Born From A Boombox

I have written about TCU and I have written about photography. I have barely harped on my love of dance. The evolution I have gone through has significantly affected my dance ability. Moose from Step Up said “People dance because dance can change things. One move, can bring people together. One move, can make you believe like there's something more. One move, can set a whole generation free.” and I find truth in every aspect of that statement.  When I was a little girl I took a dance class for 1 week until my parents had to take me out. I never went back because I truthfully didn’t want to put in the work...“Some people learn to dance, others are born to.” As I believe fully that the statement is true, I also know that just because you have a talent doesn’t mean you don’t have to work to perfect it. I am now looking into Ballet classes. Ballet will give me the structure and flexibility that I need to succeed. My natural dance ability comes from my emotion. Everything you need to know about me is shown in my dancing. I don’t change who I am when I dance because I am my happiest when I use the melody of any song to create a picture. To be able to listen to a song and capture the attention of others through my movements is a true blessing. I want to take Ballet because I want to develop my talent and push myself to learn more, even if it means more work. I don’t want to be a professional because there is so much more I want to do with my life but I do believe that dance will always be a big part of who I am. In the future, when I enroll my daughter in Ballet I don’t want to look back and say “I wish I would have done what she is now.” I do believe that I have many talents, while I am not the best out there; I want to be able to relate with the best.

I want to be a horn frog.

After high school…my favorite subject.

Funny story; the other day, at dinner, my brother said to my Mom “I don’t think Brianna is going to be homesick when she leaves for college.” A family friend replied with “No, she’s college sick right now!”

That happens to be true. College has been a goal of mine since the day that I learned the meaning of the word. This is a blog and I can be honest with my readers. While I love my family and I will miss them, all I want to do is move out.  Moving to another state and living on my own is one of the most exciting things I have ever thought about. I plan to study, eat, make friends, and flourish at Texas Christian University with the TCU Horn Frogs. I want to go to a Christian college because I will be around people that have the same view as I do. Talking about God and being myself will be an equal opportunity at a school like TCU. I am a photographer, writer, blogger, singer, dancer, and artist. The Schieffer School of Journalism is where I will be studying to be a photojournalist. I am thinking about furthering my knowledge of hip hop dance and making it my minor. I have not decided who I want to work for but I do know that it will change over and over throughout the next 3 years. I am excited to have the opportunity to gain more knowledge in each aspect of my career. TCU’s Daily Newspaper, The Daily Skiff, and their campus Magazine, Image, will be taking up most of my time. Getting accepted to TCU is my goal. What happens until and after I get accepted? I will work to be the fullest expression of myself so that I am not confused but rather I am confident when I get to my new home.

I thank you wholeheartedly.

Mrs. Zacher, the studio in art, sculpture and ceramics, advanced drawing and painting, and photography teacher here at Alden High School, has been my biggest support throughout my high school career. I was a student of Mrs. Zacher’s, my freshman year, in her studio in art class. I continued to her Photography class the next year and I found photography to be a bigger interest of mine and not just a credit. I began to rely on her for advice regarding my photographs and how to make them the absolute best they could be. With a few of my classmates, I found myself staying after until 5:30 or 6 o’clock to perfect my photos. Mrs. Zacher, later that year, introduced me to the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA). A few other kids said yes so I decided to apply and together we all put together our portfolios. In March of 2010 we took a trip to University of Buffalo for the adjudication process. A few months later I found out that I got accepted and I would leave in a month. A few others from Alden got accepted but I was the only one who decided to go. I stayed at SUNY Oswego University for the entire month of July. I studied Digital Photography with college professors and furthered my knowledge on what Mrs. Zacher taught me. When I got back, I shared my newly acquired knowledge with her and she planned to use them in her Digital Photography class. Now, in my senior year, I am her assistant teacher in the Chemical and Digital Photography class. I use the knowledge she taught me and what I gained at NYSSSA to help the students that will, hopefully, follow in my footsteps. Now, I have applied to Texas Christian University for photojournalism. Mrs. Zacher is not only a teacher that I will remember for the rest of my life, but she is a person I will forever thank wholeheartedly.

I like me some food.

School lunches… 300 words about food, I can do that. I believe the school is working with what it has the lunches are the best that they can be to feed 500+ kids. The salad bar and potato Wednesday are well run and provide a good basis for healthy food. On occasion I get a salad from the school and bring my own dressing because the dressings I like the school doesn’t provide. Let’s face it, salads are either really good or really bad, why not bring your own dressing to ensure greatness? Being in advisement lunch I am finding that it is hard for me to eat a taco at 10:30 in the morning. My solution to that is yogurt. I usually have Greek yogurt with home roasted almonds, wild blueberries, and honey. Yogurt is healthy for you and it provides the protein your body needs to get through the day. The school often provides granola and fruit to put in your yogurt as well.  Sometimes, I will bring a spinach salad with my own dressing; lemon, honey, and Dijon mustard, vinaigrette. I use Red Wine Vinegar, fresh squeezed lemon, honey, salt, olive oil, and Dijon mustard. This gives me the taste of lemon and honey, my two favorite tastes. I love sugar, for health reasons, I will use honey as a substitute. Honey gives the dressing a more of a well-rounded flavor and counteracts the tart vinegar. Many people think bringing their lunch is a hassle but it doesn’t have to be. Bringing something that is healthy for you and adding your own twist is something that everyone should do. While olive oil and good quality vinegar is expensive it is worth it for the beautiful taste you’ll get. At 10:30 in the morning that is exactly what I want to eat!

Rest In Peace Jamey Rodemeyer

When I found out what happened to Jamey, my mind automatically went into crazy mode. I couldn’t imagine saying anything so hurtful to another human being. There are people like Jamey around every corner and so many people are struggling with their sexuality, dealing with school work, home life, self-image, getting bullied, and it’s just too much for some people to handle. There are people in this world that can’t seem to get over the fact that not everyone in this world is a spitting image of the next. If that were the case…someone would have a problem with that too. Lady Gaga finding this an issue makes this into a national problem. I believe that a lot the approaches to ending bullying aren’t consistent. There are campaigns and commercials regarding the hatred but there is a lot going on that many people don’t see. Teachers and parents aren’t informed of the bullying that goes on, or sometimes they ignore it. Coming from a situation where this occurred I am aware of it and find I myself sensitive to the subject. Making this a national campaign, on the verge of a law, is this country needs to be. We have had multiple suicides over something that could have been prevented. While the prevention of bullying is a task that will be hard to accomplish, I believe that if a law is in place it will lessen the chances of a child getting bullied. Those who told Jamey that they would be “WAY more happier” if he killed himself should feel bad for the things they said. Bullies are bullies for a reason, weathers its lack of attention at home or too much attention it is unacceptable for them to take it out on someone who isn’t as strong as they are. Jamey was not the first to commit suicide for this reason. Bullying needs to be stopped.