Its Almost time

16 years ago I'd give anything to have a ball in my hand and shoot hoops. Now its become more of an "unwanted Christmas gift" as my ethics teacher would put it. I used to love throwing on a pair of basketball shorts and shoes and playing a game or two with the neighbor hood children or my family members.

I remember the way my dad used to push me and drag me to every practice up until I became old enough to take myself. I remember how much I did not want to go, not knowing where it would take me. I even remember the look on my parents faces when I told them I had recieved a full ride scholarship to play college basketball. Unfortunately, all of my enthusiasm has some how faded and this sport has turned into more of a dreaded chore. I have forgotten how to love it. I have forgotten how to gain my confidence back. I have forgotten why it used to make me smile. Have I out grown it? Or have I forgotten who I am?

seems as if every game, every practice this year alone has been either days that I honestly want to forget. I honestly thought I was growing closer to my team when in fact I feel like the outcast. The outcast in my own doubts, confusion, lack of confidence, and lack of heart.

Once upon a time, I had huge dreams of becoming an all-star, of playing against the best, of being the BEST. Some how I have forgotten what that feels like or better yet, what that actually means. When I was at home I used to stare at my trophies all day and reminise on how great I played and how I contributed to winning that award. Those days have gone away and so has my spirit.

Maybe it is best to leave my past behind me.

Cotton

King Cotton

I am African- American. I come from a background of European, Native American, but my dominant nationality is African- American. Being African- American has its ups and downs. My ancestors did have the brightest or happiest history. However, without their struggle I would not be alive today.

During the 18^th and 19^th century, as described in my textbook, North American was evolving into an Industrial Society. This industrialization era consisted of a transformation of just using agrarian approach of life to an era of using machine manufacturing. This turnpike in history was the beginning of a lot of utilizing a lot of new things: coal, Iron, steel, steam, but more importantly cotton. Iron was important for creating the machines but steel was important for making them sturdy. Steam was innovative for the use of transportation and energy (steamboat, and steam engine), simply by mixing burning coal with boiling water. But the most useful item in this era was cotton. This resource was great for the making of clothing because it was cheap however the labor needed to pick the crop from the ground was inexcusable.

Cotton was the key source for the economy to thrive in the southern states of the United States. Some of the locals would call it “gold”. However this crop was became a crucial piece in what later became known as the “Second Middle Passage” for the African slaves that has to harvest the crop. As one may recall the infamous Middle Passage of the 1500’s until the late 1800’s that left, “At least 2 million Africans--10 to 15 percent” (1) dead, the thriving resource of cotton became a suspect in the substantially equivalent “second Middle Passage”.

In order for cotton to be of any use to anyone in the 19^th century, there had to be someone to harvest the crop. The demand for the product became prevalent when the industrialization period brought forth machinery that could assist the workers in the factories. The cheapest way to mass produce this crop was to enforce slave labor. Slave labor consisted of people working against their will, for little to no pay, and under the strict control of slave masters who had complete control of their freedoms.

The 19^th century did not leave any happy memories in the eyes of my ancestors. For they were apart of the “10-16 million people” who were brought here to fulfill the needs of southern citizens and their economic desires. In 2015, those scars from the brutal past of slavery have not healed. In fact we are still living in society where our true calling has not been truly defined. Just as my African- American ancestors became a component of the evolution of life in the United States, I play apart in the outcome of my generation’s own future.

References

Digital History (2014). The Middle Passage. Retrieved : 12 January 2014. Website http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3034

Believe it and Achieve It

Believe it and Achieve it

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed about the day that I would become a full time adult. Not an adult living in her parents home, working a minimum wage job but an adult who successfully completed college with two or three degrees, a nice home, and a nice car, and a really nice job. Now the time is coming where these ambitions will be met.  but the trouble comes from figuring out where to start. 

As for the education part, I will pretty much have that part covered by next year, 2016. I will have my bachelor's degree in Business Communication. That I believe is a solid start to where I want to be. I want more than just a scroll to define my credibility in the working world. I want to be able to have the resources, references, and basic job qualifications for it as well. Now with my degree, I want my primary focus to be on mainly Public Relations and/or Media Law. Both careers will suit me nicely. The next step in my progression to becoming an adult is determining where I want to live.

I have several places in mind, based off of income, location, environment, etc.

1.  Los Angeles, CA
2.  New York City, New York
3.  San Jose, CA
4.  Long Beach, CA
5.  Dallas, Texas
6.  Atlanta Georgia.

It is to my understanding that I have chosen well known and expensive cities. However I know that by living in those places I would become extremely successful. I love the city life. I always have. i know that i can gain a lot of connections in my choice of career. I also know that there is always something happening in those places. 

Eventually I will make my decision.

Let my heart Speak

Sometimes its not the just the person that puts you in that mood that's hard to get out of, sometimes its the feeling you get when you are around them. Its been a few years since I can honestly say I have slowed my emotions down for one person. There were times before when I tried to open up that side of me to people who did not deserve that happiness. I was always the type to say, I do not need a man to make my heart freeze. Instead I have always dreamed of a person to change my heart and mind. Rushing things like that can cause major destruction. Attention seeking is an understatement, feeling loved and appreciated is the feeling that I crave most of all.
Every time I look in the mirror I see a woman who has seen a lot of pretenders and people who pretend to deserve her heart and time. but how can one person make me feel so full of emotion and love.
 I have to let NATURE take its COURSE!

Inspiration!

Writing has become more than a chore or an assignment. It is now a great pass time.If a person were to ask me why I enjoy it so much, I simply say its "Easier to write my opinion then it is to voice it." But do not get me wrong, I know how to communicate perfectly when I need to be direct.My assertiveness for writing has become more relevant since I am in college getting ready to begin my professional career.

 My communications director and professor for numerous classes Mr. Fredregill, has played a huge part in why i want to pursue writing as a vital element in my career endeavors. He challenges our thoughts with tough critiques but criticism that we can handle as young adults. His opinions make us think about what we write and how we write it.

Ethics
Aside from writing, as a hobby individually. I love researching new material and also learning about different theories in the world of Ethics. Ethics became an interest of mine when I took the course in the Fall of my Junior year of College at #AIBCollegeOfBusiness. I was able to acquire knowledge of how different people percieve different thoughts and ideas to be considered moral. In relevance to writing and composing I think that Ethics becomes important when we consider the audience to whom we are speaking. I have hopes of avoiding any confrontation or confusion.

Some of my favorite Theorists and theories in Ethics are:

• Immanuel Kant (Deontological Theory)
• Ayn Rand (Selfishness in society)
• John Stuart Mill (Utility)
• Virtue ethics

End of the Year

Well, 2014 is coming to an end fast. With so many tragedies and so many changes its hard to keep up. As a person I have learned this year to adapt and accept those changes. Whether it be through dating other people. living with a new person or simply improving my mindset. 2014 has caused many people to become violent in that violence is the answer to every thing that happens. For example the last few incidents involving law enforcement and harmless individuals. 2014 has forced people to think about what is to come for 2015.

New Years Resolutions

I hate making these, because lets be honest, who seriously stays on top of these for 365 days. Some of them are unrealistic and some of them are cliche. However, I can come up with a few minor resolutions that I can attempt to follow for the upcoming year.

1. BUDGET MY MONEY
         Limit my spending
         Start saving for my after college expenses
         Start Saving for my 21st birthday in the Summer
2. WORK OUT MORE
         Keep my nice shape
         Try not to over eat
         Keep my abs just right
3. WORK ON MY INTERNSHIPS
         Find a good paying one in the fields of either
                          Public Relations; Media Coordination; Media Law; or Marketing
4. BECOME MORE ORGANIZED
        start living the way I plan to live when I am on my own

Too much to say

Words are just apart of our language. a small part of communication, but what happens when you run out them. how else would you express your feelings? Using Emojis? The tone of your voice? Hand gestures? How about through your heart? The best way to speak and express yourself is through your heart. I mean the rhythm that beats through your chest or how about the rate it beats when you are afraid, sad or happy. If people could only understand me by the way my heart speaks, my world might as well be an open door .