Living the Good Life

What does the phrase “living the good life” mean to you? This is a topic that a group of SUNY CCC STEM students began discussing after an honors math class one afternoon a few years ago. In 2018 they formally organized as The Philosophy of Optimal Living Club (POLC).

Members of the club work not only to define what the good life means to them each individually, but also to discover common themes among the group as they try to incorporate these goals into their daily lives.

Club President Nugzari Khalvashi-Sutter, a sophomore, is using his POLC objectives to navigate his next academic steps. “I would like to continue my studies after I graduate from SUNY CCC this spring, but I want to balance my desire for a quality education with my goal to avoid debt. Does going to a college that has good academics and name recognition, but is expensive, make sense? Should I consider a more affordable school where I would incur less debt?” These are some of the tough questions he’s pondering as he prepares for the future. 

In August of last year, the POLC received an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant. Allstate Agency Owner Ralph Sutter, from Horseheads, supported the grant request from members of the group. “I am happy to help these students,” said Sutter. “It’s an opportunity for them to better themselves and to expand their horizons.” The OLC was excited to put those funds to use with a visit to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in October. The Museum was selected as their destination because nature is a consistent theme discussed at club meetings. For many members of the club, this was their first visit to the big apple.

When they are not locked in lively debates about the work of Stoic Philosophers or other topics you can often find POLC members actively volunteering in the community. For the past two years, club members have helped with the Friends of the Southeast Steuben County Library’s biannual book sale. In October of 2019, Nugzari organized SUNY CCC student, faculty, and staff volunteers to help transport books to the East Corning Fire Hall for the sale. He even received help from two members of the club who had recently graduated. Ethan Gaul and Cheick Coulibaly commuted from the University of Buffalo and the University of Rochester, respectively. According to Gaul the trip back was fulfilling, “I've been helping with the book move for a couple of years and I always look forward to it. When Nugzari reached out to me this year and asked if I would come help again, I readily agreed and felt that it was more than worth it to drive three hours.”

“If we have learned anything in our college course work it is that the optimal way is sustainable and healthy,” said Austin Wallenbeck, SUNY CCC student and club member. “Achieving the good life is not easy and we will need all the help we can get. We are hoping that this club will give us the opportunity to build a network of friendships that helps us as we strive to reach our goals.”