Brainwashed? No. Hopeful? Yes.

First thing's first, I have a confession.

 I date a Republican.

Yes, cat's out of the bag, I believe I've fallen in love with a non-Obama lover. The scandal. To be perfectly serious though, the difference between the two of us has caused me to seriously think about my political affiliation and how its evolved since I was admitted to American.

I liked Obama first and foremost because he was mixed.

Knowing nothing of his policies, the way his religion influenced them, or any of his backstory, I latched onto the fact that like myself, he came from the beauteous union of an interracial couple. Other than Halle Berry and Alicia Keys, I had no other blaucasian public figures to look up to. At least, not that I was fully aware of.  I was in 9th grade, enrolled in a Local, State and National Government class, and it didn't take much to inspire me.

Four years later, I started to realize exactly why I remained a supporter of Barack Obama. No longer was my enthusiasm based solely off of a biracial man being the first to lead our country. Now, I am starting to realize that I support Obama because I believe that he's doing everything he can to support me.

I am a poor college student. Like myself and the millions of my peers knocking out 4-6 classes a semester just to hope to get even a whiff of a job, I'm worried about the state of our nation in terms of its students. We are under-represented, under-appreciated, and under-wanted in general. If it weren't for the amazing financial aid package that delighted my eyes on December 16th, 2011, I wouldn't be sitting in my dorm room, a student of one of the best universities in the USA. But just because I am, does not mean my future is ensured in any kind of way.

Barack Obama knows what it's like to be burdened down under a pile of loans. He's had to use every square inch of his intelligence to get him to where he is today, even if he didn't have the money to get there in the first place. I have no money. I also have no hope that a sour-faced old man with the indecency to say that he loves this country, yet doesn't trust it with his bank accounts, will fight to make sure that my no-money having self can stay in school when I'm already struggling to stay for my second semester. The same man that I see on TV, that avoids questions, kicks out his own supporters based on sexual orientation, and that can't take an ounce of criticism, scares me.

But I vote for Obama just because he's black.


My boyfriend is a Republican. My boyfriend's parents are Republican.

I am a Democrat. My parents are Democrats.

I believe that college students need someone to create a brighter future so that we may truly contribute to the world some day. I believe that women should have the right to determine any and everything that happens to their bodies, especially if it could potentially cost them their life. I believe that one president did not screw up our economy so thoroughly in only 4 years, no matter what party he originated from.

I believe that I, and every other person in this country, have a right to love and marry whoever they want, regardless of gender. I believe that we created this country to be an open door to the persecuted, the destitute, and the talented - with limits, that door needs to remain open. I believe that guns belong in the hands of our soldiers, and not the hands of thieves stalking the pathways behind my high school, killing innocent people in cold blood.

I believe in hope. I believe that one day I won't be on the streets, borrowing computers in the library to piece movies together and have them graciously played at local theaters. I believe that I'll be able to raise kids out of a small apartment, and make enough to buy them everything my parents struggled to give me and more. I believe that it's possible to dream big and achieve even bigger. I believe that I can and will do great things one day.

What I don't believe is that any of that will ever happen with Mitt Romney, or anyone else of similar political standing, as President of the United States.

UsBundles College Scholarship

I can't learn online. 12 years in public school and the first two months of life on AU's campus has solidified that in my mind. If it's not reflective Facebook posts for a grade, or reading a terrible copy of a future textbook, it is some unnecessary addition to the challenge of how I learn in school.

In my opinion, traditional schooling is better than online schooling.

It's all too easy to ignore your laptop for a day, or to go the extra mile to "forget" to check up on your assignments and classwork. Seeing a teacher's face changes things. Being able to ask questions, interact with other students, and jot things down not only connects the student to the material, but invites him or her to get everything they can out of their education.

Computers put you right in touch with your search engine of choice. Databases allow you to scurry through centuries and decades alike, all at the push of a button or a couple of dashes across the keyboard. But online schooling has its limits. I can't actually ask a computer a question. I have no body language or sense of emotion to help me understand my progress, the same way a gentle smile or a head shake would instruct me in a classroom.

More importantly, I find it impossible to develop the proper relationship between a teacher and his/her student over an Internet connection.  In order for me to learn from someone on a day to day basis, I need to be able to see them, hear their voice, discover their quirks and their habits. I need to be able to trust them. To me personally, that can never come from online schooling, no matter how in-depth the material or experience is.

I see what you did there!

Seeing all those photos on Facebook, for a split second, made me wish I had registered for Eagle Summit next week.

If only it weren't $100+ for a day and a half.

Y'know

I haven't thought about it until today, but I'm pretty excited to get to school and experience all those awkward ice-breakers.

61 days.

Oh, and good luck to all the Eagle Summit kids! Kinda wish I was there with you.

Wowza.

In about two months, I'll have a totally new home. No dirty dishes to grumble over in the kitchen, no random sibling battle royales; no nothing.

Please understand, I love my family. With every piece of my being, I can say that even 40 minutes away will sometimes feel like hours and hours.

But come August? I'm done with kitchen duty. Sure I get classes and a [hopeful] new job, but this is gonna be great.

My roommate and I are already clicking, I have friends going to school in Baltimore, and I can pretty much come home in less than an hour?

I can't even begin to express the joy I feel right now.

Speaking of Roommates....

It's still mindblowing to me that come this August, I'll be living with at least one other girl that I've never met before. Obviously, this is a given in college life. A plus is that it won't actually be too shocking to me, because I was lucky enough to be a youth correspondent this past summer at the WJMC Conference at George Mason. While I did have my own room for the week, I did share a suite and a bathroom with three other girls, who I unfortunately didn't get to bond with until the night before we were to depart for home.

This time, I get a chance to make a totally new set of memories. I'm not going to school with the naive idea that my new roommate and I will be best friends. For one, I've had a bestfriend since the 7th grade, and I don't see her going anywhere. Even if me and my new roomie are tight, we'd have a totally different bond than the one Taylor and I have.

Second, if in the possible case that I end up in a situation like my friend Tori, where my roommate and I are less than savvy, I'm prepared to deal. Not everyone in the world will love or even like you. It's alright.


What I am hoping for is someone I can live with. This is the girl I'll probably be up late at night with, cramming for finals or lazing away with when neither of us can be bothered to leave the dorm. I've poked around on the 2016 Facebook page for AU, and I've checked out the exclusive website for our class as well, but I don't exactly want to go the whole "HEY, YOU SEEM COOL, LET'S ROOM TOGETHER, K???" route.


I don't have a particular laundry list of the perfect roommate, but I guess I need to have something in mind when I'm making my profile next week. I'll attempt to make some kind of list, which if at all purposeful, will make it a little easier for me to finalize the whole Freshman process.


A good roommate for me:

• wouldn't smoke (cigarettes, pot, hookah, anything smokable...)
• wouldn't party extensively
• knows the balance between living with someone else and asking for privacy once in awhile
• picks up after herself (I'm no one's mother, and I'm not interested in acting like it)
• sleeps on a somewhat regular basis
• asks for something when she knows it isn't hers
• shares some common interests, but has her own quirks and talents

So far that's all I can really come up with. I guess when it comes down to it, it's more matching yourself up with someone else based on your own habits. I'm hoping that I don't end up in a situation where someone lies in order to get a neat-freak that'll keep the room tidy or a nerd to pass homework off on, but we'll just have to wait and see. I'm actually in the process of seeing if I can request to be in a triple instead of randomly ending up in one. Am I a little wacko for that? It's the price difference in room & board that's motivating me.

Roommate(s) and Placement Testing

Who knew April would pass by so quickly?

As prom gets closer and closer (it's THIS Saturday!) and I start wincing while news of senior deadlines goes around school and the interwebs, I'm also eagerly awaiting the early weeks of May for an entirely different reason: the upcoming news and opportunity from American! That's right, I cannot wait for the emails at this point. I want to make my profile and start looking for a new roommate. I even want to take this foreboding math placement test, even though I've heard it wasn't that bad and still feel confident that I could fail, horribly.

In actuality though, I'm not like my peers in the whole "OH MY GOD GRADUATION, LIKE, HURRY UPPPPPP!". I kind of love being a senior. I'm a little more lax on my grades, and even though I fully intend to keep my 4.0 average, the fact that I'm staring at a C in AP Gov with at least 4 grades not updated (that probably will be 0's or more 70s) isn't killing me. I know that I'm trying my best and sometimes getting overwhelmed. I can't do it all, but I can try. I vow to do better in AP Lit. I get by in Government, because let's face it, I'm no wiz in the subject from the get go.

As far as Tech, I know I'll pass, and probably with a great grade. I've tried to be a good aide to Mr. Grey, but thankfully I'm not graded for it. The time I've had to sit there and do homework or study is greatly appreciated tohugh. As far as AP Human Geography, I can only hope and pray that all the studying in the world gets me a 4 on the exam, and I can find some way to get college credit for it. Foods and Nutrition is the one class I have in the bag, and thankfully I don't see myself slipping up in it. Down to 8th period?

AP 2D Art has certainly been one of my most challenging courses this year when it came to meeting Marks' suggestions and the deadlines she's set to safety-net us. But when it comes to May 9-10th, whatever happens, happens. I won't stress about someone grading my art based on their specifications and viewpoints. Art is up for interpretation, and even what I believe to be a great photo could be overdone cliche mess to someone else, and vice versa.

I think at the end of the day, I'm just happy to start this new chapter. I want to expand my photo and media skills, and start actually making a product I can stand behind. Something I would take pride in and try to market to someone. I want to make the new friends, explore my own backyard and the new home I make in DC. Though I'm nervous and more than a little scared to see how the transition will affect my current life, from my family relationship to my plans with the bf, I'm confident that things will work out for the best. I love everything and everyone that has gotten me to this point in my life, and from now on, it's going to be an adventure. I'm just glad to be along for the ride.

School Pride Scholarship

I can still remember when I was adamant in the 8th grade about not attending college after high school. I saw no point in giving another four years of my life away to schooling, and so I was content with whatever job would be available to me after my senior year. Something snapped, and my dream school, American University, changed everything.

Since discovering the school in 10th grade, I have been on campus on at least four occasions. From the very first time I attended a Day Visit with my parents and baby sister, I knew I'd found a home. Something about American draws you in, I swear.

From the quad that's always active and populated to the diversity of the students, an otherworldly experience overwhelms you. I've contacted faculty multiple times for various reasons (looking for a job shadow opportunity, asking about scholarships, inquiring about majors and the film industry, etc), and not once have I gotten a fill-in-the-blank response from any of them.

Jill Heitzmann, Senior Advisor of Undergraduate Recruitment, offers timely and animated responses to my many questions, and in cases where she's not sure of the answer, always directs me to the right source. Kylos Brannon, a professor of media studies, allowed me to observe his Basic Media class, where he sat back with a calm, cool and collected demeanor to teach his students the ins and outs of business cards using PhotoShop. Leena Jayaswal and I bonded over the fact that we share a first name (spelled the "RIGHT" way!), while she continues to mentor me on the educational path I want to follow in film and media.

Aside from the staff, American offers up an educational experience that you won't find elsewhere. Other institutions may brag that their professors and live-in experts hail from around the world and actively practice what they teach, and there may be some truth to that. But at American, that experience is palpable. Work from professors and staff is proudly displayed in hallways and showcases, and students often meet with their instructors over lunch and other venues. The range of Study Abroad opportunity almost makes one want to salivate.

In learning that I had the option of spending time anywhere from the Czech Republic, to Argentina, and beyond, I knew I'd found my school. American is partnered up with so many institutions that it is commonplace for classrooms to chat with students in Mexican and Russian colleges and universities. Instead of lazing around during my future spring breaks, I, as an admitted student, now have the option of making a difference in either my community or the world with Alternative Breaks, a program that takes students all over to volunteerer.

At American, you feel purposeful. Politics may run the streets at a university nestled in the very womb of Washington, DC, but there's an even greater undercurrent that pushes students to learn about themselves and their commitment to something bigger: the world at large. Here, you become a contender.

This scholarship is sponsored by CenturyLinkQuote.com.