Monthly Archives: March 2016

March Madness’ Mad Math

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Kevin Luthringer

Wow… After the smoke clears following another exciting first weekend of the greatest sports event of the entire year, all I can say is WOW.  Trying to recap a weekend packed with great college basketball in one post isn’t easy but I am going to give it a go.

Well, I feel like natural place to start is good ole Sparty.  Mr. Final Four, Tom Izzo, and his Michigan State Spartans got bounced in the first round to the 15 seed Middle Tennessee State. This one surprised the heck out of me and most likely took me out of the running since I had MSU as a lock to get into the Final Four and the championship.

Now to some of the other awesome games, UALR, or University of Arkansas Little Rock, played in one of the most exciting games I watched this weekend. They had a little guard, number 3, who seemed to be shooting into the ocean. The kid could not miss.

Then the boys from Yale, who have never been to the Big Dance in school history, pulled off the big upset against Baylor (the Baylor kids’ post-game interview after the game was priceless if you haven’t seen it: Taurean Prince Press Conference). Keep in mind however these were both 12 / 5 games, and if you do this often then you know this happens almost every year.

Then you have one of my favorite teams to watch, Steven F. Austin. This team was my biggest concern with the seedings. Somehow SFA with Senior guard Thomas Walkup, who has not lost a conference game in 2 years and made a run in the tournament just a year or two ago was a 14 seed!  Now let me remind you, as I am writing this I still didn’t pick them (banging my head in to a wall) because I really liked Press Virginia and Bob Huggins to wear them out. I was wrong and big time!  SFA looked like the better team all game long. They were unable to hang on in the next game against Notre Dame, however.  And, why?  Because they did what has killed many a team; they played not to lose at the end.  Looking in control most of the game, they got out of their game plan and started running clock.  As time expired and on the THIRD offensive rebound, a Notre Dame player tips it in at the buzzer to send the Lumber Jacks from SFA home.

Among the other upsets a few that don’t seem quite as noteworthy because we have seen these teams make noise in the tournament in the past: VCU, Wichita State, Gonzaga, Syracuse.

But then you have the last two big ones. Hawaii beating Cal, which wasn’t a huge surprise if you caught the news of their leading scorer being injured during a practice right before the tourney and being unable to play.

The big one however, which leads us into the second round, is University of Northern Iowa. (Flashback: I instantly thought of one of their players the year they made the run to the Sweet Sixteen, who had my favorite name I think I have ever seen, Ali Farokhmanesh – and, yes, I did look up the spelling on that). Northern Iowa was able to take out the Longhorns thanks to an amazing one-handed half-court shot by their leader Paul Jesperson at the buzzer.

As UNI was going for the elimination of not one but two Texas teams they gave up the largest lead anyone has EVER given up in the last minute in ANY college basketball game EVER!!!  Sorry for being repetitive and redundant.  Texas A&M went on a 14-2 run with under 44 seconds to play and forced overtime where they would eventually pull the game out in the 2OT. Just to give you an idea of how crazy this was, ESPN has a “Win Percentage Calculator”, and with 44 seconds to go, up by 12, Texas A&M had 0.0% chance to win… Obviously, the reliability of said WPC is in question as A&M was able to pull off the win.  What a crushing loss for the Northern Iowa kids and fans.

Much as in that game, most of the “Cinderellas” lost their slippers for good in the round of 32 except for Syracuse (who could hardly be called a Cinderella, especially considering they were playing lower seeded Middle Tennessee State), Gonzaga who has made a name for themselves in this Tournament in the past, and Wisconsin.  The Badgers win over Xavier was just about as crushing as the Northern Iowa loss. Up by 3 with 11 seconds left Xavier gave up two threes to Wisconsin sharpshooter Brandon Koenig.  One to tie and then the winner with 2 seconds left (here’s the video if you didn’t see it Watch Bill Murray’s face). This led Koenig to say that he “went into his inner Steph Curry” after the game.

Man, I love March Madness.

The Woes of the Veterans’ Administration

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Anthony Hamilton

It is very difficult in recent years to have paid any attention to any news outlet, and not realize that there are major problems as well as challenges facing the veteran’s administration here in the United States. Speaking for myself, as a disabled veteran, I feel the way that we are treated in many cases in downright disgraceful.

We are sent away for months at a time to “protect our freedoms” while in many cases our very family relationships suffer, due to missing births, graduations and every other family function that anyone can think of. There are also the injuries and casualties of war that ultimately can make life exceedingly difficult.

If we were to take a look at the average person (lawmakers) that have a say so about going to war, etc. they generally have no ties to the military, and not only would they not consider going in harm’s way to protect the country, but you hardly see any of their family members on the battlefield either, so why are these same people allowed to block funding to those who come home changed mentally or physically?

In most instances it’s like you go to war, give the best you have to give, then you come back home battle-scarred only to realize that the government has cast you aside, and no longer view you as their problem. It’s almost criminal, the fighting you have to go through with the government in order to get disability when you don’t come back home whole. If it doesn’t flat out take forever, you end up having to file twice and get what you have coming the second time around.

With all the missteps that the VA has recently encountered, some might wonder what type of people they’re hiring, or just how diligent these people might be. While these are fair questions, one thing we all must keep in mind is the budget cuts that the VA has been sustaining. Anytime you have the same amount of work to do with fewer employees, there will definitely be some hiccups along the way.

According to www.blogs.va.gov , there were 1.4 billion dollars in budget cuts in 2015. These cuts will have an adverse effect in Medical care, where they will lose $690 million dollars, meaning 70,000 less vets will have access to VA health care, there will be reduced staffing, and there will be delays in research. There will also be $592 million lost in new facilities, meaning the St. Louis rehab facility, outpatient clinic in Alameda, California and the French Camp CBOC in Livemore, California will either be delayed or not built at all. There will also be 18,000 less military families having the ability to seek a military funeral for loved ones who served.

There have also been recent incidents of veterans being infected at military hospitals because protocol wasn’t properly followed: www.cnn.com broke the story about 1,800 veterans of a VA Hospital in Missouri being infected with HIV due to technicians handwashing instruments before using the cleaning machines, when correct protocol is to only use the cleaning machine. Also the 3,400 vets infected at the Palomar Hospital in San Diego, California during colonoscopies performed with dirty endoscopes.

Another recent misstep was reported by www.foxnews.com regarding the 26.5 million veterans whose social security numbers and birthdates stolen when a VA laptop was stolen from an employee who took this information to his home without authorization.

Despite these discrepancies, there are many VA employees who are very diligent, and who also happen to love their jobs, and as a disabled vet, I have plenty of dealings with these workers. Ambulatory Care Dietician Karrie Cole, at the Texarkana CBOC has worked with me since 2010 trying to help me to take control of my diabetic ills. She has worked for the VA since 2009 and says she loves the job. “It’s very rewarding to know that you’ve helped people become healthier through diet” Cole said. She sees 8-10 patients a day, and she follows up with each patient and documents their progress.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Blair Culbreath at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport says she also loves her job. “It’s very rewarding to work with someone who may have been injured, and be a major part of helping them regain their strength,” Culbreath said. She sees 5-8 patients in a day depending on whether the patient is new or returning. “I like to spend more time with a new patient to find out about their medical background.” Culbreath also pointed out that the wound care physical therapist sees more patients because they don’t have to spend as much time with each patient.

According to www.thehill.com, the Democrats blocked a VA funding bill from the Republicans in hopes of brokering what they feel would be a better deal for veterans and their families. In my opinion, as long as those in congress continue to play with VA funding like little kids fighting over toys, the VA is going to continue to have their missteps, and unfortunately, the veteran will continue to ultimately pay the price.

Power Hours

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“I call this meeting of the Texas A&M University at Texarkana’s Student Government Association to order at 8:40 pm on March 2, 2016.”

SGA “serves as the official voice of the student body; act as a liaison between the student body and faculty, staff, administration, and community members; protect and preserve students’ rights and responsibilities; and promote student leadership (tamut.edu).” Every year the student body elects representatives they feel best represents their class. The elected body then makes decisions they feel will benefit our university. For example, SGA is responsible for the sidewalk on the Bringle Lake Village side of the University Center, as well as the picnic tables that are soon to be put out.

On the first Tuesday night of March, the Student Government Association of Texas A&M University at Texarkana gathered in Eagle Hall for a three-hour meeting. They discussed ways to better the organization in and of itself, and the campus. Fuzzy’s was provided accompanied by an icebreaker, the group participated in a S.W.O.T. Analysis, and committee meetings were held.

After the group enjoyed tacos and queso, they got down to business. Keith Beason started off the meeting with a S.W.O.T analysis; Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats. Students were asked to list different things that pertained to these categories. They discussed how to use strengths to better weaknesses, used presented opportunities to generate new ideas, and tried to figure out how to fix possible threats. One of the major points brought was that the student government body was going to try to be more active and make the organization known on campus. SGA Communications Specialist Erin Beach said “After an in-depth SWOT activity, Student Government has grown together to be a better voice for the student body of TAMUT.”

After the S.W.O.T. Analysis, SGA split up into their separate committees: Environmental, Public Relations, Policy, Budget, CSAC, Campus Life, Events and Fundraising, Administration, and Apparel. They set up regular meeting times to enhance progress. Just a reminder, even if you aren’t an SGA Representative, any student is welcome to be on a committee. If you are interested, contact President Heath Coston.

Travis Garvin said “I had stayed up past my bedtime…” However, everyone agreed that staying up past their bed time was well worth the progress that was made.

The Stars of Dallas

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Jamie Williamson

When it comes to Texas sports teams the Dallas Stars are usually the last team to come to mind. The Dallas Stars often get overlooked since they share a city with another Dallas team, the Cowboys. Many often assume the Cowboys are the only Dallas team worth watching or following the games, but that is not the case. The Dallas Stars are currently ranked number two in their division and third overall in the National Hockey League. The Dallas Stars have had a great season so far this year. The Dallas Stars have finally reclaimed the success they had in the early nineties.

The change in the Dallas Stars started in 2013 when they hired Jim Nill as the new general manager. As soon as Jim Nill came on board he made a six man trade deal with the Boston Bruins. The Dallas Stars acquired Tyler Sequin and soon he became a staple in scoring points on the first line. Another part of the change was in stating a new captain, Jamie Benn, and getting new uniforms to make them stand out. With the new captain, new uniforms, and new point scorer the Dallas Stars were well on their way to becoming a sports team Texas could be proud of.

The Dallas Stars made the playoffs tin 2013 thank in part to all the new changes the general manager put into effect. Even though the Dallas Stars did not make it past the first round in the 2013 playoffs, they have worked hard the past two years to get where they are now. The Dallas Stars made crucial trades in the off-season to become on of the best teams in the 2015-2016 season. One of the trades was with Chicago where the stars gained Patrick Sharp to play on the first line, and Johnny Oduya as a defenseman. These two players fit seamlessly into Dallas like they had been playing there for years. They brought a sense of renewed energy to the team, and helped propel the Dallas Stars to the top. Another pivotal trade for the Dallas Stars was Antti Niemi as a goalie. He has made some pretty impressive saves this season to keep the Stars ahead of the competition.

The starting of the 2015-2016 season seemed to unfold perfectly for the Dallas Stars. Jamie Benn has had a tremendous season so far he has led the league in goals followed closely by Tyler Seguin. The Benn-Seguin line has become one of the most successful lines in the league since they started playing together in 2013. The two players have such a good chemistry on the ice it sometimes seems they can read each others mind. If they continue to play with the success they have shown this season there will be no limit to what they can do in the future for the Dallas Stars franchise. The Dallas Stars may not be the go to team for many Texans, but they are fast proving to people they can be a big name in Texas sports.

 

You Are What You Think

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Aaron Caraway

Altrusa International of Texarkana, TX held a dinner symposium at Wesley Hall in Williams Memorial Tuesday evening March 8th, at the beginning of this week’s large rainfall occurring throughout the ArkLaTex. Amidst this hostile weather, conditions proved favorable enough for the attendees to safely reach the event.

The symposium was the subject of a Living WELL Aware conference, featuring Dr. Patricia J. Sulak. Dr. Sulak founded Living WELL Aware to promote healthy lifestyles, with conferences held nationwide to offer “not only the latest published information in […] leading medical journals, but the skills […] to get attendees to a greater physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” (“About Us”)

Dr. Sulak’s 90-minute lecture covered her Eleven Essential Elements to Health and Happiness, including a focus on attaining normal health numbers and seeking support from friends and family, which helped her achieve optimal health. She has spoken nationwide to businesses, organizations, and communities about them.

Altrusa International of Texarkana, TX – part of an international effort by business professionals to offer their abilities their communities – held this event with coöperation from Williams Memorial, donating the proceeds to:

  • CASA for Children, which “promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States [is] safe, [has] a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.” (“Organizational”), and
  • Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc. – providing 24/7 services to sexual assault and domestic violence victims through a cooperative effort between its staff and communities.

Longhorn Steakhouse provided the food for the event, served by volunteers from our Texas A&M – Texarkana campus. Altrusa derives its namesake from the word altruism, meaning “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others” (“Altruism”). Considering the harsh weather rolling through the ArkLaTex this week, the Texarkana, Texas chapter made every effort to live up to it.

For more information on Altrusa International, Living WELL Aware or the events beneficiaries, consult the links below:

Altrusa International / Living WELL Aware / CASA For Children / Domestic Violence Prevention

Works Cited:

  • “About Us.” Living Well Aware. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  • “Atruism Definition.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  • “Altrusa International, Inc. – Leading To a Better Community.” Altrusa International, Inc. – Leading To a Better Community. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  •  “Organizational Profile.” – National CASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

Your Own Photography Business

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Hope Hawley

As a college student I know it can be hard to work and go to school full-time. Let me tell you about an option that you can do on your own time that works around your school schedule 100%. This option will also help you by building your skill level and introduce you to something that for most becomes more than just a hobby. Now how do I know all of this you may ask? Well, I’ve been doing it for a long time — about 6 years now.

Now you may be wondering what this working option is, the answer to that is photography. I recently lost my job and I started doing my own photography again and it has been amazing. I have been able to focus on school and still bring home the bacon. Photography is always in high demand because there will always be holidays, birthdays, and events — and people who want their pictures taken. Now if you’ve never done photography, don’t jump the gun — let me give you a few pointers to help you get started.

The first thing you need and really the only thing that will cost a little money is a camera. There are numerous brands of cameras, but I prefer Canon. The T3i and T5i are two of the best cameras in my opinion. Yes, these are expensive, but there are ways around paying full price, plus you can make the money you spend right back once you start taking pictures. My best advice is to go to your local pawn shops and look, because chances are they have some for sale cheap or negotiable. Before you jump straight into taking pictures I advise you to take a few tutorials about your camera and get to know it, and really become familiar with all of the buttons and features.

The next most important thing is backgrounds or locations. Some people do the whole paper backdrop thing but I think it’s a 1,000 % better if you take pictures outside with natural backgrounds. So what I suggest is picking a day that’s nice outside and just driving around your town and finding places that you think serve as good scenery and backgrounds. You could even take your camera and take pictures of them to see your lighting with the different times of day and locations.

Finally, you really just need to get your work out there. I would offer a few free sessions and then advertise, advertise, advertise. A good way to do this is social media. When you post some of your work on Facebook you get your name out there and more people will start booking you. Now you do have to come up with a price scale. There are many ways to set your price points so I’ll leave that to you.

Photography is something that will always be around whether it be used digitally or through print. This is something that you can do and you are your own boss, you set your schedule, and you determine your pay. It takes some time to get good at it if you want it to be your life long career but it’s worth it.

Chick-Fil-AYE

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Kelsea Kregel

As a college student, eating in the school cafe can get old quickly. On days where the only food available is mysterious meat and unseasoned vegetables, I treat myself to a meal off campus. More often than not, I find myself at Chick-Fil-A (unless I’m having a typical late night study session and the only chain open is Taco Bell). Not only does Chick-Fil-A satisfy my desire for tasty food, but it is also relatively inexpensive, saving me a text from an angry mother complaining I’m spending too much money.

As college students, most are on a tight budget and try to find a quick fix to aid their hunger. Between juggling classes, work, athletics, and studying, it is difficult to find the time to cook a meal. Not to mention the limited resources if you live on campus. What’s the next best thing to do when you aren’t able to cook yourself a meal? You go buy one. As a college student on a budget, it can be difficult to find quality food for a low price. Chick-Fil-A makes a point to appeal to their customers. Not only is food reasonably priced, but they also have excellent customer service. They go out of their way to ensure the customer has an enjoyable experience and based on personal experience, the employees have always ensured I have everything I need refills, extra sauce, the whole 9 yards. They also make the experience more enjoyable with their friendly, well-known phrase “my pleasure”. There are several options to choose from on the menu (all chicken, of course) and an average meal costs $7. For the quality of food you are paying for, $7 is a steal. A meal includes a chicken entrée, a classic side, and a medium drink.

The company also prides itself in the quality of its products. This appeals to customers because no one wants to pay for low quality food. The chicken itself is 100% breast meat with no fillers or additives and is cooked with 100% refined peanut oil which is a healthier choice to use for their chicken. The chicken is hand breaded in their kitchens and salads are fresh and hand chopped. Lemonade is freshly squeezed and tea is freshly brewed. The company also draws in customers by annually participating in Cow Appreciation Day. Every July, Chick-Fil-A franchises across the nation gives customers a free meal if they come dressed as a cow. This is a costly event and the company loses thousands of dollars on this day alone.

It is no secret the company operates under strong political beliefs. The franchise is closed on Sundays to offer employees a day of worship. This is a tradition that has been around since the franchise was founded in 1967. Chick-Fil-A is one of a few American businesses that is closed on Sundays due to religious beliefs. The CEO of Chick-Fil-A has also vocalized his religious beliefs. Dan Cathy, son of the original founder, made comments that turned the company’s several franchises into a temporary battleground between those supporting the comments made by Cathy and those opposing the comments. Several LGBTQ supporters held “kiss-ins” in front of Chick-Fil-A restaurants across the country to protest the fast food chain. Others supported Cathy by supporting former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee’s declaration of August 1st as Chick-Fil-A appreciation day in light of the recent turmoil.

However, Chick-Fil-A has recently supported a LGBTQ film festival recently. This wasn’t a corporate sponsorship, but a franchisee sponsorship, and the film festival “Level Ground” is a faith-based film festival whose mission statement reads “Our mission is to create safe space for dialogue. We create the best and brightest minds to help us think through what’s happening in the world of faith, gender, and sexuality, and more importantly, how to talk about it.” Chick-Fil-A’s Christian values sets them apart from other fast food chains.

Chick-Fil-A is a successful fast food chain and is admirable due to its strong business model. According to the Journal of Law and Politics, the average individual Chick-Fil-A franchisee annually brings in roughly 2.7 million a year while it’s closest competitors McDonald’s and Panera annually brings in 2.4 and 2.2 million. Remember, Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays. This is a religious practice, but the reason this proves Chick-Fil-A has an excellent business model is because the company loses 1/7 of all potential sales by closing once a week. Yet, they still manage to bring in millions of dollars and keep up with top competitors.

Chick-Fil-A is one of the most successful fast food chains in the United States and there is no doubt they are a top competitor for many businesses. Their strong business model and their emphasis on customer satisfaction makes them an admirable and successful company. Chick-Fil-A offers customers more than just a meal, they offer customers an enjoyable experience leaving college students very satisfied.

Officers At Sea

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Richardson Rutter-Reese

The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed branches in America. The Coast Guard is unique in that it falls under the Department of Homeland Security, while the other four branches fall under the guidance of the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard was the first armed force created by the United States as a nation, then known as the Revenue Cutter Service. The job of the service was to deter smugglers and to ensure that taxes were being paid by sea-going merchants. Over the centuries other agencies and duties have been created and absorbed, including the Life-saving service, the lighthouse service, the ice breaking service, the aids to navigation service, the radio service, the humanitarian service, the intelligence service, the law enforcement service, and the immigrations service. All these services and more have been combined to form the multi-directed mission that the modern U.S. Coast Guard performs today.

From a historical perspective, the Coast Guard has been involved in every American conflict, notably Vietnam, World War II, and the War on Terror. During World War II the Coast Guard performed minesweeping operations, operated watercraft during beach landings, collected intelligence, kept traveling routes clear of ice, and performed anti submarine operations. It was a during a beach rescue operation that Signalman First Class Douglas Munro was killed after volunteering to make multiple trips to get all the Marines off the island, including a Marine who would become General Chesty Puller. He was shot on the way back to the ship after making the last trip. He remains the only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor.  During the Vietnam War the Coast Guard patrolled the shoreline ensuring the Vietcong would be cut off from supplies and reinforcements. They would also transport troops.

The Coast Guard is the only military branch authorized to perform law enforcement action. This is becuse it falls under the Department of Homeland Security. A Coast Guard vessel may at any time inspect, board, or question any vessel in U.S. waters or our Allies’ waters. There are no rights to privacy on the water as on land. All petty officers in the Coast Guard are federal law enforcement officers, and able to carry subpoenas, detain suspicious individuals, and make arrests. Due to the dual military and law enforcement nature of members in the Coast Guard, there is confusion on how far the rights of a petty officer go. Technically, as federal law enforcement officers, petty officers can carry weapons across the fifty states.  Some state police disagree with this and will still arrest members carrying weapons. This is still an ongoing issue in the courts.

On the topic of members of the Coast Guard, it has consistently been the smallest service since its creation. At the height of its force, the New York Police Department outnumbered the active duty members of the Coast Guard. It has always been a service that prides itself on doing more with less. It receives the lowest budget out of the five services, it has one of the oldest fleets in the world, and consistently uses older technology from the Navy. Many swathes of water go unguarded due to their not being enough funds to patrol all the areas of the coastline.

Even with these problems, people are not deterred from the Coast Guard. It is the most competitive branch to enlist into. The reenlistment rate is above 90%, the only service to have this claim. The Coast Guard administration had to create programs to phase non-performing members out to create space for other sailors to advance. Through the ages, members of the Coast Guard stay with their service. The Coast Guard is a unique service in America, and although its numbers are small, it provides a large impact for the safety and protection of the American people.

Tennis Is Bae

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Deontae Harper

Tennis is a sport that I never thought I would play. From the time I can remember up until the day I stepped foot on the tennis court I would judge people that played tennis. “Tennis is lame…Tennis is not a real sport,” are things that I would usually say to people that played tennis or anytime tennis was brought up in a conversation that involved me. With that being said you are not going to believe what I am going to say next. I love tennis and it is my life now! Sit back and listen to my adventurous relationship I have developed with tennis.

It was Christmas break of my junior year, I went out-of-town to visit family and found myself playing a lot of video games with my cousins. It doesn’t matter what I am doing if it involves something of a competitive sort I am going to fight and try to win. My younger cousin figured since I always spoke so poorly of tennis that it would be a great opportunity to beat me in a Wii sports game of tennis. My first reaction was no I will not play this game. I am not a wuss. That didn’t work, my cousin knew exactly how to get back at me which was to say that I was afraid to lose, which I wasn’t, cause I felt that tennis wasn’t a real sport therefore the challenge was not hard at all. I finally gave in and we began to play the game. Instantly I began to sweat from the excessive cardio workout that was provided from the game. Honestly I started off a little shaky due to be being uncomfortable with the sport, but I managed to get it together because of my competitive instincts. I remember the most important thing that has changed my prospective on the game of tennis until this day, which was “tennis is a lot harder than it looks.” This statement was the start of a relationship I will not be willing to give up on now. Who would have ever thought those words would come out my mouth after that negativity I have thrown at the game. I did in fact beat my cousin in the game which has helped me become who I am today which I will get into later.

Christmas break was over and I was back at home for school. I just started off-season for football and began the season for basketball. Two sports that I can truly say that I am decent in and will compete to my fullest potential every time I get a chance. Such a powerful statement that had no meaning after I did what I am about to tell you. One day after school before my basketball game I went out to the tennis courts to watch a home match. Yes, I knew very shocking to see myself at a tennis match, but the replay of tennis match I played on the Wii was running through my mind and I wanted to see how hard this sport really was in real life. As soon as I got out to the courts I was in awe because it was in deed harder than I imagined. I immediately wanted to try it for myself, so I did what I figured was safe and talked to the coach. His response to my little story  was if you are serious I can turn you into something special quickly with this sport. I went to my game, and all night I thought about what he told me. The very next day at school I decided to take coach Mihok up on his offer and joined the tennis team because I figured that if this is a challenging sport then I must try to figure it out.

Now I will fast forward to the inspirational point of this relationship with tennis. Since I started, I have achieved many things in this sport. My senior year of high school I was first team all-district, district champs, and a regional qualifier. I also played some of the United States Tennis Association tournaments and received the upper level status of Champ level players. Throughout the summer going to my senior I played tennis every day and trained harder than you could imagine. I decided to quit football and basketball for tennis because I enjoyed the game a lot more, and I just had passion for the game at this point in my life. Halfway through my senior year my coach called me with some shocking news. He told me that he spoke with a few of his tennis buddies that coach on the college level and told me that he would be able to get me a spot on a college team if I trained hard every day for it. What did I do from here? you guessed right, I trained every single day regardless of the weather to assure myself that I was going to be ready to compete at the next level.

Which brings us to the current day. Here I am a sophomore in college and on a tennis scholarship to play collegiate tennis. I never would have thought that I would be this far in life with the game of tennis due to be starting so late, but that just goes to show you that if you set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve those goals in every aspect of your life, there are no limits, and you can be anything in this world you want to be, as long as you are feeding yourself positive energy and finding a true relationship with whatever it is you are trying to achieve. Honestly I never would have imagine that I would be in the position I am in today playing college tennis but it all started that day I challenged myself when playing against my cousin. I love tennis it is my life and my passion and I am proud to say that!

Lights, Camera, Action

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Sharda James

My ultimate dream career is broadcasting; specifically, I would love to be a daytime television talk show host. It’s crazy to think this is my dream career, because this hasn’t always been my passion. Somehow, I always found myself watching them and pretending to be to a host interviewing my favorite celebrities in my head.

I love everything about celebrity gossip and pop culture. Someone I really admire is Wendy Williams. She originally started in radio, then, eventually it was on to having her own talk show, “The Wendy Williams show.” Wendy Williams also went to college and was a communications major. I love how opinionated she is and never apologizes for how she feels. The best piece of advice I’ve heard her say about trying to figure out your craft, is that starting in radio is good practice. On the radio you’re talking non-stop for approximately four hours as opposed to television where most shows are about an hour. Since radio isn’t visual it really gives you a chance to paint the imagery for whatever story you’re portraying to your audience. It wasn’t always easy for Wendy. Considering she was so opinionated, a lot of people thought she would never be successful in this field of work. One thing I’ve definitely taken away from her is to “Live Your Truth”, meaning to own your flaws and always be yourself, because people gravitate to authenticity. Getting into entertainment isn’t the easiest thing. There are so many obstacles that you have to overcome, and you need to know how to take criticism whether good or bad.

Oprah Winfrey would definitely have to be a huge inspiration. She was actually one of the first hosts I ever started watching. One of the things I really admire about her is the fact that she isn’t afraid to ask the obvious questions and to get personal. She isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. I love how comfortable she is able to make her guests feel. That is probably the reason they feel more than comfortable talking to her. Other than focusing on celebrity gossip, I would also like to interview legendary people and have those extremely personal interviews.

Something that I admire about both of them is the fact that they remained themselves.  Taking risks isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes the biggest thing that you were afraid of is the very thing that will produce your biggest accomplishment. I’ve learned to not listen to what people have to say about you. If you have a dream go after it. However to accomplish your goals you first need to make a decision, what is it that you want out of life? The second thing is to have a positive mindset. Your thoughts become things spoken into existence. There’s a reason why your parents have told you your whole life that “you can do anything you set your mind to,” because the mind is the most powerful tool we have as humans. The third thing is to believe in yourself, because if you don’t who will? The last but certainly not the least you have to put in the work. You can’t sit around praying or wishing for things to magically happen if you’re not doing anything to deserve it. We have the same 24 hours in a day as some of the biggest celebrities, but it’s your choice of what you decide to do with them. When it’s all said and done, I hope to be able to one-day live in California or New York as a successful daytime talk show host. However, at the end of the day I hope to make a difference in television.