FRO 14 LC03

Hi, my name is Artem Ryabov. My family and I live in the beautiful town of Cornwall, New York. Although it might sound like this place is in the middle of nowhere… well it actually is, which is why I came to Manhattan, yearning for a change of pace. However, Cornwall was not always my home, as I was born in Rostov-na-Donu in Russia. When I was eight, me and my mother joined my father in the United States, where we lived in Brooklyn for two years. As you can probably tell, my environment changed quite a lot during my youth, and I believe it has given me a more worldly outlook.

Although my homes define me as a person, my interests also identify me as an individual. I am an avid futbol fan, and rarely stray to watch other forms of sport. I see the game not only as a physical and technical competition between athletes, but a game of strategy and intelligence between managers, which is what makes it so captivating for me. Another passion for me is studying the stock market, in all its complexity and variety. I intend to incorporate my interest in the market into my professional life. Also another key hobby I have is the cosmos, although I have not really followed that interest too much. The mystery and the possibilities really pull me into space exploration, but I do not see myself following that as a career in my life.

Besides my hobbies and homes, I might also be identified by my actions. I really enjoy reading, except my favorites are usually nonfiction, since I feel like I am learning valuable information. I also enjoy being social. For me, being social introduces me to other perspectives and ideas which a book never could. Lastly, I can also identify myself by my very analytical nature, for I naturally break down all aspects of my environment and extrapolate the findings.

All these things make me an individual, my interests, my homes and my actions. I currently find myself studying in the city where I believe I can continue to follow my passions, while also absorbing the unending variety.

Note: Pictures relate to words in bold.

Hello, all.

My name is Brian Zumba, but most people know me by my last name.

I guess if I had to describe myself, I would put down these words – music, books, comedy, coffee, trains, and soccer. Now let me explain.

I really love music – well, to be honest, listening to it. My interests lie all over the musical spectrum, be it the pioneering music of the Ramones to the hard hitting verses of the Wu-Tang Clan – they ain’t nothing to…well, you get the idea. Punk/Classic Rock, Blues/Jazz, some ‘80s music and into 80s/90s Hip-Hop in general. You would see everything on my iPhone, from the Beatles to the Sex Pistols to Grandmaster Flash to Biggie…again, you get the idea.

Books is where, well, I go to as a refuge. My favorite place in New York City happens to be a bookstore – the Strand, where once you get past the front, all you see are stacks upon stacks of books, usually sold for discounted prices. They have taken me everywhere imaginable, from the streets of the Chicago to the plains of Republican Spain (Hemingway, yo!), from joy to heartbreak and back. Steinbeck, Hemingway, Lorca are among my favorite writers to read from.

I don’t mind a few good laughs either. I love watching stand up routines, and my favorite performers are Dave Chapelle, Louis C.K., Bill Burr, and George Carlin. 

Coffee is literally the best thing ever discovered by humanity…well, chocolate comes a very close second. I love coffee, and my days usually don’t start right until I order my cappuccino after I get off the subway. As of now, Birch Coffee and Third Rail Coffee are my go-to places, and although my wallet suffers dearly because of it, it is totally worth it. 

I am obsessed with the subway system. Ever since I was a little boy, I would always look out the front window and wonder on how trains, and the system, operated. The 7 line holds a place near and dear to me, mainly because it’s the closest line to me. Today, in addition to wondering on how the system operates (I have an idea on how it does), I also love taking photos of it and at times, just riding it.

Ah, soccer. The beautiful game. The best sport to watch and play in, period. I follow it closely, not so much the European leagues (though FC Barcelona is my team) but more on the South American leagues. My favorite team to root for es el Deportivo Cuenca, the team that my dad rooted for since he was a kid in Ecuador. They might get relegated this year, so…it’s not going that great for them. Although the Champions League is a great competition, it doesn’t compare to la Copa Libertadores, the South America equivalent and the tournament I most passionately follow.

So there you have it. A snippet of what I am.

http://bit.ly/1uGLL2F

“May the Force be ever in your favor, Mr. Potter.”                                                                        – Gandalf, The Chronicles of Narnia

(Totally ripped off putting a quote there from Stella^)

Anyway,

Nice to meet you all (again…like the last three ice breakers weren’t enough). My full name is (take a big mental breath here) Josh Anthony Hal Rivera Tusaneza (there’s a tilde over the “n,” but I don’t know how to do that on this thing, so yeah). I’ve lived my whole life in Yonkers, next to Getty Square. As a kid, I loved to run, and that was probably the extent athletic ability growing up. Now, you’re lucky to find me doing anything that requires physical effort other than eating. I was a varsity wrestler in high school, captain of the chess team (sexy, I know), and was in the play. As for hobbies, I like to read, sing, and play video games (chess team…video games…I’m pretty sure there’s a correlation in there somewhere).

As for the playlist…SwagYOLO

Count on Me – Bruno Mars: Loyalty and Trust are some of the most important qualities in a friend to me. As such, they’re also the characteristics I pride myself the most in. Ride or die broskis

The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars: Take a wild guess why that’s there.

I Will Follow – Chris Tomlin: Most people know I can be pretty crass and obscene. That doesn’t mean I’m not religious. I believe in a God, and I do believe in his Providence. I just have a problem with his religious representatives in today’s society.

Sleepyhead – Peach Pit: See “The Lazy Song”

Pursuit of Happiness – Kid Cudi: Why wouldn’t you want to be happy?

At this point, I ran out of ideas. So I asked a bunch of friends for songs they thought described me. So I have no idea why what the reasons behind those are =)

Nothin’ on You – B.o.B

Retrograde – James Blake

Numb – Linkin Park

Drank in my Cup – Kirko Bangz

American Boy – Estelle

Hi I’m Helen! Here’s a bit about myself in 8 pictures: http://slide.ly/view/0eea7dd2c31eec586c91774e4628db58

I was born in the city and live with my parents and my older sister, who I’m pretty close with despite our nine-year age gap. We hang out pretty often and I see her as both a mentor and a great friend. As much as I value my close relationship with her, I also value friendship, which explains the picture of the whole group of people in red. It was taken last year on the first day of Senior Spork Day, a spring tradition in my high school for the graduating seniors. The next picture was taken last year when I was a part of the Varsity Bowling team- there’s me front and center. I’ve grown closer to my teammates and we still try to go bowling together over the weekends along with members from the guys’ team whenever possible.

I can’t say that I miss high school, but Astronomy was definitely one of the most interesting and laid back classes that I had taken during my last four years. Instead of including a boring picture of planets, here’s a selfie with my teacher!!

In my spare time, I’m usually on the hunt for food places, and I definitely have a big sweet tooth. Martha’s is a cozy spot for drinks and cake, guys! There’s a picture of myself outside of Michael’s; it’s my go-to place when I need to go arts and crafts shopping. I drag my friends there with me pretty often to grab art supplies or whatever else I need. There’s a new one on 23rd I think! I’m a sucker for art projects and things like that.

Traveling is probably one of my favorite things to do! I usually visit both China and Los Angeles once a year, so here’s a picture of some In-N-Out from Cali, which they should definitely consider having in New York, and pictures I took during a sunset in China.

FRO Playlist

Artists make certain songs based on their personal experiences, feelings, personalities and aspirations. Music is more than just a form of entertainment but a form of self-expression. Like many, I listen to specific artists and genres of music because I “feel” something when I listen to it. What a person listens to can tell a lot about the type of person they are. I have chosen ten songs that I believe describe the type of person I am, beliefs that I have and things that I value in life.

“Accept me flaws and all.” This lyric comes from Beyoncé’s “Flaws and All.” I love this song based on the bare meaning of it. Accepting not only my flaws and imperfections but also everyone else’s is a big part of my life. It has made me a very open-minded and non-judgmental person.

“When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no.” This lyric comes form Michelle Williams’ “Say Yes.” My faith and Jesus’ plan for me in life is what I live by. It is because of him that all the opportunities I’ve had in life were made possible, and for that I thank Him.

“I’m different, yeah I’m different.” This lyric comes from 2 Chainz’ “I’m Different.” I think this song describes me because I’m far from normal. All my life I’ve stuck out and been ashamed but as I got older I realized not looking, talking and acting like everyone does isn’t such a bad thing.

“Wait till you see my smile.” This lyric comes from Alicia Keys’ “Wait Till You See My Smile.” I’m always smiling. I love being in a good mood and putting people in a good mood. I love to laugh and enjoy my time with everyone around me.

“Cause she a fashion killa.” This lyric comes from “Fashion Killa” by A$AP Rocky. I love clothes, trends and fashion. I often shop at thrift stores, just because they sell clothes that no one can go to a local store and buy. My style is one of the many perfect descriptions of me.

“I win, thrive, soar, higher.” This lyric comes from “Fly” by Nicki Minaj. This song corresponds with my aspirations to do big things and accomplish a lot in life.

“Lean on me, when you’re not strong.” This lyric comes from Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” My friends and my family mean everything to me. When any of them are going through anything, I’ll always be there for them.

“I wanna dance with somebody.” This is Whitney Houston’s song that describes me perfectly because I love dancing.

“I whip my hair back and forth.” This song by Willow Smith describes me because my hair is a significant part of my identity. It’s what differentiates me from a lot of other people.

“Zouk La Sel Medikaman Nou Ni” by Kassav is my last song because it is a traditional Haitian song played at various events and is a big part of my culture.

Hello everyone!

My name is Rachel Rodriguez. I spent most of my childhood in the Dominican Republic, but I have lived in Brooklyn, New York for several years. Being Dominican is a huge part of who I am. Spanish was my first language and I have always been exposed to the culture. Most of my family lives there and so I go for a few months every year. My family owns a farm there, so I try to spend days with different animals being a huge animal lover.

I began dancing at the age of seven starting with Ballet. I now focus more on styles such as modern, lyrical, and jazz. I have also learned more cultural dances such as African, Bhangra, Belly Dance, and Salsa. Dancing has not only exposed me to different cultures, but also to different types of music. When I dance I put all of my emotions into actions; like a diary but with movements instead of words. I do it anywhere; whether its at a studio, on a stage, at home, or even in the streets when I’m with friends and I hear music.

Every summer my family and I go to Martha’s Vineyard, which is an island off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It is such a calming and beautiful place. I spend most of my time there at Aquinnah Beach. This beach is special because the clay cliffs, which are restricted from the public, are located on this beach. I find it incredible to think that the cliffs have been worn down over the years and created such a beautiful beach. I also like to read, a lot. Whether its an actual book or my Kindle I always have to have reading material on me. My favorite writer is Edgar Allen Poe regardless if people think his themes tend to be too dark.

I tend to be silly and I try to make people laugh. I do this mainly because one can never really know what a person is feeling or going through and instead of ignoring someone going through a tough time I will always try to help. I also like to support different causes. So far I have donated my hair three times to Pantene Beautiful Lengths for cancer patients and I am currently waiting for my hair to grow long enough to cut again.

Blog Post #1

Hey guys its me Mikhail (preferably Mike) and I’m going to talk a little about myself as well as show you a sneak peek of the life that I live. Enjoy!

First and foremost I love my family and I am very glad and thankful for all the support that they have provided me. Through my struggles they have always showed me the better side and I can not thank them enough. We welcomed in a new family member at the end of 2012, my niece and I adore her and hope she grows up to be a successful and loving person.

As some might know by now, I love sports and I have a big competitive drive. Of course I love to share this drive with my friends as well. I enjoy big group activities that involve strenuous activity and I always try to take the leader role and help my teammates succeed.

My biggest passion and love is definitely sports. I enjoy all types of sports be it soccer or tennis but my two favorite sports are with out a doubt basketball and football. During my free time I can usually be found at my local park playing basketball. My high school didn’t have any sports so me and my friends decided to start our own little football league that grew to around thirty people at the end (and yes it was tackle football). I am also aiming at joining the Baruch basketball team and hopefully winning the D3 national championship.

I also happen to be a very big animal lover. I love all types of little critters especially cats and Guinea pigs. My favorite animal however is mans best friend, the dog. I look at my pets as little brothers and I have always loved to play with them.

I have happily been in a relationship with my girlfriend for over two years now. Not only is she my girlfriend, but she is also like a best friend to me. Of course we have arguments every now and then but that does not deter us. I am very glad for finding her and she has made my life so much better.

I like to consider myself as a goofy person who likes to just fool around and have a good laugh. Of course I can be a serious person when I need to but why not laugh or smile? Having a positive attitude along with a smile is something I hold as principle. It is never a bad thing to have a good laugh over something silly.

Like most guys my age, I enjoy working out at my local gym. Lifting weights has always been a stress reliever and a big confidence booster for me. Sadly school has gotten in the way somewhat and I am now working on a way to try to balance my schedule.

Below you will see a few photos that embody what I have wrote in this blog post.

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