Nosey Little Sucker, Aren't You?

You want in on the "juicy" details...Me and Cass welcome you!
JENNIFER

1/25/12

Ok so it has been a while since I have updated everyone with MyCousinJenny news. My past few weeks have been on a constant motions forward and I all can think about is graduating.

This whole waking up early ordeal on Mondays and Wednesdays for my internship has been taking a toll on my energy for sure. I wake up at 6:45 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday, shower, get dressed, and head out. Luckily for myself, Darian starts the car up and everything and takes me to the train station to catch the 8:16. I get on the BNSF Naperville- Route 59 stop and it is the stop where everyone gets on so here’s my strategy to get a good upstairs individual seat:

Use my height as an advantage!

Kiss Darian goodbye and squeeze my way underneath the business professionals and their briefcases, those too concerned about their smartphones, and make my way to the second person in line on the cart. I’m a genius, I know.

But it’s something about Metra that I admire. No, not people or the magenta seating, but Metra’s incentives to get passengers to get to the train station on time, yet still hope that they don’t. If Darian and I get to the train station at about 7:55-8:00 a.m. there is a good chance that I will be able to avoid the crowd and get a roundtrip ticket for $11 a day. However, if I do not get the ticket at the booth and wait to buy it on the train, I’ll pay $8.50 for a one-way ticket. Now that’s crazy! Talk about a profit!

Ok well anyways, I leave my internship at about 3:30-4:00 p.m. and catch a bus back to Union Station in enough time to catch an evening Metra back to Aurora and have Darian either take me to my 6:30 p.m. class OR drop me off at my car. My first week of classes, I managed to doodle on the paper and nod off to sleep. So conclusion for Monday and Wednesdays: Get adequate sleep on Sundays and Tuesday or I’ll never stay away for my evening classes.

But enough with that aspect. Let’s talk about Fashion Loves You.

I’m the President of the Fashion Loves You student organization at Aurora University and I cannot describe the pannick I was feeling last week about the organization. See, my Vice-President, Kiara, is not on campus this semester. And my CEO Eric is too busy with school, working, and other extra curricular activities to even meet up and discuss our plans this semester. And if you know me, you know how much I love being apart of Fashion Loves You. So as the only board member on campus (even as a commuter) last week I was stressing out printing meeting/event forms, getting them signed and turned in on time. Because if you’re familiar with FLY, you know that it’s that time of the semester! Yea, or organization hosts one of thee most anticipated events! The Spring fashion show!

So I am really overwhelmed. It’s my senior year, I feel like I’m so separated from the rest of my board members as well pull together to put together this show, and I can count on my hands and toes how many hours of sleep I get a week. And the stress on my hands right now isn’t even including my current retail job or my relationship with Darian…Those two deserve a completely new post…Smh. Drama, drama, and more drama!

And my birthday was last week (January 18th) and I'll post the UNCUT photos from that night next week lol. UNEXPLAINABLE! Lol! Next week's post, I'm sure will be good. Everyone wants in on "Oh Jenn how are you and Darian doing?" Most people who ask really don't care, especially if I'm happy. But you want in? You want to be nosey...Here goes...

CASSANDRA

1/24/12

My week started off fantastic (dramatic voice).  Every week I attend my internship for about 20 hours. Well on Monday January 16, 2012 I was supposed to be up and out by 8 am in order to make my 32 min commute to Woodridge, IL.  I woke up at 9, rushed and got dressed. Warmed my car up, which took ten minutes more than normal and proceeded on my way. I was jamming and on my way to the expressway, and I hit a curb and my front tire popped.  I panicked and called my Papi (my father is my superman), well superman did not answer so my mother was my next life line, still no answer.  I called Chacha (my Twin) and she didn’t answer, this is when I panicked to the point where I began to tear up (yes it was that serious…lol).

Lucky my brother answered and to my surprise was willing to help in any way possible.  He told me calm down and he would be on his way.  Now I had to figure out how I would get to a parking lot that was safe for me to wait. Being that the tire was my front tire I could not go far.  I waited an hour and some change. While I was waiting, I called my best friend Samaria and her sick behind made up a joke or two and brought me back to reality.  My brother finally saved the day. I called my supervisor and she told me not to go in and just take the day off, because I needed it.  When I returned to AU the same spot I left, was still there, and I took this as a sign from God. He told me I needed a break and I didn’t listen, guess he showed me!  I used the rest of the day to be productive and decorate the hall with Shanequia and Jassminn (both my residents and friends). They made my day worthwhile.

After a long week of classes and internship, I was excited for the fun filled weekend with Marzel, Samantha, Shanequia, and Jassminn.  Mother Nature made another appearance and brought us more snow and took Comcast cable with her.  Without cable we had to make the best of our Friday and we made it the best possible snow day.  Marzel apparently felt he was gone beat us up but we made sure he let all of campus know we won! This started one of my many weekends that will consist of doing nothing.  No home work and no readings, just laid back interaction with my loves. I must say it has felt good to spend the weekend with my only worry being fixing my tire and RA duty.

Lastly, I will like to say that I really enjoyed the time I spend with Marzel.  I’m sure many of you could care less about my [love] life, but if you didn’t you would not be reading, now would you??  College has taught me a lot of things and out of the many things, the one thing I have found myself using more now than ever before is, “ be open minded.”  I’m learning a lot about myself and with school and life moving in the direction I want, feeling wanted and appreciated is almost desired.  I have said it a million times I’m not looking for another relationship or love, but I think it’s looking for me and we are having one hell of a hide and seek war and I think I like it. This last month has shown me that I have settled a lot in the past and deserve the best and to be happy. I have been telling everyone around me to “ go with the flow and followe your heart. F&^k the rules.. Love has no script,” and I think it’s time I follow my own advice.  So look out ten blogs from now, I may add another title to my description…hahaha.

With that being said and with life having a million obstacles that one must cross, there will always be someone and something in your way.  They’ll try to destroy you and your progression, but it is your duty to tell them….”you ain’t gone do SHIIIITTTTTTT”.  My future is mine I’m claiming my degree, my career, my life.. my happiness.. my future! See you next week. (I’ll try to post video and pics soon) =)

Graduation...What You Know About That?

Project Graduation: Week 2

Project Graduation: Jennifer

Well Sunday was January 1^st 2012 so like any other individual that decided to celebrate the New Year, I was recovering from the late night. I woke up with a headache around 11 a.m. the next morning and I had no choice but to shake it off because I had a noon shift at work. So I showered, threw on some clothes, and headed back to the mall.

I’m a stylist at Akira-Chicago. So my main focus is making sure my clients look their best because technically, whenever they go out, they are representing me. So my job is pretty much like playing with dolls and dressing them up. The best part of my day, and what actually makes the day go by faster, is actually talking with my clients and getting to know them. You never know who you are talking to unless you ask and I actually engage with a variety of individuals! I winded up meeting another senior May 2012 graduate at Aurora University, who was shopping for herself even though it was her mom’s birthday, a young woman that received the opportunity to travel during the holidays and calls Philly her hometown, and many more interesting ladies.

I winded up being off from work on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so these days were pretty relaxing. My boyfriend, Darian, and I set down for a second and had a really intense conversation. We talked about our future. The two of us sat in the car for about an hour and just talked. Darian and I have been dating for close to years now but how we met is more interesting than the time we have invested in one another…

In 2010, my sophomore year at Aurora University, I decided to get more socially involved on campus so I joined the Fashion Loves You organization. The group was known for hosting the university’s annual Spring fashion show so it seemed like a great opportunity to meet and mingle with more Aurora University Spartans. Well, in one of our rehearsals in March, the F.L.Y. board made a few announcements and I noticed this guy sitting down on a yoga mat (We were in the student recreation center) with his baseball cap pulled down and over his eyes. So after the announcement I walked over to him and slapped him on top of the cap.

That was pretty much how Darian and I met, as crazy as that sounds. I remember that same summer we went for a walk on a Naperville trail, right off of Naperville/Plainfield road, where we really talked and learned more about one another. Come to find out, we were training for boxing at the same gym, shared the same coach (Shout out to Mr. B!) and never paid attention to one another. We also found out we were both Business Commerce and Marketing majors at AU, and just never ran across one other. So one thing about my relationship, we really believe that 2010 was the right timing for us to really meet and get to know each other.

But in that car, Darian and I winded up sharing something that we were afraid for the other to hear. Even though he is a recent graduate with a B.A. in business, and I am headed for the same thing, we winded up sharing that maybe Marketing is not the path that we want to take. As much as I love the field, I am beginning to discover my passion and love for children, writing, and event planning. So even though we are preparing for our MBA, Fall 2012, I’m not sure if Marketing is my calling anymore…And considering graduation is near that may be a HUGE problem!

  

Project Graduation: Cassandra



This week has been a week full of joys, disappointment, and a hell of a lot of happy moments. Since I last wrote, I have started back my RA life and with this position have come a lot of dedication. This past week has been full of mixed emotions. I was excited to start back school, but was not ready be at school just yet. After coming to the realization that this is part of my job, the enjoyment began. I spent my days in back to back meetings and my nights preparing for the return of Aurora University residents. With this information, my mixed emotions began to resurface. I began to think was I really ready for the start of the semester with a practically new group of young women and personalities?  This was tested yesterday, when I had to encounter a drunken resident and the many problem that come with that; excess noise, boys, throw-up, and spills.  Long story short, I didn’t lose my job, but gained a better insight of how it is to be a mother to an 18 year old. All this was made less overwhelming with the help of “My Marzel”.

With Resident life and continued meetings, I have had to make time for grad applications.  With life after undergrad approaching rapidly, I have been extremely overwhelmed, but I am ready for what the future has to hold, whether it is thousands of miles away or a thousand blocks. This semester as a whole does not appear, as of right now, to be predicatively difficult and I have the feeling that I will be able to handle it, due to the fact that I have been in my internship for over five months now and have been juggling this RA position while still maintaining my 3.7 G.P.A.

With school approaching tomorrow I was able to enjoy my last days with a very good friend of mine. After ending a relationship of three years, three and a half months ago,  I decided that I wasn’t looking for anyone special, just a fling or two (…..I'm kidding..*giggles*).  But I wasn’t looking for anything serious, and wanted to just have fun, learn more about myself, and be the person I felt I lost over the last few years. A month ago I met someone that changed my view on all of that, and I can honestly say, I'm happy… however, my happiness was not caused by this acquaintance, but it has been amplified greatly.

Well looking toward the future I leave you leave by saying…"If you never did you should. These things are fun, and fun is good. ~Dr. Suess".

Project Graduation: Darian



Today is Sunday January 8th, 2012. After celebrating the new year right, it's right back to reality. This past week has been hard hitting to my mind. Everyday I have been waking up stressed. Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative for GOD waking me up another day but, I have been stressing out. As soon as I wake up. The first thing on my mind is my future.

In mid week, about Wednesday, Jennifer and I had a long discussion about our future careers. After conversing and listening to what she really likes, we discovered she loves working with children and likes event planning. I thought it was kind of cool because, she watches the children pageant television shows a lot so I completely support her on what she would like to do. I think she would be great for something in that area. But soon the question was asked upon me.

I have been trying to figure out what career path I could take and be happy. I didn't just want any old job. I want a career that makes me happy. I love business, but just working in that field is not satisfying. After some deep thinking, I came to realize that I want to work with video production. It started when I was throwing events with close friends and colleagues. I would put the video together and we would show it on social networking sites. After doing so many videos and receiving great feedback on my creations, I wanted to work in video production even more. So after Jennifer and I had our conversation, I knew what I wanted to do and where my drive came from. The problem is getting there. How will I get to this career, who will help me learn, and who is willing to give me a chance. After waking up daily and being stressed out, I couldn't take the frustration anymore. I needed to get out of Aurora, and I meant fast.

     

Finally, Friday came and Trevor, one of my closest homies, gave me a call. He asked if I was willing to go on a road trip and I was down for the cause. This opportunity came right in the nick of time. I haven't been away from Aurora in a while, and it was way past due for a road trip. We traveled all the way Champaign, Illinois and we had a pretty good time if I must say. We stayed until Sunday morning and it was time to head home. On the way home, all I could think of was Monday.

       

Monday is January 9th, 2012. This is a very important day for me. IT'S FOUNDERS DAY! This day marks 98 years of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service provided by the Men of Phi Beta Sigma Incorporated, one of the Greeks apart of the NPHC created in 1914. I couldn't be more happier to be apart of history. G.O.M.A.B to my Blue and White brothers of  Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Now let's see how Monday and the rest of my week will go…See you next Monday!

Project Graduation: Kiara



Loving the Crew...

Meet the Crew...

 Miss Black and Yellow!

Jennifer aka "Miss Black and Yellow"!

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Quick facts: Perfectionist, money-maker, sports addict, I love candy canes year round, I swear a lot, and I love monkeys. Oh yea...I usually lose my left contact on monthly basis. I'm a senior Business Commerce and Marketing major at Aurora University. Basically I'm like a quadripletuplet threat! Lol!
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I never really thought about college in my high school years. I attended a college prep school on the South side of Chicago for my freshman and sophomore year and I do not believe I really received the proper guidance to even prepare myself for life after high school. I paid more attention to classes like lunch and gym, ditched other classes, and left during some to smoke, rather than even bringing a pen or pencil to math and science classes. My mom and sister noticed the change in my demeanor and attitude towards school so I winded up moving and transferring out to the West Suburbs of Chicago where I was given another chance to start over and finish strong my junior and senior year.


At this suburban school, my counselor encouraged me to at least finish school. If it weren't for his guidance, I would of never filled out those applications for colleges and universities.  I mean I was not a "bad" kid, but just like most I just never took the time to apply myself to the material learned in classrooms. Actually I never cared to learn in classrooms any more either. Not until I got accepted into four out of five of my picked schools. 


I picked my current university simply because it was close to home and financial reasons. Never heard of it actually before I filled out the applications. As a commuter student, my first two years I managed to keep a Tuesday and Thursday class schedule and worked as a sales associate at a footwear retailer throughout the week, clocking in about 25 hours a week. Living about 45 minutes away from my job I travelled a lot. I never stayed after class unless it was mandatory. I learned what I had to and left. 


It was not until my involvement in two campus organizations that people started seeing more of me around campus. I had a position on the board of directors for a marketing organization and then earned the position of president for the fashion club as well. After a successful turnout for the Spring 2011 annual fashion show, this is where everyone began talking about Jenn and this was not necessarily just good talk either.


No one knew enough about me to just talk about good things. Now that I am president of a well known campus organization, interactive with professors and students in the business department, and dating one thee most popular fraternity boys on campus, Darian (the love of my life), everyone wants to know who Jenn is but no one wants to take the time out to get to know me. Go figure.


So here I am. Balancing yet another semester filled with due dates, presentations, event planning, an internship, and a new schedule at a new job. Follow these next five months...because I'll be graduating soon! Maybe...








Camcorder Banks

Darian aka "Camcorder Banks"



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Quick facts: I st-st-st-ttuter a lot, critical thinker, tech-savy, I'm allergic to peanuts, I tend to crack my joints and back about once every hour, I'm considered a fat-flipper (I'm big and I can flip), I run into still objects A LOT, and I love recording!

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I have never been the one to focus on college in my younger years. When I was in high school, I was a smart individual that had great grades in class. But, I never thought of college at all. I felt that I wouldn't make it that far (graduating from a university). Although I was told I was smart with great potential, I was nervous of life. I was nervous of failure because those around me tried so hard but never succeeded. The only thing that I focused on was sports and money.

I was a sport jockey, so in essence I was apart of the in-crowd. Instead of focusing on my future, I was too busy being one of the popular guys and having fun at school. Instead, I should have been paying attention and focusing on school. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't the dumb jock because my grades were always nice, but my mind wasn't where it should have been. And being “hard-headed” outside of school didn’t make my situation any better. I was always getting into something.

         

Outside of school I was trying to have as much fun as possible and make money and the same time. But my idea of having "fun" for some reason landed me in a bad situation. My disruptive and “bad” behavior and temper always lead me right to trouble. So as time flew by and me trying to be "Mr. Big-shot", time was getting short for me. I had to make a choice in life, on my own for my better being. It wasn't until things went really sour in life before I graduated high school.

         

Just before my last year started, I fractured my wrist fighting. I didn't want to take care of it, then I ended up completely breaking it during my last football season, so my football dreams were out of the picture. Then the deaths of close friends started....many friends. But it wasn't until the death of my best friend, Ja'will (J-ko), that gave me my eye opener. I was in a down moment for a long time, but it put a lot of reality in front of my face. I knew that the way I have been taking my life was not the right way. It was time to make a change and make a better living for me and my future.

           

I confronted my fears of failure and took the road to college. I felt I made the correct decision and I never second guessed about it after I made it. It was like I had a second chance at life. I was happy about this choice. I found out what career path I wanted to choose. I knew that I could sell anything, and that I loved fashion, music and magazines. All this wrapped up into one big picture and I came up with Business Marketing, which up until this day, I still love marketing.

            

Now that I am a better me, here I stand in 2012 as a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated and a recent graduate from Aurora University. Now I am attacking life in my post-graduate season.  So, follow me as I find my road to success and land my perfect career in the field of marketing. The only thing is...I'm gaining an interest in video producing and editing, so I wonder will the two intertwine...






Cassandra "The Twin"



Cassandra aka "The Twin"

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Quick facts: if you have not guessed already, I AM a TWIN. I’m a perfectionist, hard working and focused individual. I love gummy bears and pineapple, which I eat faithfully despite my known allergy to them. I am a senior Social Work Major, with a specialization in addiction at Aurora University, as well as, a resident assistant, among many other titles.  Yeah I'm making moves.

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College has always been a goal of mine growing up. I was raised in a two parent home and being the youngest of five, I felt the great desired to make my parents proud.  Being raised in a violence and drug infused area on the west side of Chicago, it was a given that we were held to a higher standard than those around us. They encouraged furthering education greatly due to the fact that they never went on to college and barely finished high school. This is when I KNEW that I had to be different and show them that if I do not do anything else in life I would make them proud upon every measure possible.

When attending Norte Dame High School for Girls on the north side of the City, away from the everyday trouble that I face, I gained a better understanding of life and developed somewhat of a self love.  Being in the presence of other young women who were desiring the same things as myself, I was encouraged daily. I looked at a number of universities, but under the desired major Communication. After focusing on this career area for well over three years, I began to realize that this was NOT my calling.

My major change came in the early months of my senior year.  I was filling out my applications as undecided, until one day in mid October 2007, after looking at my life experiences I knew that I needed to be somewhere in the field of helping others.  Over my high school years I had experiences with, not only myself but others, unplanned teen pregnancies, abusive relationship both physical and mental, unhealthy sexual relationships, and drug misuse and abuse. This is when I knew I had to do something different and give more of myself to helping and educating others.

I chose my current university after receiving an interest post card in the mail. This is when I began to look more into Aurora University and  see that this is where I was called my God to be. I was not too far from home and not too close.  Just enough distance to miss and to be missed. I visited the school and as corny as it may sound, fell in love. Being from private school throughout my educational journey, this school was perfect. I applied and was immediately accepted, given academic scholarships, and was on my way.

I would not say I was a loner...but I was a loner. I was not very involved in campus activities and was not excited by the party scene. This lasted for two years.  In the beginning of my junior year when I was well into my major classes, I knew I had to become more involved.  I joined the organizations: Awareness, Responsibility, Integrity, Sisterhood, and Empowerment (A.R.I.S.E), which I am now part of the board on, and Fashion Loves You (F.L.Y).  Both these organizations helped me to become more open and I began to build bonds with people I would have never thought. 

This was when people began to learn more about me and I began to learn more about myself.  I never knew until now, how negative I came off to others.  People view me as pretty, but angry as hell. This is when I knew my image had to change and I had to show others that there was a happy, loving, and very positive person inside. I applied for a resident assistant position, and was accepted. I applied for an internship at Woodridge Intervention working with adolescent client suffering from addiction on their way to recovery, in Woodridge Illinois, and was accepted. It seems that whatever it is that I have set my mind to doing, has been done.

So you have it, this is me. Balancing my last semester just as well as my first, with more demanding schedules, and lesser time, will be challenging. In the words of George Lopez, “I GOT THIS.” Follow my next five months, while I get it!!

Coming soon...


Kiara aka "The Dancer"
Kenny aka "The Photographer & Kappa Man"

Welcome to 2012 (Kenny)

Kenny just chilling in 2011!

Welcome to 2012 (Cassandra)

Cass bringing in the New Years with loved ones!

"What does the future hold for me?"

As December 31, 2011 began to wind down, all I could think was, “What does the future hold for me.” My night started at approximately 11pm with close friends at a small gathering in the Chicago, IL. Arriving at the gathering two hours late, I had a lot of catching up to do. Pink Panties was the drink of choice and it was a great one might I add. 

 As I prepared to do my video, I began trying to figure out what it was that I would say.  I decided on something simple, that got straight to the point, and was in a quiet lit area.  With the help of my best friend Samaria, I made a video that said what I wanted to say in as little words as possible, successfully, on take four. Friends and family began to yell for me to hurry so that I would make it in time for my midnight kiss, before the clock turned 12:01.

As I kissed and hugged my friends and love ones, all could say was, “we made it and this is only the beginning.” I reminisced on 2011 and made a commitment to leave the past in the past and toast to new beginning.  2012 will hold a lot of responsibilities that 2011 overlooked due to the assumption that I had all the time in the world.  With exactly 5 month and 5 days till the big day, all l could do was smile and enjoy myself.  Check out the video!! Wish I could have been in with the festivities as I recorded, but after take two, we learned it was nothing but confusion.  Well… Welcome 2012, im ready to make your acquaintance.. Enjoy! Enjoy my video too!!!!

Welcome to 2012 (Kiara)

Kiara celebrating in 2011!

             "2012 ain’t ready for Mini….Taking this year by storm , take notes, I’m in rare form!"

Saturday night was rather relaxed for me. While most people went out to clubs and parties, I spent most of the day hanging out with my little sister and mom. We did some shopping and decided to order in some pizza afterwards. While we impatiently waited for the shrimp, green pepper, and onion pizza to arrive – don’t judge us haha – we decided to watch a movie. After deciding on Due Date, it was not long before I was crying from laughing. That is definitely a must see. The pizza arrived and we devoured it in minutes.

After Due Date left us in stitches, other comedies followed. The countdown was approaching and it was time to bring in the New Year! As quick as the countdown started, the countdown ended and it was 2012. I brought the New Year in with the people that love me most and that will for sure be in my 2012, encouraging me and pushing me beyond my limits. This is just the motivation I need to stay on the road to graduation.

No sooner than 2012 began, so did a stress headache, no joke. I started realizing that my career is officially beginning and that it was time to get down to business. It is going to be a long, difficult road, but a road nonetheless. A road that I will definitely make my way down, one way or another. So here it is, and here I am 2012. Let’s do this. You have no idea how ready I am.

"Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is YOUER than YOU!" - Dr. Seuss

Welcome to 2012 (Darian)

Darian hosting "The Stop Light Party" in Aurora, IL

"The 'BIG 2012'...

2012 is here? I could have sworn I was just saying, "It's August already?" Well, even though the new year snuck up on me by surprise, I am excited to see what this year will bring..."

My night started with setting up at work (Shinto of Naperville). There were balloons being inflated, candles being set, reservation confirmations, glasses and champagne being prepared, the whole nine yards...All for this HUGE event that was going to be going on in Naperville.

As we got closer to the countdown, the live band continued to set the mood for night. Different colorful lights were flashed from every corner, drinks were going around from left to right, and everyone in Shinto had seemed to have on their dancing shoes because the dancefloor was packed with people showing off their latest moves. But, this wasn't the biggest excitement of the night for me...

My big bang came when my girl friend (Jennifer) entered the place. Having my girl friend celebrate with me and some of my closest friends, this is when the fun really began! Acting crazy and enjoying myself...the night became epic! The countdown finally came and you can hear everyone scream "Happy New Year!" as the release of dozens of balloons came down! My girl friend and I shared a passionate kiss that started off the year...That first New Years kiss. Seconds later came the bottles of champagne being sprayed all around and I happened to be the target by the end of the night! Everyone had a drink (or two) in their hand Saturday (including myself)!

Celebrating New Years 2012 with my love, Jennifer, and my friends, was byfar one of my best celebrations ever! But, after waking up and how I was feeling the next day, let's just say.....it was a slow start. Let's hope the year switches it's pace up, SOON. I'm ready to see what 2012 has in store for me!