What a difference a semester makes. What a difference a class makes.

Last fall, Nicole Connelly was taking five classes at JCCC. She committed to studying at least two hours per day. But the two hours quickly turned into six hours minimum. She was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“I found myself barely passing all my exams,” she said. “I knew the information going into a test, but on the essay questions I had trouble putting down only the information the instructor wanted in the answer. I ended up getting through all of my classes, but it was a huge struggle.”

Because Connelly had put off taking college classes several times before in the 10 years since graduating from high school, she was determined to find a way to help herself be a better student. Knowing Connelly’s story helps one better understand her determination.

“Coming out of high school, I was driven, but just not going anywhere,” Connelly recalled. “I was afraid of college, so I chose to work rather than go right to college.”

By the time she was 23, Connelly decided to enroll in a couple of college classes.  As an older student, she found herself having a greater appreciation for college. However, Connelly was still proceeding without a lot of purpose.

“I took a sociology and a business class, and I did well,” she recalled. “I got A’s but for what reason? I didn’t really have an end reason to stay in school so I took another break.”

Connelly returned to college three years later with a renewed commitment to education.

“I decided to make myself commit to one of the many things I wanted to do in my life,” she said. “In making myself commit to something, I learned how to finish and finish strong.”

But Connelly’s “ah-ha” college moment came after the semester she struggled when taking five classes. She decided to take a class to help her sharpen her learning tools.

Connelly found what she was looking for in a learning strategies course. The program's courses teach thinking, learning and self-management strategies necessary for success at the college level.

“The learning strategies course that I took taught me how to take a lot of information from one of my existing classes and make it more useful” Connelly said. “I now walk into my classes feeling more confident and knowing that I am ahead of the game.  With my new study skills, I find myself more engaged in class because I am familiar with what the teacher is saying, and I am not scrambling to take everything down in my notes.”

In reflecting on her experiences since high school, Connelly said that going to school and sticking with it is the greatest thing she has ever done for herself.

“I was too afraid of college when I graduated from high school,” she said. “I now know that school is so valuable and that it is one thing no one can take from you. It’s priceless, and it is totally worth it. Going to school fills me up!”