Subtlety < Honesty

Strength and Influence

2009-11-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

The Chris Brown and Rihanna saga has been looped over and over the blogsites and airwaves for months now, as it was a terrible and despicable display of the negative side of relationships.

I have no need to go back over what happened as everyone seems to have their own version, but I can say that the situation has made me realize the importance of understanding the impact I have on others.

Rihanna was known worldwide before the incident so her influence has done nothing but grown since.

What many fail to realize is that this young woman is a human being, a human being with similar emotions and ideas, which unfortunately for her are broadcast throughout the entire world.

I felt that it was a personal issue, but after realizing her impact on women across the world, I came to understand the amount of pressure celebrities go through daily.

It boggles my mind realizing how much we look to celebrities for advice on social situations, as oppose to experts who can give clear-cut and precise answers.

Most times, these individuals epically fail to inspire or adequately use their influence not realizing how much their words can change the mindset of thousands, if not millions of people.

Rihanna, unlike many of her predecessors rose to the challenge, admitting her faults in going back, but also vocalizing the importance of getting away from such situation.

I admire her for her strength for speaking about a topic so personal, so close to home on national television . She didn’t do it for herself, but for women who are experiencing the same type of problem.

Domestic violence is an unfortunate part of our society, a part which thrives when we remain silent.

I only hope programs such as “Take Back the Night” and people like Rihanna can get through to women who normally would stay in silence.

Growing Pains

2009-11-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Being a senior in college is a gift and a curse, as on one hand you are accomplishing your quest to graduate but on the other hand you are taking a step into the real world.

Life experience has taught me that worrying about anything is unnecessary and counter-
productive, “life is for living, not living uptight.”

I visit the career center once a week working on my resume and overall career outlook and unlike most of my counterparts it’s exciting. I don’t have the best grades by any means, but what keeps things in perspective for me are the people who worked too hard in college to keep high grades who are sitting at home with their parents.

Education is important, but I’ve learned to live beyond the four walls of a classroom.

I got involved and met people, people who have made the past few years more than memorable; however the people I met were older and more knowledgeable (at that point) than I was. I never looked up to any of my peers, but I acknowledged those who pushed me to do better.

I couldn’t stand to sit somewhere and play the little brother role, so oftentimes I found myself catching up to big brother thus propelling him to step up as he had done for me.

I’m not seeing this in many of my younger peers. They have taken a different path from me, preferring what is easy rather than hard work. Their minds are filled with superficiality as opposed to substance and it shows from their conversations to the way they dress.

Times change and unfortunately, this change is prompting me to realize this time in my life is nearing its end. College is merely a part of my life and now is the time to prepare and move on. Not to be seen as a sob story of any kind as epic would describe a variety of my experiences while a student here, but more like a bittersweet ending.

Homecoming concert. Psych!

2009-10-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

I’m not the most knowledgeable person on campus by far, but I try to keep myself “in the know” about issues going on that will somehow have an affect on me. This being said, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HOMECOMING CONCERT?
I was somewhat excited to hear Babyface perform, seeing how he is a hometown legend not only for his singing skills, but his production accolades as well. Writing hit songs for acts ranging from TLC to Lil’ Wayne, he has transcended boundaries and opened doors for numerous artists. I know that may have seemed like a short biography, but simply put I was excited for the concert.
When I heard the news the concert was cancelled, I shrugged it off as many ISU students do when “the powers that be” make mistakes. We shrug things off because were used to being disappointed. It sounds terrible, but it’s true.
So instead of spending my money on Babyface tickets, I’m going to save up $76.00 to see Jay-Z in concert at the University of Illinois on November 12th. I’m going to travel nearly two hours to a place I’ve never been to, to see the greatest rapper alive.
Whoever messed up the homecoming concert, because something obviously screwed up, should talk to the people at U of I to see how they go about obtaining such large acts. Babyface would have been the first R&B act in years but now we're left to our own devices to have a pleasant Homecoming weekend. No worries, I’ll make something happen.

Don't worry; be happy

2009-09-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Unknown to many relationships are the easy part.

It’s the people who ruin things, the people who take things too far and the people who have a negative affect on the future of two people. I try to keep things open and subtle as opposed to bragging about my relationship status, because that’s when people seem to get themselves into the most trouble. Too many women in my life have wanted the flashing lights, but for what?

What is the point?

You want everyone to know?

Then you obviously aren’t happy with just being with me and more importantly you’re not happy with being yourself, indirectly justifying your existence with the help of a man as opposed to being content with your own drive and life experience.

It kills me, it really does and, sometimes, I let it get to me, because I see people for what they can be as opposed to what they are, a gift that most of the time manifests itself in a curse-like manor.

Goethe once said, “Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.”

I’ve lived by this quote for years, hoping for the best from a wide variety of women, but most times they dig their own holes and bury themselves, eventually realizing their mistakes.

This is not to say I am without fault. I err because of my subtlety and tact, as opposed to being blunt and outspoken.

I accept my weaknesses and faults, working every day to do better as opposed to continuing with my same error filled ways.

Past relationships have taken a naïve, insecure guy and turned him into the person I am today.

Obviously I’m not some kind of relationship guru, but I understand the importance of being content with the person you are with and being content with oneself.