JJC Blog

Thanksgiving is right around the corner (how did that happen?!), and a lot of our students are reflecting on the things they are most grateful for this holiday season. And why not be thankful for the things that we have? Studies have shown that gratitude improves happiness.

Are any of the things you're most thankful for the same as what our students have mentioned below?

Do you really know your professors at Joliet Junior College? Although you may see them on campus MWF, many of them have talents and interests outside of the classroom, too. 

Which professor had a recording contract in the 1990s? Who has been to six continents? One professor has 14 brothers and sisters - can you guess who? 

Discover these little-known facts about thirteen of your favorite JJC professors below.

With midterms right around the corner, we know you're starting to feel a little overwhelmed. It can be stressful, especially if you're taking multiple classes at once. 

So, as you skim through the notes you've been taking all semester and schedule study sessions with your friends, we thought we'd put together something fun to make light of the tests everyone dreads.

Do these seven memes describe your midterm experience accurately?

In case you haven’t heard… Pokémon characters are taking over the halls of JJC! 

From Jigglypuffs to Pikachus, JJC is full of these miniature “pocket monsters” from the 1990s TV show, Pokémon – and JJC is considered a Pokémon Hub in the popular mobile app game, Pokémon Go.

If you haven’t heard about the game, it’s simple: the objective is to catch as many Pokémon characters as you can (when you walk around you’ll spot the Pokémon characters on your phone). Using Pokéballs, you’ll catch the characters, and the more that you catch, the more experience you'll get, leading to a higher level. You can also collect Pokémon by finding and hatching eggs.

Congratulations to all our new students this semester! We bet you're excited (and maybe even a little nervous) to be on campus for the first time. Now that you're finally a student here, there is so much you have to look forward to - and we've put together the ultimate guide! 

Here are 15 rites of passage you can expect to take part in during your time as a JJC student:

In October 2015, the JJC Foundation and the Athletics Department hosted a Haunted 5K Run and Walk. More than 400 costumed-athletes and 40+ volunteers turned out for the event. Tombstone-esk trophies were handed out to the top overall male (17:49) and female (20:43) 5K winners, and the fastest runner in costume - who just so happened to be sporting a Flash costume (I'm sure the Big Bang folks are geekin' out somewhere).

Race proceeds will go towards student scholarships, college programs and the JJC athletics program. Want to see more of the action? Check out the best costumes of the Haunted 5K.

These 7 celebrities prove it’s not where you start, but where you end up.

Tom Hanks: Prior to becoming an Oscar-winning actor (and the only man who can make you emotional over a volleyball), Hanks attended Chabot College, a community college in Hayward, CA. A big proponent of community colleges, he's even credited his tremendous success to his time at Chabot.

Walt Disney: Before Cinderella found her glass kicks or Snow White befriended 7 questionable characters, the ‘original mouseketeer’ attended Metropolitan Junior College in Missouri.

Clint Eastwood: Eastwood knew he didn’t have to pay a "Million Dollars Baby" to get a good education. The award-winning actor, film maker, composer and politician attended Los Angeles City College to study business administration.