Words from the Young and Wise

By Maricatherine Garcea

Using college experiences to get that first job is one thing. Keeping a competitive edge to perform well at it and advance is another.

Three recent graduates of St. John Fisher College had to learn that as they left school and started the first chapters of their careers.

Paula Zimmer has done well for herself since her graduation just three years ago. Zimmer is currently a marketing specialist for the NorthCentral Region at Toshiba Business Solutions and marketing coordinator at AV Solutions. She explains that “being proactive, instead of reactive” allows her to thrive within the company.

Zimmer proposed, “Don’t tell your friends where you’re interviewing!” She explains, “I’m serious, there are only so many businesses in Rochester and if I would tell my friends where I was interviewing they would all apply at that same place.”

After sharing these words of wisdom by Zimmer with Fisher graduate Jenna Bellucci, she expressed reassurance of that statement. “Oh she’s 100 percent right, that’s what makes it so hard because Fisher is such a small community like that.”

Bellucci graduated just nine months ago and has already gotten her feet wet as the marketing assistant at Hybridge Network LLC, a supplier of dental implants. Being fresh from the class of 2010 she says, “Be open to anything and any job! Look at me, I knew nothing about dentistry and now I’ve learned so much.”

Libby Hurley, graduate of 2005 has a different story to tell after the serious drop in U.S. economy in 2009. Hurley was laid off from her one of the first few companies she worked for out of college in October 2009. She spent almost an entire year out of a job.

“It was the hardest year of my life just trying to find a job. I felt so not motivated to keep interviewing but never actually getting the job,” she recalled. “That’s what makes it so hard. There just aren’t enough jobs, and everyone is looking for one.”

Hurley is now the marketing director for Wilmorite at The Marketplace mall. She suggests her best words for guidance were, “Never stop being motivated no matter how tough it gets.”

Each Fisher graduate displayed a serious passion about where she has come from and what she does for her company, which they all believe drive them to be a better worker.

Hurley says, “My goal is to drive sales for specific stores in the mall. I go to a store and ask them ‘What can I do to help you?’ whether it be as simple as signage or creating a major event.  I want to continue to grow within the company because it’s a great place to work and great people.”

Bellucci explains that she “wears many hats,” and is always multitasking. She says, “I’m starting to have a bigger role in the company where they expect me to do the marketing all the while interacting with the doctors, and understanding where our next step needs to be. It makes me feel like I’m headed down the right path.”

With today’s fast-paced world and ever-changing economy these grads intend to keep doing what they know and enjoy most. After all, it was the challenges they initially had to overcome that have allowed them to be as successful as they are today.

Hurley says, “ I definitely plan to have kids in the next few years, but I’m a newlywed still so I'm enjoying that. I’m enjoying my job and being able to go to work knowing no two days are the same and there is always something new for me to be working on.”

Zimmer explains, “I love what I do but I plan to keep working to maybe be in a different office for the company. I want to be at the strategy level. Right now, at least for the next few years I plan to stay focused on my career.”

The Old, Young and New Emerge

By Maricatherine Garcea

“I hope I can do good for my teacher.” This was Helen Pappas’ first status update on her freshly made Facebook page. The 86-year-old resident of St. John’s Meadows Senior Living Community was learning to create her first status update from St. John Fisher College senior, Emily Sobilo.

Emily and her classmates from a Digital Literacy class taught by Dr. Rik Hunter have taken on the mission of teaching the St. John’s Meadows seniors how to use Facebook as part of a semester long service-learning project.

Service learning integrates service projects in academic courses to enhance student learning, teach civic responsibility, address community needs and strengthen communities.This service goes beyond the traditional understanding of community service, charity, or volunteerism. St. John Fisher’s Service-Learning Initiative Coordinator Lynn Donahue who has been with the college for 10 years, suggests “it’s a meaningful partnership that benefits both St. John Fisher students and our community.”

    Donahue explained that service learning is fairly new at Fisher as it started three years ago. The college officially became federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service Learn and Serve America two years ago. Currently, 17 classes are involved with about 260 students participating each semester.

The numbers have proved that not only do Fisher students get a real benefit from this, but the community does as well. According to an assessment survey Donahue created for fall 2010 Service-Learning courses, 96 percent of Fisher’s service learning students said they gained knowledge, skills, or awareness that added value and meaning to their course. Community partners agreed; 92 percent said that students’ work contributed to fulfilling their organization’s mission.

St. John Meadow’s Vice President/Community Ambassador Gerry Stryker comments, “We were presented with this opportunity by St. John Fisher College and I realized how Facebook can connect others such as grandchildren, and family in general. It’s connecting across all generations.”

Pappas says, “I’m learning more about it every day. I’m glad Emily has patience with me. I can see it does a lot more than e-mail; it connects me with my family. My kids, and grandchildren, are all on it.”

Sobilo mentioned in response that the Fisher students are learning just as much about themselves, others, and Facebook every time they meet with the seniors. After observing some of the elders and students, it was clear to see why Fisher students and community partners are so supportive of this program. It was no longer a classroom project, but instead there were relationships forming.

Facebook puts these relationships on a different level, helping to create a merging of young and old without boundaries of age. There was learning and development of relationships. As Pappas commented, “Emily and I are becoming good friends!”

St. John Meadow’s seniors Alfred and Jean Vincent, who are married, sat next to each other during the learning session and were taught how to Facebook chat with others. With the help of some Fisher students, Alfred’s first message said “I <3 You” to Jean. She smiled and laughed, as did some of the Fisher students.

Many of the older generation grew up in a time and place where none of this was imaginable; whereas the current generation considers Facebook a norm in their everyday life. Facebook is creating a way to connect people of all ages, as Stryker notes, “Facebook is changing society’s point of view.” What once seemed impossible to half of the people in the classroom is reality to the remainder.

Stryker says “Everyone has their story to tell.” Whether it be growing up during times of war and depression, or growing up in the technological era everyone finds a way to come together, Facebook just so happens to implement this connection.