King Phillip aka The Drummer Boi

What’s good ever’body? Man Bridge is finally over and it has been real with yall. It was nice to be in a class with such intelligent people, such as yourselves. I could not ask for another class. Some of you I know more like Lady G, Darrion and Chris Brown. It was real cool kicking it wit yall. Lady G, you’re a cool ass female g. It was fun asking “What you getting me for lunch today”. We had our laughs. You know what you want in life so go get it regardless of support. If you want to learn everything, start off small then work your way up. Darrion, keep St. Louis alive in the Chi, Keep the joints (clothes and shoes) together, stay focused and don’t worry about what people say. Continue to stand up for what you feel is right. Chris Brown or should I say Thee Chris Brown, all the laughs we had about different things. Keep doin your thing and keep your head up. I hope to see yall in school. King Phillip and CFG CRAZY!!!
Honestly I was told that Bridge was to determine if you were ready for college. So I guess if you didn’t pass Bridge you wasn’t ready for college. College is college you can’t really expect too much but when you get in college and you see what you have to do then do it. The most challenging part of Bridge was me actually accepting that I had to attend Bridge. The most rewarding part would be the awards thing on the last day. I would say that my eyes are now to college. I am ready. My email is phillip.williams@loop.colum.edu I always check it. Peace and Keep your head up.

A Valediction to my Fellow student

[This is a monologue that should be read in the form of Leonidous of the movie 300. Enjoy!]

Ode to the Bridge Program that used up all of my precious final summer as an adolescent! You have shown me the ways of the colligate life, and I thank ye for it. My fellow program mates and I have struggled so much in the course of the four weeks. We’ve seen men and women crumble under the pressure, and have been demised due to laziness. My colleagues! This is my farewell message for you and your ancestors!
Do not forget the laughs we’ve had or the moments of love we’ve shared. Do not forget the person next you who always seemed to help you out, or the person on the other side of the room who never seem to care. Our time at Columbia is limited; however, our time Columbia is endless.
When I first spoke to Lynn Levy, she told me Bridge wasn’t for me. She said “Go to community college! Get ready for Columbia in 2009!” LIES!!!!! I proved her wrong just like WE will prove the world wrong! I expected to go in to battle with a shield and no sword, or a mind that wasn’t ready for college. Ha! Is the face of a student that’s not ready for the best Art College in the country? No! THIS IS THE FACE OF A COLUMBIA STUDENT!
So my friends, my family, my loved ones, look around. We see the people that we would see for the next four to five years. Embrace them, remember them, and do not lose contact with them.
A class that endured the pain that we have endured never prospers.
This is not a community college, THIS…..IS……COLUMBIA!!!!!

NEW PATH IN LIFE !!!!!

I can’t believe it’s almost over!!!!!!!!! It seemed to go by so fast. I’ve learned so much in the whole 16 days. My favorite class would have to be my writing class. Danielle and Aaron have both opened up my eyes to see that there is a whole new world and I could even explore it through my writing. Each paper made me want to do more and more. I realized I had to get out of the high school paper writing style and be REAL! Yea that’s what it is…..REAL….my teachers were some of the most real people I’ve ever met. C’mon now? Who would expect to have teachers to have a nose ring and tattoos…..unconventional yet exciting. My math class was cool but I didn’t feel any emotional connection to it at all. I couldn’t wait until it was around 10:15 so I could leave that class lol. MY writing has transformed into something that’s not trivial; it made me realize I had a voice and damn “I DO DESERVE TO BE HEARD”. The other great part that I really enjoyed would have to be meeting the new and great people. Ranging from a fashionista, to a Texas preacher daughter turned “ bad girl’, bad girl who is the sweetest gangster chick, punk rocker who is soooooo intellectual, the 3 amigos and their adventures, the Wisconsin native guy, and the quiet but I know it’s more to him guy, and the WHITE Chris Brown. I’m glad we made it through!!!! I never met so many diverse people that have shown me the differences in lifestyles but yet they still have the same goal in life; which is to be best in life. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it and if I had to do it again I would. I’m most certainly living in that MOMENT IN LIFE!!!
Facebook: Kendall Aaron Mays
School E-mail: Kendall.Mays@ loop.colum.edu
Yahoo E-mail and IM: lagunabeachbaldwinhills@yahoo.com

Holla Back.....Luv Lady G

Man the last day already? It feels like I just wrote the opening blog…. I had a great time in bridge. I learned so much in just a few weeks and it sparked me to want to know more. Everybody in the class… You guys are great. I am happy as hell I had the experience in meeting all of you. I think our class, from what I seen, had to be the best class yet. We all bonded well, trusted each other with stories and our writings, and most importantly was there for each during this academic struggle. Even in math I learned something, and I did some spring cleaning with the cob webs in my brain… fractions, multiplication, even binary GIVE IT TO ME!!! I ll kill them problems… not sure if the binary answers will be right but everything else would be reduce and corrected. Over all the bridge experience was the shit. Not to sound like no lame, but I kinda don’t want it to be over or I just wish school would start sooner. I hope everyone enjoys the last 1 ½ to 2 weeks we have left over summer break, and I hope to be seeing you guys again. If any one wants to chill, smoke; make some songs, exchange ideas, just plain out chill holla at me for real…. E mail me at Jhenedsg@yahoo.com I am not about to throw my number up here so if you wanna call just let me know. And for Danielle and Aaron…. THANK YOU so so so so so so so much. You guys really helped me out A LOT these past four weeks, to personal issues with that math man all the way to making me a much smarter person (in only 4weeks) you guys should get a raise. I ll call you boss’s over the next week or so make sure that happens soooon. But on some real shit hit me, all of you’s, let me know what’s good, what’s great, and what’s new. Thanks for the memories…….. Lady G

Ryan Reed

Bridge changed my expectations because I didn't think I had to write so much as I already have. Over the last month, my experience changed the expectation because I thought I would have less free time after classes and I would have to wake up earlier and need more time for homework. So it worked out pretty well. The most challenging part was definitley the five page assignment last weekend. The most rewarding part of the program was reading The Last American Man because Eustace Conway has changed the way I see culture in America. I think I'm more self-aware as a student because I had a certain time to finish an assignment and it wasn't an option not to do it, so I know I can finish it with motivation to complete the bridge program. I think that the bridge program is a great idea for students like myself because I can get prepared for college while I'm still trying to get in that college. It's a nice transition between high school and college. I don't have much else to say except some "shout outs". Chris Brown and Jynelle, it's been good hangin out with you guys at lunch time. I dig some of the music that Phillip and David listen to. I enjoyed talking to Aaron about soccer. I appreciate both Aaron and Danielle helping me through the bridge program. As for everyone else, stay up...

darrionw

Hi err body this is darrion and i want to say that you guys all are very great people and i so glade i met all of you. all the firends i met in bridge i hope all of your dreams come true. i willy mean it the poeple i met on my floor ever thorn i got on your nerves i wish you be successful in your life and business. the bridge programmed help me realize understand all of abilites i got. it taught to look over my work after i type it. how to make a whole pgae out of just one question. the bridge math deportment taught me how to do biral code and i thanx Rosmary for teaching me so math ohh before i forget Danielle and Aarron thanx for all the help yall did to help me get the push it need to write a semi good paper

to the people how i became firends with doing bridge yall are some cool ass people Phi you are the homie i will keep in tougch with you. Will you are one of most created people i ever met. Dennea i hope i spelled your name right. You can fucking sing. Janell aka Lady G hope i spell your name right too. but i hope you see you dreams come ture

that s err body

Bye Bye Losers Hello Futrue

Brigde was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, I don't know what I would do with out it. It made me so much smarter I think on a betterer level then onced befored. I did't know'd alls da tings I know todays. Okay i'm done bridge really was a truly great experience I really did learn allot. And I know more than all the other loser freshmen who come in this fall they will be all stupidfied And I will be less Stupidfied but still stupidfied. I learned that I hate living with people who shave in the shower and leave hair. I also learned that math is possible, or that I can do math and understand the concepts if i truly listen. I leraned that shcool is school and stuff. I look forward to a life in Chicago for most of the year. It’s not that bad but the truth is it’s just not home. And I love my home even more now and want people to understand where I from. As an artist I can’t wait to get back home with my camera and capture my home so that I may bring a piece of it back here. Um what do I have to say but thank to Danielle and Aaron, Just use my email to contact me everybody else bye!

Wc5productions@yahoo.com

Peace

I’m really glad I participated in the bridge program. I’m sure most people say that but I really am. Going into Columbia I didn’t know how anything worked at all. I didn’t know where I could go to find out the necessary things about Columbia I needed to know. I wasn’t sure where the campus was and I defiantly did not know any faculty. The bridge program really helped with all that. I learned where the important student resource centers are. I found out where the computers lab where which helped a lot. I chose really not to make too many friends cause in high school that’s what really brought me down. It wasn’t like I was anti-social or anything I just didn’t have the time to make friends. That was good I think because the work was hard and I really needed to concentrate on things. The salons were a little hard to stay on top of. The museums were cool, a couple of them I plan to visit again. Overall the bridge program really benefitted me. I really got out of it what you’re supposed to get out of it, connections. I can’t wait for this fall semester.

Bridge Survey

Complete this survey BEFORE you begin your final blog post:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Yj9ry1sh6j5CWx609bVh7Q_3d_3d

Farewell, Blog!

Well, folks--this is your LAST blog post of the Bridge program! Considering this occasion, I thought it appropriate for each of us to have a goodbye post.

For today's class, you must create your own blog post that reflects (yes, that again) on your experience in the Bridge program this summer. Since this is meant to be a pleasant send-off, try to keep your input positive. I know that Bridge wasn't always a great experience for everyone. However, hopefully there were SOME things you found helpful, meaningful, life-changing. Start by considering the questions below:

-How has Bridge changed your expectations of what college is?
-How has your experience over the last month changed your expectations of Columbia?
-What was the most challenging part of the program?
-What, in your own mind, was the most rewarding part?
-Do you feel like you are more self-aware as a student than you were a month ago? Explain.

After you spend nearly 200 words answering the questions above, use the end of the post to offer a goodbye to your classmates and your teachers. Also, tell us how we can contact you if we want to see how you're doing! E-mail? Myspace? Facebook?

Finally, include an appropriate video or photograph.
Happy posting!

Letter to... Yourself!

As we briefly talked about yesterday, you are going to be writing letters to someone very special... YOU!

For today's computer lab session, you are to spend the entire time thinking about and then typing this letter. Begin the letters, "Dear ________ (insert your name)". In these letters, you should address some (if not all) of the following:

-What are your goals for the next year? Be very specific.
-What are you most excited about for college?
-What concerns do you have entering your freshman year?
-Do people have expectations of you? Who? What expectations? Are you concerned about meeting them?
-Where do you hope to be one year from today?
-Where do you hope to be in five years?

Of course, you can feel free to write anything else that you'd like. These should be personal and reflective. Don't just brush this off. Even if you think it is a silly task, which some of you have already mentioned, try to write something thoughtful and meaningful.

Must be a minimum of 350 typed words.

Day 12 Chris brown (the real one!!!)

As I've grown older, the days just seem to fly by so fast. I look back on my life and tell myself why didn't I take advantage of the opportunities I had taken for granted.For instance, taking advantage of an education, building a resume, taking better care of myself. Not everone is as lucky as I was growing up. The children growing up in the Ida B. Wells had to work twice as hard as your average kid to acheive their dreams. What opprtunity were you given growing up, and how would you change it if you had a second time around?

Day 13: Reed

If you were to tell the class your opinion of the book you just read, what would you say about it?

Day 11: Kendall

The things you own end up owning you
-Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club, 1996

In Stranger Than Fiction, Chuck Palahniuk gives readers insight to the secret lives of individuals. The fascinating part would be that their hobbies become the main focus of their lives. They would rather do nothing else but this particular thing that makes them happy. Is it ever taken overboard? When is enough truly enough? Have you ever been obsessed with something that you don’t ever want to let it go? John Irving once said, “You’ve got to get obsessed and stay obsessed”. But is it possible to take the love for something too far?

Day 10: David G.

In stranger then fiction Chuck P. delves deep into cultures or hobbies that we as mainstream culture are not usually exposed too. Such as the ever popular testy feisty or the castle builders. Do you take part in anything that would be considered sub culture in my eyes, or another person reading this question? What activities do you partake in that would be considered deviant.

Day 10: Jose

In The story Our America Lloyds father chill has an alcohol addiction he says his addiction has been because he worrys about his family and that drinking just makes him run away from his problems.

Are any characters in your books the same as chill? Do they have addictions to something? Do you do something to try and run away from your problems or do you know anybody that does have that addiction? Do you think drinking your problems away or smoking or any other thing realy help you forget your problems? if yes how does it help you?does something good come out of it?

King Phillip

My favorite website is because, i love knowing about sports especially NBA. I like hearing and reading about who got traded, who got picked in the draft and just whats going on in the history of sports. I go to espn.com everyday at work and I keep it up till I leave.

Day 9: Michael

in the last american man there is only one main story being told. the story of Eustace Conway can be very understood by the reader, but everyone dosn't agree with his outrageous adventures. his brother and sister for example are some what disbeleivers of what he does. they believe that Eustace could have been average person like everybody else. however, eustace blames the pressure endured by his father for part of the reason of him being the way he is; in some cases i can disagree. in your story can you dig deep enough into the original story and disagree with whats being told?

Day 9: Chris

In "Our America", LeAlan and Lloyd are coming of age, and also becoming more aware of the worsening conditions of their nieghborhood. As the years progressed and The Wells in the midst of an all out Gang War, the boys begin to feel how helpless their neighborhood has become. Have you ever been in a situation that felt hopeless.When? Where? Why?

"Excuse me, can I have a deposit slip?"

Its little things like what site you check constantly that gives proof that your becoming an adult. My brand spanking new favorite site is the “Bank of America” online banking site. It always keeps me up to date on my money and what’s going on in my account. So, if you’re trying to choose a bank that could keep you on point with your “dough,” Bank of America is the answer!

www.BankofAmerica.com

My favorite website would have to be mlb website. The MLB website is a sports website for those who dont know that.the Mlb website has to do with baseball thats what MLB stands for. Major Leauge Baseball it talks about every team in baseball from national league to american league. The reason i like this website is because it talks about the highlights of the games. incase i dont have time to see the game i could just check what happened,who scored and everything else.another reason why i like this website would be because if my tv aint workin or something i can alwasy wacth the game on the computer,no its not free. in order to wacth the game yes you have to be a member but sometimes they have free games in which you can wacth it for free. My other reason would be beacaue you can merobilia from every team not just one specific one like if you like other teams also.

My favorite website www.mlb.com

Lady G

My favorite place to check out on the net is…. XXL Magizine.Com. Not only do I get a monthly annual subscription, I am always checking up on what happens on a daily bases in the game. They have all the latest news, the best opinionated blogs, and the tightest columnists. They offer reviews on new CD’s that hit the stores and have featured sections for up and coming artist. XXL’s slogan is “Hip Hop on a higher level”, and they are right about that. I’m yet to find another Hip Hop magazine that keeps my interested in what’s going on in the game, gives me accurate news on my favorite artist and still manages to maintain a business solely based on the love and passion for music and not just for sales purposes. Magazines like The Source are focusing more on fashion (not that XXL does not offer that also) but the music sections in this music magazine are very dull and not as structured as I feel they should be. I feel like the writers are there for there a pay check and not there to give their full hearted opinion on music and what’s going on with the industry. XXL will always remain my favorite source in finding out what’s happening in a field my life REVALS in.

http://www.xxlmag.com/

there are a lot of web sites that interets myself and others. however, one of my favorites is soudclick.com. soundclick is a sight for local and global musicians to distribute there musisc to the public. i personally havn't put any music on there due to many concerns, but i do observe other artist. i usually listen to a lot of the beat makers to see the different deliveries that they offer; i look for uniqueness. it gives me ideas of how to set a higher bar or just to do something before someone else does.

sub pop

http://www.subpop.com/,

A site that combines awsome music with awsome music news.

Sub pop is home to the best bands that are currently active. They also helped start some of the best bands in the late 80's.

SONIC YOUTH-NIRVANA-MUDHONEY-

NO AGE -GREEN RIVER-L7-TAD-CSS

to name a few.

If you you ever need a break from what your listening to head over to this site and look through the bands they manage and your sure to find somthing new.

Since the begining of this label its been more DIY then some of the bigger labels out there and because of this there artists have alot more control and say in aspects bigger artists do not.

CHECK IT OUT!!!!

Ryan Reed

I visit TicketMaster most often because I like going to concerts. There are many advantages living in between Chicago and Milwaukee. One of those would be the big shows around here.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Kendall

http://www.soapcentral.com/

OKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!! I know it sounds a little strange but one of my main internet addictions would have to be SoapCentral !!...it provides me with all the inoformation I would need about my soaps; that I miss because I'm at Summer Bridge lol. My love for the soap operas All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital started when I was at the age of 6. It started to pick up again in 2003 during the summer time. I live and breathe 4 it. My secret life long dream is to be on All My Children. I also love the show because one of the main characters on the soap name is Kendall too !!! So thats a plus 2. You could ask me any qestion about the show. I bet I could answer. I know as much about the show then sum of these women who've been watching for years and years. Its a secret love of mine because of the deception, lies, and betrayal that always take place. Of course the most well known soap character of all time is on the show, Erica Kane. She fascinates me because she's always focused on her and only her. Men swarm to her like bees to honey. Its even better because the 1st black supercouple ever, Jesse and Angie Hubbard, have returned to the show adding diversity to this once ground-breaking show. The show has dealt wit alot of socially relevant and character driven storylines such as anorexia, homosexuality, acoholism, drug addiction, and etc. The show has been around since 1970 and I hope it remains on for many years 2 come.

When I walk down the street especially in our urban environment, I can't help but notice the writing on the wall. Some think of this artistic expression as vandalizism or defacement of city property. If created for the right reasons, these masterpeices really can be pleasing to the eye. As a writer myself, I truely appreciate the time and effort some graf-artists put into their work. So if you have an interest in graffiti or other hiphop related activities (breaking, MC battles,ECT) Check out www.artcrimes.com to take a peak at whats new in graff culture with news, events pictures and more!!! Peep it out..... You will not be disappointed!!!

My most favor site to go on besied myspace and facebook is got to be youtube. why youtbei say because youtube you can get anything of there and watch everthing my there to funny thing movie tv show, to sexy dancing the web site to me is probley the in the top five most seen site in the world wide web

William's fav website

My favorite website is Enjoymymovie.com. Which is a site where indenpendent filmmakers from around the world can premerie their movies. Also a reason I love the site is because I have a Movie on their took forever but I fanilly have one on their. I can spend hours and hours on the site watching film after film. Which range from slient films to short action films that last about five min. as well as full featrues. The best things about the site is you get to see films that take risks that most big corparate films won't. They tackle issues poeple want to talk about but big business hide from. But don't get me wrong some are just good stories others are just damn funny. It's also a great site for networking in and meeting other filmmakers and finding what they think and what they are thinking creativly everyone should go there fuck youtube.

www.enjoymymovie.com

That pic is a promo for my movie on the site, check it out it's under drama, on the last page.

Ryann: Deviant Art!

My Favourite Website: www.deviantart.com

Deviant Art is just a website where local "low key" artists can share their stuff. A bunch of my friends and I have one and you can see things from pretty much all over[the world]. you can meet people comment on their pictures. and criticism is always very welcome. (what artist doesn't want to make their stuff better?)

Everyonce and a while though you always get that jerk that likes to start a fight with you over the internet about how your stuff sucks. No matter what website you go to you can never stop that, and those people are just dumb. They've tried to fight with me all the time =)

Its just a lot of fun to get a bunch of different opinions on what your art and what not looks like. It's not censored or anything so you can put anything on there. I can't really think of anything else to say why i like this website other then it's a lot of fun.

http://youretrocareermelted.deviantart.com/ -Check mine out if you want and make your own!

mines not all that great though, I haven't updated it in a long time. just ignore the crap =)

Day 8: Danielle

We write blogs for Bridge, check e-mails like a crazy person and are on MySpace (or Facebook) every free second. We are all a part of an internet culture. For this assignment, I would like for each of you to show each of us where you like to go on the internet.

Please do the following:

1. Create a new blog post in which you tell us about this website and why you like it
2. Include a link to the website in the post
3. Include a picture in your post
4. Be appropriate!

There are a few rules. You can't use Google, Yahoo, MySpace or Facebook. These are common links that most of us already know about. Try to choose something that is unique and specific to YOU!

My favorite website: http://www.slate.com

What's your?

Day 8: Ryann

In Stranger then Fiction there is a section that talks about a crew of people that spend a few months, about three, stuck in a sumbarine. Some of the crew members bring things that remind htem of home. One of the "First class" Greg Stone brings a Scooby-Doo pillowcase. He calls it his "Security Blanket" What would you consider your own 'security blanet', if not your 'safe zone'? please explain.

Day 7: Darrion

In our Amercia, Eric Morse was kill at the age of five. by to boys over a piece of candy. in this book that i sone of the many mindless thing that happen. what is one of the mindless this that happen in your book?

have you ever had a mindless moment in your life? if so what was it? how did it feel after you did it

Day 7: William

With a matter of seconds the characters in Our America Could be dead so they hold on to every moment with their loved ones. They know all to well about how a person can be two feet away, but the next day no where to be found. Llyod one of the characters in my book speaks of his mother and how he would spend time with her, he never thought she would be gone. Have you ever just sat back and enjoyed the poeple in your life? Can you remember a time when you missed someone who has passed and you thought you didn't spend enough time with said person? Do the characters in your book mis someone important, they don't have to have passed. Maybe a long lost love, or even a thing.

Growing up

I am also reading the book Our America. i think that quote is one of the biggest i think because it represents how badly they live. I actualy had a normal child hood i was never forced to grow up quickly. I do remember living in a bad neighborhood but not as bad as Lealan and Lolyd's. I didnt know about drugs or sex or any of those things when i was a child like those kids in his school in the lower grades. but i do remember i was growing up to fast at my age i was just 13 and i started experiencing everything theses kidas are goin threw. I used to hangout wit the wrong crowd and well i was involved in a bad group wich you know wat it is and i was just a dum kid who didnt care bout otin or no one. I dont blame my family i blame myself because i wanted to grow up quickly i was not forced and it was also cuz of my neighborhood it was all me. I actualy look up to these kids because they havent gone threw the wrong path they know what they want and there no trying to get involved in anything. I allways wish i could go back and change my past change evrything. i would like to have a been a better person well i dont think i even called myself a human back then i was just a nobody thats how i see that part of life. Now that i am actualy grown up i think about kids whp are goin threw the same thing i went threw and i wish i could help them but everyone makes their own choice in life its there decision.

What is age? It’s just a way to structure the chaos around us .It’s Used to keep record of what, when and where. If we didn’t keep track of time, How would we know if we were acting our age? Maybe I’m hitting the topic a little more in depth then I should. The point I’m trying to make is age is just a number, and ones mental maturity can only be established by the way they carry themselves. I know five year olds who act like grown adults, and grown adults that act like children. It’s hard to say that all kids in the ghetto “grow up” faster then children from other areas. That these kids are aware of adult situations much earlier then others, but no child’s brain is fully developed enough to thoroughly comprehend these situations. They may have an external understanding of this subject matter. Only with years of life experience can one fully understand these complicated issues such as sex, drugs, and violence. I’ve experienced the concequences of some of these issues first hand, and looking back on my perspectives as a 17 year old to the present. A few years to develop an idea of my actions made things much easier to understand.

David Gerhard

When it comes to growing up there are usually two things that exert the most force into making the process faster or slower, parents and environment. When I was growing up, because of whatever “privileges” my parents had, they were still children also. They were still learning and therefore could not teach me the proper things I thought later on in life they should have taught me. That gets rid of the first variable. As far as the latter variable, I don’t think a house in the middle of a forest, or farm, where the next neighbor is two miles down, is nessicerly dangerous territory. Don’t take the last couple of sentences the wrong way, I wasn’t some spoiled rich kid, money wasn’t the biggest thing in the factor. My parents just believed I should grow up on my own and experience things the way I wanted to. I didn’t have chores, my parents were like my friends, and I was never taught “proper” money habits. Fast Forward to now, I’m 18 going into college full time; expected now by the world, instead of my parents, to get a job, support myself, and learn the ways of the world fast. Except the world doesn’t care; it’s easier not to succeed then to excel, but I have to try like everyone else. Part of me wishes I was forced to grow up faster in a more structured environment. The next 4 years I am now going to have to work hard to compress a childhood of lessons I should of embraced and searched for, into a quarter of the time, acting as not only the teacher but also the student.

YouTube

And a gratuitous bunny video...

Day 6: Kendall

“Your seven minutes are up”
- Stranger Than Fiction
These words are echoed throughout one specific chapter in my book. It makes you wonder, if we as individuals, have enough time to accomplish all those goals that we have in life. One group of characters in my book has only seven minutes to possibly catch their life dream. But is that really enough time? Are the characters in your book given a great amount of time before the bell finally rings or do they have to make do with the time that is given? Do you feel that you’re given enough time to complete the task in your life? If not, what do you plan to do to make it happen sooner?

I grew up fast as well. I was born with two highly religious parents. My father, Senior Pastor of a popular Dallas church, and my mother, the Director of Corporate Communications and lead journalist for a religious based newspaper. I was always told, “You look just like your daddy!” or I was called “Little Dee.” I loathed being called “little” or “young,” so I forced myself to grow up fast. I started my teenage early by rebelling everything that I was forced to do. By high school, I was smoking and drinking as if I was doing it for decades. I was tattooed (still am) and pieced, but I wanted that taste of adulthood so badly. I even dated men who were so very much older than I was. My path of self-destruction was covered by the only fact that my mind set was stuck on “I’m grown! I’m grown! I’m grown!” Now that I’m an actual adult, I miss those days of my youth and innocence. I can no longer blame my accidents on my childish ways. All because I wanted to grow up.

Day 6: Jenelle

"If only by distorting events,tweaking them for more dramatic impact, exaggerrating them to the point you forget your actual history-you forget who you are-is it possible to expolit your own life for the sake of a marketable story?"

This is a quote from my book Stranger than Fiction, how does it relate to your story? And is it really possible to exploit your own life for the sake of a marketable story? Maybe you have already done so, do you think it would/did have a positive effect or a negative on your life after the story is completed and on the shelves. And finally, not only effects on your life but how did/would it effect you to exploit your life for a marketable story?

Broken Home (Kendall)

Sometimes the road seems so dim that I can barely see. So many obstacles tend to rise that I can barely handle. My main problem right now seems to be my parents getting a divorce. I know it sounds trivial but to me it’s a big deal. All of my life, I’ve always had a great family foundation. I had two hard-working parents who strived for the best. It confuses me that two strong willed people aren’t able to work through their problems. My life seems to be at a pause now because family has always been one of the most important factors in my success. I just wish that I could turn time back and fix the error that caused their marriage to fall apart. Trust me….I don’t blame myself for their marriage being thrown under a truck. But I’ve always had a tendency to want to fix things. Perfection to me is excellence. My parents were young when they got married. They’ve been together since they were 14 and 16 years old. That’s a loooooonnnnnnngggggg freaking time. I understand that times change and people completely change. But why did it have to be my parents? Why couldn’t it be the parents who lived across town? Was it predestined for my family to break away from each other when I became 18 years old? THAT REALLY SUCKS FOR ME. Maybe if they had gotten a divorce when I was younger, maybe it wouldn’t be affecting me like it is now. I’m a fond believer of change, but why couldn’t this one single element remain the same?

Response (ryann)

I guess I wasn't really “forced” to grow up, it was really more of a choice. It was just a lot of a bunch of personal stuff that involved my parents never being around. So it left my sister, my brother (when he was around), and me to fend for ourselves. From then on, our parents just kind of mooched off us, and left us to take care of everything. So I got a job, me and my sister take care of the house and so on and so forth, well our parents do whatever it is they do. Don’t get me wrong, I mean, don't get me wrong At heart I am still a huge kid.
I really don’t know how to fully respond to this, I mean, I didn’t grow up to fast. But I reached a point where it was just kind of like, holy shit, I have to start taking care of myself.

Ps: that's not some random baby, that's my neice when she was a few months. granite she's two now but that was the only picture that i could find on my computer. Isn't she adorable?

mike

just like in the book myself and others in my original community are forced to grow up . with me just saying my "original community" shows a form of growth. where i'm from not any diiferent from anywhere else, if your cought sleeping you might not wake up. meaning that if you don't find any way to transform unto a different stage of life you will find yourself in the same place or worst. my situation is a perfect example. where i'm from most people have the choice of moving forward in only two ways, the right and wrong. you have to find a trade, something your good at, whether it being good or bad, simple as that. as much as people want to do right, the wrong is always easier. you can base your life on school, the streets, or your talent. in my case i had to move forward with my skill. i never was the best student and the streets are easy but there just not for me. me at a young age found the love for entertainment and always planned for it to take me further in life. this has always been one of my main priorities but at some points it wasnt always dependable. theres alot of money out here you just have to put your name on it, once you master this you are the only one that can push you to grow. after years of finding myself i found a trade, i love the developing of enetertainment. once i found a way to apply this to every day life i found a way of growing without being forced by society.

William Colter V

Have I ever had to grow up? Ah yeah! Like everyone has. Like when I turned eighteen proably the wrost day of my life. Now to understand where I'm coming from when I say that you most know that my whole life I've wanted to be a kid. I would like to say that being an artist has somewhat kept me a child but, like must I did have to grow up some. I had to go and get a job, open a bank account, leran to drive, started paying bills, all things I did with a look of disgust upon my face. My mother 'til this very day tells me I need to grow up I reply saying "I'll never grow up I will Forever be 12". So I guess you could say that even now I'm being forced to grow up now. Which sucks alot being here is forcing me to grow and be mature. You know talk about stuff and compromise saying stuff like "you go in the shower frist when I I'll go in after " when I really want to say "me frist and I'll take as long as I want". I must say growing up sucks and I can't wait 'til I'm 80 and able to act 8.

Since birth I was never forced to grow up because my parents instilled core values that helps me mature and grow. Not saying that I havent been through things that have opened my eyes because I have. Those things didnt force me to grow up they just made rethink where I have been and change some things about me. I have never really been introduced to drugs, I know what they are and what they can do to a person. I do live in a gang territory but i have never had to duck or run because, I knew people in the gang. I live where the B.P.S.N (Black Peace Stone Nation) reside in Chatham. They do shoot at people of different gangs. Im Not saying life for me has been great but i really havent been exposed like LeAlan and Lloyd. I do know crackheads from regular people but I dont know personally.

Darrion West

me personaly i kind of was forced to grow up. my life was petty basic, like i did grow up i a semi ruff neiborhood, we had gangs there and drugs by it was just a lil bit of they. but therer wasnt nothing to major goin on there but thing there was easy somtime cause i always had faimly and firends to back me up. the been forced to grow up wasnt my thing. cause if you forced me to do somtihn most likely i wont do it . but in ninth grade i actully had to grow becuase i was to childish and was forced to grow up willy so i gress i was forced to grow up

Answering Phils Q.....

Personally i would say i grew up very fast. One reason why i didnt chose to read Our America was because i knew what the story line was about, and frankly i just wanted something new to read. Born and raised on the south side i just spent 18 years of my life seeing it now in college i wasnt about to read a novel about it. Being exposed to drug dealers, gangs, and sex at a young age in a way gives you an advangtage over some other kids. It depends on the child receiveing that information. Me for example i took my surroundings and learned from them, many other childern may not be as smart with it as i was. Is growing up faster or becoming more mature quickly really that bad? I happen to think not... it helps with descions you have to make on a daily bases. You give a more grown and mature response back.

Ryan Reed

I have was the captain of my soccer team for the first half of the season. It was homecoming week and everyone nominated the homecoming court. I was voted to be the junior class homecoming prince for the first ever dance at Grayslake North. I decided to take a limo with some friends as it was a very special occasion. My friend, Joe, and I brought some wine in the limo to pre-game before the big dance. A police officer thought we were acting shady and pulled us out of the dance. He breathalized both of us and we got arrested. I was kicked off the soccer team and Joe was kicked off the football team. We were both suspended from school for a week. I learned a lesson because that was a chance for me to stop screwing around. I could have left the soccer program completely and kept drinking and smoking with my friends after school. I made the choice to work out after school and pick up activities that kept me away from the decisions that would tear me down. Since I planned on sticking with athletics for Grayslake North, I was drug tested randomly for the next year. That was the athletic department forcing me to grow up.

Day 5: King Phillip

In Our America, LeAlan and Lloyd was called to grow up quick by the streets and the neighborhood they lived in. A quote that comes from chapter two says. "Cause if you play childish games in the ghetto, you're gonna find a childish bullet in your childrish brain". Meaning that they had to grow up even if they didnt want to. They were forced to grow up by society. They knew about sex, different kinds of drugs, and crackheads. Me personally I really havent had to be forced to grow up. Either it was you grew up or something happened that made you grow up.

Have you ever been forced to grow up? If so, why and how? As a child i was exposed to the "ghetto" or things that LeAlan and Lloyd had experienced but not at the age they experienced it.



***Added by Danielle***

For today, instead of commenting, I would like for you to each create your own blog post. So, you will need to click "New Post," answer the questions Phillip asks of you and then add a visual element (either a video or a photograph). Try to respond in at least 250 words.

Day 4: Deanna

In "Stranger than Fiction," the author goes to the extent of meeting different people and experiencing the different physical outer appearences. In your books, describe a certain character's outer appearence and what it says about them. In relationship to the character, how does the outer appearence of people in your community say about them? How does YOUR outer appearence desribe you?

Day 4: David

"People would examine there lives but only in terms of movie and paperback potential. Where a story no longer follows as the result of an experience. Now the experience happens in order to generate a story."

Look at the author for this question instead of the story itself. What connection do you feel the author has to the events and situations there portraying in their books. Where are there motives coming from? A specific question you could ask would be; does my author include the stories and facts to indirectly force a message, or is he/she just observing, and for the most part letting you forge your own opinions?

When you sit down to create art of any kind, do you feel it’s easier to specifically use things that have happened in your life? Or does it come easer to force a feeling or make an event up to convey the message you want?

The Last American Man Discussion

If you are reading this text, this is the place where you can make comments, ask questions and hear what other readers are thinking.

Our America Discussion

If you are reading this text, this is the place where you can make comments, ask questions and hear what other readers are thinking.

Stranger Than Fiction Discussion

If you are reading this text, this is the place where you can make comments, ask questions and hear what other readers are thinking.

Day 3: Darrion

In our America the two main people felt that they did have a word in the world like the government did want to listen to them. how the the character in our book feel that they wasn't listened to?

Can you describe a point in your life that you was ignored by people when you had something to say?

Day 2: Aaron

In Writing & Rhetoric classes here at Columbia, we often discuss this particular dichotomy: insider versus outsider. Our Day 1 posts offer lots of great examples. Danielle and I both discussed the insider/outsider perspective from viewpoints of people who've moved from the country to the city. William's poem "Human Condition" gestures at these notions as well. Ryann mentions that she feels outside the group dynamic of "typical art student[s]." Deanna reckons she feels like a "'Black Sheep'," and goes as far as to underline her thinking with the choice of her image, a sheep. The examples from our first blog postings are too numerous to point out all at once, just as they are in our three texts as well. Here's three short summaries to contextualize further Day 2s writing prompt.

In Our America, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman go to great lengths to express and illustrate how living in the "Ida Bees" here in Chicago is to live in "two different Americas" (199). LeAlan states soberly: "I've never felt American, I've only felt African-American" (199). Jones and Newman grant us intimate access into their lives, and what we learn, if we didn't know already, is just how painful feeling truly disconnected from your country of birth can actually feel.

In The Last American Man, Elizabeth Gilbert details the life of Eustace Conway, a radical enviromentalist and survialist who lives completely off the land without the aid of modern technology. Conway feels so dejeceted and disconnected by and from capitalistic, materialistic American culture that he buys his very own plot of land way out in the mountains of North Carolina. He names his plot Turtle Island. However, though he seeks isolation, Gilbert relates to us that Conway never seems as home, more himself, than when he's on stage in front of a group of people, lecturing on the virtures of nature and the ability to survive by one's own two hands.

In Stranger Than Fiction, Chuck Palahniuk immerses himself in and vividly details what seem to be odd outisder subcultures like the Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival, a small group of folks who build and live in giant castles, and over-the-hill amatuer wrestlers still busting their noses and lips in search of one last tase of glory mixed with blood and mineral ice. Superfically speaking, these groups seem distant from American culture at large. However, Palahniuk's talent is to craft through a written voice of sympathy vibrant concrete details and real-life characters who are so alive by the essays' ends, we readers feel inside these outsider groups.

With these examples in mind, in 250 words or more:

1) Offer us a story from your life when you either felt like a complete outsider or a complete insider. Write and express yourself through vivid concrete details. As you recraft the scenery and people involved in your story, think of your mind's eye as a video camera. Scan your memories, pause on the key details and moments, and really bring them to life through images and vivid verbs.

2) Juxtapose your own story with what you read last night in your chosen text. How is the story you're offering us similar or different to any of the persons listed above, and the stories they're trying to tell? Based on your own story, do you identify with their criticisms of American culture? Do you feel you also truly know what it means to live as an outsider? Or, do you find strength and happiness through the groups of folks in your life that welcome you inside with open arms? Perhaps you've never felt as inside anything as you feel in your head while you're creating your art: making music, taking photos, mixing tracks, writing a poem or article or essay, acting or dancing or performing for live audiences?

Remember, these are your stories. Take ownership of them. Do your life and yourself justice through your words. Following up on our post-lecture lecture, help us see through your words the concrete connections or conflicts you are recognizing between yourself and the subjects of your chosen text. Thanks!!

Darrion west

hi me im im a guy that had to take crap from a lot of people because da way i act .poeple look at me and thing he anit noboby he wont be nobody because of where i come from poeple r consider weak an punkish but let me tell u somthin im nothin like dat i went throught so much to find da person im tday darrrion e west. i was alway jugle by my heigth and weigth im goffy fun to be around and outgoing. i came to chicago 4 a new begaining cause my old live was cool but not great i have fun alot but i need more. my friend and fam alway told me to be me but in today social ive u got to be lik every one else da point im gettin to is be your self but still be lik other people cause beenin an outkast is not fun at all

Deanna

If I were to give a subtitle to this post it would be "Black Sheep." Why, you ask? Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, I had to find every possible attempt available to remove the strange yet intriging image that had been placed to my name. In my neigborhood I was know as " That girl who did that crazy art nonsense." I was a rouge; A person who tried to get her family to understand but had little to no success. I eventually attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I surrounded myself with people who went through the same situations as I did. My friends were people who stayed up until 6am just to finish a series piece, people who memorized lines 24/7, people who had scars on their feet because they cared so much about what they did. To give a complete short a sweet (no matter how bitter) discription of myself: I would say that I am the girl whose weapons are cameras, pens, spray paint, and paint brushes. I'm always armed.

"The Love a Beauty is Taste, Creation of Beauty is Art."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

michael

well i don't know if this is fortunate or unfortunate but i am a very complex person. do whenever you get dressed and not look into the mirror do you already know what you look like or do you just assume you know? well thats how i come to the realization that i don't always know myself. i know the things that i like but i always dont know if thats what i really really like or is it just for the time being. at the momnet my head is always in so many places that its hard to keep up with myself. throughout my life ive ventured off into many different forms of expression. starting at a young age ive been through theater, dance, sports (without being specific), and most recently music. no matter what the confussion ive always known that i wanted to entertain. ive always wanted the big spotlight but every form of entertaiment dosn't have the biggest spotlight that i always desire. i now see that somethings only entertain some people, and my problem is that i always want to reach out to every person possible. i beleive that my most ultimate satisfaction would be able to have EVERYBODIES attention for however long as possible with whatever it is im doing. i dont wanna sound like a dissaticefied crazy guy but thats just whats been going on in my recent mind, who knows whats next..........

Jenelle V

What's good?

My name is Jenelle, but better known as Lady G. I grew up on the South side of Chicago, born and raised. I am currently travelin every where from 43rd and St. Louis, 87th n Pulaski to way out to 192nd. I ama laid back person, I am very diffrent from alot of people, but problly not so far from all of us at Columbia. I always keep it real, that's just what I am about. Having a good time, always smiling, and stay laughing is what I do on a daily. I hate drama and negitivty, but I love haters and a challenge. I have many goals and alot of ambition, and that's why I am here today. If you would have told me last year I would be goin to a nice college like this I would say you where crazy lol. But with the help of God and ALOT of loans I am able to be chillin here with you all. I can be a quite person but after I get comfortable with my surroundings.... THATS WHERE THE PARTY AT! lol I am majoring in Music Business and Production, I love music, it jus flows threw my heart, mind, and soul....... I ama very cool female, just holla at me....

Lady G

David

choose your own adventure

I've had a lucky childhood compared to most kids; not in a material sense but more creativity, openness, and understanding. While growing up i was never persuaded by my parents to follow some sort of direction, other then basic necessity's to being "productive" in whatever lifestyle i choose to follow. Whatever choices i made, the clothes i wore, the color of my hair, or the music i listened to, my parents supported it.

I was never forced into have religious beliefs or persuaded to take a certain political side. I was taught only to think about the choices i make and to were that would take me. Growing up with this sort of Independence , i believe, makes me feel like who i am and where i will be in the future is because of all the choices i had to make growing up. The things i do now, like attending Columbia, are a direct result of choices that i myself made and come from who i truly am. I believe my personal motto is "choice over destiny"