Hey everyone, this is a new post for an old student of ECC. I graduated in May with my Associates in Arts (WOO!) and have now moved on to DePaul University. Because of my membership in Phi Theta Kappa, I got a $5000 scholarship! Yay! I am part of the College of Digital Media, and because of the classes I took at ECC (Fiction Writing, Intro to Multimedia, Quantitative Literacy, Intro to Film and Broadcasting) I am so prepared and ready for these classes. I feel like ECC knew what four year colleges offer and made sure to make classes similar to them to prepare you. I intend on visiting the halls of my alma mater, and hopefully continuing this blog for months (maybe years) to come! Thanks for checking in!

This is my last week of classes at ECC. After I turn in one last project today, I'll be finished and ready to graduate on Friday. I really enjoyed my two years at ECC, and I am thankful I was not able to afford DePaul for my freshman year because I have experienced a lot of great things at ECC that I wouldn't have otherwise. I have made lasting friendships and learned so much about myself and my talents. I came to ECC thinking it was a last resort, but now I know it is just another option. The education is just as good as a four year institution, if not better, due to the smaller class sizes and experienced professors. And I cannot stress that part enough; the professors have so much experience and knowledge. I'd like to thank Rachael Tecza, Amybeth Maurer, Katie Storey, Patrick Parks, Carol Szabo, Tim Kaar, Robert Harmon, Dr. Stephen Gray, Mark Hardiman, Mary O'Sullivan, Gary Christensen, Brook Transue, Mary Ann Tuerk, Glenn Turner, Dr. Leslie McTighe, Nina Dulabaum, Marina Morrow, William Gade, and Dr. David Sam for everything they taught me during my four semesters here. Because of their fine teaching, I was able to maintain a 4.0 and feel a sense of accomplishment they helped bring. I appreciate every faculty and staff members hard work and dedication everyday, making this the great community college it is. I am leaving the halls of ECC, but I will carry the valuable lessons I've learned here onto DePaul and beyond. Thank you, ECC!

Next week is the last week of classes, but let's just hope I can get through this one first! Due this week is: an interview project which I must edit and mix footage, music video which I must also edit, children's book I must write, robot costume and science fiction jeopardy powerpoint, both of which I have to start, fiction writing project, script for a short sketch comedy routine for the leadership banquet, application for a job, application for a scholarship, and a final test for my exercise class. If there is time outside of those projects, I also have to work out, eat, sleep, and cry in the corner of my room. I know the end of the semester is hard for everyone, but when you are a procrastinator and it's the end of the semester, it is much MUCH worse. Oh and just as an aside, as I write this, the only things I've eaten all day were a bite size pack of Shocktarts and a tiny box of Nerds. THAT'S how little time I have. So, pray for me and here's to hoping I don't spontaneously combust before summer vacation arrives!

So, as part of the EC4 (Elgin Community College Comic Convention), the Legion of Graphic Novels has invited back Sal Abbinanti, comic creator and artist. We had him come and speak last year to a fairly small audience, but we are hoping for a much larger and more interested turnout this year. I really enjoyed listening to him speak, and I can't wait to hear him again. Sal's art is extremely detailed and definitive, and his stories are insightful and hilarious. He has drawn for such famous comics as Swamp Thing, Conan, and the Atom before starting his own comic. He is the creator and artist for Atomika: God is Red and has had cover art created by Alex Ross, Michael Turner, and many other well known artists in the comic world. He has hung out with Tom Jane and had run ins with Mark Hamill, Donny Most, and other awesome movie and tv personalities. He is really easy to talk to and has a lot of great knowledge about the business. I'd love if everyone came to see him speak on Thursday from 2 to 4 in the ATC Auditorium! Here's a link to the Atomika website! http://www.mercurycomics.com/index.asp Take a look around, it's pretty sweet!!!

I, along with my friends from Amnesty Thuvi, Shane, Nick, Elena, Chantel, and Ryan, went to a rally for Invisible Children this past Saturday. The event was to show solidarity for child soldiers in Uganda and send a message to the UN to stop the injustice. Over 10 different countries throughout the world participated, in over 100 different cities. Those who attended said they were abducted and could only leave the camps if different milestones were reached. These included raising a certain amount of money, having media cover the event, and having a celebrity come out to unite their voice with the cause. Only FOX News covered the event, NBC and CBS just drove by. No celebrity has shown up yet, and we were expecting Oprah, Mayor Daly, Kanye West, Common, Senator Dick Durbin, and Jesse Jackson, Jr. Due to the weather, most of the people I was with, including myself, were forced to go home. That doesn't mean the event is over! While we were there, torrential downpours soaked our clothes and supplies and froze us when mixed with lakefront weather. God bless those who are still out there holding strong. We were not as strong as them. My friend got hot chocolate spilled on her foot and she didn't even feel it; it was that numb. We had everything in garbage bags and the sleeping bags were full of water. If the weather was nicer, the event would have been so much better covered and attended. Of 2000 people that were supposed to attend, only around 500 stayed after the first hour, and around 100 were left by the end of the night. This is why we need your support! Call the news channels and help save the Chicago abductees!!! Go to invisiblechildren.com to find out how to do more! PLEASE HELP!

These are two little videos me and my friend, Conor, made for fun.  They are expressions of the feelings we have for fun, love, and peace.  Plus, they're funny.

http://vimeo.com/2529997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPuh3Th-MmQ

Please comment, and send to your friends!!!

My deepest apologies for not posting Monday, but I am entering Stress Time 2009. Next Monday kicks off Darfur Days, a week of events here on campus focusing on the conflict (I say genocide) in the Darfur region of Sudan. Monday is Black and Red day, where everyone is encouraged to where black and red to show solidarity for the refugees of Darfur. Tuesday is the Amnesty World Tour from 11 to 2 in the Hub Courtyard. which is an event where students can try different cultural foods and learn more about the human rights issues happening in those different regions of the globe. Wednesday is Readings from the Darfur Anthology from 2 to 4 in the ATC Auditorium, along with other original student pieces about the situation in Africa. I have yet to write mine and am stressing out about that; plus, not that many people have signed up to read! Thursday is the big culmination of the week with tons of different activities going on all day. In the morning, PTK is showing The Devil Came on Horseback in the ATC Auditorium, a great documentary about Darfur. At noon, we are trying to get everyone on campus, even if they are in classes, to lie down for three minutes and stand up for three after. This is like a sit in, where protestors sit down to show their disapproval with something going on in the system. Because people are dying in Darfur, we will lie down to represent the dead and stand up for justice after. Hopefully, this can happen and people will participate, otherwise it will just be a bunch of random people lying down in the middle of the halls with people stepping over them. Then to relieve the stress of the week, the Writers Center with the cooperation of other clubs will be hosting the Dance For Peace, which is exactly what it sounds like. There will be food, dancing, information, and Darfur Anthologies on sale! Everyone should attend this important week of events and help support this cause. Plus, you would relieve me of the stress of worrying if people are going to come. PLEASE COME AND HELP ME! This week of events leads right into my week of graphic novel events the week of May 4 through 7, but that will be in a later blog. The important thing is to come to the events of DARFUR DAYS, APRIL 20-23!!!