Author Archives: Jasmine Smarr

981.

981
Screenshot taken from iTunes

This is the number of times I’ve played my top five Beyoncé songs in my iTunes. Nearly two years after adding these songs to my music library, “Best Thing I Never Had,” “1 + 1,” “Love on Top,” “I Was Here,” and “Start Over,” remain my most played songs. When my family and friends tell me I’m obsessed with Beyoncé I respond, “No I’m not. I’m just a die hard fan.”

Beyoncé is my favorite artist for two reasons: her music and stage presence. Her ability to relate to listeners proves why she is one of the best at her craft. She empowers women in her songs “If I Were a Boy” and “Who Run the World.” She lets us know that our imperfections are what mold us in “Flaws and All,” and most importantly she inspires us to enjoy the greatest moments of life in “Party” and “Schoolin’ life.”

17 and Counting
Photo Courtesy: http://www.beyoncediva.com.br/beyonce/

Many artists can say they’ve sold out concerts. Very few artists can say they’ve won 17 Grammy Awards, sold out world tours as both a solo and group artist, and been nominated for an Oscar. When my sister and I attended her “I Am…Sasha Fierce” concert we were amazed! Not only did one person bring together 20,000 people, she connected with the entire audience. Whether it was pointing out fans in the crowd, allowing the audience to sing with her, or flipping above the crowd as she was hoisted hundreds of feet in the air, she did it all!

“Leave my mark so everyone will know I was here.”
Photo Courtesy: Myself

One of the first things you see when walking into my dorm is an 11 by 17 poster of Beyoncé. Besides the fact that the poster is extremely large, it inspires me everyday to do exactly what Beyoncé says in “I was Here,” which is to “leave my mark so everyone will know I was here.”

My First Family – Trenton, New Jersey
Photo Courtesy: My Mom

Leaving my family in Trenton, New Jersey always overwhelms me with sadness, because I never know when I’ll have the opportunity to see them again. As I approach New York Penn Station my emotions of sadness and loneliness begin to fade because I am almost “home,” and reunited with my second family.

My Second Family – Baruch College, New York City

We aren’t your typical family with two parents and a few children. In this family there are five parents, 11 daughters, and four Godfathers. Our coaches are the “parents,” my 10 teammates and I are the “daughters,” and our trainers are the “Godfathers.” Instead of being known as the “abnormally large family,” we prefer the Baruch College Lady Bearcats. Our Polish, Haitian, Trinidadian, and Ecuadorian backgrounds prove that basketball is thicker than water.

Just as any family we have our disagreements. Usually over who should sit in the back of the bus, where we should stop for dinner, and of course, who gets to choose our outfits on game days. Having 11 different personalities we are bound to have conflicts, but more than anything it’s our love for basketball and each other that gets us through. Whether it’s getting manicures and pedicures, random trips to Insomnia Cookies at 2 A.M., or endless trips to Chipotle for “water cups” filled with lemonade, our bond is unbreakable.

Sisterhood

It is our sisterhood off the court that has allowed us to be ranked 24th in the nation by USA Today Sports Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. As my grandmother always tells me “you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family,” this is true for the family I have grown to love in New York City.