Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Winter Volume 19 Issue 02 - Flipbook - Page 11
STORIES THAT STAY WITH US
This summer, Madison Peschock, College Lecturer II in English and
Literature, received a blast from the past that she’d never expected.
A student from her class ten years ago resurfaced with an email of
appreciation for the lasting impact Dr. Peschock has made.
The now-alumna, Danielle Jacobs (née Blackston), wrote, “Your
passion for Southern Gothic literature was truly infectious. You
brought each story to life with such enthusiasm, and it sparked
a curiosity in me that has never faded. A decade later, I still find
myself drawn to the genre. You helped me fall in love with Southern
Gothic—something I never expected, but now can’t imagine being
without. To this day, I catch myself quoting “A Good Man is Hard
to Find”, and I still think about the tenderness between Tennessee
Williams and his sister Rose that I explored in my final report. These
aren’t just stories to me—they’ve become emotional and cultural
landmarks that continue to shape the way I think and feel.”
When asked what this means to her, Dr. Peschock replied, “It’s
mind-blowing when that happens, and I think ‘wow’, I must have
made a difference, and students remember me. It’s how I am, I
want students to get excited about stuff.”
Despite her transparency of her courses being “reading-heavy” and
“not easy,” many of her students still follow her from one course
to another, and that’s something Dr. Peschock can personally
understand. She struggled initially with many poor professors in
college, to the point that she says she considered quitting completely. However, all it took was one professor to change her mind:
Madeline Smith. Dr. Peschock gives us insight into her influence: “I
took her for six classes; she encouraged me to pursue my master’s,
and she told me I was smart. She made me feel like I mattered,”
she explains. “I visit her every August and every Christmas, and
have told her so many times that she’s changed my life. She made
me want to be successful, and she made me who I am.” This lasting impact, fostering a meaningful relationship in Dr. Peschock’s
life, allowed her to become the type of lecturer that students like
Danielle remember for decades to come.
Danielle now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and cats,
working as an insurance claims adjuster, pursuing comedic acting,
and volunteering in her free time. After her time at OCC and later
at Kean University, where she earned a B.S. in Global Business, she
created a short-term rental company with her husband and, before
the age of 30, became the owner of two homes. Though in some
ways time has stood still for her, as she shares from her recent
trip to New Orleans, “While we were there, I found myself recalling stories I hadn’t read in ten years – still so vivid in my memory.”
Dr. Peschock’s class is a reminder that the things that have changed
us never really do just fade away.
GUIDANCE, CARE & OPPORTUNITY: EOF@OCC
The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) on OCC’s campus provides both financial and academic assistance to students affected
by poverty, with the mission of ensuring access to higher education for all through private academic coaching and advising, service and support, and a financial grant. The staff work one-on-one
with students on things like time management, motivation, study
skills, organization, goal-setting, and test-taking. Jolisa Binoya, a
student at OCC and a member of EOF, says, “EOF has really given
me a sense of direction. Before it, I felt like I was just trying to
survive college, but now I feel supported, I feel guided, I feel seen…
The staff actually listen, take time to check in, and to make sure I’m
staying on track – academically and personally as well.” The EOF
team prioritizes support and care as they form meaningful relationships with their students and aid in their educational journey.
It’s more than providing financial assistance; it’s the genuine care
that connects these students to EOF. Just as Kevin Vargas-Gines, a
student at OCC in the EOF program, shares, “I walk in, and I feel like
I’m in a sanctuary separate from the rest of the college campus.”
Ocean Views
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