NBC’s new show Community could not be airing at a more ideal time. With the drop of the economy, more students are turning to their local Community Colleges to start and obtain their education.
Mikah Gilson, a student at Tulare Western High School, invites her friends over every Thursday night to watch her two favorite shows. The Office and Community. Gilson, as well has her friends plan to attend COS in the fall of 2010.
“It’s kind of not cool to say your going to COS,” said Gilson. “Watching Community does make as all feel a little better about going.”
Like any sitcom, the show is comprised of an extremely eclectic cast, spanning all age groups and ethnicities. Walking around the COS campus, one can commend the sitcom for portraying a real aspect of community college life. At COS one is not surprised to find out her lab partner is the mother of three, or their neighbor in Spanish moved here from India just a few years ago. It’s a diversity rarely found at the average four-year university campus.
The show builds upon these unique diversities. The main character returns to the CC after his education is deemed void by bar. Sitting in Spanish he is flanked by an older re-entry student (played by comedic ledged Chevy Chase), a timid girl right out of high school and approaching middle age women ready to offer her insight to anyone.
“People say COS is a lot like high school, all the same people and drama,” said Isabel Castillo, a senior at Tulare Western. Castillo plans on going to COS herself, however admitted to being embarrassed when discussing her college plans with some of her classmates. “Going to COS doesn’t seem to be the popular thing to do,” she said.
Although Castillo felt it was not the popular thing to do, more then half of her government class raised their hand when asked if they were going to attend COS next fall.
Television has proven an effective tool when influencing peoples opinions. Community may be added to this list.
“Community makes community college seem fun,” continued Gilson. “Of course COS wont be exactly like it, but maybe we cab make it that way.”
Life rarely pans out to be as quick paced and witty as a sitcom. However, Community has brought further attention to community colleges, creating a positive image of their student bodies and student life.
Putting the Community back in Community College
Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Updated: Thursday, December 3, 2009
3 comments
What Mark says is true though. Most of the people going to COS need to grow up, if they ever want to be taken seriously.