Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Winter Volume 19 Issue 02 - Flipbook - Page 13
LAUREN SIMON,
College Pathways Advisor
Lauren credits her experience as a student
at OCC with being the reason she chose a
career in higher education herself.
“I was very uncertain of my career direction
back then, but after becoming a Student
Ambassador, I knew I had a passion for working with students. The same passion that
guided my experience as a student worker
inspires my work today; at heart, I am still the
college student who loves helping others and
dreams of making a difference, even though
I didn’t know how I would make a difference
back then. I remind the high school students
I present to in my current role that they, too,
will find their way.” For Lauren, the transition
from student to employee was truly gratifying. “Coming back to campus as a full-time
staff member feels like coming home,” she
says. “I’ve never experienced anything more
rewarding than being able to support students in the place where it all began for me.”
ANN G. MCCLAVE, MHED, MSCJ,
Associate Registrar, Systems and Services
Ann stopped out of college in 1992, feeling
confident in her career as a retail manager.
However, following a divorce and career
transition in 2010, she saw the value of
returning to school to invest in herself
and also to model lifelong learning
for her children. What she remembers most about her time as a
student is how everyone was
so helpful, from the student
worker who guided her to the
right office to staff in Financial
Aid who helped her navigate
paperwork, instructors who
created an inclusive classroom for all, and the deans
who ensured she stayed on
track to finish her degree. The
experience influenced her own
outlook.
“The connections I made inspired
me to want to help make a difference in other students’ lives,” Ann
says. “I am grateful for the time I spent
as a student at OCC. It taught me that
each of us is different in our own way.
Respect the thoughts of others and realize
not everyone has the same mind set and
that’s OK. With this in mind, I am reminded
that each day may bring a new obstacle, but I
step back and put myself in the shoes of others and determine the best way to approach
and handle the issue at hand.”
Ocean Views
13
