Category Archives: Uncategorized

Why Yes! , I prefer Mr. Belle

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So today I walked into class and when my professor took attendance she said ” Mr Belle”. I replied yep and went to my seat. Then I had this brilliant idea. In my head it went a little something like this.

*1st day of class roll call*

Prof: Kw-kwa- kawam (they always say wame instead of ME… wtv)

Me: Kwa-ME

Prof: ok Kwame… *notes* and is there any nickname or anything you’d rather be called?

Me: Why YES! I prefer to be called “Mr. Belle”

No, seriously though. I am going to do this it felt rather , mature and professional. When I go to class if you can have that sort of feel where you are regarded with respect it might make you feel good. I know that if I went to work at a company and they called me Mr. Belle inside I would be like (chea!!).So this is my mission to have all my professors refer to me by the said title.  I’m secretly furious that its pass the time when they ask if there is a name you’d rather go by because if I could do it over again I’d be Mr. Belle!

P.s:

Don’t ask your professors to call you Mr. or Ms. anything because if they do it before my professors do I will throw a little kid tantrum.

A new semester – A new outlook

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Last semester I was bogged down (to say the least). But this semester with new class and a clean plate I am excited for this semester to start. So far all of my classes seem like they will be interesting. I am really excited about my PR writing class and my health science Drug use and Student protection strategies. They both seem like they will be very interesting and something that I actually want to learn. One week is almost done and I have already been sooo busy.

We’ll start with classes. I’m taking 5 regular classes plus earning credit for interning as well as Peer Advising. However my marketing class only meets once a week and the rest is online along with my health science class. I know online classes are a lot of work but I like to do things independently and at my own pace as fast or as slow as I may be.

Alpha Phi Omega is getting under way. We have our fist brotherhood meeting Sunday and Rush begins on Tuesday!! We have very fun rush weeks planned including an outdoor football game as well as an Ice cream sundae party! If anyone is interested learning more about SUNY Oswego’s only co-ed community service organization take a look at our website or join our Facebook group!!

Other than that I have been hanging out with best friend, house mate, APO Brother and fellow blogger Danielle Ferrara. We have a new housemate, his name is Ryan and he is now the only male living with us five lovely ladies. We’ll have to break him in, but I’m sure in no time the co-ed living situation will be no problem. I still love living in the village but our snow banks are so high!! We have to have our sidewalk shoveled by 11am but, what happens if it starts snowing at 11:15am?

In my last entry I spoke about an interview at Columbia University I had coming up for a summer program/internship!  On my way into the city warnings of a huge snowstorm for that evening were everywhere, I accidentally took the Southbound 1 train instead of north so rode it for about 40min. Finally, I arrive at Columbia University and 45 min later I was informed that I was accepted to the program. I was so excited to share the news with Dave who had so thoughtfully come into the city with me dispite having to leave at 6am, and waited around while I was in the interview. He then toook me to lunch to celebrate before we had to hurry back before the big snow fell. Thankfully I have learned so much in my 3 years here at Oswego and I was able to prove that I deserved the position. So in 5 months I will be living in NYC!!

I also spoke about how Dave is now a SUNY Oswego Alum, he is still on Long Island taking a police exam training course and waiting to take the Suffolk County Police Department exam!! Long distance relationships may not work for everyone, but I’m positive for us it will!

Until next time…..

Test of A Man and Inspirational Video

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This blog is not my usual type of blog but I just wanted to share with everyone a truly inspirational poem and something that I reflect on from time to time when things get rough.

The test of a man is the fight that he makes;

The grit that he daily shows,

The way that he stands upon his feet,

and takes life’s numerous bumps and blows.

A coward can smile when there’s naught to fear,

And noting his progress bars.

But it takes a man to stand and cheer

while the other fellow stars.

It isn’t the victory after all,

But the fight that a Brother makes.

A man, when driven against the wall still stands erect

and takes the blows of fate with his

head held high, bleeding, bruised and pale,

Is the man who will win and fate defied,

For he isn’t afraid to fail.

#GameOn

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Today is Tuesday. You know what that means! No, not the State of the U. You should watch that too, according to Q. Not to worry though I got you covered. Here are some quick bullet points of what Pres Obama will be covering in his speech. Now you can look the like the smartest and current events guru tomorrow AND get to watch and see what trouble Derwin got himself into. So just :

  • President O will call for a five-year freeze in non-security, discretionary spending (5-year spending freeze
  • This proposal is part of a larger plan to reduce the country’s deficit
  • In light of the recent tragic events in Arizona much attention will be on a more assertive bi-partisan movement . With an effort to have new focus on unity between Democrats and Republicans
  • In a huge departure from State of the Union tradition. Republicans and Democrats will sit among each other intermingled as opposed to the usual republicans on one side democrats on other.
  • One seat will remain open in honor of Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Gifford
  • Lastly the main message of tonight will center around jobs,unemployment, and job growth. He will encourage to the country to rally in effort to overcome these current economical obstacles of creating jobs and revitalizing the economy. The “new sputnik” mention this for extra kudos. (Sputnik talk will be key!!!)

Mention any number of these things and you should be good. Mix it up a little bit mention some current correlations and you’ll already be the Professors new favorite. Just member who helped you get there!!

Dig it?

-Kwame K. Belle aka better than Anderson Coop.

My Last Semester

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As I am about to begin my last semester in Oswego I am sitting down and reflecting on the long journey that I have embarked on. It has definitely been an interesting one, I have made countless friends, seen beautiful and wonderful things, exposed myself to new cultures, learned about myself, learned how to multi-task, stepped out of my comfort zone, explored new boundaries and became a responsible adult.

I can remember my very first time stepping foot onto the SUNY Oswego Campus. I came all the way from the Bronx with my bags heading to Oswego to move in. I never had the opportunity to visit the campus before I got here but somehow I knew deep down Oswego was the place for me. So I got on the greyhound and arrived in Syracuse New York. I walked inside the regional transportation center and asked when the next Centro bus would be going to the SUNY Oswego Campus. I soon found out that the last bus left close to six o’clock. I looked down at my watch and realized the time was past 7.

I was in complete shock and could not believe that the bus system shut down so early. I grew up in the Bronx, NY and was completely oblivious to the fact that things did not work the same way upstate. Stores, Buses, and pretty much everything that I was accustomed to being open all night closed down earlier than what I was prepared for. As I stared at my watch in amazement a million thoughts raced through my mind such as What Will I Do? Where Will I sleep? What Will I Eat? Will This Station Shut Down and Force Me to Sleep Outside? Will I Be Safe In this Area?

I then thought to myself I have one thing working to my advantage, At least it’s not raining outside. I went to take a seat before I heard a loud crack of thunder and the rain begin to pour. The only thing I could do was look at the sky and ask “Are you kidding me”? I could not believe the situation I was in. Luckily there was another student from SUNY Oswego in the bus station whom I overheard saying that the last bus to Oswego had already left. I approached him and asked if he attended the school, he was indeed a student and had friends coming to pick him up. He told me I can catch a ride with them and then the first thing that came to mind was that God Works In Mysterious Ways. Once his friends arrived we were off on the road to Oswego which seemed like an eternity to me just for the fact that I had never been to the campus and I didn’t know how far away it was.

After finally arriving on Campus I was in love with the environment. I lived In Cayuga Hall and absolutely loved the dorm life there. There were ping pong tables, pool tables, board games, movies, a Big screen Television, and various other things in the lounge. I could not believe my eyes. I said wow! People actually have fun while in College? I went to the dining Hall and could not believe all the food and drinks that were available. It just was a beautiful site.

During my college years I had Tons of Fun, learned so much information in and outside of the classroom, learned how to prepare myself for the real world, and just grew dramatically as a person.

I am now ready to take my last couple of classes and step foot into what people call the “Real World”. That is another journey that I can’t wait to begin.

The Gift & Curse

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I don’t know how you learn from success, I haven’t mastered that part yet- Jay-Z

Ok so I thought it was just me. I feel like this is something I’ve struggled with for the longest. I have a terrible (what I believe to be) habit of easing up when the “going gets good”. To keep my foot on the pedal. This time last year I was coming off my best semester in college EVER. It didn’t come easy however. That fall semester I turned my phone off and essentially separated myself from the world. I needed to do it in order to get in to my next school, which would eventually end up being here. I did good, made myself proud and all. Problem is that following semester; I became very distracted and even slothful in my approach to my academic success. No doubt this has been on my mind all break. For every sigh of relief I take for my accomplishments this semester, they have been followed by a sense of butterflies as I remember “the spring semester”.

I’m halfway convinced that even the greats have these same struggles. How else would you explain the greatest player in the world Michael Jordan still carrying the failures of a young kid who couldn’t make the High School JV team? Not only through college but furthermore even as he became the worlds greatest basketball player (#2kjordanchallenge).

So I don’t know. Maybe the successes are great but maybe it’s the loss that preceded which keep you going. It might be that even while your winning you have to keep the humility and soberness of the painful falls to help you obtain the new level of success. I don’t know but this semester it’s my mission to find out…that and have the greatest spring semester I’ve ever lived. It’s time to break the cycle.