Halloween Event Highlight

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My name is Danelli Lora, and I am the President of the AfroBeats Dance Club. I am thrilled to share that we successfully hosted the Haunted House Halloween Party this year at Lehman College. This has been one of our best events yet, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our collaborators: Caribbean Unity, the Student Government Association, Crear Futuros, and the Urban Male Leadership Program.

I want to acknowledge the monumental task of decorating an entire building in just four hours. It certainly wasn’t easy, but we were fortunate to have all hands on deck. The teamwork and dedication of everyone involved were monumental in allowing us to pull off such an amazing event.

As with any event, there were a few challenges along the way, and time was our biggest adversary. Despite this, the positive feedback we received made it all worthwhile. I want to extend our gratitude to DJ Cut for keeping the energy alive throughout the night. If you haven’t already, make sure to check him out on Instagram at @Dj.cut24!

I’d also like to give a special shoutout to Alexandra, who did an extraordinary job with the makeup for all the actors in The Haunted House. You can find her work on Instagram at @insightxfx. A special thank you also goes to all the actors who brought the scares to life, along with the volunteers and crew members who helped transform the space with their hard work and creativity.

We are grateful to all our collaborators for their support and to the students of Lehman College for their participation. My team and I always strive to create an environment where students feel like Lehman is their second home. We know a student's life can be stressful, and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to create a space where everyone feels happy and safe.

This idea began last semester and has blossomed into a beautiful accomplishment that we are all proud of. We hope this event has brought joy and excitement to our campus community.

Stay tuned for our upcoming events. We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you!

Brandon Marks Student Highlight

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By Brandon Marks

Where to begin? I never would’ve imagined everything I gained from coming to Lehman College. From my background in basketball, which drew me to enroll here, to all the friends who have become like family, to the countless life lessons I’ll be able to carry with me forever. 

College is what you make out of it, for the first couple of years, it was rough for my generation due to COVID-19; no one was on campus, and besides having basketball, it didn’t feel like the real “college experience.”  I would say around my mid-sophomore/junior year is when my real college experience started and it's been somewhat unique. We don’t have dorms, and not many parties/hangouts, it’s different than what you would expect in college growing up. Truth be told, it was exactly what I needed: a place to focus on school, play basketball, limit distractions, and grow as an individual. I faced many challenges at Lehman, mainly balancing school and playing Division 3 basketball, but honestly, it has shaped my life for the better. My coach told me it was better that I went to Lehman and dealt with all these struggles rather than being spoiled at a Division 1 program and overwhelmed with all the challenges that life throws you. For the last few years, our team motto has been that ‘we need to adapt and overcome,’ and I’ve done exactly that. I came into Lehman as a boy and will soon be leaving a man. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. 

Everyone there wants you to succeed. No one's going to do it for you, but they’re by your side if you need them. This year will be my final year at Lehman. The only thing I need is a CUNYAC championship, and then I’ll finally be satisfied. Shoutout to my teammates on the men’s basketball team and to all my coaches and the staff who make what we do possible! 

Discover Your Path in the Sports Industry with the Lehman College Sports Business Club!

What They Don't Tell You About Being a First-Generation College Student

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By Cindy Orellana 

Thirteen years ago, my mother immigrated to the United States from Honduras without the chance to pursue higher education. Unlike my mother, I have been fortunate enough to attend college since arriving in the United States eight years ago. Although Spanish is my first language, I have worked diligently to learn English throughout my time in high school and beyond. My mother has always encouraged me to make the most of this opportunity and set a positive example for my siblings. However, she did not prepare me for the unique challenges of being a first-generation college student. 

 While there are many resources available, there are still some aspects of college that can be challenging. My top priorities are not only achieving personal success, graduating from college and becoming an English teacher and independence but also making my family proud. As a first-generation college student, I recognize the significance of perseverance and diligence. Without these qualities, all of my efforts may be in vain. Even though I already knew that I needed these qualities even before college I knew that in college I would needed more.  During my senior year of high school, I worked full-time at a laundry, with the goal of folding 400 pounds of clothes in just eight hours. I knew that I needed to save up enough money to pay for my college tuition, especially since I was an undocumented student. I paid for my first year of college paying my tuition with the money I'd saved from my job at the laundry. Along the way, I researched different types of scholarships that I could apply for so that I could receive additional financial assistance. 

As a first-generation college student, you may find yourself also working part-time or full-time to cover not only your tuition but also book expenses.  At first, I spent late nights completing homework assignments while working full-time at a bakery six days a week,  and attending morning classes. Despite my best efforts, my physical and mental well-being began to suffer, and I made the difficult decision to transition to a part-time job at a school where I now serve as a senior group leader, helping second graders with homework, while also creating lesson plans to teach them social-emotional learning, project-based learning, and others. For 22 hours each week. Balancing work and full-time studies remains a challenge, especially without financial or emotional support from my family. This lack of understanding and encouragement can be discouraging and isolating at times. 

        	Even though my mother has been an inspiration for me and has helped me be where I am today, she has also been a ‘burden’ because of her pressure on my shoulders. The words of my stepdad have been on my mind all the time. He has told me  “You can’t do it,” “You are a nobody,” “You will get pregnant at the age of 18,” and “You are undocumented--  no one will help you” Despite my stepdad's words of discouragement, I have always found inspiration. I have used it as motivation to prove him wrong. I refuse to believe that I am limited by my background or circumstances and am determined to reach my goals, no matter what obstacles I may face. 

Being a first-generation college student means that you will have a lot of eyes on you and lots of pressure on your shoulders. College has been quite stressful for me. At times, the pressure to perform has become so overwhelming that I’ve cried while working on my assignments. The thought of graduating d only added to my anxiety, especially since interesting my mother would frequently boast about my achievements to others without really understanding what I was going through. She doesn't know what I am going through. She just tells others how proud she is of me, but she does not ask me how I am doing. “Give yourself grace, stay true to yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help, utilize your connections, and take advantage of the opportunities,” I tell myself all the time. It is okay to not be okay! 

I had to learn how to do everything on my own, from applying to colleges and FAFSA to setting up an Amazon account for purchasing textbooks and even figuring out how to obtain a VISA or Credit Card. However, this experience taught me valuable skills, including how to be more confident. Today, I am proud to be assisting my sister in her college application process and guiding her on how to apply for FAFSA. It's amusing to hear her ask me a straightforward question, such as "Should I put my social security number where it says my social security number?" But I understand where she's coming from. I was once in her shoes. I've even helped my aunt apply to different colleges and apply for the Jose Peralta Scholarship for undocumented students. Knowing that I am helping someone achieve their goals and dreams fills me with pride, and it's satisfying to apply the skills I learned to help others. 

Being a first-generation college student means that I have to push myself to work even harder when I am struggling because I want to succeed. I want to strive for what my parents could not have, to not only honor them but to honor myself for my dedication, hard work, and all I am doing. Now that I am a senior in college about to graduate, I realize the special gift I was given that some might take for granted. I was allowed to attend college. For others, this might seem like a natural step but for me, it means the world.    

This is for the nights of having to translate from Spanish to English to write a paper. Look where my broken English got me and where it will take me! This is for the days I thought I was never going to get through this because of depression and anxiety. This is for the struggle I faced and will face in the future. I know how much it means for me to want to help my gente, but this day is about me and celebrating how far I’ve come. If I could meet freshman me, I know how proud she would be.