Writing to Conclude: Karla

By karlavillacis |

Monday, December 7, 2009

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When I would hear blogs mentioned, I thought about pieces of writing that were a product of teenagers who had too much time on their hands. I know it sounds really harsh and tunnel-visioned since I hadn't really read many blogs before this assignment but that's the way I perceived it. The few I had read were about a usual day in a teenager's life and how they hated every other thing that came along their path. Today I beg to differ. This type of writing has a long list of pros both benefiting me personally and whoever reads it as well. I've always known that writing is the best way to vent out your thoughts and spread the word but blogging is on the next level.

Blogging allows me to brainstorm more easily and it offers a sense of authority which makes me even more confident and willingly to share my ideas with the world. When I blog I feel the need to put out my best in me and give my audience no less than they expect when they open up my posts. I feel my writing has become stronger especially in the diction aspect since my goal every time before I post is to make my reader agree with me. One's writing improves when they blog since there is such a diverse, and mysterious audience you have to write for. Everyone could possibly read it since your work is no longer limited to your teacher and fellow classmates. Now your thoughts are open to the whole world online. It made me a better writer and it makes me feel like a better person to know that I can spread ideas that can benefit others.

Writing to Conclude: Ayana

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

Through this project I've learned the benefits of working on a team. I'll be the first to admit it, group projects definitely aren't one of my favorite things. I'd much rather work on my own without having to wait on anyone, or have anybody wait on me. However, working with Matt and Karla made this experience much more enjoyable than I anticipated. It was nice having two other people to collaborate with and bounce ideas off of. There were often times when I experienced writer's block and just could not express the thoughts and ideas in my head in an effective way. But with the help of my team, we were able to talk things out and finally get the job done. This relates in the same way to community. Within a given community, the members look out for and help each other because they know that doing so will ultimately benefit everyone.

Writing to Conclude: Matt

By Matt | 0 comments

This project has helped me to discover my writing flaws and offer me a chance to fix them. For example, several of my cores contained poor language, in my re-writes I was able to add some polish, making my writing succinct yet powerful. In working together as a group, I’ve learned the importance of communication and time management. We all have different strengths and weaknesses but by helping and experiencing the writings of each other we’ve all improved our writing ability.

This course as a whole has presented to me a new outlook on community. People are social animals; we depend on one another for survival. By communicating we share ideas, continuing the survival of the species. Our writings contribute our ideas to society, whether it be at a distance or long after we have left this planet.

Writing to Comment: Thinking Twice Before Shooting Up

By karlavillacis | 0 comments

What ever happened to that famous saying "Beauty lies beneath"? Is it more important for a woman to love herself or to love her dermatologist and Botox? In today's society, it has been noticed that women everywhere are fighting the battle to look younger. They define younger as desirable, successful, and confident. The pages of magazines are filled with celebrities who normal people like you and I look up to. this is just among one of the strategies that companies use to sell their products. Another is the beginning of any statement with "Doctors suggest" or "statistics show." Beauty advertisements stress that you must fill your body with chemicals and surgeries which is not true. Those ideal images everyone seeks don't even exist anywhere beyond Photoshop, so why spend all that money on beauty products?

Everywhere in the world, women are expected to look a certain way if they expect to be categorized as beautiful. Not every country has the same ideals though. In America, we portray beauty as young, tall, and flawless. In parts of the Middle East, on the other side of the world, obesity is beauty. Sounds crazy right? Every country seems to have their own definition of what they admire but it's safe to say that for every country there is a standard bar waiting to be met. We can also narrow it down to every community. In every community there are basic criteria that is expected of members. You must be loyal, a good citizen, and be involved. Apparently that's all changing as the years go by. There is still an interest in being a law abiding citizen but is it PREFERRED to be a good looking law abiding citizen?

The fundamentals of a community have slightly changed and i believe we are overlooking it's actual purpose. It's not about how many members use the new Ultra Lift Pro serum to hide wrinkles, It should be about how many people help out their fellow members. Flipping the pages in our magazines we see what our community wants us to look like but through our works we need to show them that the important stuff comes from within, not how we look like on the outside. The same way companies use written advertisements to sell fake products, we can use our thoughts written on paper to remind our society of what's truly important which is giving back to our community.

Writing to Comment: Forever Young

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

It used to be that a woman who showed signs of aging was considered mature, wise even. While it was true that she was no longer in her prime, she’d still be considered beautiful. But the times have changed and society’s obsession with youth is at an all time high, especially among those of the fairer sex. Upon witnessing the first sign that they are [gasp] getting older, they rush to the nearest drugstore or makeup counter seeking a magical concoction to correct even the slightest blemish. Cosmetics companies have unfairly preyed on the average, aging woman’s insecurities through their promotion of an array on anti-aging products which promise results that are both “immediate” and “long-lasting”.

Perhaps the fervent desire to stay young stems from the picture of the ideal woman society has painted. She’s skinny, beautiful, and most importantly, young. And she’s everywhere too, especially in magazines. Chances are you’ll never look as good as she does, at least not with a little help. It’s no wonder then that cosmetics companies are marketing their products to women everywhere in these same magazines, giving them the false hope that they too may one day look as good as that girl in the center of the magazine.

Take the two-page ad for L’oreal Paris’ new Colour Riche lipstick for example. One page of the ad boasts the claim that it is “The 1st Lipstick with Anti-Aging Serum” and promises to create “fuller, smoother lips”. The other page features former supermodel Linda Evangelista in a sexy side-glancing pose wearing bright red lipstick on her seductively parted lips. Including Evangelista was a crafty tactic implemented on L’oreal’s behalf. The marketers of this product recognized her as an aging woman and knew that their target audience would draw an instant connection with her. It’s very smart move except for one tiny detail…she’s a supermodel! During her prime back in the early 90’s she was gorgeous, an exotic beauty admired by women across the globe. And guess what? She still is. It’s quite apparent that she’s aged gracefully since her modeling days, not to mention the fact that any indications of her age have most likely been eliminated with cosmetic surgery or Photoshop. For L’oreal to suggest that Evangelista’s use of their product somehow enhances her beauty and makes her appear younger is absurd. If that was the case, why not include Janet Reno or Barbara Walters in the ads instead? Their aging too and surely this lipstick could take at least ten years off of their appearances, right?

It’s plain to see that through the use of a variety of tricks and underhanded manipulation, cosmetic companies are cashing in on the insecurities of aging women all over. Until our society changes, and women come to terms with the fact that the aging process is natural and unavoidable they will only continue to profit. We should all learn to love the skin we’re in, no matter how wrinkled, scarred, or blemished it may be.

Writing to Comment: The Shiny Apple

By Matt |

Sunday, December 6, 2009

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C.P. Snow once said, “Technology… is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.” When one pictures a computer, the typical image contains a loud, ugly, beige box which causes all types of frustrations and headaches. Due to this negativity, many people great dislike interacting with computers, often referring to them as necessary evils. Technology doesn’t have to be loud and ugly or used with fear; they ads from Apple successfully reel in and illustrate to the viewer that technology can be beautiful and fun. Most importantly Apple’s ads illustrate that while they may “Think Different” but they make products that “Just work.”

Since their creation in the late ‘70’s, Apple has strived to make their products simple in all aspects of the word. Apple has chosen to mirror the simplicity of their products in the simplicity of their ads. Take, for example, an ad Apple ran for the first generation iPhone. The first thing to grab one’s attention is the completely black background. This contrasts and highlights the iPhone and hand that appears to emerge from the darkness. While most cell phone ads try to use as many colors as possible listing feature after feature, Apple’s stance is effective in portraying that this phone is not like anything anyone has ever seen before. With a complete touch screen interface the iPhone changed the definition of a cell phone, making it more than just a device to talk to another person. Apple summarizes this revolution with the simple phrase, “Touching is believing.” This statement fulfills the inner human desire of wanting to feel everything, like a kid in a toy store running through the aisles grabbing everything within reach.

While Apple wants their products to be fulfill those inner human desires, they have a deep commitment to designing products that are remarkably functional and easy to use. Apple’s iMac is the flagship that demonstrates precisely this belief. In the ad, the first words one sees is the bold, “You can’t be too thin. Or too powerful.” Those two short sentences get right to the point; drawing the customer in by effectively saying, this computer is sexy, it doesn’t create wasted space, and it’s a workhorse for whatever you can throw at it. In the not-too-distant past, it was difficult to show a newborn daughter to her grandparents who lived across the country. In this ad, Apple tells the potential customer, “Super simple to share and enjoy [your media] like never before.” With this computer, Apple makes it effortless to upload pictures to the internet and send Grandma an e-mail containing the web address. In addition, due to the camera built into every Apple product, Grandma can see live video of her newborn granddaughter without the cost and mental anguish of air travel.

Ads such as these show a significant transformation in Apple. When they were Apple Computers a magazine ad was full of text, explaining a situation in which a Macintosh came through in unbelievable odds (a house fire for example). The modern day ads do more than just tell the reader the reasons to buy a Mac, they show the reader what owning a Mac can do or how easily it will fit into one’s life. Apple strives to break the mold with their products and their ads show that they live their motto: Think Different.

Writing to Reflect: Covering Our Earth in Sunblock

By karlavillacis | 0 comments

Walking into the Cape Florida Ballroom in the Student Union at my University, I was handed a quarter sheet of paper which read: Danny Orlando, Storm and Opportunities: An Energy and Climate Discussion. We waited approximately ten minutes for everything to be set up and the sponsors to introduce Mr.Orlando. He was here to speak about Energy Star (his employer) and the dangers of Global Warming. Dressed Professionally and speaking formally to his diverse audience he began a speech that from the beginning was catchy and extremely effective. His strategy with visual aids, small jokes, and easy-to-understand examples kept the crowd listening to the very last minute.

Starting with a presentation of pictures on a slide show he explained how us humans, are having an exponential negative impact on earth's well being every year. We've all heard the stories on the news about the new types of energy, how to recycle and what's happening to our ozone layer, but Orlando's speech was different. He found a way to make everything he spoke about directly effect each individual in the audience, no matter the age. Personally, I realized that if change isn't made soon enough by MY generation; MY kids will suffer the consequences. By making it feel like we were doing something honorable instead of carrying a burden, Orlando made us feel the desire to put a little effort into saving our planet.

He emphasized the importance of getting involved in our community and helping out so in the future we can harvest our accomplishments. Through his works, he's able to reach out to people like me who in turn will share my ideas with friends and family. The same goes for Orlando's papers that he has published. Not everyone can go out and give speeches like Orlando, but everyone has the ability to write up their thoughts and make them available for others to agree or disagree with. Viewing how his papers was just as effective as his speech, it shows how much power words have on a paper when written with dedication. It just proves that everyone can be a writer and that should be taken full advantage of to get involved with out community.

Writing to Reflect: Grounded

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

The event, A Pilot Lights the Way: Jesse Leroy Brown, First African-American Aviator & Blacks in Aviation, provided in conjunction with the Zora Institute, was free and open to the public. It consisted of a screening of a commemorative documentary to Jesse L. Brown.

Upon my arrival, I learned that the host was going to be late. After tiresome waiting, a man with a briefcase and a key in his hand zoomed passed me. Taking no time to introduce himself, he simply asked, “You guys here for the screening?” unlocked the door, and ushered us into the dimly lit room. Once seated in my chair, I observed the mysterious man fumbling with the monitor and video player equipment behind the podium. It was obvious that he wasn’t completely sure of how to work the technology. My classmate took it upon himself to lend the man a helping hand and was able to get the movie started.

The documentary, which was basically a narrated slideshow of black and white pictures, chronicled Jesse L. Brown’s life from his adolescent years growing up in Mississippi to his death at the age of twenty-four. After defying all odds and become the first African American naval aviator ever, his life was cut short when a plane he piloted was shot down over the Chosin Reservoir in 1950 during the Korean War.

The movie was effective in commemorating Brown’s life and emphasized the importance of his accomplishments. Its visuals were clear and appropriate to the topic at hand. The only interviews included were from Brown’s wife, Daisy, who spoke to his character with quotes and personal anecdotes. Her commentary was successful in making the presentation more personal, however, interviews from other people close to Brown would have added to the sincerity.and a narrator whose tone was more upbeat, as opposed to monotone like it was, would’ve made the presentation much better.

After watching the film, the host finally took the time to formally introduce himself. His name was Anthony Major and he held the title of program director at the Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies. His title and knowledge of the events surrounding Brown’s life and unfortunate death added credibility to the presentation and made up for many of its negative aspects.

Overall, A Pilot Lights the Way: Jesse Leroy Brown, First African-American Aviator & Blacks in Aviation, was effective in recognizing the lives and accomplishments of Jesse L. Brown and other influential African-American aviators, however, more planning and attention to details would have made the presentation a greater success.

Writing to Reflect: The Big Beg

By Matt |

Saturday, December 5, 2009

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In today's society one can be entertained in a plethora of different ways. One could spend hours on the Xbox, killing people around the world, or one could go to Facebook and catch up with old friends, but one dying form of entertainment is a play. During this past October, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater held a play entitled The Big Bang, a musical comedy featuring Jed, played by Philip Nolen, and Boyd, played by T. Robert Pigott. The show took the audience on an adventure through time; portraying the entire history of the universe in a single play. No doubt a daunting task, but Jed and Boyd amusingly leapt through time, exposing only the most important events in history. Overall, The Big Bang was a hilarious show that kept its audience entertained throughout the entire 75 minutes.

After the seats were filled and the lights dimmed, the audience was informed that the current production was to be only snippets from the full “12 hour, $83.5 million” fabrication. In the performers world, the audience was a group of potential investors and it was Jed’s and Boyd’s job to convince us to invest. Throughout the play the actors enlightened, and often amused, the audience by doing that entertainment faux pas: breaking the fourth wall. This technique was commonly employed to provide exposition regarding details that would be present in the final production. At other times, the fourth wall was broken for comedic effect. For example, at one point during the play, Jed opened an umbrella revealing a “YOUR AD HERE” picture. As the audience grasped the irony, the room erupted with laughter. Antics such as these seized the audiences’ attention for fear that they’d miss a phrase, a dance, or a subtle image.

By far the most amusement came from the fluidity of Boyd and Jed throughout the entire spectacle. The first time the audience experienced this quirk was ‘pre-show’ as the two entered and exited the stage at just the precise moment such that both were never on stage at the same time. Another occurrence happened while describing the final production, Jed says, “enter 40 singers who dance.” Followed up by Boyd without a beat missed, “And 40 dancers who sing.” This maneuver kept the attention of everyone as they waited for another duo to happen.

During a scene just before the American Civil War, a phone rang. Jed answered it and informed Boyd that the owners of the apartment they were using as their stage would be home soon. They quickly cleaned up, explaining to the audience what the rest of the show featured. On their way out, Jed and Boyd tossed out fortune cookies and flyers urging the audience to donate. With the disappearances of all actors, and Albert the piano man “clapping off” the final light, they received a standing ovation from the crowd. Personally my cheeks hurt due to the amount of laughter and smiling I had done. Once I got home, I cracked open the fortune cookie, revealing my fortune, “Invest now- Opportunity knocks.”

Writing to Remember: Our Singing Violet

By karlavillacis |

Thursday, November 12, 2009

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Our small pep rally we had received from our church before our first visit to the nursing home seemed to fade away as we walked into the home. We started off our visit with a grumpy older man who accussed us of feeding him tasteless food. Thrilled to offer company and support to those feeling lonely we were a bit aghast when he drove us out of his room. Hesitant to continue trying, we moved onto the other rooms. We meet such a diverse crowd, each with their own story that sometimes even brought tears to our eyes. In each room we left a red rose along with a card to wish them peace of mind and showed them they were on someone's mind.

Small little details caught my attention. My thoughts of the smell of chlorine and the dim lights were interrupted by the nurses rushing to catch a lady sneaking outside in her wheelchair. Part of me wanted to help her escape the bleak and depressing atmosphere. I wouldn't blame her for her desire to witness the gorgeous Florida landscape. After that small scandal, we ran into the highlight of our visit, Violet. She had been admitted by her grandchildren that couldn't appreciate her enough to care for her. Still, she had the spirit to sing Christmas carols to us holding her head high. Violet left us speechless and made us really think about all the things we take for advantage.

After saying our farewells, we walked through the double doors and soon everyone got silent and looked around. For the first time in years we truly saw how beautiful our community is and felt sincerely fortunate to have the oppurtunity to be involved in it. Our flawless community without crime and vices, but instead filled with peace and harmony, doesn't exist and never will. If that would be the case, there would be no real motivation to become a better person in all aspects. Giving back to those who provided for us in the past is the right thing to do. Soon, we will depend as well in our community. So why not start by setting an example?

Writing to Remember: The Class That Changed My Perspective

By Matt | 0 comments

Do you remember a class that changed your life? Mine was tenth grade English. That class started as every other one had. Students from all walks of life were forced to spend 90 minutes each day together to discuss novels and write papers. We all began that year with out a care for each other, but by the time the semester was over, we had grown to cherish one another.

The primary reason for this growth was due to our eccentric teacher. She ignored most conventions of teaching and it was quick for most students to drop the “Mrs.” from her name. Everything about Parks screamed unique, from the encouragement of complete disregard of censorship to the deep passion she possessed when it came to analyzing books. Despite her oddities, she piled on work for us to do. Every minute of the class was scheduled with never enough time to finish everything. This intense workload was the first thing that forced us to grow together. In order to get everything done we had to depend on each other.

The other thing that really pried our eyes open to each other was an assignment Parks had us do towards the end of the year. We were asked to symbolize our life into a single object and then present why this object was our life to the class. While we had shared the past 15 weeks together we still largely considered each other to be mere acquaintances, certainly not people who we’d spill our deepest life experiences with.

After that project we all felt closer to one another. We were no longer a crowd forced to be in the same room. We were a community meant to share each other’s hardships. While we may not have become the closest of friends, thanks to Parks we had full appreciation of each other’s life and the experiences that went with it.

Writing to Remember: Green-Vested Leperchauns

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

The first time I heard the boom of the drums and the crash of the cymbals I was hooked. It was the first pep rally of the new school year at Piedmont Lakes Middle School and I was just a lonely sixth grader among a crowd of mostly unfamiliar faces clad in black and emerald green. As one would expect of the participants of a junior high pep rally, they were all pumped, cheering and singing along as the school chorus belted out the alma mater in consummate harmony. However, even in the midst of all this commotion, I couldn’t suppress the anxiety building up in the pit of my stomach as I sat, in a daze, contemplating what the year ahead would bring and where exactly I’d fit in. Of course, I had some friends but the transition from elementary school to middle school made seeing them difficult. I knew I needed a place to belong, a group to be a part of. I just had to figure out where that place would be. As my thoughts continued to race inside my head, my eardrums were suddenly flooded by the sweet sound of the “Star Spangled Banner” being performed by a symphony of adolescent musicians. They all wore black slacks, white tuxedo shirts, cummerbunds, and bowties. But what really caught my eye were their emerald green vests complete with gold ribbon trim. I might have been a complete dork for thinking these silly getups were actually cool but I didn’t care, they all looked like super-cool, music-playing leprechauns. Becoming a musician had never crossed my mind before but at that very moment it was as if a switch was flipped and an imaginary light bulb began to flicker above my head. “I’m gonna be in the band,” I thought to myself.

As I entered the band room for the first time and took my seat, Mr. Perry, the band director, greeted me. He was a pot-bellied man in suspenders with a scruffy, gray beard and piercing blue eyes. Although rather intimidating at first, after taking the time to introduce himself the façade quickly faded. He explained that in a week we’d have the opportunity to try out for band and warned that it was a commitment, not a club. None of his speech scared me though. I was ready and I wanted my green vest.

Fast forward to audition day. I’d narrowed down my list of instruments I was interested in and zeroed in on the clarinet. Auditioning was fairly simple. All I had to do was blow into a clarinet mouthpiece for Mr. Perry. If he thought we had potential, we were in. Later that day, the list was posted and I made it. Needless to say, I was ecstatic.

Once joining the band I quickly learned that there’s just something about music that really brings people together. What it is, I don’t know, but I do know that being accepted into the band community was so rewarding. The band room became my home away from home. However, it wasn’t the room itself that I became so attached to, but the personal bonds I gained in it that made it one of my favorite places to be. To me, being in band meant I would always have a friend to confide in, a shoulder to lean on, or just a buddy to laugh with. Even now when I revisit the halls of Piedmont Lakes Middle School the memories are still fresh. I can still smell the stale scent of the practice rooms and see the sound panel covered walls embellished with painted handprints and pictures of band members past. Their legacy left behind is one of which I am now a part of for this is the place, the very room, in which I was accepted into the brotherhood of the green-vested leprechauns.

Procrastination? It's my middle name.

By karlavillacis |

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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We’ve all been there and felt the stress of the clock ticking until deadline. I can most definitely speak from experience. In high school we don’t have many big responsibilities but in college we are burdened by them. As shown in Cheese Crackers and Root Beer by Makani MacDonald, we seem to leave our work for last, especially when it has to do with English papers. His poem written for an English assignment perfectly depicts the situation a college student is in the couple of hours before an assignment is due. I can definitely relate to it. The question is: “Why do we leave our work for the last minute?” My answer: “I work better under pressure.” Maybe we use that as an excuse to feel better about being on Facebook for multiple hours instead of doing our academic work. Maybe we haven’t gotten used to how to use our free time in college. I can tell you from firsthand experience that in college, it’s not a joke. You can’t sweet talk your teacher of 400 other students for extra time. It’s a matter of making yourself not feel guilty for the inevitable procrastination that occurs every single time you have a paper to write. This poem aims for the college crowd. For those who are on the edge of academic probation. For those who are struggling with prioritizing their school work. For freshman like me who waited till the last hour to do my assignment and felt that if I had started it yesterday it wouldn’t have been as good.

Adrian College: A Time Capsule on our 150th

By Matt |

Monday, October 26, 2009

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Sigmund Freud once said, "the child is the father of the man," that is, who we are today is a result of our experiences and who we were yesterday. A Time Capsule aims to remind us to not forget what shaped us and to thank those involved in that process.

High School Sweethearts by Erin Wilkin follows the love lives of her parents when they were younger. Wilkin opens her essay stating how her parents didn't really remember how they met and started dating "it just sort of happened." Rather than settle with that typical answer, Wilkin asked for them to think it over and for each of them to send their side of the story. After they reflected on it, each parent sent the e-mail. Herein lies the ultimate goal of this gallery: reflect upon times past. By reflecting upon our former memories we can discover who we truly are. This gallery is full of former events, cementing peoples lives in history.

Suppressed Reality by Eric Britz shows us what happens when we do not allow our history to surface. Britz's poem personifies the inner child we all posses. Most people today block out their inner child, they trap it inside and never let it see the light of day. As Britz portrays this only ends in constant struggle. The inner child is fighting to get out, while the grown adult is fighting to keep him in. As Britz points out, "Darkness closing, choking, Rendering me motionless," suppressing this reality will only end in suffering.

Many of the writings in A Time Capsule also recommend thanking those who shaped your life. In Kayleigh Nelson's Becoming an Elementary Teacher she reflects on the people that inspired her to teach. Throughout the essay she gives thanks to every person who helped her, pointing out that if it wasn't for them, she would not want to be a teacher.

Adrian College: A Time Capsule on our 150th

Writing in the Online Community

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

Writing has always been a part of life. From a young age we are taught to write and how the ability to write well is an important skill to have. As we've all grown, technology has come to play a larger role in our day to day lives. With this change came a variety of mediums in which the things we write can be shared not only with those around us, but with the world. It used to be that we'd write an essay on paper and the only eyes to see it would be those of our teacher, our parents, or even one of our classmates. We write to inform, we write to express, we write to persuade, but what purpose does our writing really serve if it isn't shared with the world? Now, with the invention of the internet, one's audience can be much larger. There are now so many different ways to communicate our thoughts and ideas online, including via Twitter, Facebook, or Blogger. The gallery I discovered, Writing in the Online Environment, features a variety of blog posts and essays pertaining writing in the online community. I also think that as the times change it is important for the education system to stay up to date. One of the essays in the gallery, titled "Classroom Technology", emphasizes this point. By implementing the technologies available to us in the classroom, a student's learning environment will be enriched.

Gallery Link: Writing in the Online Community

Reasons for Writing

By Matt |

Monday, October 19, 2009

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There are many different reasons for a person to put their thoughts onto paper. Writing is often used to communicate and exchange ideas. The best example of this is an online chatroom. Of course the audience and context matters; but writing is used to develop ideas and to pass the time by entertaining each other. Entertainment is one of the most common reasons for writing, we experience this most through fictional books. Many people have early memories of reading fairytales as a children. These imaginative stories had a way of transporting us to a world beyond our own and escape the pressures of our community. Curling up with a good book is a great way to pass the time and just forget the world for a while.

We also write to inform others of issues facing our community and evoke change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was famous for not only his speeches but the letters he wrote to representatives all over the South. Through his writings, he was able to inspire and empower members of not only his local community, but communities throughout the South and the nation. When we write we can play the same role as he did by inspiring our following college students.

The reasons to write are boundless. With our blog, we hope to share a collection of different examples of the reasons we write and what these writings can do in our community.