April 23, 2003 Feature Story
Student
Support Services to the Rescue
 Going
back to school, especially after being out of the groove for
awhile, can be a difficult thing. Challenges often loom, ranging
from financial inadequacies to the simple but very real fear
factor. Help is available though, and one particular office
at Utah State University, Student Support Services, stands at
the ready to help students sometimes termed as "non-traditional"
find success.
Just ask John Flores. He turned his "non-traditional"
experience into a success story.
As a 26-year-old freshman, husband and father of two, Flores
knew exactly what it felt like to be overwhelmed with school.
Flores graduated from high school in 1982 with no intention
of going to college. His family was not able to help support
him financially. He worked in construction and then as a temp
mechanic for eight years and realized he would need to do something
more to support his growing family.
"I found that with only a high school diploma, my opportunities
were very limited," Flores said.
After persuasion from his brother, he decided to enroll at Utah
State University. Once he began taking the required courses,
feelings of insecurity and doubt began to take their toll.
"I was haunted by the fear that I wouldn't be successful,
and I was considering that maybe I wasn't smart enough for college,"
said Flores. "I went to the Student Support Services office
thinking 'What am I going to do?'"
That's when his educational path took a turn for the better.
Nazih Al-Rashid, director of Student Support Services, took
the time to listen to Flores' fears and concerns and reassured
him that they could help him.
Student Support Services is a part of TRIO, a federally funded
program to help students with their educational needs and goals.
Services offered include academic advising, tutoring and financial
aid planning as well as math and study skills instruction.
"He immediately showed concern for me and asked me to explain
what was going on and what was troubling me," Flores said.
"When I left the office, I felt like they genuinely wanted
to help me and that the office was a place I could go and talk
to someone at any time."
With the help of Student Support Services, Flores graduated
from the industrial hygiene and biology department in the fall
of 1993 with a 3.74 grade point average. Since then, he has
completed his master's degree, worked for a consulting firm,
made his way back to Utah State and is now a lecturer in the
biology department.
Early this year, Flores returned to Student Support Services
to catch up with the staff that had helped him succeed more
than a decade ago. Flores expressed his appreciation for the
support and help he received.
"John is an excellent example for TRIO students on campus,"
said Al-Rashid following the visit. "His accomplishment
is a testimony to the success of TRIO programs and the philosophy
behind the Student Support Services program."
Flores will be featured in the National TRIO Achievers brochure
pending the final brochure publication. This brochure will be
published by the Council for Opportunity in Education.
To qualify for services from the office, students must be American
citizens or permanent residents, must be registered as an undergraduate
at Utah State and must meet at least one of the following criteria:
(1) low income as determined by federal guidelines based on
family size and income; (2) first generation, with neither parent
having a four-year degree; or (3) learning or physically disabled.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
until the program is full. For more information, visit the Student
Support Services Office in the Taggart Student Center room 225A
or go to their Web site at www.usu.edu/sss.
Writer: Shalee Sucher, (435) 797-1350, shalee@cc.usu.edu
Contact: Nazih Al-Rashid, (435) 797-3371, nazih.alrashid@usu.edu
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