Thursday, September 29, 2011

September went fast!

Boy, what a September it was...and it went by so quickly I didn't even think it went by so much. It was the fresh beginning of my final year at UCF and I began in a new major track in Broadcast Generalist. Now, a couple weeks later, I feel much more accomplished and hopefully had good grades to start the year with. I also have a couple of my friends that I used to have in previous classes to help me out.

As the end of September has reached, I feel great to have accomplished so much early on, but I've gotta stay on task and keep on the ball here...there's always a habit of the work getting harder and it's up to me to get through ok.

Next month is my birthmonth as my birthday is on October 17...on a Monday no less, ugh! There is also some more things going on campus as well as I try to look into possible internships to have before I graduate next year. The responsibilities keep getting harder, but I will look to get through it all right.

That is my life up to date so far...hope everyone else is doing great and hope to see you soon if I either see you or get a chance to talk to you guys!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Oh, the changes my friends have had

It may sound crazy but I still feel like my high school graduation was like only 1 year ago (when really it has been 6 years since I graduated from Key West High School). Since then, I've witnessed a lot of changes happening to all of my friends whether it is getting married, having a baby, and working in some place great after college graduation (or just right out of high school).

Soon, I'll be joining them, but probably will have to make a rain check on marriage and babies being born until I have a girl to spend my life with, lol! It still does feel strange that the same people I've made friends with over the years in high school, college, and anywhere else have changed for the better.

I hear all the time the same status quo message from my friends to "live life to the fullest", but my friends have really lived life and they are getting better with each passing day. I use this as motivation to improve as well so my life can be just as enjoyable or maybe even better than my friends are. So, to all of my friends near and far from where I'm living now, keep living life to the fullest...I will soon be joining you!

Friday, September 16, 2011

How much I miss home...

I go around here in Orlando looking at all the places to have fun at...but it is no secret that I do miss Key West. I've made so many friends, made a reputation of myself, and gone through all of the good and the bad times down there when I lived in Key West.

Back then, there were so many fun things to do around there such as the Magic Carpet Miniature Golf, two Laser Tag places and a fair once in a while. Now there is not much fun around except for the beaches, the downtown bars, and the attractions telling the history of Key West.

Despite that, it was a place of joy for me because I made friends and was able to come out of my shell thanks to them. If I did not have many friends, I would probably not be the fun loving TJ that you would see me as today. I always remember all the fun times in Key West including Fantasy Fest, New Year's, and the parties that I loved going to.

For many who have not experienced Key West, I tell you it is pure paradise and once in a while you should go here and for many who have lived and went to Key West, you would enjoy going back and seeing all the changes that have happened...I know I would. It has been 2 years since my family has moved from paradise (except my brother Stephen who is living with his girlfriend, Deanna) but I really would like to go back someday and enjoy a drink at a bar, a relaxing day at the beach, and socialize with others here and there.

For 10+ years, I loved being in Key West and even though I am not there, the fact that I lived there made me who I am today!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

10 Year Reflection of September 11th

It's been strange to know that today is the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. A lot of people have been apprehensive of this day while others believe since that day we have become stronger.

Ten years ago, I was a freshman at Key West High School and I was sitting in the middle of my environmental science class only to see the tragic events happen right on the television. The cities of New York and Washington DC were left to ponder in sheer terror of the events that have just occurred and the events that would have happened for the last plane had it made its quest to destroy whatever it was aiming at. Many people were devastated at this time including my family.

At this time, my dad was just coming back from a year leave to Korea during his time in the air force and was preparing to leave for his next assignment at Ft. Walton Beach and my mom was working at AIDS Help Inc. in Key West. My brothers and I were very devastated that this would happen and each day, week, and year since, we have seen the advances on how we would make our country stronger than it has ever been.

Since that tragic day, we have compromised two lethal leaders in Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, have tightened a grip on airport security, and minimized terrorism to the point that it should not happen anymore. If you would ask me if we are a safer country, I would say we are but not to the point of being invincible, but close to it. I am thankful for every person that has sacrificed their lives to help us gain our freedom and for all the former people in the service, including my dad, for their dedication to making our nation stronger than ever. To all the men and women serving overseas, we love you, we thank you, and come home safely!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Everything is settling in so far

One week right after everything was so meek and desperate, finally things are settling in here. I finally have my money for the semester, I finally have the front door key to my apartment after waiting for so long, and my classes seem to be more understanding than I have anticipated. It would seem that my life is back on track, but if I kept saying that to myself, I'd only be fooling myself in believing in something that was not real.

Still some things are not in place yet such as finding a part-time job here in Orlando (I have already applied to at least 20 jobs and for some damn reason they don't have the gall to ask me for an interview at least) and I am most recently going to apply for an internship for next semester since I've only got one more class to complete for that semester. I keep telling myself to never give up and keep trying because there are a lot of negative people in this world that keep telling me that I will never get into this or that and I just pretend I'm watching a screwed-up TV show and just press the mute button on the remote and don't listen to them. In this time, we have a screwed up economy, but I know it's not screwed up enough to get a part-time job--I know this already, but come on...money's tough enough to keep as it is; at least call me for a damn interview at least.

However, for the most part, life in Orlando is getting back in place and I'm know I'm going to finally finish next semester. For now, it's just about making it reality. In other events, football season is fully back with the NFL season just starting last night and the college season in full flux. For the most part, most of my teams in college and in the NFL should do decently especially for the Knights, Noles, and Hawkeyes. My Oakland Raiders begin Monday Night against the Broncos and I should expect some improvement to at least make the playoffs and not have another dull season of 5-11 or 4-12 for that matter.

School life is looking to get very interesting so far...I am taking 4 classes. My military history since 1900 class is getting interesting and since I have a family member who was in the military for some time, this may be appealing to me. Another class is Regulations of Broadcasting is a class in which there are some opinions on how broadcasting has originated and how it should look today...may not have very many opinions on it, but since I'm watching NBC in the morning for the Today Show or Local News in the morning, I may become more informed on it. Another class is Public Relations in which we learn how the public is well informed on influence and since we have our class in an auditorium, material should not be that hard to learn. My last class, but fun class, is RTV Advertising in which we learn about sales but the fun part about this class is we earn points to gain in case we don't do well on exams and any other assignments. A very interesting load for this semester but I'm hopeful to gain at least a few A's for this semester (since I came into UCF, A's have been rare to get in my case).

Anyways, that is my life so far and everything seems to be settling in better. To all my friends, family, and any other people interested, I hope that your lives seem to be settling in better as well and do not be afraid to try something new because you never know if it will benefit you for the better!

Friday, September 2, 2011

On the eve of another football season

Finally, football season has arrived and I'm back into the mix of looking forward to it...after all I most likely will be going into sports whether it will be announcing, advertising, etc. My school's team, the UCF Knights, just came off of their best season in school history including winning their first bowl game ever and they look to build upon it. For my other teams, the Florida State Seminoles are looking great at #6 and hope to get back to national prominence, the Iowa Hawkeyes took a step back and look to get back into it this year, and my NFL team the Oakland Raiders finally improved after 7 years of disappointment and try to get back into the playoffs. Yeah, I have a strange set of favorite teams, but who the hell cares, they're my choices damn it!

Anyways, it's great to see that fall is soon about to kick in and I have fully settled in my apartment...my duties are still kept as the same-find a part-time job during the year, try to improve in school, and enjoy my last year while I can...a lot to do on my plate, but nobody said it would be easy. Almost went through a little crisis yesterday with my family on paying the first rent of the month, but got through it ok...i pray that my financial aid comes next week!

But other than that, life is going swimmingly as I try to improve myself as a person, as a friend, and in life as well. To all my friends, family, and anyone else who cares to read this, hope you guys are doing great in life as well!