The Current Online

The Current won the following awards from the Missouri College Media Association for 2008 publications at two-year colleges:

First Place
Michael Bartlett, Sports Column: Runners Aim for Personal Best
Mike Blake, Editorial Cartoon: Babel
Mike Blake, Non-editorial Cartoon: Finals
Current Online, Website
Current Online, Multi-media: Biden visits Longview

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Editor in Chief Danielle Hays is quoted in a Kansas City Star story about the economic crunch and its effect on college students. Access the story via NewsBank in MCC’s Library Online Databases: Williams, Mara Rose. “High school students and families pinched by economy.” Kansas City Star 14 Dec. 2008: A1.

Stephanie Morrison, Jessica Crutchfield and Michelle Capps are quoted in a Kansas City Star story about book buybacks in the Longview parking lot. Access the story via NewsBank MCC’s Library Online Databases: Campbell, Matt. “Students can get cash for books in drive-through buyback program at Longview.” Kansas City Star 11 Dec. 2008: B1.

by Danielle Hays

Finally, the end is here, for me at least. The last two and half years I have been trudging my feet at Longview hoping that time spent on general education would pass more quickly. There were times when I wanted to quit altogether and make a mad dash off to a university, and I’m sure a few of you can relate. This is my farewell and for those of you who cannot see the end of the tunnel, a few words to help you persevere.

Most of us want to have the university experience and exercise a new found freedom, but trust me it is worth it to you to finish this associate degree community college. I am sure everyone has been telling you the ‘positives’ of your decision already except most likely they were parents, friends attending a university, or advisors–no one who has actually been through it and finished. I know that during my stay at Longview the only people telling me the benefits I would reap from community college were the people who had never actually endured it.

I do not mean to make Longview sound like some sort of torture chamber because it is not that at all. There are the positives of a university that at times can seem more appealing, but I think the good that comes out of community college outweighs that of attending a university for the first two years. Not only did I make new friends, become involved in activities that have helped shape me but I learned more than I could have imagined and saved a ton of money doing so.

The first semester I took at Longview, I never anticipated to make friends or feel settled in. I pictured my being a student at Longview as a speed bump to getting where I wanted to be. I did not want to get involved in after-school activities because putting more time into Longview seemed ridiculous. Somehow though, as time passed, I got involved in The Longview Current newspaper and Phi Theta Kappa. I attended various clubs, and it made the time go by so much faster. I made lifelong friends and enjoyed my time spent at school. As I did those things, I learned more than I ever thought I would. I feel more prepared for a university now, and I can thank my teachers at Longview for that. I am sure I would not have received the same kind of help at a large university. I was able to learn the same things if not more and save thousands of dollars in the process. You can too if you stick to it. I think the easiest way to continue your education is to not think of Longview as a speed bump like I did. Get settled in and time will fly. I wish you all good luck and happy holidays!

by DANIELLE HAYS

“You can be anything you set your mind to.” Remember hearing that phrase or something of the sort? Most likely, if you are like any other American, you began to think you were entitled; whether it be a dream job, a fancy house, or obtaining bank. I hate to wake you from your American Dream, but you are not entitled to anything but the American nightmare. Wake up!

Most of us have heard of the downfall in our economy. If you have not, then you’re in a coma. I noticed it not only in the media, but it has affected me directly. Just in the last month I have lost about $2,000 from my college fund, equal to one and a half semesters at Longview if 12 credit hours are the limit. I fund through an investment firm called Edward D. Jones and my entire college fund and possibly my future is in their hands. I would not have such a fund if my grandpa hadn’t left that money to me in his will, and in good times it had grown.

But even if the market doesn’t crash and waste more of my fund, a recession is very probable; my job search is still going to be extremely exhausting. All of our jobs are going overseas! I finally came to my senses and realized maybe being a freelance writer (my “American Dream”) probably won’t provide