Magic..

This slide is a message to all those out there who don't feel like their being seen. The little black girls who have role models that don't really look like them. The young girls who don't feel like their being seen. This doesn't really apply to me, itś just to motivate those who feel alone. It's to tell them to keep moving forward and that one day, they will be seen. I chose those pictures to show that there are beautiful black role models for them to look up to. It took me forever to choose a topic about me, so instead I chose to do a topic thatś not about me.

- Click the post to see it.
Tech Design Slides
Tech Design Slides

Birthday

I never really understood why some people don't care about their birthday, or don't want people to know about their birthday. But I think I kinda get it.  See Tomorrows my birthday, and the closer it gets the less I care about it. Now normally I have a countdown to my birthday and I make sure everyone knows when my birthday is. I constantly tell people about it because I'm so hype for it to be “my day.” Sometimes my birthdays don't always turn out that well but I always look forward to it. This year is different though. Its my 16th and that's supposed to be a big one. I was making it big. A few months ago I started planning a sweet 16 with some of my good friends. I wanted to go all out. But as it go closer, we were rushing everything. We had to do so much last minute. Like the food, decorating, music, lighting, I even invited people late. That wasn't even what was really getting on my nerves. I don't really like people spending money on me and my mom spent a lot. So whenever we would talk about what needed to be done she would get really upset. It was just hard to deal with. One thing that really hit me hard though,  was what she said after I told her I didn't want her boyfriend at my party. She told me she wasn't going to go. If he didn't go she wasn't going to. I was so confused. Because your boyfriend doesn't go you don't want to? But I'm your daughter and if he's there i'm not gonna have the fun i could without him being there. But I knew that if she didn't go I was gonna get hell after. She put alot into it and if she missed the party she would be pissed. I'm not having another sweet 16, it's only the one. It just hurt hearing that she chose someone she hasn't known nearly as long as her own daughter. And that she didn't really care about missing my sweet 16. I knew my decision was hard, but if I wanted everything to be ok I would have to let him come to the party. I cried so much because of what she really said. I was shocked and hurt. The next day was hard I wasn't really looking forward to the party I kind of just wanted it to be over. But surprisingly it was pretty fun I got to dance, take pictures and celebrate my birthday. I didn't get to eat as much food as I would like to but overall everything went good. There wasn't one mistake. But my birthday is still on the way. And i'm not looking forward to it. I don't know why, but I don't really care about it anymore. None of my close friends want to do anything with me on my birthday. My mom hurt me with what she said.

But maybe it can still turn out ok. Maybe everything will play out fine.  My birthday is “My day.” and i shouldn't let anything stop me from enjoying it. My birthday is going to be ok…


Single Slide - Ethan


My life doesn’t really change very much. Most of the things I do have stayed the same for the past 4 years. I spend most of my time programming or playing games to find new ideas. My goal for the last 4 years has been to become a programmer full time once I’m out of college. I want to be able to provide the    same amount of financial support that my family has provided me and my family when I’m older. I want to be able to go out to eat and travel the world. I want to be able to meet new people and understand different cultures than my own. My parents take my education very seriously and for a good reason. They have taught me to understand how important it is to work now. They didn’t have the same experience, both dropping out of college because they were making good money when working full time. Since they both regret it, they want me to go to college and study hard to become the best that I can be. I want to make them proud.

Coding also affects the way I speak. I think about things differently. I look into the backend of things more than what meets the first glimpse. I want to know why things work and not just know that they work. In math class, I like to know why ratios are equal just my multiplying the flipped opposite and then dividing by the remaining. I want to know why that method works without shortcutting. That’s how it relates to school.


tech media fluency slide

Tech media fluency

Tech script



In this project, I knew I wanted to go for something minimalistic, like the billboards in the presentation zen video, but to still be able to have my point be done and made to the best of my abilities. For my layout, I made sure to keep the rule of three in mind. I kept all of my text in the first part while having my images in the second and third part. I wanted the font to have a bright hue with a high intensity. I’m really interested in art and aesthetic so I went with a colorful mandala design for the centerpiece of the slide. I am also, really interested in travel so I added a small barcode with a quote saying “travel is in my blood”. I loved the barcode idea because the barcode represents a label of some sorts and if someone wanted to know what I thought was most important to me, my mind would instantly go to travel. Also, because of my love for aesthetically pleasing photos, I chose to have a flower to also represent me. It kind of shows a delicacy that I feel I have a lot. Kind of like one touch and all the petals would fall off of me. For placement, I wanted to have the flower bleeding into the bottom corner as if it was kind growing there in a way. For the background color, I wanted to have that negative space that black gives off and I knew that the colorful pieces I chose to be on the project would pop with that negative space.


Monologue//Broken Pride

Thanks Coach! (Coach walks away after giving him a pat on the back now he is to himself on the sidelines.) Let’s get it. Finally I got some real play time. Not 5 minutes, not 10 minutes, but 15 whole minutes, plus while I was out there I had a shot on net, I mean I didn’t make it but still. I need to make sure I’m ready go back in cuz the way I was playin, I’m def going back in.(sips water and walks over to bench and slightly limping) oo that walk kinda hurt. Woah its starting to hurt to stand. (sits down) Let’s gooo Cosmos!! This cleat getting tight and my foot really hurts. I must’ve kicked that ball harder than I thought. ( takes off cleat) ooo that meg alejandro saucin it up today. Yo what is going on with my… is that my toe?! That jawn dumb fat. I-I-I-I can’t move my toe(starts panicking) crap I done messed up my toe. It’s cool I’m good I can still play ain’t nothing keeping me from getting back into this game.(tries to put back on cleat) are you serious, I can’t put a cleat on because my foots so fat.
GOALALSO!!! (tries to stand and celebrate with team but fails) ah I can’t even stand. That’s it I’m out for the day. I gotta tell coach that I think I broke my toe. I’ve broken bones before no problem, I broke my wrist last summer, my pinky before that, my other pinky before that, even my thumb. Like all them bones and not one tear but this one got me about to cry like 2 year old whole couldn’t that one doll out of the toy store. So why is my toe different. Is it because of the pain cuz trust me this crap hurt like my whole foot is immobilized by the pain. Like every movement of my foot,ankle, and leg hurts. Like i can’t do nothing without bringing the stinging pain to my foot. Like I can’t compare this pain to nothing I’ve ever experienced.(holds foot) Or is this deeper than pain, maybe because we all know that this it for me, for my season.(pauses and looks at field) ooooooohhhh Alejandro wit the rainbow.(looks at coach) sorry coach I’m out I think I broke my toe….. How? Ummm that’s good question. (back to self thought) That kid! Number 27. That fat white kid. The one who messed up my shot. I remember now. When I kicked the ball it wasn’t the ball. It was his foot. That’s how it broke. I already didn’t get a lot of play time. Now I could be out for the rest of the season. Look I know I’m not the best player in the world but I try my hardest and I give it my all every time I touch the field. Who am I kidding. Lets face it I’m top trash. I can’t dribble I can’t do none of that fancy stuff like Alejandro, my passes are inconsistent and my shot. Tuh my shot I don’t even know if I’m right footed or left footed. But I still try my best and this.. this what I get for hard work. Is this the result of my training. The worst part is I feel like I was getting better. And so did coach. You know last practice was the first time I went a whole practice without a single insult from coach or a player. No you suck or no jokes about how I can’t aim. Or how I ride the bench every game. I finally felt like part of the team. Well that’s all over now. and my mom. She’s gonna kill me when she finds out. To her I’m always breaking something but I’ve only broke like 5 bones is that really a lot? I mean we have 206 bones in our bodies. What’s 5 to 206. Practically nothing. But she don’t care she gonna be mad I’d rather act like nothing’s wrong than deal with her. I want revenge when I get back I’m scoring in 27’s face and I want his ankles. Ima tell coach he’s mine he better be ready when I get back. I mean If I get back.

Slide Design

Tech Presentation Design Slides
This slide represents me and how I have changed over the course of my short life. I decided to draw because I believed it would be more personal to the viewer that way and would set apart my slide from other slides that just used photos. The photo is placed in the center of the slide taking advantage of the lines of focus and open space, drawing the viewer’s eye directly to the drawing.

Andrew's Slide

Hello! My name is Andrew Bowers!

My passion is skateboarding. I can skate whenever and wherever. I have been skating since I was 5 years old in kindergarten. I raced in my first skateboard competition when I was 9. Its called the Broad Street Bomb it goes from Huntington Park to FDR Park. I was the youngest rider to race it ever. The most recent race I attended was the Broadway bomb. It goes from Riverside Dr & W 116th to Charging Bull, Broadway & Morris St which is 8 miles. I was racing against the world's fastest rider Kiefer Dixon who got first 7 years in a row. I got 10 the just a few minutes behind One day I hope to be as fast as him. 
I picked this picture because it's of me doing a kickflip on my skateboard and I wanted to show you my move so you don't think I'm a poser. I also enlarge the photo and made It bleed off the page because my research shows that making your picture bleed off the paper is more pleasing. I also edited the pictures background to be black because it was all colorful and if I would've left it as a very colorful slide it would have looked like too much was going on. Also, the pop of yellow draws your attention to the board. That's why I picked the picture because it’s easy on the eyes and there’s not a lot that’s going on in the picture. 
I picked this phrase because it has a double meaning. One of them means you have to keep working and you will get what you want to achieve. The second meaning being performing a skateboard trick known as “the GRIIIIIIIIIIIND”. I learned how to make a great side and use tricks to help my sides look a lot better. Thank you Ms. Hull.

Untitled presentation

Me Slide

MeSlide
-I made a slide about me using the information from the sources Ms. Hull gave my class. 
-After reading the presentation zen article, I realized that I had to resist the urge to put a lot of text so I wouldn’t give my audience cognitive overload
-It also taught me that strong contrast is good for making things pop out, so I used black, the darkest value color, for the background and white, the lightest value color, for the stormtrooper and my name
-I also researched the rule of thirds because it was a little confusing. It meant that if the slide were to be split into 3 by 3 squares, you would place important things on the intersections of those boxes. I used the rule of thirds to figure out the best spot to put my stormtrooper.
-Before reading the sources, I thought I knew how to make a good slide. It turns out I was wrong and I will use what I learned from it on all my future projects.

1-Slide Project

1 Slide Presentation
Right off the bat, I want to start by explaining the foundation of my slide, then the reason why I chose what I chose, and last the reasoning of why I put each specific thing on my slide.
First the foundation. So when making the foundation I thought about color and theme, which is something we learn about through the articles. One thing that they said that stuck with me was when one of the articles said pick a color/theme with a lot of contrasts because it will help your slide with flexibility, text, and objects. That’s why my foundation was a color many people know, love and that goes with everything. Black. But right after I chose the pure black background I started thinking about how when I put words or a picture on top of it that would immediately become/ be seen as my theme. So I thought what could I add to it in order to get my point across…… EVERY COLOR. That’s when I decided that a rainbow was best. That’s when I started brainstorming what to put down on the slide. And after getting some ideas from other classmates, I thought why not put a quote, but from myself. Finally when I got it I started questioning what color I was gonna make it. After trying a lot of colors I finally figured out that a bolded black was the best way to go. This is because unlike using all the other colors putting black on rainbow creates more balance within that color scheme and the slide. Then lastly the white was just to add one more pop of color that I felt went well with the colors but also complimented the black.
Finally getting into what I put down. I put down the quote “My greatest goal in life is to be my unraveled self. It's a life goal because, and I say this as literal as possible, I’m simply complex” I put this down because it literally says everything about me. It shows how instead of trying to jam myself into the words of someone else, I’m the type of person that would find some type of loophole and get what I need to say out there; that being that I cannot be defined in one slide. Plus the statement is also just a fact about me.

Tech presentation

Tech presentation
​In this presentation I learned a lot about how to make a slide appealing. I learned that having a good selection of colors and big text helps the reader see the information. Something else I learned through research was to keep fewer words on the slide and explain more. That is why I did what I did, I chose the colors black and yellow because they are opposites, black is a dark base color and the yellow is very bright and makes the words pop. I also chose to make the circle bleed off the page a little to catch the person's eye. My whole design of my slide was based around what I learned, I made sure I had few words but the words I did have stuck in your head and made you think about them.

Media Fluency: Anthony Castro-Gomez

Technology Benchmark (1)
Hello, my name is Anthony Castro and this is my 1 google slide. So first, I searched up how to make the slides interesting. Like ads on a billboard, I learned that when the image “bleeds” off of the slide/picture it looks more interesting. I read this on https://zachholman.com/posts/slide-design-for-developers/ So, I took an image from google of a basketball hoop that didn’t show the entire image and used what I learned from http://youtu.be/axj8IedTzfc?hd=1 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. to use the image as the background. The reason why I chose a basketball hoop to be my image is because I have a passion for basketball, and I feel as though some people don’t and would never be able to comprehend it as well as I can. Basketball was what linked me to my friends back in middle school, that was the only way of interaction in a sense to get closer to your friends. After this, I wanted to find words that describe me the best in my opinion. I came to the conclusion of putting down ambition, dedication, and success. I am a very ambitious person, I strive to become better at whatever it is that I am doing. Basketball, for instance, is one thing I am always trying to improve in. Dedication describes me because it takes dedication to get to where you want to be in life. It takes dedication to get better at something. Finally I picked the word success because that is what comes out after hard work. I am a hardworking person, therefore success usually comes from my improvements. After picking the words, I added a reflection and changed the color of the font so it stands out and looks pleasing to the eye. I feel like it looks more interesting when I space the words out like that because it make you think about and take into consideration each word. I feel as though the significance of the word spacing is to show that the words are different from each other but they all are connected. The reason why I chose 3 words was so that it looks like an ad sort of, so you can quickly glance at it, manage to gather all of the information you need in like 10 seconds, then look away. This was my google slide based off of my me magazine and thank you for listening.

Michal's Slide

Soccer (1)
 Soccer has been with me ever since I was a young boy. I think I learned to kick a ball before I learned to speak words. That has lead me to create a slide involving soccer. As you can see, I’ve formatted the slide using the rule of thirds by adding the foot and soccer ball in one corner and the quote in the top left. This allows the focus of your eyes to draw into the composition instead of just glancing at the center. I also put some empty space to achieve a more balanced look in my slide and use the empty space (or night sky) to my advantage. I even made the foot bleed off of the page to really add more “umph” and only focused on the foot itself since that’s what the quote is about. The quote I placed in is from soccer legend Zinedine Zidane (who is one of my idols) and it really connects with me because it teaches me to be grateful for what I have even if things don’t go well for me in life, whether that’s in sports or in schoolwork. I put it in EB Garamond font because I found out that most people use that font when writing quotes. The font color itself is white so that it can contrast with the black background and catch the viewer's eye easily. 

All of these steps have allowed me to attempt at making a professional slide. This whole experience has really taught me a lot about slide design. Before this assignment, I legit didn't know about most of these tricks, and now that I know about them I can see how it improves the look on my slide. I'm definitely going to be viewing billboards and ads differently from now on. My whole perspective on designs has completely changed, and it will help shape bigger and better projects in the future. 

One Slide Assignment

Untitled presentation
Tech Presentation/ Slide Script
Tayah Brunson
Blue Stream

When learning about slides I learned that color matters and it is one of the first things someone sees when noticing your slide. This slide had to depict aspects about me that I want people to see and to also show my knowledge on how to create a slide that is noteworthy. I chose the color blue because this is mine and many other’s favorite color, I also feel that having a blue background could bring memories to the audience maybe of a bright beach day with the family with the blue sky and bright sun looking down on you. Or a day that you went a road trip and when you looked out the window you noticed how exactly blue the sky was, or a memory of being at the aquarium and watching the fish swim through the water. Next I know your attention probably shifted to the sunflower in the corner. When children we made pictures with blue skies, characters, then a sun in either corner that was either fully or half way there. This sunflower was not put there to point out that memory of a younger you in art class but it does strike a memory to me that could show you more of me that you might know. Sunflower is a nickname I received from a student teacher in preschool. I was terrified and lost and fairly uncomfortable. We all had pictures on our place mats and cubbies and my picture was a sunflower, my teacher told me that I was special because her favorite flower was a sunflower. She called me her little sunflower so that I embraced my environment, she helped me feel more comfortable and I remembered where my stuff went and where I ate everyday. The message I chose to put is a message that many people hear throughout life but this is one that I’ve taken to heart. I see so many people scared to be who they are and I used to be one of those people until I truly stopped caring about what other people thought and become comfortable with what I know and that’s what and who I truly am. I know that I stand for more than just my race or age, I am more than just a student, I am not voiceless, and I dare to be me because no one can teach me how to live my life. I dare to be me and I dare to dream and to chase all of them, to learn, to make pathways for people like me, also I dare to be different because ordinary is too boring.

Direction: The direction in which your eyes are supposed to go is from the upper left corner to the bottom right corner. While your eyes travel over the space of my words you have no choice but to read the words I have placed on the slide to tell the viewer a bit about what my presentation is based on. The reason your direction of focus is perceived to go in this way is because the bright sunflowers will draw attention first and the negative space makes it easy for your eyes to be guided. 
Size:The size of the picture I put in the slide is to not take too much attention from the rest of the slide but to also draw positive attention to itself so that it is noticeable and I can touch on it. But it is also not to big as to take away from the other components that make up the slide. The size of the words were supposed to leave negative so that your eyes can be clearly directed in either two or one way but either of them being diaganal. 
Balance: I chose not to put so many words on one side in order to weigh down on 3 quarters of the page but to compliment the other side of it. 
Unity: Each component is meant to tell a story in their own way, the blue can trigger a memory, the flower can trigger a memory fear favorite color favorite person, the words will make you see me differently hopefully.
Negative Space: When I looked at the negative space on my slide I started to fill it in with my mind and picture other lines that are similar to the quote I used. It leaves space for the mind to wonder and fill in the blanks with thoughts of their own.
The Hue: The shade of blue I feel can make the person who is looking at it warm inside.

Bad Habits -- Madison Siegel

Bad Habits

Okay so it’s been a year since we moved. My friends from back home seem to be doing good. When they asked me why I don’t move back because Mom lives in Vermont I wasn’t really sure what to say. I made a new life here in New York City, and not that I don’t miss them and would love to see more of them, but things were just so complicated when we lived there. I’m sure you understand. You’re my brother and that’s why I’m telling you about Mom.

I mean Mom and her crazy drunk moments. Dad always disappearing to go to the casino. It was just not fun. It was terrifying. I understand that the last two years before we moved was when it became ugly. The yelling every night, Mom treating us terrible because she was drunk and replied to it with anger, Dad lying about where he was going. I feel the exact same way you do. After realizing what they have been doing I would search Mom and Dad’s room to see if Mom had hid another bottle in there. I just wanted to know if she was still drinking. I would put the bottle back after I touched it, I just wanted to know. I was hoping each day that she had taken her last sip and that we had reached the bottom of the hill our lives were going down. I mean she had to know that she had a problem or else she would have kept the bottle with the rest of the alcohol in the kitchen. I mean your my brother and I know that we both handled this in a different way. I stayed quiet when all of this was happening, and you expressed your voice to them. Yes. I know I can’t leave Dad after everything he’s done for us. I mean he quit going to the casino and took us here so he could have a job and take care of us. When he saw how much we were affected by everything he took matters into his own hands. That’s  what’s  important. I feel like my life belongs here because it doesn’t matter what he’s done in the past, it matters what he’s doing now. The difference between Mom and Dad is he got his life back together. He is making an effort. After finding that bottle hidden in Mom’s house I now know that she’s not making an effort. She abandoned us, and that is what makes me sad.

Wait? He did what in Florida?

A few months ago? He lost how much money? $1,500!?!

Where did you hear this? Mommom told you? You’re telling me that a 96 year old lady recognized this, but we didn’t? I can’t believe this! I can’t believe him! I gave him money to help get everybody presents for Christmas and he just ended up wasting it at the casino? I knew that all the money wasn’t adding up right. He seemed really worried about it and kept saying that he spent most of it on gifts. When they didn’t even cost that much and I paid most of it. Wait? He also hasn’t been giving Grandma the rent? So the money we give him each month to live in our house is also just going to the casino. None of it has actually gone to the rent? Well what was the point of all of this if both our parents are still doing the things they were supposed to stop?

I mean they’re acting like children,-- even I feel more grown up then they do. The worst part is that Dad comes to me when he’s in trouble. He owes me $1,700 at the moment and instead of trying to pay me back this is what he does? I’m not even sure who I’m mad at more Mom or Dad? The thing is that I still see Dad trying to put his life together and raise us right where Mom doesn’t even seem to care and is just out drinking 24/7. I get that Dad lost a lot of money, but at least he is trying. I think he does it to try and have more money for the family. So I guess at least his intentions were to help. We should confront both of them and try to get them to stop. Wait. If I confront Mom she’s just going to deny it. She’s going to fight with me about it and nothing will ever be solved. Maybe I should just let Grandma know what’s been going on and tell her I know about Dad’s problem. What do you mean I can’t tell anyone about Dad’s problem? If I talk to Grandma she’s going to want to help, not get mad at you and never speak to you again for telling me. So I can’t confront both of them? So we’re just going to have to continue letting them hurt their lives and ours? This isn’t fair. I have tried my hardest. It’s their turn.


A Daughter's Disappointment//Monologue

** Phone Rings**

Hey mom.

Yeah, I’m really excited about that trip! We haven’t seen you for like two summers. And we usually go every summer. I can’t wait to come to Jamaica once summer breaks comes around!

Wait, what?

But I thought you already did. Because you told that like two weeks ago.

I know but I still thought everything was all together  for next year. It’s gonna end up being a another boring summer for me.

What do mean we might come for Christmas? We don’t even have our passports together so how?

No, it’s nothing never comes out in my favor. I ask for so little and now it’s not happening. I doubt that Jamaica in Christmas will happen too. **sighs**

It doesn’t matter anymore…..

(hangs up)


Daughter(thinking): I figured that  was gonna’ go again. It’s like she doesn’t even care. Knowing that my passport expired two years. She should’ve contacted the people then. And she always  waits to the last minute. And then she gets mad at me for looking miserable all the time. ITS HER! It's like I can't even tell her about her actions because I’m a child. According to her I would be getting smart or would be having an attitude. But that is never the case. And that's the thing with me, I’m always biting my tongue. But what if I did speak? I shouldn’t hesitate…...right? She should want to know my thoughts. She should take my statement under consideration right? But I’m just a child and I need to stay in a child’s place. But when talking to her I feel a bit imitated so that’s I keep my mouth shut. And there I go again biting my tongue.



One Slide About Zoe

ONE slide pres.

Ḧello Class, this is my one slide. I chose a background that has an important meaning to me. I have an obsession with the sky at all times of the day. I love looking at stars and sunrises and everything in between so my choice of background is explanatory. I used all black words and shapes to contrast against the bright background. The line of the horizon directs your eye to the main points of interest. One of them is the penguin. Penguins are my favorite animal so I felt like it was important to include. The black silhouette compliments the background and words well. The quote I picked is very important to me because I idolize Walt Disney and I try to live by those words and I try to just keep living my life without letting small things throw me off. And that to just keep living is more important than holding grudges and letting small things throw me off. In my research it says to have minimal words and have contrasting colors. The black against the bright background brings attention to the words. The font size I chose is a good size for the page. My penguin bleeds off the page to make a more modern statement and to increase use of negative space. The mickey mouse head in replace for my O in my name is there to add more individualization of my name. And adds small details that tells more about me.


" A True Ironman" Monologue- Shaheed Williams

https://soundcloud.com/shaheed-williams-992746362/monologue-ironman


Am I ready? Hell yea, I’m ready. Never knew a time when I wasn’t, that’s why I’m the one that’s going to come out on top. I’m the underdog and it’s underdog season (laughs). All these guys here, I’ll dust them, no doubt about it. (Coach speaks) I know I know, I lost last year and the year before that, and before that year but I’m going to win this year. (Clenches fist)


And Imma beat that asshole Jerr- er um Terry or whatever his name is. I swear that man is a cheater, did you see his cavs last year? They were bigger than my head! And bro, you already know I got a big ass head! He’s a steroid abuser, I’m telling you. , I don’t know how he be passing the drug tests. Maybe because he’s rich and he paid off the people running the event or somethi- (pauses) Speak of the devil and he shall appear, look who decided to show up. It’s Jerry Terry.

Did he just smile at me?! I’m really going to embarrass this man in this race. Give me my Redbull and my Fruit Snacks, that’s all I need right now (Starts doing jumping jacks). Ok Joseph calm down. It’s not worth mad getting over. If I mess this race up, who knows how long until my brother Jacob has until his condition is permanent. How much time we got until the Ironman race, coach? 5 minutes? Aard, cool. I’ll be famous, ya know, if I win this race., Nno...I will win this.. I have to. I have to win this for my bestfriend, my ‘lil bro, my partner in crime. This race means a lot to our family. Our dad did this Ironman race, the hardest marathon in the world, and won. Ever since he passed, my bro and I have been working our asses off to live up to his name. My brother got hospitalized in last year’s race by falling off a cliff. Nearly worked himself to death and almost got paralyzed.


Those medical bills are crazy expensive, there’s no way my family can afford that ever since my dad passed. That’s why I have to do whatever it takes to win. Restore my family’s fame and my brother’s body. I’ll never resort to cheating or drug enhancements. That’s not what my father would have want. Oh wait, past me my phone. Yea, I need to call Jacob and see how’s he holding up.( Dials number)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Hey Jacob, it’s me Joseph. I know you're probably sleeping right now, so I’ll leave you this voicemail. Just know I’m about to whoop some ass in this triathlon. It’s beautiful out here, Hawaii is definitely amazing, just like how Dad use to describe it. Remember that day he came home from his Ironman race? He walked in the house with the brightest smile on his face. And with that Golden medal. That day me and you both knew ever since then, we wanted to be just like Dad. (Laughs) Look where that dead bastard got us now. Well,I got a minute until the race starts. Love u bro, this one's for you. (hangups)


Any advice Coach (Pause) Alright, just stay in my A-game and I have to remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Anything el- Terry keeps staring at me and smiling. He really pissing me off. (Pauses) He’s doing that on purpose to annoy me and to distract me from my real goal. I’m not going to let him distract me no more, I just need to focus on winning. For myself, for my family’s pride.. For my brother. I’m ready coach, this race is mine and I’m not losing.


How Did I End Up Here // Monologue By Kai Payton

God damn I got too drunk last night. I wish I would’ve never went to the bar with Rick, but he was back in town after that tour, and I hadn’t seen him for months.... I ended up in a hotel room by myself and left my wife at home by herself with the kids. *Looks around the room* What happened last night? Condom boxes? Liquor bottles? No no no what did I do? What did I do? *Checks Phone* She called me twenty times last night. She had to be worried sick *pause*

Wait, who’s number is this *reads messages* Last night was great those pills make everything better right? *Puts phone down*  I have to tell her but I can’t because that will ruin the marriage. But how will my wife look at me knowing I let the woman get the best of me even though I was drunk. Why would Rick ever let me leave with her? Even when we were growing up in high school he always got me into the worst situations but he’s my bestfriend a person I could always count on *sighs* Jay you really messed up big time *sniffs* What will my kids think of me if Brittney leaves and they never see their dad again. They’ll think I’m a dead beat. Maybe I could keep this to myself and just act like this night never happened. Or not I’m not the best liar especially when it comes to talking to Brit.

I feel like the most disgusting man alive right now. Nobody will respect the fact that I let myself get to the point where I couldn’t make it home to my wife. Your family should always be your first priority but Rick even when we were younger always brought the worst out of me. This isn’t the first time I ended up in a hotel after a night with Rick but this time is different. You have a wife and kids now and you let a woman take advantage of you. You’re a grown ass man Jay. Why couldn’t I snap out of it. I can’t look at my daughter little face without the thought of what I’ve became last night. I’m a cheater, someone that can’t control himself when he’s out with the guys, and the worst part is that I can’t be her Superhero anymore.

No Jay you’re overthinking this it isn’t your fault she had to see the wedding band on your finger she’s the one in the wrong. She saw how drunk you were and decided to make a move on you. She wanted you more than you wanted her. What you want is waiting for you to come home. You’re gonna get a hell of a talk when you get there. I wonder how many time my kids asked where’s daddy last night. *housekeeping knocks* I’m good. *laughs to himself* Imagine what would’ve happened if Brit found out about last night. Guess I dodged a bullet right there.

*phone rings* Hey Brit. (Pause) I know I know I’m sorry baby I’m on my way home now. I went to a hotel Rick got me tore up from the floor up. (pause) Baby I couldn’t drive home I was done I could barely walk. Rick drove me to the hotel and I’ve just been sleeping as soon as I got here I fell asleep. I just woke up a couple minutes ago. (Pause) Alright okay don't worry I’m on my way home now.


"The Move" Monologue by Benjamin Rivera

Walks in the door throws his backpack on the bed.

“Sometimes I just can’t with this woman yo , it’s always something with her”

“She really be drawn, I ain’t bouta be in this cracker ass school. My mom’s got me chopped if she thinks I’m moving. Harlem is the life I wanna live, may not be the safest but this is my home and she got the nerve to tell me we moving after New Years.”

“Why can I never have anything for me, Huh? I follow all her rules, go to school, and get good grades for what?”

“It’s crazy because she never even talks to me I feel like I made my own life already”

“I go to one of the best schools in New York. I have a huge opportunity and she still won’t even listen to me, I just feel like I’m a ghost in my house, they show envy to my success and show lies through smiles.”

“I’ve created something big, a foundation where there's a big future and you want to move me 2 hours from my home.”

Looks down in sorrow

“All my friends, all my teachers, all my relationships… For nothing. I love my life in the the city. I don’t get into problem, I don’t do drugs, and I’m never in the streets so why take me out because of someone else’s doing”

“She won’t let me stay with my grandma, like c’mon she would look after me for so many years  so why can’t I stay with her. I could still go to the same school I do now, there’s no reason why you should be here trying to dictate my life like I’m your slave or some”

“She’s really confusing though”

“When she told me I was just in shocked because she never thought of moving until he got here, and I can never say nothing about it,

“He took my spot as the man of the house, it’s crazy because I’ve been looking after everyone for 16 years and he got the nerve to be here 6 months and start taking over shit”

“I ain’t even gonna pay him no mind because I lose everything when I open my mouth, that’s why I stay in my room all the time, it’s my solitude from her and the world.”

“She may think that when I snap it’s out of disrespect but it’s not, it’s out of sorrow because I can never even get an I love you from her”

“Is it really hard to say I love you to her oldest son, the person who always stood by ya’side”

“That’s not how she sees it though, so instead of giving you my love I give it to what I want most, my dream”

“She’s not going to shoot me in the foot like I’m a dog and do as she pleases, I’m a human the same as you.

“So when she tried to say we moving to east bumblefuck she knew damn well I wasn’t going to be happy.”

“She keeps telling me that the school is good and I’m going to like it even more than here but I don’t believe it”

“Since she’s at work right now so it gives me sometime to actually think, maybe I should look at the school”

Searches up the school through his computer

“ I mean the school looks good, they have everything I want from a school it’s not the city but it could work”

“I just don’t know if it is the right thing to do right now though.”

“Hopefully things workout for the best of us”


"True Friend" Monologue

True Friend

Ah yo shut up,(pause) Ownen no just shut up. I really had it with you. I’m really about to sock you keep on trying me, you got no clue what you saying (pause) “I’m retarded”. You really think I'm going to let it slide through? No, (pause) I’m speaking here stop trying to change the topic .

Why do you think it’s Okay to call someone slow? Huh? (pause) I mean you're the one that does whatever that girl Sandy tells you to do, (pause) okay, but the point is  if she told you to jump off a cliff you would do it you son of bit*ch.

 You said things in the past that I let go, once you embarrassed me in front of my whole class, saying I didn’t have deodorant on, instead of looking out for me you didn’t. Do you understand what that means? (pause) of course you wouldn’t. You always invite Max and Jacob to your parties and you guys backbite me, don’t act like I don’t know, would you like to eat my flesh, or even better would you enjoy stabbing me while I’m not facing you. What you got to say about that?  You know what F**k our friendship, f**k everything. I need to hang around better people, people that will take me for who I am and not who they want me to be. Owen you  would be the type of friend  that would only applaud me for doing dumb stuff, so you can mock me, (pause)you’re one of those people that takes pride in watching others fail, in watching me fail calling me a “retarded”.

(To the Audience)

Poor Owen, if only he could understand what a retard in my definition means , it’s someone who is behind on  everything, someone who doesn’t deserve spot anywhere in our society, and all that I could tell you is,  that’s not me, and that will never be me, I earned my spot in society, and I know for a given fact that I’m important, I make a difference. You don’t understand at what extent I want to just snatch all that arrogance away from him, and see the Owen I’ve known since we were in kindergarten. It’s as if as soon as a teenager has a taste a little bit of goodness in high school, they seem to  forget about everything that was once  important to them, (pause) all of it, and become a so called “savage” to grab people's attention. Owen walks into every situation blind as if his soul couldn’t just leave his body at any instant. My dear friend I’m here I was always here, through your problem, through your times of joy and happiness, through your struggle I feared this a day would come where our friendship will break. It’s like you're a tree loses it's leaves a friend loses it's friends, it seems that we’ve arrived the finish line, the end of our journey. Bye my friend or as the french would say ”Au Revoir mon cher amie”.


I would love to just embarrass him in front of the whole world, but who would I be? I would love to make him feel my pain, but I won’t, I would love to fight him nock all his teeth out, but I won’t. All that I know is that I must be the bigger person today, tomorrow, everyday. (laughter…..) Today I choose to forgive him, to forgive not only because I’m the bigger person, but because it’s only fair that I let him see the regretful mistakes he carries within himself, so he see the path to fixing himself, and he will follow it, and with that he will finally find peace within himself


Look in the Mirror- Tyah

I’m not doing this. Nope. Who do they think I am? I mean, really!? Why did I even come here, I can leave, if I just slip out. Damn it, I’m already in the room. If I leave now, people will be calling me all day and my mom will SURELY find out. Oh no, I’m not having that. I already told her I would go through with this and tell all the people what’s going on. I hate sounding so weak, that is NOT me! I mean look at me in this mirror, I’m not ready. What if I pass out? What if they think I’m one of these weirdos that cut themselves and all that other sh*t. This is some corny stuff on this paper, I have to basically expose myself and what happens next? Counseling, because they’re scared for the poor girl and her poor issues. Honestly, I can do without all of this. Publically speaking about my anxiety, depression, and mental state as of today. Poetry is my way out — not this, never this. This is public and social suicide. Nobody is gonna talk to me, at all. Nothing good will become of this, I’m not doing this. I mean I know I can, my mom usually tells me the word, “can’t” is not in my vocabulary. This should be a easy thing to do, what I have to do isn’t that bad. I’ve heard worse on those crazy people commercials and etc. What about the part where I tell them about the..(thinks for a little while) nah that ain’t gon be good at all. Well maybe I should have skipped out, I can play sick or something. As if they won’t think that I’m sick in the head enough. I blame my teacher the most, why can’t we write a letter to ourselves? My mom will be coming to watch me present this, she knows nothing about my problems. I’ve been hiding these for so long, I am so good at it. At times, I think of saying all that I need to say but then again….No. I wish I was normal. Look at me in this mirror. How is it possible to look so good on the outside but be so broken inside. I wish that doing a monologue wasn’t the assignment for school. How can I get out of doing this assignment without failing it? I can finesse, I know it! I’ll come up with something creative. I am starting to feel some sort of hope for myself, I can do a big scene. The teachers will feel soooo bad and say, “You know, you don’t have to share.” Yes! I’ll be out of here and still get that A+, because my monologue is so sad. Only thing is, people will eventually see my monologue when I post it on the school website. Guess I should just come clean. I know I can do a speech. I think it’ll make my mom proud but also very sad. It’ll make me feel stronger and my shoulders less heavy. This could be a story to tell my family one day, if my children ever feel scared, I’ll encourage them. Deep breaths, clear throat, eye contact, and patience. Whoo— this feels like I’m about to go skydiving, so risky. I ain’t no punk either. May all this go well. I hear something!/ -Hears someone knock on the door- Yes! I’m coming out now, I’m gonna be ready in a few. What could a little honesty do to anyone? Just some monologue-y type talk and a little sob story for the one time. Let’s do this.

Life Lesson //Kyle Thomas

My dad is so annoying. He thinks that I am suppose to always do my homework. My dad be like “Did you do your homework” and I say “yea I did” knowing that I was lying the whole time. So, one day my dad had got an email from my teachers and he was really upset with me. So, when I had got home he was sitting there on the couch. I knew that something was up. My dad was like “why are you not doing your homework.” I look at him like “what are you talking about I do do my homework.” so, he was like your teachers emailed me saying you don’t do it. Why are you lying to me?”(angry on his face) I notice how angry my dad was that I wasn’t thinking and said “I do”.

Like when I saw him that angry it made me feel some type of way? Like it’s like I made my family disappointed at me.  He was like “go to your room and don’t turn anything on since you want to be a liar. So, I stormed up the steps so mad that I almost punched a hole in the wall. But I didn’t I stayed poised by controlling my anger and then I hear my door open. It was my dad and he walk over to me and was like “Son all I am trying to do is teach you a lesson. “ I said what do you mean you are trying to teach me a lesson and he was like “don't be a liar because it will create a really bad image on you.” Then he went on and said this “people will not trust you if you keep on lying.” Then he kept going on and on and was like “ I am trying to protect you because I don’t want you to be put into a bad situation with someone.”

Suddenly I start to realize that I need to change my ways. Like after hearing what my dad was saying to me it took me into a different state of mind. Like for instance, it made me want to actually try and take off these negative things that teacher and students have about me. So, I started to work really hard and try to prove everyone wrong. I took this serious, and it started to show in my class and in my grades. When my dad seen my grades he was so, proud of me because he knew that I had taken in what he had told me. So, my dad was like “Son I really like how you listen to what I had said and took upon yourself to start doing your work and handing in all your missing work.” So, this made me so proud because I can see my how proud my family was with me. What I had taken away from this was to always be honest because if I wasn’t then people will still think of me the same way.


Never Forget

By: Teyonna Little


Lyric, I keep telling you: Life ain’t fair. You keep comparing yourself to those girls and what they have. You think they're happy? No! They’re insecure. Sure they might have been through some things, some struggles. But I’m sure they have never been through what you’ve been through. There is a reason you are not like them. I wasn’t like them either. Let me tell you something. (she points finger to her daughter’s chest) I was suffering. (she point at her own chest, face slightly frowned). Suffering from a brutal and harsh reality. My reality was waking up and being raped, molested and verbally abused for six got damn years. (she yells) I wasn’t loved, I didn’t get new clothes or new iPhones. Shit! I didn’t even get a birthday cake. Yet each morning, I walked out of a house, a so called “home” everyday covering up my pain and my hurt. And you got the nerve to compla… (pause and takes a deep breath; restraining from getting even more angry) For so long, anger consumed me. Depression. Hell yeah. Stress. Most definitely. But I had to hold on. I had to keep praying. I had to keep fighting. I came to a point in my life where I was mad at the world. Always getting into fights. Face down, ass in the air. Cursing in every sentence I said. I had no respect for myself. I was out of control. (she looks at her daughter innocently) Listen sweetheart, I speak from experience,

I come from a place of suicidal ideation, ignorance, carelessness, low self-esteem. You don’t even have a clue. That was me. (says stronger and more firm) That was me. And babygirl, I know you’ve been through some things as well.  But you have to press. You can’t complain about not being like those girls. You weren’t created to fit in, you were created to stand out. Oh, how I wish you could see it as clear as I do. But you will never be like them, you will always be you and no one else but you.

I want you to look into the mirror everyday and see something that you thought was never there. At your lowest, darkest moments, look at your reflection, at your beautiful face and say “I am beautiful. I am loved. I am worthy. I am intelligent. I am respectful. I will forgive, I will respond to B.S. differently. I will learn self-control. I won’t be depressed. I will succeed. I will stand up for what I believe in. I won’t act on impulse. I won’t curse any more. I will no longer let anger take over me. I will be a changed person.” Because God is just that great. He loves me. And my past will not define me or my future. And don’t let your past define you. Look into your  beautiful big brown eyes, Cry if you need to. I’ll cry with you. Look into your eyes baby, do you see that glow, my daughter, do you see it? Let it show. You are amazing in spite of your flaws, in spite of your pain. Who cares if your mother came from a terrible background? I’m here, aren’t I? You’re taking care of, aren’t you? You’re loved. I love you. God loves you. Understand this: there will be many more struggles and obstacles ahead of you. Life is never going to quit throwing darts at it’s target. But you keep on dodging and dipping like you know how. But most of all, you keep your head up and never forget your worth, my baby. Never forget. (pause and a smile with a tear)


Media Fluency: Nile Shareef-Trudeau

Media Fluency_ Nile Shareef-Trudeau
​As you can see, I tried to do something simple, but, at the same time, complex.What do  I mean by that? I have created a simple design but the meaning behind it is not understandable until after it is explained. First I will talk about why I chose this  color as my background. Purple represents a number of things such as royalty, ambition, creativity, wisdom, peace, pride, and magic, all of which I associate myself with. The text “Boonoonoonoos” has a meaning of “special person”, in Jamaican Patois (a language used in Jamaica). Because it is unfamiliar, with the help of the lines, it draws the viewer to it. The lines represent everything coming from the outside world shaping me into this “special person” I’ve become/ am becoming. The lines, bleeding off the page, not only show how the outside world affects me to make me who I am but they look as though they could be projecting outwards as well. This shows how I think I shine outwards and affect the world around me. The shape I chose was a star. I chose this to add to the idea that I believe I am my own person and special in ways others may not be.There is a lot of space. This shows that there is room for more. What I mean by this is there’s room for growth. I have so much more to learn and experience as well as put out into the world. Everything on the slide works together in harmony to emit this idea of me and who I am. This is why I made this design how it is for my slide about me.

Nile Shareef-Trudeau