Month: February 2014

These photos is everything that I think has in its own way impacted my life or, when I just was having a lot of fun. The first photo is my niece, and her name is Makaila. She is a little angel when she wants to be, but she definitely turns into the devil 90% percent of the time. The next one is me and my two best friends Najah and Briauna the angle is extremely horrible, because I almost dropped my phone. We were on the red stairs on 42nd street, after we had just watched Ride Along at the movie theaters. Fashion has been something that I have always been into, and I have thought of maybe owning a boutique. This picture was taken at the Brooklyn Museum, I almost always go if they are having anything that even has the word fashion in it ( I am a bit of a primadonna). The next two photos are from my favorite concerts (that aloud cameras) the first one was Ciara, and she is an amazing dancer. Trey Songz was another one, I went with my best friend Briauna, and she started crying after he hugged her. The next one is me in the red short oufit, my sister yasmine next to me, my cousin Chantel hiding in the back, and my second older sister Jamie next to her. This is a good memory for me, because it represents my childhood. Before everybody got old, and became wiser to the world.  Prom was the best thing about my senior year of high school. It was an amazing time, and a experience that I will never forget.  The two people in the next photo is the two most important people in my life. I don’t know what I would do without my dad. He helped me throughout all my struggles, and no matter how terrible I was my dad dealt with it in a amazing way. My older sister Jamie has helped raise me, and given me the best advice that I could ask from anybody. Since, she is the only sister that shares the same father with me when he got prostate cancer she knew what I was going through.  Harry Potter by far is the best book series that was ever written. I remember my dad taking my sister and I to go see the first Harry Potter movie, and what I felt in that moment will always be special to me. One of my FAVORITE types of food is Japanese especially if it’s authentic. The best place that I have had so far in NYC is called Nui. This next one is my mom and my step-dad. Our relationship has never been the best, but we are working on it, and this picture to me is a new beginning. That is Frankie the best dog in the entire world. He is extremely playful and loves jumping on peoples leg. He is extremely sweet and he was a present from my dad. The last picture is my Christmas tree  from this year. Christmas is taken pretty seriously, and everyone wears color coded pajamas. It a all around good time.

Me and my twin sister
I chose to speak about Roni because as a twin sister we shared our whole life together and she is part of what I am today. Right from the beginning we had a special relationship and we used to protect each other. Our parents every now and then tell us how when we were babies I saved roni’s life. When Roni was a baby she had a problem to breath that was the time when babies still can’t turn around by themselves, which make it very dangerous. When she started to choke and couldn’t breathe I started to cry and scream until my parents came to see what happened and round Roni and immediately went to the hospital. The minute my parents turn on the light I closed my eyes and when to sleep.
This is the second time that me and roni are separated. The first time was when we were in the army and everyone was in a different part of the country. I miss her a lot and I wish she could be here with me, she is my best friend. It is very difficult for me to be here without her. However, I’m trying to convince myself that maybe it is good for us to be separate for a little bit so we can learn how to get a long by ourselves.
Here a few photos of us together from places that I will never forget.

For the sake of diversity I decided to use music to describe who I am/was instead of pictures. Most of the music I selected played major roles in regards to my initiation into the world of dance. Back in 2006 as a young kid in Harlem looking for some sense of belonging I decided to join a dance crew (which name shall remain anonymous), socially it was one of the best moments of my life, academically it was a nightmare. As I recall it all started with the classic chicken noodle soup & Harlem shake then evolved into other dances like the Aunt Jackie, bad one, 5000, tone wop, lite feet etc. this has and still continues to encompass a huge portion of my time. No I don’t exactly dance anymore but I spend a lot of my time speaking to kids who I feel need a male role model. These songs helped me realize that I in fact do have some sort of talent, hard work breeds success & that there’s strength in unity.

The other songs which include Panoramic, Gas pedal, Red nose, Yiken & Ms. Double Dutch symbolize my fascination with the night life. I believe that I attend way too many late night parties for my own good, I’m actually trying 2 limit my involvement with such. The other meanings I gathered from the lyrics are:  that life is too short, so we should live everyday like it’s our last (Big Sean). For some people, dancing is a natural form of expression, and I feel it should be treated as such regardless of genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOA7CklhEcI -Driving nails Demon Hunter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLgPNilXHM4  Haunted Disturbed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhDK5BzDz34 My Own Hell Five Finger Death Punch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S9D5RRwQ8g-Isolation Alter Bridge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrBB_jq1hVE -Sound of Madness Shinedown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnhQxZ_TFMU – It’s Not My Time 3 Doors Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETt65SA31-w- I Don’t Want To Be Gavin DeGraw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMHNNJoQtw Alive and Kicking- Nonpoint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKV5HOVi0r4 On my Way Phil Collins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqMsnd8cBEg World So Cold-12 Stones

Music, to me will always connect to the true “you”, the “you” that you may or may not keep locked inside. As such, this piece was very hard for me to do as I needed to accept that this was me, this was my story. Though looking back at the playlist, I know that these works truly speak the loudest about me.

From the songs “Driving Nails” by Demon Hunter through “My Own Hell” by Five Finger Death Punch, I wanted to express the internal conflict I have placed myself in when I was a child. What made these songs matter was the way they represented the pain was something self-made, not something brought by society. I felt that way for a long time, because I thought of myself as something not truly human. I always felt that I had a towering effect on people and a nature that was more beastly than human. Later in life, people tried more frantically to pull me out of that isolation, and that was when I had to make the decision on my own.

“Isolation” by Alter Bridge, offered me a question that I needed to ask myself. As I went deeper into my own conflict, all I ever wanted to do was push people away, though I knew that a part of me was still crying out for them. I had two choices that I had to make. Either give into the conflict, and stay isolated, or open my arms to the world around me and try to start again, understanding new lessons and relearning emotions that I buried inside. What made me choose the path of embracing others was during the time of my 11th grade summer internship. During that time I felt that I was a person that people truly cared for and mattered.

From “Its not my Time” 3 Doors Down, to “On My Way” by Phil Collins, I wanted to express the change I had to do internally. What I feel listening to these songs was the idea that I needed to grow. Although I have many different songs that demonstrate a sign of rebellion and fight, I felt that the whole point of my growth is not truly fighting back against anything, but to move on from myself. I know that there are people who truly wanted to see me succeed, and I wanted to change my life for them.

The last song “World So Cold” by 12 Stones, is the reflection of my coming of age, but more importantly, what the world faces. There are people out there who face the same problems that I did and chose the same solution. Their choice of isolation will only lead them deeper into conflict, and as a result, deeper into despair. I want to be there for people, as much as I can, because I know the place that they are in now, is the place I was once in.

 

My Life Story

I’m 22 years old, born raised in Israel a little and young country in the middle. I was born to a lovely family as fifth sibling. 3 brothers and 1 sister we live in a small town that is located next to Haifa, which is the third largest city in Israel.

I started swimming at the age of 7 and I had been practicing 40 hours a week. After 10 years of hard working I won the Israeli swimming champion cheap, what until today consider the happiest time of my life. At age 17 I had a motorcycle accident which threatened to kill me and finish my career.

After a long rehabilitation at age of 18 I joined the military service and while serving in the military I get introduce to a new game that fascinated me, and I found out that I’m quite good at it. The name of the game is Omaha poker. I also find out that I can make a lot of money from this game and make a decent living from this.

While in the army I still kept pursuing my dream to go study in the United States, like many of my former teammates. So I had to take the SAT and work hard to improve my English. After scoring at 80 percentile on the SAT I got accepted to Baruch College and I’m glad to be part of Baruch college community today.

Or Ben Galim

http://www.flickr.com/photos/117141464@N04/

All the pictures that I have inserted in my slideshow is a fragment of myself. The people in it, the moments I have shared with them, the memories that I have created with them shapes who I am today. I believe that a major part of your self development begins with the environment you are brought up in and the people who surround you. Everyone in my slideshow plays a huge role in my life.

One of the biggest accomplishment of my life has been being an active member of a Non-profit organization that works towards ending violence against women and children. I worked with children at the shelter care home. The whole experience made me see my life from a whole different perspective. 

I love the second picture because I love kids. Ever since I can remember I’ve always liked the company of little kids. I like how they’re so innocent and adorable. Oh my god, I might sound like a mother here. But I can’t help it. I guess that shows a side of me.

The third picture is of me and my first cousins. We have a special bond and we have fun every time we’re together. Since we’re all girls we have similar interests and hobbies. We like clothes, accessories, shopping and boys. I guess that’s why they are a part of me and that will never change. 

The fourth picture is of me and my best friend. We’ve been best friends since seventh grade. From sharing clothes to secrets we’ve been through high and lows. From her I’ve learnt that real friends aren’t there in times of celebration but really there in times of need.

As you can see my brother isn’t there to catch me when I fall. Instead, he’s there falling down with me. I guess that means even more to me because that shows he’s not perfect, he’s not a savior, he’s not my superman. But he’s going to be there for me. I would do the same for him. He’s taught me that through thick and thin family is what matters all the time and thanks to him i know that family comes first.

The sixth picture is one of my all time favorite picture with my little sister. She is sixteen. I believe that we are completely different but most people say otherwise. My teachers and friends would always complain about how they kept getting us mixed up. We would answer each others calls and people wouldn’t realize they were talking to the wrong sister. She has shown me that having a sister is the best thing in the world and she says the same about me too. She defines a part of me.

The seventh picture is of my mother and father. The two most important people in my life. The ones that brought me into this world and gave me life. Needless to say, they are a part of me and I would not have an identity if it weren’t for them. They have taught me from wrong to right and I am thankful for that. I see myself in them because I am a combination of the two. They are my everything 🙂

Lastly, I am with my maternal and paternal grandmothers. I love both of them dearly and they are just like my own parents. I have grown up right in front of their eyes. They have taught me my values, morals, responsibilities and countless other things. We are a family and they’ll always come first.

Who I am in pictures

The pictures I chose for my blog are what make me who I am today. Each of these pictures tell you a little about me and my hobbies. My first picture is of me and my family. My family has guided me throughout my whole life and continues to do so today. They support everything that I do and always want the best for me. Without them I would be a bland human being, they taught me how to be a happy outgoing person and to enjoy life. My second picture is of me and my dog, Coco, he’s a seven year old shihtzu. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to get a dog, but it wasn’t until I moved into a new home that I was able to actually get one. Having a dog is like having a baby, at first I thought it would all be fun and games, but having a dog taught me how to be responsible. Although he could be a handfull, Coco always brightens up my day. One of my hobbies is visiting museums and exhibitions. I love observing art, especially modern art because it makes me feel tranquil. I always stare at pieces and try to understand them, but everytime I see the piece again my understanding of it changes and I find that magical. Something I’ve been really into recently is Dj’ing. I’ve been Dj’ing for the past 2 and a half years and it’s been a fun experience. So far, I’ve had the oppurtunity to play at clubs, and parties. I’ve learned that you need a lot of patience to be a good Dj and that you ALWAYS need spanish music in your set list. When I’m not Dj’ing, I’m in my room making music with all of my instruments, it’s how I get inspiration to do something productive with my life. I LOVE the stage. Playing in a band with my close friends during highschool was truely an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. It was a big confidence booster for me and it made me feel alive. The excitement and energy you feel when you play infront of 300 people is a feeling like no other. When the weather is nice, I often grab one of my boards and skate. Although I almost died a hundred times from riding on my boards, I can’t stop riding them. I get an adrenaline rush when I skate in traffic and dodge cars but I learned how to value my life from my close death encounters. My last picture is probably the one that summarizes me the most. It’s of me and my best friends. In a sense they are me, and I’m a combination of all of them. We all understand eachother and know everything there is to know about one another.  I love everyone and everything in all of these pictures because they made me the person you see today.

My Life in 8 Pictures

When you click on the above link, you should be directed to a flickr account of mine where I uploaded eight images that sum up my life. My first picture is of my family. To me, family is the most important thing in life. They keep you grounded and are always there for you in a heart beat no matter what the situation is. This picture was taken at my high school graduation (hence the cap and gown I’m wearing) and I felt so happy that despite the fact that my parents are separated and my dad lives in New York while I lived with my mom in Orlando, he still flew down to support me. My second picture is of my cat Howlett and I. I absolutely loves cats but Howlett is obviously the cutest. I swear to you he is a miracle cat because after he came into our lives, so many positive changes happened to my family and I. I am attending Baruch college in hopes of earning my BA degree in Journalism since I want to be an entertianment reporter when I get older. I plan on being a host on E! News and hosting red carpet events. My third picture is special to me because it sums up my four years in the News Crew class that I took at my high school in Orlando. I started taking that class my freshman year and because of that class, I was able to figure out career path I wanted to take. Pictures four through seven go hand in hand. I met my boyfriend back in eighth grade at M.S. 210 (yes I went to middle school in NY). We were on and off and young and didn’t know what we were doing; we ended up losing contact when I moved to Orlando. Somehow, about two or three years later we reconnected and when I figured out I was moving back to NY, we got back together. He is my best friend, my biggest supporter and the only person that I can trust with EVERYTHING besides my mom of course. Since being with him, I’ve gotten really close to his family especially his baby sister Emma who turns two in two weeks and his little brother Evan who is eight. I had to add pictures of them in my slideshow because I see them as my own siblings and I love them dearly. And let me tell you, I am so lucky to have a Puerto Rican boyfriend whose stepmother cooks the most BANGING Puerto Rican food. I can eat it all day everyday. I included a picture so all of you can see what I’m talking about and drool in front of your computer screens-sorry, not sorry. Last but not least, I included a picture of myself. This picture was taken one day before work. I work at Banana Republic and I absolutely love it. I love dressing up and wearing heels so this picture shows that also. I’m a big people person and my store in Orlando loved me so much that they helped me out and transferred  me to another Banana Republic here in New York. The only thing I don’t like about my job is that customers ALWAYS ask me how old I am because apparently I look like I’m 12. Sucks that I’m done growing at 5 feet. On the other hand, I have customers tell me I look older because I dress and act so maturely. but either way, I love my job. So there you have it, my life summed up in eight pictures.