The friend zone always gets this bad rep and well, it should. It’s is like that dreadful abyss where your thinking “soooooo where do we go from here”. Your staring the person in the face and all the while thinking a million thoughts either on how to A) get that person B) how much you really want that person C) how you get across that Nile River to the promise land!

But!

That’s not the type of friend zone I’m talking about here. The friend zone I’m talking about actually is a pretty good thing. The place where they pick you up and even lift you over their heads like good ‘ol Charlie Brown. I don’t typically refer to it as such. I usually prefer the term “inner sanctums” as they are listed on my BBM list and various other times that I refer to them. This friend zone is one that no guy or girl dreads. There comes a point in time where no matter how strong of a person, no matter how wildly successful  and even as independent as you may like to view yourself you still need a friend or plenty to lift you up.

My friends have done that for me before but definitely as of recent they have done this. Really this post is a quick time out to say thank you to them. A simple e-form “bro hug” or a platonic hug to my lady friends. It’s also a reminder to you all the readers to appreciate your own friends and to sometimes make sure your hoisting a friend or two on your shoulders. So on that note: ODU keeping coaching its needed, Buff hang tough , 169 its our time to shine, 228 to infinity and beyond!

– Kwa

**I think what I’m going to start doing is letting you know what my topic is going to be for the next week(or 2 since I usually go every other) at the end of each post. Hmmm… sounds ambitious since I just thought of it, I’ll see if I can start  with the next and keep up. Till Then! Gotta Blast 3.8’s are no easy feat!

P.s.- Fellas if you wanna get out of that other friend zone. Impress them by doing something manly like opening a bottle of wine with out a Cork screw …She’ll dig it

Ladies…I dunno I’m sure Cosmo has yall covered -shrugs-

          As it is Saturday and I have no idea what to writ about I’ve decide to make this another what going on blog. It’s been a rough week for me from a math quiz to lab work and reports I’ve been thoroughly exhausted. In fact, for the next 3 weeks I’m going to have at least one exam and quiz weekly.

          However, there are plenty of things going on around campus this weekend since it is family and friends weekend (which for those of you who are not familiar is when the college recommends friends and relatives come visit). In addition to that Oswego’s first hockey game is on this weekend which if you don’t know is the equivalent of a warm sunny day by Oswego standards. Since I’m not sure what I’m going to write next week I think I’ll take request. Since I figure might as well give the readers what they want.

 P.S Actual request please.

Today went well, and I was very happy that I did not have to go through a metal detector. I started out by punching holes into what had to have been three or four hundred papers for my Host Teacher, but I didn’t really mind that, because it was a good time-passer. Unfortunately, though, I don’t really feel like I have a whole lot to write about this time, because most of what I observed today was students taking something known as the SRI Test. I had no idea what that was at first, but she said that it tests their reading ability. I looked it up, and it stands for Scholastic Reading Inventory. Despite the students having a little bit of trouble following directions, that went pretty well. The Host Teacher was a little more calm with the students than usual. They frequently call her “miss,” even though she repeatedly tell them that they her to call her “Mrs.” and her last name. I didn’t used to be aware of it, but “miss” is often regarded as a sign of disrespect, and my Host Teacher, unlike last semester’s, seems to be aware of that.

The students then engaged in silent reading time. Some of the classes did, anyway. Some of them, due to how long they spent taking the SRI test, did not have time, but my Host Teacher, anyway, seemed pleased overall. Once again, I observed the other teacher’s class, but not because my regular teacher had a meeting. It was because for the block after lunch, she didn’t have a class to teach, but he did. They had been watching a movie called This Boy’s Life. That class is, as far as I know, advanced seniors, but they certainly didn’t act like it. The teacher had to ask one girl to leave because she was using obscene language, and at one point in the film, there was sexual tension between two boys; they almost kissed, and apparently, they were unable to handle that. Despite the “Safe Space” display window in the hallway, they found this to be revolting.

Anyway, I guess that that is out for now. Like I said, I unfortunately don’t have a whole lot to report. The copying room finally got some paper, so that is good news. I was going to go to the Dracula stage production tonight. I was really looking forward to it, but for starters, due to my having gotten up at 6:30 this morning, I was exhausted, and second of all, it was pouring and very cold outside, and Tyler is quite a distance from where I live at Mackin. I lost the $7.00 that I paid for it, which is very unfortunate since I don’t think I will be able to get a refund, but I was just not feeling up to it. I’m sure it was great, too. My point is that I was planning to write about it, so that is regrettable. However, despite my incredibly hectic homework load (my head hurts now, and my body is screaming for my bed, but it will be very late that I actually get in it), I will do my best to look for another opportunity to write.

I must say, this has been one of my BUSIEST semesters at Oswego. And it’s all my fault. My schedule is usually jam packed but I always manage to add something else into the mix. Not only do I have three jobs, but I also end up doing side projects and volunteer assignments, while also going to weekly ALANA(African Asian Latino Native American Alliance) meetings. I have also tried to become a part of the film club and Colleges Against Cancer, but have failed so far. I just want to experience everything this school has to offer, but sooner or later I am going to have to stop.  I haven’t even had the chance to play with my new camera the Pentax K-x. It’s only a matter of time until my extracurricular start affecting my school work. And I guess then,  and only then, gain the motivation to stop. So until next time Oswego. Hopefully I can master the art of mega-multi-tasking.  Have a good week(end)!

By the way, photography is a hobby of mine. I have my own website if you would like to check some photos out. Chreate.shutterfly.com

This should have been my fourth day of Practicum, but my ride was sick last week and couldn’t go, and I could therefore not go. I contacted my host teacher in advance, so everything was just dandy, because without my ride, I have no way of getting there. Anyway, something must have happened since my last visit. When I got to the school, I had to wait in a very long line of students waiting to go through a metal detector, and that took about ten minutes. This is the first time that we needed to do this. Perhaps, it has to do with whatever happened two weeks ago to initiate the Lockdown.

I once again had the opportunity to observe the other teacher’s class, since my regular host teacher had a meeting to go to. This teacher, for his first class, opened with a grammar mini lesson, and much to my surprise, the students were very responsive. I think that they were AP, so that could have been why. However, even so, it was early on a Friday m0rning, so one probably wouldn’t think that their minds would be very engaged. They answered questions and asked their own. They then did SAT practice together.

Secondly, I observed a class that my regular host teacher taught, and that was ultimately the same as always. Some students paid attention while others slept. The teacher was very upset, because quite a few were late, and she reported one of them because he smelled of marijuana. Then, I observed yet another class taught by the male teacher, and as I have said before, the students really seem to respond well to him. Lastly, I observed one last class taught by my regular host teacher, and the day was over. Overall, everything went pretty smoothly.

My weekend, just as a side note, was great. I don’t remember if I said anything about it before, but this weekend was supposed to be the weekend that I went to Ohio with my significant other, Ray, to go on a ghosthunting expedition. That didn’t end up happening, but to make a long story short, it was our decision not to go. I instead went home and spent the weekend with him, and it was still a great weekend. The main reason that I was looking forward to this trip was spending a weekend with Ray, and I did that, anyway. Also, today, my Adolescence Education professor and advisor, Sharon Kane, said that she spoke to my Host Teacher last week and was told that I am liked, so that made me feel really good. Anyway, I’ll be writing soon. Take care, everyone.

       Seeing as how my blog is starting to read like chemistry propaganda I’ve decided to not mention chemistry in this post. I will not talk about how the Nobel prize in chemistry this year went to organic chemist for “palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis”, or how chemistry anagrams to “cry me this”. Instead, I’d like to talk about representing your up bringing.

       I’ve been thinking no matter were you go you’re always representing the people that got you there and the places you come from; whether it is representing your family on your first day of school, or representing your neighborhood, race or country. I often wonder if what people represent is indicative of there success, or if representing anything means success.

       Over the years I’ve come to represent more and more things. In elementary school I represented my moms parenting skills and ability to provide, In addition to that representation in middle school I represented my elementary school (its value and its teacher’s ability). In high school since it was in Manhattan and more diverse, in addition to the former, I represented, my middle school, Brooklyn, and blacks. This cyclic escalating representation has followed me to college where I feel like I am constantly representing something greater than myself.

       I also know that I represent different things when I’m around different people or in different places. In the halls of Snygg I represent Blacks, chemistry majors, Brooklyn, my previous schools and my mom. In the lab I represent blacks, sophomores, previous lab instructors, any one who gave me a recommendation, my previous schools and my mom. In Brooklyn I represent Oswego, college students, the schools in the community and of course my mom. In plain there is always some part of you that is represented no matter where you go.

       I wondered whether these things we represent are a crutch, holding us back because people who represent much of the same thing we do haven’t succeed or do what we like, or if it could be helpful. I thought about first generation students to this country and how across the board they seem to, on average, best natives in academia. So I thought what makes them succeed? They, like us, were ambassadors to their particular niche, but they have something to prove. They are fully aware they represent something everyday and they need to prove its worth to themselves and every one else. This awareness allows them to become more than just representatives but emissaries, on a mission to make their represent-ees proud.

       I can also attribute much of the success I’ve had to being an emissary. I normally wake up with two things in mind how I will get closer to my purpose in life, and how will I prove myself today. I think of what I represent as a badge of honor not something weighing me down, because it will show others who can relate to me on any level that someone like me can go the distance and endure.

       I believe everyone should become an emissary of success, and embrace who they are and were there from; regardless of gender, race, social class, nationality, or religion. We don’t live in a classless, race-less, genderless world; and we shouldn’t pretend we do. What we should do is think about what we represent every day, when were tired, or want to give up and think about the lives we’ll touch if we try a little harder every day, if we get through our personal hurdles, and if we do this with our heads held high. It doesn’t matter what you represent, all that matters is the courage and tenacity in which you represent it.