If you were just an average student in high school, it's possible to become an excellent student in college. That's what happened to Ralph Smith. When he came to Onondaga Community College one year ago after graduating from Cicero-North Syracuse High School, he committed to being better. "I made a promise to myself to keep pushing myself to do things. The more I got involved in different things, the more I cared about how well I was doing here. Being self-motivated gave me confidence."
After an outstanding first semester in the Humanities & Social Sciences degree program, Smith was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. "I was never a straight 'A' student before. it was a new experience. It felt pretty good."
Smith's Spanish Professor, Gerardo Cummings, wrote two letters of support for him. One helped him get into OCC's Lillian Slutzker Honors College, and the other recommended Smith for a position on Student Government. He ran for office and was elected.
This semester Smith is a member of Student Government, serving as the Chair of Inclusion & Support. "It seems like a great opportunity. I want to help improve communication between Student Government and the student body. I always want to let people know we're here if they need anything."
Smith plans to graduate next May, then transfer to a four-year school where he will pursue a degree in Psychology. But before that, he's looking forward to being a sophomore at OCC. "I'm excited about the year ahead of me. This is the most I've ever had going on."
