Student focus: J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

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Douglas Ford, 20, is an engineering student at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He is returning for his second year and starting his new position as a student ambassador. Only a select few are chosen from the applicants to formally represent the school at special functions.

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By Latala Payne
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: October 10, 2008

During his first days at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Douglas Ford was nervous about meeting new friends and getting involved in college life.

“I was taking all my classes at the Goochland campus, and I knew there wouldn’t be anyone there that I would know,” said the engineering student. But his worries soon disappeared. “I found that there were plenty of students in the same situation, and I was able to make friends pretty quickly,” Ford said.

Getting involved through extracurricular activities can be a problem when entering a new school. Some students are able to get involved, because they have the time, but many like Ford have too many things going on at the same time.

“It was always hard for me to find something at J. Sarg that I was interested in and get involved in,” said Ford. “I work an average of 40 hours a week, and after all my classes I don’t have much spare time.”

Ford works as a mechanic at the Pearson dealership at Broad Street and Parham Road. He also starts a position as student ambassador for J. Sargeant Reynolds this fall semester.

Ford contributes much of his success in his first year at J. Sargeant Reynolds to his teachers. The faculty and staff are instrumental in helping new students.

“So far, every teacher I have had has been very helpful to my success at J. Sarg,” said Ford. “All of my classes have been relatively small and I was always able to get one-on-one attention if I needed it.”

“The counselors are very helpful as well and always willing to meet with you anytime,” Ford added. “I was also required to take a class my first semester that was intended to teach students good study habits and organization skills. This class was a great experience for me and has really helped me get to this point in my educational career.”

“Doug has always excelled in his work and has surpassed all expectations for his first year at J. Sarg,” said his sister Melissa Ford. “He is one of my biggest inspirations and I am so proud of all his accomplishments.”

“Doug is a great kid, and he does excellent work,” said Ford’s automotive teacher Michael Trapani. “He is one of the best students I’ve had in the hands-on and lecture part of my class. We are working together to get him into the engineering program, so he can eventually work for a manufacturer to design rather than do automotive work.”

Ford is beginning his second year at J. Sargeant Reynolds and looks back at what really made him successful during his first year. He has lots of great advice for incoming freshman.

“I would suggest to first year students to always try their hardest in class,” said Ford. “They are all equally important and equally weighed in your GPA.”

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a great school and is a good start for a college career, said Ford. He added that it can help point any new student in the right direction. When they later transfer to a four-year university, they know exactly what to do.

“I would recommend this school to not only undecided students, but any new college student,” said Ford. “I had a great experience at J. Sarg and I think it would be very beneficial to start your college career at a community college. It helps to get many of your general classes done, and it is a lot cheaper.”