123456781234567812345678

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY’S ACT 101/LEARNING SKILLS PROGRAM NEWSLETTER

Fall 2004-Spring 2005Vol. 12 No. 2

CHIEVERTheAdvisory Board

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 390Pittsburgh, PA

MICHAEL P. WEBER LEARNING

SKILLS CENTER

ACT 101/LSPDUQUESNE UNIVERSITY

PITTSBURGH, PA 15282(412) 396-6661

Page 4

Maggie Powell: An Act 101FreshmanBy Uhuru Hotep, Ed.D.

Maggie Powell is not your average ACT 101 student. This perky

freshman grew up in New Kensington,Pa., a Pittsburgh suburb, and attendedValley High School, where she played onthe girl’s soccer team and graced thestage as a cast member of the VikingTheatre. She starred in student produc-tions of Grease and The Wizard of Oz. Shealso served on Student Council as asophomore and junior class vice presi-dent.

Maggie visited and fell in love withDuquesne in October of her senior year.She already had friends here, but she isthe first in her family to attend theUniversity. What most appealed to herabout Duquesne was the accommodatingsize of the campus and the small classes.When she visited campus last October,she met Debbie Zugates in the Office ofAdmissions, who assured her Duquesnewould be a great place for her and thenintroduced her to the Spiritan Divisionand its summer program.

Regarding the summer program, Maggie states, “It was a reallearning experience. What I enjoyed most was meeting andmaking friends with my fellow students. I also discovered thatcollege classes require a lot more work than high school classes.”She also enjoys the independence that living on campus allowsand her Spiritan Division instructors, whom she describes as“very helpful,” a characteristic she really appreciates.

Maggie is considering majoring in marketing and taking aminor in theatre. And once she acclimates to the college scene,she intends to explore campus opportunities to join a theatregroup and play women’s soccer. In her spare time, she visits theSouth Side or the Waterfront.

Nadeen Seldon: WeatheringChange, Reaping RewardsBy Martin Sivitz, M.M.

D ifficult transitions have figured heavily for Nadeen Seldon, an ACT

101 student who has recently finishedher freshman year at Duquesne.

Born in Philadelphia, she decided in2001 to move to Pittsburgh, where hergodmother lived. She was still in highschool at the time. “It was time for achange” is what Nadeen has to sayabout it.

Nadeen, now a sociology major with aminor in criminal justice, described afish-out-of water story in her transitionfrom urban South Philly to suburban Mt.Lebanon, where she attended Mt.Lebanon High School. It wasn’t just amatter of forsaking one town foranother, or a Philly cheesesteak forPrimanti’s. “It was a culture shock,” shesaid. “I’d never been exposed to suchprestige. It was like living in a bubble,”

she said of the new environment. She made good academicstrides, but socially, she stayed to herself.

Nadeen describes herself as shy, but if you spend a bit of timewith her, it is obvious that she is well-liked, the kind of personwho gets a lot of warm “hellos” and people like to talk to her.

Another major transition occurred when she entered Du-quesne through the Spiritan Division Summer Program in 2003.Her reaction is typical of students in the program: She remembersit as challenging but is grateful for the edge it afforded her whenthe fall semester began.

The difficulties have paid off, though; she has gathered someawards along the way. Nadeen has received a BASH (BlackAssociation of South Hills) scholarship, as well as scholarshipsfrom NEED and Lavelle-Merritt. Nadeen has been inducted intothe Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and has joined the Black StudentUnion. Recently she was honored by the Women’s LeadershipSociety at Duquesne.

She has also been involved in Service Learning. This pastsemester Nadeen was a PACT tutor working in OperationMainstream (a college prep program) under the supervision of Dr.Uhuru Hotep, Associate Director of the Michael P.Weber Learn-ing Skills Center. She has found the experience fulfilling even ifgetting out of bed was sometimes difficult. She especiallyappreciated becoming a mentor to a student with a learningdisability.

Nadeen describes her vocational goals as “social work orchild advocacy—something impacting the lives of young people.”

She plans to get an undergraduate degree in sociology and amaster’s degree in social work.

Having a job has kept her schedule hectic. Currently a ticketagent for Greyhound, she deals with “crazy hours” but also hasthe perk of free travel anywhere. Nadeen manages to find timefor her interests, which include shopping and travel, andspending time with her family. “I get back to Philadelphia asoften as I can.”

Dr. Eunice AndersonPrincipal, Milliones Middle School

Dr. Marilyn BarnettPrincipal, Westinghouse High School

Mr. Paul-James CukannaDirector, Admissions Office, Duquesne University

Mr. David DiPetroExecutive Director, Palumbo Center, DuquesneUniversity

Mr. Richard EspositoInterim Director, Financial Aid Office, DuquesneUniversity

Mr. Gust FlizanesDirector/Design and Construction, FacilitiesManagement, Duquesne University

Dr. Janie FritzAssociate Professor, Communications andRhetorical Studies, Duquesne University

Rev. Timothy Hickey, C.S.Sp.Director, Mission and Identity, DuquesneUniversity

Dr. Rodney HopsonChair, Educational Foundations & LeadershipSchool of Education, Duquesne University

Ms. Patricia JakubRegistrar, Duquesne University

Mr. Althier JonesDistrict Director, Western Pennsylvania DistrictOffice, Small Business Administration

Dr. Fred LorensonDirector, Freshmen Development and SpecialStudent Services, Duquesne University

Dr. Joe MaolaDirector of Accreditation Services, School ofEducation, Duquesne University

Mr. Gene MarianiAssistant Academic Vice President, DuquesneUniversity

Mr. Alex MatthewsSchool Board Member, Pittsburgh Public Schools

M. Gayle MossPresident, NAACP

Ms. Valerie NjieVice President, Operations, Bidwell TrainingCenter

Mr. Robert O’ConnorSpecial Assistant to Gov. Rendell, SouthwesternPennsylvania Governor’s Office, Commonwealthof Pennsylvania

Mr. Sylvester PaceExecutive Director, Negro Educational EmergencyDrive

Judge Oscar PetiteJudge, Uptown District, Allegheny County

Dr. Gary ShankAssociate Professor, School of Education,Duquesne University

Mr. Randall TaylorSchool Board Member, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Dr. John ThompsonSuperintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Mr. Jeff WorthyVice President, NDSC Executive Offices, PNCBank

sleep last night – there is a strong possibility that you only got four and are not whiningand griping.

2. Take exquisite care of your goose. Don’t expect a beat-up run down, ill-cared-forautomobile to perform like the “ultimate driving machine.” It can’t do it. Accordinglyconsider the following four areas:

a. Physically. Come on. EAT RIGHT! Stop with the sugar, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, no sleep, no water, processed junk food. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. Exercise.

You know the drill. But DO IT!

b. Emotionally. Love, hug, smile, guffaw, cry, be moved. Shower the people you love with love. Thank people. Give bouquets of gratitude. Strengthen your relationships.

c. Mentally. Learn something new every single day. Force yourself to think outside your self-imposed limitations. Entertain new possibilities. Stretch. Learn (happily and

willingly) by failure. Dance, sing, juggle, build a doghouse.

d. Spiritually. By whatever beliefs you hold to be true, honor your Spiritual nature. This might simply be through prayer, meditation or service. But whatever it is, consider it vital to your overall well-being.

3. Schedule in your recovery time. Yes. Actually log it in your calendar. Tuesday, Thurs-day, Saturday, 7 a.m., Walk for 30 minutes! Monday through Friday, 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. –close the door, turn off the lights, and shut off the phone. Sit in silence and focus on yourcopious blessings.

4. Clean it up! You will work so much more efficiently when your environment is lean andclean. Throw out the old magazines, clean off your desk top, donate the items in your homethat you know you are not actually going to ever use. Let’s face it. I am NOT going to usethat camping gear again!

5. Simplify. Here’s the deal: The more toys I have, the more maintenance I have to do.AND the more space I have to create to house the toys. AND the more hours I have to workto buy, insure, and house the toys. Just hang around with friends who have all the toys youlike. Let them do all the work. The bell has been rung, the horses are out of the gate and thepace has been set. Your goal is to run the race with as much power, stamina and clarity aspossible. By implementing the above five ideas, not only will you be able to be tremen-dously effective and successful in your endeavors, but you can enjoy the process as much asthe outcomes.

Linda Larsen helps individuals and companies get unstuck, have more fun and be more productive.She is an international speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the bestselling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.comor 941-927-4700. Copyright 2003 Linda Larsen Communications, Inc.

To really excel, you need to strive for balance in all the areas of your life–not just intellec-tual and financial , but physical, emotional, personal, social, and spiritual as well. That’swhy Duquesne is the perfect place to achieve balance – “Education for the Mind, Heart, andSpirit.”

Maggie Powell

“What Ienjoyed mostwas meetingand makingfriends...I alsodiscovered thatcollege classesrequire a lotmore work. ”

Nadeen Seldon

“It was aculture shock.I’d never beenexposed to suchprestige.”

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012312345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901231234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123InsightsPage 2 Page 3

Program Update

SKILLS AND CAREER SATISFACTION

By Carol Cantini, M.S.Ed.

Some students are careerothers struggle to find direction

for their studies and their work aftercollege. There are many resourcesavailable to both. The Career ServicesCenter at Duquesne (http://www.careerservices.duq.edu/) offersworkshops on such topics as resumewriting and interview techniques anddirect employment services such ason-campus interviews and resumereferrals. All students should fullyparticipate in the Center’s programs.

Oftentimes, students look forjobs that pertain to the skills theyhave learned through their major areaof studies. Sometimes, depending onthe student’s major, the skills thatstudent seems to have do not seem tomatch the skills required for the job.What to do?

While it is true that many jobsrequire candidates with specificmajors—accountant, pharmacist,nurse, etc.—still others requirecandidates who can demonstrateother concrete skills—oral andwritten communication skills orresearch skills, etc.—or abstractskills—leadership, human relations,etc. Commonly called transferableskills—as opposed to content skills

developed through the major—these areskills one learns from everyday studentlife. Transferable skills are developedthrough extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs, and internships. They may beenhanced through coursework.

The following extract is from theWeb site, http://www.mapping-your-future.org. It provides a structure foranalyzing your skills and relating them toyour career interests:

Skills and Interests

• Think about your interests.

• What do you like to do? Think about experiences you have enjoyed. What kind of school, religious, social, or sports activities do you like?

• Make a list of 10 activities you have enjoyed doing in the past four years.

• Evaluate those interests. Think about what you liked about the activities. What challenges did the activities offer? What skills do you need to develop further to continue in those activities?

• Consider your skills.

• Evaluate school, volunteer, work, or leisure experiences.

By Mary Dowd, B.A.

SUPER (Stand Up Partners forEducational Retention) is a

new program for Duquesne studentssponsored by the University and thePennsylvania Department ofEducation.

SUPER offers member studentsopportunities to serve their fellowstudents as mentors and peeradvisors in the achievement of theirmutual academic goals, and oppor-tunities to participate in communityservice partnerships with Pittsburgharea businesses and corporations.Member students can also earncourse credit and/or stipends fortheir campus or community service.

The Michael P. Weber LearningSkills Center at the University isusing the program as a potentialsource of tutors. It was first imple-

LIFE IN BALANCE

Contributed by Sherry Goldman, M.M.,Assistant Director for Academic Services

We all know the story of thecollege student whose life is not in

balance... who’s partying more oftenthan studying... and whose grades reflecthis/her emphasis on the social.

But what about the other extreme?Who ever questions a student whodevotes so much attention to academicsthat nurturing self or others “falls off theend?” That student is likely to bepositively reinforced by excellent grades,and accolades from parents, teachers,and others.

Consider this perspective:

Life at the Speed of Fastby Linda LarsenCopyright 2003

Let’s face it. Everything has speededup. It’s as if someone has wound the

clock up too tight and the hands areflying around at twice their normalspeed. People walk fast, talk fast, andthink fast. You can now read e-mail, talkon the phone, eat lunch, and work on areport all at the same time. You canwatch the morning news on televisionAND read the world headlines scrollacross the bottom of the screen at thesame time. You can go on vacation andnever miss a beat as you continue toconduct your business via e-mail,voicemail, laptop, and Palm Pilot. Anddon’t forget the Internet, Ethernet,hypertext, subtext, subplot and finally –burial plot.

I don’t know about you, but I get tiredjust thinking about all this.

And here’s the scary part: I’d better finda way to deal with this, or go buy ahouse on Walden Pond, because it’s notgoing away. So what’s a person to dohere? You know, a person who likes toeat, pay the mortgage and take avacation once in a while.

It seems that I’ve got two choices: I caneither find a way to keep up and survive,or stick out my lower lip, dig in my heelsand disappear in the dust.

Ok, so let’s say our choice is to keep upand, not only survive, but actuallythrive. And more than thrive – down-right flourish! How do we do it?Consider the following ideas.

1. Accept it. It’s not going away. NOONE wants to hear me complain abouthow “bad” it is. And if I tell you that I’mexhausted because I only got five hours

The following ACT 101/LSP students earnedundergraduate degrees inthe academic year 2003-2004 semester. This is apartial list.

Barton, TimothyBedrick, ChristopherBranduzzi, DomenicCaponi, NicholasCicuto, ChristopherConn, SeanDeNunzio, MariaEdington, SeanFoster, GretchenFrampton, JasonFutrell, CandaceGatti, MichaelGolle, SeanGrace, ErinHarris, CharlesHuellen, TracyJones, PierceKarczewski, KalynKearney, AshleyKornick, JenniferLeshinsky, MatthewLiVorio, BoMarino, AdamMartino, DavidMcKee, EmilyMineweaser, AnneOkpala, FlorencePeccon, G MichaelRosenau, ShawnSchaeffer, BreeanSmith, Heather M.Snyder, BenjaminStandfast, NicoleTribendis, MatthewTrinh, XuanWilson, Elaine

The following ACT 101/LSP students earnedinclusion on the Dean’slist for academic year2003-2004. This is apartial list.

Adame, AprilBenedict, MelissaCobb, JenniferColeman, RyanDavidson, HeatherDempsey, RobertDeNunzio, MariaDiBello, Anne-MarieFerrance, NicoleFigore, HeatherFoster, GretchenFreund, MarkFullwood, SarahGaffney, EmilyHerbstritt, AmandaHollis, AmyIacurci, JenniferKomorowski, JamesKreuer, VanessaMurray, KileyNapolitano, HollyNewell, AngelaNewell, AngelaNguyen, CindyPevarnik, MargaretPrice, RebeccaRumble, CandiceSchmidt, EmilySciarretti, NicholetteSeldon, NadeenSmith, Heather M.Sproull, ChristopherStandfast, NicoleStiffy, MicheleTaormina, ChristieTrinh, Xuan

Walls, RichardWank, JessicaYoung, Shannon

The following ACT 101/LSP students earned a3.00 or better foracademic year 2003-2004. This is a partiallist.

Adame, AprilAskren, RichardBenedict, MelissaBoden, KevinCampbell, AutumnCiotti, NinaCobb, JenniferColeman, RyanDavidson, HeatherDempsey, RobertDeNunzio, MariaDiBello, Anne-MarieEdington, SeanFerrance, NicoleFigore, HeatherFord, HeatherFoster, GretchenFreund, MarkFullwood, SarahFutrell, CandaceGaffney, EmilyGatti, MichaelGerlach, ThomasHarris, CharlesHerbstritt, AmandaHiller, CarrieHollis, AmyIacurci, JenniferJohnson, JamesJones, PierceKemmerer, Sean

OBSTACLES

SUPER AT DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY

Komorowski, JamesKornick, JenniferKreh, MarkKreuer, VanessaLabik, GinaMartino, DavidMineweaser, AnneMirek, JuliaMurray, KileyNapolitano, HollyNewell, AngelaNguyen, CindyOkpala, FlorencePatterson, JaneaPevarnik, MargaretPisano, MariaPortis, JustinPrice, RebeccaRumble, CandiceSchaeffer, AshleySchmidt, EmilySciarretti, NicholetteSeldon, NadeenSimmons, RaechelSmith, Heather M.Sproull, ChristopherStandfast, NicoleStiffy, MicheleTaormina, ChristieTrinh, XuanVogel, MarissaWalls, RichardWank, JessicaWood, EricYoung, ShannonZilka, BrandonZuroski, Betsy

• Make a list of your school activities (clubs, organizations to which you belonged). Make a list of any volunteer work you have done (either through social, civic or religious organizations).

• After you have assessed your interests and skills, determine the relationship between skills and interests and possible careers. You may need to research types of careers.

• Once you have found a career that matches your interests and skills, you are ready to set your career goal.

• Identifying transferable skills requires a little work, but the result will pay off in the job search because the student will be able to articulate what he or she brings to the employer besides a major in …

Contributed by Sherry GoldmanAssistant Director for Academic Services

Did you ever hear the definition for procrastination–getting ready to get ready? Many

people spend their lives getting ready to livetheir lives. This is a mistake.

Here’s some great advice from Alfred D.Souza . . .

“For a long time it had seemed to me thatlife was about to begin–real life. But there wasalways some obstacle in the way, something tobe gotten through first, some unfinishedbusiness, time still to be served, or a debt to bepaid. Then life would begin. At last it dawnedon me that these obstacles were my life.”

In other words, “This is it!”

Copyright © 2000, Success Online, Rob Gilbert & Geoff Steck, editors; publisher, The EconomicsPress, Inc., 12 Daniel Road, Fairfield NJ 07004-2565 USA; www.epinc.com To subscribe to this freeservice, simply send an e-mail to: join-sol@lyris.bestnet.net Leave the subject line and body of themessage blank.

“Obstacles are those

frightful things you see

when you take your

eyes off your goals.”

- Henry Ford

Founder and PublisherJudith R. Griggs, Ph.D.

EditorUhuru Hotep, Ed.D.

ContributorsReggie Bridges, MBA, J.D.Carol Cantini, M.S.Ed.Mary Dowd, B.A.Tommie Lewis, M.A.Marty Sivitz, M.M.

Michael P. WeberLearning Skills Center

Voice (412) 396-6661Fax (412) 396-5466

Web Sitewww.lsc.duq.edu

mented in the Spring of 2004 andcontinues to be offered. Threestudents have already expressed adesire to tutor. They all feel theywanted to do it because it would beinteresting and worthwhile.

• Center for Accelerated Learning

• Learning Skills Center at MillionesMiddle School

The Achiever Staff

Friends of the Center

continued on page 42/05 tg 303010