Many students who attend Santa Monica College (SMC) are first generation students. Being the first person in your immediate family to attend college can be an exciting yet overwhelming feeling for a student. The meaning of being a first-generation student is different for everyone. These students know and understand the struggles that their families have endured, and they strive to make their loved ones proud. On Nov. 5, SMC students had the opportunity to express their thoughts on being a first generation student through the school's First Generation Day.

Within the next couple of weeks, Santa Monica College (SMC) students will be undergo the worst portion of the semester: midterm exam time. During this time period, SMC students will experience sleepless nights, stressful mornings, and long days. Many will be drowning in class notes and textbooks, forming large study groups.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, clubs from the Santa Monica College (SMC) community were on display with hopes of recruiting new members. Each club had their own unique formula to draw in as many students as they could at their respective tables.

Despite the small group of students dealing with the issue of having to use the loud and ever so crowded Santa Monica College (SMC) cafeteria as a temporary space, they aren't discouraged one bit. Once they settle in, everyone introduces themselves one by one, before admitting a personal problem that they all share – alcoholism.

During the week before the semester begins, you promised yourself that this school year will be better than the last one. You vowed that you were going to sleep earlier, eat healthier, and study harder. Now, 12 weeks have passed into the semester and you’re in distress because your grades are suffering.