FROS13 DTA

I can see the world around me moving…  Cars driving, people walking, growing even as if slow motion was fast forward…  I see my loved ones before me. But I look down…why am I bound in chains?  Who would put these on me?  Glass. If only I could touch these glass walls in front of me.  If only I could reach out, I could break down this glass.  Could I? Wait; there’s a wall behind me with a door.  It isn’t made of glass, just weathered stone. Why would that be..?  Does anyone else see? My loved ones are right there but they might as well be miles away…  Who has done this to me?

Suddenly I’m filled with rage, and as the words foam like battery acid in the back of my throat, I swallow them.  Right then the wall grows exponentially in all directions. As I look up in terror the shadow of it blackens the sky.  I turn to my loved ones just as they fade into darkness.  I run for them (SMACK) a hard packing sound echoes as my face hits more stone.  Stone? The glass was gone now. No more windows to view the world, just cold stone.  A slow chill scratches up my spine and across my chest.  Just as it reaches my chin, those words I had swallowed surge to the roof of my mouth.  “NO!” In a scarlet fury I look down at the chains on my wrists to rip them out of the towering wall…  Only to find the chains were never set in stone.  They lie on the ground chained to nothing…

I hear someone through the door walking. Immediately, I rush to the wall and sit as if I had never moved from it my entire life.  How many others are in this hell hole?  I have to save them.  I have to escape.  The door… It just occurred to me I hadn’t ever looked at this door before. It looks to be solid iron with a tiny slit for someone to look in at me.  A sick feeling churns my stomach.  As I inch toward the door, it seemed an eternity had gone by.  I look up to the slit and peer out to a small damp hallway.  There were no other doors. I can only see a dim light at the end of the hall. The light is so minuscule it could only be maybe one small candle.  Footsteps echo down the hall, I scurry back. The feeling of searing needles goes around my throat as I sit motionless. The footsteps seem to stop and then grow softer as if the guard had turned around.  I let out a very slow, very quiet sigh of relief and inch for the door once more.

I peer out again, leaning into the eye slit as much as I can.  My body is pressed to it as I strain my eyes down the hall again. The door screeches for the longest millisecond of my life, and then swings completely open. Stunned, I stand in the doorway frozen.  I crouch down and press against the hallway wall.  I could hear faint music. The light even seems to grow a fraction brighter.  Slowly I press down the hall… growing closer to my captors. I feel the fury slowly pulsing through my veins, welling up at the base of my esophagus like coals in a fire.  A doorway shrouded by a curtain is all that separates us.  I can see a silhouette through the thin sheet.  This will be easy.  I creep forward, coming so close now I can hear him breathing. I carefully match the pattern of his breath so he can’t hear mine. The fire in my chest explodes and all at once I leap up, throw back the sheet with wrath burning in my eyes, only to freeze. Cold, dead in my tracks I stop face to face with… a mirror. Only my image is scared… not bloodthirsty or infuriated, but terrified…

We are our own captors

Hi,

This assignment is for the ones who didn’t submit the  first blog.

On Blackboard, one of the tabs is labeled Session 4: Leadership & Service.  There is a New York Times article titled “The New Student Activism.”  For this blog post, please read this article and write a summary of it.  Also include your thoughts and opinions of this article.

Then, write about a previous experience you had where you took a leadership position.  How do you define leadership and who would you name as a good representation of that definition.  Attach a picture of that person.

Post must be around 500-1000 words

It was my first day. I walk into the room with its large windows and the sun beating in. It was hot. The walls are plastered with white tiles, reflecting the sun. The back of the room has a draining system for the water with a floor that ever so slightly tilts down as I walk through. There are twenty five metal tables, twelve on each side with one in the front. At each table stands at least two people. Their uniforms awkwardly fit, uncomfortable with the thick fabric and the heat of the summer day. I take a look at myself and with my jacket buttoned to the very top, my black and white apron wrapped around me, and my hat tied securely on my head, I almost feel like I’m playing dress up. But then again I’m excited.

Suddenly, a harsh voice, easily identifiable as a French accent begins to speak. All of these French terms are being thrown at me. Shoot. I should have taken French in High School instead of Spanish! Not that I remember anything from Spanish anyways… She’s speaking faster and faster and everyone around me begins to move towards the washing sink in the back room. We wash our hands, once, twice, three times. The movement in the room feels almost like an army with perfect lines and precision. We stand in an order as she walks through the lines checking our uniforms. She even asks one man to take off his shoes so she can see the color of his socks. “Blue?” She asks him with a condescending tone. He looks down at his feet and we all can see the sweat come down his face. She rolls her eyes and continues her inspection. She stops. Oh no. She gets to the small girl with pretty long blonde hair who looks absolutely terrified. “Vud I vant your dirty hair in my croissant?!” Quickly, the girl tied her hair up and covered it with her hat. And she continues. She stops at me, I definitely stopped breathing for those few moments, and with a quick glance at my uniform, she continues on her way.

Again she speaks, by now I’ve gotten used to the accent. Her quick comments don’t make me jump as they did. Now, we begin.  With a small smile I can see the passion she has for this work. We begin to speak about chocolate, all the different types of chocolate. My French may not be so great, but this stuff I know.

In third grade we had this project where we had to write to our favorite company asking them questions about their products. I chose Hershey’s Chocolate. I wanted to know why Hershey’s didn’t come out with a non dairy, but milk chocolate cake. In fact, why didn’t they sell Hershey’s chocolate cake and only chocolate bars? I thought it was a brilliant idea and Hershey’s would definitely take me up on it. After they received my letter, I was sure they would call me and beg for me to come be the owner of Hershey’s. And then of course I could eat all the chocolate I wanted.

After weeks of waiting for the response to my letter, it finally came. A small package in the mail addressed to me. I couldn’t wait to rip it open. Enclosed in the package was a letter from customer service explaining that a non dairy, but milk chocolate cake would be impossible. I was flabbergasted. How could they say impossible! Didn’t they realize how great my idea was! And then the letter continued explaining that they did not make cakes, but listed were a few “top secret” recipes which included Hershey’s chocolate. I quickly folded up the recipes and stuck them under my pillow making sure not to share these secrets I shared with Hershey’s.

Today, I have no recollection if I ever even tried out these “top secret” recipes that must be listed on google. I have no idea where they went after sticking them under my pillow, but I bet my mom had something to do with it after finding a paper with black ink next to my white pillow which could potentially stain the white and then the world could come to an end. So I bet they made their way to some trash can or a recycling bin somewhere.

Even though I was heartbroken after Hershey’s didn’t find me to be brilliant, I continued on with my love for chocolate. Unlike my dreams of a Willy Wonka world, chocolate doesn’t come from chocolate filled rivers. It is processed from the cacao bean which is cultivated in Africa and South America. There are many types of chocolate, ranging from dark, milk, to white, and more. The chocolate we know is made from grinding cacao beans to form cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Much of what we eat contains those two ingredients as well as another form of fat and sugar. Milk chocolate is a sweetened chocolate that contains as it says clearly in its name, milk. White chocolate, on the other hand is not really a chocolate. It only contains one ingredient out of the main two, cocoa butter. Cocoa butter, sugar, and milk form that decadent goodness.

The French lady continued to speak. On the table, she had a large stone slab, there she poured melted chocolate and with two frosting knives, she began to temper it. Tempering chocolate is the secret to professional looking products. It allows for smooth looking chocolate with a shiny and both satisfying finish. The chocolate on the table looked oh so good and the finished product looked way better than any Willy Wonka chocolate I had imagined.

If I could do anything, but be here, in school. I would be in the kitchen, making great food. Because food has this awesome ability which nothing else can compare. Food has the ability to connect people, make them happy. It brings out customs and cultural traditions.  A familiar ingredient can bring someone racing back to their childhood without even saying a word… Just the sight, the smell, and of course the taste is what’s important. Bursts of flavor stimulate memories that can put a huge smile on one’s face, maybe even shed a tear. And that’s why I love it. Because food isn’t just something we eat to stay alive. It’s personal.

At first, this assignment was very hard to do. I still don’t know who I am, and in many ways, I don’t know who I want to become.

All I can offer now are the things that made the biggest impression on me so far in my life.

That said:

WHO I WAS

As a kid, I think that the thing outside my home that influenced me most was Japan and Japanese culture, particularly video games and anime:

I think I spent more time with Mario in my childhood than with some of my family member. heh.

Yes, I can beat you. It wouldn’t even be close.

A masterpiece.

The first anime I ever saw. By far my favorite to this day.

I spent most of my time indoors, living out fantasy lives. I wish in a way that I would have been more outgoing, and even now I’m looking for ways to make meeting new people easier, but I’m slowly changing for the better.

WHO I AM NOW

I can’t afford to spend any more time waiting. I have to go after my dreams now if I’m ever going to be able to achieve them. So now, all I do is:

Study

Look for work:

and work out:

I havent been to the gym in months, but I’ll be starting back soon. I think I still look ok though. =D

WHO I WILL BE

I want to be successful. That, above all, is what I want. I think my ultimate goal is to become like this guy, fictional though he may be:

Lex Luthor.

All the evil schemes and attempted Super-murders aside, he embodies everything I aspire to be. Driven, focused, determined, rich, powerful, and brilliant. I should be lucky to become half a Lex Luthor.

Well, that’s me. Anyone who’d like to get to know me a little better, feel free to send me a friend request or a note.

Can’t Tell Me Nothing – Kanye West
One in a Million – Aaliyah
Live it Up – The Internet
Honesty Box – Charles Hamilton
Hold You Down – The Alchemist ft. Nina Sky
Me, Myself, and I – Beyonce
Mandala – Circa Survive
We Are the People – Empire of the Sun
Intoxicated Dreams – Mellowhype
GHOST! – Kid Cudi

I’m not great when it comes to explaining myself and my thoughts so I’ll let the music speak for me. Each sentence is a lyric from the 10 songs I chose. I hope I picked the right lines so you guys can get me. The lyrics are in the same order as the songs.

To whom much is given, much is tested/Get arrested guess until he get the message/I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny/And what I do, act more stupidly

See things do come around/and make sense eventually/Things do come around/but some things trouble me

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginamint/

Kings Of Leon – The End

Muse – Endlessly

Foo Fighters – Everlong

Skrillex – Make It Bun Dem

Neon Trees – Everybody Talks

Luis Fonsi – No Me Doy Por Vencido

Gorillaz – DARE

Bruno Mars – It Will Rain

First off, the first picture is of me with my mum and her husband. I love her with all my heart since she’s be all I’ve needed her to be. She’s taught me to think rationally, and to learn from any mistakes I’ve made. I think that without her, I would’ve been a completely different person.

I love watching videos on my laptop. From animes, to TV shows, to movies. But mostly animes. My favorite anime ever would most probably be Angel Beats, due to the amazing character development, and the moving ending. I love drawing as a past time, and although I may not be good at it, I love seeing the outcomes on paper. The two drawings were done by me.

The music I’ve linked are just a couple of songs that I would most probably be listening to on a daily basis. I would listen to mostly any music.

As for myself, I love reading. If we were still in the paper era of our lives, I would probably be nose deep in a book. I generally keep to myself, but I welcome conversation and love meeting new people.

For my future goals, I am torn between physics, and becoming a veterinarian. I am great with math, and I absolutely love dogs.

FRESH

These songs motivate me when it’s time to get work done. I keep my schedule busy between working full-time, going to school full-time, and being a full time father to a 3 year old girl. Normally I do not sleep as much as I would like but these songs, give me motivation, ambition, and when I turn them up LOUD I stay awake on the train. Hope you enjoy.

-Kev

13 We Can Work It Out

14 Run For Your Life

14 Twist And Shout

16 I Will

The Beatles 17 – Her Majesty

20 Lady Madonna

01 I Saw Her Standing There

01 Get Back

03 Hide your love away

13 If I Needed Someone

These songs speak to who I am because I grew up on the Beatles and used to spend a month every year in England.

Before I get started I would first like to introduce you to a great man.

My name is Carter Amon,

I come from a hard working family, my mother and father are both in their mid 60’s and they both take care of my two older brothers and their families plus my grandmother while still holding regular jobs. My father is an old school marine from the Viet Nam war, the word “quit” are only associated with the last warning words I got before I caught a whipping.  My mother is an old fashioned spiritual southern lady who would give me the world if she had the means too. I firmly believe she is the warmest person on earth.  My mother and father raised me under the standard southern principles of respect your elders and lady’s(girls), don’t talk back, don’t question. When you’re in church sit down and shut up, but outside of church its anything goes till you get caught. The last principle was kind of my own guideline for every rule.  My Dad was super Dad, he could tell that I did something wrong within a millisecond of committing the crime. He wouldn’t even have to be in the same zip code, he just knew.  The worst part was sometimes he’d let me think I got away with it.  Then after I got past initial questioning he’d let me go play then sneak up, snatch me up and whip me in front of my friends. Then just let me go play again afterwards, comical to me now.  I did have the best parents anyone could ask for.

I have had my share of adventures for a kid from a small town in Texas.  When I joined the  Marine Corps after high school my whole life changed.  The world in which I lived had grown exponentially in the span of a few months.  I’ve been to China, Germany, Morocco, Canada, LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, Vermont, Florida, Virginia, and finally NYC.  When I first came to NYC I trained reservists in communications equipment, and was also a range staff coach for the rifle range.  New York City out of all the places I have been is the weirdest place yet.  People live on top of each other, no one has a front or back yard, bums are everywhere, the whole place is dirty, and EVERYone is rude.  After living in NYC for a few years I’ve come to see that this place is weird, but its not that bad. And the people aren’t rude they are just “passionate”.

I am out going, outdoorsy, light hearted, easy going, adventuress, and an adrenaline junky. I’ve been places, met famous people, changed peoples lives, saved peoples lives,  made tons of friends across the globe, and look forward to making more here at Baruch.

~A-$, out