My experience with shaman.

So in Ecuador, I met a shaman at a beach. I was on vacation with my cousins. The tide was really low, I remember,  so we could go pretty deep into the ocean. We went deep enough to stand over some coral-looking rock formations. It was pretty calm until I felt something slimy under my foot. I had just enough time time realize it was a stingray before it pricked me and swam off. The pain was minuscule at first but it became unbearable within a few minutes. It pricked me on my ankle but I felt the pain shoot up to my hips.

There were people telling me to go see this shaman that lived on the beach. I went to her and I told her It was a Stingray, I was sure of it. She started taking some string things and burned them underneath my foot. She did some weird chants, I was skeptical, I knew there was some logical explanation with that she was doing. The pain went away instantly and came back whenever I took my foot away from the flame. I met a nice British couple, the woman told me that her boyfriend was also bit and they too, visited the Shaman. This didn’t make me believe what the Shaman was doing was actually “magic.”

The pain finally subsided after 2 hours. When I was back home, I did some research. I found out that stingray venom is protein based, and it dies with heat. I was pretty happy to have proven the Shaman was a scam, although my friends seemed to believe in her.

We have all heard the same old cliché quotes about life. “Life is short, life is what you make of it, and it’s your life so do whatever makes you happy.” When you’re young and you hear these things, you take it for granted. I once believed I had my whole life ahead of me, however, time caught up to me. There are a number of things that I would like to accomplish, just as anyone else. Anyone can understand what it’s like to be burdened by self-doubt, hard work, and continuous sacrifices. To get what I want, college is just the beginning. This is my steppingstone for further advancement. Every step I take, every decision I make, and everything I choose to do from now on will either lead me closer to my dream or stray me away from it. So, until then I have a long way to go. In the end, things can go either one of two ways: I may come out victorious or stumble and fall to my failure. After all I have been through, and based on all that I know is ahead of me, I very much prefer the first option.

I love my little brothers. They are the best things that have ever happened to me. I have two brothers. One is 13 and the other is 9. I basically raised them because our parents were always working. I especially helped raise the 9 year old because I was older when he was born so I was able to do more for him. I would do anything for my brothers. I would keep their darkest secrets and never tell anyone. They both know that I am their big sister and even though I am not around as much as I used to be before, I am still behind them 100%. They know that they can come to me for anything, no matter what it is, I’ll do my best to help them. I love them both more than life. I even have a tattoo on my wrist to symbolize us as siblings. I look at this tattoo everyday when I think about them or when I miss them.

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Hunger:

I am so god damn hungry!

Not starving-African-child hungry, but hungry enough to make me angry. Come to think of it, before coming to Baruch I was never really the hungry-grumpy type, but then again it’s been a while since I’ve been told I couldn’t eat during class, almost 2 years ago back in high school to be exact.

What makes this type of hunger so intense is hard to tell. But what I’ve definitely noticed is that the more boring a class is, the more hungry and grumpy I get. For example, my math class can make me crave plain, stale, lettuce.

And the worst part of it all is that it’s a never ending cycle! The more hungry I get, the more grumpy I get, and the more grumpy I get, the more hungry I get!

So as of right now, and especially during math class, I feel like I’ll be hungry and grumpy for the rest of my life.

-A self portrait of me when I’m hungry, feeling like a grumpy old man.

Sneaker culture is a very interesting subject. The sneaker culture consists of anyone who has in interest in sneakers, weather it’s jordans, nike running shoes, or high end designer shoes like Maison Martin Margiella, everyone can find their place in the sneaker culture. Don’t believe me? I can prove it, tons of broke people wear expensive jordans, and tons of rich people wear nike running shoes. Unlike other cultures, the sneaker culture does not discriminate, everyone is invited, and everyone can find their place within it. I was first exposed to the sneaker culture when I purchased my first pair of jordans, which were the red bottom low jordan 11s, after that i started researching jordans and buying more sneakers and the rest is history. Even though I don’t buy as much Jordans anymore, i still like to keep up with the latest sneaker news and releases, and that is my place in the sneaker culture.

We need to protect polar bears. Polar bears live in the snow, and their homes are being destroyed by pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. The pollution of polar bears is at risk, and so are their homes. There could be a loss of two thirds of the entire polar bear population by the year 2050. It hurts me to think that governments are taking actions against climate change, and that endangerment is getting closer and closer for polar bears. Help keep our environment clean, support EPA, and make your voice heard. We want a cleaner and sustainable industry, so that polar bears have a place on this planet. A more protected environment is better for everyone.

MY Playlist

#1 -Sweet Jamaica- Mr Vegas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZJ7FpXiEg This song represents my roots in Jamaica.I lived there until i was 15.

#2-Ready or Not Bridgit Mendler –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPKG1-3LXBs My favourite artist from Disney Channel.Its repetitive lyrics make it a great song.

#3Shake up -Machel Montano ft Timaya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpAiYlBsygg  Also ties into my West Indian roots.One of the best songs of summer 2014 the best summer I ever had.

#4 My Block Hot Rowdy Rebel-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDxTaq181w Brooklyn my adopted home.This song represent Brooklyn to me.

#5 Computers Rowdy Rebel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4tQGd65bqc The story of my High School life, alot of talk no action.Alot of Fb beef in the 3 years i was there.

#6 Money and Violence Bam Vito-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0afPojufIHo Theme song to an amateur video series on Youtube.It mixes both my old home and new on together very entertaining.

#7 Magic -Robin Thicke- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP8ECS2bWHE

#8 Dej Loaf-Try Me- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hn9hLOljJI Represent My GF Ariana she may be littlle but she’s not one to be messed with def a Brooklyn girl at heart

#9 Action-Buju Banton-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfmtra55s-U

#10 Trap Queen -Fetty Wap –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kF4zLNKio

If you’re like me , or like most people now a days, you listen to music basically everyday and every chance you can. From time to time you will come across a song and think “Wow this song was written for/about me!”. The lyrics say what you been trying to say for so long. You can connect to it, relate and it’s pretty cool that you’re not the only person feeling that way.

1. Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This is the number one song on my list. Since I joined the military I know what it’s like to sometimes be away from home for a long period of time. After a while I realized that because I been to so many places , met so many people I no longer had just one home. Home was no longer an apartment with 3 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and bathroom. Home started to become people rather than a place. Wherever my love ones may go that is where I’ll consider home from the day I enlisted in the Army. The warm embrace of my family along with the encouragement from my soldiers and the fun times with my friends make me who I am. Their support has driven me a long way. “Home is whenever I’m with you.”

2. Just Another Girl by The Killers

So this songs speaks about a guy who fell in love with a girl and his friends keep telling him to let go, “she’s just another girl.” Probably wondering how this could relate to me. Basically one of the things who made me who I am is an experience I had with a guy who was my best friend for so long. He fell in love with me and I didn’t feel the same. He went through a tough time trying to get over me. The chorus of the song says “Its a great big world she’ just another girl.” Made me realize that there are so many people in this world to be chasing after someone who doesn’t want you in that sense. I believe life experiences make a person. Oh, yes he’s still my best friend and slowly moving on.

3. You Found Me by The Fray

If not all , most, of us go through a point in our life where we feel lost. We don’t know who nor where to turn to. Things aren’t making sense and the one person who has known us best is no longer in our life. You feel like they don’t care anymore. No one does. Like I said life experiences make a person, even the bad ones. Warning, I’m about to get a little personal. At a point in my life I was ready to give up. I felt like I had no reason to keep walking this world. I felt like I had no one to turn to. I wanted to kill myself. I’d call it faith but when I was ready to do the deed the person came out of no where and stopped me. I didn’t know him. It got me thinking that if a stranger cared enough to save my life, I’m sure the people I love most would be devastated to hear I committed suicide. We spoke for hours. From that day on I do have my down days. However, they don’t affect me as much. I learned how to be independent and strong on my own. It’s nice to have people who help you get back up. It’s nicer when you can pick yourself up. I never did see that person again. So whoever he was I would call him an angel sent from God. Thank you kind stranger.

4.Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

This song came out in 2009 , the year when I fell in love for the first time. Yes I was young but come on? Part of who I am is a hopeless romantic. Ever since I was young I have been in love with the idea of BEING in love. Finding someone who will love me for the person I am. It’s one of my traits that I possess in which I love and hate. Although, I really don’t think I could ever get rid of it. I find something to love in every person that comes across my path in life.

5. You’re Beautiful by James Blunt

This song will forever be my favorite. I may not show it but I am an insecure person. It’s not as bad as it use to be because I learned how to have confidence in myself when I went to do my training with the Army. Yes beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Too bad I don’t care if in some ones eyes they don’t see beauty within me. I know that even  with my many flaws some one out there will think I’m the most perfect person ever. I know I am beautiful in my own way. Confidence makes me who I am.

6. Be Alone by Childish Gambino

I hate the solitude. I do not like to be alone. Not so happy about the fact that I don’t really enjoy my alone time but oh well. I like being around people so I can keep distracted from my own mind. I would kill myself with my own thoughts. Overthinking is something I do so much.

7. Stronger by Kanye West

The name of the song says it all.  I have been through a lot of stuff for someone whose only 19-years old. I sometimes forget I am so young and have a lot I haven’t gone through yet. More than physically I am mentally stronger now than I have ever been. Sometimes things happen and it may bring me down a bit. I don’t let it destroy me though.

8. Me, Myself and I by Beyoncé

Yes I have love ones but at the end of the day I truly feel like I’m on my own. As mentioned earlier , I am slowly getting used to that. Just because they don’t have enough time for me doesn’t mean they don’t love me. I’m old enough now to understand that. I can take care of myself, watch my own back and keep myself motivated to keep on going in life. At the end of the day I can be my own best friend or my own worst enemy.

9. Lose Control by Missy Elliott

“Music make you lose control.” Yes yes yes. I love to dance. I was in a Salsa performance team for almost a year. In 8th grade I was in a theater dance class. Since I was so small and flexible they used me for most of the cool moves. Music definitely makes me who I am. I use to be so shy , still am but I love how dancing is anything and everything.

10. Good Life by Kanye West

I am who I am because of the life I chose to live. My mom has raised me a certain way. To always do what’s right so I can avoid any kind of trouble. People can give me advice all day. It’s my choice what I want to make of it. I love my life. Every day I am learning more about myself. This song really brings a good vibe to me and even though its saying the good life is all this money, materials and girls I still believe that life is what you make of it.