Blueprint to Success Welcomes All to Spring 2025

Students at Blueprint to Success on Feb. 5

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By Iffath Liaquat

On Feb. 5, numerous students attended the Blueprint to Success (BTS) reception to learn how to become more active on campus. Held in the Music Building and hosted by Lehman’s Office of Students Affairs in collaboration with the Urban Male Leadership Program (UMLP), the Wellness Center, and the Counseling Center, the event promoted programs designed to help students develop fundamental skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and even CPR.

Christian Davila, a Lehman student and member of UMLP, helped set up the event and shared his experience of special opportunities through that program. “It’s an amazing experience to get involved and help others out,” he said. As a member of the Leadership for All and Introduction to Leadership programs, he added that “it’s important to take advantage of all the resources available on campus.”

“We want to encourage our students to become more active members...[and] take advantage of the many opportunities we have.” -- Dr. Conrad Walker, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Lehman College

Dr. Conrad Walker, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, introduced BTS initiatives, explaining how the program helps students from varying levels become more involved in their community. “It’s easy to register for different events on campus using Lightning Connects,” he said. “We want to encourage our students to become more active members...[and] take advantage of the many opportunities we have.”

Johnny Lozado, the associate director of the UMLP and CREAR Futuros, also encouraged students to take initiative and join the UMLP if they wish to gain leadership skills. “Come stop by room 302, where we can hook you up with information on joining us. We have resources such as mentorships and annual retreats!”

There are certain events on campus that help students fulfill the criteria needed to earn their own BTS badges. On the Lehman Lightning Connections site, after logging in, students can click on their profile to find the “Paths” button to track their progress toward earning their own badge. Many of the campus meetings required to earn a badge are categorized as developing either engagement or leadership skills that are sought after by employers. At the end of the semester, once they earn all the credit needed, they can add the badge to their LinkedIn profile or resume. Sessions that counted towards a BTS badge last semester were a CPR/ First Aid Event, a training by the tutoring center, and sessions held by the Career Exploration and Development Center.

The reception ended with UMLP members serving attendees delicious foods, creating a lively atmosphere, and organizers passing out gifts. Counseling Center staff also handed out daily planners and invited students to learn more about their services and not be afraid to seek their help while going through hardships.

Coping with Midterm Stress

Photo taken by Tim Gouw, uploaded on Unsplash

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By Iffath Liaquat

It’s that time of year again. When students are scrambling to build up stamina to seize the midterm testing season. The fall semester is more than halfway over, the Lehman community is feeling the pressure of being piled with exams, projects, and papers in order to test their knowledge. 

Maii is a sophomore and intends to major in speech pathology. She is part of a few different clubs such as the African Student Association, The Lehman Modeling Club, and the SEAMLSS (Seamless Educational Advancement To Maximize Lehman Student Success) internship program. This program requires students to get internships, career advice, and participation in various opportunities. She shares that she isn’t nervous about midterms, considering that most of them are projects, or essays, except for her French class. “All I know is if I study well, I’ll do well.” Maii encourages students to build confidence in themselves to prepare for their examinations, noting the effects of the self-fulfilling prophecy. “Professors usually [include]... what will be [on] the exam. If they focus… and study … they should be fine.” She urges that if anyone is having any difficulty, they should go to the tutoring center, and take advantage of the numerous resources available on campus. 

Busayo Owoaje is a sophomore at Lehman College and is active in the Leadership for the All program as well as some clubs. But Owoaje has been swamped by her packed schedule and by many obligations in her personal life. When asked about midterms, she says she’s extremely overwhelmed and isn’t confident in her knowledge, but “this feeling can easily be changed when I start studying and practicing. Anything is possible!” Owoaje notes. To balance out the fear, Owoaje voiced that she puts herself into a positive and realistic mindset. “[I remind] myself that midterms [aren’t] the end of the world… I can [always] do my best later on.” To avoid the dire effects of over-studying, on the day of an exam, she maintains a calm atmosphere by listening to music or watching videos. 

Omadai Sukul is a junior majoring in speech pathology and minoring in psychology and early childhood education. She is a part of the ACE program and a mentor for the Urban Male Leadership program. Sukul is the voluntary manager for the Caribbean Unity Club, while also managing two part-time jobs. She expresses feeling anxious and is constantly overthinking about midterms. However, with dutiful planning, she breaks down her schedule in order to deal with things one step at a time. Sukul shares that getting involved in college has helped her cope with stressful situations. “[I get] to socialize and meet… amazing students. [I learned] that [I’m] not alone on my journey, as life as a student can be stressful.” She reflects that these activities have helped her push past limits and attain useful advice. 

Everyone is dealing with this time in different ways; from Omadai’s busy schedule, Maii’s self-assurance, and Busayo’s efforts for tranquility. The midterms provide different challenges for everyone. Being able to deal with such emotions is one of the trials of college life, a universal feeling, and a handy skill in life. But you can always turn to your community when you feel like you’re tipping over the edge.