New Kids on the Block (Plan)

By REBECCA BRANT, director of publications

In our final installment of "New Kids on the Block (Plan)," Verdel Baskin, an English major, and Amy Wielkoszewski, who majored in mathematics (emphasis computer science), have charted the first destinations of their post-graduation journeys -- each landing a stellar job, each reflecting on the choices and experiences that have made them who they are today.

While his CC education offered him the world, after great deliberation, Verdel opted to return to his native Los Angeles with Teach for America. "This position will allow me to defer and pay off $10,000 of my student loans," he explains, "but the real reason I chose Teach for America is that it lets me give back to my community. There's a dire need for African American males to be role models in the inner city." In August, following a summer of training, he will begin teaching a single subject -- preferably English -- to students in grades 7 through 12. "Plus," he continues, green eyes sparkling, "I'll be able to reach them through basketball."

And whether he's quoting Maya Angelou or humbly admitting to his record-breaking hoops success (scoring, assists and steals), Verdel will undoubtedly reach -- and impress -- these students. He wants them to look at him and see that they, too, can dream the hopeful dreams of a better life. He wants to offer them some of the stability he missed growing up in a large, single-parent family -- the stability an NBA career couldn't offer him. "I've been invited to several basketball camps," he explains thoughtfully. "I’ve gone and played, and I could have a short-term contract I suppose, but that's not my style. That's not the kind of life I'm looking for." No, Verdel's idea of success has shifted from center court to the courtroom. After his two-year stint with Teach for America, he plans to attend law school.

Amy, meanwhile, has decided she wants the whole world -- and a job that will allow her to explore it. Her new position as an analyst with Andersen Consulting will do just that. "After two years, I can ask to be assigned overseas," she says buoyantly. "And there’s always a need for programmers in London."

That great city was home to Amy for two months last summer, as she pursued a study abroad course in Renaissance Philosophy and Art. During her time in London, she was required to see four plays each week, but she chose to make it four plays and one musical a week -- and she loved every minute of it. From London, she journeyed to Florence. Was she concerned about not knowing the language? Not this lady linguist, who quickly learned Italian by immersion, an experience she describes as similar to the Block Plan, and "the only way to learn a language." Her host mother spoke some English, but that wasn’t good enough for Amy. "I knew I wouldn’t learn if she switched to English when I was struggling to understand," she explains, "so I asked her to speak only Italian."

Poised to leave the safe and nurturing arms of their alma mater, Amy and Verdel are a study in the breadth of emotion brought about by such an occasion. Both are excited about their new jobs and upcoming moves. Verdel, happy to be returning to his old stomping grounds and his family. Amy, timorous about moving to a city where she knows no one. Both sad to leave friends -- fellow students as well as faculty -- behind. Both feeling guilty that they found jobs -- and good ones -- so quickly while many of their friends are still looking. Both confident in their educational preparation, their skills, and themselves.

And both are positively exuberant -- laughing, exchanging e-mail addresses so they can keep in touch, joking about how each has changed over the course of their college careers. "I know this is kinda sad," Amy begins, foreseeing Verdel’s reaction to her computer-geek confession, "but my favorite memory of my time at CC is when a group of us were in the computer lab in the basement of Palmer, working together -- intensely -- to solve a problem. We were a group with a common goal, we were excited, we were helping each other. That’s what CC was for me." Smirking, Verdel relates his favorite memory: the first time he saw snow as a freshman. "I remember thinking, ‘I’ve never seen snow before,’ and going outside to look at it. I got over it pretty quick. It was cold!"

Their senior year saw many more firsts for each of these "new kids," now old hands ready to begin another new challenge. "Maya Angelou talks about living in the present, and that’s what I’ve done this year," Verdel explains. "I’ve tried different things -- skiing, volleyball, tennis, salsa dancing, even a dance recital. I’ve expanded my horizons, made a conscious effort to be more open and more open-minded."

Amy remarks on his soaring confidence and newfound ease in communicating thoughts and ideas. As soon as she pauses, Verdel replies that she, too, has become more self-assured, the sincerity of their easy exchange reflecting the support and nurturing they said made all the difference in their college experience. They are proud of their personal accomplishments, of each other, of their school.

"There’s just a different feeling when you’re a senior," Amy says. "A feeling that the campus is yours, you finally belong, you’re not the new kid anymore."

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