FRO12 LC12

I remember the day I lost my brother. We were staying in Mexico for a little while visiting family members. I was only five years old and my brother was one. I was at a birthday party with my cousin and my little brother had stayed with my grandmother and mom in the house. It was my turn to take a hit at the Piñata when our neighbor comes into the backyard with a scared look on her face; she said my mom was looking for us. I remember we rushed home and my grandmother was waiting for us with an angry panicked look on her face. It sent me chills down my spine, something was wrong, my grandmother was never angry. “Why did you leave the gate open?” I ran inside and I saw my mom was crying hysterically holding my little brothers bottle, “I found this at the gate…” My dad and older cousin had left on the car to nearby towns to see if anyone knew anything, organizing search parties. My cousin, mom, grandmother and I looked all over the ranch and around town. I felt numb I couldn’t believe it, I was scared … terrified. Somehow someone made an announcement in the town square and everyone was at the ranch helping to look as well. Someone must have kidnapped him. He left his bottle by the gate. I hugged my mom defeated, I cried like I had never cried in my life before. Then one of the town’s people came up to me and said, “Have you looked under the bed?”

Although I’m not aspiring to be a professional boxer, I have a profound respect for the sport and those who contribute to it. I only started boxing in 11^th grade, and ever since I laced up my gloves I wondered why I hadn’t started sooner. Stepping into the ring for the first time, even if it’s only just to spar, is truly an indescribable feeling. I remember the first time I sparred. After a couple weeks of working out with my trainer he asked me if I wanted to get in the ring with another guy he trained. There was no way that I was going to turn that offer down. Had no idea the dude was going to be like 25 and jacked but it was all good. To this day I don’t believe that there was anyway he could have been in my weight class but that’s beside the point. Adrenaline began to replace the initial shock once the first bell rang. The game plan was: Head down, hands up, keep moving, keep punching. Pretty basic stuff when your doing pad work and someone’s not trying to knock you out, but I held my own. Got some good shots in and didn’t get knocked down once. To me, for my first time sparring, I thought that wasn’t too bad. I hope I continue to box for as long as I physically can. It really is a great sport.

If there is one thing that defines my life its soccer. I could talk about a million other things that I like, things that interest me or things that I think would be cool to do. But none of them stack up to my passion about the beautiful game. Going to class or watching your team play should be a no brainer for most college students. For me it’s a serious life decision that involves much pondering and assessing the pros and cons of both sides. I try to make plans to go out in a way that does not interfere with me watching the game. Most people say they’re busy when they have work, when they’re doing homework or they are going out. With me watching the game, especially if it’s an important game, is classified as me being busy. You can call it an unhealthy obsession and I would probably agree with you. There is no way around the fact that my life is dominated by my passion towards the sport. But in my opinion, being dominated by sport is much better than other kinds of addictions. After all not only do I watch soccer, but I make sure to play plenty of it too. I pride myself in having achieved proficiency in most every position there is to play.

In conclusion, I think I could spend my time being productive. Often I will be busy going over game statistics then say studying but enjoying the beautiful game is much less stressful then failing to cram the whole textbook in your brain. That is about all i have to say

“The West Coast King is gonna be in New York today” was all I could think during my psych test. Mike and I agreed to go to Bestbuy and maybe glimpse Kendrick Lamar perform, we had nothing to lose really. As soon as we get there, this line going around the block from Bestbuy was in front of us. We agreed to go inside and pretend to be customers, they can’t stop us then. I spot the stage where he’s soon to perform and soon afterward security started to push back everyone who didn’t have a wristband as that was the key to get in. We went as far back as we could with others who also couldn’t get in, we all talked about how lucky the others were and what we would to do get in. Just then, an employee said they had more wristbands, all you had to do was buy the album. We ran. We got in line, got our wristbands, and just like that we were gonna get the album signed  and get to meet our favorite rapper. We got to the back and we knew there was no chance of pushing our way through a crowd to the front. We waited. And waited. And waited. Kendrick was literally killing us with anticipation. Finally, he stepped out. A mob of 500+ people went bizzerk. He performed his songs, the crowd sang a long, phones were in the air as everyone was snapping photos and taking videos. All of a sudden Jay Rock comes out and things are starting to get turnt up. The concert ends and we slowly but surely move forward to the signing. We think of clever things we could say to Kendrick but nothing came to mind. Finally we get there, he signs the paper cover, I give him a dap and walk away. I still think about that day and how lucky I am. Definitely the greatest day ever.

http://www.hiphopsince1987.com/videos/kendrick-lamar-best-buy-nyc-in-store-signing-performance-video/

My favorite hobbies in life usually revolve around playing and watching sports. I am a very big fan of sports. I love the competition and the fact that you never know what can happen in sports on any given day. I love to play and watch sports. I have played sports since i was a very young kid. I have played many sports in my life. Some sports i played in organized leagues are football, basketball, baseball, soccer and wrestling. I wasn’t the best at all of the sports but i was competitive and was a pretty good player in most of the sports i played. My best sport was soccer and baseball i feel because i made the all-star team in both. I was okay at basketball but i was too short to play as I got older. But, I only played soccer and wrestling for my high school. I also ski mostly every year in the winter. Playing all these sports really helped me because I made a lot of friends. I also feel if it helps me in that if I want to go out and play sports with my friends I can play almost every sports competitively except hockey. Playing sports also got me really into watching sports. The sports that I watch most are football, basketball, baseball and hockey. I like to watch both professional sports and college sports. My favorite teams are the Giants, Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, Syracuse and St. John’s. Those are my favorite teams simply because i’m from New York and those teams are my favorite teams in New York.

What I like best is to play soccer with my friends at the park every evening.          I like when i play nothing else in the world matters. i feel free and at peace. I like how i can express myself with the style of which i play. For example if  i am angry or mad i usually play more aggressively and more competitively sometimes ill lose myself in the game and get in to fights with the other players and sometimes with my own team mates. And if i am in a happy or good mood i usually play more nonchalantly and carefree if i am this type of mood you could always hear me cracking wise ass jokes which at times piss of the other players actually that was the reason i got kicked of my high school team in senior grade. I like the feeling when you put in a goal especially the ones that are hard to make and make all the players go crazy and question how in the world i scored that, their is nothing in the world like that feeling. Its amazing when you or your team mate score a goal and your whole team goes crazy and take like five minutes to celebrate that on goal even if were still losing. and its an even better feeling to see your opponents become upset and even furious, and when they start cursing at each other and screaming what they could of done better to prevent the goal. I like how a bunch of kids from all the corners of earth who who often don’t speak the same language can come together and play an incredibly beautiful game. I like how a bunch of kids who barely know each other at the start of a pick up game can be come great friends just after one game its incredible.

11 years ago i was only in second grade and sitting in school like any ordinary day. As we just started class i saw my father and a couple of other parents coming into class and picking us up to go home. i didn’t know what was going on but was really happy to know i was leaving school for the day. as i went outside I saw a big grey smoke cloud the filled the sky and debris floating to the ground. I didn’t know what happened until i got home and turned on the TV. what i saw was mayhem! people running in the streets crying and screaming from what just happened. They finally showed a video of what happened and i saw the south tower being struck by the plane and collapsing a couple of minutes later followed by north tower. what i saw the days after this disaster was what really impressed me and inspired me. as i write this during the aftermath of hurricane sandy  I’m seeing it again today. Everyone is offering to help people they don’t even know offering them comfort and support. people were going to shelters giving food and doing everything they could to restore order in NYC “the city that never sleeps”. community service is very important for everyone to do not only during natural disasters like 9/11 and hurricanes but rather everyday of ones life. whether its visiting the lonely giving them comfort or delivering food to less than fortunate people every good deed counts. i choose to write about this because community service is a big part of my life and i try to do it everyday of my life. as Mahatma Ghandi Puts it “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. community service is important for everyone and really gives me a different perspective on life.

So many of you are wondering why am i choosing the miami dolphins a my monologue, so let me begin to explain. My dad is originally from Miami Beach and is a diehard Miami Dolphin Fan. Since i was a baby he has been surrounding me  with only dolphins paraphernalia and jerseys and autographs. Furthermore, all my cousins and family are big Miami Dolphins Fans. The hard part of becoming a fan was all the positive things surrounding this football team all came before i was born. For example, the Miami dolphins are the only team to go undefeated and that occurred in 1972. Secondly Miami had one of the best quarterbacks ever, named Dan Marino, once again before i was really in the picture. Although my whole life the dolphins haven’t been such a great team, this year is really important to me and truly my first time to get excited as a fan. The Miami dolphins finally have a quarterback to be proud of. This past april in the NFL draft the miami dolphins selected in the first round quarterback Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M.  Although it is his rookie year he has already showed flashes of success. Secondly miami put in all new coaches and management to start a new and exciting atmosphere.  As a die hard fan i am so happy i am finally beginning to see something special in my lifetime surrounding my favorite team. This past Sunday  i went to the Jets Dolphins game in New York and saw my team beat our rival 30-9. I really believe my team is slowly turning around and over the next few years could finally become that contender I’ve been waiting so long to see. There is absolutely nothing like watching your favorite team succede.

The NHL lockout has been a huge hardship for me and all other NHL fans. I am a due hard New York Ranger fan. I am a season ticket holder. I play hockey whenever I have free time and really all I enjoy doing and my favorite hobby is hockey. With the NHL lockout I am miserable and don’t know what to do with myself sometimes. Last year the rangers made it to the conference finals. From going to that much of a high to an all time low is (which is no hockey at all) is a huge let down for me and I think all other ranger and NHL fans would agree. Both parties need to be realistic and stop being so greedy because all it’s doing is hurting us the, the fans!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3wAy3cgN0tnil0E1evB1Gxw4WfbLmgx

More can be said when words are not spoken.

1. Nujabes-Imaginary Folklore
I find this song very relaxing and beautiful. There’s a hill in the park near my apartment where I often laid in the soft grass and watched clouds with my close friends. This song makes me want to look up at the sky and remember those moments. The lyrics are Japanese as well, which I relate to and enjoy.

2. Lauryn Hill- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
This song always, always gives me chills. I love the raw honesty and soul this song exudes. Her message resonates with me, not to mention her impeccable voice. She speaks on listening to and following the divine answer within, regardless of what others may think, because you alone are responsible for your own destiny.

3. Buena Vista Social Club- Chan Chan
I grew up in and live in a neighborhood that is predominantly Dominican, though that’s changing now as more and more people are moving up here. This song, though Cuban, reminds me of summer days walking the streets of Inwood. It’s warm and thick.

4. David Bowie- Moonage Daydream
“I’M AN ALLIGATOR!” I really don’t know what the lyrics mean, but I love this song. It represents a more boistrous, fun-loving, carefree, and random side of me.

5. The Strokes- You Only Live Once
People have different ways of thinking and doing things. I can get along with most anyone because I have a “you do it your way, I do it mine” mentality. Harmonizing with people can be difficult, but open-mindedness, understanding and empathy go a long way.

6. A Tribe Called Quest- Can I Kick it?
Ahh this song reminds me of one big happy family. I grew up being surrounded by an incredibly diverse group of people I consider my family, though they are not blood-related. My family is a huge part of my life, I see them everyday. I’m blessed by their presence in my life and I just love ’em. Also, the sample in the beginning was from Lou Reed’s “A Walk on the Wild Side”, which not too many people know. I have a little bit of a daredevil spirit in me, so that is just icing on the cake..

7. A Tribe Called Quest- Jazz
Success and nothing less. Keep it moving.

8. Yann Tiersen- La Valse d’Amelie
This song is short and sweet. I often lay in my bed just like her, staring at the ceiling and thinking. The more you listen to it, the more layers and nuances you discover. Representative of my multidimensional character.

9. Debussy- Claire de Lune
A classic. Ethereal. Reflective.I feel this song captures the magic of the night. I’m more of a night owl than an early bird. Mornings are not my friend.

10. Gerry and The Pacemakers- You’ll Never Walk Alone
It’s a nostalgic and romantic song. I’m a bit of a romantic at heart, but I don’t show it often.