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May 27, 2020
John Jay College Senior Students Balance Front-Line Work with Education Demands
NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 — John Jay students, many who live and work in communities of color hit hardest by Covid-19, are also on the front-lines. Their stories of studying while saving lives and keeping New Yorkers safe are inspiring examples of sacrifice and resilience.
Rosa Jimenez is an Emergency Medical Technician working in the Bronx, the borough with the highest infection and mortality rates in New York City. While studying full time in her senior year at John Jay, Jimenez has seen firsthand how the virus is impacting families, communities, and medical professionals.
“I’ve seen so many doctors and nurses end up with Covid-19. It concerns when you look at the patient’s chart and recognize the name,” says Jimenez.
Between shifts, Jimenez studies for finals. It’s her last semester, and she’s not letting the coronavirus or the change to distance learning stop her momentum.
Estefania Solis, a transfer student from Panama, is a Presidential Intern at John Jay and a member of the National Guard. When Covid-19 spread across New York City, Estefania’s life rapidly transformed from that of a typical student attending class and an internship to that of an active duty National Guard member contributing to a critical mission.
“My community has been affected. Some friends have had to fly back to their home countries and struggle with financial hardships. Others lost their job. Many have gotten sick. I am grateful I have the chance to help and not stay at home.”
The virus has altered all of her current plans, from summer job opportunities to her coursework. Balancing the internship, the National Guard, and her college work was initially overwhelming, and Solis thought she wouldn’t be able to complete her classes. But her professors stepped up and worked with her to make sure she finishes the semester and doesn’t lose momentum towards graduation.
Matthew Hart plans to graduate this summer, taking six courses this semester to keep on schedule. He is also serving in the National Guard at Covid-19 testing sites and food distribution centers.
“Juggle is tough. There are times when you want to sleep, but then you remind yourself that you have to get your homework done.”
Despite the struggle, Hart tries to keep a positive attitude and is committed to finishing his undergraduate education. He will start working on a master’s degree in the fall at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.
Graduate student Khalid Islam took a course at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and studied how Toronto handled a SARS outbreak. A few months later, he is using what he learned to keep the Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics safe under his supervision. Khalid is an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Safety and Training Manager for the Mount Sinai Health System. He would receive his master’s degree this month. He has managed to balance his work, family obligations, and education in the shadow of a global pandemic.
According to John Jay College, all these students rose to the challenge these past few months, facing the danger of Covid-19 head-on while staying on the path to graduation. “Their commitment to public service and their communities centers them on a course to become tomorrow’s leaders,” the College said.
John Jay College would honor these students and their classmates from the Class of 2020 in a virtual celebration to mark the end of the semester on Wednesday, May 27. The ceremony will include pre-recorded remarks from special guests, including CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos RodrÃguez; Charles Schumer, United States Senate; Kathy Hochul, Lt. Governor; and Letitia James, NYS Attorney General, among others.
An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York offers a vibrant liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. John Jay is home to faculty and research centers at the forefront of advancing criminal and social justice reform. In teaching, scholarship, and research, the College engages the theme of justice and explores fundamental human desires for fairness, equality, and the rule of law.
Source: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:34 PM | Link to this Post
