a graduate from a key program in 2018 and a graduate for visual communication as a socialist degree in science and science. And currently I'm working as a lab tech tutor, tutor for arts and design program. Thank you. Monica. Good morning everyone. My name is Lenica hall pronouns I identify with would be she and her, and some identities I bring to the space. I am a mom, a college student, a peer navigator for achieve and a lifelong learner. The program that I'm in is the bachelor of youth applied science degree. And this is my second to my last quarter. Thank you. Joey. All right. Thank you for coming. Thank you for coming. I'm happy to be here. So, my name is Joey Bellatran. I am 21 years old, and I go by he him. I am a Mexican American, and lifelong learner. Thank you so, and, oh, and I am a graduate Highline college student. Thank you. Okay, next question. What brought you to highlight what sparked you to look for your passion and highlight, and who helped you. So for me, and how I got to highlight is a very interesting journey. I got here through an amazing organization who helps folks of color and immigrant families. Like to help them gain resources for disabled people and their loved ones. And now organization is called open doors for multicultural families. I was hoping to bring in one of the staff here, one of the staff members here today but he couldn't make it unfortunately so I just want to say a shout out to him his name is Moses Perez and he's the advocate he's the program manager for the advocacy and civic engagement division. So shout out to him, because he's he's really working hard to fight for resources fight to gain resources for disabled people who come from immigrant families. And what sparked my passion is like, I want to take what I've learned here at Highline and apply it to and whatever I'm going to do worldwide. And really the goal here to help in our communities like, like, better understand like, like, these, these disabilities are real and trying to get rid of the stigma behind it. Thank you. Well what brought me to Highline what sparked it. I wanted to go to college and experience that life and I'm going to talk about that more in my story. So, stay tuned. Okay, Juliana. What brought me to Highline was actually I was introduced to from a DVR program. It's a program that helps people with disabilities to find a job or keep a job. So I was introduced to achieve program and which achieve achieve program led me to introduce to Highline College. So again, everybody. My journey actually started I was a barista and coffee master at Starbucks. And what I discovered there is I love being around people I love being around particularly kids and youth and young adults. Another passion is I love to learn I can't get enough. So I knew I needed to do something more. And that's what brought me to Highline. So for me, it's not what got me there. But what I found at Highline and what Jim quick says he's a motivational speaker self taught brain genius, and someone who also has learning disability is he says this, I am looking for inspiration and instruction. That's what I found at Highline. I am surrounded by inspiration from staff from all students at Highline, and great instruction. This is what has kept me at Highline, and through inspiration and support that from students and all staff members, whether it's professors, different staff at Highline that that has been my support system and my help at Highline. One of the things. Hi again. One of the things that brought me to Highline College is learning how to be more confident in college campus. What sparked me to look for my passion at Highline College is to be explore my interest in archaeology or religions, communication, public speaking and singing. There were many people who helped me at Highline College classes. Some of them are instructors who helped me a lot during the class time, and they helped me to develop my passions. Some of the new navigators helped me, Tatiana helped me and all the classmates helped me become a successful college student. Thank you. Great. And next question. Hey, next question. Hello. Sure. Is the joy that you got at Highline still with you? Is it growing? Or is it gone? Interesting. Okay. For me. Okay, thanks Tatiana. Thanks so much Tatiana. Well, for me, and since I am a freshman at Highline, I would say it's too early to tell. But over time, I will have a more specific answer. Right, we're looking forward for that. Austin, how about you? Absolutely. The joy still with me, never going to go away. And I'm a bird and thunderbird until the very last ride. Thanks. Tatiana. Since I started Highline. What actually got me the joy was not only learning to get the opportunity to take classes, I'm interested in and stuff, it's the community that brings me so much joy over the years. They make me feel inclusive, they make me feel welcomed, and it's good to be part of the community. It's also cool meeting different people with backgrounds and fields. And, and while it's along the way, I was able to gain the experience and how important it is to be part of the community as well. So that was, and still, even though I'm at this moment, struggling with classes, but they all, they always remind me the joy of just being part of the Highline community. That's pretty cool. I agree. My heart just swells for Highline. The joy that I have for Highline is still and always will be growing. Even six years later, I just can't get enough. As Juliana was saying, this is we're a community and it's just it's so empowering, inspiring, and I'm just so grateful to be a part of it. The joy that I found at Highline is still with me, and it is growing. To me, it's been an awesome time to be alive, going to college, doing schoolwork assignments in classes and getting good grades. I'm more confident and independent. I make my own decision. And I know what I want for the future. I really enjoy being in Highline College for three years. It's not the birds for life. Awesome. Awesome. Okay, so how do you share your joy that you got at Highline with others. If it's still growing, it's still with you, what do you do with that? Well, in order for me to share a joy, you have to stay positive and upbeat. Even if an event, even if unfortunate events do happen. Like, stay positive, like talk to others if you're having, if you've done something great, spread the word. Austin, how do you share your joy with others? Well, for the future students and the future folks who are in college, spread the joy and put the puzzle pieces together properly. There's always room for improvement and you can put the right puzzle pieces together and the joy is going to be with you no matter what. So that's how spread the aloha and spread the joy. Yeah, I think we should clarify the joy itself right now because I know you guys were preparing, you know, for this panel and we know that we have limited of time and we have five speakers.  So they just mentioned what is that joy for you, what do you learn or what changed, you know, since you started at your program at Highline.  So Austin, what is that that you share right now. So what did you learn, or what is joy for you. I learned that people, you can have a lot of people in your circle, but you can still expand with the joy and happiness and if I'm answering the question properly. What got me and how others to Highline being able to graduate with a fantastic one for a program and graduating the class of 2015 and having a diploma to look at in my history and things like that. But if you think about yourself, just at the beginning of the program, the just time and you just entered at your program and apply to Highline College.  Do you see any difference. Did you change. Did you get something. I noticed a big difference because in the beginning I didn't know where I wanted to go and I went to a whole bunch of other visited a whole bunch of other places before I came to Highline so I'm happy where I'm at in life today and I'm going to keep moving along so that's what you have to keep charging along because at the end of the tunnel that gonna be like so have to keep it keep your head up and stay positive.  I remember you. I was your navigator at the time I was student worker. And I remember that you were kind of shy and now you're like, very popular.  Mm hmm. Great and what do you do for life. There again. And what do you do where do you work. I'm going to put that to the story after. Okay, great. Thank you, Tatiana. Thank you, Austin. So Juliana, how do you share your joy that you got at Highline with others. Well, to be honest, I just just be myself who I am, and also to encourage others to be themselves as well, and to share their, their life and their joy on the campus and stuff. And make them feel more welcome to in the community. So that's what I will share just be yourself and awesome. You're so friendly. And I know that and always, I can feel that joy from you, because you really want everybody around you to be happy and welcome to Highline college, and people can feel it. And thank you. Thank you so much for that, Juliana and Lenica. I know how you share the joy because you're a cheap navigator and you're, you'll do a lot for our students, but I want to hear from you. How else, you know, besides pure navigator job. How do you share your joy, or maybe not besides but the same time. Sorry, I just jumped in because I know how much you do for our students. Lenica is super helpful. And she puts all her time and effort in. She worries about her students to be successful and just don't be late with their assignments and we're really lucky to have her in that team. So Lenica, how do you share your joy that you got at Highline with others. Oh my goodness. Well, my joy for Highline it started like I said over six years ago, and how I share this joy that I got at Highline with others is I really truly believe that everyone has an unlimited potential. And if I can do anything to share what Highline has done for me, whether it's helping you, maybe it's just helping someone find a class or, you know, just sitting and having lunch with you or anything. I just want everyone to realize you have an unlimited potential and Highline's here to help you find your way. Highline is a school where you matter, where you are valued, and you will learn that everyone's a leader, we are just a leader in our own way. Thank you. Lenica, great. Thank you and Joey, how do you share your joy that you got at Highline with others. I would like to tell you all. I share my joy by participating in different presentations to inspire people who have difficulties with going to Highline to college. I tell them my story. I share my experience. So they can see that it does not matter if you have a disability or not. But if you work hard on getting what you want, you will get it. There are always people who are ready to help you. Yay, awesome. Yes, actually a Highline right. And instructors and everybody at Highline, so supportive, so supportive, we're lucky to be here. And next question, how do you handle self care? And what are you doing in this environment to maintain balance. Yeah, and my heart is ready to answer. All right, here we go. So, how I handle self care is that I always believe in this philosophy like we have to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. That means like checking on your health both physically and mentally, emotionally too. Like during these tough times and like it was especially difficult for disabled people like me and for others. Because we couldn't get like our resources to help us. So, I always think to myself, am I okay? Okay, physically, mentally and emotionally, because it's very important to check on yourself. Especially during like in the times of unfortunate events. Yeah, but if you realize that you're not okay, so you're asking yourself. Are you okay? And he's like, Oh, I'm not okay. So how can you do that? Get help. And the resources, go online, find some resources, check in with a friend. Because this is a big problem in this country. In some respects worldwide too. Like, we are not giving enough resources for mental health. Okay, so but do you know about any resources for students at Highline College? Highline. Do you know how to find them? And where to find them? I know a great plan. Like I said at the top, I got here through an organization and this organization can help you find the resources. And I will put this in the chat, their website. Okay, cool. Yeah, but the Highline we also have some great student resources, right? That's right. Check out Achieve and check in with Tetiana and she will help you. Yeah, I like how you handle that. Yeah, check with me and or with counseling services. That's right. Right. And yeah, if you're having anxiety, especially I think a lot of students have anxieties before midterms, tests, right, or finals, and the finals week is very stressful. Students, make sure you check in with counseling services and your advisors and mentors or even instructors just talk to them. That's right. Be happy to help you. Like, don't just stay alone. Just tell your instructor I'm having an anxiety because my exam is coming so they know how to fix it like in a second. Very good with that. And then just just talk about that. You're right. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, just I also, and I also posted on the chat, the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, like, like, give them a call if you if you like feel like and if you're thinking about suicidal thoughts. If you're thinking about doing suicide, give them a call. Right. So there's so many things in life that you can write explore, right, and we have come to this world, and we leave this world anyways, right, we don't have control of that. So someday we all will be in another place. Right, so just there are so many things to explore and try and enjoy in this life right so you feel like you don't have that joy inside of you anymore. So just ask for help. That's why all those people are paid, and they study for years and years and years, you know, to be able to help in people when they have those moments like we all have like moments in life. Right, so and they're so helpful resources we have a high line.  And just talk about that, because there's so many interesting things enjoy in this world to to to try and to benefit. I like how you think my heart. Appreciate you to see on. Yeah, and Austin. How do you handle self care. And what are you doing in this environment to maintain balance. Thank you for the question talk to you on a. So I stay positive is if I'm feeling that my the entirety is popping on. I go reach out to people in my circle support, reach formal. I try to reach out to people that can to get help. And I stay positive and I listen to music to keep the heart flow, not high on stress, so but to keep it low on stress because I don't want stress in my body. Well, no one wants stress to be stressful and stay positive and keep on going and smiling because I know that we're going to get through this and the way I maintain my balance is I write down things I have to do and what makes me happy and stay positive because positive that is the key to life and keep on going. Never stop. Just keep on staying strong. Keep on pushing and you'll get there eventually. If you need help.  And that's my message on how I maintain balance. Thank you. Great way to maintain your balance. And Juliana, how do you handle self care. I know I know it's hard. And we always talk about that is Juliana. And we always suggest students to take care of base themselves and we have issues with that right as a college employees. So we always remind each other, take care of yourself take care of yourself and Juliana has some great tips for you guys. All right, where to start. Well, for my experience of doing self care is actually just take breaks and do something that helps ease off the attention, attention and frustration. Like for example just do like play video games go for a walk to work out. Watch anime I love anime. I hope you guys like anime to I mean this is good to watch and then people do. And my most favorite of doing self care is having tea time with your friends. Believe me when I was stressed out with them. When I did. When the one time I did my final exam for business mathematics I actually cried out to touch you I was like we need to time now. So I recommend just have tea time with your close friends to do like do small fun activities or just bent a lot or just do something and just hope ease the hope like. Let it out. But after that after all that after taking a break in and have tea time just you can go back where you where you start so. Yeah, it works. It works well so I can guarantee. But if you have it every have a chance to go achieve achieve building in the access service there's so big stuff animal. His name is. Give him a big hug because he will help release. All the time. Yeah and we're moving to new office in building 25 it's a library. I think it's a fifth floor. So we almost done with remodeling office for us. So I hope, sometimes during the winter quarter we will move in, and we will take all those animals stuff animals with us so feel free to come and just benefit from that. Thank you Juliana. Okay. Oh my goodness I love it so many great tips I mean this is so so helpful. I actually have a quote about self care and it's by also Jim quick and he says self care self love is not selfish. And to me this is so important my self care routine is actually kind of quirky. I definitely have a routine such as I have to have boundaries. I go to bed early every night so I can get up early and win the day. So I can make it to do this so I can practice gratitude. So I can just have a moment to just kind of be present with myself. One of the things I'm working on is actually I heard from a lot of motivational speakers. This is one we don't do we, we make it to do this, but what we should also be doing just as important if not more is making a not to do this, a not to do list of all the things that you're not going to do things that you're going to say no to others or say no to yourself. And this is really important in my last tip, something that I practice is, I just love to be around positive, happy, fun, fun people. And I think this is so important because when we're around too much negativity, even such as on the news or on social media, that energy kind of sinks into us. So I think for self care, it's just so important to be around positive, happy, loving people, be around your high, be around highlighting, you know, I go to highlight college because I'm around amazing, supportive, positive, happy people, and that's what helps me. Hey Joey, how do you handle self care. Well, besides my work. I like to do powerlifting, singing, dancing, acting and drawing. That is how I handle self self care and what I'm doing this environment to maintain balance. Thank you. So you like to sing and when I remember you two years ago when you just started your beginning voice class. I think it was the beginning. Yes, yes.  And I remember we work on those tips that your instructor provided you on canvas, how to manage that anxiety when you stay in front of your classmates, and you need to sing. Even if you're not professional singer right you never did it before but you just like to sing. And then how to manage that shyness and anxiety and your little when your heart is racing and, and you did it. I was really impressed. And then then last spring, you saw the portfolio showcase. It was awesome, Joey. I think today, but we didn't plan it. So I would, I would like, I would like to, I would like to sing to sing you to sing you a song is today. Yeah, today. Okay. Okay, okay, let's, let's just finish these questions and maybe you can close our like, kind of in all the question activity part. Yeah. Oh, if you're okay with that and you really want to sing I, I think we would be happy to hear it. What do you think guys. Yeah. Okay, so think about it, Joey. Oh, awesome. Okay, now I just know what to do next. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Okay. I think what I need to do to change the slide. Okay. Okay, next question. What can we do to better. What can we do better at Highline to help students to find their joy and keep it. What you need to do is check in with your friend, check in with your friends, and, and other students like to see if they're doing, if they're actually doing okay. Like, what's keeping find out what's keeping them from being the person that they are, or being positive, because being positive enables an individual to do wonderful things. Yeah, and I remember we talked about this question before, and I like it what you said. I don't know if you remember what you said I was like, Oh my gosh, this is so cool that's that's exactly what would help us as a college staff and employees and administration, all of us to help you to find your joy and keep it and I remember you said something. Share your problems. No, no, like what we can do, like a college employees, instructors, stuff, the president, the vice presidents, all of the administration like all of us have to help you guys have to help students to find your joy. I know we do our best and we do great, you know, and we have such a great support and highlight, but in general what we should do like every day every time what we should think about, like, always, that helps you to find your joy, and it helps you to keep it with you. And you said just talk to us, right. Just go seek help from like your professors. I mean, my heart I mean like what we can do what I can do as instructor and what. Yeah, what for example college president Dr. Mosby can do, or the vice presidents, or the other staff at Highline, what they can do to help you to find a joy. See that see the problem. Like in other words find out what's keeping that person what's preventing that person from becoming positive. Yeah, and then that's what you're saying so in another words that would you just told me when we had a meeting before. Well, I don't know. I know, I know but I remember and I remember it forever because it was perfect. So you said, just talk to us, just ask us. Just talk to us and ask what we like to do, what movies we watch, and what games we play. And what we like, and it was just perfect for me, I will use this in my advising practice, you know, because that's really we like usually we think about the big things, you know, and those kind of small things but they're not small. So this is your thing. So this is you, the part of you. What do you like, what do you watch right now, what you're interested in. And because the world is changing and youth is changing right and it's that's what is on the table right now. Trends are changing too. Yeah, so I'm changing friends. Trends. That's, that's exactly it. That's right. So what do you like right now, like what are you thinking right now what are you reading right now. So that's a very good tip and I think it is worth attention. Go ahead. Go ahead. And shout out to my chief advisor, Ellie Cassett, who's in the audience I know, I know you, I know you're watching this at least shout out to you, we always talk about something. Ellie is awesome. I know how much she helps you guys. And, yeah, and then she always asked you this question. So, thank you, Ellie. We appreciate you. Okay, so next Austin. What do you think we can do better at Highline to help students to find their joy and keep it. Thanks for the question. So, and before I graduate in 2015. Highline college and my go to this day job, not job coach, soccer coach, we started a unified club, and I'm the first for on a first team of athletes who brought the trophy back and brought to Highline to help to have the trophy to Highline college chief program. And we were thankful and just keep on helping athletes students, staff members, keep the joy is spread the Aloha, and keep drawing on the drawing board of what your joy is and what you want to do in life and to have fun and all to remember to have fun and keep smiling. So that's, that's the fun. That's two students who need help finding a joy. Keep smiling and keep going and keep staying positive and a unified club. I don't know if they have it this year but unified will help you and your movement girl and we're always looking for new and incoming athletes to join the unified so that's, that's the way that I keep joy and that's my advice to wherever listening on this call and futures and future student and athletes to join unified. Thank you. Hey Juliana. What do you can do better. What can we do better. I might hopefully I answer this correctly but to me, I think to make it better is just make them feel more welcome make them feel it is a safe environment to be themselves and also bring more awareness of inclusion about the disability community students with learning disabilities or and intellectual disabilities are people too and we wanted the same dream and we have and we have the same goals to make and want to make into a reality so. Yeah, and you Juliana the great example and role model for all students in Highline College and as you had some struggles, you know, with going to college that you share that due to your learning disability. It was hard for you to get into college program. And then you got it, you just, you graduated with highest honors is 4.0 for your AS right. Yes, so something's wrong with that right. It's something not with that but I mean it's something so that you're not able to, you know, to get into the college program at the beginning for some reasons the relations or whatever it is. So not all of that stuff was wrong. Right. This learning disability diagnosis.  Yes. See your teacher, basically. So this learning disability. So even as a tutor. Right, so it's, it's such a great example. So we all are capable to do what you want to do. It doesn't mean what they know the paper says, right. Right. It's just on the paper. So that's what we see every day in our program, and we don't really, you know. Now I just want to say everything we just work with students not with papers. Okay. And we believe in all our students and all our students do super awesome. And Juliana is one of the examples and he's so proud of you, Juliana. And when you come. What do you think we can do better the high line to help students to find a joint keep it. I think just this question alone the fact that Highland our community is just asking this question is the step. It just shows how empowering how meaningful and amazing this school is what I, I kind of made up this quote and I wrote our school building our school walls they may be built, but our school is always growing is always learning and always building, because it's not this just the students that are learning and finding and keeping their joy. But it's also the staff, it's everyone we are all learning through each other. And one way I think we can expand is by continue doing things like this having discussion, having different voices for you brought to the table but more than that right because oftentimes we throw around the words like use your voice and inclusion, but Highland is so awesome because we are proactive about it all, and we're trying to find ways to include everyone. And what's important is making everyone, every student feel mad like they matter, they value, and that they know that they bring something to Highland community. It is them that brings something to this community. And that's how we can keep expanding joys and finding passions and helping everyone along their path. I would like to tell you all that it is very helpful. If you could give students with disabilities enough time to adjust to the college environment. Students need more time to learn how to be a college students and some students need to take a class more than once to understand the material. All of them can be successful in their own way and find their own joy. That is what we can do better at Highline to help students to find their joy and keep it. Thank you. Awesome. So, it's time for a break but we're not done with our questions. So, I have a question to our amazing Doris Martinez, like what should we do if you can continue or we should take a break right now. Let's go Doris. Thank you. Thank you. I'll leave it up to the panelists. How are our panelists feeling energy wise. Do you guys need a break or you can just finish with a question. I've kept the show rolling. Okay. I'll keep the show rolling. Yes, ma'am. Okay, okay. Bye away, Tatiana. Okay, okay. When do you feel supported? What does that look like? Do you guys want to answer this question? No, I don't think so. No, we skipped it. Okay, so who wants to answer, maybe. Yeah, I got you. Okay. So, it means like, you have to, it means like a great support system like I, like I mentioned earlier, my chief advisor, Ellie, and then she's a, she's a wonderful, wonderful human being, and she supports me like, like every week we chat about like what's going on during class and like, and she connects on like, how am I doing. My mother Sophia, who came here to the United States in the mid 90s and like to help and find better opportunities for me and my five siblings, my uncle and my various uncles and aunts who live all over the world. And I want to see how, how, how, how am I doing so far physically, mentally and emotionally. So it's all about having a great support system. That's what like, that's what support should look like. And that sometimes it looks like that. But anyone else wants to ask her or you want to move to next question. Oh, I can go. My turn. Or Austin. I'll go first. So, while I was at Highline, I received great support from a chief program. The peer navigators, and they showed me wonderful support and even the Highline community on campus showed me support and I'm grateful and thankful. And I have something to do that I wrote and says we go like this, people with disabilities are fun to have around. We like being included. We have a special power from another universe and that's something I wrote and I wanted to share with you all today. I like it, I like it. Yeah, okay, next question or let me have something to add. May I answer. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. It's okay. For me, it's when I feel free to ask any questions and I know that nobody will judge me. And that's when I do feel supported and what does that look like to me. Thank you. Yeah, when you got you want to add or yes, and I feel so supported at Highline I just want to share actually kind of my own personal example, being a student, and it was actually while we were remote. I'm also a mom and my kids were also doing school at home, and I had to attend a class and a meeting. And I said I am so sorry professor but my little daughter she's three or she's four now but she was three at the time I was just like there's nothing I can do. Please forgive me I want to be able to have my camera on. But she is in the background and what he said to me is this he said, LaNica. This is Highline. We meet everyone where you are. We meet students where you are we meet staff members. This is Highline. We adapt we adjust, and we go through the process together. And to me, I felt so supported so welcome so so ready to learn and grow it. I love the school so much. Thank you. Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah. I'm so happy guys that you share all this stuff and I feel so excited and lucky to be part of this community. And I have one more question for you. What advice would you give to students who are new, or who haven't found their joy path or calling yet, or who experience and listen to the mouth sayers or their voices inside of ourselves that tell us we cannot. For all the current and future students of Highline and take this note, just ignore all the naysayers. Like for example like and I'll use an outside example. During the 2012 NFL draft, many analysts on sports shows were saying that quarterback Russell Wilson is not going to win like a championship. And he's too small to play in the NFL. Russell, he didn't care. He brought the Seattle, he brought the Seattle Seahawks their first Super Bowl championship. And that's, and that's just one of many examples of like, ignoring the naysayers because they don't know who you are. You know, you know what you believe in and what you stand for. To fight for what you fight and to be successful. Stay strong and stay positive. And if you see someone and who and we is struggling to be positive. This is why I tell people all the time. What's going on. Break their street and negativity. Thank you. Yeah. Austin, what is your advice. Well, we all came to college to come to a look for a career. Well, achieve has a great job coaches they helped me with their look for a job and after I graduated. I went back to the job agency and the wonderful Miss Brenda Kim helped me get a job and I'm happy where I'm at with the job and I'm a keep staying positive and I don't listen to the names day years because they don't know who I am. And I delete the negativity out of my life and keep staying positive. And for people who are new and coming to campus. Draw. If you have a path, go to start first start with the drawing board and what was a wonderful source of support, whoever that may be, and let them know, or like touch on account users for an example. And it's touch, you know, approaches you in the achieve program your first day of visit. And she has, hey, John, who do you want to. What do you want to accomplish in life. And she will, she or Jenny or Julie will help you with that. And Juliana will too. And we will, they will all put the puzzle pieces together and help you out with help you out be successful and guide you down to the right path. And they'll tell you stay positive and keep going. Thank you. Great. Thank you Austin, Juliana. What is your advice for the device for students who's new students or or for people who is having difficult times just from just find your resources find the people who believe in you and wants you to grow and become a successful successful person. And, and also believe in yourself. And, and there was one, there was one, once there once someone told me, it was, I didn't believe me, I think this one of these days is going to be the most famous quotes. One day, I was in the class with other classmates and we have an instructor, amazing instructor and from the chief program back when I was first starting it. And she told us each one of us and she want to say us out loud. And her quote is, I'm, and she want to say it, I'm supposed to be here and I'm smart enough. And once it was that person who was Julie. Yes, Julie Pollard. Yeah, which I still believe that till this day Julie so thank you for that. Julie Pollard. Yep. Okay Lenica. So what I would say is this. Highline is the place where we can all become the best versions of ourselves. What I would say to say to students is this advocate for your journey. This is your journey, this is your chance to tell your story, and to become your own leader, and do what you want to do, because at Highline you matter.  As for the naysayers, I would just say, just come to Highline and leave them, right because you are going to be surrounded by such strength, such inspiration, passions, and people that care for you, and want to build connections and meaningful experiences. Julie. Right. The advice I would like to give to students who are new is to be success, be respectful, be confident, be yourself. And unless you can, you can be a thunderbird, then always be a thunderbird. Take notes, use a voice recorder to record other instructors lecture, use a peer navigator to help you, and be a good college student in this Highline college. Thank you. Thank you for the advice you guys shared, and thank you so much for that. So this is all everyone. So now it's time to ask questions in a Q&A section in the chat, or in the chat. And let's just, if you want to hear more, let's just ask our student presenters more. Thank you panelists for being here today and sharing your experiences. So as we didn't take a break, so we can just, if you're not tired, and if you still have the joy in you, we can move straight to questions and just let's get it done, right? So now we will start the questions with the questions for our student panel. So we have some great questions and please feel free to submit more questions in the Q&A feature at the bottom of the screen as we move along. So, and I have Jeff here who will help me with the question part, right Jeff? Yes, I'm here. Okay. And what question you want to answer? We can take a five-minute break to post questions probably in the chat more, or if you just have a question to text, text right now to the chat, we'll be looking for your questions. And I see. Tatiana, we have two questions right now. Right. So I can, as the first one, this one is pretty interesting. So one, the first question is, what are your favorite anime or any other shows to watch? Interesting. And I know who will answer that first, Juliana. There is so much. So far I know my very first anime show in a long time is Sailor Moon, one of the favorite TV series. And lately, I think there's a recent show. I know it's pretty good. It's called the Dragon Slayer. And then there's another one, Seven Deadly Sensor, a pretty good series. Anyone else? I'll go. Although I'm not a big fan of anime, but I do like certain TV shows like, for example, The Equalizer. The story is Queen Latifah. It is the go out of all drama action shows. The Equalizer. Okay. We have a question from Karen. Can you guys talk about the work you do, you're doing right now? And that's a great question, Karen. Thank you so much. Yeah. Austin, what about you? What work are you doing? Okay. I knew that was coming at me. So I put together the puzzle pieces and then did a job at Microsoft. And I'm an assistant project coordinator. I asked in 2016, I began working on the Common Air Reset team. And there are a few achieved students that are on my team as well. And it's a great working on Microsoft. It's a great experience. And I'm thankful for to be a former Highline college that's a chief student class of 2015. And I'm going to keep on going with my journey. And I'm thankful. Thank you. Great. Juliana, you already shared that, but very quick. One more time. Currently, well, currently I'm working as a lab tech as a tutor Highline to help students in the art and design program. My job is to help students with their homework assignments and also if they need help with software with Adobe softwares and stuff. So even at the opportunity to do some small marketing, kind of like posters or flyers for the art and design program as well. Thank you. And Joey. What's the question again. So what, what are you doing right now what job, where do you work. Oh, what I'm doing right now is finding a job job. I found a job already I work at the at Lowe's in the Pacific Highway South Kent, which is near at Highline college and my home. Lowe's is very supportive because they know how they know how to help people with disabilities like me, I, I like working there, and I learned new skill skills there. And I am more confident and in Lowe's I, I am a front end loader and I what I do I. I took out the cards outside around the parking lot, watering the plants in the garden and help the customers who needs help. And yeah, that's, that's why I'm doing now. Thank you. Thank you, Joey. Oh, and you go. Yeah, so I'm a pure navigator for achieve that Highline college. I love it so much I, I help other students, just kind of like we talked about right to find their passions, get connected with campus get involved on campus, a system and classes and of course overall, just help them to realize their unlimited potential. Thank you. Great. Thank you guys for sharing my heart is still working on his drop his he just joined our program this quarter. That's right. And yeah, so do you know when you will be doing your internship my heart or not yet. I will be getting like in the new year. Great. Yeah, it's a really, it's a really great place to it's in south center near Costco. Okay, so I just want to clarify that our students, the part of the program is the internships based on student interest. So they shared with their employment specialist what they would like to do for life and they, they find a place for them to try to do the job and do the internship and it's paid internship so they very well prepared to for their future job when they graduate achieve. Okay, so we have another question. Jeff, do you want to take that question. Sounds good. So we have a question from Nicole. So how long does it take you guys to graduate. Well, it depends on and not only on the achieve. But like, like, like which courses are you taking what do you want to graduate from, because some courses and will require you to take an award will take you more than a year to graduate or two or three or whatever the case may be. So it really depends on what you're studying. For how about you. Since I'm studying computer science, hopefully I could graduate with it the next two to three years, God willing. Okay, Juliana. I had to agree with my hard on that it depends on with career goal that you're going through and stuff like that since when I first came to Highland it. It took me two years to get my chief certificate on my chief certificate, and along with three years to get my social studies depending of how, how much process that you put in that usually some students will take like two to three classes or or depends on their pace and how much load they put on their on their schedule and stuff. And for me. Since I'm getting my bachelor's I should be my five more classes ago. So I should be the goal is to graduate by spring in 2022. So that's the goal. Yeah, you're almost there. I know. Yeah, and when you go. I agree with Juliana and the hard I think it depends on your own personal journey. I know for me I've been at Highland for six years. When I first came here I was working on my AA and human services, and my rule of thumb for my personal journey is, I only take two classes at a time.  And for me I've just taken two classes at a time, and I should be graduating after this winter quarter. Joey. You already. What's the question again graduated so how long for you to graduate. You already graduated Highland right. Yeah, I already graduate Highland College last summer. I like I like work. I like going to Highland College and taking, taking any classes that I'm interested. And yes, and I agree. And I agree with my heart and Juliana and. And, and, like, like Nica. That it depends on your, it depends on your journey. Yeah, do you guys for those who already graduated at the joey and Austin. So, who was your favorite instructor when you were in Highland, do you remember the names or you really like, Oh, Well, well, I remember, well, I remember, I remember that the guy, the guy who teach the guy who teaches us about archaeology. His name is Dr. Lonnie summer. Okay, he was, he was a great teacher. He, he helped, he helped me because of the great explanations he have. And, and yes, I'm interested of archaeology I've been studying archaeology for my whole life. And I'm not, and am I, and the next, and the next instructor I remember at public speaking. Her name is her name is Kara store, Kara stored. She's nice. She, she teach us about public speaking skills. And I remember, and I remember I perform, I perform and give a speech to the audience about the first amendment of the US Constitution speech. And it was, I think the eye contact, I think my eye contact is really what is really well, I sometimes I nervous, I'm getting nervous and sometimes I look, sometimes I, I click the share screen and show to the audience my, my power PowerPoint. And sometimes it's hard, it's hard to, it's hard to look at the audience on zoom. Sometimes I, sometimes I read it. That's a good way to present. Yeah, thank you, Joey. Thank you. Okay. Do you want to ask the question or you pass. Absolutely, I'm going to answer that question. So I have a whole bunch of classes. First of all, the capstone, because at the end of the year and our time at Highline, we get to share our presentation to family, friends, and the whole Highline community who we invited. And I like, I enjoy being going to the library and getting film for interview skills. So I use that skills that I use. And I use that skill that I presented on the video and in everyday life and other favorite classes, Zumba and balance work in life. I'm thankful that I took those classes and most importantly, the last one is music life 101. I got to sing a solo piece and think it was building seven across from the Brewster outside that big dome. And everyone liked the performance and I'm happy that I became a great talented artist I am today and I'm thankful. Thank you. Thank you, Austin. Have another question. For students who are new to our community. How did you have did or do your build. How did you build your community at Highline, or how do you build your community at Highline. Well, I can answer this one because in a sense and I started our Highline. The first, the first thing I would check in the first in a community I was able to build was through my achieve and colleague classmates peers. It was from four days of four days of the week. I do I attend a class with 17 other peers of mine, and we really share our experiences together. And like, see like, what can what, what do we agree on, and what we do not like. I think that same as strategy to with my other classes to that's how you really build a community. It's all about like, like getting to know one another you know I'm saying. Yeah. Thank you. There you go unified club. I love that Austin. Okay, so Juliana have did you build your community. You know, first office of course from chief of chief program, and to build more communities I would recommend to check out their CLS clubs. So I check out their students has these really cool clubs when I was on the, went on the campus they have like cooking club anime club crocheted and knitting club. And that's one way to build like really cool and amazing communities. That's what would be a good start. And also best way to make friends do. Yeah. And who has Lenica. You're not new to our community but maybe you, you, you want to share how you built your community. How I built my community at Highline, I would definitely say, you know, you build that community, like, like you mentioned Juliana through going through clubs for me. It was connecting with everyone in my class. I, you know, a lot of times the professors will have you do discussion boards and this is such a great way for us to be able to connect and hear each other's different stories. And I love about Highline so much. We're so diverse. We all have different stories, and through the class. Yeah, your class you're making meaningful connections with your peers, and your professors, that's how I built my community, because I felt safe. I felt like I mattered and just inspired.


Good morning, and what a beautiful morning. It is today I want to thank Commander Benda and the sailors of Old Ironsides for hosting us aboard this storied warship as well as the Honorable Riaz Obel and James Nealon for taking part in this incredibly moving event And I want to welcome Captain Tom Kelly a sailor a patriot and a Medal of Honor recipient Tom.  Tom good to see you Most importantly to our newest citizens Congratulations, how fitting it is to celebrate your naturalization in Boston the birthplace of the American revolution on the deck of the USS Constitution a worship that sailed and fought to secure the blessings of freedom when our nation was in its infancy You hail from ten Different countries around the world from Ireland to Ghana from the Philippines to Jamaica and your journeys in life have Intersected at this precise moment in time From this day forward you will begin an American journey together All of you have ties to the military Four of you are currently serving in the army two are in the Navy two are in the Air Force and one is in the Coast Guard and One is an army veteran Each of your stories is as is as unique as the countries the cultures and the loved ones that you've left behind But the act of immigrating to your new home To your new nation is as old as America itself The United States is and forever will be a nation of immigrants at the dawn of our Republic many boarded vessels like this very ship and endured a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic and many cases Immigrants confronted the treacherous seas with only the things that they carried on their backs They battled famine and disease Some were separated from their loved ones and others paid the ultimate price What compelled them to take this perilous journey what drove them to leave all they hold dear and sail towards unknown shores and uncertain destinies hope Hope of a better life and hope for a better future for their families Hope drove them to endure adversity and I believe Hope is what drove you to this very moment this morning Immigration is ultimately a step of faith an Act of hope and this hope This faith in America is part of the lasting gift that you bring to our country You my fellow Americans feel our communities and our nation with hope and with confidence Your determination your optimism and heritage Invigorates our cities in our towns our businesses in our schools and indeed our armed forces Immigrant service sailors marine soldiers airmen and coast guardsmen around the world and stand watch for a nation That is not formally at their own One of our nation's mottos e pluribus unum out of many one America is comprised of people from all walks of life and from distant foreign lands But we are a country united towards a common purpose The belief that all people all of us are created equal that all people all of us Deserve the protection of the law have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness We are not a people defined by a common language a common creed or a common race We are a nation characterized by its diversity and the power that that diversity fuels Your stories and the culture the customs and the traditions that you bring to it to America Exemplify that we have more that unites us than that divides us It is precisely this element of a shared life Tied to a mutual set of principles that make America that shining city on the hill and why we continue to attract Immigrants and shelter refugees from around the world America is also importantly an unfinished nation for nearly two and a half centuries We have labored to form a more perfect union to realize the values that our founders espouse and Create a society where all people truly find equal opportunity and justice in our land Because of this we are always always looking forward towards new beginnings to new horizons Helping each other pursue their American dreams with renewed help It is with this great hope for our beloved America that we welcome you with open arms as citizens of our country As you all know with citizenship comes important responsibilities as your honor has mentioned We have faith that you will work to make your commit communities inclusive and resilient Share your time and your talents with your neighbors and participate in our electoral process Raise your children with our values and have called upon defend the rights that we cherish Our nation is only as strong as its citizens So whether you hail from Portugal from Ghana or from Venezuela You are now charged with fulfilling the same civic duty as every other American Together we will dedicate ourselves to the common good with wisdom confidence and self-discipline Together we will commit ourselves to the highest principles of honor and justice towards our fellow countrymen and together We will seek to make a more perfect union America is stronger today because you are a part of it This is now your nation. This is your land in your home for generations to come I wish you all fair winds and following seas God bless you. God bless your family and friends and God bless this country that we love. Thank you


It's most inspiring to be here from this simple and humble space is where India's destiny was crafted. So it is truly, I am deeply touched and inspired by being here. And for me, leading this rally for rivers, knowing that this is the place from where the Dendi March started, it is truly historic that we are here today.  He was a living representation of conservation. So we are at a time where if we don't conserve, we will not survive. That from here on, inspired and blessed and graced by Mahatma's being here, the rally also will be successful. We want to see that Sabarmathi flows once again. Similarly, every other river in the country flows again.


Hi, my name is Jerica, and this is Josh. We are students at CCB, and we are studying DCF and its involvement in our community. Josh, any thoughts on what DCF is? DCF is a system that helps people, families that need help, whether it's from food to domestic to children services. That's correct. DCF also has six tiers, so they offer anything from food, cash, child development, child safety, DCF interactions, and the Child Development Division, it's for integrated services, children's with special needs, so they're a pretty good service for our community. We've come up with their few questions for our community last week, and we asked people if they even knew what DCF was. And to our shock, many of them didn't even know what DCF is, and those that did definitely didn't prefer their interactions. So we got very interesting results. We decided to do some research on that, and we came across a website. It's called dcf.vermont.gov, and it is very informative for those who didn't know what DCF is, or the services that it provides to our community. If you look on the left-hand side, there's definitely different options for a variety of different people, from parents to childcare providers to people that are involved with DCF. One of our favorite links was the family services. So this is resources for the people that are involved with DCF. There's plenty of different choices to pick from, from childcare to child safety interventions, many different links that can help you become informed and aware, and if you need to find other services for your child or family member, you can click any of those links, and it will bring you right to a phone number, or somebody that can help you. We also learned that 2-1-1, if you just type that in your phone and press, it will take you right to a person that will show you where to go, so you can get anything from childcare applications to food services to somebody to come to your house and do evaluations. Lots of different options. They can help any walk of life from birth to elderly. It was a great choice. Definitely a good link. If anybody's trying to find a quick resource, I would definitely recommend 2-1-1. Josh, what was yours? Josh's favorite link. We go to the child of a division, and if you scroll down one second, you can contact us, press any of the law options. There's also, I'm sorry, my computer is acting funny. I'm sorry. It's like not working. So we're just gonna skip that. Now you know how to use this. It's a beautiful resource tool. It's not working with me very well right now, so I don't want to waste anyone's time, but I will try to keep going with that. We did meet with a DCF officer today. He is a supervisor in the Chittenden County. His name is Dan. He was great. We asked him lots of questions. Josh, do you remember any of the questions that we asked? I don't remember at all. Not at all. Well, let me refresh your memory. We discussed a little bit about what DCF was. We learned that he supervises six caseworkers. He, of his caseworkers, each one is assigned 25 cases, which is an abundance of cases, that they range from one case could have one kid or one case could have six kids. So it's kind of to whose discretion is whoever, how we're gonna say how many kids is actually on their caseload, but there's 25 cases per caseworker. Which is ridiculous if you actually think about it. Like one person can definitely not oversee 25 people. It's impossible. So I can imagine how they're feeling and how overwhelming that experience has to be for any person. So I can understand now, after talking to him, why some of the cases feel like they're being like overshadowed or overlooked because so many people, I mean, you can't have 24 hours a day on the phone with somebody checking in when there's that many kids. It's nuts. So he said that, according to the registration, they got three more positions and they're trying to fill those with new caseworkers. So that would drop the caseload to 15 instead of 25, which would be huge. He also said in kind of a condescending way that the caseworkers currently are kind of like sure because they haven't seen that and it's been 25 cases per caseworker for the last five years. So I can see where they would feel like that's a joke. Like, yeah, we'll believe it when we see it kind of a mentality and that's totally appropriate. I would feel the same way. We also learned that there's a lot of different case plans for each family member. So trying to like decipher who's is the most high risk in which one needs the most attention. Also plays a huge factor on how much time they're devoting to each case. So ones that are more high risk clearly take more time and that would be more where their energy is spent. Each case plan looks a little different, but always starts with how is the parent going to fix the situation. Which is interesting to me because some parents are super involved and some parents could care less, is a personal feeling. So it's interesting how that would play out into what ones get TPR'd and which ones don't. TPR meaning termination of parental rights for those that didn't know. And that definitely happens a lot more and he discussed a little bit about that. TPRing is a problem right now because even though there is minimal or high-risk interactions with the parents, the courts are not TPRing parents. Which is terrifying to me because how long do they let the parents come in and out of children's lives that are not healthy? Like if they haven't been clean or don't plan on getting clean or refusing help or they're in a domestic abuse situation and refusing to leave the home, how long is that window open for those kids to be an option, so to speak? Like how long do they just let the kids kind of like figure out they have to stay at a different house with a faster home that they've come to love and then they're going to be ripped out when the parent just decides to get their life together. Like there needs to be a cap on how long that window is because bonds will be broken and that's really detrimental to children's development. We also talked about substance abuse and its factor on the kids that are placed. They have kids that are a lot of the cases he said that he's seeing are substance abuse cases in situations where maybe the parent is being abused also by someone and has a little bit of fear in her heart. So she usually will kind of like decide to stay with maybe the abuser and kind of let the kid get out of the situation when she's feeling torn and can't get out of herself. So they're seeing an uprise in that and that's kind of scary to me. Like what happens to the people in that relationship? Like where's the kid? Where's the mom? How do they mend that broken system? Like how do they help the mom get out of a situation? That she's feeling like she's obligated to stay in or it's kind of like already like adjusted to so to speak.  That's really sad to me. But she did say that Burlington PD has their own officer there who helps specifically with domestic abuse situations and that she goes first on call or first hand to the domestic abuse calls and helps with the woman and they will meet there there and work with the child so it's less detrimental to the child, which was interesting to know how quickly Burlington PD works to interact with DCF and make sure that everybody's involved and safe. But overall it was pretty easy to talk to him and he was super informative and very personable. I appreciated his time. How do you feel, Josh? Learned a lot about DCF, learned about programs that are available, phone number, also learned that there's a program that'll help males that are victims of domestic cases as well. Hope everybody else learns just as much. Thanks for your time.


The Kidney Cancer Association owes much of its success to the vision of its founder Eugene P. Schoenfeld, Ph.D., who was a true maverick and a genius. And that's what brings us to Boston and the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Hours was one of 40 organizations offered a special opportunity to attend this meeting, held under the theme the new, smarter innovation economy. The summit is set to highlight the importance of wiring smarter into the brain of new designs, technologies, products, partnerships and policies to transform work, cities, education, health, leisure and everyday life. Attendance to the meeting like this is perfect for an agile organization such as the Kidney Cancer Association. Brilliant folks with specific expertise are gathered from around the world for this unusual meeting. We will report to you in a few days on the substance. The way software for free could seem so raffle, but at the same time there's an important lesson here. With browsers and later with other applications like the media player, Microsoft is accused of squelching the innovation that happened on top of it. In the meantime, enjoy some scenes of daily life here on the Boston Waterfront.