Humans of LBCC
This spring, The Commuter is publishing stories of the human experience among students and staff. If there is someone you think who has a good story to tell, let us know! Send an email to commuter@linbenton.edu.
“My major is undecided, but [I’m] strongly considering Criminal Justice because I want to learn about the constitution and how it’s interpreted. I’m not sure what my dream job is, but I might want to be a police officer. My college experience so far is good … and busy. I have been able to learn new things and meet new people. My hardest class would have to be math class because I failed it my first term, and I was learning new concepts that I didn’t understand. A fear that I’ve had is giving up because something is difficult. My greatest accomplishment was when I passed all my classes winter term as I worked closing shifts with no sleep. I chose to go to LBCC is because of its affordability.”
Story & Photo by Krystal Durbin
Mikel Letelier
“I got [the poncho] in South America. I needed to buy gifts for people because I was coming back and I was like ‘Oh, why don’t I buy something for myself because I want a poncho,’ and so I bought a poncho. I bought this poncho and I enjoy it thoroughly, it’s good in the rain, it’s good in the cold unless it gets soaked. Don’t get your poncho soaked, friends. I’m not one of those people who wears those plastic ponchos. Who does that? Sub-par poncho. Get something nice and comfortable like a wool poncho. It’s gonna break the wind, it’s gonna break the rain for the most part….get a good poncho.”
Story & Photo by Aidan Venegas
Sydney LaVoie
“I saw a challenge on Facebook called the ‘I love you’ challenge and I wanted to take the day to spread some love on campus. The simplest things can make someone feel better so I wanted to let them know that I love them. I have gotten a couple responses. When I was at the bus stop this morning I saw people just smiling at my sign or just in my direction. It makes me feel good, it makes me feel like I am able to make their day brightened by the simplest of words. There is so much hate and negativity in the world going on right now with everything that has happened. The way we battle hate is not through hate itself, but through love.”
Story & Photo by Taryn Sustello
Chris Mattson
“My name is Chris Mattson I have been a public safety officer here at LBCC coming up on Five years now. I started off as a bouncer at the age of 18 and I’ve been doing that for 22 years now. During my career as a bouncer I have been shot two times, once in the arm and once in the back by a man that was driving away after a bar fight. I have also worked in the department of corrections up in Washington for several years as S.W.A.T./E.R.T. officer. I have also worked on government contracts and as a defensive tactics instructor at the police academy. I come from a long line of law enforcement. In my family, almost everyone on my mom’s side of the family was involved in law enforcement. In my free time I enjoy fishing and bow hunting all over Oregon.”
Story & Photo by Mitchell Banks
