By: Dayvon Rose
Most people don’t realize that the key to success takes more than just studying. It requires patience, dedication, and more importantly… time management. Most people also have their own idea of what it means to be successful. There can be those who simply want to get good enough grades so that they can move on to the next class, but then there are those who want to excel and reach past their limits. Regardless of what one chooses, the best place to start is the Student Success office.
The Eastern Campus’ Student Success office doesn’t get as much highlight as your typical department. However, most students don’t realize that the office holds some of their greatest tools. Meet your Success Specialists, Hillary Leonard and Quida Patterson! These two powerhouses help connect students to other resources on Campus, assist students with early alerts, provide one-on-one appointments to help keep students on track, and much more. I was able to touch base with one of the specialists, Hillary , and ask her some questions.
Hillary Leonard became a Success Specialist because she wanted to help the students at Tri-C in a way she wasn’t able to receive as an undergrad at the University of Toledo. She believes that students are here to learn, but that there are other things such as athletics, clubs, and events to help integrate them into the college community.
“I think I’ve shared with you that college is like an ecosystem. Students don’t realize that the professors don’t come in and flick on the lights every day; there’s a whole community behind them working to accomplish a goal in helping them get to their destination.”
Although college feels like a community for all those within it, I asked her why she thought students may not utilize the resources her office may provide.
“I feel like we don’t see as many students because we are unknown. I hear a lot of the time, “Oh, I didn’t know that your services were offered at the college.”
Hillary, like me, believes it takes many tools to be successful. If there were one tool she would pick to be at the top, it would be a student’s community.
“Community is always the foundation to everything that we do. We rely on each other for everything in this life. So always look to your community first. That’s what I would say is the most important tool for success”.
While both Hillary and Quida work towards ensuring students stay on track, they also receive help from their Student Ambassadors.
Student Ambassadors are students who work with the Student Success office within the work-study program. This gives the students the chance to get paid as they gain valuable work experience. According to Hillary, she was tasked with reviving the Student Ambassador program after it fizzled out once COVID hit. She herself held a position as a work-study student during her undergrad.
“I know the power of working on Campus and how that makes a student more connected to their college.”
I myself have been a Student Ambassador for a year now, and the amount of opportunities I’ve been given has helped guide me towards success. As an ambassador, I help my fellow students register for classes, provide assistance with locating rooms, and more. Due to my close proximity to students and my time networking with different departments as a work-study student, I sometimes feel like a bridge. I hear the concerns of students, and sometimes frustrations, and with my knowledge of how the system works, I can help direct them on how to fix most of their concerns.
Malachi Sellards, a student currently pursuing an associate of science, works with me in the office as a Student Ambassador. He explained how, during the Summer in 2025, he applied as he was looking for student aid options. When asked about his initial thoughts on the office, he said,
“I didn’t know about it at first, because it’s off to the side. When I found out about it, I was a bit confused because I didn’t know what they did”.
He explained how becoming an ambassador taught him how the office was a helpful service to students and that he really opened to more on how useful the help could be.
“I noticed how many students need help with various things when they can’t simply research things.” When asked if he had any advice to give to students, he replied,
“Communication with teachers is important; if a professor were to get mad at you for an email, they’d have a whole other problem on their hands”.
Another point of view I wanted to get was someone who has benefited from the tools received here and achieved success. Shae Hite was previously a Student Ambassador before graduating from Tri-C and transferring to a four-year college. She found the position when looking at Tri-C’s career site. I asked her the same question that I asked Malachi, “What were your initial impressions of the Student Success Office?” Similarly to him, she expressed issues with the location of the office. “I didn’t know it existed, I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t know anybody in there”, she said. Despite her first thoughts, Shae found that one of the specialists in particular, Hillary, and the resources she provided, helped keep her on the path to success.
“The camaraderie we shared in that office is often what gave me the drive to keep going”, she said. “Knowing that I had people who were supporting me, who had my back, who always had words of encouragement, often helped me get up when I didn’t feel as though I could finish my degree”.
I asked Shae if she had any advice for those still working toward their goals.
“I strongly encourage everyone to get to know their dean, their professors, and to get to know the people you may not see every day. Never let yourself be limited by what you think you can do; surround yourself with people who believe what you can do.”
I think everyone agrees that the Success Office can be very useful for those comfortable enough to seek its guidance. However, I believe everyone understands how difficult it can be to ask for help. Anxiety, worrying about failing, or even general shyness can often make a person hesitate to get assistance. For a lot of us, the world doesn’t slow down or wait until we build up that confidence. Yet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t places and people there who are willing to extend a hand and make things just a little bit better. That’s why I believe the Student Success office deserves a bit more spotlight.
So, what do you think truly makes a student successful? Is it hard work and dedication? Or does it involve something more outside of your control? Whatever you may believe, it’s important to allow yourself patience and grace. So, the next time you find yourself struggling with success, know that we are here for you. And remember, when you work on success, you will always progress.
Hillary Leonard’s Tips for Success:
- Break things down into small tasks.
- Realize every step forward is a step to success.
- Understand everyone’s idea of success is different.
- Don’t hold yourself to social constructs; everyone’s timeline is not the same.
- Find time for joy and fun.
Bonus: Rest and relax. (I am a nap queen, so anytime you can sleep, take it!)
