"It's going to be a long train ride," I thought to myself, as I sat down next to a window. I sighed deeply, trying to ignore how my stomach was tying knots around itself. I was heading over to my first driving lesson with a complete stranger. It would be my first time driving in what seem like years, but were actually only a couple of months. I sighed again. The train began to move, and, with each stop it made, my throat got drier. When we reached my usual station, I breathed in, waiting for the doors to close, almost forgetting to breathe out again. The train stopped at the Bayamón station, where my driving instructor was waiting to pick me up. I gathered my courage, along with my backpack, and walked through the doors.

My hands began to shake violently, as I walked towards the intimidating black SUV. The lady greeted me nicely enough. As she explained how the payment system would work, I discreetly tried to wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, when she instructed me to go forward and to head over to Road #2. While I drove, she said I had a tendency to lean right. "That's no way to drive. You have to be right in the middle of the lane," she squeaked, and her hand grabbed the bottom of the steering wheel pushing it towards the left. We kept driving like that for an hour, without changing lanes because I had to master the art of driving on the left lane. I was trying to relax, but my arms were two tense rods maintaining the steering wheel in place.

We were in Vega Baja, when she told me to make a u-turn. Five minutes later we were turning towards a small street off the side of the road. My breath hitched a bit, and I gripped the steering wheel harder, when I saw the sharp turns ahead. My eyes narrowed every time I had to swerve, as best I could, but inexperience made the treacherous turns look more dangerous than they were. I parked the car inside the office's garage, and, when she got out of the car, I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding.

Less than five minutes later, she was back inside, and we were on the move again, but not for much longer. "Oh, some friends of mine live around here. I haven't seen them in so long. Let's stop there next," she smiled at me. In ten minutes, after more sharp turns and tiny streets, we were parked in her friend's driveway. She jumped off the car, saying she'd be right back, but for twenty minutes I played with my fingers, trying to ignore my growling stomach.

When the instructor got inside again, she noticed my two hours were almost up; we were going back. Hunger's daze and the rawness of my shaken nerves made the trip back a blur. Before I knew it, the SUV was parked in front of my house, and I was paying for my lesson. She told me she'd call me to schedule my next lesson; I never saw her again. Two weeks later, after a lot of miscommunication and a few dozen calls, I had a new instructor. In less than a month's time, I would have my driver's license. 

It was the night before my first trip to Walt Disney World. My family and I were going to celebrate my tenth birthday over there, so it was safe to say I was beyond excited. I had started packing weeks before, and I kept anxiously awaiting the day when I would get on a plane and visit what people call the most magical place on Earth. Two days before my birthday, we were on our way. That day I couldn't keep my food down; I just wanted to be there already. I had already memorized the traveling guide video, and I already knew what I wanted to get on and what I wanted to avoid. All that I had to get through was the jittery night of lying awake, wondering if it would be like I imagined it to be or if it would another dream down the drain.

Eventually, the sun came up, and I was only a couple of hours away from setting foot inside Magic Kingdom. This would be one of the few times my family and I were in front of the closed gates of the park, watching the first show of the day, marking the opening of the park. I could feel my heart almost leaping and beating faster, as I watched these characters I grew up with: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald and Pluto. I was holding on tightly to my mom's hand, as I stared wide-eyed all around me. We walked into the tunnels, grabbed a few maps and made our way through to Main Street USA. The first thing that hit me was the smell of freshly popped popcorn, even if it was only nine in the morning. We kept walking through the throngs of people, until it finally came into view--Cinderella's castle, aka the symbol that confirms that you are, in fact, in Magic Kingdom. My mouth fell open, and if it were humanly possible, my eyes would have gotten wider. We kept walking past people, pushing our stroller into the heart of Main Street. Suddenly, my eyesight was filled with metallic balloons with Mickey's face on them and two parallel lines of colorful buildings. People were smiling for pictures, gazing at the different shopfronts displaying merchandise. As we kept walking down the street, the air no longer only smelled of popcorn, but also of sweets and baked goods; it's a smell very distinct of the area. I felt like I couldn't take in enough, but I couldn't take everything in either. There was just too many things happening at once. We walked until we reached the statue of Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse--the one I know now is called Partners--and we took pictures of it. Of course, the castle was behind it, looking more majestic and elegant than I thought it could. If I was awe-struck, when I entered the park, I was flabbergasted, at that point.

That trip was riddled with "firsts", from feeling the exhilaration of getting on an airplane for the first time to the way my stomach sank when I got on a roller coaster for the first time, but nothing beats that feeling of seeing your dreams come true. Nothing beats seeing what will be one of your favorite places in the whole world for the first time, feeling how the moment takes your breath away--even if it's in memories. 

Even now, more than a decade later, every time I go there--and the smell of popcorn hits me, the sight of the balloons catches my eye, and then finally the castle comes into view--it's like greeting an old friend, and like I have arrived at my second home. The rush I felt that very first time, still lingers, as I gaze up at the marvelous view in front of me--a place not filled just with my memories, but also of the memories of millions of people that have come before and after me. That's truly magical. 

The image I chose is of articles of clothing and accessories, all of them following some kind of flower pattern with pops of brilliant colors. The sunglasses, shoes, belt, jewelry, purse and a scarf are all displayed on a sandy area. The cream colored belt is the only one subtle look, compared to rest with their pops red and blue, featuring only two, big, yellow fake flowers. The jewelry features roses, as the flower of choice; the necklace being an indigo rose, while the golden bracelet has two peach colored roses. The purse features red, blue and yellow flowers against a white background, while the scarf features a conglomerate of flowers that make up an exquisite pattern. The shoes, on the other hand, have a wooden sole, while the rest of it almost matches the purse. It also has flowers of different colors against a white background; the only difference being that the type of flower is different. The last article is the sunglasses, which have different pops of color, but they are less eye-catching than in the others.

Since I’ve always liked to go shopping and making outfits, I was instantly interested in this image. It reminds me that I haven’t been able to take a shopping trip in a long time. It also reminds me of how fun it is to dress up and make a new outfit. I wouldn’t wear or buy all of these things, but it’s nice to think of ways how to incorporate them.

 Some people believe marijuana should be legalized, while others are opposed to it. That's the gist of it. The horse is dead, but the stick isn't down. Why isn't it down? Because this metaphorical horse acts like a zombie. Every time the issue calms down, it gets rehashed. 

Its latest appearance in Puerto Rico came when states like Washington and Colorado legalized it. At that point in time, during the debates gearing up to the elections, the issue was discussed, but mostly by left-winged parties like Movimiento Unión Soberanista (MUS), Partido del Pueblo Trabajador (PPT) and Partido Independentista Puertorriquño (PIP). The debate eventually cooled down, as usual. But, when it came back in full-force, it brought some game-changing pieces with it. One of them being that the matter would be fully discussed, with the act of writing a new bill in mind to legalize it, for once and for all. As one would expect, the debate got heated. However, Governor Alejandro García Padilla said that the bill wouldn't be a top-priority issue.

On the con side, we can find the Church, saying: "Legalizing something wrong won't make it right." According to them, our teenagers and young adults do not need another excuse to engage in debauch actions. Another of the opponents of the bill is the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Psiquiatría Avanzada. Their president, Carlos Augusto Pagán, said that he couldn't be on board with the project because of the effects it has on the human body and how long these effects can last.  The Secretery of Justice, Luis Sánchez Betances, said that for Puerto Rico to legalize marijuana it has to follow strict regulations and these have not been studied yet. However, there are people who are only against because of the way it's written, for example people are not agreeing on which age it would legal to posses and consume marijuana freely.

Miguel Pereira and Ramón Luis Nieves are the ones leading the fight, for the pro side, as co-authors of the bill. They have said time and again that they're open to amendments to the project. José Vargas Vidot, director of Iniciativa Comunitaria, has proposed a pilot project to test out the medical marijuana. Medical marijuana can help people suffering from cancer, depression, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis, among other illnesses.  He has also suggested to specify how the offer/demand dynamic will work in this issue because it could help the Government profit from this endeavor. When the debate was happening during the 2012 elections, one of the arguments was that by legalizing marijuana, the Government would be taking power away from drug cartels. 

For a long time, I didn't ponder about this issue, thinking it wasn't that important, and I didn't have a stance. However, recently I started to pay more attention to what everyone was saying. I agree that medical marijuana should be legalized, probably starting as the project Vargas Vidot has proposed. Although the offer of taking control away from drug points and giving it to the Government, by legalizing marijuana altogether, is attractive, I don't think Puerto Rico is ready to implement the regulations that step would entail. I reached this decision not by the information I've been reading about the debate, but from my every day experience of living here. I simply don't think we are ready to handle this. There are so many stipulations, regulations and laws in Puerto Rico that are only dead words on a piece of paper; I don't want to see that happen to this. If that happened with this issue, I would deem it a great risk. Either way, I think the island has bigger problems than thinking about whether or not marijuana should be legalized. People should fight with the same amount of passion for the families that go to sleep hungry, for the animals that roam our streets without a home, for a better economic system, for our voices to be heard. In my list of priority issues, this one doesn't make the top five, maybe not even top twenty. I just think we have bigger fish to fry. Should we continue to consider the possibility of legalizing it? Of course. Does it have to happen this very second? Not really. Eventually, I think medical marijuana will be legalized, but it's not going to be easy; it's probably going to take more time than people realize.

These results tell me that even though I didn't make a ton of mistakes, there's still some tweaking to do.

From all the posts I've written, I want to receive more feedback on the post: "Professors I've Come Across: A Study". I would really like it if you guys could focus on the content and the structure of it. But, if you see anything amiss, even if it doesn't regard the content, just let me know.

Thanks!

My life has always been filled with music--just like I assume most of everyone's is. These comprise, in a way, what has been my life, what it is and what will be; all in all, it's who I am. This is not a soundtrack of my all-time favorite songs; this is a soundtrack of songs that have touched my life at specific times. It's a story--my story. 

My Little Girl - Tim McGraw

You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road
That'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

A 5-pound little girl came into the world one July morning. She was all her parents wanted--all pink and doll-like. That's how my life began. Obviously, I wasn't conscious enough, being only minutes old and all, to know a song from this part of my life, but when I heard this one, I thought of my parents, specifically my dad. I thought of the times when he was holding me, imagining my life, who I would be, what I would do, my triumphs and mistakes; he'd be imagining how in a blink of an eye, I wouldn't be a little girl anymore, but I would always be his little princess, in his eyes.

Te quiero tanto tanto - Onda Vaselina

Te quiero tanto, tanto, tanto, tanto, tanto, 
cada día un poco más, mi pequeña traviesa.
Te quiero tanto, tanto, tanto, tanto, tanto, 
para mí no hay nadie igual, pequeña traviesa, no lo hay. 

This is essentially a love song, but the chorus was something my mom used to sing to me because one of her many nicknames for me was "pequeña traviesa" or, in English, little rascal. One day the song came on, and the chorus stuck. From that moment on, this was our song. It makes me weep, almost every time I hear it because it reminds me of our relationship. Skipping ahead to my 21st birthday, for a moment here, my mom found a card that played this song, safe to say I was touched and it made my birthday even more special.

Pure Imagination - Fiona Apple

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There's nothing to it

This cover of this song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is barely a week old, but the message of the song about the power of imagination is one I've held near my heart since I was a little kid. Watching Barney and all those other kid shows I used to fawn over taught me to believe that if you set your mind to it, there's nothing in the world you can't do. Life has taught me it's not going to be magical and it's not going to be easy, but not impossible. It will be impossible, if you quit, if you stop wanting it--whatever "it" is. So, yes, I was kid that would pretend to live in a hotel like Eloise, to be in a pirate ship and exploring new worlds. I was kid--like most kids are--with a mind that knew no limits, that believed in everything good and kind in the world.

God Help the Outcasts from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I ask for nothing. I can get by.
But I know so many, less lucky than I
Please help my people, the poor and downtrod.
I thought we all were the children of God.
God help the outcasts, children of God. 

I am a Disney girl. Maybe you already knew that. Disney's movies, although they did teach me about imagination and happy endings, they also taught me about life. I grew up loving these movies about defying the odds, about fighting for what truly matters. When I was between six or seven years old, I wanted to be Esmeralda. I wanted to be the gypsy who fought for justice, even though people didn't want to hear her because of who she was--a woman and a gypsy, the lowest of the low by Paris' standards back then. Just ask Frollo, even if his response would be a reprise of  Hellfire, but I digress. The point is I admire her strength, so much so that I dressed up as her for one of my birthdays. Back then, I was the kid that would defend my cousin, when my aunt was scolding her, by saying something along the lines of: "Titi, she's a kid. It's what they do. Don't be so harsh on her." It was my form of kid-justice. But, it's something that's still in me, to feel that empathy, and it all started by watching movies like this one. 

You'll Be in My Heart - Phil Collins

For one so small, you seem so strong.
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken.
I will be here. Don't you cry.

It may seem strange my choice of image for this song, but there's a reason behind it. My dad was the one who would drop me off at school every morning, for many years. He loves rock music, so every morning he would put on Alfa Rock and we would listen to the Dog House. I grew up listening to marvelous artists like AC/DC, The Beatles, Alanis Morisette, without knowing who they were until a few years later, when reasoning and Google kicked in. Yet, this doesn't explain why I chose this song, but it does, in my mind. This was the song my dad would ask Pedro Dávila to dedicate to me, and I would get so excited, while waiting for it to come on and for Pedro to say something like: "This one is for Alba, who is on her way to school". Just like Te quiero tanto tanto is the song that will always remind of the bond between my mom and I, this is the one I share with my dad.

The Best Day - Taylor Swift

I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop 'til I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

This is one of Taylor Swift's songs that seem to be too accurate with my life. Obviously, this song wasn't released during the time it happened, but it represents the moment I'm about to describe too perfectly. Since I was nine years old, a person started bullying me, on-and-off for years. Physically, it didn't last long because I didn't stand for it, but words hurt more. Words that are thrown around like daggers behind your back, until they hit the mark. The kid I was for so long started to quiet down. My mom was the one who would take time out of her day, going as far as taking the whole day off just to console me, let me cry, talk it out, assess the situation and help me remember that there's still happiness, love and fun in the world. I will never forget that. I will never forget that she'll always have my back, and she's there to help me get back up every time I fall down and every time I'm pushed down too. 

A Little Bit Longer - Jonas Brothers

But you don't know what you got until it's gone,
And you don't know what it's like to feel so low,
And every time you smile, you laugh, you glow.
You don't even know.

So I'll wait 'til kingdom come.
All the highs and lows are gone.
A little bit longer and I'll be fine.
I'll be fine.

Nick Jonas wrote this song about his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis and how he deals with it. This song helped me deal with my own mess of illnesses. It marks the time when I had to go from having three meals a day, to having 3 meals and 4 snacks a day. Yet I associate the song more with the fact that I'm asthmatic. Maybe because I've had it since I was four years old, and it's been years since I've had a really bad asthma attack, I don't see it as the biggest deal anymore. Yet this doesn't erase the fact that it's still there and it always will be. Like diabetes, it's manageable, but there is no cure. You may think that how dare I compare asthma to diabetes, but you try waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breathe. It's not fun; it's scary, and that is still an understatement.

The Climb - Miley Cyrus

The struggles I'm facing, the chances I'm taking,
Sometimes might knock me down, 
but, no, I'm not breaking.
I may not know it, but these are the moments 
that I'm gonna remember most.
Just gotta keep goin', and I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on.

There's always gonna be another mountain.
I'm always gonna wanna make it move.
Always gonna be an uphill battle.
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.
Ain't about how fast I get there.
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side.
It's the climb.

During the last month of my senior year, the Hannah Montana movie came out, and this song became very popular. It's a song that I will always associate with my high school graduation and the journey leading up to it. It's a very funny coincidence that this was the song that I immediately heard after the ceremony ended, when we were heading over to have lunch all together. It seems like the perfect song for that moment, when you have just finished this big milestone in your life, but you're about to start a new one too.

Brand New Day - Demi Lovato

It's a brand new day.
Don't you see me changing on my way
This time I'm gonna sing and you're gonna hear it.
This time I'm gonna show you that I got the spirit.
It's a brand new day, and I'm feelin' good.

I spent many mornings dancing around, like an idiot might I add, in my room to this song because it came out during a time when I starting to feel stronger and more confident. For me, it describes that moment when I realized: "Hey, I've grown as a person, and I'm very proud of that." It was a mixture of having my taste of independence in college and being able to do what I love that made me feel like that. I don't know how to exactly put into words that epiphany, but I know it started after my first acting classes and during my trip to Las Vegas, where the picture is from.

Someone Else's Skin from Catch Me If You Can

So many voices telling me to choose
It’s like a game where either team, I lose
This kind of noise just makes me want to shout
I’d like to buy a one-way ticket out
Rules of the road say don’t look back
Eyes straight ahead, don’t jump the track
Try a new game
And pray that I can win

‘Cause I just don’t feel at home in mine
So I slip now
Into someone else’s skin

The song, within the context of the musical, is about how Frank Jr. has to choose who he's going to live with after his parents divorce, but he ends up choosing something else entirely. However, I don't relate it to a divorce, since my parents are still together. I do relate it to that moment when you have so many choices you don't know what to do with yourself. Of course, the whole song doesn't fit into my context, but right now when I'm choosing graduate schools and doing everything that process implies, at times I find it overwhelming, and I get the urge to just drop it and I think: "Who needs to study anyway?" But, I know myself, and I know that I get the urge to just stop everything from changing too quickly and of making the wrong choice, but I end up trying my best.

Naughty from Matilda: The Musical

Just because you find that life's not fair.
It doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it,
Nothing will change.

Even if you're little, you can do a lot.
You mustn't let a little thing like, 'little' stop you.
If you sit around and let them get on top,
You might as well be saying
You think that it's okay,
And that's not right!
And if it's not right,
You have to put it right!

I haven't seen this musical yet, but I'm kind of obsessed with it right now. When I was a kid I really liked Matilda, the movie, and now, after hearing a few pivotal songs from the musical, I'm being reminded of that person I used to be. I hear this song, and I just think that it's the sum of me. Basically it's saying: "I don't like what's going on, well, I'm going to change it." Because after feeling overwhelmed, it's actually nice to be the writer of your own story. That's the genius of this song because it mentions different fictional characters and how their stories are destined to end, and it says that we're not characters in someone else's book, so fight for what you want, write your own ending.

Extraordinary - Mandy Moore

I was a daydream, quiet and unseen.
I lived in stories but inside I kept a mystery.
I was a starling. Nobody's darling.
Flying in perfect circles just for company.

And now I'm ready, and now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary

After deciding you're going to take charge of your life, you are ready to leave everything behind and just begin with that new part. That's what I see in this song--that deciding moment when you start to take flight into the new phase of your life. This song isn't exactly new, and I don't think it's that well-known either, but it has always made me excited for every time a new leaf starts to turn.

Don't Forget to Remember Me - Carrie Underwood

Here's a map and here's a Bible, if you ever lose your way.
Just one more thing before you leave,
Don't forget to remember me.

'Lord I feel so small sometimes in this big ol' place
Yeah, I know there are more important things,
But don't forget to remember me.'

I'm skipping over to what has yet to happen, but that eventually will happen. It's the 'leaving the nest' part of the story; the part when you finally get to try out those wings for real, even if right now it seems far away. Yet when it's only a breath away, it will seem like time just flew by. This song always makes me cry because I'm very close to my family, as you may have noticed, and leaving them behind is the bitter part of this whole step, even if I do want to do it.

Fingerprints - Katy Perry

Representing you and me
Don't you wanna go down in history?
Rather than end up begging on the streets
Trading under table favors for a place to sleep
'Cause I'm worth more than this
So stop writing prescriptions for more Ritalin
I can focus my attention
I wanna break the mold
Wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air
I'm not going down without a fight

This song is one of my favorites by Katy Perry, and it rings so true to me because this is something I've always wanted to do. I want to make an impact somewhere on someone through something I've written or I've said. It's not about having fame or fortune; it's about making a difference. Also, it's about not letting anyone convince you that you have to do otherwise.

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello

As I walk through this wicked world,
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

This one is one of my favorite songs by Elvis Costello, and I like it because this is how I feel about the world's, but specifically Puerto Rico's, situation. I'm not talking just about government issues; it's more than that. I'm talking about how people treat each other with such disdain. Empathy is something I think everybody should learn, but empathy does not equal pity, since we have that down. Puerto Ricans can do pity, aka "ay bendito", but empathy is a whole other ballgame. It's not that every single person on the island is like that, but that is the image that comes across. 

Dreamer - Elizaveta

I believe in fairy tales and serendipitous encounters.

I believe love will prevail.
The path is clear for me to follow.
Shooting stars will leave a trail, 
for me to fill with joy and sorrow.

Leave your fear of love behind. 
Let your dreaming be your guide. 
If you seek then you shall find. 

From all the songs I've shared with you, this one would be my theme song. Because I'm a dreamer, an optimist and sometimes I'm an idealist, but like Walt Disney said: "I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter." This means that even though I do believe in love and a bit of magic, I am not naive enough to think everything has a magical solution or that everything is rainbows and butterflies. My life will take many turns, and it'll change and somethings about myself will change along with it, but I think this part of myself will be the exception. Maybe you'll think I'm being naive, but if you don't believe that goodness and kindness will prevail, what hope is there in the world? What is going to help you get up in the morning, when everything else seems to fail?

Like I said before, this is my story. Most of them are from the time the events happened, with only a few exceptions like My Little Girl--for obvious reasons--and The Best Day. Maybe I delved in too deep into my personal life, but if we're talking about what has shaped me, during these years, then I can't edit it and try to make it sound perfect. If I did that, then it wouldn't be real. Therefore, it wouldn't be me.

Having just read Gabrielle Thurin's study, I can say that, yes, she is the Jane Goodall of UPR men. Her article was really funny and on-point to what we see everyday roaming our halls. I don't think I would change any of her classifications. The one I found the funniest was the one about Homo charro. It brought me back to the times when I was a freshman and my guy friends decided to rebel against our Academy, by dyeing their hair a strange shade of purple and by trying to grow beards, which ended up being patchy and ridiculously funny. Ah, the days when we were stupid...

Taking Ms. Thurin's article as an example, I'm going to do my own classifications. Oh my, have mercy on my soul...

Professors I've come across

1. Uber-organized

These professors are always dressed nicely. They will come in with a plan, and they will stick to it, come hell or high water. They're almost never absent, and if they are, your first thought would probably be: "Chicken Little was right. The sky is falling." They may seem like they have no room for leniency and their tests will terrify you because you're always expecting the worst. In the end, they may end up being total softies or maybe you'll find underneath the stone, more stone. 

Pros: You'll be grateful for them pushing you to be your best.
Cons: You'll be stressed. Like every day.

2. Walking mess

This type of professor may or may not look disheveled, but they are never completely sure of what is going on. They may forget the dates, when you're supposed to hand-in your papers. Then, they forget to correct them. You may or may not see your paper again, but if you get to see it again, it'll probably have some mystery stains on it. At the beginning of the semester, they probably had a schedule and a plan, but probably by week three that plan went out the window. By the end of the semester, you, alongside the professor, end up scrambling to make ends meet and try to cover a few weeks worth of material in two days.

Pros: None come to mind. Maybe that they push the dates back for the papers?
Cons: Finding out your grades will probably be hell. The end of the semester will be horrible.

3. Ranter

This is the type of professor that you know they have plenty of knowledge, but they easily go off topic and usually end up talking about social problems or politics. After twenty minutes or so of incessant talking about how everything is going to hell in a hand-basket, they'll stop and say: "What were we talking about again?" It may take more than double the time to get through the material.

Pros: You'll learn a lot. You'll always be well-informed in current affairs.
Cons: You may doze off, during one of those rants.

4. Life Storyteller

This type of professor is a close relative of the ranter, but this one does not go off topic to rant about something that is vaguely related, if you squint your eyes and tilt your head to the side, to what you're supposed to be discussing. Oh, no, no. This one may never even utter a word about the topic, but you will learn about their family's history, important people they have met, curious facts that have nothing to do with the class and how they can't understand their new cellphone.

Pros: It's an easy class.
Cons: You will learn absolutely nothing.

5. Teddy Bears

There are very few of these professors. Some may even say they don't exist. Yet they do, it's just that you have to know where to find them. This is the kind that will do anything in their power to make sure their students learn something and also pass their class. They're the ones that will give a lending hand, if you fail an exam or have trouble grasping something. If they think their students deserve it, which in their eyes they almost always do, they'll give a review of the test's material that will almost be identical to the test you're going to take. This could be because they're either about to retire, or because that's their personality.

Pros: You learn. He helps.
Cons: If I'm being honest, there are none.

6. Fair

This may be the type of professor probably everyone wants. They're strict, but there's room for compromise. They're lenient, but not so much that they get trampled by the first student that thinks they'll pull a wool over their eyes. They will probably have a plan too, and they'll follow it, but there will be room to tweak it, as the semester moves along.

Pros: A well-rounded experience.
Cons: Nothing. If you keep up with the work, you'll be fine.

Maybe you haven't seen all these professors. Maybe you have. However, through my experience, I have seen all of them. My suggestion is to not judge too harshly and to tread carefully.

Taylor Swift
This girl has been under recent scrutiny, and people make fun of her because she supposedly dates a lot of people. However, this is not about the rumors surrounding her or what people think about her; this is about her music. 

She's a country crossover pop artist, singer-songwriter, and I became a fan of hers, when she was literally a nobody. It was during my trip to Florida in December 2007, when we were on our way back from Tampa,  and the car's radio was only picking up a country music radio station. That's when I heard Our Song come on, and I thought the way it was written was genius. After the song was finished, they announced that it was by new country artist Taylor Swift. When I came home, obviously nobody knew who she was, but that didn't stop me from downloading most of her eponymous debut album. I like that she has written a song about a lot of experiences--not just dating, as people often believe. Also, when I'm listening to her and she's singing about something I can relate to, it's almost like she has taken the thoughts right off my head. Sadly, I've never been to one of her concerts, but I have seen two of her concerts on TV or on DVD--one from her Fearless tour and the other one from her Speak Now tour. From watching those concerts and watching her performances during award shows--especially CMA or CMT ones--you can see this girl is a performer, so given the opportunity I would go in a heartbeat to one of her performances.

On her official site, you can find a brief "about me" section that explains where she came from, her interests, her cat and what her newest album--Red--means to her. You can also find videos of most, if not all, her performances on TV, her music videos and tons of photos, including a photo journal that shows her journey throughout these past few months. You can also find special merchandise and information about her on-going Red tour. I was surprised to find another photo journal, but this one documents her tour, from the fans point of view, since they are the ones who submit the pictures. The site is user-friendly and very appealing. It reminds me of her first site--her MySpace--because it still feels personal, but that shouldn't surprise me--that is her style, after all.

Another site I visited was a fansite, and it follows the theme that her official site has. This one has news, her complete discography, a list of all of her accolades, links to all of her official sites and heaps more of personal information. A few examples are: that she grew up in a Christmas tree farm and that she named her cat after her favorite Grey's Anatomy character. This site is probably a Swiftie's--what her fans are called, even though I don't call myself that--hand-guide. It can take new fans and turn them into her biggest fans, with just a few clicks and spare time to read. This one is also ridiculously easy to use and it's chock-full of information.

The last site I visited was a Tumblr page called Swift Network. This blog, created by her fans for her fans, has edits of her pictures, gifsets of her recent concerts, photosets, news, a Twitter tracker, lyrics, and they also answer questions about what's going on with her career-wise and personal-wise. As a disclaimer they point out, they are in no way, shape or form affiliated to Taylor Swift or Big Machine Records--her label.

From all of these sites I visited, I didn't find anything that really surprised because I've been a fan of hers for a long time. I, however, did find them helpful and informative for fans who want to know more about her. I've met a few fans of hers that have been or are my friends, in real life. I've also known a few fans through social networking site like Tumblr and Twitter.

Quotes:
"To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death."

"The only place where it’s cool to be the same as everyone else is in junior high."

“People haven’t always been there for me but music always has."

“I’m intimidated by the fear of being average.”

Video:

Haunted - Taylor Swift (Lyric Video)
One of my favorite songs by her.

Aaron Tveit
I came across this talented man fairly recently. I had seen him a few times, without actually knowing who he was. It wasn't after watching Les Misérables, where he plays Enjolras (revolutionary leader obsessed with red), that I decided to do a little research on him. That's when I found out that he was the same guy I had seen in the Graceland promos and in the Les Misérables Oscars performance. But he wasn't only a rising star in film and TV, but also an accomplished Broadway actor. He originated two roles on Broadway, Gabe on Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr. on Catch Me If You Can, but he has also been on shows like Rent, Hairspray and Wicked. He's relevant because he's a real triple threat, and he's the kind of actor that makes the transition from stage to TV to film seem easy and seamless. I consider him to be a true talent, and I'm glad I found him because he seems to be not only a wonderful artist, but also a genuinely great person. When he sings, he manages to add his own twists because of the emotion he brings to them, even if all his songs are essentially covers. I haven't seen him on Broadway, and, unfortunately, I wasn't one of the lucky few who attended his only--for now--concert series last May.

Since I was a new fan, just a few months ago, the first thing I did was search for sites about him. This site is basically what brought to my attention the interviews he's done throughout the years, videos of his performances, information about his life like that he studied at Ithaca College on a 12-year plan (that's a joke/reference, people),  his accolades and all of his performances. It's user-friendly, and even though it has a lot of information, I would add links to videos of his performances. This site is really important because it's the only place where his fans can get information on when he'll have a TV appearance, since he's not on any social networking sites.

Another site that has saved my butt or ruined my life--tomato, tomatoe--has been this amazing blog called Enjolras the Chief. This one has links for episodes of Graceland, download links for ringtones, pictures old and new, audio links, information about all of his TV roles, film roles and Broadway roles, and also plain ol' "fangirling". ("Fangirling" = Any girl extremely obsessed with any celebrity, t.v. show, movie, book, or other entertainment/media who is participating in fan activities.) This blog is very organized,  well-rounded and easy to use; I don't think I would change anything about it.

After lots of searching, I finally found another blog where he is the focus and not just one where he's one of the Broadway actors that is being appreciated. This blog is also on Tumbr, and it's called Aaron Tveit Appreciation Society. The difference between this blog and others I found is that this one is 95% Tveit and the other 5% gets divided between random posts and posts about other actors who have performed as part of Les Amis de l'ABC--the student group that appears in Les Misérables--like George Blagden and Hadley Fraser. In the Tveit front, there are gifs of his performances and TV show episodes, photos from his upcoming album and his Broadway League Softball games, links to his interviews and quotes, there are clips for all the musicals he has been in, also links to videos of other performances he has done outside the theater but still theater-related, if you catch my drift. The difference between this blog and the Enjolras the Chief one is that this one focuses mainly on his work as a Broadway actor, while Enjolras the Chief focuses on everything he has done.

This time around, while doing research, I didn't find anything new. I haven't met any other fans of his in real life, other than my brother, who became a fan at the same time I did. I'm pretty sure, that even if I do meet someone who knows of him, it's probably more through Graceland or Les Mis than because of Broadway.

His Quotes:
"I can clap with one hand." (No, I am not kidding. Yes, I have seen it. Yes, he can do it. Yes, he looks like a goofball while doing it. No, he's not the only person who can do it--my brother can too.)

“In an ideal world for me, I would like to go back and forth [between film and theater]. I kind of want to do it all.”

“Being onstage is just a feeling that you cannot duplicate anywhere else because the energy that the audience is giving you forces you to give more energy. It’s such an output and exchange of energy. You can’t do that anywhere else.”

“I find that with anything, you have to focus on the micro. If I look at the whole thing, I’ll get overwhelmed.”

Video:

Goodbye from Catch Me If You Can
Performed by Aaron Tveit

Elvis Costello
Many don't know who he is. For me, he has been around for a long time. It all started while watching Gilmore Girls, as most of my obsessions often do. His music is featured throughout the show, but there's a specific song called This Is Hell, on the episode Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy, that changed everything for me. After many years of trying to figure out the song's title, I downloaded it. Then I began to look for other songs by him, and I found out that I really liked it and also that I had heard them before. His music has always made me think; it also mellows me out. I love to put on his music, in the middle of the night, to just listen and read the lyrics. Costello has been in the business for more than 30 years, writing songs for himself, other artists, TV shows and movies. An example of this could be Twist of Barbed Wire, which is a song he wrote for his latest CD, National Ransom, put ultimately it wasn't put on the album, however it was used in the show Nashville. You can thank his friend and producer, T-Bone Burnett, for that one, who is also a producer on the show. He has dabbled with many genres from rock to Americana, and he has excelled in them. In my opinion, he should go down in history as one of the best artists Britain has ever given us because I've never seen a more prolific or dynamic artist. I haven't been to one of his shows, but I'm pretty sure I would give a limb or sell an organ, just to go to one. 

His official site has the usual news, photos, videos, tour dates and store. What is unusual about all this is the names these sections have. For example, the news section of the page is called Yellow Press, and his biography section is called Lies & Inventions. In this page, you can find his entire discography, plus all the lyrics to his songs, which are a lot, considering he's a very prolific songwriter. A special feature the page has is called The Wheel, modeled after a real wheel he has on stage, during his latest tour. What's special about this is that during that tour he never had a setlist, instead an audience member would come up, spin the wheel, and the song that would be chosen this way was the one that would be played. On the page, you can do this by pushing a button right next to the wheel, and then you'll hear a snippet of the song it chooses randomly and redirect you to a page with the song's information including lyrics and the album it's on. At least from my standpoint, I find it appealing, fun and easy to use.

However, I didn't find this other site as appealing or entertaining, for that matter, even if it is easy to use. It only has the standard information, and it's not very eye-catching. I guess the word I'm searching for is generic. I would change the theme to something modeled after his official site, like the Taylor Swift fansite did, even if they're not affiliated. As for the information, I would add a Twitter tracker, and I would also reformat the whole page and bring it back to the 21st Century.

The last site I visited is a blog on Tumblr called The Beloved Entertainer. I would say that almost 90% of the blog is pictures; some are obscure, others not as much. There are also some lyrics and news. If it were my blog, I would add gifs from his music videos and TV appearances, maybe a quotes section, edits with the lyrics instead of just a simple text post. In this case, I guess the keyword is more. 

Again, I didn't find anything relatively new about him, other than I'm not the only one anxiously awaiting the release of his album with The Roots. In my life, I've only known one other person who is a fan of his, but I do know of some celebrities who mention him as one of their inspirations, which is always good.

Quotes:
"I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies."

"My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant."

"Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.” 

Video:

Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
(Special appearance by Beastie Boys)
One of my favorite songs and currently my ringtone.

All in all, the internet is a marvelous tool for musicians and artists because it gives them a way to promote their material more easily. I wouldn't say that it's completely and utterly necessary, but it does help. However, it has a dark side, which is the lack of privacy. Fans nowadays want to know more, some even think that because they are fans they deserve to know, which just isn't so; this is when the internet starts having flaws. With the internet anyone can look through not only the celebrity's pages, but also their family's and friend's pages. Also on the internet anyone can post anything about anyone, and that's how reputations become tainted. For example, the belief that Taylor Swift only writes songs about her ex-boyfriends, which is not true. If you don't believe me, let me mention a few: Long Live, The Lucky One, Change. An easy way to avoid all of this is to take Mr. Tveit's approach, which is to not have any presence in any social networking site; this way there's a clear separation from what is his personal life and his professional life. On the other hand, there's Elvis Costello who does have social networking sites, but he simply keeps it professional.

I think the Internet and being famous is an actual game of balance. I would never recommend putting your whole life on display because then there's nothing for you to hold near and dear. Privacy is something nobody--meaning famous or not--should take for granted, but that's something most people realize, when they find that they don't have any. These three artists try to be as private as possible. In Swift's case, it's harder because she has the additional burden of being always followed around by papparazzi, but at least she has been able to cope with it.

Now it’s big black cars, and Riviera views,
And your lover in the foyer doesn't even know you
And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page.

And they tell you that you’re lucky.
But you’re so confused,
Cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used.
And all the young things line up to take your place.

Another name goes up in lights. You wonder if you’ll make it out alive.

The Lucky One - Taylor Swift

My mom is a Special Education teacher, so throughout my whole life, I've been surrounded by her students and their different stories. Some of them try to excel, even if it's really difficult--but let me be clear, what makes it difficult is not their learning disability. Others have not even tried, but they have their reasons. To take it a step closer, in the sixth grade, I was one of the few chosen students that got to spend the day at SER, and even though it's been well over a decade since that experience, I can still feel how my heart's strings were tugged, nearly pulling my beating heart out of my chest, when I saw all those kids.