Jessica's Project

Nicole's Project

Hector's Project

Adriana's Project

Chantal's Project

Samson's Unit Three

Grace's Project

My life is really happy

I believe in the fact that my life has been the best its ever been.

Since coming to college there have been times where I wanted nothing more then to be alone and just have a negetive idea to everything and everyone. I thought that things were just really hard and I only had a good time on occasion. I felt that life here would be just as tideous as life back home tends to be at times. When I started to balance the new things that college was bring into my life I began to try to figure it all out. I would look at people here who had jobs, friends, and awesome talents in arts and education and they're only freshman. I wanted to be like those freshman that attend Columbia, but I didn't know anyone who were like that, and who would want be my friend.

I think about that time back then when that idea was almost the center of my life here at Columbia. Then over time things changed, college life was going the way that I wanted. I meet people here who have those wonderful qualites mention before and became my close friend that I never want to let go of. I believe that my life is happy mostly because of these close friends acting like close friends to me always. Its very hard for me to be away from my friends here. I feel that when they aren't around or when even one is missing, it becomes hard for us all to really enjoy time together to the highest degree.

I see that my friends helped me enjoy Columbia and making me not ever want to leave this school. There have been so many things that I have done while being at Columbia, and Chicago in general. I was able to these things without being alone.

Hector's Post

This I Believe…

This I believe that dodge ball is the savior to my soul. It captures moments, makes ridiculous memories, and makes grown men feel like grown men. Sweat and tears are poured out to clarify who is better at throwing balls at people. Long months are put to hard to work out to build the strength and strategy to win the next tournament. Nothing beats watching grown men letting their anger out by throwing foam-cushioned balls at little boys that are half their age.

I believe that a Decade of Dominance isn’t fulfilled till the Queens or Team Radd come back for one final tournament in summer of 09’. I also believe that Western Springs isn’t the same as you get older. I believe that the people that always show up to play, are always going to be originals but never O-G’s and that the Western Spring dodge ball generations will only keep building and branching off, and that the legacy it has will never fade. I also believe that Paul’s pizza after tournaments will still be the tradition to follow after winning first second or third place.

I strongly believe that dodge ball brings out the best of people, even if they are a person that has always been quite or shy around new surroundings or even beings, new groups or just even playing for the first time. College frat boys with their bellies full of hanging out, wear the same attire and think of clever perverted team names will always be part of the game that will always annoy me, even when I’m done playing 10 years from now. I believe that dodge ball has kept me energized and in shape, even when I wasn’t but thought I was. This I believe is the blame for my arm being the way it is. That in about 2 more months, I will have officially thrown out my arm and have wasted all the talent that could have been used for playing baseball. Although, I do believe that at one point in my life, it has helped me maintain a strong arm and also gain superb control of my throwing ability.

I believe that dodge ball has made me the person that I am today. If it weren’t for dodge ball, I wouldn’t have been as open minded and free-spirit as I am today. I wouldn’t be as care free as I today, and that the blood sweat and… sweat shed for this dorky was all worth it, and that no matter what, the friends that I have made have become a second family to me and we’ll always be that way.

Zander's Post

"I believe all our pets should be spayed or neutered."

For the past 3 years I’ve been volunteering at the humane society in my hometown. It began when my mother joined the board of directors and then won the position of president of the board. I’ve spent countless hours working with the organization to create videos and help with research for their newsletters and articles. I decided I would compile some of the information I’ve gathered into a short thesis.

It’s estimated that 4 to 6 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year in the United States. Every minute 7 cats or dogs are euthanized because of a lack of homes. There is one major reason for this: each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born while only 10,000 humans are born. That creates a large gap in the pets to humans ratio. All the animals without homes can end up becoming stray, feral, or stuck in a pound or animal shelter. Those that are unlucky enough to be placed in a typical “kill shelter,” the type that will euthanize an animal after a short period of time, will be euthanized if they are not adopted or claimed.

Spaying or neutering your pet has many benefits to the animal itself. Both males and females will have a longer, healthier life. Spay USA says, “altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years, felines, 3 to 5 years.” Males are less likely to get prostrate cancer and will not develop testicular cancer. In females, it eliminates the chance of uterine or ovarian cancer and reduces the possibility of breast cancer. Neutered animals are also less likely to roam free and fight with other animals. Spay USA also says, “Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.”

Along with the benefits to your cat or dog, the pet owner will be rewarded. Spayed and neutered pets are more affectionate, loving friends. They also are less likely to spray and mark territory. Some may continue to spray or mark, however, the incredibly foul smell will be eliminated. Spaying females will eliminate their heat cycle. They will not attract unwanted male dogs, have nervous/shy behavior or cry excessively. Unaltered animals tend to be more hostile, they may act out, be more aggressive, and even bite. Neutered males are far less likely to stray away from home.

The surgical procedure to alter a cat or dog is relatively inexpensive, safe for the animal and will create a “better pet”. On a much larger scale it is the first and most powerful step in taming the overpopulation of cats and dogs in America today.

I Believe In Bacon

I know what you’re thinking. Bacon? Seriously? But yes! I have a dangerous obsession with this sodium loaded love of mine. In the morning it’s bacon and eggs, in the afternoon it’s BLT’s, in the evening it’s bacon pizza. I’ll be the first to admit that not only is this addiction extremely unhealthy; it’s also very carnivorous. But I just can’t help myself! Now don’t get offended vegetarians, I am not what you would call a meatatarian, it’s more of a love affair that I have with these thick strips of heaven. I could without a doubt do away with steak and pork chops indefinitely if I chose.

There’s something comforting about the sound of the sizzle when bacon is frying on the stove. The smell is enough to make me weak in the knees. Even the sight of bacon excites me. Instantly my mouth starts salivating at the beauty of those squiggly red and white objects of my affection. It really is the most delicious single thing I have ever consumed. Just think about it, what else is so scrumptious all by itself? Sure, pasta dishes and cereal are great, but they all have partners that make them so tasty. Bacon is completely divine all by it’s lonesome. It has the power of satisfying every taste bud on my tongue while leaving a mouthwatering aftertaste that urges me to eat more.

I believe bacon is at it’s best when it’s very flat and crunchy, don’t give me those soggy greasy strips! Bacon sends a rush of delight all through my body with that first bite. I can’t ever get enough, and it’s not just me! There are millions of people out there with the same infatuation for bacon. There’s even an entire cookbook dedicated to this amazing food! Sometimes I do think about the obvious.. I am eating a little piggy and pigs are inconsiderably cute, but it’s not enough. The insatiable taste of the bacon outweighs the cuteness of these piglets. I may sound disgusting, rude or even heartless but like I said, I just can’t help myself, it’s an addiction. Not eating this delectable food anymore would really cause some major withdrawals, and I need to think about my overall well being right?

I Believe In Autism

Now, I can probably guess at what your first reaction the title "I Believe In Autism", was. Your reaction was probably one of shock and, judging by the demographic who'll read this, one of laughter. I assure you, I state this belief in a way that is completely genuine and far from ignorant.
I live in a family of seven people. I have three brothers and a sister, two of which of my younger brothers, as well as my younger sister, are triplets. I also have an older brother, Collins, who has "severe and profound" autism. Thing is, I don't think I can meet anyone else in my lifetime, who can teach as much about life as Collins. He is not only my brother, he is also my best friend.
There are many aspects of Collins' life that are quite beautiful. He has an incredible passion for trains and maps and things of that sort. He loves nothing more than to go down to the train station and wait for Amtrak to roll through, especially when I'm home because then he gets to go down to the station with me. Collins also loves to cook, which he does on his own youtube cooking show, "Cookin' With Collins". I think we can figure out that his favorite part of the show is when he gets to eat his creations.
It's this absolute sort of innocence that I am fascinated by, and somewhat envious of. Granted, no one wishes to be mentally challenged, but they do wish for innocence to be back into their lives. Wouldn't you like to experience Santa being a reality for your entire life? There won't be a time where Collins doesn't believe in the big guy in the red suit. Also, wouldn't you like to strike a conversation with a stranger, skipping the small talk, almost as if you'd know them your whole life? I'd like to experience that, and genuinely meaning it. There are many beautiful things about Collins' life, and many life lessons to be learned.

Breakfast.

Recently in an attempt to be more healthy I decided to change a few of my eating habits. Before, I would never eat any form of breakfast, and I would usually end up eating all through the night or right before I went to bed. When I started eating breakfast I noticed many changes. The change in diet also came with new found energy. I was waking up earlier and feeling more awake the entire day. I truly was surprised as to how much one bowl of cereal affected my day. I noticed the changed and i liked it. Then I deepened the adjustment a little more. Rather than just switching to cereal I starting eating a balanced breakfast. As expected it gave me even more energy. I believe that breakfast in the morning is a necessity for the active student. Growing up every one says that breakfast is the most important meal. Why did I choose to ignore this? Perhaps not eating breakfast was a way to defy my parents as a kid and the habit just stuck. Regardless of the reasoning I am thankful to be eating a good meal everyday. Currently I am adding on a new phase to my eating intervention. No longer am I eating anything after seven in the evening. This is much harder than simply adding a meal a day as breakfast was. However I have realized how much or society eats just because it is habit and not hunger or health related. Rarely am I actually hungry after seven but I crave the simple fixation of eating food. Eating breakfast also helps to offset late night bingeing. I've discovered the joy o that accompanies a good meal in the morning and will continue to eat a great breakfast everyday. I believe in the power of food both negative and positive and this change has helped me to better appreciate and understand its greatness. I believe in eating breakfast. 

Security Guard Documentary!

SO I really tried to figure out how to get Joe Adriana and I's unit two project on the blog, but I don't know what to do. So as a refresher we did a audio doc that included interviews from students, RAs and security guards. The topics were how each group is perceived by the other and when and where the groups collide. 

-Samson

This I Believe!

There are so many things that I believe in, the first thing that came to mind was dance, but dance is so typical of me since I am a dance major. I want to go outside the box and let others learn about the non-typical things that I believe in. With that said; I believe in Forgiveness. Forgiveness can open a lot of doors in your life that you might not think are willing to open. Forgiveness can lead to success. I believe that when you hold grudges you stay in the past you don’t allow yourself to push forward. You are dwelling on heart ache. Grudges can also become stressful. You continuously think about that person and anger builds up. When you learn to forgive you let go of what happen in the past and you look forward into what may come in the future. Forgiveness can release the negative thoughts that you hold in your mind. Many people have insecurity’s; this insecurity may come from what others have said negatively about you. When you forgive as well as letting that comment go you release your insecurity and branch out. The mind is a powerful weapon and can reflect your outcomes in life. I suppose that if you think negative your outcomes in life will be negative as well.
I have a good friend that I didn’t talk to for about 6 months. This was very awkward because I would talk to her everyday. Good friends are hard to find and losing a good one is horrible. Well I went along and listened to the “he say she says” and stopped talking to her. Her actions as a friend weren’t friendly like neither. Well one day I woke up and thought to myself, I am too old to be hold grudges, I miss my friend. I picked up the phone to call her and found out that the whole story was wrong. It was just a misunderstanding. If I didn’t believe in forgiveness I would still be holding that grudge and missing out on my good friend. I believe that forgiveness can bring love to others. Forgiveness can help decrease the amount of violence in this world. When I forgive someone I feel better about myself. We are not perfect people. I think that we need to let that sink in, we are not perfect people. We hold other people up to these high standards that we can’t even meet. We have to understand who we are and understand that we have to forgive.

Community Video Documentary

This is our "video" post for the Unit 2 imagining communities. Our video documentary was about how Africans conform to a certain community. The location was the Wilson stop off the Red line. This was a diverse town filled with Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leona. Every African owned a store and it seemed like that was their dream when they came to America. The movie showcased five scenes. The first scene showcased the three of us talking on the corner of Wilson and Broadway. The second scene showcased Chantal' interviewing a young man in an African video store. The third scene showed Nicole interviewing a man in an African restaurant. The fourth scene showed Dereon interviewing an African barber. The last scene showed the African man eating his "yummy" food and telling the viewers what it was.

I Believe in Cuddling

I believe in cuddling. That awesome power that the simple act of throwing your arms around someone can do. I believe in the warmth and the love that generates when you lay down next to someone you care about and letting your personal space vanish. Feet and hands and legs and arms intertwined, with bodies fitting together like perfect pieces of a puzzle. And in this tangled web of limbs there is no discomfort. There is no such thing as too close or going too far. I believe in the things cuddling can achieve. There have been times in everyone’s lives where they are inconsolable. They are heaving, shrieking, and hyperventilating wrecks. Yet somehow, a mother’s embrace or a lover’s arms wrapped snugly around their body and suddenly things start to get calmer. Breath becomes regular and tears stop flowing after so long and an overwhelming feeling of safety and relief washes over them. Cuddling can drastically change someone’s mood, no matter how impossibly upset they are.
Cuddling makes you invincible. I know from time to time I think about death, and the irrelevancy of human life. I dwell on how vast the universe is and how the time that Earth has been around is nothing but an atom of a freckle on the face of time. And even smaller than that is the length of my life. I mean nothing to the rest of the world and probably never will. And one day I will die and I will be cold and alone in a casket. Eventually people will forget about me and it will be like I never even happened. Even worse than this situation is that there is nothing I can do to stop it. When I think about this, a terrible emptiness hollows me out. And I am terrified. It has occurred more than once that when I think about this and that black icy emptiness creeps up inside of me, I have to sit down. I crumple into a ball and throw my arms around myself, desperately hoping that the closeness will erase any feeling in my heart that I am meaningless. It never works. But sometimes, I find myself in the arms of someone I love. And suddenly, the universe doesn’t matter. The galaxy and the solar system and the planet and the countries and my country’s problems and the city and stress and weather and homework and drama and everything else around me dissolve. And I and the one I love are the only things left in the world. Our embrace is steeped in meaning. Every squeeze writes volumes of history. Every caress moves mountains. My heart swells because I feel so important. In the loveliest way, I exist and I mean something so much to at least one person that they are willing to spend hours with me, just wrapped around me. Because of this, I believe in cuddling