Monthly Archives: August 2020

1. My family is from Ivory Coast in West Africa, Culturally this is a large part of my life and is a huge chunk of my identity. I often get told I “don’t look African” for reasons I don’t even try to begin to understand, despite that a lot of who I am and what I stand for is because of my culture.
2. Another key fact about me is the fact that I am very accepting and open minded, mainly because I believe that how someone else chooses to live their truth doesn’t affect me and because I know if I couldn’t live life in MY truth thats would cause me a great deal of pain, so as long how you choose to live your life doesn’t physically or emotionally harm people or a group of people I am very accepting.
3. I grew up in a Muslim household, to which people react the same way they do when i say I’m African (I understand how it can be confusing since I don’t wear a hijab) I wasn’t really in touch with my faith until I took a trip to Africa to see family and they taught me over there, I learned more about my faith and brought it back to the City, as I grew up it changed and affected my way of thinking and gave me a better sense of the world, this played a hand in my being able to be so accepting.
4. My sister and I were raised by my mom alone this is a key fact about me because from a young age my mother taught us that a woman is capable of anything a man is capable of. Of course this also led be to be very strong willed vocal about my beliefs.
5. Something that brings me peace, is music, I love music because it can calm me down excite me, and anything else. Sometimes I feel it can even heal me emotionally. I also love the arts of all kinds, this is what inspired me to do cheerleading because it incorporated dance, and the school play. I feel like im better at appreciating and doing something preset rather than making something up immediately. Jhene Aiko is one of the artist that brought me peace last year.

1. For starters I was born on December 1st 2000 which makes me a sagittarius. I mention my date of birth because I believe that the time, day, and even season that I was born in contributed to the person that I am today. I don’t want to say that my beliefs are all affected by astrology but I do believe in it. Astrology expresses ideas about peoples personality, relationship patterns and even life cycles.

2. Growing up I didn’t have both parents in one single household. I lived with my mom while my dad lived in the Dominican Republic. Living separated was good and bad. Since I lived with my mom I always had a closer bond with her and I always loved to see how she raised 4 kids with no mans help. It proved to me that women are stronger than we know. Growing away from my dad but still keeping contact with him always gave me comfort because I knew he was always there even if he wasn’t physically.

3. My father was born in Haiti while my mom was born in the Dominican Republic. That makes me both Dominican and Haitian. Although I am part of both I grew up knowing more about my Dominican family and what they value other than knowing more about my dads part of the family. A lot of the traditions I follow and things I believe in come from home and what I was taught. This is a big part of who I am because it effects everything I do.

4. I grew up with a lot of siblings. From my dads part I have 2 older sisters and two younger brothers. From my moms part I have two older brothers and 1 older sister. Since I did grow up with my mom I am closer to my siblings from my moms part of the family. But I can say that they have all effected me and my decisions. For example growing up with older siblings I saw all of their mistakes and everything the succeed in. I saw good choices and bad ones. It helped me grow up knowing the paths I can take and where they can possibly lead me in life.

5. Since I was younger I have always been been really optimistic about everything in life. Being optimistic means that you always have hope for the better. Even when you make mistakes you believe that you will learn from them and become better. You’re hopeful for the future even when you’re in your darkest times. Having this mindset influences everything I do. For example, if I fail an example I won’t let myself believe I can’t approve. I will take time and study so next time I have a different outcome.

1.Culture originates from a wide array of fundamental ideas and can be interpreted in many ways. Culture plays a pivotal role in my life. It influences my morals, ethics, values and helps me to distinguish the difference between right and wrong. Heritage and cultural background  symbolizes one’s identity and enables us to look far beyond our customs and beliefs. I grew up in a Hindu household, where culture was everywhere. From the traditional food, to the clothing, and to the colorful festivals, celebrating Hindu festivals and holidays gives me the opportunity to connect with my religion. The importance of culture is highly essential to my heritage and my perspectives on different concepts of how  I view the world. 

2.Let’s not forget about the famous Bollywood film industry!!!I grew up watching Indian movies with my grandfather and somehow it eventually became part of my identity. The exotic performances, dances, music, and fusions of art were always aesthetically pleasing to me. I have always thought of Bollywood as a diversion. It  helps me get lost into a world filled with affection and break free from reality. I always found Bollywood so amusing that I related the experiences I encountered in my life, from scenes taken out from a Bollywood movie. Indian music enables me to express and connect with my inner self. Bollywood dancing was a method that allowed me to relieve stress from the mind and body. I would perform at many of my school’s cultural events. This gave me the opportunity to embrace and own up to a culture I am blessed to be in. As a result, the Indian arts have truly shaped the person I am today.

3.Self-care and wellness is pivotal to sustaining a healthy life. A negative mindset can affect us mentally, emotionally, and physically. Good self-care  helps me  reduce stress and anxiety. I personally do yoga at least twice a week for my mental health.  This enables me to obtain a focused, clear, and strong mindset that will lead me on the path to success and happiness. It also symbolizes a bridge into a more spiritual level. The Hindi word “Om” embodies our spiritual and divine energy. Being able to have a positive mindset for yourself can impact you and motivate others around you.

4.Everyday is another chance for a better tomorrow. Growth is one of the most important core values among us. Growing as an individual establishes a foundation of integrity and  determination.  As college students we are entering a world of maturity, responsibility, and independence. We’re also constantly learning new aspects of  the world everyday. This knowledge strengthens our minds and challenges our capabilities.

 5.Along any path you thrive to take, you’re bound to encounter detours to your destination. These detours can sometimes feel like your drowning in the deep blue sea but it is the motivation and inspiration that allows us to accept what has happened and swim above the tides of the ocean and begin climbing a mountain to success.

5 key facts about me:

1.  Art is a huge part of my life, but when I say art I mean the art in music, video editing, fashion, painting, and so much more. I use these different types of art to express myself as I experience a lot of complex emotions that are better expressed in this way.
2. I live with my mom and my sister. This has caused me to become very comfortable with who I am and to be comfortable in my own skin. Being mostly surrounded by powerful women always reminds me of my self-worth.
3. My dad passed away when I was 6. This was a turning point in my life, however, I learned how to deal with heavy and impactful emotions and events at a young age which has made me so much more emotionally intelligent and mature today.
4. I am an alumnus of a non-profit organization, Full Metal Beavers. The amount of knowledge and experience I gained from being a part of that has prepared me more for college more than high school has ever. Additionally, I found my interest in business while taking on the manager position of the Productions Division in the Business Department. 
5. My measure of success is experience. There is so much I want to be able to in my life so I will work hard to make sure I am able to do them all. Also, I think life is about the experience, I do not just want to exist, I want to live life to the absolute fullest.

1. Originally I was born in Queens, but I feel like I’m not originally from a Borough. I moved around 15 times in my life all over NYC besides Staten island. The different neighborhoods I’ve lived in varied from time to time. There would be times where I lived in Parkchester to Bedstuy, to LES in Manhattan. Moving around really helped me get to know my city.
2.  From my ninth grade year to my senior year in high school, I entered the sport of Fencing. I felt like I was living in two worlds at the same time as Fencing was those secluded neighborhoods with gates blocking the entrance to the outside. Only a few can enter. Seeing the different lifestyles these kids have that I didn’t, the opportunities and the financial stability was something hard to wrap my head around and it created a double consciousness. A gentrification process seemed to take hold of me in the eyes of past friends. They felt I threw my identity away.

3. I feel like I’m a pretty nonchalant person due to needed assimilations. When I’m faced with anything I tend to approach things in a logical way first because I liked to be investigative with things.

4. My mother went to Baruch College as a SEEK transfer student. She is from Costa Rica and came here as an immigrant. She had to come to the united states using limited transportation.

5. I feel more comfortable when I have an interest in my work so it doesn’t seem like a drag or I’m forcing myself to finish something.

Hello! It’s nice to meet you all, I’m Nev. To begin, I believe that the 5 key facts about myself that shape my personality is how unorthodox, clever, witty, spontaneous, open minded, and calming I am. I noticed that sometimes my personality and the way I think don’t “match”. People tend to be surprised when I have remembered random facts or slips of information and speak about it despite my personality. I’m really talkative and like hearing everyone’s opinions and interest or whatever they are passionate in. This aspect relates to how calming I am too because I can also talk about very deep or dark topics without a ounce of judgement in the world. I always try to make any interaction with me almost equivalent to a safe haven because communication is very important. The reason I’m like this is because I know how difficult life can be and I had that difficulty at a very young age. I don’t want nobody to have that same negative thinking or over all negativity of their past to effect them now. Life’s too short to be worried about something you can’t change. 

1. I was raised by my mother and father, both of whom were immigrants when they arrived in the U.S. I always knew my parents worked hard to get where we are now, especially my father. This experience has taught me to become determined to become successful so that I can provide a better life for me and my family.
2. I am open to learning new skills which have helped me find my interest in hobbies. Overall, it has shaped me to become a well-rounded individual that has contributed to different perspectives.
3. My current hobby is painting because it is a way to express myself and I enjoy the complex skills needed to paint.
4. I am the middle child in my family; therefore, my parents expect me to follow the footsteps of my older siblings but also be a role model for my younger siblings.
5. I like to stay informed of current issues/events through social media and political talk shows (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj). This has influenced me to become diligent in an effort for change, such as donating to non-profit organizations and urging others to vote and become active as well.

1.  Being interested in core breakdowns. From an early age, I’ve always been interested in the way things work. From machines to utensils. From society to individuals, and any complex structure. Evidently, Anything in this world! Everything has core functioning roles and makeups.  Not mattering the difficulty or simplicity of an object or being. When I dissect anything( not in literal meaning), understanding behavior and function becomes more interesting and easily comprehended.
2. Love for Film and literature. The best way to escape reality is by jumping into another one. With Films and literature, I was able to discover different worlds and perceptions of reality through the works of different authors and directors. Personal favorites are American Psycho the movie and novel written by Bret Easton Ellis, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and any movie directed by Quintin Tarintino!
3. Being a devil’s advocate is a passion. According to oxford Languages, a devil advocate is an ” A person who expresses a contentious opinion to provoke debate it tests the strength of the opposing argument”. I usually find myself taking opposing sides to add diversity in a room or broaden out the statements in a discussion. I like to analyze things from a different perspective and also enjoy debating since it helps me find out what are the true intentions and reasons why people believe a certain statement or belief.
4.  I was raised by a single mom. My mom had me and my 2 siblings. Watching her raise us from childbirth and work long shifts to support her family has made me admire anyone who is on their own raising a family. I can say from a personal standpoint that seeing your parents work hard for the future of their kids is inspiring. That experience has shown me that one has to be strong to survive in difficult times. The experience has given me motivation in making it in life, so she’s able to experience a more comfortable living in the future. Hard work pays off.
5. I love music. Hearing music always puts me in a good mood. When having a bad or good day, music will always enhance my emotions. Sitting down and actually hearing the instrumental structure or chorus in a composure, is like discovering a hidden element in a workpiece. I’m into all genres of music, from classical and opera, to rock and hip hop. Some of my personal favorites are Prince, Queen, Elton John, Mozart, Kanye West, David Bowie, and many others.