By Alex Bessey

First Year Student & Vice President of the Midcoast Club

When I began attending classes at SMCC’s Midcoast Campus I thought it would be exactly that: attending classes; but the tedious concept of chipping away at a degree was quickly replaced with a sense of purpose and involvement with both my peers and community. The pursuit of an education isn’t always easy. Community colleges are comfortable for those of us who have families, jobs, and responsibilities that would otherwise make traditional education an impossibility. What I have found by going to the Midcoast Campus is an environment that is rich with ideas, friendships, and opportunities that will carry the students, faculty, and Brunswick community much farther than I could have ever anticipated.

Through my involvement with the Midcoast Club and SMCC in general, I have been able to meet people and get involved in activities that I hadn’t expected when I returned to school. Having already been out of high school for four years, I wasn’t anticipating much more than essays and class-time to draw my attention. I was immediately inspired by the ideas for improvement and expansion on the Midcoast Campus, and by the efforts of many students to get involved. The success of the Midcoast Club in hosting several events has allowed me the opportunity to interact with the student body, and to bring people together through common interests.

On the Midcoast Campus there is a genuine growing interest among the student body regarding the expansion and enrichment of the campus. Students are beginning new clubs, often consulting existing clubs about ideas and advice. The productivity and excitement from students to see more activities, groups, events, and interaction on the Midcoast Campus is inspiring. The potential for growth on the Midcoast Campus is continually increasing, and the student body is both taking notice and taking action.

One of the most rewarding aspects of returning to school has been meeting other students working toward similar goals. On campus, there are hundreds of students coming and going from classes, all in an effort to achieve an education or career. Some students find their way back to school, or simply begin school, searching for a direction and the knowledge to get them there. Personally, I returned to school to find a lot more than I had anticipated. There is a lot to be learned from classes and peer interactions alike, and getting involved with college clubs and the community has a unique worth in the college experience.

To be present around learning minds is something that I have grown to love about college. The effort to expand the SMCC Midcoast Campus is enormous  and the efforts of the students in achieve their goals here is undoubtedly equal. On a growing campus, both in population and structure, there is a lot to be seen and learned here in Brunswick. The Midcoast Campus and it’s community of students has offered more to my education and interest than I could have imagined. Participation as a student and community member of Brunswick has truly added purpose to my education and solidified new goals for my future. We are here and we are growing, come check us out!