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The Digital Connection highlights students from various educational institutions and alumni. The opportunity to participate is optional and open to the public. Email support@scpandgsg.org for more information.
Suffolk County Community College
July 23, 2024
Noeleann Eyton-Jones
Thank you for taking the time to participate in our digital article series, The Digital Connection. Your willingness to share your journey helps bring greater visibility to the experiences of online students and highlights the growing need for inclusive opportunities, like fraternity and sorority involvement, within virtual learning environments.
Before we start, we like to highlight business owners as part of our commitment to supporting small businesses. If you are a business owner, we invite you to share your business name, website, or any relevant details, so we can help amplify your work alongside your personal story.
Not a Business Owner
What inspired you to pursue an online college education, and how did you get started?
The inspiration to pursue my online college education came from two sources. The first inspiration came from my sister Michele. She managed to earn her bachelors degree online in Criminal Justice all why being a single mom and raising her infant son. The second inspiration came from my many family members and friends who gave me the strength and encouragement to complete my online degree goals.
What challenges have you faced while pursuing your degree online, and how have you overcome them?
In pursuing my online degree, I have faced quite a number of challenges. In the beginning, and at this institution that I will be attending, I was a student that attended physically there. I had to suspend my ambition due to starting a family and dealing with health issues. Now that these health issues have decreased and my children are now grown, I felt now we be the perfect opportunity to complete my goals in achieving my degree.
How have you balanced your online coursework with other responsibilities, such as work or family?
Since I will be returning this fall, I will be balancing my online coursework and my other work and family responsibilities in a productive manner. I work for my local school district and they are very helpful in allowing easy for me to complete my degree. As far as family responsibilities, and as a household of 8 people, it will be easy to delegate these tasks to others in the home as I work towards my degree.
What have you found to be the benefits of pursuing a college education online, compared to traditional on-campus learning?
The benefits of pursuing a college education online as compared to traditional on-campus learning is the flexibility it provides to complete all the tasks provided. As a student, you are not locked in on a set schedule or have to upend your life to attend in-person classes. The coursework can be completed on a weekly basis.
How have you stayed motivated and engaged in your online classes, and what strategies have you used to ensure your success?
As a student attending this Fall, I plan to stay motivated and engaged in my online classes by engaging with my other peers that are completing coursework online through chats or students that are attending in my area of upstate NY. I believe through peer involvement and engaging in group activities with those of similar or different interests, productivity can foster. The strategies I am going to implement to ensure my success is to drown out all negativity and distractions and focus on the tasks that need to be completed.
What does it signify to you when organizations like Sigma Chi Psi Sorority and Gamma Sigma Gamma Fraternity attempt to bridge the social gap for students who are pursuing their education online?
Organizations like Sigma Chi Psi and Gamma Sigma Gamma are paving the way for those students that feel that they have been left out of the process of joining organizations simply because they are not attending a brick and mortar institution. To be invited to join both of these organizations as an online student is bridging the social gap by bringing these students together in various ways and means and to have us all included in the process.
What significance does socializing, networking, and participating in events focused on networking and community service hold for you?
There is a monumental significance to me when it comes to socializing, networking, and participating in events that focus on networking and community service because I am an extroverted and engaged type of person when it comes to these points. As a lector(public speaker) in my church for over 30 years, yes you did read this correctly, I am very engaged with the public and I just served the public in another capacity as a volunteer at a Flag Day parade in Hudson, NY. I love to socialize and network with all people and participate in as many events and obligations as needed, whether near my home or far away. I have always been a person, when I was younger or at my age now of 46, who has always strived to love everyone. I always try to bring joy to others through service, volunteering, etc.
Thank you again for being part of The Digital Connection. Your voice adds depth and meaning to this series, and we’re honored to share your perspective. We look forward to amplifying your story and continuing to build a platform that reflects the diverse journeys of online learners everywhere.