Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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- . Transitioning from life in Africa to life in Philadelphia for many students, attending school in the dty was a drastic change. Many students come to Temple from the suburbs, whether in Pennsylvania or another state. Living away from home, or even commuting, is a challenge for students, who aie used to the comfort of high school. Although Temple is a large school, it still draws in many students from the surrounding Philadelphia region. I lowever, one pre-mcd biology major came to Temple all the long from Cameroon, a West African country. Sophomore Manucla Tchamou came to Philadelphia after a friend in her hometown applied to Temple and decided to attend. She also has a passionate longing to attend medical school and liked the fact that Temple also had a highly respected medical school. When asking Manucla how and why she chose Temple of all schools, she responded, “I heard about Temple through a friend, who went to the same high school as me.” Her high school friend, Sapliir Rsmail, a junior international business administration major, was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Congo, where he was raised for the majority of his lifetime until he came back to Philadelphia. Because he was born in Philadelphia, he already knew a great deal about Temple and Philadelphia colleges. He applied to Temple to study International Business Administration and he figured, “What better place than Fox School of Business?” Manucla decided to apply after she heard that Saphir really enjoyed the school and city. She then added, “I looked it up and liked the fact that it was a big school and that they had a medical school and a hospital because I wanted to do pre-med. Among all the schools I applied to, Temple was the least cosdy.” Manucla has lived in the city all of her life, so transitioning to anodicr city was not the hard part of her move. However, the transition was bittersweet, as expected. Ijh- “Coming to Philly was a big change just because I was going to be in a different city and different social environment. I was sad about what I was leaving behind, but 1 was excited about what was to come. What she enjoys the most about Temple is its diversity and great opportunities offered, such as its plentiful amount of organizations on campus. “Temple provides its students with many networking and career-building opportunities.” She enjoys the student lift and many clubs and organizations Temple has to offer. Amongst the other schools Manucla applied to, such as Drcxd University, I-a Salle University, and University of Maryland, she liked Temple the best. Like many students, Manuela decided to get involved on campus through pre-professional groups and social groups.Joining organizations helped make her transition much easier because she acquired new friends and new hobbies. Manucla is an acuvc member of campus, even though she is only a sophomore. Manuela has recently joined a sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon. She is a member of the ISA. the Intemadonal Students Association; Temple University Chemistry Society; and Alpha Iqisilon Delta, a pre-professional student organization catered to those entering the field of healthcare. She has really come to appreciate all the great opportunities Temple has to offer. The transition from high school to college is difficult for most students, but Manuela managed to transition from another continent to attend college. MAURA UEBEKMAS I

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Unconventional Jobs that Teach Valuable Career Skills Temple University is known for providing its students with a well-rounded education used to achieve interesting and fulfilling careers. In addition, Temple offers a variety of unconventional, multi-faceted jobs for students on campus to help prepare for life after college. Chris Williams, a junior media studies and production major, is a videographer for die Temple Owls football team. Mis job is to attend every practice, home game, and some away games, and film the team to help players and coaches sec the plays from different angles, something that Williams hopes to make a permanent career post-graduation. “I would definitely like a career doing something with vidcography. I think this experience [working on campus] has definitely helped me, shooting-wise,” said Williams. “This spring I’m interning with a couple guys who do the same things I do here.” Williams said the job gives him great experience in the vidcography field, among other benefits. “The cool thing about this job is I've only been on a plane once before, but with this job I get to trawl all the time [for away games],” said Williams. “I get to ride planes with the team, so I can’t complain about tliat, because I know a lot of friends who have to drive. We can get across the country in an hour and a half.” Williams’job is not the only one that expands his borders outside of Philadelphia. Nicholas Gareca works as a conversation partner at the writing center in Tuttleman learning Center, and his job is to talk with foreign students to help them learn the English language and American culture. “I meet with a student and sit and talk with them for a 50-minute appointment or a 20-minutc drop in,” said Gareca. “I help diem do whatever they want, whether it is practice presentations, answer questions about English, teach them about American slang.” Gareca speaks English and Spanish and is learning how to speak Chinese. Me savs his jiassion for language expands from his family roots, as he visits family in Argentina every summer. As a conversation partner, Gareca hopes to give international students an opportunity that they might otherwise not have. “Some kids just want to talk. A lot of international students don’t have time to practice speaking because they only interact with native speakers,” said Gareca. The job has introduced Gareca to many new people and new experiences in the work place. “I remember teaching a guy how to swear, who wanted to learn more about American culture,” said Gareca. “He didn’t recognize some of the words his roommates were saying playing [Grand Theft Auto 5], and I was like, i know those words.’ I think in order to understand American culture he needs to understand those words.” “So I asked my boss for permission to teach him to swear. The next day I shook his hand and took him to a private room, and taught him to swear,” said Gareca. “1 told him what the words mean and where they come from. And I told him not to use them in formal occasions.” Being a conversation partner is similar to what Gareca wants to do after he graduates. “Certainly hope to do something with languages, maybe teaching English to second language learners. I want to continue to learn different languages, meet people and travel,” Gareca said. With opportunities like the ones Williams and Gareca are using. Temple helps provide students with experience that can lie used in the real world. LOGAN KWJM