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SUCCESS STORIES START AT TBCC
Engaged Students are Successful Students
Diana Van Cleave
Extroverted, Participative, Successful
TBCC: Tell me a little about you?
Diana: I graduated in 1992 from The Ark, a wonderful alternative high school in
Santa Cruz, CA. I lived with my single father in Santa Cruz and a couple of years
in Modesto, CA. with my grandparents while my dad was having some issues. I
have been a bartender for almost ten years total, and I have been working at The
Sportsman Pub-N-Grub for five and a half years in Pacific City. I moved to Pacific
City in May of 2007 with my boyfriend and love it here. I love to play pool, bowl,
darts, concerts, and hanging out with my friends and family.
TBCC: What brought you to Tillamook Bay Community College?
Diana: I spent the first 3 years of my time here in Pacific City working at the
Sportsman and learning how to live a different lifestyle than I had before moving
here. I had always felt that I was meant to evoke some type of change and help
people better their lives, and I knew that the best way to do this was to expand my
horizons and educate myself. I was unsure if I had the intelligence and skills to
succeed in school, but I applied myself 100% and relied on my friends, boyfriend,
and family for mental support and reassurance and have achieved more than I
imagined I would be able to.
TBCC: Do you have a memorable TBCC experience that really stands out?
Diana: Being inducted to PTK and making the President's list twice. My GPA is a huge reward for me since I had not had a grade since I was in 8th grade, so to know that I have the intelligence and drive to apply myself and achieve high grades makes me proud of myself and grateful for the support my friends, family, and school has provided me.
TBCC: What do you plan to do after you graduate from TBCC?
Diana: I plan on transferring to a 4 year college and completing my BA in one of the social sciences, although I am still investigating which direction I would like to go to achieve this. I do know that I want to help and counsel at risk youth, as well as hopefully evoke some type of positive change in people that might not think or know how to achieve a better life for themselves. I hope to be able
to show them that they can be successful and productive despite their upbringing and lack of life choices. I wish to make positive influences and truly help people through life’s difficult experiences while showing them that there are opportunities and choices available for people that want to strive for them, regardless of where they come from. I want to show youth that they hold the key
to opening their own doors to a better existence, and that they can and will be happy and successful if they choose to apply their untraditional strengths and experiences towards bettering their lives.
TBCC: What kind of challenges have you enountered while attending TBCC?
Diana: The biggest challenge for me here at TBCC was learning how to manage my time productively, learning how to efficiently study, and how to take tests successfully. I had never taken a final, written a research paper, or taken Algebra because my High School was geared towards basic requirements to help at risk youth graduate, so these types of experiences were not focused on. I used
every resource available to help learn how to succeed at these things from study groups with peers, asking for help from mentors and friends, and never being shy or insecure about asking teachers for help. I am still learning how to be a successful student and plan on continuing this process through my college experience. Learning to manage stress has been the most challenging experience for me,
but I feel that I am excelling and growing as a person through these experiences.
TBCC: Do you have any advice for new students coming to TBCC?
Diana: Explore and utilize all resources available to them through TBCC and their interactions with fellow peers. I have learned a great deal from other students and have learned that I must be my own cheerleader and advocate for achieving and setting my personal goals, and that I must be patient with myself while learning how to accomplish these goals.
TBCC: Do you have any other comments you would like to say?
Diana: I have had an amazing experience at TBCC, and would not change a thing. The small campus and small class size has been an immeasurable benefit and resource in my academic success. It has allowed me to learn how to be a successful student by providing me with professors and school staff that I can approach easily and comfortably.
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MOre info About TBCC
It is the policy of Tillamook Bay Community College and its Board that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, height/weight ratio, organizational affiliation, or political affiliation in any educational programs, activities or employment. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs. Persons having questions about nondiscrimination should contact Pat Ryan, Director - Facilities, Safety, Human Resources at TBCC, 4301 Third Street, Tillamook, Oregon, Room 122, Phone (503) 842-8222, ext. 1020 or TDD (503) 842-2467.
Section 504 Coordinator, Michele Burton, Director of Student Services, 4301 Third Street, Tillamook, Oregon, Room 116, Phone (503) 842-8222, ext. 1110
Title II Coordinator, Pat Ryan, Director - Facilities, Human Resources, Safety, 4301 Third Street, Tillamook, Oregon, Room 122, Phone (503) 842-8222, ext. 1020
Title IX Coordinator, Lori Gates, Chief Academic Officer, 4301 Third Street, Tillamook, Oregon, Room 110, Phone (503) 842-8222, ext. 1030
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