Tag: lbcc

  • Things are Changing in Long Beach

    Things are Changing in Long Beach

    How the City is Staying Ahead

     

    The date was March 4. Robert Garcia made the decision to place Long Beach in a state of emergency. At that time there were no known cases of coronavirus in the city. The declaration of a state of emergency was made to allow for the coordination of agencies across the city, streamline staffing, accelerate emergency planning, allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments and most importantly, allow for the means to help educate the public in proper hygiene and how to act in case that COVID-19 popped up in the community.

    In an outbreak, things can change in a matter of weeks, days, even hours. Staying ahead and preparing for the inevitable is the only way to properly manage such a situation. “We need to be ready and continue to increase preparedness throughout the city,” City Health Officer Anissa Davis said in the city’s press release that day. “The global crisis continues to evolve on a daily basis.” 

    Since that announcement, the whole situation has changed. Streets once swarming with life now remain desolate. Businesses deemed by the city as nonessential have been forced to close, restaurants have closed all dine in operations and workers wear face masks per the order placed by mayor Garcia ordering all essential workers to wear masks that cover their faces. An order that does not only apply to workers but also customers. 

    Restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies can now deny you service if you are not wearing a face mask or cloth facial covering.

    All public schools have been closed for the remainder of the school year and many schools (including Poly) have since moved to online learning opportunities, “virtual enrichment” as they call it. AP exams will take place in your own home and the thought of graduation and walking the stage is an uncertainty for the whole class of 2020. 

    These are all things that on March 4 would’ve sounded absurd to anyone living in Long Beach. And now, a little over one month later, we find ourselves in this new reality. 

    As of now, the only purpose of the National Guard in Long Beach is to help provide humanitarian aid to two of the shelters set up to help homeless citizens during this crisis. 50 members of the National Guard 325th Company arrived on April 10. While they are dressed in their camouflage uniform, they remain unarmed while in Long Beach.

    After the city’s emergency declaration on March 4, local National Guard officials offered assistance and support services. The city sent out a formal request on April 2 to them. 

    As well as offering services to the homeless shelters, National Guard personnel will also be assisting  medical staff at the RAC (photographed above), monitoring the physical distancing of crowds as well as logistical support for local officials. 

  • College Courses for High School Students

    High school students taking college courses has become increasingly popular in the last few years as many high schools have been offering free opportunities to attend classes.

    Taking colleges classes as a high school student prepares students for actual college classes and it looks really good on resumes.
    Now, you may be thinking, “Why would a high school student want to add one more class to their already full schedule? And a rigorous class at that?”

    Well, there happens to be many benefits to taking college classes while also being a student in high school, despite how absurd in may sound when you’re already extremely busy.

    For beginners, a lot of these classes are open for all students regardless of financial situation, ethnicity, or gender.
    The classes offered are usually paid for by the school district so you don’t have to have to come up with money to pay for them.
    This saves you tons of money for later on when you’re in college.

    Classes that you can take now for free in high school will cost thousands of dollars later on in college.
    Another reason to take college classes as a high school student is that they prepare students for actual classes and real life settings.
    High school students already have super busy schedules with sports, clubs, volunteering, and assignments due.
    While adding an extra commitment may seem crazy, students will essentially be learning life long lessons such as time management skills, strong work ethic, critical thinking, and maturity.

    Being in a college class seems intimidating but it’s not as bad as it seems.
    You are most likely in class surrounded by people who have the same interests as you.
    Senior Tywanna Mosely, 17, also attends an Intro to Business course at LBCC.

    “I would definitely recommend that high school students take college classes. It’s a good learning experience and you also get used to the college atmosphere. It’s also cool talking to the older students,” Mosely explained when asked about her opinion about college classes.
    Miss Sylvia Womack is a specialist in the college and career center.
    Womack often meets a lot of students who take college classes through the school’s dual enrollment program that allows students to take classes for free and LBCC while still being enrolled as a high school student.
    “I would recommend that students who are confident that they can do well in a college course take college classes as a high school student. Otherwise, if they think that they won’t do that well, I wouldn’t recommend it. Students tend to forget that these classes are actual college courses and they can affect your chances of getting into the universities or colleges that you want,” Womack stated.
    Although the classes seem intimidating at first, the benefits are numerous.
    The opportunity to mature in a different environment, meet new people and teachers, and prepare yourself for your future are just some of them.

    If you know that you’ll have a high chance of getting the grade you want, think about taking college classes!
    Talk to your counselors to see if dual enrollment is good for you!