Everything Has its Dark Side

McDonalds, home of Ronald McDonald and of the notorious happy meal.  It’s hard to find a more cheerful place, but have you ever imagined what the friendly fast-food restaurant becomes when the Sun goes down?

It was about nine o’clock at night and we were talking with some local Christian rappers.  To shelter ourselves from the cold breeze, we decided to sit inside a nearby McDonalds.  Unlike what commercials portray, the restaurant was desolate, with the exception of some teenagers.

One group in particular was very rowdy and their behavior oozed a belief that this was their restaurant, but paying no mind to anything, my brother and the Christian rap duo, Lorenzo and Mark, continued their business-concerned conversation.  Lorenzo’s wife and I sat quietly.

Soon enough, the group of males, that had since grown, began to approach our group of five.  Within seconds, we were surrounded.  Lorenzo quickly reacted, not with fists or threats, but with compassion.  He responded to them with calm and ease, even giving each individual a free shirt from his Christian clothing line.  I remember one reading “Christ or Nothing,” as I clenched my Jesus bracelet thanking God for a safe end to the night.

Looking back at it, McDonalds will never look the same to me because I have literally seen its dark side.  I was scared that night and I’d be a fool if otherwise.  It wasn’t the first “sketchy” situation I’ve encountered, but having been able to walk away from past situations, doesn’t guarantee that I will always have the luxury of doing so.  Those boys were far from their logic and only they know what was in their pockets.  All I know is that I did not want to find out.

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When you put God first, he will make sure you remain protected.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Mrs. Andrione was my teacher.  She was nice, easy-going, approachable, and definitely helpful.  AP Art History was the class.  Challenging?  Yes, but doable with some hard work.  There was never a routine schedule, never leaving an opportunity for our palettes to be dulled.  Sometimes she showed us power points, maybe we’d watch a movie, or perhaps we’d give group presentations.  The topics were always kept interesting and your typical studying was replaced with practice exams and jeopardy.  At the end of the year I got a five on my AP exam!

To summarize my AP Biology class there was one science fair project, one power point for notes on water, several failed exams, and busy work; worksheets that in no way prepared me for the three hour test that lied ahead, but only took me from 12:35pm to 2:05pm.  After getting a much expected one on my exam, I realized that I came out of that class with no new knowledge about biology and that if I ever wanted to excel in a science class I would have to rely on my own initiative, rather than trusting my educator’s techniques.

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Balance is Key

When I was very young, my family moved to the United States.  We left Puerto Rico, having to learn a new language and continue life away from everything that was familiar to us.

In elementary school, I lived in a diverse, military neighborhood, but attended a predominantly white school.  My experience can in no way compare to that of the Little Rock Nine, but I was not welcomed with open arms either.  For the most part, I was treated like an outcast with a classic case of discrimination.

By the time middle school came around, I was living in Maryland and had plenty of family issues.  Negative emotions were only intensified with arguments, financial problems, and the news of my uncle’s unexpected suicide.  To make matters worst, within six months of my uncle’s death my parents filed for divorce.

Sure, I cried and was completely miserable when these events of my past were my present, but these experiences have shaped me.  I cannot change the past so why wonder what life would be like if I could?  I have to work with what I was given.

Yes, I miss my family, but if I would have stayed in Puerto Rico my options would be very limited.  I absolutely hated feeling like I didn’t belong, but because of it I learned that not everybody is going to be polite.  Of course, I wish that seeing my uncle was possible, but I realized that time spent with the people you love should always be appreciated.  I learned that the hard way, but I learned.  As for my parents, nobody wants a separated home, but it beats living in a war zone.

Of all the negative in my past I have been able to find a positive.  When you are experiencing negativity, it is extremely difficult to be optimistic, but trust that there is always some balance.  I don’t wake up wishing for a bad day, but I know that those bad days are an inescapable part of life.  To experience true happiness you must experience true negativity and grow from that tragedy.

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E-Generation is My Generation

CutiePie posted on your wall: “I txted u! =P”

This is my generation, engulfed in everything electronic.  Ipods, YouTube, online shopping, video games, you name it.  Our lives are centered on the electronic luxuries that our parents, oddly enough, were able to survive without. 

My generation complains when they have no service or when someone is ignoring their Facebook message.  They complain when they cannot find Kanye’s CD online.  Why not talk to your friends in person?  Why not actually walk into a music store?  But if we changed our ways, I guess we wouldn’t be the E-Generation!

My Well-Being

What makes a place matter?  It can be several things.  For me, it is nostalgia and faith. “El Pozo de La Virgen (The Well of the Virgin)” is among the holiest sanctuaries in Puerto Rico.  In the early 1950s, this once normal well was where three children claimed that they saw the Virgin Mary, almost instantly attracting believers from all around the world.  The momentous event was viewed as a sign of her presence and confirmation of religious thought.

Everything about this landmark is much more than familiar to me.  It is a part of who I am.  My family has been faithful to this site since its birth and, as devout believers in God, Jesus, and the Virgin, we continue to worship there in honor of our faith.  When I lived in Sabana Grande, the chapel was my place for prayer and my personal mental escape.  The tranquility of this place is so calming that it is hard for anybody not to feel connected to it, which is why I go back every time I visit the island.

The hundreds of thousands of people who travel to see this place in person can agree with me when I say that this place has much more significance than providing fresh water.  It maintains faith, arouses hope, and keeps memories alive.  This place has remained practically unchanged from when the chapel was built near the well, making tradition and familiarity that much more attainable.

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A place isn't just a place anymore

What makes a place matter?  It can be several things.  For me, it is nostalgia and faith.  “El Pozo de La Virgen (The Well of the Virgin)” is among the holiest sanctuaries in Puerto Rico.  It was once another well in Sabana Grande, but in the early 1950s it was where three children claimed that they saw the Virgin Mary, almost instantly attracting believers from all around the world.  The momentous event was viewed as a sign of her presence and confirmation of religious thought.

Everything about this landmark is much more than familiar to me.  It is a part of who I am.  My family has been faithful to this site since its birth and, as devout believers in God, Jesus, and the Virgin, we continue to worship there in honor of our faith.  When I lived in Sabana Grande, the chapel was my place for prayer and my personal mental escape.  The tranquility of this place is so calming that it is hard for anybody not to feel connected to it, which is why I go back every time I visit the island.

The hundreds of thousands of people who travel to see this place in person can agree with me when I say that this place has much more significance than providing fresh water.  It maintains faith, arouses hope, and keeps memories alive.  This place has remained practically unchanged from when the chapel was built near the well, making tradition and familiarity that much more attainable.

(word count: 249 words)

More Skin=More Empowerment

In the 1960s, women began reviving their personal independence from what society believed a woman should be through fashion.  During this time period, women began expressing their freedom through the infamous mini skirt and it was an outrage.  Society believed that descent ladies should not be taking part in the rebellious mod style; however, the youth had different opinions.  The mod look was in and it gave women a freedom that had not been felt since the flappers kissed goodbye their long locks and corsets. Women were wearing mini skirts because they wanted to and because they could.

Women viewed these skirts as empowering tools that allowed them to do things they couldn’t do before.  Tangibly speaking, they could walk with more ease and show off their figures.  Psychologically, the skirts sparked passion, determination, and self-rule amongst females.  These differences were greatly reflected in several protests that women took part in, including the Civil Rights Movement.  Undoubtedly, women were forcing themselves into politics and the professional world by earning various employment opportunities, among other benefits, through policies like the Equal Pay Act.  The women of the 1960s changed fashion rules to show that neither clothes nor politics would limit their identities.

Women, today, continue to shock the world through fashion to re-initiate ‘Girl Power.’  Jennifer Lopez’s infamous Versace gown is a perfect example.  Lopez has established herself as one of the most successful business women in today’s society, which is precisely why she wore that dress.  Jennifer Lopez wanted to remind the public that she could wear whatever she wants because, at the end of the day, she is the one writing the checks.

Although Lopez wasn’t sporting a mini skirt on this red carpet, her message exemplifies that this liberating mentality from the ‘60s, in parallel to women’s fashion and status, is still very present.  Women have achieved a sense of freedom in various aspects of society, which also translates into clothing.  Women now become what they want to be, wear what they want to wear, and do what they want to do because of the 1960s mini skirt.

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Mini Skirts, Cleavage, and Rights?

In the 1960s, women were reviving their personal independence from what society believed a woman should be.  During this time period, women began wearing mini skirts, sleeveless tops, and baby doll dresses.  To many, this was an outrage.  It was inappropriate for women to show bare skin, which was how the pantyhose came about, and vibrant, mod outfits were not ideal for a practical young lady.  However, the youth had different opinions.  The mod look was in style and it gave women a freedom that had not been felt since the flappers kissed goodbye their long locks and corsets.  Women were wearing mini skirts, mini dresses, stilettos, and many were experimenting with different hairstyles because they wanted to.

This drastic change in style was clearly a reflection of the political changes of the decade.  Women were using revealing and bold fashion to express the Civil Rights Movement that gave way in the 1960s, where African Americans and women alike were fighting for their rights.  Among other political changes, the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave women several employment opportunities.  The women of the 1960s wanted to show that neither clothes nor politics would limit their identities.

Today, women have taken their shocking fashion to a whole new level.  Jennifer Lopez’s infamous Versace gown is a perfect example of this; however, as provocative as that dress was, Jennifer Lopez has established herself as one of the most successful business women in today’s society.  Perhaps she was proving that no one was going to tell her what she needed to where because, at the end of the day, she is the one writing the checks.

Lopez exemplifies that this liberating mentality from the ‘60s, in parallel to women’s fashion and status, is still very present.  Women have achieved a higher place in nearly all aspects of society, giving them a sense of independence and freedom, which also translates into clothing.  Walk down any street and every woman will be wearing what she wants to be wearing because she knows she can.

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11:11... Make a Wish!

Picture yourself before any traumatizing research papers, before all the sleepless nights, before Spark Notes became your best friend, and before you even knew what SATs were and you’ll realize that that is where it all began.  I was about three years old and I was desperate to go to school.  I wanted no business spending half of my day inside the house, while my brother and sister got to learn and make friends.  Eventually, my desperation led my mom to decide to play “school” with me.  I thought that nothing in the world, probably with the exception of Barney, could top this magical game which satisfied my never ending lust for kindergarten.  As often as we could, my mother and I would play “school” and it was always the highlight of my day.  My mom would get out a chalkboard and be my teacher, while I would get out my desk and be her student.  Every time we played, she would give me new assignments, ask me different questions, and even assign homework, even if it was just coloring a picture or writing my name.  She would always help me practice counting, reading, writing, and basically any other thing that a child would want to learn.  It’s amazing how back then I longed for schoolwork, while now I find myself longing more for a break from it.  Well, you know what they say.  Be careful what you wish for!

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Me, Myself, and I

I am a Puerto Rico native.  I am a Maryland resident.  I am a student.  I am a dancer.  I am a photographer.  I am a writer.  I am a daughter.  I am a sister.  I am a friend.  I love to laugh.  I love to cry.  I love to travel.  I love to relax.  I love to learn.  I love to give.  I love to snuggle.  I am all of this and much, much more.  All of these points make up only some of the small chapters in what is my story.  The story of a creative, yet studious, mind.  The story of a “boricua” learning how to properly mix two very different cultures.  The story of exploring the narrative and emotion found in dance, pictures, and words.  The story of coping with divorce, death, and almost all forms of loss.  Most of all, the story of Tatiana.

Do you want to learn more about Puerto Rico?
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