obama beatbox.
my president is black.
-julian
i want this.
“This Batman Costume Hooded Sweatshirt is based on the original gray Caped Crusader Bat-suit. The outside of the hood features Batman’s ears. The inside of the hood features a “drop down” mask that can be worn or kept folded under the hood. The cape can be easily taken off with metal snaps.
This shirt is printed on both sides using a technique called belt printing. Because the print goes over seams and also due to the size of the print each shirt has some small differences and small spots where ink may be missing.”
A little dorky, but I smell a Christmas gift….yes I’m serious. I will rock this if I get it. Of course I wont wear the mask or cape, but you know how I like to push the limit sometimes.
For more click here.
-julian
Eye On Apply Entry (also on Facebook)
** PrincetonReview.com does this thing called Eye On Apply, where they track the progress of seniors applying to college. I’m a semi-finalist, and my first entry will determine if I will be added to the roster of bloggers. Sooo here’s my theoretical first entry. Let’s hope I’m a finalist!**
Today is September 8, 2008.
Today was the first day of the rotating schedule at our school.
Today I realized that this year is going to be the best and worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
If I’m going to write a blog about my college application process, I’d better begin with the unadulterated truth. I’m Therese, or if you really care, Therese Kathryn. I’m seventeen years old, going on four. My long full name, Hispanic features, and love of sushi are proof enough of my ethnicity. Well, half of it at least. I’m half Filipina, half German-British-Scottish-Italian, but I keep it simple with “Wasian.” I live in Jersey City, NJ, a rapidly evolving urban melting-pot. I have a love-hate relationship with this place, but it’s my hometown, so even a little loyalty is inevitable. However, if things go well, I won’t live here next year. I hope to go to college somewhere in the northeast; just not here. (If you lived here, you’d understand.)
I go to Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School (or, if you’re lazy, McNair). It’s a public high school, but there is a rigorous application process to get in. About 10% of the 2,000 to 3,000 applicants are accepted, making a freshman class of about 250 every year. What makes matters even more difficult is “the ultimate quota system,” affectionately nicknamed the “25-25-25-25 system”. Can you take a guess at the percentages? Yep, 25% of the student body is Caucasian, 25% is African-American, 25% is Hispanic, and 25% is “Other.” So let’s put it this way, out of the 2,000-3,000 people that apply, 10% get accepted, meaning only 2.5% of the lot are accepted Caucasians, 2.5% are accepted African-Americans, etc. (For the record, I applied as Caucasian.)
Long story short: you experience intense competition from the day you apply to the day you leave. There is no official ranking system, and the lowest grade required for the National Honor Society is 94%, which is an insanely high score TOTAL average to maintain (I’m not in NHS because my GPA is a point or less too low). It sounds sort of scary, now that I read what I just wrote, but take it from me, a veteran of the pushing and shoving in the halls and in the grade-books, it’s only helped me and others persist. Also, because of the quota system, there is no “minority” in the school, and we’re just a mess of people with heritages from every corner the world and every economic standing.
Personally, I’ve never fit into any racial category. Or any category of anything, for that matter. This year, I’m taking 4 AP courses (English Literature, English Language, Psychology, and Chemistry) and last year I took 2 (Biology and US History 2). I’m the president/founder of a suicide prevention and awareness organization called The Awakening Project, girls’ swim team captain, Company Commander in my JROTC battalion (Cadet Captain), member of the drill team and color guard within that battalion, varsity soccer player, Peer Leadership member, and a volunteer at a local animal shelter. I also might start working at a local teahouse/gelateria or as a lifeguard/swim instructor (I’m not sure yet) for some extra spending money. Summed up, I’m just your average jock-cadet-advocate-poetic-overachieving-nerdy-animal-loving-lifeguard. (phew)
People say I’m insane to do what I do, and I’ll admit that I agree with them at times. I usually end up spending 12 hours of my day doing school-related activities (7AM to 7PM), often pushing myself to breaking point; sometimes even past breaking point. It’s what I do. I test my limits, I like being busy, and I like taking part in everything I can get my hands on. It’s one of the things that distinguish me from others, but also one of the things I worry about. Will I finally collapse from the over-stimulation? Will my grades plummet from my inability to juggle everything? Will colleges even buy that I’m a member of so many organizations, and that I’m actually dedicated to them?
That’s why I’m here. I know that many students are asking the same questions as I am. And even though I may not get my answer until I find out for myself, at least—in my trek through applications, the busiest school year I’ve ever had, jobs, volunteering, and of course we can’t forget the part called living life—I’ll help someone else do a better job than I did. I hope that, with this little log of my struggles, you’ll get a better picture of the road ahead, or maybe even the application road currently beneath your feet, and be a lot less anxious than I am.
The best advice I’ve ever been given is to “enjoy senior year,” and I hope I can follow it. This is the last year of a four-year series of triumphs, failures, realizations, brain-farts, and otherwise memorable moments that punctuate my high school career. It’ll be over quicker than it began. And before I can say “I am ready,” I’ll have my diploma in my hand, foot out the door, and eyes on the next stop called “college,” hopefully with some idea what I got myself into.
Sound good?
- Therese
A MYSTERY REVEALED!
- Therese
The T-Shirt Gang
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
The T-Shirt Gang is a clothing line that represents the ambitions of the modern day businessman. When wearing any of the fly apparel of the season 1 collection an individual’s confidence is shown ready to take on the daily trials and tribulations that the world presents. Not to mentiong looking the freshest anyone could get.
Click the 4 very fresh designs to visit the official website of The T-Shirt Gang.
-julian
‘The Dark Knight’ Review
As the film is still etched in our minds as deeply as a Chelsea grin, here is my review for The Dark Knight:
An overview of American cinema indicates the special place comic book films hold in the summertime. They stick to the money-making formula: light-as-air storylines buffed by heavy computer-generated fireworks; in essence, finding any old reason to put the camera lens on iconic superheroes. This summer, though, visionary director Christopher Nolan throws moviegoers an epic curveball, with the control of a Daisuke Matsuzaka and the scope of a Michael Mann. The Dark Knight is no ordinary comic flick. Infused with electric performances (one of them career-defining), measured dialogue, pulse-pounding action and subtle analyses of human society, the film is a landmark achievement as well as a terrific ode to the legendary Batman. This summer, why bother with fun in the sun when can you can revel in such marvelous darkness?
The Dark Knight follows billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) as he struggles with his alternate ego, the Batman. The people of Gotham City love Bruce but despise the Knight, labeling him a troublesome vigilante despite his ongoing efforts to fight crime. Time to contemplate his future, though, is hard to find, thanks to the appearance of a psychotic, sickly criminal calling himself the Joker (Heath Ledger). Armed with as many knives and bombs as playing cards, the Joker is hell-bent on throwing Gotham into a state of anarchy, where the only rule is that there can truly be no rules. Add District Attorney Harvey Dent’s (Aaron Eckhart) new ties to Rachel Dawes (Bruce’s ex-girlfriend) as well as his many successful criminal prosecutions, and you’ve got a brooding, embattled superhero. Nolan’s carefully crafted script, in this way, gives audiences food for thought.
It’s not all a philosophical affair, though. Rest assured, The Dark Knight is also propped up by carefully-timed explosions, riveting car chases and a well-designed opening bank heist. Take note that this is one loud movie. When exposition is not the focus of the film, guns are fired and bombs are detonated at regular intervals. The experience may prove either brilliant or headache-inducing, depending on how you like your movies served up.
The film’s weight is truly carried by stellar performances across the board from the cast. Lead man Bale is as steady and impressive as ever; he’s clearly gotten a strong feel for his character since Batman Begins. Eckhart is sharp and devoted as Gotham’s legal crimefighter, and Gary Oldman is superb as Commissioner Gordon. The spotlight, though, is particularly narrow this time. It rests on the slouched, clammy, feral figure of Heath Ledger, glowing with his gruesome Glasgow smile.
With a half-drunk cruelty, he toys with his victims, painting red smiles across their lifeless faces. With the persuasive skill of a loan shark and the reckless abandon of a pyrophiliac, he manipulates the mobs of Gotham like chess pieces on a grand board. To him, the best town is a charred one, a smoldering mess he can call his kingdom. Ledger brings a psychotic playfulness and vicious sense of humor to Batman’s archnemesis, and the end result is nothing short of chilling. Consider Jack Nicholson’s Joker no more. If Ledger wins an Oscar for this role, it won’t be because he passed away.
The Dark Knight is a symphony of cinematic artistry hitting crescendo. Viewers will feel as if they have been strung right into the mesmerizing act. Christopher Nolan proves that he is an experienced maestro, and that superhero movies are not made to the tune of children but to the tune of all people. He has developed the best comic book film to date, and future challengers will be hard-pressed to find a way to soar higher than the Knight himself.
- Syed
he is alive.
I’m just trying to give you a perspective of my life right now and well this is it. I am not going to use this post to address the issues going on at home, well because that is my business, but if you must know, they do effect me. This post’s purpose is to serve as a tick mark, a bulletin, just something I can look back at and reflect on my life at this moment. With such a busy schedule I don’t really have time to just enjoy life. I think everyone feels like that one time or another. So I invite you to join me as I take a snap shot of time with my writing. Let’s profile ourselves right now, it may seem like a silly idea, but believe me it’ll worth it in the long run.
“Hi I’m Julian Encarnacion. I’m 17 about to turn legal at the end of this month. I just graduated high school, class of 08 in the 30th best public high school in the nation and am currently working an internship at Goldman Sachs. I love basketball and my favorite team is the New Jersey Nets. A Tribe Called Quest is my favorite band/artists ever. As far as other musical influences I like Kanye West, Common, and Black Star. Writing is my passion and Pablo Neruda is my favorite poet, because his style is one I would like to emmulate. I’m sensative person whose not a afraid of expressing my feelings and my public image is that one I am not proud, because I feel as if very few people know the actual me. To top it all off I will be attend Rutgers University in Newark this fall.”
-julian
“Sing a Song of Hon-” Can you please repeat that?
“Sing a Song of Hon-” Can you please repeat that?
I’m sure that most students, note that I say most, are expecting to go to their graduation ceremony with their heads held high and planning on walking up on that stage and shaking the hand of the principle and receiving their diploma. We expect it to include a moment where we all throw out caps in the air and laugh about finishing in a school that took out a good portion of the students.
Yet, even after getting close to graduation, I don’t really want to go any more. Not only because some people took it upon themselves and decided to change OUR without consulting anyone outside their “clique,” but because it isn’t going to be fun any more.
Half the people I know, don’t feel like going to the ceremony because they believe that it isn’t special at all. It is indeed mainly for those “Ivy League” students, but who cares? We all knew it was going to happen. And the fact that our tickets, which should have been four, has been changed to three and at an almost last minute decision really dampers my plan on bringing my grandparents also.
And why did we change OUR alma mater to a different tune and changed a bit of the lyrics? What happened to the sincerity of at least asking your class if you wouldn’t mind changing it? What happened to the original alma mater written by Mrs. Anne McIver, the original vocal music teacher? Is it because some new guy comes in and turns the choir into a barely audible, not understandable, and a crappy dance crew says he wants to change it? Or is it because a few students believe its their right to change the alma mater that has been in our school since it was founded because they didn’t like it themselves?
And shouldn’t they have noticed that if it was truly okay with the class, wouldn’t we have appreciated it and sang along? But we didn’t we argued the fact until Ms. Short stepped in and acted like she was in charge. If I didn’t know better I thought Ms. Felton was the person who called the shots. And what is up with this bull shit about asking Mr. Slattery and Ms. Barone about changing th alma mater? Hell, none of the teachers knew they were changing it, why would our Principal and Vice Principal change the alma mater and not tell anyone?
(Said with Much Sarcasm) Of course why should I complain? It’s not like I’m important, right? Like those people who decided to change the song even though only a few people in their “clique” like it. It’s not like I’m part of this class and I have a say, nope, I’m just there to look good and fill up space like the other 100 students in the auditorium. Go right ahead, sorry for stepping on any toes. (End of Sarcasm)
Even though I’m pissed off as hell, I will still probably go to the graduation ceremony just for my friends. Not because I want to walk across that stage or get that diploma, or because it’s what all seniors look forward to. It’s solely based on the fact that I’m doing it for my friends and family.
Still, I wish we didn’t have such an attitude of independence in our class, it just ruins the little amount of cohesiveness we have so far. And in actuality, I’m going to do my part and bitch and moan about it now. I wasn’t going to, but changing the alma mater of a teacher who helped me through these four years. I’m highly disappointed in my class.
Ms. McIver taught me to love music for what it is, to annunciate words, to put the music first before anything. She didn’t teach me to make the music pretty with dance moves or anything, she taught me to listen to the music, not dance to it all the time.
I don’t care what the majority of people think, only the certain few who could hold a candle up to my face and speak and argue their points cohesively with properly annunciated words.
- Jed
Just my two cents on the situation, since what I say doesn’t matter.
On Betrayal. (with additional side-rant on nonconformity)
This isn’t for a particular person. This is for an entire group of people. The people I thought were “real.” The people I thought could handle my flaws, could handle my strengths, could handle me having a bad day and a good one. The people I felt so ready to devote my time and effort to. The people that come to mind when I think of those “close” to me.
I don’t just feel disappointed. I feel betrayed on many levels.
I won’t get into details, because drama is not my ballgame. I’m more of a blunt, to-the-point-argument type of person. I will say, however, that the current situation I’m in annoys me in the sense that not only do I have utmost contempt for the behavior of these people, using their own personal suffering and my past mistakes to speak lowly of me and despise my recent gains, but the fact that these same people who grimace and whine behind closed doors have the audacity to grin and embrace me. Or at least some of them do. Some of them just don’t speak to me and pretend I don’t exist. Or that they didn’t hear me. I’m not sure which I hate more at this moment.
Considering our age, I was expecting a higher level of maturity with acceptance of things. While my flaws tend to eat away at my being, so do the flaws of others. I can’t say I’m handling my life perfectly, because I’m not, but I can say that it’s not wrong to hope for the same amount of respect for myself that I try to uphold for others
But at any rate, I dedicate this post to all of the not-so-perfect, I’ve-made-a-mistake, overly-forgiving, nonjudgmental, straight up people who have been lied to, blackmailed, back-stabbed, secretly hated, betrayed, abandoned, and otherwise had their friendship forgotten. To those who lost a friend, were fooled to think they had one, or never had one in the first place. The voices that sound ignorant, despite the amount reason they may hold in their hearts.
I may not deserve the acceptance that I seek, but I know many others do. To think that now I’m an unhappy nonconformist and freshman year I was one of the social butterflies is astonishing. I had friends in high places and low places alike. Now? I’m not so sure. I don’t have a crew, I don’t have a solid “best friend,” I don’t have the best grades in the school, I don’t even wear matching clothes. I’m too lazy to wear my contact lenses, I listen to Dr. Dre, Lupe Fiasco, Chiodos, and Marilyn Manson. I don’t even brush my hair some mornings. I was happy before, but with recent events, I start questioning my way of life. Like maybe the comfort of a “tribe” is what I need to cope with things, or maybe if I had the best grades ever I’d actually feel like I belong in this school, or maybe if I matched my clothes and tried improving on my appearance more often I’d actually have a decent conversation that would start BECAUSE of my outfit. But most importantly, maybe if I actually had the friends I thought I had, I’d be a better person.
However, I’m done chasing what-ifs. There is one year of high school left, and I still have a few people that still actually give a damn about me. Those are the only ones that really matter anyway. Because despite time, flaws, therapy, relapses, and the simple lack of classes together, I can still say I trust them with my life, past, present, and future. And yes, despite my angst and teenaged loneliness, I’ve never been luckier.
- Therese
The Best “Love in this Club” video ever.
wait til you see young jeezy. . .props
-julian
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