Diversity

Compared to last year, I defintely think SUNY Cortland is more diverse. When I walk outside I see more Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics. I am definitely starting to feel more comfortable because last year I was shocked. When I walked into Orientation, I saw a lot of white faces looking at me and I was suprised. I looked around and all I saw was white and no color. I started getting nervous and started asking questions on whether I should go to this college. But I started to remember this quote that said people that place themselves in extreme cases will benefit in the future. I don't remember the exact quote but the purpose was that people will become more experience and better off in life when they put themselves in challeging situations. I started to gain my composure and became more confident that I will overcome this ordeal. I started to talk to people and I started to think that we are not so different after all. The color might be different but what we feel inside is not. I met a lot of people that were from Long Island that felt the school had little diversity compared to their high school. They all had Indian friends and found it funny that I was the only Indian in orientation. I started to feel very comfortable and wasn't homesick at all.
When I leave Cortland, I will definitely miss it because it has become my second home. When I leave to go home or transfer to another school, I will definitely become homesick for Cortland. I will leave behind many memories and stupid fights that I definitely will miss. I will also miss all my friends that were with me since the beginning of college.

Nothing to do on the Weekend

I never look forward to the weekends anymore because it is so boring. Maybe its just Cortland or maybe its just me. But I don't really have anything to do besides homework and T.V. Occasionally, I would go to another friends dorm, but I would find myself playing video games or watching TV in their room, which is pointless. My roommate is always on his laptop, and I can't stand it sometimes. I can't believe that he wastes his time and life playing dumb games on his laptop. He is interested in joining a hip hop dance class so he can learn to dance. I told him to definitely look for one because sitting in the dorm room all day will mess up your life.

When I go back home I will definitely make sure that I bring my golf clubs up with me so I can play eighteen holes of golf in Cortland. But right now I really don't have anything to do and sometimes I blame it on the setting of Cortland and other times I blame it on my laziness. But right now I have to drive to Syracuse so I can go to Carousel Mall.

Yankees In the Post Season!!!!!

It is definitely ridiculous that the Yankees came back from the big hole they put themselves in earlier this season. They were once fourteen and a half games back from the Boston Red Sox who led the AL East Division. Now they are currently two games back. I think the main reason that they had a huge comeback was when they placed younger players on the team. They had clutch pitchers like Chamberlain, Ohlendorf, DeSalvo, Clippard, Hughes, and Kennedy. They all had diferent things to bring to the team and the majority of them pitched very well. One of the best relievers we have right now is Chamberlain, who has an ERA of about .50. He only gave up one run in about the twenty innings pitched. Whenever he pitches, it is pretty much lights out for the opposing team.
They also made a change in the position of players. They put the rookie player, Melky Cabrera, in center field, and he always makes tremedous plays. Another reason for the Yankees comeback is Alex Rodriguez. He arguably the best baseball player currently because he is always a clutch hitter. For instance, he hits homeruns when the Yankees really need it. One time he hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. He now has fifty four homeruns and one hundred and fifty five RBIS. I definitely believe he will break records, especially, the homerun record that Barry Bonds broke.
When they started spraying each other with alcohol and when I saw Joe Torre cry tears of happiness, I was thinking that the Yankees right now have a strong team that could win the World Series. Joe Torre is one of the best managers out right now and every year the Yankees make the post season. Even with the large deficit that they had earlier this year, he still managed to make them get into the post season. He is an outstanding Manager, and I don't think it will be a good idea for Steinbrenner to replace him with someone else.

Put the Blame on Hip Hop

People can't find other ways in reducing violence in the United States. They can't seem to explain all the tragedies that occur from rape, gang violence, and to the Virginia Tech incident. They can't find anything else that drives all of these things, so they point their finger at the Rap/Hip Hop industry. They feel that the music drives someone in making a decision to commit suicide or degrade women. Sure rappers use words like "b****s" and "hoes" but that was what they experience when they were growing up. Most rappers in the industry experienced drugs, violence, and sex. They were use to this when they were growing up, so why can't they portray their experiences creatively through music. It would be like limiting a person's freedom of speech, if they ban and censor rappers' lyrics.

I cannot believe that people who involve themselves in homicide, suicide, drugs, gangs are driven by the lyrics in a rap song. I strongly believe that these peolpe are deeply troubled and are solely driven by their own incentives. These people need to join a rehabilitation center so they can get help. No one tells them to commit these vile acts. They are responsible for their own decisions/actions because no one is controlling them.

I feel that the government is trying to restrict rap only to find a solution. But I don't think this is a solution because there are many different genres of music that use explicit language. For instance most rock songs in the past consist of lyrics that involve drugs and suicide. What about Heavy Metal? Also, I hate that they are banning the "N" word when it was part of our history. That would be like eliminating the notion that slavery ever occured in the United States of America. I don't think it should be used in every day language, but I do believe African Americans have the right to use this word freely. They have the right to use it because it was part of their family history. I know it may be very offensive to people but that is why there are warning labels saying that an album is full of explicit lyrics. If consumers don't want to hear these type of lyrics they can always purchase the edited version of a rap album.

Fitz!!! to Fitzgerald

In my first year of SUNY Cortland, I was very excited to meet new people, especially in an all freshman hall. I think that my best year so far was my first year because everything was unexpected and there were new things to experience. I was suprised to find out that I was rooming with a Dominican person because of the large percentage of white people on the campus. So, we were both going through the same things since we came from the Bronx, NY. We always saw diversity, and in the first year we were very suprised to see so little diversity. I thought it was cool to be the only Indian in Cortland, and it was easier for me to be distinct and unique. In my high school the majority was Indian and the minority was white, so it was a huge difference. Anyways, Fitz was a big deal because I think it was the most diverse hall, and everyone knew each other. When we pass each other in the hallways, we would no longer look at each other as strangers but more like family. I totally forgot about my home in Long Island that I forgot to make nightly calls to my parents. One time they called me and asked me if there was anything wrong because I hadn't call them in a month, and I just told them I was havig a lot of fun. I told them how the hall I was staying in was a lot of fun, and that I felt comfortable.

My sophmore year began four weeks ago, and the freshmans in Fitzgerald Hall all stay in there rooms like they are in hiding. I hardly see any interaction between people and the Hall itself is dead compared to the hall I experienced last year. I tried to meet new people in my new hall but I was disappointed that they wouldn't show their real side. I guess it will take time for them to let out their true character. I hope it comes soon otherwise this will be a very boring semester.

Yankees Unstoppable

I am a huge Yankees fan and I always make sure I watch every game they play. I watched them struggle in the beginning of the season, but I still believed that they had enough time to clinch the Eastern Division. In the beginning they were fourteen and a half games behind the Boston Red Sox, and Boston looked unstoppable.
September 19, 2007, was the most important game that I ever watched. Boston gave up a Grand Slam and lost the game, and the Yankees were in the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded. I watched the TV when the crowd cheered when they saw the scoreboard that officially declared Boston's six to one loss to the Toronto Bluejays. I was literally standing up in front of the TV ready to jump out of my skin for Mariano Rivera to make the last out. He pitched two breaking balls, and I was like NO do not walk him to give up the tying run. Then he pitched back to back strikes. Then the final blow was a strike on the outside corner and yelled out uncontrollably as I realized that the Yankees were just one and a half games behind Boston. They came back from being fourteen and half games back, and I knew Mariano would save this game because is one of the clutch pitchers in MLB. I felt like the whole time he was pitching that he was only building suspense for the loyal Yankees fan.
Now I am so excited for Friday's game where the Yankees face the Bluejays, who swept the Boston Red Sox. I feel that the Yankees have a very good chance in clinching the Eastern Division because of their clutch relievers. As long as they continue to play well without any serious injuries to the Yankees star players then we have a chance of being in the World Series. Also I hope that Alex Rodriguez wins the MVP title because he has over fifty homeruns and more than a hundred and forty RBI's. Now you know we will see him among the greatest baseball players in the MLB history.

Rebellious Sister

I have a 16 year old sister that is getting prettier each year. We talk a lot and I give her a lot of advice on everything ranging from school and to the arguments she has with our mom. Every time I come back home from college, my sister and mom always argue. Whether it is about her not finishing her chores or talking for hours on the phone. The last time I intervened and tried to be the mediator in their argument, my sister cried and my mom was enraged. Afterwards, I explained to my mom that I was not taking any sides, but was trying to squash the argument. Instead, I intensified the argument, and consequently felt discouraged.

Currently, I know my sister dislikes my mom, and thinks that she is ruining her life. I agree that my mom is very strict, and I tell her its because she cares for you. She doesn't think that makes any sense, but I know that when my mom yelled at her for coming back home late one night, she was just showing how much she worried for her daughter's welfare. Right now my sister is in that defiant stage in her life, but I always tell her to listen and try to avoid arguing. I also told my sister to agree with what my mom is telling her during an argument to quell it. Sometimes this does work and other times it does not. One time when my sister tried this, my mom thought she was being a "smart ass," and it made her more mad.

Sometimes I act like a father to my sister since she has none. One time when I had to drop her to school, she came out of her room with this really short skirt. I immediately told her to change into something more decent, and she came out wearing blue jeans. I feel that my sister is naive even if she is 16, but I know when she becomes an adult I cannot tell her what to do.

I see my sister maturing gradually, and taking on more responsibilities. She still talks to me about any problems she is having in school or at home. I continue to give her advice on all of her problems, but I realize that she will have to start solving her own problems because I don't always have the answers/solutions. For example, she asked me whether she should go out with this boy because she doesn't know whether she will get hurt or not. I never like to involve myself in her personal life, and I tell her that she will have to use her instincts to decide. Sometimes, I try to ignore my sister and not talk to her completely because I hate hearing about her personal life. I feel that she gives me too much information, whether it is who she likes or who she is going out with. She never tells my mom about her personal life and which boy she is goes out with because my mom would be infuriated. I hate keeping her secrets and not telling my mom, but I guess she trusts me a lot.

Anyways, my sister is still in her rebellious stage of life, and I hope that she gets out of it soon because it is only putting more distance between she and our mom. Hopefully, she will mature in the future, and will respect and love our mom more. I also hope she sees how much our mom has sacrificed for us to have such a good life without our father.

Unexpected Call

Since I was just a little kid, I always used to move up to America and back to Trinidad and Tobago. I had a really unsettling childhood because I was constantly moving to different places. I was born in Trinidad and Tobago, which is a very small island right above South America. Anyways, when I finally settled in the USA, I stayed in the Grand Concourse which is in Bronx, NY. Thereafter, I moved to another part of the Bronx which was an evanescent experience. The next year, I moved to a house on Lurting Ave., and then I moved to Long Island.

Moving to Long Island was basically the best part of my childhood because I stayed in one place for a while. The place was called Terrace Circle which is in Great Neck, NY. Anyways, it was basically full of apartment complexes. I enjoyed going to the pool and hanging out with my friends. I lived with my mom, her newly wed husband, and a younger sister. Since the apartment was only spacious enough for a couple to live in, my mom and my stepdad made a drastic move to get a big house in a much different part of Long Island. I think this was the last move in my life except to SUNY Cortland.

So all the moves I made in my life deeply affected me because I never really settled in and made a lot of friends. Last of all, I was constantly away from my biological father, who rarely came to visit me because he lived in the Bronx. When I heard that he went back to Trinidad without telling my sister and I anything, I was very upset. I felt betrayed because I shared a special bond and connection with him that my mom never really understood.

Years went by and I never heard anything from my father, not even on holidays or birthdays. However, in 2007 he called to ask how my sister and I was doing, and I was in such a shock that I didn't respond. But afterwards I responded with a grave "fine." I felt like I was talking to a stranger after a couple of years, and I didn't really feel the connection we once had because my step-dad replaced him. I continually responded stolidly to all of his questions, and I was umoved when he said that he still loved me and my sister. I couldn't believe that he called after so many years without a legitimate reason. Nevertheless, I don't think that I had any emotions to his very late call, and now I think its too late because he was never there for me during my childhood. Lastly, I love my mom for working hard to support my sister and I. My mom achieved success by being a very determined, passionate, and unrelenting person. With her perseverance and strength, she was able to take care of us on her own, whichI truly admire and respect.