Chapter: What is Life?

I know I've already talked about this, but I seem to be stressed out. I don't know what about college right now is making me feel crazy overwhelmed. I've been thinking a lot lately about what happens after you graduate, how you're tossed into to real world with no real grasp on it and expected to prevail. We're pretty much trapped in debt once we graduate. Student loans have us by the groins and wer'e subject to monthly payments for the next 10-20+ years. -____- That's a little unsettling. Especially when a job isn't even secure. At least one you enjoy. Because there's being employed and then there's being happily employed, where going to work isn't that much of a hassle. It's something to look forward to. Being a person with a huge breadth of interests makes it hard to figure out what I want to work in when I graduate. You know, to have money stably coming in. I love art and design,  but I also love science and medicine. I love research and writing, and I love physics and archaeology/anthropology. Let's not forget event planning and theology. I feel like I don't really get to enjoy what I'm studying in school because I realized the reality of it all. I don't know what'll happen in 2014. (OK true we don't know what'll happen tomorrow, but that's beyond the point.) The uncertainty is frustrating. My brain is split into a number of different directions and I'm a junior.
 THAT'S ANOTHER POINT.
I feel sooo rushed. Going into college right after graduating high school, expecting to know what you want to study is so unrealistic. Really? An 18 year old is going to know what they want to do for the rest of their life at 18 years old. Really? People will say, "Oh, you have time. Do your requirements, you'll figure it out, don't worry." Lies. You are being judged the entire time you spend as an undeclared major. What's up with that? I went from pre-med to studio art in one sitting. I felt incredibly rushed. I don't regret my choice, but I do regret not understanding that I can take a number of different classes that interest me whilst being a studio art major. I was under the illusion that requirements are boring and just something you have to do. Sigh, I was so unaware of it all.

I could say more, but I won't. I'll just ramble on about my frustrations with the education systems and our social construct creating a hierarchy amongst subjects that just screw everything up. Ugh.

Chapter: Influencers Full

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

Chapter: CITY!

Movement City.

What's that you ask?

Possibly the best place you can spend your time at. So, here's my story. Gonna get a little personal, so hold on to something. Just kidding, but seriously this isn't a joking matter. Ok, so here's me, a quiet, shy, bored with her life, desperate to find something to do to that she loves, bored (again), girl whose really dying to go somewhere she'll fit perfectly in, and do something creative. Did you pick up on the problem yet? Shy. So I'd heard of Movement City when it was Hope Street. I believe I was in my early teens at the time. I was introduced to it by my mom, apparently she wanted to dump me off

someplace where I could go nuts with the arts stuff. So I printed out the application, filled it out and everything.

Moment of truth... never sent it in.

Downer, right?

3 years later. (Approximately)

I hear about this center called Movement City, where you can take all sorts of creative classes. Sounded familiar to me. My friend described the area, told me where it was, how the people were. The whole kit and kaboodle. So I once again printed out an application, filled it out, even WENT to the building. When the moment of truth came I turned back, and went home.

3 more years later. (I think.)

I was on a step team for my high school and I told my friend Valerie about Movement City. We youtubed it, and I showed her all the dance videos. She fell under the same spell I was under and signed up. The difference between her and I, I was shy. Very shy. I was going to begin going, but I couldn't because my practices already took too much of my time. Junior year comes, and there is no longer a step team. One monday afternoon, I'm sitting in my living room frustrated. I call my friend and explain to her I'm bored with my life, and I want to dance again. She pretty much yells at me, telling me I need to go to MC. So, the next week, she actually brings me there herself and makes me sign up. I know, I sound like a baby, but whatever.

The following week, when I was going there for the first time alone, was a car ride I would never forget. I was shaking. I don't think I have ever been that nervous. Think about it, here I am going to this center where I know no one. I don't even live in the city. Moving on. When I entered, I was immediately greeted by the those who were there and was overwhelmed by the creative spirit that was bouncing off the walls. I was still in my shell, and barely spoke to anyone, unless I was spoken to.

I first took a dance class, and loved it. When the last session of the year ended, I didn’t want to leave the center for the whole summer, so I spoke to the Academic Director and asked her if there was anyway I could help out during the summer. She told me I could volunteer with the stations summer camp, and I jumped at the offer and told her I would. So that summer was when I really met everyone and developed relationships with the younger kids. It was a busy summer, besides volunteering, but I made it possible so that I could go.

Entering my senior year, I felt like I was a part of the family in Movement City. I joined Movement Squad, and was involved with all the happenings at MC. I loved being a part of the center and helping out the way it helped me. See, what I love so much about MC is that it turned my life around. Not to be dramatic. It saved me from a black hole of a depression I was already in.

The relationships I have made with the people at Movement City are ones I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The center has allowed me to blossom as a person and find my voice. It has enabled me to feel comfortable being myself around people I don’t know, and uplifted my spirit at a time where it was impossible. It has given me so much to look forward to in life and has allowed me to find the confidence I lacked. As I retrogress and look back to the first time I set foot in the center, I understand why I was so nervous. It was because my life was about to change, and the I had found my home away from home.

I know it seems a little sappy, but hey, it's the truth. This center is something that should be in every state of this country, and I won't be surprised if it someday happens. So, when I say "Movement!", I want to hear (or read) you all say "City!"

MOVEMENT?!

Chapter: Define Different

What's new nowadays? Is anything really different, that hasn't been tried before? I doubt it. That's what sucks, everything has been attempted so it's not really like a big deal when it comes out. Lady Gaga? No. Sure she's weird, so is Marylin Manson. Sure she sold her soul to the devil, so did Jay-Z. Sure she has an interesting sense of fashion, so do emo people. Ugh, she's so, yuck. Go to church Lady Gaga, you need Jesus.

But anyways, the problem is, people are too scared to try what's "different", because they're constantly told it's wrong. It's not wrong, it's a divergence. When they say "It's wrong" what they mean to say is, " I don't know what you're talking about, and frankly I'm just saying it's wrong because I have a huge fear of the unknown and I'm too afraid to try anything new, so I don't want you to because then I'll feel average and lonely, and I want you to be average with me because-" Alright, let me cut it off there. Get what I mean?

So when people ask, " Why?" Simply answer, " Why not?" And if they give you, or begin to give you a BS answer, easy. Just answer: "THIS IS SPARTA!" and push them into a hole.

Problem solved.

It may seem like I contradicted myself, with what I said about Lady Gaga, but she's a repeat. Just the female version of Marylin Manson, or atleast I think so. I'm not even sure what he/she/it is. Just scares me, but hey, I respect his/her/it's guts to be so weird.

Besides the whole selling your soul to the devil; that's just stupid.

But then again, "To be great, is to be misunderstood.."

There's a mind-boggler for you.

...

No harsh feelings to anyone or anything I mentioned in this blog. Just trying to make a point. Kudos to Frandy, for influencing me to write this entry.

Ciao.

Chapter: Minds of Glory

So that's the problem with schools, in a nutshell. Couldn't have said it better myself. Production by Frandiego Veloz. (Round of applause)

Chapter: Schools Kill Creativity

Agreed.

Chapter: Phil in the Circle

This guy is amazing. He is soo talented and creative. He makes these art projects out of the most random, but the most creative things and ideas. You should check him out.

Click here, and prepare to be amazed.

Yeah. I know. He's incredible. His artwork is very symbolic. Makes you think a lot. He kind of inspires me, because he completes his ideas, even though they are ridiculous and the process can get tedious. But here's a video of him making...I'm not gonna tell you. you watch and find out. =]



Wow. Right? What kind of sucks is that it all falls apart at the end. Like most of this "Good-bye Art" . But at least he records it.