Beyond the Bell Tower

Everyone on campus seems to know Gino Fernandes II – as an accomplished entrepreneur, an active leader in Biochemistry, TRIO and Campus Enterprises, as King Gino a professional rapper and as the face of NC State student basic needs. Gino shares how has reaped success as a biochemistry student, starting an internship with Biogen all at the same time as managing his professional entertainment career creating music, performing and managing a label. How is this event possible? Gino appears to have it all – but it did not start that way, in high school he did not even know he had to apply to college and look where he is now. With his humor, passion and lived experiences you will be inspired by him. He will show you how you do not need to choose between your college degree and pursuing another career at the same time. This episode was recorded Spring 2019.

Indira Gutierrez is a TRIO student studying psychology with minors in biology and cognitive sciences, all of which tie into her passions for change in financial insecurity. Not only has she experienced both food and housing insecurity herself, but she is also she’s using her time at NC State to actively fight hard against the stigmas surrounding it. Under the direction of Dr. Mary Haskett, Indira has conducted research and collaborated on the Food and Housing Insecurity Initiative Among NC State Students. She has made strides towards positive changes on campus like keeping residence halls open during breaks and promoting visibility and accessibility to resources on campus like Pack Essentials.
On this episode of Beyond the Bell Tower, Indira implores listeners to realize that food and housing insecurity can look like many things, come in different forms and that you don’t have to be considered “low-income” to experience either one. NC State is a campus with a variety of resources for you to use. She hopes that in telling her story, she will convince others that there is no shame in using them.
For more information on these resources, important changes at NC State and how you can get involved, make sure to join the NCSU Basic Students Needs Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/347086259247513/. This episode was recorded Spring 2019.

Wade has done it all: CO-OP and part-time employment in a high paying industry, accepted to graduate school before graduation with a B.S. degree and a diverse network of professional contacts and mentors. These accomplishments did not come easy to Wade. Learn about the tough decisions he made and the risks he took leading him to become financially and professionally secure. This episode was recorded in Spring 2018.

Jesse Lopez, a TRIO Upward Bound Alumni, is now a lead librarian at Arizona State University. Before achieving this administrator position, he earned a very competitive and esteemed position at NC State libraries when he shared his story for the podcast in October 2017. Learn how Jesse negotiated a better salary at ASU, pursued a career as a librarian and struggled to transition from a predominately Hispanic community in Los Angeles to an affluent PWI. This episode was recorded Spring 2018.

Qulea is a proud second-year TRIO Student Support Services STEM student at NC State. In this podcast, Qulea shares her story of caring for her chronically ill parents and then dealing with their death while in high school. Listen to Qulea, as she shares her story of homelessness and how utilizing TRIO, the Counseling Center and other support systems have been beneficially to her ultimate success. As Qulea states, “There is always someone out there watching over you.” This episode was recorded Spring 2018.

Eric entered NC State as an engineering major. Like a great number of college students, after two years in the Biological Engineering program it was apparent he needed a change his major. After considering several other majors, Eric shares his story of feelings of failure and frustration to now achieving academic success and committing to career in textiles. This episode was recorded Summer 2017.

Graduating in May 2018, Brooke discusses the best decisions she has made at NC State – attending CMAST (academic semester at NC State’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology), seeking out mentoring relationships and presenting her research at national conferences. The multiple part-time jobs she has worked since 16, never deterred her for being so invested in her future of earning a Ph.D. This episode was recorded Fall 2017.

Riki is a third year student at NC State studying communication with a concentration in media, minoring in dance, a reporter in Student Media, a University Theatre actor, and recently, a TRIO SSS student. Throughout her college education, she, along with many other low-income, first generation students, has felt the extreme pressure to succeed in the college expectation of being able to “do it all” – get good grades, build a resume by joining extracurricular clubs, and make money to survive. In this episode, she talks about dealing with the stress of being overwhelmed, bouncing back from rejection, and how to best take care of yourself when it doesn’t seem like your schedule allows for it. Riki is the newest staff member assisting in the production of Beyond the Bell Tower. This episode was recorded Fall 2017.

Eighty-five percent of college students report feeling overwhelmed by everything they have to do in college. Bradford shares his personal experiences with managing the stressors of applying to graduate school, ending relationships and transitioning to a career in counseling. Bradford currently works as the Academic Success Coordinator for TRIO Student Support Services Programs at NC State. Bradford earned his undergraduate degree at North Carolina A&T State University and his graduate degree in Counseling from UNC-Pembroke. This episode was recorded Summer 2017.

Eighty-five percent of college students report feeling overwhelmed by everything they have to do in college. Bradford shares his personal experiences with managing the stressors of applying to graduate school, ending relationships and transitioning to a career in counseling. Bradford currently works as the Academic Success Coordinator for TRIO Student Support Services Programs at NC State. Bradford earned his undergraduate degree at North Carolina A&T State University and his graduate degree in Counseling from UNC-Pembroke. This episode was recorded Summer 2017.