In this episode of Five with a Falcon,  Karla Taveras Guerra ('23) joins us a day and a half before her graduation to talk about what she's learned about herself while studying Graphic Design and International Studies, how her personality differs when speaking English and Spanish, and how she found a sense of belonging while at Fitchburg State University.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode edited and mixed by Adam Fournier, a member of the Perseverantia staff, and a film/video production student in the Communications Media department.

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Perspectives is an ongoing series of Perseverantia -- featuring the voices and stories of the campus community, including alumni interviews; conversations with students, faculty, and staff; and features events.  The goal of Perspectives is to allow for in-depth exploration of the experiences and issues on the minds of those teaching, learning, and working at Fitchburg State University.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In this episode of Classroom Stories, students from Professor Megan Krell’s graduate class, Practicum in School Counseling, in Spring 2023 reflect on what they learned about being a school counselor. Plus, Professor Krell provides some insight into the evolution of the term and the role these educational professionals play.

Find out more about Fitchburg State's MS in School Counseling as well as other Graduate Degrees in Human Services -- at the Behavioral Sciences department website.

Episode Transcript here.

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About the Classroom Stories series:

Students come to Fitchburg State University for academic enrichment and the innovative pedagogy offered in its classrooms. Classroom Stories feature the work of students and learning communities and the exciting explorations in the content of the many disciplines available for study at the university.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In THE EMPTY CAMPUS, students in the Spring 2022 Honors Seminar in History gathered thirty-six oral histories about the Fitchburg State community’s experience of the Covid 19 pandemic. They turned their research into this podcast to begin the process of reflecting on these events.  Episode 5: Back to Campus is the final installment in this series.

In Episode 5, students, staff, and administrators reflect on their experiences with Covid-19 policies with the return to campus in Fall 2020 and as the community looks to the endemic stage of the pandemic.

Find out more about The Empty Campus project at the Fitchburg State University Archives.

This episode was first recorded in Spring 2022.  The five-part series was remastered for Perseverantia, in Spring 2023 by Matt Baier, a student in the Communications Media department and member of the Perseverantia staff.

Episode transcript available here. 

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In this episode of Five with a Falcon, Jin Oakes ('24), a transfer student, shares the journey that took them to a Fitchburg State major in History with a double minor in Professional Writing &  Political Science), how the campus library provides a sense of belonging and community among the stacks, and how their studies have inspired a passion for research. 

Episode transcript available here.

Episode edited and mixed by Adam Fournier, a member of the Perseverantia staff, and a film/video production student in the Communications Media department.

***

Perspectives is an ongoing series of Perseverantia -- featuring the voices and stories of the campus community, including alumni interviews; conversations with students, faculty, and staff; and features events.  The goal of Perspectives is to allow for in-depth exploration of the experiences and issues on the minds of those teaching, learning, and working at Fitchburg State University.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In THE EMPTY CAMPUS, students in the Spring 2022 Honors Seminar in History gathered thirty-six oral histories about the Fitchburg State community’s experience of the Covid 19 pandemic. They turned their research into this podcast to begin the process of reflecting on these events.  Episode 4: Extracurriculars is the next installment in this series.

In Episode 4, we explore how student life continued even with the shift to remote and Covid-19 protocols, including campus culture, student activities, organizations, and athletics.

Find out more about the Empty Campus project at the Fitchburg State University Archives.

This episode was first recorded in Spring 2022.  The five-part series was remastered for Perseverantia, in Spring 2023 by Matt Baier, a student in the Communications Media department and member of the Perseverantia staff.

Episode transcript available here. 

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In this episode of Five with a Falcon, Tim Lwanga, a 2023 Fitchburg State University graduate hailing from Medford, MA,  talks about the transformative experience of the last four years and how he has come to value what's most important in life -- helping others.  A major in  Psychological Science, Tim is currently on the path to graduate school and becoming a mental health counselor.

Episode transcript available here.

Episode edited and mixed by Adam Fournier, a member of the Perseverantia staff, and a film/video production student in the Communications Media department.

***

Perspectives is an ongoing series of Perseverantia -- featuring the voices and stories of the campus community, including alumni interviews; conversations with students, faculty, and staff; and features events.  The goal of Perspectives is to allow for in-depth exploration of the experiences and issues on the minds of those teaching, learning, and working at Fitchburg State University.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In THE EMPTY CAMPUS, students in the spring 2022 Honors Seminar in History gathered thirty-six oral histories about the Fitchburg State community’s experience of the Covid 19 pandemic. They turned their research into this podcast to begin the process of reflecting on these events.  Episode 3: The Essentials is the next installment in this series. 

When the Fitchburg State campus went silent in March 2020, it remained so for months to come. But its emptiness belied the continued pace of work and change. I n Episode 3, Fitchburg State administrators, staff, faculty, and students reflect on the difficult decisions made during the pandemic all while feeling isolated.

Find out more about the Empty Campus project at the Fitchburg State University Archives.

This episode was first recorded in Spring 2022.  The five-part series was remastered for Perseverantia, in Spring 2023 by Matt Baier, a student in the Communications Media department and member of the Perseverantia staff.

Episode transcript available here. 

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In THE EMPTY CAMPUS, students in the spring 2022 Honors Seminar in History gathered thirty-six oral histories about the Fitchburg State community’s experience of the Covid 19 pandemic. They turned their research into this podcast to begin the process of reflecting on these events.

Episode 2: College from Your Living Room explores how members of the Fitchburg State community attempted to continue their studies, teaching, and work from home during the spring 2020 lockdown.

Find out more about the Empty Campus project at the Fitchburg State University Archives.

This episode was first recorded in Spring 2022.  The five-part series was remastered for Perseverantia, in Spring 2023 by Matt Baier, a student in the Communications Media department and member of the Perseverantia staff.

Episode transcript available here.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

In THE EMPTY CAMPUS, students in the spring 2022 Honors Seminar in History gathered thirty-six oral histories about the Fitchburg State community’s experience of the Covid 19 pandemic. They turned their research into this podcast to begin the process of reflecting on these events.

Episode 1: Spring Break explores the moment when members of the Fitchburg State community found out about the university’s indefinite closure in March 2020.

Find out more about the Empty Campus project at the Fitchburg State University Archives.

This episode was first recorded in Spring 2022.  The five-part series was remastered for Perseverantia, in Spring 2023 by Matt Baier, a student in the Communications Media department and member of the Perseverantia staff.

Episode transcript available here. 

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].

Recorded in front of a live audience at Fitchburg State University on April 6th, 2023, Fitchburg Speaks: Stories about What Made Us Who We Are  showcases stories from members of the greater Fitchburg community.  

If you haven't checked out the first five storytellers from this episode, go back to your feed and listen (Perspectives, Ep 7, released June 26)!

Today, we hear four stories from Fitchburg State students, including a junior who tells us how his outlook on life changed profoundly thanks to the unexpected wisdom of a video game; the story of a 30-year veteran television and podcast producer whose try everything ethos and desire to teach prompted a return to school as a first year undergraduate; a second year education major whose life goal as a teacher is to create safe spaces for students who look like they do; and, the story of an English studies major who shares how learning to read was the greatest accomplishment of his life. 

• Nick Castillo, Communications Media / Film&Video Production (1:48)
• Toni Magras, Communications Media / Film&Video Production (8:35)
• Caitlin Moriarty, English Secondary Education (15:12)
• Stephen Wells, English Studies/Professional Writing (20:22)

Fitchburg Speaks was the culminating event from a year of programming inspired by the 2022-23 Fitchburg Community Read book, Trevor Noah's memoir Born a Crime.  This event was organized and sponsored by the Fitchburg Community Read Committee and its members.   

Host: Elliot Zopatti
Recording engineers: Matt Baier and Adam Fournier

Episode transcript available here.

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Perspectives is an ongoing series of Perseverantia -- featuring the voices and stories of the campus community, including alumni interviews; conversations with students, faculty, and staff; and features events.  The goal of Perspectives is to allow for in-depth exploration of the experiences and issues on the minds of those teaching, learning, and working at Fitchburg State University.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at [email protected].