The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Wow. It's been quite awhile since I blogged and I suppose today was as good a day as many to type up my thoughts at the moment. This past weekend was Thanksgiving Break and I must say it was such blessing to get away and go back to the city and party it up with my friends. My only regret was that I didn't get to see my family this year. They went to Mexico and between me hanging out with my roommate, Rajani, and her family and hanging out with Jonathan there just wasn't time for me to go to Orange County and definitely not to Mexico. Life for me is going so well I really am so blessed to have my health, happiness, and family and friends. I'm so excited about this break because I'm going to finally get to go home and visit and I'm going to DC for a conference with my CLEO family which is going to be great! I lot has been going on in my life right now and it's really an exciting time for me. I'm finishing up my first semester of my Junior year at UC Merced, preparing for the Law School Admissions Test in June and applying for my internship for the fall in Washington D.C. I even came to the epiphany that after I finish my undergrad I would like to pursue a career in entertainment or fashion. I still plan on going to law school but it wouldn't surprise me if I took a Hill Harper move and became a fall-time singer/actor/model after I finished. It's something I always wanted to pursue but never had the courage to do but with the new developments in my life I am finally coming into my own skin and growing into the man that I am going to be for the rest of my life. I am so ready for these 3 weeks to be over. This semester has been crazy and so much has changed but a lot has stayed the same. I wonder how different next semester will be. Tonight I did something that I had been thinking about doing for quite some time and I must say I am not regretting it at all. It was definitely time for a change but I can't wait to see the reaction's that I am going to get. It was something that I needed to do for me and I hope that my friends and family will accept and be okay with that. But I must get started on my presentation for my History class. I am so behind in my end of the semester research projects. I have 3 papers due and 2 presentations, not to mention a Final all in the course of the next 3 weeks. Wish me luck everyone!

Sincerely,
RKNJ

Like You'll Never See Me Again

For all of you who haven't heard Alicia Key's new song, "Like You'll Never See Me Again" you need to go to MTV.com and buy her CD tomorrow because it is so bomb. This weekend was so amazing and I would be wrong if I didn't start this article by giving thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because without Him I would be no thing, no where, and no one. This weekend was the 19th Annual Student of Color Conference at UC Santa Cruz, and so I took the weekend off and packed up my things for another interesting sequence of events. Throughout the weekend I was a bit exhausted because the previous week I had burned myself hanging out late and partying. So I was definitely not at my best but that didn't stop me from "bringing my "A" game, according to Juan and meeting lots of amazing people and having tons of fun. The conference was full of fantastic speakers, students, workshops, performances, and the food wasn't half bad either. The only flaw was the organization of the conference, UCSC's campus is definitely not "conference friendly" with all of those damn hills and trees. Also I was stressed out about all of these damn papers that I have to write for my damn history classes. I must say the least of my worries is my extra-curricular activities because after being eliminated from one of my commitments I have seen my stress level decrease dramatically. I wanted to write these blog though because I wonder how many people interact with me like they'll never see me again and also how many people I interact like that. I know there's this really cliche saying "Seize the day" and I really want to live my life like day. The death of Kanye West's mother is a clear example that life is not promised and that everyday is TRULY a blessing. My hearts and prayers go out to him and everyone affected by her death because I know that I, for one, was affected and immediately called my mom when I heard the news. Lately I have also been a bit concerned about my trip home. I really want to go home for the holidays but I apprehensive about whether I can really afford to take off and go. Hopefully, with the help of my Lord and Savior, everything will work out and I will be able to see my family once again before the new year rolls in. Well I better get back to work. I just wanted to comment on that topic and give an update about what's been going on in my life.

Peace and Blessings,

RKNJ