Being engaged both inside and outside the classroom at Onondaga Community College helped Ruby Ramseyer discover her passion and chart a clear path forward. "I had a really good experience here. I was nervous coming from a small high school, but everyone here had their arms open. If you wanted to participate in something, everyone was very accepting."
A 2023 graduate of Syracuse's Living Word Academy, Ramseyer enrolled that fall in OCC's Liberal Arts & Sciences: Humanities & Social Sciences degree program. At the time, she wasn't sure what she wanted to study. "OCC is a great option because you're not wasting a huge amount of money if you wind up redoing your major."
She excelled in class, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and became a member of the Lillian Slutzker Honors College. One of her biggest academic inspirations was English Professor Kristen Brumfield. "I really liked her class. She was just amazing the way she taught Shakespeare. It really interested me."
Her experiences outside class were equally pivotal in her growth. As a student representative on OCC's School of Liberal Arts & Sciences Board, she had a seat at the table and a voice that mattered. "I got to share my perspective, and everyone really listened and heard what I had to say about how they could engage students better. It meant a lot to me that they had such an open mind to what I was saying."
Her lengthy history of volunteering before coming to OCC led her to accept a paid community service role as a member of the Empire State Service Corps where she served as an ambassador to Hillside Children's Services. She continued her service throughout this summer, working in the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She also helped students with STEM-related activities during the Micron-sponsored Chip Camp, which was held on the OCC campus last week.
Each of her experiences helped her realize her calling. She plans to become an English teacher, and will continue her education at SUNY Oswego. "What cemented it was working behind the scenes at the college, seeing how involved the staff was in the students' experience, and working with high school students in Hillside. It all led me to decide I want to teach."
