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Lawrence Man is Model for Student Success Center

Submitted by on February 11, 2014 – 2:57 pm
Jean Carlos Gomez

Jean Carlos Gomez

Jean Carlos Gomez says Northern Essex’s Student Success Center (SSC), along with hard work, is the reason he is on his way to earning his associate degree in Criminal Justice.

The 20-year-old Lawrence resident has been visiting the SSC, located on the Lawrence Campus, ever since he enrolled at NECC fresh from Greater Lawrence Vocational High School. The SSC provides students with academic and career services, classroom expectations, and financial literacy and planning.

“The Student Success Center is a great place,” he says. “If it wasn’t for the Student Success Center, I wouldn’t be at Northern Essex right now. The staff keeps me motivated to get good grades.”

At the SSC, he learned to ask questions, seek tutoring, and develop strong study skills.

Born in the Bronx to Dominican immigrants, his family moved to the Merrimack Valley when he was nine. Even then, he wanted to study criminal justice. When he graduated from high school he realized he needed a college degree for a career in criminal justice.

That is when he turned to NECC. One of his first stops was the SSC where he quickly developed an easy rapport with the staff. Today, Jean Carlos visits the SSC every school day and spends at least two hours there doing homework and reviewing class assignments.

“I like to joke that the staff has adopted me,” he says.

His exposure to the SSC led to his involvement with the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program, which offers additional student support services. This in turn directed him toward the Student Leadership Program.

The now Dean’s List student encourages friends and classmates to use the SSC.

“The Student Success Center is the one place new students should go to,” he says. “They help you with everything.”