Stories

This story about Ohlone College Personal Development Classes was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on October 12, 2022.

Reporter: Richard Kim
Photographer: Alyanna Pasta

REPORTER (V/O):
Transitioning from high school to college can be a challenge. But help is available.
DANI, STUDENT/STUDENT SERVICES RECEPTIONIST:
Personal development really teaches you a lot of basic skills to prepare yourself for being a college student.
JENNIFER HARPER, COUNSELOR/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR:
I think it’s kind of an underused resource, actually, because we have great research that shows students who take these classes are more successful in college.
DANI, STUDENT/STUDENT SERVICES RECEPTIONIST:
My course was one of the online sessions, so I didn’t get to be in a classroom setting. But the work that we got to do still allowed us as students to collaborate with each other and learn a lot about just basic needs that college students have, like time management, study skills and just really some basics that were laid out to kind of get you started at Ohlone and get you competent in your first semester.
REPORTER (V/O): Ohlone offers up to 3 kinds of personal development classes that help students no matter how much college experience they have.
DANI, STUDENT/STUDENT SERVICES RECEPTIONIST:
There are some for career success and choosing a career and a path. And there are some just for life skills in general.
SABA GEBRE, COUNSELOR/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR:
Students are more most likely to be successful in all of their classes as a student, period.
JENNIFER HARPER: They have higher GPAs and are more likely to be retained and continue on with their college goals.
DANI, STUDENT/STUDENT SERVICES RECEPTIONIST:
Just learning how to do some basic things on how to build your confidence as a person and as a student in your abilities and what you can offer to the school and to the world.
REPORTER (V/O):
Personal development classes are instructed by counselors. This means you get two in one, professor and counselor.
JENNIFER HARPER, COUNSELOR/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR:
Usually when students ask me about the classes, we talk a little bit about what their goals are and we see how it might fit into their academic plan or what they’re hoping to get out of it, because they might also be able to get some of the things that we teach in those classes.
REPORTER (V.O):
It’s simple to sign up for a personal development class. Talk with a counselor to find out which one is for you, then go on MyOhlone and register.
DANI:
Just individually working with counselors or maybe taking a workshop or something like that at least once, one semester is very helpful. I highly recommend it to anybody enrolled at Ohlone.
REPORTER:
A personal development class can be the secret to your success. From the Ohlone College Fremont campus, this is Richard Kim for Ohlone Tri-City News.

This story was first broadcast on October 12, 2022 as part of the live Ohlone Tri-City News program.

Reporter/Writer: Alyanna Pasta
Photographer/Editor: Alex Ledesma

REPORTER (V/O):
In the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math field, often referred to as STEM, women face challenges as they pursue their passion because of how dominated it is by men.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
We still face a lot of adversity, especially in the form of microaggressions, which people tend to believe don’t exist. But it’s more easier to recognize when they’re aiming towards you. And this even expands to like indirect sexism.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
I’ve definitely felt kind of a bit like an oddball. I also developed imposter syndrome. I just kind of compare myself to everyone.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
Those are the kinds of things that put you down and limit you.
REPORTER (V/O):
Despite those challenges and doubts that women face, they stay positive and motivated.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
Knowing that I can champion that diversity. It motivates me to continue doing that, to tell other people that they weren’t right about their misconceptions about me and other women like me. I’m sure that many other minorities in STEM degrees or pursuing STEM degrees feel the same way.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
One reason that motivates me in STEM would be to help other people. That’s definitely one of my passions in life.
REPORTER (V/O):
Ohlone college has a club dedicated to building women’s success and presence in STEM, which is the S-W-E or SWE club.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
SWE is the Society of Women Engineers, which is an international initiative.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
Our goal is to promote diversity and advocacy for women in STEM so that they can reach their full potential within their careers.
REPORTER (V/O):
Each club meeting is eventful and is open-minded to the members and their ideas.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
During our meetings, we plan to do a lot of various activities, so we plan on doing professional development workshops, technical hands on projects, and different networking opportunities for our students.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
We can brainstorm for literally every meeting and create different ideas for every meeting. Based on recent things we’ve learned, like, for example, last semester I had recently learned how to solder and I talked with the president. She was like, you should totally teach the rest of the club to solder for our next club meeting.
REPORTER (V/O):
The club has been successful in showcasing their projects, but also helping each of the members in different ways.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
We had so many different projects, lots of different STEM events on the campus that we were able to participate in and promote our club. There was like a STEM summit where we were able to showcase our 3D printers and our our laser cutters and like a robot arm display that we did, that we programed.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
We like to invite speakers to hold workshops, speaking on topics such as like choosing the right degree for you, creating a LinkedIn account, career building and other soft skills like that.
REPORTER (V/O):
SWE has had a positive impact on its members, becoming a home and safe space for them.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
A really big way that helped me champion through that was joining clubs like these, like SWE and other engineering clubs here that promote diversity and inclusion. It makes me feel at home.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
I’m really grateful for groups like SWE that have like a support system for me to rely on other people and learn from their experiences and just get their insight on how to help me with this kind of thing.
REPORTER (V/O):
Women have high hopes for themselves in the STEM field.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
My hopes for women in STEM are that they are confident and that they know that they are capable of whatever they set their minds to, regardless of their gender or their skill set.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
My hopes for women in STEM is that one day people can name female engineers as easily as they can name male men in STEM.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
In the long run, I would really hope to see more women in STEM and the amount of women just kind of exponentially rise.
REPORTER (V/O):
Although “women” is in their name, anyone is welcome to join and have fun.
Arianna Grillo, Vice President, Environmental Engineer Major:
Our club is super cool with the really exciting new topics every meeting.
Annie Huynh, President, Cognitive Science Major:
Anyone can join. You know you don’t have to be just a woman to join SWE. Just if you have an interest in STEM or passion in STEM, or you would like to advocate for women in STEM. You know, we open our arms to you and we welcome everyone to join.
REPORTER (V/O):
The SWE Club anticipates to have their first meeting in October in room 1305. Look out for the club fair for more specific details. From Ohlone College in Fremont, this is Alyanna Pasta for Ohlone Tri-City News.

This story was first broadcast on October 5, 2022 as part of the live Ohlone Tri-City News program.

Reporter: Sean Siquig
Photographer: Andrei Domantay

REPORTER (V/O):
Ohlone College’s radio broadcasting department used to be a booming department on campus for students to experience real, on-air radio broadcasting. However, this semester, the radio department is empty, and some students are curious as to why that is.
Alyanna Pasta, Film Broadcasting Major
I took BRDC-123A. I’m not too sure what the name is specifically. I’m pretty sure it’s like the beginning radio operations class.
Natalie Delgadillo, Film Broadcasting Major
I took radio broadcasting one.
Alyanna Pasta, Film Broadcasting Major
What I really enjoyed actually was getting to go inside here. And that was like our lab time where we would practice going on air, you know, introducing music, listening back to the music, reading some scripts.
Natalie Delgadillo, Film Broadcasting Major
Specifically, I learned all the terminology for each of the equipment that we use in the department.
REPORTER (V/O):
Although these students may have been inexperienced in radio before taking these courses, they seemed to have positive opinions on the courses they enrolled in–
Natalie Delgadillo, Film Broadcasting Major
I enjoyed every bit of the time I had at the radio broadcasting class. It definitely opened my eyes to the opportunities that they offer there.
Alyanna Pasta, Film Broadcasting Major
It was actually really fun. I enrolled for the next class, the 123-B class for this semester, this fall semester. But unfortunately they canceled it, which actually really bummed me out because I was excited to rejoin the class.
REPORTER:
Pre-Covid, the radio department offered upwards of 8-12 courses according to Ohlone College’s catalog. Today, the number of courses has fallen to zero.
Jeremy Mull, Radio Station Technician
Because of low enrollment. We didn’t have the minimum number of students for the class to continue the semester. We would need ten minimum.
REPORTER:
The radio program still operates their very own 89.3 KOHL FM radio station where you can listen to today’s most popular music hits. Although the courses were canceled due to low enrollment this semester, there are still students who want to take the courses.
Natalie Delgadillo, Film Broadcasting Major
Taking this course, I definitely would love to start my profession in radio broadcasting after, you know, getting my degree. I definitely would enjoy a profession in that.
Alyanna Pasta, Film Broadcasting Major
If that 123 you know, the next class comes about again, I definitely will try to enroll and hopefully I can stay in that class and it won’t get canceled.
REPORTER (V/O):
Although radio may be a less sought-after career in recent years with the incline of new types of media, and therefore leading to a low enrollment in radio courses on campus, we hope the students who do want to take these courses can do so soon.

From the Ohlone College campus, this is Sean Siquig for the Ohlone Tri-City news.