Affirmations of Belonging
It’s hard to miss.
At the entrance of the Student Union are 19 flags suspended from the balcony, representing such countries as Argentina, Lithuania, Guyana, Ghana and Equador. The American flag unfolds from the highest point.
Meet Natasha Thomas,’99, a CUNY Office Assistant (COA) in the Kurt R. Schmeller Library for 18 years. Her idea to fly the flags in the Student Union is just one of her many initiatives and activities undertaken throughout the decades.
Natasha is an alumna of Queensborough, having earned dual associate degrees in administration and marketing (1999). Upon graduation, she entered the private sector as a bookkeeper for a clothing store in Manhattan’s financial district. A few years later, she was laid off from her job, two weeks before 9/11. “No one I had worked with was in the store when the planes struck the towers, thank God.” Natasha returned to Queens where she lived and wanted to stay. And that, she said, “pointed me back to the place I love, Queensborough.” Natasha was hired in late 2001 as an event coordinator at the Student Union where she worked until 2007.
“I was drawn to the Student Union because that is where the heart of the College lies, its students. It was a joy helping them organize events, steering them in the right direction for academic guidance, or just having a good laugh. I hope they saw me as a mentor, an advocate.” She noted, however, that there wasn’t a diverse group of students who spent time there, just a few regulars. “That’s when I got the idea for flags. What better represents inclusivity than a visual display of diversity? I worked with the Office of International Student Services, conducted my own research and even learned about what a grommet was and its importance to a flag. Students started to feel like the Student Union was a welcoming space for everyone. Board games were popular as well as Pokémon, and billiards. I set down a few rules, like no swearing.”
Natasha has boundless enthusiasm for everything QCC. As a student, she served as Treasurer in the Accounting Society, helped organize the Aurora Yearbook portraits and ran for student government. She was elected Programming Vice President (APC). “I had 989 votes!”
Around this time, finances got tight and although she wanted to pursue a second associate degree, she knew it might not be within her reach. But then a managerial position opened at QCC’s new fitness center. Natasha applied right away and was hired.
What had seemed out of reach was now in her grasp.
Now it’s her son’s turn. He is in his first semester at Queensborough.
Natasha is determined to continue her own academic journey. “I started my bachelor’s degree in 2014. Then my mom got sick, and I needed to take care of her. But I haven’t given up. I still want to go back.”
Today, Natasha works in the library and in many ways, it allows her to live vicariously through Queensborough’s students as they pursue academic success. Her start in the library has a story as well. It began as a chance encounter with Connie Williams, the library’s College Archivist who retired last spring. “We got to know one another organizing a Black History Month display. When a COA position in the library opened up, Connie encouraged me to apply.”
“Truth be told, I didn’t think the interview went all that well. Afterwards, as I headed home and was about to get on the bus, I got a call.”
“Welcome to the team!”
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