Owning Your Journey: How to Successfully Navigate the Community College Experience

Owning Your Journey: How to Successfully Navigate the Community College Experience is designed to address key issues community college students are likely to face as they begin their journey into the higher education experience. The book is written in an informal, relatable, and student-friendly tone to encourage readers to personally connect with the material. Though highly approachable, the chapters are rooted in research literature and learning theory. They contain a wealth of practical strategies and opportunities for personal reflection and peer collaboration to help students make the most of their community college experience.

The first half of the text covers the nature of the community college institution; how to navigate admissions, advising, financial aid, and other college services; how to prioritize life activities for effective time management; and how to respectfully communicate and interact with peers and instructors on campus. The second half of the book provides a practical and applicable approach to various topics, including study techniques; test-taking strategies; online information literacy and using reference sources; and preparing to graduate, transfer to another program or institution, or enter the workplace. Each chapter features activities and review questions to support the learning experience.

Featuring a strong emphasis on the critical importance of students maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on their future goals, Owning Your Journey is an ideal resource for freshman seminar courses and first-year programs.

Hunter Keeney, Ed.D. is an adjunct instructor in the Education and Mathematics Department at Lamar State College Orange. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Leadership at St. Edward's University.

Suzonne H. Crockett, Ed.D. is the dean of academic studies at Lamar State College Orange, where she is responsible for the academic programs on campus, including policies and development as well as overseeing and supporting the faculty and staff.