Raritan Relish, Dec.1

by Kaitlyn Jackson

The enforced smoking ban on RVCC property has stirred up a war-like rivalry between people with two very different opinions.

First opinion, which I have heard much of: “It’s a free country. I’ll smoke where I want”.

Second opinion: “I think smoking should be banned everywhere not just RVCC”.

A lot of the student body finds this enforcement policy derogatory, especially when they get handed that “golden” ticket.

I’m sure many of us wish that the tickets were for Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and not a drain on our wallets.

In disbelief of the new ban, many students continued smoking between classes and on their break-time. That left them in even greater disbelief when they were fined.

The new enforcement left a lot of smokers wondering, “Why now?” but what they fail to admit is that they brought it on themselves.

Littering is the main reason for the ne enforcement policy. Yesterday when I was going to class, there were big bags of cigarette buds on the tables. Gross.

Just think: if you didn’t leave that cigarette bud on the ground that “one time,” you might still be enjoying your break-time indulgence.

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Raritan Relish, Nov. 10

by Kaitlyn Jackson

When the two words “mental” and “illness” come together, they form a sort of stereotype.

Some say that "mental illness" has been recognized in a fourth of our population.

In my opinion, “mental” means mindful and “illness” can translate as simply being misunderstood in the sense that someone see the world differently than you and I do.

This misconception can be harmful, but in some cases it is a gift. It brings a different kind of light on certain aspects of our normal everyday world.

Problem is: we never think to recognize it because of the two words that scare us away.

I know a thing or two about this “mindful misunderstanding” in people and quite frankly I find it incredibly intriguing.

On Thursday, Nov.11, the RVCC community will get a chance to hear what it’s like to live with and what is involved in the recovery process of a mental illness. Carlene Vieras, a vibrant speaker, will share her personal story to give us a different outlook on mental illness.

Vieras’ talk is noon-1:30 p.m. in the Atrium conference center Room101.

I’ll be there, will you?

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Raritan Relish, Nov. 3

Different faces, places, and fads will always surround you.

Everything is always unique and everything is always diverse no matter where or what you’re looking at.

RVCC has the perfect blend of people, professors and students.

In high school, people seem to separate into their own similar groups, never stepping out of the box to meet the people on the outside.

In college, it is just the opposite. You are now prepared to step out of the box and reach new heights that have never even been a thought of by the little high school mind that was once previously yours.

It’s exciting! It is almost as if I’m coming into a new era in my life. I am spreading my wings and leaving the nest. Older students are probably finding my freshman views comical.

But I am sticking to my point. College, especially RVCC, is completely different in so many positive ways!

My life has been a bowl of Cheerios and RVCC is the milk that makes it the delicious cereal I eat everyday before class! It is a change in scenery for my regular, routine-filled life.

Hallelujah!

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Raritan Relish, Oct. 27

I’ve been thinking about Henry Coslick’s Record article, “The future of  RVCC parking and the current mess."

If I was flying first-class, eating caviar with every meal and golfing with Bill Gates every afternoon, I would be the first to provide RVCC students with a properly sized parking garage to comfortably fit all of Raritan Valley’s frustrated student body.

Excited and eager to start my first day of the fall semester, I pondered who I would meet and what my professors would be like. Before class, I walked into Starbucks to get my usual latte as I did during the summer semester as a spanking new freshman, muttering to myself, “I wonder if this professor will be easy or maybe he’ll be mean, hairy and old.”

Contemplating all of these factors I didn’t even notice the gross accumulation of cars entering the RVCC parking lots. When I finally entered the Somerset parking lot, it hit me. With five minutes remaining to get to my class, I came to the realization that there was no way I would make it there on time.

Distraught and confused by all of the cars, I knew then that summer semester and fall semester were on completely different spectrums with completely different atmospheres. I yelled at myself in a sarcastic tone, “Great way to start off the semester, Kate!”

That was the first and the last time I parked in Lot 3. Alas! My freshman eyes were opened. As I walked back to my car after class I felt as if I had just been handed the key to RVCC. I now know the secret, get to school a half hour early! Especially if you plan on stopping at Starbucks!

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customers

Scotch Plains resident Katie Jackson is a freshman and liberal arts major. Jackson describes her personality as animated and says she’s “absolutely thrilled to continue my ‘adventures’ at RVCC.” She writes a personal blog and blogs here about RVCC life.