Author Archives: Sharnell James

Open Your Ears: Poet Joy Ladin visits Tamut

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** IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, REFER TO THE A&M TEXARKANA WEBSITE OR CONTACT CORRINE HINTON AT CHINTON@TAMUT.EDU ** Image result for joy ladin

A&M-Texarkana will be hosing a worship for poets, aspiring authors, and lovers of literature! Both the workshop and reading will take place on Thursday, May 9th. The workshop will be at 5:30-7 p.m. in University Center room 230, followed by a reading from 7:30-9 p.m. in UC 217.

Joy Ladin is an American poet and the David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. She is the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish institution. Joy Ladin is an American poet and the David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. She is the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish institution.

In 2013, Ladin published a series of poems formed entirely from words and phrases found in popular women’s magazines. These poems, such as “Ready To Know,” link both trans women and cis women’s experiences of gender to the “commodity capitalist engine of the production of femininity.” This work emerged when Ladin gave herself a “writing assignment” to creatively engage with the “how-to” rhetoric of mainstream femininity.

“I am a teacher, widely published essayist and poet, literary scholar, and nationally known speaker on transgender issues” Ladin says. Ladin has given invited talks and readings at many universities and colleges such as Harvard and Smith College. After this Thursday, A&M University of Texarkana can be added to the list.

Start Wrong? Finish Strong!

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Back to school I go…

Most older people think of going back to school and immediately say, “nope, not me…it’s too late!” However, the key to finishing anything is to simply start. Now, degrees aren’t for everyone but if they are…if it’s what you want, then why not go get it? Now, I’m not oblivious to life and the various ways one can be challenged but “Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough” (Og Mandino).

Many people look at going back to school as failing before even starting. However, failure and failed attempts are two different things. If you don’t succeed at something the first time, keep trying until you get the desired outcome or something better. For example, I’m 24 and going to get my bachelor’s degree. Many people say, “oh, you’re still young, that’s not too bad.” However, most of my high school classmates have completed either their bachelor’s or have landed their career job! My current classmates are between 19-21 and when they find out I’m 24, I always get an odd look or “oh, my sibling is the same age and s/he is working with such and such company!

Despite the minor embarrassment or the occasional panic attacks when I realize how close I am to 25, I appreciate the detour I took to get here. I didn’t go right off to college like my high school peers but in the short time since I graduated in 2013, I’ve traveled to amazing places like the top of a mountain in Colorado, received great internship opportunities, and met amazing people from known celebrities to cooperate business professionals!

Final words: Trust the detour, its part of the process! If you are 24 like me or 45 like others and you want to go back to school…do it! If you started wrong? You can STILL FINISH STRONG!

Simply Start.

Heart of the Leader

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The Heart of the Leader Training event will take place Sunday, February 10th and Monday, February 11th at Texas A&M-Texarkana, facilitated by Bobby Audley, a leadership character development trainer. This training will accompany a total of 11 student participants hosted by the student activities committee, formally known as Student Life.

This rigorous training is intended to refine and enhance student success. The training consists of multiple educational breakout sessions that address such subjects as motivation, stress management, communication skills, decision-making, ethical leadership, and group processing techniques. Students as well as varying participants are said to graduate from the training with a noticeably new-found confidence, assured future goals, and long-lasting self-awareness. 

Since the training is an all-day two-day event, and resides on a Sunday and Monday, many students are positioned to sacrifice religious and academic scheduled days. Though the training workshop is supported by the president of Texas A&M-Texarkana, when students sign up, they are required to commit to the schedule entirely. All assignments surrounding the set dates are to be left under the student’s responsibility and handled accordingly. Professors are even asked to support the students despite the training necessitating their absence of class.

Furthermore, Heart of a Leader is taken very serious by everyone involved. Students breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all accommodated by the campus. As well as, the materials needed to complete the program. A formal letter is sent to the professors and they along with family friends, and supporters are asked to attend to Heart of a Leader graduation ceremony at the completion of the training. Supporters have been known to take great lengths to show their support. Some have traveled from Dallas and taken off work, even past graduates from all over come to support future graduates of whom they’ve never met. All in order so that they may attend this one-hour graduation.

As this day approached a group of past and present participants were interviewed.

“I’m really excited about this thing, I’ve committed to entering this with an open heart!” said Casey Castell, who is a freshman here at Texas A&M-Texarkana.

“Honestly, I am nervous. I mean, I am an extremely shy person and I don’t really know what to expect. The email about it was specific but vague at the same time. I know one of the activities will cover communication and leadership skills…but what does that even mean? What will I be forced to do?” says another freshman participant named Leslie.

Her face began to tense up as if she were searching for an internal relief. Nevertheless, she digressed with a sigh and said, “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“…Well, I am very excited but apprehensive. A friend of mine participated last year and he said I will be forced out of my comfort zone but that I will also appreciate all of it in the end. He didn’t tell me specifically what will take place.” says Matthew a junior participant.

As the interview came to a close each student agreed that the experience will be “life changing and eventful”.