College Preparation for Life

College Preparation for Life By Chanel Mitchell 

The other day, my mom said to me, “Aren’t you glad you are having all of these life experiences while you are in college? You are already prepared for the real world.” She’s right. I am glad. I’ve learned so much about the world and the people in. Most importantly, I’ve learned about myself. I know what is important to me, how to handle certain situations and people, what motivates me and what I want for my future. My college experience hasn’t been easy, but I managed pretty well. I’ve had low moments and moments where I felt on top of the world. What I do know is that I can recollect everything I’ve been through and pull something positive and inspirational out of it. Below I have made a list of things I’ve learned from my college experience. These are things that I can translate into my life after college and hope to encourage and inspire those who come after me.

1.      Friendship- Surround yourself with positive people that encourage you and want to see you succeed. It’s better to have a few good friends that you can trust and depend on rather than a bunch of worthless ones. Find someone who will have your back, not stab you in your back. Also, make sure you are as genuine as you would want them to be towards you.

2.      Money- Keep a handle on your finances. Save your money and do what you have to do to make your money! (IE. Get a job, Recycle etc.)  If you need to, ask your family for help. Be frugal but at the same time don’t miss out on the things you really want to do because of your finances. Money comes and money goes. You might fall short but you will always bounce back. People say that money doesn’t bring happiness but to me, that’s a lie. Of course not when it comes to material things, but money puts food on the table, a roof over your head and provides you with an EXPENSIVE education. Sounds like happiness to me! Make your money work for you. 

3.      Networking- Get to know everyone! Professors, faculty and staff, peers and their friends. Anyone in anything you are interested in, whether it’s your future profession on a hobby you enjoy. You will realize the value of these relationships. Make yourself memorable and they will definitely remember you. 

4.      If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything!!  Enough said.

5.      Procrastination- You will never remember the night that you got so much sleep. This is college, you can sleep when you are dead! Work first, sleep later.

6.      If you do not step forward you will always be in the same place. Make moves in your life. If you aren’t happy in your current position, move to another one. Complaining about how you don’t have a job......go get one. Want to advance your career....apply yourself. Feel fat....lose weight. A PLUS B Equals C!   Want something, do the work, get results.

7.      Always have the courage to ask. The worst answer anyone can say is no.

8.      Prayer and Faith-5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3 : 5-6 (King James Version) 

9.      Don’t let anyone defer you from your dreams. We all know what happens to a dream deferred.

10.    The Four Agreements

a.      Impeccable Speech

b.      Don’t take it personal

c.       Don’t make assumptions

d.      Always do your best

Dear Diary: Graduation Day

Dear Diary, 

I can’t wait til May 11, 2013 when I walk across the stage with my diploma in hand. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will all be there. All proud of me and my accomplishment. I will be proud of myself and thankful that God remained at my side. Entering a new life, rather, a new adventure in life, I will attend a graduate program at a Fashion Institute. Maybe FIDM in Los Angeles, FIT in New York or wherever God leads me. I will get a certificate or another degree focusing on fashion design, merchandising and marketing. On graduation day I will look back at my four years here at LMU and will be proud of myself that I accomplished my goals. Plus, on graduation day I will get a nice surprise. Maybe even a pleasant surprise that will change my life forever. To reward myself for my accomplishment, I will threat myself to a nice vacation. The focus will be on me.
                                                                       Chanel Mitchell 10/14/09

Lupus

Five hours have passed as I lay across two seats in the waiting room of my doctor’s office. “Chanel Mitchell”, the nurse calls. I walk into the room, swollen face, a terrible migraine, and ulcers in my nose and mouth, and eye lids so swollen that I could barely see out of them. I walk into the room and lay down across the paper covered examination bed. I am in tears as my joints, stomach, and head all ache at the same time with powerful strength. The several open ulcers on my mouth and lips and my stomach ache caused my appetite to decrease resulting in a loss of ten to fifteen pounds. Doctors examine me, consult each other, refer to their medical books and continue to pace back and fourth, puzzled.  Two weeks straight in the doctors office and they have no idea what’s wrong with me. Not sure whether it was safe for me to be admitted into the hospital due to my unknown status, the doctors sent me home with no answers. Each morning I dragged myself to the doctor’s office where blood was drawn and test were taken.

 After weeks of pain and suffering from a severe sickness I was sent to a Rheumatologist where I was diagnosed with Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE Lupus). Lupus is a chronic disease where the immune system makes the mistake of attacking healthy body cells. This causes; extreme fatigue, loss of concentration, headaches, joint and muscle pains, and photosensitivity and can eventually lead to major organ damage.

Diagnosed with Lupus, I began medications that had both good and bad effects on my body. I felt a lot better but the side effects seemed worse than the actual disease itself. Each day I faced dizziness, body spasms, weakness, stomach aches and a weight gain of almost 60 pounds in 4 months. The good part about it all is that my immune system was working properly and my disease was being properly treated. Through the tough times I was able to stay motivated and not let the side effects affect my everyday life. The 37 different medications a day was worth it. 

                                                    -Chanel Mitchell 

The Line Between Radical Revolution and Riot

The Line Between Radical Revolution and Riot  By Chanel Mitchell

We have all heard the saying by Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” It was Wednesday, April 29^th, 1992. The verdict was in and the community was enraged. Call out the LAPD, the National Guard and the US Marines. The city of Los Angeles was literally ON FIRE.  It was the disappointing acquittals of four LAPD officers in the Rodney King trial, the acquittal of Korean Liquor Store owner Soon Ja Du who murdered 15 year old Latasha Harlins and the continuous issues of police brutality, racism and social inequalities that sparked the 1992 LA Riots.

I was only 1 year old when the verdict was read. My family tells me of the community’s gatherings at local Barber shops, Beauty Salons and anywhere where there was a radio or television set to hear the fate of the four police officers who brutally beat African American male, Rodney King. The world witnessed the beating on videotape and was sure that the LAPD officers would be punished for their crimes.

At 3:15pm that day, the verdict was read and to shock the world, the four officers were acquitted of assault and use of excessive force. People were frustrated, angry, disappointed and completely fed up.

Just a few hours  after the verdict, around 6:45pm my grandparents, who resided in South Central Los Angeles, recall the gathering of people on the streets of Florence and Normandie as rallies rapidly grew into angry mobs and rioting began. It was that moment where a white male truck driver by the name of Reginald Denny pulled into that intersection of Florence and Normandie , was  forced  from his truck and beaten nearly to death my rioters.

As seen live on television, rioting began with the attacking of cars and innocent people, looting then arson. My Grandpa tells me that all you could hear was yelling, screaming, sirens and full on commotion. Your lungs were contaminated the 3,600 fires that were set. Businesses were burning and retail stores were trashed by looters who felt that their doings were justified.  The scene was described like a warzone.Many people, my grandfather included, felt that their only options were to hide in their homes or join the so called “revolution.”  Some family members admit participating in looting from grocery stores recalling taking meat from the local meat market to feed the family. Although they were doing wrong, the felt that these extreme actions were the only way that issues of police brutality, racism and social inequalities could be confronted.

Over the next 6 days, rioting continues with looting, arson and murder. A noted 55 people were killed, 10 of whom were killed by the police and thousands were injured. Over the course of rioting 1,000 buildings were destroyed and there was an estimated $1 Billion dollars in damages. The Los Angeles community was destroyed.  In the end, as an effort to end the violent terror, Governor Pete Wilson requested federal assistance. About 10,000 members of the National Guard, law enforcement officers and military officers patrolled the streets until rioting was under control.

To prevent such things like the Rodney King incident or rioting of the community, the LAPD and their leader Bernard Parks initiated methods of change. They increased their number of minority officers and analyzed the use of obsessive force upon victims. Reporting of police brutality decreased and the community was at ease.  Although changes have been made, corruption within the LAPD is still confronted. Most recently, we have witnessed the manhunt of Christopher Dorner, a former LAPD officer who began a killing spree as a result of these claimed corruptions. What we learn from this is that anger of injustice sparks controversial revolutions and when people are fed up they act upon those emotions and sometimes they aren’t the most ethical decisions. What is true is that violent actions do not cause change but ultimately makes the situation worse.

The question that I leave you with is where is the line between radical revolution and riot? 

I am a woman

I am a woman by Chanel Mitchell

I am a woman

I am a nurturing soul

An emotional Being

An optimistic thinker

A multi-tasker

A dreamer

And a believer

I am a woman

Submissive

Passive

Open-Minded

I am a woman

I like Chick Flicks

Masculine men

Deep conversations

And being catered to

I am a woman

Bearer of Children

Nurse to the ill

The Level headed lawyer

The teacher of wisdom

I am a woman

A sexual being

A craved object

An abused subject

A fetished desire

I am a woman

Breather of aid

Listener of words

Speaker of truth

Patience

Young wise and reckless

A contradiction in itself

She thought she knew it all

Except about herself

Intrigued by many things

Explore as reasons come

But one thing she was lacking

As she traveled to and from

The joy within her heart

Had one empty spot

She wants to fill the void

Without forgetting what she’s taught

She ask herself these questions

What? Why and when?

Will she meet her mate?

And when will life begin?

Always feels so lonely

But she's never alone

Independent woman

With her mind and body strong

She wants to ascend higher

But she can't do this all alone

Humans need companions

It is that that sets the tone

Fear of what they'll say

And the consequences ahead

She wants and needs the passion

But she chose to wait instead

Trusting what will come

Will be worth the lonely wait

Destiny will come

Time is not her fate

It was made for one real purpose

Though the pleasure is a plus

Patience and resistance

And pray to God she trust.

-Chanel Mitchell