Spotlight on Alex Amland, New Century College Junior
From Cornerstones Student to Integrative Studies Major
George Mason University junior Alex Amland came to New Century College (NCC) in 2009 through the Cornerstones program for first year students. “Alex was very engaged from the start,” remembers Professor Al Fuertes. “She was a determined student, ready to pursue her goals. She exhibited a strong sense of self-discovery and was open to sharing her views and insights with others in class.” Alex quickly felt at home in the Cornerstones community and joined its student envoy group to promote the program to prospective students.
“I was so thrilled with my first year experience that I decided to pursue an Integrative Studies major at NCC,” Alex says. “When it came to choosing a concentration, I wanted to study something I had a passion for, but was also practical for today’s job market.” An advisor helped Alex incorporate her interests in cultural studies, social media, and information technology into an Information and Society concentration with a Communication minor.
Turning Personal Interests Into a Service Project
During her sophomore year, Alex chose to volunteer with Mason’s Office of Disability Services (ODS) for a service project. Because she suffers from a chronic illness, Alex understands the feeling of isolation many college students with disabilities may experience. “I had a vision for more student involvement in ODS,” she explains. “We surveyed the students and found that they would like more social support. “ Alex helped create an outline for new programming. “Our goal is to get more students into the office so that they can discover all ODS has to offer.”
Study Abroad
In the fall of 2011, Alex participated in a Mason Center for Global Education direct exchange trip to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in order to study international communication. Interacting with the people of Rotterdam and exchange students from all over the world brought Alex new insights about using social media as a tool for spreading global awareness. Alex is currently working on a video blog about her experiences in Rotterdam.
Combining Interests for an Internship
For the spring, 2012 semester, Alex has returned to ODS for an internship. She is working on new student support programs, including seminars, peer mentoring, collaborative efforts with Mason's University Life office, and social media networks. “We want to provide students with the tools to cope with the unique intersection of having a disability and being part of a university,” she says.
Journey Toward the Future
“Being an NCC student and participating in Cornerstones has truly opened my mind to looking at the world from different perspectives,” says Alex. “Spending a semester abroad gave me the opportunity to explore new perspectives even further and helped me mature and get a true sense of myself.”
Alex is still deciding on her dream career. “I know that I want to work abroad for a while. I would love to continue studying how other cultures use social media and be able to implement those ideas in my home country,” she says. For now, Alex is happy to continue using her talents and knowledge in order to help others.
Alex Amland's Video about her Global Studies direct exchange trip to Rotterdam, the Netherlands
February 14, 2012
