"snap, snap"..boom BOOM!!

Throughout this course I've learned various traits that I know will stick with me for the rest of my life.  Coming in to Converse I expected to breeze through just as I had done during high school.  Little did I know I would be struggling a little and forcing myself to do things that never seemed to be a problem in high school. My SSS Final Project pretty much summed up how I feel about Converse now.  Because Arnisha and I did our project together throughout our "spoken word" we were able to express to the audience our different views in our different verses.  While her verse was related more to SSS the class itself, mine was more of my experiences that I have gone through since being here at Converse for example.  I believe I stated in one of my verses that "some of us learned to adapt, while the rest were still taking naps." I was referring to myself in this line.  If it wasn't for Dr. K. Vaneman warning Arnisha and I during Music History to actually GO TO SLEEP at night time, I don't know what I would have done.  I've learned sooooo much being here at Converse.  The people are great, the students, professors, everyone, it almost seems as though it is not real.  The person I am now is no where near the person I was when entering Converse.  I now know that time is essential to my graduation plans.  Without a healthy time schedule for when I will eat, sleep, study, practice etc. there is no way I will make it to the Class of 2014:(..Yea my timing still is not perfect, but it is much better.  I'm striving to be a time management nerd by the end of this freshman year and I hope to reach my goal. I've enjoyed my time in SSS and I look forward to learning many new things here at Converse. :)

The various traditions:)

Since being here at Converse, various students have often told me about many of the fun traditions.  Such as when a girl becomes engaged her friends throw her into the fountain for good luck.  But the tradition that caught my attention the most was the Dexter Edward Converse tradition.  It has been said that if one throws penny on Mr. Converse's grave and it lands, the student will receive their wish.  For example, if I have a huge exam coming up, most likely, I will walk down to the graveyard in hope of receiving my good luck from Mr. Converse himself.  Not all of the traditions are fun though.  For example, a theater major may know that when it comes down to a big show they must give Hazel who the theater is named after flowers; if not their show is most likely doomed.  For example, when playing in the recent show "O Horrors," the cello player informed me of some of the terrible disasters that have happened when Hazel became unhappy.  It occured her freshman year here at Converse College.  Her roommate was in a huge show and there was one actor that did not give Hazel any flowers, simply because he did not believe that something would actually happen.  Little did he know, the show was DOOMED!! The cello player said everyone forgot their lines, even though they had rehursed them for forever, and her roommate even caught a concussion. That is something serious. The traditions here at Converse can be taken however you would like to take them.  But as for me, I'm following every tradition, because I would like for my stay here at Converse to be peaceful and fun!!

"Finding Your Flock"

Wow, I can't even believe I'm already in my junior year!!! It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in those same chairs you all are sitting in.  Well, I guess the saying is really true; time does fly when you're having fun!!! Well, I can truly say that I've learned soooooo much while being here at Converse!! For example, my time management skills were what someone would definitely call TERRIBLE!! I remember in my freshman year I was so overwhelmed with work.  Not because there was so much of it, but because I was a procrastinator; yes I admit it!! You see here at Converse, well anywhere, time is EVERYTHING!!! It's funny because I remember my freshman year in Dr.Vaneman's music history class, it was towards the beginning of the year, she was speaking about how to manage time.  She was referring to the entire class but in reality, I got a little note at the end of my music history assignment that stated I shouldn't turn in work at like 4 am.  So, that sort of made my reality hit. Well, just for a little bit! I would say it lasted for about a month, and then guess what, I was back at it again.  No one couldn't tell me what I was doing was wrong, because in my mind as long as the assignment was completed by the due time, I was fine.  But eventually, it all caught up with me.  Once again, I have to admit I CRASHED!! I was no longer waking up on time for class, I couldn't stay awake in some of my other classes, I was a complete wreck. So once again reality stepped in, but this time it never left! I am proud to say that my experience actually helped me; because I am not one of those people that can just do work at like 3 am and actually function like there is nothing wrong later that day.  I am a normal human being, and I found that out the hard way.  I would advise you all to have fun in college, but stay focused, PLEASE!!! O and don't forget to manage your time, I promise you all will thank me later!!   

Time Management

My biggest problem with time management is simply FACEBOOK. Unfortunately, I believe that I am addicted to facebook.  Even though I may be on there for hours and hours a day, I just never get tired of looking at the same things for some reason.  For example, I would try to complete a homework assignment and try to be on Facebook at the same time but somehow it never works. Because I tend to spend majority of my time on Facebook, this causes me to rush and to do my homework at the last minute because reality finally kicks in and says, "YOUR HOMEWORK HAS TO BE DONE!!!" I have tried and tried to delete my facebook account, but some way or another I always re-activate it.  I am what someone would call a true Facebook addict.  Although, there is one good thing about my facebook addiction.  It is the fact that I know that I'm addicted.  I am not one of those people who seems to be in denial about their various addictions, I openly accept my addiction.  But, there is a down side to my addiction.  Because of the time I waste on Facebook, often times I'm left with less time to practice my instrument.  Therefore, I could be farther along in my music than I am, but because I tend to get tired after a long day practicing at night just isn't really my thing.  As time goes on, I know for sure that I will not be able to stay on Facebook nor Facebook Mobile(that I currently have on my phone to alert me with new notifications), because of the simple fact that I must study and I refuse to flunk out of college.  That is my motivation, and Facebook will no longer be a problem of mine!!!

Response to SSS Assignment

I decided to come to college because I felt as though I wanted to learn about what I was actually playing.  At my high school they did not offer a music theory class, therefore I often played without understanding what I was actually playing.  College was an option that I could not look over.  I felt as though it would take my musical abilities to another level.  My reasoning for attending Converse College is mostly for their Petrie School of Music.  They are nationally recognized and they have great professors who not only know your name, but they actually take the time out to make sure that you understand what you're doing within your major. I decided to study music in college at Converse because music is my passion; and plus my high school music teacher graduated from Converse College so she influenced me to attend this school. If I had to give up cereal or sandwiches for life, I would give up cereal.  The reasoning being because with cereal there is only two choices you can have, dry or wet; but with sandwiches there is a variety of choices one can choose.  Plus, I don't eat cereal a lot!!! :)