December 12, 2013
by Samantha Crowley
The purpose of the HiA blog is to focus on activities in the humanities that can be seen throughout Tunxis Community College. Because part of what defines us is our interest in showcasing the vitality of the people who make Tunxis what it is, we aim to pay homage to what their story is, what inspires them, and where they find motivation. It is our hope that addressing those specific aspects of members of our community will bring inspiration to other people who read their stories. A story about Brandon Haas—someone who provides inspiration to many here through his dedication to the college—seemed like an obvious fit. If you do not know Brandon by name, I’m certain that you at least know his face; with the amount of time that he spends on campus, it seems impossible that he can go unnoticed by many. Though I already know him well, I decided to sit down with Brandon for an interview, as his dedication towards his education and this campus is something that I find to be interesting. Talk around campus is that you would make a great Ferris in a remake of the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Any thoughts? No comment. I seriously think that they should give you an office here on campus! How many times a week do we sit in this same collaboration room? Four to five times a week [laughs]. It would be six, but they [the college] are not open on Saturdays. Okay, let’s get serious for a bit. Before coming to Tunxis Community College, what are some concerns that came to mind regarding college life? If I would be able to make it—actually do the classes. Did any of those concerns disappear? There were not really concerns, just that I worried about not passing the classes. Since we don’t live on campus, there are not many concerns. How comfortable has life at Tunxis been for you, compared to life at high school? It’s a lot better. What do you think contributes to the difference in the level of comfort? In high school, people would tease me. Here, I have a better relationship with teachers; they see me here, and they see that I work hard. Even teachers that I have not had, I know. What degree program are you a part of and, at this time in your life, what do you plan to do in the future in regards to your education and a career? I’m in the Liberal Arts and Sciences program here. My plan was to transfer into the Environmental Science program at UConn, but I am still debating. Eventually, I would want to get a job with DEEP [the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection], if possible. How many classes have you taken at Tunxis since 2011? Sixteen. Do you have a favorite class that you have taken here at Tunxis? I like General Biology because the teacher [Lynn Laskowski] is actually engaging, has a conversation with us, and explains the material well. Which classes have been most influential for you? You know, that’s an interesting question, because I was never really a math person, but I enjoyed learning math. I want to be a math person; it just takes me a little bit longer, which is why I hate it. The math courses here made me realize that I wanted to be good at math, so I spent more time with it, and actually cared about it, more than I did in the past. Also, General Biology, because it’s in the line of what I want to do. How much time, outside of the time spent in class, did you spend on campus your first semester in comparison to this semester? When I first started here, I would go to class, and then go home. I didn’t know too many people here; there was not really a lot for me to do here; my courses were a little bit easier. . . and there was not really a need to spend time on campus. Why do you spend so much time on campus? I think because I can focus a little more at school, and I can find all my resources here. If I am working on an assignment, and my teacher is here, I can just walk over and ask them a question. Where on campus do you spend most of your “free” time? The library or student lounge. Do you feel that the amount of time you spend on campus contributes to your success in your classes? Yes. But, because I know so many people on campus, I will get caught up in a conversation, and realize that an hour went by. Then, I realize that I have to take all of my stuff and seclude myself in a room. What else contributes to your success in classes? No social life. Well, I socialize with a lot of people here on campus, but I don’t have a huge social life outside of school. Have any professors impacted you in a positive way? Yes. The professors that impacted me in a positive way are the ones who actually took the time out to help me understand the information that I had trouble with. I know that you are a fellow Phi Theta Kappa and Chi Alpha Epsilon member, and that you also were chosen for the “Climb” project that is taking place here on campus. How do you feel about those accomplishments? I guess that I feel honored. I feel accomplished, because I did it. What advice would you give to incoming students? Don’t take my room [the collaboration room in the library]. That sounds threatening; I shouldn’t say that. Don’t fall behind, and if you get a chance to get ahead in classes, do it. And don’t be in the [collaboration] room (smiles). What about advice for students who are already here, who are maybe struggling with their coursework, or not availing themselves of the resources on campus? Start taking advantage of the resources. If the teachers are here, they have office hours for a reason: ask them a question. If you go to class, and then just get up and leave, and they have no idea who you are, that’s not good. You want to go to them, and you want them to know who you are, so that they can see that you are a hardworking student. Generally, how do you feel about your life here at Tunxis, and everything that you have accomplished here thus far? I feel like it’s pretty good, I feel that I am able to do things that I was never able to do before. I put more responsibility on myself, which shows me that I can handle a lot more than what I thought I could handle when I was in high school. Do you think that it may be difficult to move on to another school after you graduate from Tunxis? I like smaller school settings, smaller classroom settings. Going to a bigger school, where you are just another face in the crowd . . . I just like smaller schools, and smaller settings. I am able to speak to professors, and not be afraid to do so.
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