Tayari Jones

When I walked into the Tayari Jones reading, I was ready to hate it. I was prepared to be bored for an hour, and then leave wondering why I’d had to come. However, once she started reading, the smooth sound of her voice and the way she brought her characters to life enraptured me.

At the end when we were having the question and answer, she said many lines that actually stuck with me. When she was talking about Silver Sparrow, she said, “think about parents having custody of children, but children have custody of their parents,” and that seemed like a very interesting concept to me. Family dynamics are always hard to write about, and since my family is very close I feel like what she said really applies to us. I’ve never thought about writing with the idea behind that I have custody of my parents, but I feel like writing about the relationship in a reverse way might actually shed more insight into our relationship.

I also enjoyed that she spoke about how much of a processes it is for her to get a good story. She was very open, and I like that she spoke about writing her way into a story, and once she gets good ideas she threads them throughout. I think I’d like to work on this, since I usually plan my story out, and then write it. It seems that just starting with an idea and going from there might leave me with a better story than planning out the whole story beforehand. I’m glad that I went to this reading, because I feel like I learned a lot of different techniques I could apply to my own writing. I found it very interesting, and I think I might go read the rest of Silver Sparrow!

FTK

I count down the days. It comes once a year, and that next day after, we’re back at 364. Counting down, day by day, checking off the boxes. There are concessions, yes, like the day captains are picked, 100 days till THON, Coldstone Scoops FTK, and Color Wars Kick-Off. These days provide excitement, and bring joy. But finally, on that third weekend in February, the real thing is here. The most amazing 46 hours of my life. Of Penn Stater’s lives. And most important, of the kid’s lives.

Then, you walk into the Bryce Jordan Center. If you’re lucky enough to be a captain, you’ll arrive around six am friday morning. And you’ll watch it transform. You see the decorations go up, the stage get rearranged, dancer storage get put together. Then, the moraler’s will come in for an hour, maybe two. What was a bunch of wooden squares will transform into a decorated area for each dancer to put all the belongings they considered important enough to come along for their 46 hour trek. Then finally, at four pm in the afternoon, the tunnel gets built. The dancers will run through all of the moraler’s outside, into the BJC, down the stairs, across the floor, and they will finally be at the start of their life changing weekend.

There are no words for how it changes you. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel more exhausted than you ever have, even if you’re not dancing. You’ll spend 42 hours working towards a goal, surrounded by thousands who share your passion. Then, once the last four hours come. You’ll get that inspiration. You’ll hear parents talk about their children, children talk about their lives, and you’ll watch a slideshow, ‘The Celebration of Life,’ that will make you cry your eyes out. THON really does change your life. It will put everything in perspective, and you will make a difference in the life of a child. How can you not count down the days, hours, and minutes until that weekend? When you see kids who got dealt the worst hand running around shooting a watergun with the largest smile on their face, you finally understand what’s really worth it. And after all....

"I never thought a hero could be barely 3 feet tall, inspired we chant FTK for the heroes, for them all. if you take one thing back from THON after everything you give, remember what it taught you about what it means to live."

Let the Races Begin

He sits at his desk, sweating, re-reading the words to make sure he understands the full meaning. Once he signs, it means that the 20-year old ban on sports betting in New Jersey will be overturned. His shirt is slightly sweat soaked, and if you look closely there’s perspiration slowly gathering at his temples. His tie is thrown over his shoulder, and his jacket is in a pile on the floor, haphazardly left behind. This bill means thats betting can begin, it will be open for business on all professional and college sports teams. It’s a big change, from the way it was before.

As he picks up a pen, we all take a breath. Four of us are looking at him, waiting so anxiously to see if he’s going to start a new betting era. He uses the pen to underline words, a disappointment to us. He’s been so quiet on the subject, no one knows how he feels. No one knows if he’s on board.

Then, he smiles. His face literally breaks into a grin, and there’s a sigh of relief that accompanies it. It seems as if there’s a shift in his persona, no longer stressed and sweating, but almost excited. He signs the bill and looks up at us. His face looks relieved, ready to go. There’s a chance that the casino and horse racing industries will be kickstarted. New Jersey will be changing, and hopefully for the better. Although many challenges lie ahead, everyone in the room is ready. Let the races begin!

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/gov_christie_signs_bill_allowi_4.html

Leather Jacket Swag

As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. Now the only problem was the price. I had a sneaking suspicion it would be high. And a sinking feeling that there were only forty euros in my wallet. If only I hadn’t tried to be responsible, and had taken out more money like I had originally wanted to! Suddenly, I saw another girl eying up my beautiful maroon leather jacket, and I swooped in. Credit card fees be damned, I needed it.

As I turned over the price tag, I felt intense joy. 18 euros?! Only 18 euros for the perfect leather jacket I had been scouring France to return home with It was elation. It was love. I knew that as soon as I put it on, I would be cooler than Jess Mariano, and command more attention than Audrey Hepburn once she donned those shades.

The rest of my two weeks in France changed my life. I know, a leather jacket, changing someone’s life? Absurd, but true. I had never been cultured before, but somehow, when wearing my leather jacket, I was suddenly cool enough to utilize my french skills, and speak to that cute waiter in the cafe, or ask directions to the place I was trying to find. Before, although embarrassing to admit, it had been very like me to worry too much to ask directions, and I would return back home without actually going anywhere in this amazing country. On one of these days, when I finally felt confident armed with my leather jacket, I turned and asked a man (in french, of course) how to get to the Louvre. He told me the way, and as I walked the few miles, the intimidation that museums had earlier held disappeared.

In the Louvre, I realized that I should embrace becoming the person I was destined to be. I knew that it was time to mature, discover who my true friends are, and end the on going petty arguments that had been deteriorating my relationship with my mother since I turned fourteen. In those moments, I changed my high school experience. Somehow, my leather jacket had given me the confidence to leave fake friends and petty arguments in the dust, and embrace those who loved me.

And now, whenever I put my very faded leather jacket on, I’m back in France, looking over the Seine and fully understanding the decisions I needed to make. I know that without it, I wouldn’t have the relationship I have with my mom today. And when I look at my best friends, the ones who stood by me through it all and showed me what true friends are, I’m so grateful for that fateful day, back in Plimkie, when I stumbled upon my perfect leather jacket.