He could have been Mr. America—minus the fact that he was no where near buff, disliked the idea of “strutting it” in man-kini bottoms, and was allergic to spray on, rub on, and under the sun on the beach tanning due to his sensitive skin—if someone had just informed him of such a competition. The name would have suited him well. He was intelligent, smart, bright, knowledgeable, and any other words that mean brainy. Although, he’s wasn’t Mr. Gorgeous, it was okay there wasn’t any competition on the national level with that title anyways. But boy was he a funny one, can someone say Mr. Congeniality?!
His name was Sam Song. His name was Sam Song because he is no longer around, no longer here among us, with us, here, among us. He died and that’s how the story ends; so here’s the beginning.
Sam Song was 1/8 of every other major Asian ethnicity. Being so unique, in that he was uniquely a nationality on his own, every Ivy League school wanted him. Scholarships were being tossed his way like popcorn thrown at the screen during a “boo” moment in the movie.
But, in reality, Sam wasn’t in need of financial aide; his family owned a chain of restaurants, Chalk-ed-Fillets: fillets chalked full of goodness. So, Sam decided to go to a school that didn’t necessarily beg for his presence but wouldn’t mind if he was around, Charleston College, the junior college down town. He was warmly welcomed and began his classes that fall.
Finding the campus to be open, and the atmosphere pressure free Sam figured he would have no trouble breezing through class and enjoying life at the same time.
Introduction to Creative Writing 201
The classroom had a few tears here and there, but nothing that someone wouldn’t buy and fix from thrift shop. The tile floor was peeling allowing students to assume it was lenolium. Desks were cracked—in half, leaving some students to use their laps as extentions. But Sam just figured it was all part of the creative process. A “creative” room for a creative writing class, what fun.
Suddenly, Mizz America walked in. Not Miss, Mizz. It was a beauty pageant recognized on the local level, but just anyone could be crowned Mizz America. Only the most lip gloss poppin’ girl had the honor, and was her lip gloss poppin’. Or, that’s what Sam was thinking.
The school year went by no quicker or slower than any other year. Except this year’s ended in Sam and Mizz America, Della, getting married. The couple was so happy. Though they both decided to continue their education, they didn’t need to because Sam grandfather passed leaving him with money to last the rest of his first child’s life—it didn’t last that long.
During mid-semester of both Sam and Della’s second year, Della’s father had gotten in some deep trouble financially and he asked Della to spot him some cash.
Della knew Sam wouldn’t give her father any money because, well, her father didn’t like Sam and Sam took that fact personally. So, one night when Sam and Della were spending quality time together, she asked him to tell her the pin number of his bank account because as his wife she should know just in case of emergency. And even if there wasn’t an emergency they were married and Della made it clear that there should be no secrets between husband and wife.
Sam loved Della so much that he told her the pin number. The next morning Della made breakfast and then left early for school. Sam didn’t think anything of it, until that night when he out at happy hour with his friends and his card wouldn’t work. He knew she was gone and so was his money.
The following week he died in a car accident caused because of an earthquake.

My "Testimony"

I recently looked up online how to write a personal testimony. One website gave three steps to follow, they were around the lines of how you use to live, what caused you to change, and how you live your changed life now. I dove deep into the depths of my memory chasm to recall the life I use to live. It was a pretty good life--in general.
At a young age I was almost trained to do well, in everything. I had to be number one or if that failed, I had to be second 'cause first was taken, and later top five was completely fine with me. Then one day I just gave up, everything. Straight A's were nothing to me. They weren't hard to get and I didn't gain much from receiving them. They were just A's. My life before looked pretty good. I did everything I was asked to do; get A's. Then I decided to stop. My grades slightly suffered, but life was still life.
I ended up moving to a private "christian" school my junior year in high school, and I received the highest G.P.A. in all my academic career, a 4.25. I had nothing else to focus on, nothing else to do. So I just did my homework and studied for tests; the many things one can attain without friends.
And today...I am what I am. There are times when I am a small piece of yesterday, and there are days when I am nothing like the day before. The life I live today is seriously just for today. Basically, I don't see myself with a testimony. I'm sure I have one, as everyone does. But I'm still constantly changing and developing into I don't even know what. I feel as though my testimony changes daily.
But, God has changed my life. Before, although to the standard of many, I did extremely well in school and in all the extra-curricular activities I participated in. I was the well rounded daughter of a minister. I played sports, joined pageants and talent competitions, was "popular", received good grades--I mean my life was good. But there was no point to it. Although I had so much, inside I had nothing. I was empty and different.
John Piper, C.S. Lewis, and A.W. Tozer--to name a few--have all written on the inner desires of a human. Within each person lies a deep yearning for The Creator...to find The Creator and to know Him. Humans have an innate, intrinsic desire for God.
I was taught that in life I will find very few friends--if any. I didn't believe people who would tell me such things, I always figured I would have a best friend or a couple of best friends who would stick through it with me forever. Until I grew up...until I experienced "friends" over and over and over again...until now... Until now there are moments when I, secretly inside, wait around for a long lasting group of friends--like the t.v. show.
Now, I'm not completely cynical or skeptical towards people with great friendships or am I in disbelief that I, myself, have a true friend ( I have like five).
But I strongly desire a friend with no cruel or horrid intentions towards me. I want to be loved and cherished.
I am much more than bubbly...heels...fashion..."pretty"...talkative... I am much, much more than what anyone knows.
My testimony today deals with life--my life-- and how much more it is because God loves me. I am thankful, grateful, for all the people that walk through my life, even for a moment. But my life does not revolve around my friends or my achievements. My life is not my own for I was bought with a price.
God changed me, and in doing so He revealed Himself to me. When I think I'm walking alone, I'm not. When I desire that one friend, when I need to fill that one part of me I know He's that friend and I know He completes.

How to Make Room for Your "EXTRA" Clothes

How to Make Room for Your “EXTRA” Clothes

Are you the type of person who has to pack everything you feel is a necessity, even though others think you can do without? Or do you live in a dorm room and are forced to share closet space that you honestly could use yourself? Well, no need to worry, here are a few steps to help you use every bit of space you have so that you don’t have to go without your favorite pink sweater.

1. Separate your clothes into piles. A pile of pants, shirts, dress shirts, skirts dresses, delicates etc.
2. Once all your clothes are separated choose which drawer you want to place your piles in. For example, if you only have three drawers the top drawer could be for your delicates, the second drawer for your shirts and the bottom drawer for your pants and skirts allowing you to hang your dresses and jackets in your closet.
3. First, being to roll your shirts. Fold your shirts vertically and begin from the bottom of the shirts and simply roll each shirt forward.
4. Now, you have several pieces of shirts that are now in a compact form, which saves you more room in your drawers.
5. Take each rolled up shirt and place them, in whatever order you desire, in your chosen drawer and continue the same process with your other piles of clothes.

This same method will also work for packing your suitcase for any trip you might be taking. Simply rolling your shirts, pants, skirts, sweaters, dresses, etc., will basically add space to areas you thought you didn't have.

But...
BEWARE! You can't really use this rolling up method with sweatshirts. The thicker the clothing the harder it is to roll. Also, if thick clothing is rolled you won't save much space because of the bulkiness of the clothing.

Remember you don't have to give up your favorite 4 pairs of pants, or even leave a pair at home. Just roll 'em up.

Blog #1

1. Word: Extraordinary
Type: Adjective
Define: Very unusual or remarkable.
Derivative: extraordinarily (adverb) extraordinariness (noun)
Origin: Latin, from extra ordinem 'outside the normal course of events'.

2. Word: Manifestation
Type: Noun
Define: A sign or embodiment of something.
Derivative:
Origin:

3. Word: Monkey
Type: Noun
Define: A small to medium-sized primate typically having a long tail and living in trees in tropical countries.
Derivative:
Origin: "of unknown origin, perhaps from Low German."

4. Word: Clarity
Type: Noun
Define: The state or quality of being clear and easily perceived or understood.
Derivative:
Origin: Latin claritas, from clarus 'clear'.

5. Word: Cranky
Type: Adjective
Define: eccentric, odd.
Derivatives: crankily (adverb) crankiness (noun)
Origin: "originally in the sense 'sickly, in poor health': perhaps from Dutch or German krank 'sick'."

6. Word: Eccentric
Type: Adjective
Define: Unconventional and slightly strange.
Derivatives: eccentrically (adverb) eccentricity (noun)
Origin: "Greek ekkentros, from ek 'out of' = kentron 'centre'."

7. Word: Cull
Type: Verb or Noun
Define: Reduce the numbers of (animals) by selective slaughter.
Derivatives:
Origins: "Old French coillier, from Latin colligere 'gather together'."

8. Word: Cultivate
Type: Verb
Define: Prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
Derivatives: cultivable (adjective) cultivatable (adjective) cultivation (noun)
Origin: "Latin cultivare, from cultiva terra ;arable land'."

9. Word: Geranium
Type: Noun
Define: A herbaceous plant or small shrub of a genus that comprises the cranesbills.
Derivatives:
Origin: "Greek geranion, from geranos 'crane'."

10. Word: Orange
Type: Adjective
Define: Relating to Orangemen or their Order.
Derivatives:
Origin:

11. Word: Monopoly
Type: Noun
Define: The exclusive or control of the supply of a commodity or service.
Derivatives:
Origin: "Greek monopolion, from monos 'single' = polein 'sell'."

12. Word: Protege
Type: Noun
Define: A person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced person.
Derivatives:
Origin: "French, 'protected'."

13. Word: Bookmark
Type: Noun
Define: A strip of leather or card used to mark a place in a book.
Derivatives:
Origin:

14. Word: Spontaneous
Type: Adjective
Define: Performed or occurring as a result of an unpremeditated impulse and without external stimulus.
Derivatives: spontaneity (noun) spontaneously (adverb)
Origin: "Latin spontaneus, from sua sponte 'of ones own accord'. "

15. Word: Sweater
Type: Noun
Define: A pullover with long sleeves.
Derivatives:
Origin:


Grace sat in a not so extraordinary blue cushioned chair as she prepared her homework. Typing away on her orange computer she couldn’t seem to relieve her mind of a picture she saw hanging in the library; a picture of a cranky monkey.
“Why would they put a picture of a cranky monkey on any wall?” she wondered.
Just sitting with complete lack of focus Grace decides to read a random book she sees under her desk.
“A random book,” she said, “Well I’m so bored, I think I’ll read it.”
She cracks the cover and the title page read The Eccentric Protégé Who Owned a Cranky Monkey.
Grace read the first half of the book and was touched by the protégé’s love for his cranky monkey. Although the cranky monkey wasn’t like “man’s best friend” nor was he a cat, Grace found that the cranky monkey, just like any other living animal (pet), deserved to be loved.
Seeing since time kept running, Grace had to place a bookmark in her book and seriously focus on finishing her homework.
“No more spontaneous random actions,” she said to herself.
But, being Grace only five minutes went by before she found herself surfing the web for a brand new sweater, a pink polka dotted sweater.
A random ad kept on popping up with four words on it: clarity, manifestation, cull, and monopoly. Grace didn’t care much for the first three words but when she saw the word monopoly, memories of playing the game as a child flowed through her mind. It was then that she decided her wedding theme would revolve around the one game she couldn’t win; monopoly.
Grace took a glimpse at the clock and, again, was back to work. She finally finished her English homework and was now on her science work. Grace was required to cultivate a patch of soil for a geranium.

Why I need Africa more than Africa needs me

Living and growing up in America sometimes I don't pay attention to what is happening around the world. I can easily get caught up in what's in or "cool." And that may sound cliche, but that's the truth. Then there are moments when I get the privilege of being updated on world news and realizing that I am able to experience what some aren't. For example, clean water. Sometimes I am even picky about what kind of water I drink, when others don't have choices. That's why I believe I need Africa more than Africa needs me. Africa reminds me of a couple of things. I'm reminded that I am not broke. I heard this sermon, and a pastor had said that anyone who has two dollars in his or her wallet is richer than most people in the entire world. There are times when i have more than two dollars. Africa reminds me to be grateful, to be thankful for all I have. I'm reminded not to take things for granted. I need Africa to bring me to reality. Sometimes I approach my dad and I say, "Daddy I need this. Daddy I need that." But I don't technically 'need' new black high heels. I don't need a new dress, just because it's on sale. There is a number of material things that I say I need, when others in the world live day by day with only a pair of shoes, and some without any. Africa doesn't need my material belongings, my "needs." I need Africa's reality.

Final Blog for the Semester

This semester has gone by so fast. And I can’t help but be happy and sad. Happy that it is over and I got through it. Yet sad that time is going by so quick.
I recall the beginning of my Intro to Journalism class. Oh, my word the difference and difficulty of it just hit me. All the interviews, in both Yearbook and Intro to Journalism, the varying writing styles, it was almost foreign. I seriously wanted to drop. Just thinking about how I was feeling then, man memories.
And this might sound cliché, however, I stuck with it and I’m glad that I did.
Because of my journalism classes I made a conscious effort to try and read more. More reading caused me to think some, and then I would find myself writing more, even if I just wrote on my thoughts.
Specifically, I believe I’m a better writer/journalist as a result of discussing with others my ideas and hearing their input. Sometimes I’m shy or I just don’t want to share because I’m afraid I’m wrong, or my idea’s just bad. But, I think I’ve overcome that. Talking through ideas with others has broadened my mind, I guess. I feel as though I was able to share my thoughts, others shared theirs and my idea became better.
Being in a journalistic environment has caused me to actually think, and thinking has bettered my writing.

Breathing: A Foundation of Singing

www.vocalist.org.uk/breathing101.html
www.your-personal-singing-guide.com/breathing-for-singing.html
www.expertvillage.com/video/49273_voice-tips-breathing.htm


The voice is a beautiful instrument that most people use on a daily basis. People are able to scream, talk, whisper, laugh, and sing because they have a voice. Although not everyone was blessed with the gift of singing, I strongly believe that each person has the ability to learn how to sing. No "Joe" may not be the next Josh Groban, and "Jane" won't ever come close to Whitney Houston but, they can probably hold a note. And when one can hold a note, one can sing. I just think it's all about learning how to do so.

Breathing. Breathing has been a human's way of living, of surviving. It is much more than a fact, that when someone is no longer breathing he or she is no longer alive. So, just as breath is essential to each human being, it is definitely essential for singers. But, there is a correct way of breathing. And when there is a correct way of breathing there has to be an incorrect way as well. Now although babies are young and don't do much but smile and cry, they are great examples of how to breathe correctly. If you, or someone else, were to observe a baby's breathing their stomach region is going up and down, up and down. (I say "stomach region" because one's stomach is for food, not for air.) They breathe using their lungs and their abs. More importantly when one, breathes as a baby does, one is not taking shallow breaths. And that would be the correct way of breathing. It's just funny how adults, for the most part, raise their shoulders when the breathe, or take in a deep breath. That is incorrect. Anytime your shoulders lift when you breathe, you are taking in shallow breaths of air and then breathing incorrectly.

So, since breathing correctly is a foundation of singing, a good exercise to try out is simply standing shoulder width a part with one foot slightly in front of the other. Make sure you have proper posture. A good way to check proper posture is to stand against a wall, making sure your head, your two shoulder blades and your bottom are touching it. Now, with your proper stance breath in through your noise, only allowing the air to flow to your lungs and your abdomen area. You should feel your lungs expanding (almost sideways) and your abdomen area filling up with the air like a balloon. When you're all filled up release the air through your mouth as if your blowing out something. While blowing the air out, you want to suck your abs in. Both the breath and the sucking in of the stomach act as proper support for the voice.
Now, after you have done that exercise do the same thing, only breathe through your mouth, and then blow the air out through your mouth as well.

By now, or after doing the exercise for a while, you should be breathing the correct way. Also, even if you're not singing breathing the correct way all the time is good practice because it creates a habit of proper breathing. But, I let's try one more exercise. Now, I want you to, in your proper stance, take in your breath through both your mouth and nose. I know, I know, that sounds silly and impossible. But, as you learn how to sing you'll find that the silly things is what helps the most. The point, however, with breathing through both nose and mouth is to allow more air to enter the body, therefore releasing more air as you sing. And the more air, the better the support, the better overall. Try it, you will feel as though you took in more air (which you will).

Breathing is a foundation of singing, but there is much more too. Maybe in another blog I'll just go over all the basics of singing. But, never be afraid to learn new things. And just because you aren't a soloist, that doesn't mean you can't learn how to sing and enjoy just as much as a soloist does. If you can hold a not, you can sing. =)