New Media Lab Presents: Episode 1 Follow Your Flame

Segment 1: This Must Be Heard

New Media Lab Senior Staff Member Dionne Harrison chats with NML Exec Producer Moose Sylla about her journey to find a community and learn to thrive as a college student. She offers real world advice for achieving one's academic goals while still making the most out of the college experience. 

Segment 2: Study Break

DCCC alumni Darren Hammond recommends his most challenging and rewarding summer read, David Foster Wallace's 1996 novel Infinite Jest. Alex Johnston recommends a family-friendly superhero movie DC's Shazam. 

Segment 3: The Written

A Recent Graduate's Tips for Success written and read by Alyssa Tino. DCCC Alum provides practical and inspiring advice for anyone starting their college journey at Delaware County Community College. 

Accessibility Note: Full transcripts available upon request.

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Video Episode Segments available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NewMediaLab

Daily content posted on Instagram: @DCCC_NewMediaLab

Credits: 

This Must Be Heard - produced by Moose Sylla

Study Break - produced by Sam Aman

The Written - produced by Tashea White 

Original Music by Indigo Fraiser

2026-2027 Co-Exec Producers- Sarah Lieberman, Odalis Mejia & Von Richardson

Faculty Advisor- Maria Boyd 

Director of Campus Engagement - Allyson Gleason

Vice President of Student Affairs Danny Hoey

New Media Lab is a production of Delaware County Community College, Media PA

Transcript

This Must Be Heard

SPEAKER_07 0:00

People will encourage you. They'll push you. But you have to believe something in you. Something in you has to spark. Something in you has to get ignited. You just get a little spark, it can get ignited. Like the flame can the flame can burn. It can go.

SPEAKER_05 0:16

Right. And even when it starts getting dim, it's like you have support of people.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

That was a clip from today's episode. But before we dig in, I'd like to introduce myself and the show. I'm Professor Maria Boyd, faculty advisor for Delaware County Community College's New Media Lab. We have been in operation since 2016 producing original digital content that we originally housed exclusively for students on our learning management system canvas. In 2020, we moved our content to YouTube. And in uh recent years, we've pivoted towards daily content that's currently available on Instagram Reels. But now we are so excited to share with you that these original student productions are now available as full podcasts on Spotify and Apple. Each episode will have three segments. This Must Be Heard focuses on campus events and issues. And we close out each episode with original creative content made by students here at Delaware County Community College. All of our episodes are produced by students from a wide array of majors across the college. And we really appreciate your support as we move into this new decade of production. And we hope you enjoy the show. Okay, here we go.

SPEAKER_04 1:54

Hello everyone. Welcome back to This Must Be Heard. I'm here with a senior staff member, Deion Harrison.

SPEAKER_07 2:01

Hey everyone, I'm Deion Harrison. I am a new Media Lab senior staff member. I'm a non-traditional student here at Delaware County Community College. I've had the pleasure of serving as a peer mentor for the Essential Student Resource Center. I'm also the vice president of leadership for Five Theta Cappo, which is the National Honor Society of Second Year Institutions. So that is definitely a plus.

SPEAKER_04 2:31

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_07 2:31

But I would also like to say that I also serve as a member of Suicide Prevention Committee, as well as I'm a representative for name me on campus. And I love being a part of all of these organizations because I get to be me. I get to help people in the process with mentorship as well as suicide prevention and creating opportunities on campus for everyone to be engaged and just see themselves and be themselves.

SPEAKER_04 3:08

That was quite the introduction. Welcome to the studio, Dion. So I have my first question for you today is you know, going off what you just said, um, about being a part of the clubs, organizations, my first question for you would be how has being a part of the clubs and organizations and committees and all the things you're doing influenced and impacted your time at DCC, even as a non-traditional student?

SPEAKER_07 3:30

So they impact me in a tremendous way. My first semester here, I was trying to find my footing. I sat in rooms thinking that I was the oldest person in the room and I didn't belong, that community college was definitely not for me. Because when I made the decision to come back at the layoff, that was like the best thing that happened to me in 2024. But when I made the decision to come back as a full-time student, it was um intentional that I come into the classroom. So I definitely wanted to make sure that I could do it. So I came Monday, Wednesday, Friday. And that first semester, it was like, is this really for me? Because it was like, I'm like, I'm the mom in the room. Like it's so many students here, and I felt a little intimidated by answering some of the stuff, or if I had questions, I didn't feel comfortable. But then my second semester, New Media Lab, changed my life. Oh, okay. And it was the fact that there was a table on the very first day of the spring semester. There was a table recruiting. And I will say that the fourth semester, I saw the flyers. And I was like, what is that? I took a picture of the flyers with my phone, but I never came to any meetings. I didn't know what it was about. But when I saw the setup, I was like, you know what? Let me hear what it's about. And I had more questions. And I was like, okay, I could come to a meeting, and it changed what I was doing. It helped me to find my voice, even though Dr. Dana Marie Gallagher told me that I was ready to take my voice into the world. Yeah. She told me that after my um public speaking class in the fall. And I guess I knew it, but didn't. But New Media Lab gave me different opportunities to definitely know that I belonged here.

SPEAKER_06 5:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 5:29

Um, and that the clubs here are not just for students coming out of high school, but they are for non-traditional students too.

SPEAKER_06 5:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 5:38

And we have a voice and we can find our footing. And that same semester, I received my letter for Fi Theta Kappa. I joined Fi Theta Kappa. Um, I was inducted. And I will say that the college helped me to get inducted. And so I went through the induction. And again, I had to go to a meeting because I was like, okay, I have this email, but what is it really about? So I think that if you go to a meeting or if there's someone out recruiting and you have questions, you may not think it's for you, but it's absolutely for non-traditional students as well as for students coming right out of high school.

SPEAKER_04 6:22

Funny enough, you just spoke to um getting emails and uh things sent through the uh through the internet and online, and how important an actual in-person meeting was for you. Uh, could you speak to how you speak to you speak to how important it is for students that are on campus to be involved and go through things physically as opposed to, you know, just going to class and going right home?

SPEAKER_07 6:43

So if you have the time, it's definitely good to go into the room. Again, I came back as a full-time student after a layoff, and I had the time to come up to the school and go into a meeting. So just knowing, again, I got an email, but I didn't know what it was about. I said, let me come into the room. And coming into the room, I was able to hear from other non-traditional students that were making an impact on the campus, and they were talking about how their professors were even helping them. They didn't think that they fit or they belonged. So I think that it's definitely important to be a part of a club. But I also think that it's important if there are opportunities to meet on Zoom because everyone can't get to the college campus.

SPEAKER_05 7:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_07 7:37

And even if you come on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, there's a lot of clubs that operate during Q time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Everyone may not be able to get there. So if you have an online component where other people can participate, their voices can be heard, I think that that's great opportun that's a great opportunity. And I appreciate how New Media Lab allowed me to get on Zoom because I would need to leave campus by two o'clock. And I was able to get on Zoom. I was I was still a voice, I was still a part of the community. And even if there were interviews that were being done on Zoom, I was asked to be a part of that. Like, Deion, can you interview the librarians? Or Deion, can you host the mom's panel? So I appreciate the fact that I was given the opportunity to still be a part of a club at Delaware County Community College, even if I couldn't physically be here.

SPEAKER_04 8:39

No, absolutely. You've been a shining star in the Media Lab for some time now. Yeah. Um, you know, and you know, we always want to make sure that I um anybody like ourselves, you know, we gives up, we give ourselves and others, you know, who do so much uh credit because you know it's it's it's a lot harder to participate from um online than it is in person. It's a lot easier to say, uh, you know, it's uh I'm at home, let me watch my movie, let me let me get something to eat, let me do something else. You know, you're not really there in person. So um being engaged on Zoom is definitely something that uh I we take, we we're very happy that we have people who are engaged on Zoom and that they that they feel happy and they want to come back to the new meet lab, and that always always helps us drive, you know, what we do every day. Um, speaking of, I know that we were talking about uh on Zoom and all that, coming to the present day. Both of us are in our last semester at DCC. So I wanted to just ask you about your last semester and how the process of graduation has been going along for you.

SPEAKER_07 9:42

So as a communication studies student who's also receiving a certificate in trauma studies.

SPEAKER_04 9:49

Congratulations.

SPEAKER_07 9:50

Thank you. And what has helped me again this final semester, I feel like I've soared. I told myself in 2026 I was going to soar. Because I have a milestone birthday coming up this year, and I came in like, yeah, I'm soaring, right? But I soared on a college campus because of the community that I had supporting me. And it was a community of my peers. Again, students that were younger than me. Some were my age, some were younger, much younger than me. But they believed in me. They pushed me, they believed in um my voice, they believed in my impact. And I had a wonderful cheerleader behind me. My cheerleader Mel, she was just, D, you can do it, you can do it, you can do it. And I just kept hearing her voice like you can do it. Even preparing to leave, you know, there's so many things that take place when you're finishing up. Like she helped me with Spanish. I'm just gonna be real. She helped me with Spanish. She was like, Oh, you're in Spanish. She was like, Oh, I know Spanish. So she helped me with that. She gave me a Spanish book. It was like she became my Spanish tutor. But also, um, she pushed me to do a speech. Oh, wow. A speech that I probably would not have done. Oh, wow. She believed in me. Even though I had um administration like you're doing it, I had professors that were like, What's the problem? Even my mentor, Dr. Mickins, was like, but I'm like, what do you mean you you don't compete? Because that's how I saw it. Like it was a competition. Um, but I did it. And based on doing that, something exciting is taking place for my final semester for graduation.

SPEAKER_04 11:52

And before we get to that, I want to uh quickly touch on again, you mentioned just how important the the community is, and the community is it doesn't it doesn't just have no one face or one name. It's all of it, it's it's all the people. It's it's your mentors, your teachers, it's it's coming out of high school, it's people you know that they're like you, non-traditional students. It's people that's in between now that you know that they're coming at a different phase or a different time. So in terms of the community, just how important would you say the community was for you?

SPEAKER_07 12:23

The community helped me a lot. Again, and when we talk about diversity, when we talk about intercultural, we're talking about age, we're talking about gender, we're talking about race, we're talking about sexuality, we're talking about identity. This is a place where you belong. And I feel like each component made me feel like I belong. So again, I'm talking about 20-year-olds make me feel like I belong. You know, even your community, you know, uh, made me feel like I was a voice here. Then we have the professors that made me feel like I belong. Then you have the international student community that made me feel like I belong. Then you have uh the mentors that made me feel like it was so many, so so much. And this final semester, I've had the pleasure of being the vice president of the black student union. So when I'm in that room, it's not just people in there that look like me that support the black student union. You understand what I'm saying? I feel like each club or organization supports one another. We have a multicultural club here at Delaware County Community College, but we also have um the Bible club and even people that may not believe in the Bible, that may not read the Bible, they're able to be a part. They each group supports one another. Latin X has been booming. And anytime they have an event, I'm willing to help them. And I feel like the community was definitely important to help propel me into a world that's so diverse because the outside world is definitely different. And we get to embrace our differences and we get to work with one another, we get to um study with one another, we get to support one another, we get to push one another, we get to applaud for one another when we do good.

SPEAKER_05 14:30

Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_07 14:31

So I think that that community really helped me to excel this semester because again, this is my fourth semester here, actually, my fifth, because I took some summer classes, but it has definitely changed my adult life.

SPEAKER_06 14:48

Okay, chaos.

SPEAKER_07 14:50

Community college changed my adult life.

SPEAKER_04 14:57

So speaking of, you know, um, you know, you talk about the last semester, you know, you're uh you feel like you've transitioned into a different world. Um, as you're as the last thing you've done in this world, transitioning to the other world, you are going to be the speaker at the commencement for graduation. Can I have you talk a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_07 15:15

So again, that was something that I knew I was nominated. So I hear a professor saying, we're gonna nominate you. And I'm like, okay. And I thought the nomination was something totally different. I thought, again, I don't know how they do it at the Grammys and the Academy Awards. I think I thought that you do something, you get a nomination, then the it's this panel of people that look at what you've done and whatever the person that nominated you put down and they select it that way. Yeah. That's not how it was. So I mean, I was honored to be nominated. I was like, okay, bet. All right. And then I got the email that said that I was nominated, and it told me what I was going to have to do. And I was like, are you for real? Like, I don't do that. And I think that trauma has taught me that I don't compete. I walk in room scanning them, right? Because that comes from rejection, that comes from abandonment issues, but I'm healed. I've overcome that. And I'm glad that I get to work with Nami on campus in suicide prevention to um communicate that mental health matters, right? Healing matters, right? So I was probably having a breakdown that day, and I went upstairs to um student affairs, like I got a nomination, and they're saying that I had to do speech and everything. And I was like, I can't do that. And again, I had a cheerleader that's like you can't. And again, I had administration that's just like in your gone.

SPEAKER_04 16:58

That's how the community comes in, right?

SPEAKER_07 17:02

No, Dion, yes, but I also had to talk to myself and say, Dion, if your name is in the room, then you belong in the room.

unknown 17:10

Okay, exactly.

SPEAKER_07 17:11

Your name is in the room. 100%. People see something in you, even though I wasn't seeing it in myself. And no matter how many interviews I did with New Media Lab on the Zoom or in this room, I didn't think that I was ready. But I also heard the voice of my professor that was like, Your voice is ready to go outside of this room.

SPEAKER_04 17:33

And they been told you that.

SPEAKER_07 17:34

Yes. So I had to actually prepare a speech because they wanted to see it before you even did it.

SPEAKER_04 17:42

Yeah. So um And knowing you you like to you like to let it go. You like to let the in the moment.

SPEAKER_07 17:51

Exactly. You know, I like the flow. No script. Don't give me a script. Even if I'm writing the script, I'm going to deviate from a script. So it's like, I have to write a script, I just talk. Like, I just I get up there and just say something. But again, public speaking class prepared me for that. Because even when I tried to tell the professor, like, you want me to do what? I just talk. Like, you want me to write? I just talk. And the professor was like, you're gonna have to do this. This is gonna come up, and it came up. Yeah, it came up, so I had to do this, I had to prepare a speech. Then I had to stay in front of in a room full of people. I was like, how many people gonna be in there? I had questions. Yeah, it's like how many people gonna be in there? But nonetheless, the day came and I felt like I was gonna be sick. I'm just gonna tell the tell the truth. I felt like I was gonna be sick, like, oh my god, I need to call my mom. As old as I I need my mom.

SPEAKER_06 18:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 18:54

So um, I did it. I went in a room. There was no podium. I'm holding these papers in my hand, and I'm like, I need to be able to at least put my hands flat, but I went in, and I had to tell myself before I went in. I actually saw Coach Red, and he was like, listen. Because he was looking at me like, what's wrong with you? I was pacing the hall. I was pacing the hall waiting on my turn. He was like, What's wrong with it? He was like, Listen, you know who you are and you know who you belong to. Just you you got it. You just do it. And I had to, again, I had to convince myself that no matter what the outcome is, I owed it to myself to go into this room and tell my truth, tell my story, because we all had one. And I honestly went in feeling, I left feeling proud of the fact that I did it.

SPEAKER_06 19:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 19:49

But I felt like no matter what the outcome is, I did it. So I was proud of myself. And then I got the email on that Monday. No, no, no, no, no. It was the next day. And it was like, congratulations. And I was like, Are you for real? I was like, wow. I was I just sat there in awe. I was definitely honored. It was it was definitely an honor that again I was nominated, but also that the panel felt like we need to hear this. This needs to be said at commencement. So it's definitely an honor. I'm humbled. Um, and as I prepare, so after it happened, I was humbled, like, yeah, uh, but excited. Like I had to tell my family about it.

SPEAKER_05 20:44

Like, yep, yeah, this is it.

SPEAKER_07 20:47

Yes, because I let them know that I was nominated, and then they even talked to me and was like, just do it. Like you talk all the time. It's different. Yes, I talk all the time, 100% different. It's different. And so I didn't think that I mean, again, I was honored, so I went through different emotions. Like I have a different emotion today. Because it seems like as it's getting closer, every day I learn something else more different about it. And I'm like, okay, they need to tell me everything right now, so I can get myself together and don't come to me on that day and tell me something else.

SPEAKER_06 21:26

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 21:28

Because you you know what? It's it's like again, people can feel like you do something all the time. And it's like, yeah, I really don't do that. And even if you think you're ready, you're still nervous.

SPEAKER_06 21:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 21:43

And um, again, public speaking instructor reached out to me and was like, How are you feeling? Like, I I know you're ready. And I'm like, um, I'm I'll be ready. You know, I'll be, I'll be ready. Again, it's an honor, but it's it's still some nerves. But as Coach Red said, I know who I belong to. So I know that I'm gonna do well. I'm gonna do it the best that I can that day. Hopefully I can see what I'm supposed to say, however it's supposed to go. Hopefully I remember.

SPEAKER_04 22:21

I'm saying me, I'm not, I'm not worried at all. I know you gotta. I wait until this three semesters ago. I from that from that first episode we did for uh with the conversations of Black History Month, I would say, oh from right there, you good, you good to go.

SPEAKER_07 22:36

But this is the thing. Remember, we did that episode, and then you like, all we gonna have to do that over. And I was like, I don't remember that.

SPEAKER_04 22:44

I was like, I was like, don't worry about it, make a new line. It was still, it was, it was probably even better. Use the second one. Yeah, so you know, is I I think you've been right for a long time.

SPEAKER_07 22:55

I is I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_04 22:57

I'm I'm really glad that you know you getting the some people, I think a lot of times some people they don't give themselves the opportunity to be their best because they feel like they don't deserve the opportunity to be their best.

SPEAKER_07 23:08

Right.

SPEAKER_04 23:08

Um, and you know, the fact that you know you never want to, you know, you never want to leave an experience saying, could I have done more? Could I have tried this? Could I have tried that? I probably should have done this. And you know, even even you know, I'm I'm glad, I'm happy that you got it, but even if you didn't, the idea that you walked into that room, you gave your speech, and you walked out happy and prideful is the best, best thing in the world, you know. Everything after that is a bonus, but the actual event, if you go in there doing that, that's the that's the real prize.

SPEAKER_07 23:36

That's it, because you know what, we often talk ourselves out of opportunities and we don't know that. And it was this thing that made me realize how many opportunities have I talked myself out of? Or did I keep myself from because I was like, yeah, no, I'm not doing it.

SPEAKER_04 23:53

Yeah, it's not for me or something like that.

SPEAKER_07 23:55

Yeah, like without even trying. Yeah, but you'll never know. Failure is good because you know what? It's necessary, it's definitely necessary, it's needed because if you're failing, it means you're trying at something. Nobody just goes into anything perfect, yeah. They they're lying to themselves if they think so. So if you fail at it, then you know what to do differently. Yeah, you know how to improve, you know what to do. So there have been other things. I've applied for some scholarships, and then I'll get in. Nope, we went with somebody else. So, and guess what? The rejection didn't hurt. It was like, okay, on to the next, on to the next. It's another application for me to fill out.

SPEAKER_04 24:40

Speaking of, it's a I don't know how many out there's a billion scholarships out there, so it's on to the next.

SPEAKER_07 24:46

Yeah, I was like, okay. At first I looked at it now, it's like, all right, yep, like let's do it again because I got over the hump. And that's what I think that most students need to do. Just get over the hump. Like, if you can talk to yourself, and sometimes you need to talk to you because the people will encourage you, they'll push you, but you have to believe something in you. Something in you has to spark, something in you has to get ignited. You just get a little spark, it can get ignited. Like the flame can the flame can burn. It the it can go, right? And even when it starts getting them, it's like you have support of people. You have a community of people here, and I feel like when there were moments that my flame might have gotten them, I heard the voice of somebody else, or I ran into a professor, or I uh sat with the counselors, and I got it together. I was able to get it together because I didn't come, at least I thought I came back just to get a degree. But being a member of PTK, getting that letter made me feel like you're not just here just to get a degree. You're making an impact in the classroom, you're getting great grades, right? Your GPA is booming. To get an email saying you're on the dean's list. I've heard people talk about how they were on the dean's list in college and everything. And I was like, wow, that's something. Yeah, I got an email that said I was on the dean's list and the president's list. I say, yo, I'm not here just to be average, and I'll be honest, my daughter wasn't allowing me to accept a C in Spanish. When I let her know that I was like, okay, it's at the end of the line, and I have some things that I need to do, but as of right now, I got 76. I had let her know that, and she never said anything. And I um after my professor had graded my uh videos, because we had to do some videos. I was in there with some puppet shoes. Like we had to do.

SPEAKER_04 27:03

I had the little, I had the little, I had I had a little, I had a moose and I had one of the minions from the spick with me. Those are my two puppets.

SPEAKER_07 27:10

Okay, so my final, I had the Avengers. Okay, so I had Captain America and Iron Man. I was like, it was my it was my puppet show going on. So, but after he graded my videos, I went to an A.

SPEAKER_05 27:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 27:29

And so I was like, yo, and I let my daughter know, and she was like, okay. She said, because I couldn't get excited about a C.

SPEAKER_05 27:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 27:37

She said, because you always told me that I wasn't here. Exactly. So you're it's not acceptable from you. And that let me know right there that again, I have a community, I have a family. Like my daughter, she's 28, she's looking at me and she's like, Yeah, I'm not getting excited about that. Yeah, you might be excited about it, but I'm not, because I know that you can do better. And I will say that once I became a part of PTK, I it was like, okay, I'm striving to keep my grades up. Yeah, there were some classes that I struggled in, math, but I was determined. I got tutoring. That's something that's here. Yeah, but there's tutoring, there's academic advising, there's you, you have an advisor, you have the counselors. There were so many components that were were here for me. So many resources. So many that was like, there's no reason to fail it. Yeah, even if you're struggling in it, you can get help with it. So, and I did it online.

SPEAKER_06 28:39

Yeah, yeah, I did it online.

SPEAKER_07 28:42

My tutor was great. She would sit on the sofa and she would be knitting. Teaching me mad. She would be knitting, and she'd say, pull it up, put it on, like share your screen. And she hauled me and I was able to pass. I was able to pass with a bit. You know, so I think that that's great. And uh again, it was important to me, like, yo, I had to keep my GPA up because I want to continue to be a part of this organization and I was proud of myself that I was really doing the work. I spent a lot of time doing assignments. My son is at home, he's 13, and he's watching me. It'd be I'm I'm me in that deadline, 1159. I'm up there and I probably started at six o'clock and I'm still on there doing something, but I make sure that I meet the deadlines. And again, it's because number one, I got my letter. Yeah, number two, there are other people in my community that's cheering for me. But I would say this even if there isn't anybody else cheering for you, cheer for yourself. Oh, yeah. You owe it to yourself. Absolutely. I'm a first generation student. My daughter does have her degree, but when it comes down to my parents, they don't have one. So I'm still considered a first generation student. So I had said that I was gonna do it before my daughter did it. That's just not how I had it. Yeah, but I'm still proud, and I have a family that's proud of me, a family that's gonna be here cheering for me at graduation.

SPEAKER_04 30:24

We're gonna be there.

SPEAKER_07 30:25

Yeah, I'm definitely grateful to New Media Lab because this was the first club.

SPEAKER_04 30:29

You got family all over.

SPEAKER_07 30:30

Yes. This was the first club that I brought to that I participated with, and I thought it was gonna be the only one. It was again, it was genuine, welcoming environment. And it's like we are all learning here. There's no pros. We're all learning. And I'm grateful that New Media Lab has shown me how to do some things on social media, how to do some things on, use some tools on my phone that I was not savvy with. And I didn't think that I wanted to learn more about um the mass media portion of communications. I'm like, yeah, I'm just gonna be a speaker. But New Media Lab has shown me that you need these other components, you need these other components, and you can be a part of this club, yeah, and we will teach you.

SPEAKER_06 31:29

Yes, yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_07 31:31

We will teach you and we will give you an incentive because if you do these things, you get a teacher.

SPEAKER_04 31:40

Yeah, you can absolutely you do get a teacher,

Study Break

SPEAKER_04 31:46

yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:46

And now it's time for a study break.

SPEAKER_00 31:49

Hello, my name is Garrett Hammond. This is my eighth and final semester here at DCC. After I graduate, I'll be transferring over to Westchester University in the fall. My summer recommendation is the novel Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Infinite Jest is an epic narrative that is concerned with many things. These things include mental health, countless forms of addiction, relations between the USA and Canada, film and media studies, tennis, and so much more. It is also memorable for its use of footnotes, or, as they are called here, endnotes. This may be the only novel where two bookmarks are a requirement, as you will need to flip to the back of the book every time you see that little number in the main text. And whatever you do, don't skip any of them. Important details are divulged in them, and glossing over them will just result in you being more confused than you otherwise would have been. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this novel is just over a thousand pages long, and the last ninety-six of them are entirely relegated to the book's 388 endnotes. To say that this book is a commitment would be an understatement. I've chosen to recommend this novel because, despite its dense scope and demanding narrative structure, I think it's worth it just to experience Wallace's skillful writing and the strength of his ideas. It also has some of the most fascinating and well-developed casts of characters in any book I've ever read. Also, once you get used to the odd structure and slow beginning, don't be surprised if you find yourself not wanting to put it down. I first read this book over the course of a single summer last year, from mid-May to late August. I got through at least 50 pages a week until I got to the end. I even lugged it around with me during my family vacation. I read it at my grandparents' house, at the airport, and even on the plane itself. I personally don't think I would have got through it as easily as I did without the guidance of the website, infinitesummer.com. I highly recommend using it, as it is a great motivator for getting through this massive beast. Finishing it felt like an emotional high point for me, but it was kind of bittersweet. It was great that I finished it after three months, but I still felt sad that there wasn't more of it. I hope you consider taking up the challenge. I did it, and it was a really rewarding moment in my life. It's a lengthy and demanding task, but I'm telling you, it will totally be worth it.

SPEAKER_01 34:26

Hi, my name is Alex Johnston, and I'm a second-year student at Delaware County Community College. And my summer recommendation is the movie Shazam. Three good reasons to watch the movie are audiences of all ages can enjoy the movie without feeling left out. It's a breath of fresh air from all the nitty-gritty movies and events from the past couple of years. It's not affiliated with the director Zack Snyder, who directed most of the other DC movies in any way, which is a good thing. Aside from these three reasons, the film is a good watch. It doesn't go off on some quest of discovery, a grand adventure, or someone's fantasy. It's just Billy becoming a hero. And like any kid, he wants to have fun with the powers granted to him. The movie has a fun pace, it slows down when focusing on characters. The cast did a phenomenal job on acting, and the crew did an awesome job of bringing the movie and hero to life. The movie presents itself as something lighthearted and fun. It delivers just that. Don't trust the crappy movie review sites or snobbish critics. Trust in the faith that this movie did a far better job than the Snyderverse. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did, and have a

The Written

SPEAKER_01 35:36

great summer.

SPEAKER_03 35:37

We're closing out with the written. Dear listeners, my name's Alyssa. First of all, I want to tell you that I'm really happy you've decided to pursue a degree at Delaware County Community College. I think it's a worthwhile investment. What I've learned is that no two college students are alike, but there are pieces of advice that could apply to universally all of them. You've probably heard of some before, but they have proven helpful to me. I hope you'll take them seriously. One, don't be afraid to ask for help. There's no such thing as a silly question. Asking for help shows that you can self-advocate, and that speaks volumes to professors, colleagues, and future employers. Two, along those lines, don't be afraid to do things on your own terms. Yes, you have to follow directions given to you to complete regular college-related tasks. I mean that you should never have to follow anyone else's path but your own. Take the classes you have always wanted to try, but that don't seem quote unquote cool. Seek out friendships instead of letting others come to you. Sign up for clubs and organizations that you can actually commit to. Anything that sparks your interest are the right things for you. Three, be nice to your professors and fellow classmates. Remember that they're human too. Treat them the way you would want to be treated. Four, if you have any intellectual curiosity, please indulge it. You'll find college to be such an enriching experience if you choose to learn for its own sake. Five, respect your own time and set boundaries. If you find yourself taking on too much, it's okay to scale back. If you make a good case for it, people will understand. Six, you can't do everything when your emotional cup is not full. Make time for the things that make you happy. Seven, pay attention to deadlines. Use a paper or digital planner and break assignments up into manageable pieces. I find the iOS Reminders app extremely helpful. Eight, don't be afraid of receiving feedback. The ability to learn from criticism is probably the single most important skill you can ever develop. Think about it. If you spend precious psychological energy ruminating about the motives of the person giving you the feedback or resisting or lamenting about how you could have done it better, you miss out on valuable information. That info tells you how you can learn to improve your strategies and develop the resiliency. Nine, practice helpful self-talk. Whether as reciting affirmations or combating thoughts that make you feel bad about yourself or whatever else, you'll train your brain to look for the positivity in your life. 10. Keep supportive people close to you, people who always will have your back. I don't think this needs explanation. 11. Lastly, remember that you are so much more than grades or degrees. It does feel good to accomplish your goals, but it's so much more satisfying to enjoy and appreciate the life you are living. Congrats on all your hard work. Take care of yourselves.

SPEAKER_02 38:44

You've been listening to New Media Lab brought to you by Delaware County Community College. Special thanks to DCCC graduates, Lucilla, Dion Harrison, Aaron Hammond, Alex Johnston, and Alyssa Team. We appreciate your ongoing support. So be sure to comment, rate us, and subscribe. And be sure to tell your friends where they can find us here on Spotify at the podcast, YouTube, or Instagram. Thanks again for listening.