Advice from Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholars

 

Scholar receiving certificate

Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholar and Web Content Developer, Brielle, interviewed our Scholars and school administrators about how to succeed in college. Here’s what they had to say.

 

ON CHOOSING A SCHOOL

“I did a lot of research. I asked people about their opinions on different programs and even checked out a TVI Facebook page to ask them what they thought. When I visited the college campuses, I met with the special education directors to ask how they could assist me as a student.”

  • Shannon K.

 

photo of ScholarON STAYING MOTIVATED

“When you start college, you are making a profound decision about your life. As a visually impaired person, you have that extra layer of unknowns: what you’re going to encounter, the positives, the negatives, etc. You have to go in with the mindset that whatever’s going to come, you’re going to do your best to prepare yourself and then take it as it comes.”

  • Sherrie Lynn L.

 

“It hasn’t been an easy road. But I try to look at it as a growing experience and learn more about how to advocate, not just for myself, but for everyone who comes after me.”

  • Caitlin S.

 

ON BEING INDEPENDENT

“I think if students have already gone through that transition period where they’ve learned to become independent learners, they will be more successful in college. I find that the students who struggle are the ones who have relied upon supporting teachers to do everything for them. That’s just so different from post-secondary education.”

  • Angela Millman

Director, Disability Support Services, Seton Hall University

 

photo of Scholar receiving a certificate

“I’ve always been very independent and self-propelled because I recognize the importance of creating my own opportunities. From an early age, I had my mind set on being able to take care of myself. I took advantage of many programs and internships because I was aware of the challenges I’d face as a person with a disability and I wanted to diminish those as much as I could.”

  • Vanessa L.

 

“In college, you have to be self-motivated. If you’re not self-sufficient, then you’re not going to be able to make it. They have the same expectations of you (a disabled student) as they do other students, and they should. It’s up to you as the student to figure out what you need to meet those expectations.”

  • Shannon K.

 

“Any kind of exposure you have to independent living prior to starting college will be beneficial.”

  • Caitlin S.

 

“An incoming college student should try to figure out ahead of time what works for them and how they can be successful. Come with that understanding, and we will provide the expertise to build from that foundation to help them get to where they need to go. Students need to have the goal of self-journey more than the goal of self-academics. “

  • Lindsay Green

Assistant Director of Disability Services and Academic Access, Marymount Manhattan College

 

ON COMMUNICATING AND ASKING FOR HELP

“College students have to be willing to ask for help. You have to understand that the freedoms you’re provided as an adult in college come with responsibilities and part of those responsibilities is to ask for help when you need it. That takes on any form you can think of –emotional, social, physical, and academic.”

  • Michael R. DiBartolomeo, M.A.

Vice President for Enrollment Management, St. Thomas Aquinas College

 

“The students that I see who are most successful are good at communicating, not just with disability services, but with their professors and colleagues.”

  • Angela Millman

Director, Disability Support Services, Seton Hall University

 

ON ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF

“College is very different from high school in the way that you’ll be advocating for yourself quite a bit. Students need to be equipped with an advocacy voice and advocacy vocabulary so that they can walk into a disability services office with their head held high and say, ‘Let’s create this accommodation package for me that’s going to help me be successful in my college experience.’”

  • Sherrielynn L.

 

“In the beginning of each semester, I like to reach out to each of my instructors to let them know that I’m working with the accommodations office. I disclose my visual impairment to them, so that if I have any trouble throughout the class, I can work with the instructors and the accommodations office to ensure I can succeed.”

  • Austen B.

 

Scholar in U.S.ParaOlympic uniform

“What became prominent moving from undergraduate to medical school is how much you have to advocate for yourself. Don’t feel like you’re putting anyone out by asking for what you need in terms of accommodations. Otherwise, we’re the ones that would lose out in the end. A lot of times, others might not know or understand. Your learning and success should not be hindered because you’re not getting something that you’re entitled to get.“

“Keep pushing forward and focus on what you need to do now, but at the same time, set up these expectations early on and fight through one issue at a time.”

  • Caitlin S.

 

ON STAYING ORGANIZED

“Students need time management at any college; your mom isn’t there to wake you up in the morning anymore. I’ll use the alarm on my phone to set warnings and start times. I made a Brailled calendar with a list of everything that was due so I could have it in front of me separated by class.”

  • Shannon K.

 

 ON TECHNOLOGY

“I recommend that students be as technologically-savvy as possible. You should be proficient with your computer and any accessible programs you use.”

  • Sherrielynn L.

 

“You do need some sort of laptop computer. Sometimes looking things up on your phone or iPad is easier and more accessible, I get it. But you can’t write, edit, and format a paper on those devices.”

  • Shannon K.

 

ON FINDING BALANCE

“You don’t have to do everything. Sometimes I think students can actually be over-involved; You have to have a balance. Find one thing; it doesn’t matter if it’s social, academic, or creative. Students just need to find something that helps keep them motivated, balance their life, and make connections with people.”

  • Angela Millman

Director, Disability Support Services, Seton Hall University

 

ON BEING FLEXIBLE

“The skill of being flexible and rolling with the punches is something that’s needed when you’re entering college. You have to be open to the fact that your world’s going to change. You have to be open to the adaptability of your life. Listen to yourself and listen to others who’ve done this before you.”

  • Lindsay Green

Assistant Director of Disability Services and Academic Access, Marymount Manhattan College

 

ON GETTING INVOLVEDphoto of Scholar JG

“Embrace your experience. Get involved, get to know people, and speak up.”

  • John G.

 

 

 

 

photo of scholar“You’ll get the best out of your school if you’re a person who seeks opportunities and ways to succeed. You’ll get so much more than just a degree.”

  • Kacper L.

 

 

ON SOCIALIZING

“In terms of socializing, just be yourself. If people ask you about [your disability] then if you’re comfortable, share. Don’t feel timid or afraid to put yourself out there because of your disability. Growing up, I found that my disability isn’t an issue for others if it’s not an issue to me.”

  • Caitlin S.

 

ON INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER PREP

“Find an internship where you’re the right fit for the right company. If you do a good job and perform well, it could lead to an opportunity after college.”

  • Austen B.