Writing for the Media

Is it really over?

2009-12-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

Finals week… procrastination, stuffing ourselves with food to alleviate our stress, sudden grey hair surprises… we would think it gets better with the years, but it doesn’t. I just don’t get it. A couple of days ago I felt stress free, and as soon as this week hits, I feel like there is no way I’ll make it to the end. We are all the same. Either we strive to be good students or do not care, we are all under the huge stress of finals… and of our final grades.

Over the course of the semester, I have had many revelations. The first was that I do not want to major in communications to become a journalist anymore. The revelation was sudden, and hit me hard. Since the first day of Journalism I, I knew that I would never survive working under the immense pressure that journalists must deal with. Do not get me started on deadlines and time limits.

Secondly, I have developed my own writing style and progressed in the art of photography. I feel like this semester has been like working on myself rather than on courses that I just needed to pass in order to earn credit. It has been a voyage of exploration and discovery.
Writing for the media has been a course that has helped me realize the variety of writing styles out there, all under media writing. I have become comfortable with feature stories, and added my personal touch to everything I have done. This course has been helpful, and the blog entries have helped me think and release stress. They have been an enjoyable use of my time rather than an extra stressful assignment.

Here we are, at the end of another semester that has flown by. Now, we are all pulling out our hair wondering how we are going to finish these three 15 page papers, hand in two projects, and ace four exams. The internationals, on top of that, need to focus on getting a shuttle to the airport, moving our stuff to our storage spaces, and get our I-20s sign in order to reenter the United States. All of a sudden, it feels like we aren’t too good at multitasking anymore. This is going to be a hard week.

Click.

2009-12-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrgYSH8cbEU

Over the course of the past summer, I became more and more interested in photography. As a child I had always loved taking pictures, but it had never been a passion of mine. This summer, my grandparents took my brother, sister, and I to Italy, from Milan to Amalfi and Sorrento, the southern coast. I was breath taken by the beauty of this country, and of the richness it has. I decided to capture it on camera, and during the month I was there, I began developing my photographic eye.

It is only as I started getting feedback from my family and on facebook that I became confident in myself. In august, I left alone to Barcelona for a month, where all I did all day was discover village after village, going through little hidden passages and courtyards. I snapped away at everything, people, buildings, scenery… I became in love with the art of photography.
This semester, I took a darkroom photography course that I enjoyed immensely. I felt comfortable spending time in the lab. I was in my own bubble, and I felt good in it. Over the course of the semester, I focused on portraits and went to the city very often to take candid shots of the urban busy life of New Yorkers.

In this video, I have compiled some of the pictures I have taken in Barcelona (not all, there are over 1,000!). I feel like this summer/semester has been one of revelation, where I have truly found what makes me at peace and confident. This art has become my form of expression, and this is why I decided to make it my minor, along with my creative writing major. Writing and photography are the two things that captivate me above everything else.

Dream Destinations

2009-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

I love travelling, like I am sure you do too. I consider myself lucky, having a family that enjoys it as much as I do. Even before I turned 16, I had already been to Africa, South America, Europe, the United States (including Alaska), and the Caribbean. I was able to relate every experience I came across to these past memories, and to the different cultures I was introduced to.

However, I am not done. I have always dreamt of going to many places. These are my top five destinations:

Morocco. My grandfather was born there, and has been raised for most of his life in this beautiful place. I have always dreamt of seeing the life he was accustomed to as a child. It is also his greatest wish to take me there in order to show me his native culture.'

Cuba. Who hasn’t dreamt of going to Cuba? The beautiful island of salsa, authenticity, and vintage cars… I have many times dreamt of this island’s charm and the beautiful pictures I could take of the people in their environment.

New Zealand. I can only imaging New Zealand as the synonym of nature. I see fields of green, mountains, and pastures. I can only imagine how refreshing it must be to see it for real.

India. I have always wanted to go backpacking in India. I feel like there is so much to see, so much to discover, and so much richness in this country.

Vietnam. A country with an intense history, a country of memories. I have always wanted to see it for myself. My brother and I have discussed this for years, and we hope to one day take this trip together.

Although these five are my dream destinations, there are many more that I have wanted to visit. Who knows? Once I check these 5 off my list, there will definitely be more to come…

Stage Fright...

2009-12-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

I have always been very intimidated by oral presentations. Even as a child, I was unable to sing, dance, or play any instrument as long as I was on stage. I always felt paralyzed if I felt like I was being judged or observed. This fear played a big role in my decision not to major in communications, and change my degree to Creative and Professional writing. Sad, I know.

I have always been good at expressing my thoughts on paper. No matter the issue, I have always felt confident about pulling out a notebook and pen, as a stress relief or as an enjoyable moment in my little “bubble”.

Now that I am almost in my third year of college, I am starting to wonder how I am going to deal with job interviews and important “talks” in front of people of influence. Unfortunately, at that point, I am convinced that a letter would be insignificant and my ease at writing would be unnecessary.

I think that during middle school and high school, students should be taught to be comfortable with speaking in front of a class or large audiences. It is a mandatory part of life, and if one is uncomfortable speaking in front of others, it is a serious handicap in his or her life. I have always admired the students that could prepare a speech before a class, and not feel the slightest anxiety. I was always the kind of girl to prepare a week in advance, already freaking out about it.

I am starting to work on it now, but I still regret not having been comfortable with speaking naturally and genuinely in front of others in the past.

Brainwash, much?

2009-12-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

Music is an important part of my life, and I have never understood those who claim they can live without it. From soft acoustic to hard rock, and traditional country to electro trance, I would say that I am very open-minded, and my I-pod is very diverse.

Many times, however, I have heard songs that I disliked, either by searching on the internet or by hearing it on the radio. I am often surprised that I often end up “liking” the song after being brainwashed by radio stations and music channels. It’s scary, but I think that’s the way our society works- the media makes us hear about a particular song or artist so much that we end up buying the song or album.

Same goes for Twilight, as I mentioned in a previous article. At first, I’m sure it wasn’t such a huge phenomenon. But as soon as it became an enormous deal, people began wondering “hmm, why is this so important? I should check it out, I am probably missing out on something genius!”

For my part, that’s how I feel about Taylor Swift. Granted, the pop/country style she represents is something I had never been familiar with as I was growing up. When I came to Manhattanville and heard her first couple of songs, I thought to myself… This HAS to be music my 8 year old sister would enjoy. The messages in the songs are idealistic and always mention princesses and dreams, or unattainable crushes. As I began to see the enormous deal that encircled this artist, I began downloading some of her songs, in order to see why she was such an icon in the U.S.

I have to admit that now, I have two or three of her songs on my computer.

Why is it that we are influenced by the media and by the impact that things have on others? I am curious, and sick of changing my mind over whether an artist is talented or just a mainstream icon.

Bloody Obsession!

2009-12-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend and I decided to go watch a 7 o’clock movie at the White Plains movie theater. I scroll through the week’s releases, and see that the sequel to Twilight, New Moon, is out. Laughing, I ask him if he would like to go see that. Hesitant, he scrolls through the rest of the films, realizing that no other film is at his taste. He agrees.

The elevator doors open, and we are instantly at the end of a ridiculous line. I look down the hall, squinting to see where the line ends, or even in which direction it heads. I look at the type of people waiting in line: twelve to fourteen year old girls. All we can hear are high-pitched screeches and laughs. This is definitely our line, he whispers in my ear, giving me a “look”.
We are lucky to even find seats. The entire movie was based on shirtless men and failed kiss attempts. The girls in the theater are definitely responsive, screaming “Team Jacob!” or “Team Edward!” according to their taste. At the final scene, when the main character asks his girlfriend to “marry him”, I had never heard as many gasps at the same time. My boyfriend turns to me and sighs.

Why is Twilight such an immense phenomenon? Teenage girls across the globe are fantasizing on vampires, something that has not happened before, especially in that age range. My eight year old sister says she is “in love” with Edward the vampire. When I asked her why, she screeched for a couple minutes about how handsome he was. Enough heard.

The books aren’t that good, I’m thinking. Okay, fourteen year old girls, I understand. But when I hear adults talking about the novels like masterpieces, I almost want to shake them from right to left. The films are entertaining, okay, yet none of the acting is worth an Oscar. I wouldn’t be surprised if half of the people buying tickets to see Twilight in theaters aren’t actually fans. These people may simply have a hard time believing the impact that the film has had on our society, and choose to watch the film out of curiosity and intrigue.

Popcorn Kernels

2009-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

As a young child, I was fascinated by old films. Icons like Monroe, Hepburn, and Taylor were my idols, and I was fascinated by sex symbols like Grant, Gable, and Dean. As I was growing up, I realized I had a burning passion for cinema.

Woody Allen is my favorite producer of all time. Among his films, my favorites are:

· Play it Again, Sam
· Matchpoint
· Vicky Cristina Barcelona
· Cassandra’s Dream
· Scoop

I have always been fascinated by the wittiness of his films, along with his perfect actor choices. His muses, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Scarlett Johansson, and Mia Farrow, were more or less revealed by his films, becoming instant stars after the films in question.

Pedro Almodovar, a Spanish producer, is also one of my favorites. His most famous film in English was Volver, starring the talented Penelope Cruz, his beloved muse. Some of my favorite films from Almodovar were:

· Bad Education
· Amores Perros
· Talk to Her
· All about my Mother

Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the producer of the famous French film Amelie starring Audrey Tautou, is one of my favorite French producers. Also in his filmography is the movie A Very Long Engagement, about a young girl determined to find out if the love of her life has survived the war that tore them apart.

Martin Scorsese is an incredibly talented producer. Although my favorite is the 1976 film Taxi Driver, with Robert De Niro starring as the protagonist, he has produced many worthy films over the years. Among the recent ones are:

· Gangs of New York
· The Aviator
· The Departed
· Casino

His latest Shutter Island, coming out in 2010, is awaited by many Scorsese fans.

Finally, Alfred Hitchcock cannot be forgotten. His ability to thrill his audiences throughout the world is incredible, and even as a young child, I was captivated by his suspenseful films. Many would know him through the terrifying film The Birds.

It's a funny thing how our society works.

2009-11-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

Last week, I woke up one morning and on CNN was an article on Marilyn Manson’s last single, and especially on the music video he directed for it. The song is called “Running to the edge of the World”, where he is seen violently beating his supposed girlfriend at the end of the video.

Critiques were outraged, and comments reproachful. According to them, the video was an encouragement to domestic abuse and violence. However, in the society we live in, they should know better than that.

Provocation. What better way to get public attention than to shock people? Marilyn Manson is the number one proof that by provoking individuals, you definitely get them talking. He is known for numerous videos, live performances, and lyrics that are shocking and repulsive, sometimes even morbid and bloody. However, by developing this style, he has been able to make people curious about his music, and whether the feedback is positive or negative, it has still boosted his career more than ever.

There are some things that must be seen and understood as fake. If you can go watch a horror movie or listen to music that is based solely on women, nice cars, and money, that is the exact same thing. Artists try to reach their audience and beyond by shocking them. Madonna, in her time, was the symbol of provocation, singing about Jesus Christ while using sex symbols at the same time.

I laughed when I saw the outraged comments about Manson. There are many things that shock me way more than fake blood and pretend punches. It was also funny to see the responses from the Manson fans, claiming that the critiques “had no idea what the lyrics meant” and that “revenge in the form of violence is the ultimate metaphor for a broken heart”. Faced with provoking acts like this one, an individual should be able to recognize that it is done just for publicity and public outrage. It is only by reacting to it that this technique actually works to perfection.

Surfing the Web on a Daily Basis.

2009-10-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

The internet… To be honest, I visit many many websites.
I actually had to think pretty hard to pick a handful.

My day, like many other college students, begins with Facebook. The pictures my close friends update (especially on a Monday morning!), check my inbox, wall, comments, etc… the usual.

Then, I often check the NY Times website. I like having the ability to go back one week in time and still be able to check out the front pages of each day’s newspaper.

I love youtube! Being able to catch any footage, any video, is incredible. I sing in my free time, and I love watching aspiring artists share their original songs or covers.

Deezer and Pandora are two pretty good websites, where you can listen to basically any song, make playlists, and actually find songs according to the genre you usually search for… A good way to discover new artists!

I am almost always on the Manhattanville website, whether it is for blackboard or my email. The library database is also very useful, and I often wish I used it more than I currently do.

Surfthechannel is probably one of the most entertaining ones I visit. I am a fan of Desperate Housewives, and since I do not have a tv in my room, I often just watch the episodes the next day on the website. It has every tv show, documentary, film that could possibly be imagined, usually uploaded through megavideo, dailymotion, etc…

FML is the website I go to when I am extremely bored. The “Today, I…” anecdotes are usually hilarious, and make you realize that your life isn’t THAT bad compared to those who post their entries. It is pretty funny to scroll through the posts…

Stringers – A Betrayal?

2009-10-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

Stringers are part-time or freelance correspondents for the news media. Many prestigious writers have been found to depend on these correspondents in order to write articles that seem authentic, even without having to actually be on the scene of the event. Rick Bragg, a very talented writer for the New York Times was suspended because of his habitual use of stringers and then ended up quitting because of the pressure of his offenses.

The question is: Does it really alter a writer’s potential? In my perspective, as long as a writer has talent and can actually write something meaningful and knowledgeable, there is no reason why it should shock anyone. The stringers are on the scene and catch every detail that is present, informing the writer. Therefore, nothing is false, nothing is invented, nothing is exaggerated or off.

Of course, I recommend reading a piece by Bragg to actually understand. He wrote a piece on Haiti, and the precision with which he writes about the scenery, the people, the horrors… everything is very genuine and conceivable. I enjoyed reading it, and after finding out about the stringers… even if the article has or has not been reported by stringers, the finality is the same: he is a talented writer who wrote about a significant cause in the best possible way.

Of course, I agree with those that say that the best way to describe is to “be there”, get a feel of the environment, the people, the atmosphere… but a writer cannot always be present, and stringers are helpful. They are the ones who cover the area and capture it; the writer uses the information to create a meaningful article. So ethical or not, in my opinion, there are way worse offenses that can be committed by a journalist.

Tap Water a Possible Danger to Citizens of White Plains

2009-10-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Clean streets, quiet atmosphere, and solid security—these are the decisive factors in choosing to live in the Suburban city of White Plains. From college students living on campuses to large families owning homes, it is evident that the quality of tap water has never been considered an issue. Since 2003, volunteers have been gathering with Sandra Darling, organizer of the water monitoring team, to test streams in order to monitor the water quality of White Plains; In the past years, it has had the lowest average water rates among fifty Westchester County water purveyors. On September 18th, 2009, numerous volunteers showed up once again with Darling to monitor local streams for World Water Monitoring Day.

The little city of White Plains, situated 25 miles of Manhattan, is the home of nearly 56,000. Although streams and rivers are all in compliance with all applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring, and reporting requirements, there have still been some variances and exemptions. “Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen that has been found in surface and ground water in White Plains streams. Although White Plains uses a water treatment that is known to filter this pathogen, it is not a hundred per cent guaranteed”, Sandra Darling, a professional in the water testing field, says. This pathogen is a gastrointestinal infection that may provoke nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

“Giardia cyst, another microbial pathogen, is the most prevalent in the White plains streams, found in 46 out of 52 water tests that were completed in 2008. Through disinfection and filtering, we can “kill” the microbe, but it is not a guarantee that it is harmless, and may still contaminate individuals”, says Darling. The ingestion of this pathogen may cause Giardiasis, an intestinal illness. Although these pathogen statistics may be worrying, according to Darling, it is not a danger at the moment. “The White Plains drinking water exceeded state regulations last year”, she says, “but some individuals, including those who have gone through surgery or transplants, the elderly, and children, may be more vulnerable to disease causing pathogens, therefore must filter their own water to be safer.”

The Westchester County Citizen Volunteer Monitoring Program was first established in 2003, through the Safe Drinking Water Act funding distributed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in order to create a baseline of water quality data on streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. These aquatic resources support many things-- a drinking water supply for Westchester and New York City, recreation, wildlife habitat, commercial transportation, industrial uses, and commercial and sport fishing. “Our volunteers collect samples, learn physical and chemical parameters, and identify water critters while having fun”, says Darling. “Volunteers are a necessary component of the program, because government agencies do not have the monitoring resources to collect water quality information on all water bodies”.

The Big Bad Facebook

2009-09-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

My morning routine has not changed in two years. I wake up, take a shower, get ready for my day, and plop down behind my desk. I launch Firefox, 2 tabs. One is the weather of White Plains for that day (There is nothing worse than shivering on your way to Brownson!), and the other is Facebook.

More than 300 million users, and more than 6 billion minutes are spent on the site each day (http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics). How did this networking website become such a necessity in the adolescent’s life? Or should I say… Every individual’s life? As a matter of fact, my entire family (mother, father, grandparents! aunt, cousins, brother, sister…) is signed up on Facebook.

When you meet someone that you would like to see again, you do not even ask for a phone number anymore. It’s a simple: “Hey what’s your last name, so I can add you on Facebook?”. It is a little worrying that it is ASSUMED that the person has Facebook, and not bothering to ask.

I find myself procrastinating. Just flipping through photos, profiles, videos… things I have seen numerous times before. Of course the website is incredible… being able to communicate with long lost friends, being capable of sharing your information with pretty much the entire world… this is something that our parents never had when they were young. But when you really look at yourself… you scan other people’s profiles, people you probably do not even talk to, even less say hello to… and yet they are your “friends” ? This is not only a hypocritical attitude, but makes us dependent on other people’s lives for entertainment. We stop focusing on our “real” lives, and live through Facebook.

Worrying? Yes indeed.

I Start my Day with Frowns and Black Coffee.

2009-09-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

The irritating buzz of my alarm clock goes off. I yawn, stretch, and enjoy the last couple seconds under my comforter. Monday morning, a whole week to go before the weekend. I get up, not fully there yet, my mind still trapped in blurry dreamland… I clumsily grab the remote control and turn on the TV, hoping that it will snap me out of my haze. The images begin to flash before my eyes. I am immediately aggressed by CNN, revealing the horrors of the day before. Is this really the way I want to start my day?

It seems like in a time where we are all more or less pressured, anxious, and afraid, all we hear on the news is provoking this feeling even more. Today for example, in big bold letters on the CNN website was the following article: “Man sought whose wife, 5 children killed”. Equally, on the New York Times homepage was the following two: “Federal Agents Arrest 3 Men in Terror Inquiry ” and "Search on for Man, whose wife, kids were killed"

Okay, granted, it is important to know what is happening around us. I just think it’s hypocritical. The media manages to manipulate us, choosing what we can or cannot hear. First of all, so much information is kept from the general audience; we barely hear a quarter of all the things that really happen in the world. But at the same time, many depressing, pessimistic, or morbid stories are still thrown at us, like the two above. Couldn’t there be more of a balance between positive and negative stories? I would love to hear about scientific progress, about advancements coming from organizations in order to fight cancer, global warming, or even hunger in the world…. We may not hear it every day, but many individuals and groups dedicate time and effort in order to make our world a better place.

I am not saying that it is not important for the media to communicate the horrors around us, it IS the media’s job after all. But when we wake up in the morning and turn on the TV, wouldn’t it be nice to be able smile once in a while and think “yes, there are some good people out there” ?

What in the World is a Cheese Cloth ?!

2009-09-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Rocky road ice cream, ranch dressing, Reuben sandwich, semisweet chocolate, romaine lettuces… talk about eccentric! The Associated Press Stylebook contains a pretty remarkable range of topics, ranging from wacky expressions to subjects as profound as homicides and governmental titles.

My facial expression while scanning the pages of this 400 page stylebook for the first time was constantly changing. I grinned when reading that “scuba”, a word that I often use back home (which is pretty self-evident, considering that I was raised on a tropical island) is actually an abbreviation for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”. I raised my eyebrows in astonishment when learning the Seven Seas, and nodded my head about the Seven Wonders of the World. I also shuddered as I read about hurricanes, a natural disaster that I have been confronted to many times before. However, I was speechless when my eyes suddenly halted at a familiar word: the stylebook even mentions the Netherlands Antilles, the chain of islands that my island, St. Maarten, is part of. The description stated that this chain of islands should not be abbreviated as “NA”. I laughed internally, remembering how many times I finished writing down my address as “St. Maarten, NA”. These examples really prove how much variety is hidden in these 400 pages. Even a chain of islands, almost never even shown on a world map, is mentioned… Pretty impressive!

I think I have just met my new writing partner. Not only does this stylebook lend a helping hand in knowing the sense of the words you use, but it also has the ability to make you laugh, wonder, and frown... all on the same page!

All I can really say is that I am definitely a fan.

Are you ALWAYS Objective?

2009-09-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

Objectivity is “judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudice” according to the Princeton Word Net dictionary. Should we, as human beings, always be objective with one another? Are there certain situations that could or should be considered as exceptions? This topic is undeniably a controversial subject.

Your brother has committed an irreversible crime. Without a doubt, you will stand by his side, as he would for you as well. However, if you were to look at the act in itself objectively, would you honestly defend what he did? At times, we allow ourselves to close our eyes on certain aspects of life. We choose not to be objective, simply because other criteria are more important; love, family, and trust, above all things.

We are often objective with strangers, claiming that certain things we hear on the news or in our communities are intolerable and should be punished. However, when it comes to ourselves, we have a tendency to forgive, or at least excuse, our excesses. How many times, instead of dealing with consequences, did you mentally tell yourself “It’s okay as long as it doesn’t happen again”?

What about lawyers having to defend pedophiles in court? They must close their eyes on the “possible” acts that the individual has committed, basing their judgment on other solid facts, like a traumatizing experience or insanity for example. Due to certain values and ethics, most individuals are incapable of doing such things.

Objectivity is controversial because no matter what we do, there will always be a time when we will be subjective, whether it is with someone that is close to us, someone we admire, or simply with ourselves. This is a fact of life, and cannot be changed.

A Comma is Nothing More Than a Written Pause.

2009-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Beginning to write is not a thought process; it is a form of expression. Forcing words on a blank piece of paper is the best way to hinder oneself from creating them. A passionate subject, a meaningful idea, a powerful motive… there are many ways to stimulate enthusiasm. Thinking in order to research, or possibly to expand on an idea, is of course an exception. However, you may realize that the best texts you have ever written could best be described as “a flow of words beyond control”.

Letting yourself go, typing fiercely on the keyboard without obstructing this dominant stream of words from your unruffled mind is the only way to be satisfied with the results of your writing. The ideal would be to let it be imperfect; to let it remain raw and flawed for the moment. The writing process is composed of many stages, and is absolutely not irreversible. Express your emotions, your buried feelings, and your unique opinions as simply as possible without adding too much concentration to this significant first step.

In my opinion, writing is independent of thinking. You can choose to overanalyze something that should in fact be simple. You can also concentrate on a subject to the point where the real meaning is gradually erased by the excess words that are so carefully thought over. This is the writer's decision. My writing, for example, must be stimulated. Something must provoke it, and I do everything that I can to let it freely express itself. Although my belief is that writing is stimulated by the presence of passion and enthusiasm rather than thought, the decision whether writing should be dependent on thinking clearly depends on the type of writing chosen.

I Know What It's Like.

2009-09-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

I know what it is like to be the outsider. As a French student in an American school (from Kindergarten to twelfth grade), I battled to improve my English and writing skills above all things, fighting for equal recognition in a classroom composed mainly of English-speaking students. I read, practically devoured, books. They taught me vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to differentiate original writing styles from the rest. To me, words were inspirational, powerful, and meaningful. I finished high school with English awards that I worked as hard as I possibly could to earn. I needed to be the best; I needed to go beyond myself and what was expected of me. It is through this fierce desire to improve that I became aware that writing would always undeniably be part of my life.

Numerous diaries as a young girl, many poems as a teenager, and uncountable blog entries and short stories as a young adult; this is an approximate timeline of my amateur writing career. Words have never been excruciating, frustrating, or strenuous. They have always been my passion; having the ability to choose them as I wish, to beautify them, and above all things, to romanticize them.

I came to college as an outsider; a Caribbean girl hoping to be acknowledged among a high percentage of American students, a passionate girl hoping to touch others with her originality. This course fits my objectives to perfection. Not only does it embody the “current events” aspect of writing that is needed today in any writing career, but also the personal, emotional characteristic that has always inspired me about writing. I am very eager to share and grasp as much information as possible from the numerous topics that we will cover over the semester.