At the August 2011 South Coast College Graduation Ceremony, Ajit Narasimhan, Paralegal Graduate, gave an inspirational speech representing the Paralegal Studies Program.  Not only was his speech outstanding, he delivered the speech in an eloquent fashion.  The speech is as follows:

President Gonzalez, esteemed faculty, Dean Dixon, fellow graduates, family and friends, today marks the beginning of our transition from aspiring paralegal students into the real world.

For some of us, this is a moment for which we have been waiting for a long time.  One of the advantages of completing a degree program from South Coast College is that we are more prepared for the future than may be graduates from some other schools.

The key component to a great education is the ability of the faculty to push students further than what they believe their potential to be.  Such is the case at South Coast College.

In addition, from each of the professor at South Coast College, I gained a little more insight into the aspects of legal work.  Having the right professors in place to teach the classes is another distinctive feature of our Paralegal Program at South Coast College.  South Coast College has an attorney from the public defender’s office who teaches criminal law and evidence.  It has a family law attorney who teaches — you guess it, family law.  The instructors all teach in the areas of their expertise.

We have professors who teach some of the toughest curriculum to compact into a short program, and they do it with ease and engage the class.

We are spoiled, so to speak, with professors who practice law and teach within their respective practice areas.

I remember my introduction to South Coast College.  It began with an advertisement, which looked appealing, dropped on my doorstep.  Naturallly, being the skeptic I am, I had my girlfriend call the number and inquire as to the various programs available.  She made an appointment for the Medical Assisting Program, and I tagged along with her to the college and met with Dean William Dixon of the Legal Programs.

From that moment on, I knew that South Coast College held the educational opportunity and career change for which I was looking.

In about two minutes, I was ready to go to the bookstore and sign up.  Dean Dixon explained the various areas of law, the professors, his background, and the ability that students have to graduate, and then move on to further education.

He had me sold.  We might need to add Marketing Director to his array to titles. 

For me, it has been a long journey since graduating from high schoo in 1997.  It has been a road filled with obstacles but with a clear-cut solution for each of those hurdles. 

We all have problems and issues that hinder our development in life.  Mine just so happened to cripple my attitude and motivation.  When I came to California in 2009, I did not know anyone.  I did not have a place to stay, and I did not have a dime to my name.

I knew what I did not have, but I also knew the one thing I had — determination. 

An example for me of determination was watching my father take care of his family. When he first came to this country in the 1970s, he earned a small wage teaching some classes while finishing his doctorate at the University of Texas at Arlington. With what little he made, he was able to financially support our family and his parents thousands of miles away.

My mother is one of the most determined people I know. She has overcome each and every challenge set forth in her life with dignity and grace. Failure is never an option with my mother. She has been and continues to be the strongest woman I know, and I am happy that a lot of her character traits exist within me.

My sister is another example of determination. She has overcome food allergies,  periods of extreme sickness, and carinf for a big brother who was not at his best at all times.

My adopted big brother has played an instrumental role in my obtaining degree. He took me in with asking nothing in 2009 and has watched, helped, guided, and led me to become the man I am today.

My Eskimo Tim has shown me the light at the end of the tunnel when all was dark and still around. He taught me to be patient, determined and to go forth no matter what.

Determination is necessary in every area of our lives. When we settle for mediocrity, we are doomed to it. When we set our goals astronomically high and do not achieve them, determintion keeps us trying until we do. 

 My family taught me these lessons, and I cherish every one of them.

Okay.  Let’s fast forward to January 4, 2010 — my first day of school. Also, it just happened to be my 31st birthday. I woke up, excited, refreshed, and ready to jump start my academic career. As I made my way out to the parking lot, a couple of thoughts entered my head.

Am I ready to go back to school? Will the long lay off from academia be a huge hurdle to overcome?  Where is my car?

Wait a minute?  Where is my car?

Yes.  That is how my first day of school started, with a stolen car report to the Santa Ana Police Departent, a frantic call to Dean Dixon explaining the situation,  and a Mulligan on the next day!

After that thought, the real work began. Many of us graduating this morning have full-time jobs.  Some of us have kids and other obligations beyond college.

But I think that having those life circumstance only motivated us further to achieve higher to reach our potential.

Some years back, we were celebrating the same thing — a graduation from high school as opposed to college. Even at that time, we had some apprehension and fear for the future while acknowledging that we were going to miss some of our  friends and classmates. And here as we sit as the class of 2011, we have to face that same feeling:  the bittersweet combination of nostalgia and excitement that comes when you turn off one road in your life and onto another.

The difference this time is that instead of simply turning onto the road, we’re finally merging onto the highway.

For most of us, this is the end of our official scholastic journey. While some of us will further our educatinal development in graduate school, today marks a turning point for may of us that we can’t ignore. We are headed out there into the real world. Should we be nervous? Not after decades of experience in school.  But a little apprehension is understandable

What does the future have in store for us? If we knew that, the future wouldn’t be any fun. But we can only hope that the hard work we’ve put in during our time at South Coast College and the relationships we have formed have helped shaped us into capable adults–people who are ready to face the challenges ahead with a healthy attitude and just a little bit of irreverence in the face of obstacles.

The rest of our lives, we’ll be adults who have been given every opportunity to succeed. It’s now time to capitalize on that opportunity. 

Alumni at Open House:  Rosa Porras, Medical Assisting; Alicia Grimes, Medical Assisting; Jean Gonzalez, President; Stephanie Leslie, CSR, Regal Court Reporters; Kaitlyn Lancaster, CSR; Michelle Graciano, CSR; Keith Greer, Medical Assisting

South Coast College has the most outstanding, supportive alumni who give back so much to the college and the students of South Coast College.  We were so honored to have four of our outstanding alumni visit with us along with two outstanding medical assisting graduates and two outstanding soon-to-be graduates.  Each of them had a special story to tell about how they came to South Coast College and why they chose the particular career that they choose.  All had stories to tell about the successes that they have encountered. Three are very young deposition reporters who are doing exceptionally well — Michelle Graciano, CSR; Kaitlyn Lancaster, CSR; and Katie Dzwonkowski, CSR.  Stephanie Leslie is a young deposition agency owner.  She owns Regal Court Reporters.  

Keith Greer who has done three tours in Iraq is a medical assisting graduate.  He, along with Jonathan Knight, who is also a medical assisting graduate are the Externship and Placement Coordinators of the Medical Assisting Program at South Coast College.  They have placed Alicia Grimes, a medical assisting student who is graduating soon, in an externship at UC Irvine and have placed Rosa Porras, a medical assisting student who has four children, in an externship near her home.   

All students and alumni answered questions from attendees at the Open House.  Rosa explained that she didn’t know anything about medical before entering the program.  She enjoyed how she was able to learn everything step-by-step.  She also explained that age was no factor in becoming a medical assistant.  Katie Dzwonkowski further explained that her best friend while in the court reporting program had a daughter around her age.  They continue to be best friends now that they are both reporters. 

Michelle Graciano, CSR, and Kaitlyn Lancaster, CSR, are deposition reporters who have done extremely well in their first year of reporting.  Michelle and Kaitlyn graduated together.  Both of them have friends attending South Coast College.  As President Jean Gonzalez explained at the Open House, this was the first open house that the college has had in recent times because the majority of the South Coast College students are referred by family members who are alumni, friends who are alumni, or referrals from someone who knows about South Coast College.  All in all, the Open House was very successful.  Three of the court reporters went on to speak in the classes of some of the lower-speed students.  Everyone was so impressed with their professionalism.

The Medical Assisting students at South Coast College had a potluck to celebrate the students who are graduating from the Medical Assisting program.  Everyone had a great time, and the food that the students brought was outstanding.  Even Dr. Nasir did his part by bringing in a dish that he made.  Congratulations to the new graduates.  We are so proud of you.

Rachel Passarella, CSR, passed the June 2011 Certified Shorthand Reporter Examination after completing the Court Reporting Program at South Coast College.  Within two weeks of passing the CSR Examination, she obtained a position with the Visalia/Modera county courts.  Rachel moved to Southern California to attend South Coast College and returned to her home in Northern California.  Rachel passed the CSR Examination on her first attempt.  We are so proud of you, Rachel.

A special thanks to Stephanie Leslie, CSR, graduate of South Coast College, and owner of Regal Court Reporters, for her excellent presentation for the graduates who recently passed the California Certified Shorthand Reporters Examination (CSR) and who are ready to go to work as deposition reporters.  Stephanie prepared an excellent booklet that prepares new CSRs to take their first depositions.  Stephanie is among the many South Coast College alumni who so willingly share their expertise with the South Coast College students, faculty, and staff. 

South Coast College is fortunate to have graduates such as Stephanie who support South Coast College in so many ways. 

South Coast College is fortunate to have an ongoing stream of recent and past graduates who visit the school to keep students, faculty, and staff abreast of what is happening in the world of court and deposition reporting.  Today, South Coast College was fortunate to have Katie Dzwonkowski, a recent CSR, visit the campus and speak to some of the advanced students.  Katie has evolved from a student into a professional deposition reporter.  Thanks for coming by to share your insights into working as a new reporter.

Stephanie Leslie, CSR, and Owner of Regal Court Reporters with her husband, Isaiah Leslie, will be on the South Coast College campus on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 to help new graduates prepare for the real world of court reporting.  All the new South Coast College recent CSRs are invited to attend.  Stephanie has prepared materials to help make the transition into the deposition world easier.  Since graduating from South Coast College as a court reporter and starting her agency, Stephanie has continued to support the graduates of South Coast College.  She has taught courses at South Coast College, has been a speaker on numerous occasions, has been a speaker at graduation, and mentored new CSRs. 

Stephanie was an outstanding student who completed the court reporting program in two years and passed the Certified Shorthand Reporters Examination (CSR) in two years. 

Court Reporting Program.  It is common at South Coast College in Orange for family members to attend either in the same program or in different programs.  In the case of Rosana O’Rear and her daughter, Brigette Quiroz, Rosana started the program first and enjoyed the experience.  She soon encouraged her daughter, Brigette, to join her. 

Both Rosana and Brigette are in the high-speed classes.  Both are highly motivated individuals with very positive personalities.  It is a pleasure to have them as students at South Coast College.  (Brigette Quiroz on the left; Rosana O’Rear on the right.)

Jackie Baker and Kerisa Escobal who are students in the Court Reporting Program at South Coast College join the growing number of students who have family members who are also attending South Coast College or have graduated from South Coast College.  Jackie began the program first.  A quarter later her daughter, Kerisa, joined the program.  Both are highly motivated students who commute a distance to attend South Coast College.

Nicole and Hillary Meyer who are students in the Court Reporting Program at South Coast College in Orange are both in their 130 wpm speed classes.  They are dedicated students who are moving through the program rapidly.  They were encouraged to become court reporters by their mother who said that she had always wanted to become a court reporter. 

 Nicole and Hillary join the number of sisters who are students or graduates of South Coast College that include Jamie and Suzie Onuki; the Chapman sisters (Kelly and Sarah); Lindsey Childs and sister Jodie Munroe; the Achord twins (Shawnee and Stephanie); the Valadez twins (Whitney and Kamryn).