The Rutgers website has a link of fun facts about the Newark campus. According to this link, over 80% of Rutgers Newark students acquire financial aid. Now, I am not sure if this number is high or not, but knowing that the school contains over ten thousand students, and understanding what 80% of ten thousand is, I thought it should be necessary to thank everybody and everybody responsible for financial aid. Yes, I understand it is a pain in the ass to keep up to date with it, and they send emails and have particular clearing dates on whether or not you will acquire the money, but people need to understand that it is FREE MONEY helping you pay for college, and you should be more than grateful for that. I decided to do some research on financial aid....
According to HowStuffWorks, financial aid is defined as "aid to somebody who is worthy," with the specific term "worthy" having no specific definition. From personal experience, I receive financial aid, and I deem myself as worthy for it. Also, I know many kids who are worthy of financial aid, due to their monetary standpoint, whether they live in a poverty stricken home, live by themselves, have a child, etc. In addition to all of this, I know people who have financial aid that I do not think are worthy of it. Students that come from middle class or above homes and have more than enough money to pay for college, all in one pay check, yet these kids still receive financial aid. I am not trying to knock anybody, but what I am trying to do is have you understand how much money is shelled out by financial aid.
HowStuffWorks estimates two thirds of college students receive financial aid, some more than others. Putting this number into perspective is astronomical, and should be appreciated. I am very thankful for my financial aid, because I know without the money they give me, I might not be able to afford college, and my bank loans might not be approved. SHOUT OUT TO FINANCIAL AID. Thanks for making my life easier, and my college education possible!
If you want more information on Financial Aid, her is the HowStuffWorks link:
http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/college-planning/financial-aid/college-financial-aid.htm
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Add New Rooms
I have been driving into Newark for school the past couple of weeks. Now that I finally have a car, I realized it would take much less time to drive in and find parking for a few dollars in a lot on University Avenue. On average, it gives me an extra two hours in my day; I get to wake up an hour later, and the commute is cut in half because I don't have to wait for a train, then drive home from the station at Montclair State.
Listen. I am the farthest thing from a morning person that you could possibly meet. I am a grumpy, lazy,lousy, grouchy little fuck when I wake up, and I have no problem admitting it. This is why my drive to school will dictate how the remainder of my day will go. Route 80 is right around the corner from my house, so I take that route to school. 80 to 20, 20 to 46, 46 to 21, and boom, I'm in Newark. All of these major highways, and I am bound to run into some sort of traffic, but it all depends on how much.
I know I am hitting traffic at the end of 21 when I enter Newark, but this is because there are 4 consecutive red lights, so it goes by fairly quickly. The problem is whether or not 80 has traffic, or 21 has traffic as soon as i merge onto the highway. When I drive to merge onto Route 80, I could tell if there is traffic when I need to drive over the overpass, which either puts me in a good mood, or a bad mood for the remainder of my day, (I am such a stubborn prick). If there is no traffic on 80 or 21, then I'm the happiest man alive!
The reason for this post is due to the fact that Rutgers is a commuter school. With this in mind, I could imagine how many other students go through all of the trouble and frustration that I go through. Newark is a huge city, very dependent on business, and has a train that commutes to New York City, so commuters thrive in Newark. According to University Business, about 90% of Rutgers Newark students are currently commuting. This number is amazingly high. In my opinion, I think it is due to two factors:
1) College students do not want to live in downtown Newark, and ....
2) The majority of students that come to Rutgers Newark are commuters due to its affordable price. If they wanted to dorm, they would go to New Brunswick.
University Business states that this culture is changing rapidly. Not only are more Rutgers Newark students asking to live on campus, but NJIT students are depending on living on campus, as well. Check this website for more information on the housing and dorming possibilities in downtown Newark:
http://www.universitybusiness.com/article/cancel-commute
Listen. I am the farthest thing from a morning person that you could possibly meet. I am a grumpy, lazy,lousy, grouchy little fuck when I wake up, and I have no problem admitting it. This is why my drive to school will dictate how the remainder of my day will go. Route 80 is right around the corner from my house, so I take that route to school. 80 to 20, 20 to 46, 46 to 21, and boom, I'm in Newark. All of these major highways, and I am bound to run into some sort of traffic, but it all depends on how much.
I know I am hitting traffic at the end of 21 when I enter Newark, but this is because there are 4 consecutive red lights, so it goes by fairly quickly. The problem is whether or not 80 has traffic, or 21 has traffic as soon as i merge onto the highway. When I drive to merge onto Route 80, I could tell if there is traffic when I need to drive over the overpass, which either puts me in a good mood, or a bad mood for the remainder of my day, (I am such a stubborn prick). If there is no traffic on 80 or 21, then I'm the happiest man alive!
The reason for this post is due to the fact that Rutgers is a commuter school. With this in mind, I could imagine how many other students go through all of the trouble and frustration that I go through. Newark is a huge city, very dependent on business, and has a train that commutes to New York City, so commuters thrive in Newark. According to University Business, about 90% of Rutgers Newark students are currently commuting. This number is amazingly high. In my opinion, I think it is due to two factors:
1) College students do not want to live in downtown Newark, and ....
2) The majority of students that come to Rutgers Newark are commuters due to its affordable price. If they wanted to dorm, they would go to New Brunswick.
University Business states that this culture is changing rapidly. Not only are more Rutgers Newark students asking to live on campus, but NJIT students are depending on living on campus, as well. Check this website for more information on the housing and dorming possibilities in downtown Newark:
http://www.universitybusiness.com/article/cancel-commute
Cory Booker
Politics is not necessarily my area of expertise, but I can say I am informed with political issues that are circling out lives. Many names and faces are very familiar, although I do admit I do not know enough about politics to preach as to whether or not I think an individual deserves to win and/or lose an election. Being a Newark student, I am familiar with the same Cory Booker, and what I do know about Cory Booker is that he has shaped and changed the culture of Newark in his way to become the Senator of New Jersey.
Cory Booker was the mayor of Newark, up until elected Senator this year. Booker took pride in his job, and greatly wanted to change the culture and outlook of Newark and make it a city that was not thought of as a city of high crime and drugs. His goal was to rapidly reduce the crime rate, but not by locking up individuals. Since I am a Criminal Justice major, I am informed about a variety of different theories and policies. Cory Booker chose the "Broken Windows" Theory to help reduce crime. This theory suggests that improving the look and development of the city would greatly reduce crime. The logic is simple. An abandoned building in shambles will draw attention to high crime, whether it be drugs, or a place to commit other crimes. By making this building cleared for use, or even by fixing it up and making the building appear nice and well groomed, this would help keep crime diverted away from the building, which will help with lowering crime rates and drug usage. By enhancing development projects and beautifying the city of Newark, he believes people won't have the outlook that the city is a nasty, beat up run down place. With thoughts like this, people will commit crimes because they live in the slums, and if it still looks like a slum, they will blend in with their environment and act the same. Booker believed that this theory would be highly effective.
And it was. During his time as Newark, the crime rate dropped (sorry, I could not find statistics), and the drop was so significant that he received national credibility. He used these credentials and statistics to help his candidacy while he ran for Senator, and these overwhelming stats helped him become the first African American Senator in New Jersey. As a part of the Newark family, I think Booker is a great politician who did great things for this city. Hopefully, he continues to improve in his position as Senator and does great things for the state of New Jersey.
Cory Booker was the mayor of Newark, up until elected Senator this year. Booker took pride in his job, and greatly wanted to change the culture and outlook of Newark and make it a city that was not thought of as a city of high crime and drugs. His goal was to rapidly reduce the crime rate, but not by locking up individuals. Since I am a Criminal Justice major, I am informed about a variety of different theories and policies. Cory Booker chose the "Broken Windows" Theory to help reduce crime. This theory suggests that improving the look and development of the city would greatly reduce crime. The logic is simple. An abandoned building in shambles will draw attention to high crime, whether it be drugs, or a place to commit other crimes. By making this building cleared for use, or even by fixing it up and making the building appear nice and well groomed, this would help keep crime diverted away from the building, which will help with lowering crime rates and drug usage. By enhancing development projects and beautifying the city of Newark, he believes people won't have the outlook that the city is a nasty, beat up run down place. With thoughts like this, people will commit crimes because they live in the slums, and if it still looks like a slum, they will blend in with their environment and act the same. Booker believed that this theory would be highly effective.
And it was. During his time as Newark, the crime rate dropped (sorry, I could not find statistics), and the drop was so significant that he received national credibility. He used these credentials and statistics to help his candidacy while he ran for Senator, and these overwhelming stats helped him become the first African American Senator in New Jersey. As a part of the Newark family, I think Booker is a great politician who did great things for this city. Hopefully, he continues to improve in his position as Senator and does great things for the state of New Jersey.
Seriously?
It took me long enough, but I can finally say I am comfortable walking around on campus and knowing where every building is, and exactly where I need to go. For example, if somebody tells me to meet them at Ackerson, I don't need to say "Where is that?" I've been on this campus for two and a half years, so that gives me enough experience to get my way around. Yet, I still struggle to find a solid dining place for when I have my night classes, and I don't think that will change anytime soon.
I'm sure I am not the only one, but I am not a huge fan of the food on the campus. Does that mean I refrain from eating it? Of course not! Usually, my first two years, I would go to Robeson and either get a salad or a grilled chicken sandwich, (yes, I am a health conscious freak). I always bring water from home; I go shopping once every week or so and buy three 24 packs of water, so I grab three or four bottles every day an take them to school with me. At one point, I was even making sandwiches for myself before every day, due to the fact that I would get so bored with eating the same thing every day!
This semester, I really started switching things up. One of my favorite lunches nowadays in the turkey panini at Starbucks. It is turkey deli meat, which is the healthiest deli meat you could get, with whole wheat bread and a mustard spread. It is really good, but not too filling, which makes me upset every time I swipe my card and six dollars is taken out of my account. Another place I have experimented with is Robert's Pizzeria, on Washington Ave.It is a deli restaurant, where you could get a a slice of pizza, a grilled chicken wrap, and many other typical pizzeria foods. Robert's is not too expensive, and they do give very big serving sizes, but being such a health freak, there really isn't much for me to get to eat there. There grilled chicken caesar wrap is very good, but it gets boring eating the same thing for lunch everyday, and I try to stay from monotonous things. I've tried a chicken and gyro platter with some rice at the place next to the bookstore, but I am not a big fan of eating that food, although it is pretty filling.
I've been patiently waiting on the Java place to open. It's located right next to Subway, (which I've tried, not a big fan of Subway either). The coffee place was open my first year here, but they have done construction and renovation on it, and I am waiting for it to open up! I think the food should be just wha I need, healthy, not too pricey and somewhat filling. Once it opens up, I will keep everybody updated on their menu selection, and whether or not it was good.
I'm sure I am not the only one, but I am not a huge fan of the food on the campus. Does that mean I refrain from eating it? Of course not! Usually, my first two years, I would go to Robeson and either get a salad or a grilled chicken sandwich, (yes, I am a health conscious freak). I always bring water from home; I go shopping once every week or so and buy three 24 packs of water, so I grab three or four bottles every day an take them to school with me. At one point, I was even making sandwiches for myself before every day, due to the fact that I would get so bored with eating the same thing every day!
This semester, I really started switching things up. One of my favorite lunches nowadays in the turkey panini at Starbucks. It is turkey deli meat, which is the healthiest deli meat you could get, with whole wheat bread and a mustard spread. It is really good, but not too filling, which makes me upset every time I swipe my card and six dollars is taken out of my account. Another place I have experimented with is Robert's Pizzeria, on Washington Ave.It is a deli restaurant, where you could get a a slice of pizza, a grilled chicken wrap, and many other typical pizzeria foods. Robert's is not too expensive, and they do give very big serving sizes, but being such a health freak, there really isn't much for me to get to eat there. There grilled chicken caesar wrap is very good, but it gets boring eating the same thing for lunch everyday, and I try to stay from monotonous things. I've tried a chicken and gyro platter with some rice at the place next to the bookstore, but I am not a big fan of eating that food, although it is pretty filling.
I've been patiently waiting on the Java place to open. It's located right next to Subway, (which I've tried, not a big fan of Subway either). The coffee place was open my first year here, but they have done construction and renovation on it, and I am waiting for it to open up! I think the food should be just wha I need, healthy, not too pricey and somewhat filling. Once it opens up, I will keep everybody updated on their menu selection, and whether or not it was good.
It Has Got to be Famous!
I arrived at work, mentally preparing myself for a horrible day at work. I had an off premise job, and who knows where I needed to go. My jobs vary; I could drive 2 hours with a van full of alcohol, tables, coolers and other things necessary to set a bar up, sometimes I have another bartender with me, sometimes the house has there own bar and liquor, or sometimes I only need to drive 5 minutes to a place that has a bar in their home. There are so many different options that are possible. I just hate when my boss texts me my schedule, and tells me that I have to travel off premise for a job. I look working at the catering hall so much better!
Well anyways, I grabbed the sheet to see where I had to travel. I was bartending a reunion for Seton Hall, and it was in Newark at a dining hall, which actually happened to be a mile or so away from campus. I was with one of my coworkers, and we didn't have to bring a lot of supplies, so I was pretty elated for that. So, we got the van loaded, grabbed some food, and drove to our destination.
We arrived on the job, loaded everything off the van, set our bar up outside, (it was a beautiful day), and realized we have about 2 hours to kill. We smoked a few cigarettes, grabbed a beer from the cooler, and decided to just relax before we had to start working. Sad to say, when you're a bartender, these bad habits come with the job, (but, to let everyone know I quit smoking!). While we were sitting in the van, we recognized a huge cathedral. This wasn't your typical church. It was a huge, high arching cathedral with a massive point at the top, made out of what appeared to be beautiful stone. We decided to go on Google and do research on some famous churches and cathedrals in Newark.
It was historic. Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. After doing some research, we found out that it is the fifth largest cathedral in North America! We really were amazed; we couldn't put into perspective that we were staring at a religious cathedral that was so famous and known. It was built in the late 1800s and the building was completely finished by 1954 (according to Wikipedia). We were astonished at the fact that it took over 50 years to build such a work of art. The stone was so fine, and the building was prestige and rich looking. The city of Newark is very religious. Many people don't have much, and look up to God for guidance and forgiveness, so a cathedral of this stature is only fitting to have in a city like Newark.
When it was time to start working, we still were talking about how beautiful and serene the cathedral appeared, and jokingly made a promise that we were going to visit it after work (which both of us knew we were just going to go home and pass out). I would love to visit the cathedral one day, and actually see what the inside looks like.
Well anyways, I grabbed the sheet to see where I had to travel. I was bartending a reunion for Seton Hall, and it was in Newark at a dining hall, which actually happened to be a mile or so away from campus. I was with one of my coworkers, and we didn't have to bring a lot of supplies, so I was pretty elated for that. So, we got the van loaded, grabbed some food, and drove to our destination.
We arrived on the job, loaded everything off the van, set our bar up outside, (it was a beautiful day), and realized we have about 2 hours to kill. We smoked a few cigarettes, grabbed a beer from the cooler, and decided to just relax before we had to start working. Sad to say, when you're a bartender, these bad habits come with the job, (but, to let everyone know I quit smoking!). While we were sitting in the van, we recognized a huge cathedral. This wasn't your typical church. It was a huge, high arching cathedral with a massive point at the top, made out of what appeared to be beautiful stone. We decided to go on Google and do research on some famous churches and cathedrals in Newark.
It was historic. Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. After doing some research, we found out that it is the fifth largest cathedral in North America! We really were amazed; we couldn't put into perspective that we were staring at a religious cathedral that was so famous and known. It was built in the late 1800s and the building was completely finished by 1954 (according to Wikipedia). We were astonished at the fact that it took over 50 years to build such a work of art. The stone was so fine, and the building was prestige and rich looking. The city of Newark is very religious. Many people don't have much, and look up to God for guidance and forgiveness, so a cathedral of this stature is only fitting to have in a city like Newark.
When it was time to start working, we still were talking about how beautiful and serene the cathedral appeared, and jokingly made a promise that we were going to visit it after work (which both of us knew we were just going to go home and pass out). I would love to visit the cathedral one day, and actually see what the inside looks like.
The Rock
New Jersey only has one major sports team. Although the Jets and Giants play in East Rutherford, they are labeled as the "New York" Jets/Giants. The only major sports team New Jersey has in the New Jersey Devils, which is a professional hockey team. The Devils play at the Prudential Center in Newark, which is only necessary because Newark is the states biggest city. But, some people aren't aware that the Prudential Center is much more than the home of the Devils. "The Rock", a nickname for the Prudential Center that is very common in the media, also holds many other events.
First, a little background. The Rock was built in 2007, solely for the purpose to move the New Jersey Devils franchise to play in the states biggest city; a business decision of come sorts. The nickname "The Rock" is derived from the Prudential Financial logo, which happens to be to be the Rock of Gibraltar, (the link at the end of the entry will give more information on the Rock of Gibraltar). The Rock has been very successful thus far; it holds many different events and, since it is placed in the middle of a business city such as Newark, it attracts many tourists and business ventures.
Seton Hall also calls the Prudential Center home. The Seton Hall Pirates mens basketball team, which is Division 1,uses the Rock to play their home games, so attending a college basketball game in a big time atmosphere could be a fun time. I logged onto the Ticketmaster website to see what events were coming up at the Prudential Center, and the diversity and difference between events is outstanding. Apart from NJ Devils and Seton Hall Pirates home games, there is a world famous Orchestra event scheduled, as well as Pink, the female pop singer, who has a tour concert there, as well. Here is the Ticketmaster link:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Prudential-Center-tickets-Newark/venue/16847
I think the Rock is important to the city of Newark. It holds many different events which can draw tourists to Newark to see what the city has in store... and it also will keep the structure of the city because it gives residents something to go do. I haven't been to an event yet, but I am looking into a few concerts at the beginning of the 2014 year. If anybody keeps up with my blog, I promise to post about my experience at the Rock.
Information on Rock of Gibraltar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Gibraltar
First, a little background. The Rock was built in 2007, solely for the purpose to move the New Jersey Devils franchise to play in the states biggest city; a business decision of come sorts. The nickname "The Rock" is derived from the Prudential Financial logo, which happens to be to be the Rock of Gibraltar, (the link at the end of the entry will give more information on the Rock of Gibraltar). The Rock has been very successful thus far; it holds many different events and, since it is placed in the middle of a business city such as Newark, it attracts many tourists and business ventures.
Seton Hall also calls the Prudential Center home. The Seton Hall Pirates mens basketball team, which is Division 1,uses the Rock to play their home games, so attending a college basketball game in a big time atmosphere could be a fun time. I logged onto the Ticketmaster website to see what events were coming up at the Prudential Center, and the diversity and difference between events is outstanding. Apart from NJ Devils and Seton Hall Pirates home games, there is a world famous Orchestra event scheduled, as well as Pink, the female pop singer, who has a tour concert there, as well. Here is the Ticketmaster link:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Prudential-Center-tickets-Newark/venue/16847
I think the Rock is important to the city of Newark. It holds many different events which can draw tourists to Newark to see what the city has in store... and it also will keep the structure of the city because it gives residents something to go do. I haven't been to an event yet, but I am looking into a few concerts at the beginning of the 2014 year. If anybody keeps up with my blog, I promise to post about my experience at the Rock.
Information on Rock of Gibraltar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Gibraltar
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Beware!
I took advice from Professor Wood and some classmates, and decided to construct some interviews for some following blogs. I recognized that I was almost at a standstill, and couldn't keep posting blogs about my experiences in Newark, due to the fact that they really didn't have a specific meaning or point on comparison. Yet, interviewing individuals in Newark about issues or controversies in the city would be a great idea, whether it be random pedestrians, students, faculty members or anybody else I came across. Also, it would keep up with the "Experiences in Newark" focus of my blog. I did many interviews in high school for our school newspaper, and I also had to piece together and edit a bunch of videos on interviews for MSG Varsity to post on their website for Media class, so I had a lot of experience with interviewing.
So, I started simple... I asked some friends to help me out with a blog of mine, and decided to ask them some broad questions about the Rutgers Newark campus. A few buddies of mine, E, M and S, (whom all happen to be Business majors), decided to help me out, and gave me answers to kick off this interviewing process. It's a start . . . .
Q: Where is your go-to spot to eat while you're on campus?
E: "Definitely Robert's," which is a pizza place on Washington Ave., near the CJ building. "You can get a calzone, a wrap, salad, pretty much anything you want. Oh, and it's really affordable too."
M: "I just get a cappuccino at Starbuck's, maybe one of those oriental salads they have."
S: "I eat at Robeson every day. I could make a salad if I want. Sometimes I get a burger or sandwich, or just a giant plate of fries."
Q: Where is your favorite spot to get work done, on campus?
E: "I go to the Dana Library, second floor. There are a bunch of rooms and cubicles that are always available, and it's always quiet."
M: "I usually go to the computer lab in Smith Hall. They have color printers, and it's big, so there is always an empty seat."
S: "When it's nice out, I sit outside on my laptop, but the Wifi sucks here," (go figure!), "During the winter, I just go into the Dana Library to get my stuff done."
Q: Favorite professor?
E: "I had Professor Gato for Algebra my first semester. That guy is hilarious, and he is an awesome teacher. You can't ask anything better than to have a genuinely awesome guy be your math teacher."
M: "I was never good in English, but Professor Vancalberg helped me so much. He really focused on analysis, which helped me become a better writer. The guy doesn't care what people think about him either, which is how I am like."
S: "Professor Kurti, without a doubt. I took a criminal justice class as an elective, and this guy is awesome. He always cracked jokes, and we watched 'Boyz n the Hood'."
Some simple, Day 1 interviewing questions for some students on campus. this really focuses on broader aspects of the University and the campus. Eventually, I will ask some more specific questions and really try to pick some brains apart.
So, I started simple... I asked some friends to help me out with a blog of mine, and decided to ask them some broad questions about the Rutgers Newark campus. A few buddies of mine, E, M and S, (whom all happen to be Business majors), decided to help me out, and gave me answers to kick off this interviewing process. It's a start . . . .
Q: Where is your go-to spot to eat while you're on campus?
E: "Definitely Robert's," which is a pizza place on Washington Ave., near the CJ building. "You can get a calzone, a wrap, salad, pretty much anything you want. Oh, and it's really affordable too."
M: "I just get a cappuccino at Starbuck's, maybe one of those oriental salads they have."
S: "I eat at Robeson every day. I could make a salad if I want. Sometimes I get a burger or sandwich, or just a giant plate of fries."
Q: Where is your favorite spot to get work done, on campus?
E: "I go to the Dana Library, second floor. There are a bunch of rooms and cubicles that are always available, and it's always quiet."
M: "I usually go to the computer lab in Smith Hall. They have color printers, and it's big, so there is always an empty seat."
S: "When it's nice out, I sit outside on my laptop, but the Wifi sucks here," (go figure!), "During the winter, I just go into the Dana Library to get my stuff done."
Q: Favorite professor?
E: "I had Professor Gato for Algebra my first semester. That guy is hilarious, and he is an awesome teacher. You can't ask anything better than to have a genuinely awesome guy be your math teacher."
M: "I was never good in English, but Professor Vancalberg helped me so much. He really focused on analysis, which helped me become a better writer. The guy doesn't care what people think about him either, which is how I am like."
S: "Professor Kurti, without a doubt. I took a criminal justice class as an elective, and this guy is awesome. He always cracked jokes, and we watched 'Boyz n the Hood'."
Some simple, Day 1 interviewing questions for some students on campus. this really focuses on broader aspects of the University and the campus. Eventually, I will ask some more specific questions and really try to pick some brains apart.
Rutgers.edu
This post is a shout out to the Rutgers University staff for making such an awesome website. Seriously, all my friends at other schools need to contact their academic adviser for everything. Whether they wish to add or drop a class, search for general education requirement courses, contact professors or T/A's; the list goes on and on. The Rutgers website is very developed, and here are two reasons why;
1) Degree Course Navigator - this link is heaven sent. I never knew about it until a friend had given me insight about the website my second year here. The link below will take you to a sign in page, and following that, you will be able to access your schools of enrollment (Major and/or Minor), and see how many credits you have left to suit your major or minor. Not only that, but the website tells explains general education requirements and gives you a list of courses you can take to suit the needs of every general education and elective you need to take to satisfy that major. This helps student have an idea as to where they stand academically. Why take that Music Theory course if your Fine Arts electives are already finished? Like I had said earlier, it is heaven sent.
https://cas.rutgers.edu/login?service=https://dn.rutgers.edu/Default.aspx
2) WebReg - online registration of classes. By logging into this link, you could check or print your schedule for the semester, look up courses to enroll in for the next semester, and, most importantly, add or drop classes for the semester you are previously in, as well as for the next semester. Upon enrolling in a course, the site automatically transfers the preferred textbook(s) you will need for your courses onto a "Newark Bookstore" link on the bottom of the page, which makes life a hell of a lot easier.
https://sims.rutgers.edu/webreg/refresh.htm
With every possible course you could take for the semester in front of your face, you can try your hardest to select your own schedule with the help of these 2 websites. But don't delay, because if that class you need is closed up for the semester, you're going to have to start emailing professors for Special Permission Numbers!!
1) Degree Course Navigator - this link is heaven sent. I never knew about it until a friend had given me insight about the website my second year here. The link below will take you to a sign in page, and following that, you will be able to access your schools of enrollment (Major and/or Minor), and see how many credits you have left to suit your major or minor. Not only that, but the website tells explains general education requirements and gives you a list of courses you can take to suit the needs of every general education and elective you need to take to satisfy that major. This helps student have an idea as to where they stand academically. Why take that Music Theory course if your Fine Arts electives are already finished? Like I had said earlier, it is heaven sent.
https://cas.rutgers.edu/login?service=https://dn.rutgers.edu/Default.aspx
2) WebReg - online registration of classes. By logging into this link, you could check or print your schedule for the semester, look up courses to enroll in for the next semester, and, most importantly, add or drop classes for the semester you are previously in, as well as for the next semester. Upon enrolling in a course, the site automatically transfers the preferred textbook(s) you will need for your courses onto a "Newark Bookstore" link on the bottom of the page, which makes life a hell of a lot easier.
https://sims.rutgers.edu/webreg/refresh.htm
With every possible course you could take for the semester in front of your face, you can try your hardest to select your own schedule with the help of these 2 websites. But don't delay, because if that class you need is closed up for the semester, you're going to have to start emailing professors for Special Permission Numbers!!
Monday, December 2, 2013
Still Not a Player
I hooped off the train at Broad Street Station and walked down the stairs to the street. Bumper to bumper traffic, as usual, and people were holding their horns left and right in order to inch up a few feet. I got to the sidewalk and started my walk down Broad Street. I began to faintly hear music in the distance, and as I walked closer and closer, it was a song completely recognizable to me. With his windows down and his speakers blaring, I clearly heard the lyrics to one of my favorite 90s hip hop songs.
If you know this song, which most of you should, you definitely sang it in tune, and I wouldn't blame you for bustin' a quick dance move from wherever you are reading this blog from. While most of you are going to have to listen to this song after reading this, some of you might not know this song. The song is called "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun, it's one of his most commercialized songs, and one of the best known hip hop/ rap songs of the era.
Newark was surrounded by this type of music in the 90s. Poverty stricken cities such as Newark thrived off of hip hop in the 90s. Rappers at this time were Ice Cube, Jay Z, Raekwon, Dr. Dre, Biggie, Tupac.... want to know what all these individuals had in common? They all came from poverty stricken cities, whether it be Detroit, Compton, Brooklyn, Bed Stuy, etc. There were reasons why hip hop was, and currently is, so common in Newark. These rappers spoke about real life experiences; some did do in a poetic, appreciative and reflective way, like Tupac, while others did it in a nasty, counterculture emotional way, like Ice Cube. Listening to these rappers talk about life struggles, selling drugs, growing up homeless, high crime rates, and so many other issues that large cities have in the slums, individuals in Newark had something in life to look forward to. These rappers gave the kids in Newark something to pay attention to and look up to. These rappers were role models to all individuals in an area like Newark because they were successful black individuals, who grew up in a similar life style!
If you know this song, which most of you should, you definitely sang it in tune, and I wouldn't blame you for bustin' a quick dance move from wherever you are reading this blog from. While most of you are going to have to listen to this song after reading this, some of you might not know this song. The song is called "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun, it's one of his most commercialized songs, and one of the best known hip hop/ rap songs of the era.
Newark was surrounded by this type of music in the 90s. Poverty stricken cities such as Newark thrived off of hip hop in the 90s. Rappers at this time were Ice Cube, Jay Z, Raekwon, Dr. Dre, Biggie, Tupac.... want to know what all these individuals had in common? They all came from poverty stricken cities, whether it be Detroit, Compton, Brooklyn, Bed Stuy, etc. There were reasons why hip hop was, and currently is, so common in Newark. These rappers spoke about real life experiences; some did do in a poetic, appreciative and reflective way, like Tupac, while others did it in a nasty, counterculture emotional way, like Ice Cube. Listening to these rappers talk about life struggles, selling drugs, growing up homeless, high crime rates, and so many other issues that large cities have in the slums, individuals in Newark had something in life to look forward to. These rappers gave the kids in Newark something to pay attention to and look up to. These rappers were role models to all individuals in an area like Newark because they were successful black individuals, who grew up in a similar life style!
Engines and Ladders
I was at the fire house, and over the scanner I heard, "Neighboring towns please respond to Mutual Aid structure fire in Newark, West Ward. Fully involved." Nobody in the house budged, due to the fact that by the time we drove a half hour to Newark, there would be double digits worth of trucks, engines, rescue companies and ladders that already responded from other towns. Yet, just by hearing this call, I wanted to know more about Newark and how the city is derived, (in terms of public safety).
Newark is the biggest city in the state of New Jersey, in terms of population. The fire division is divided up into 5 wards; North, South, East, West and Central. Each ward varies in companies, for example, the West Ward has 2 companies, each with an Engine and a Ladder. The Central Ward has 4 companies, which are 3 Engine companies and one Rescue and Ladder company. The Central Ward is the only ward that has a rescue company, which makes sense if you actually think about it, due to the fact that it is in the CENTER of the city....(duh). Let me give you a brief summary of the differences between companies:
What the public doesn't know is not every fire apparatus is the same. As obvious as that may sound, it is a common misconception. Most towns have four types of companies: Engine, Ladder, Truck and Rescue. An Engine company has an apparatus with strictly hoses, pumps, tools, small ladders and other necessary supplies used in a fire, with a specific focus on fire suppression and overhaul (which ios putting out the fire effectively and gathering any salvageable objects inside the burning building).. This is a bit confusing, because all apparatus have this equipment, but an Engine company truck is sort of the "designer" truck to have for necessities. A Ladder Company apparatus is equipped with similar tools, but have a wider selection of ladders, ranging from 14, 24, 36 foot and above ladders used for multiple purposes, like window rescues, venting, fire suppression, etc. A Truck Company apparatus is equipped with all of these similar tools and ladders, with a broader focus on forcible entry and a variety of different ground ladders. Also, Truck Company apparatus have aerial ladders, which are the giant mechanical ladders on the top of the fire truck that you see on television shows, (yeah, not every fire truck has one of these). A Truck Company is your "hybrid" apparatus, yet obviously the most expensive to upkeep. Lastly, a Rescue Company apparatus is used strictly for what it's names purpose- RESCUE !
My research on the Newark Fire Division has informed me that there are 17 fire departments in the city of Newark. SEVENTEEN! My town of Totowa only has 3... We have a Rescue/Truck Company, an Ladder company and an Engine Company (which is the company that I am apart of).
Newark is the biggest city in the state of New Jersey, in terms of population. The fire division is divided up into 5 wards; North, South, East, West and Central. Each ward varies in companies, for example, the West Ward has 2 companies, each with an Engine and a Ladder. The Central Ward has 4 companies, which are 3 Engine companies and one Rescue and Ladder company. The Central Ward is the only ward that has a rescue company, which makes sense if you actually think about it, due to the fact that it is in the CENTER of the city....(duh). Let me give you a brief summary of the differences between companies:
What the public doesn't know is not every fire apparatus is the same. As obvious as that may sound, it is a common misconception. Most towns have four types of companies: Engine, Ladder, Truck and Rescue. An Engine company has an apparatus with strictly hoses, pumps, tools, small ladders and other necessary supplies used in a fire, with a specific focus on fire suppression and overhaul (which ios putting out the fire effectively and gathering any salvageable objects inside the burning building).. This is a bit confusing, because all apparatus have this equipment, but an Engine company truck is sort of the "designer" truck to have for necessities. A Ladder Company apparatus is equipped with similar tools, but have a wider selection of ladders, ranging from 14, 24, 36 foot and above ladders used for multiple purposes, like window rescues, venting, fire suppression, etc. A Truck Company apparatus is equipped with all of these similar tools and ladders, with a broader focus on forcible entry and a variety of different ground ladders. Also, Truck Company apparatus have aerial ladders, which are the giant mechanical ladders on the top of the fire truck that you see on television shows, (yeah, not every fire truck has one of these). A Truck Company is your "hybrid" apparatus, yet obviously the most expensive to upkeep. Lastly, a Rescue Company apparatus is used strictly for what it's names purpose- RESCUE !
My research on the Newark Fire Division has informed me that there are 17 fire departments in the city of Newark. SEVENTEEN! My town of Totowa only has 3... We have a Rescue/Truck Company, an Ladder company and an Engine Company (which is the company that I am apart of).
Serving for 3
I had a three and a half hour gap between classes. Usually, I'd go to Robeson, do some homework, eat a salad, and play online games on my laptop; this time, I felt like venturing. I was so damn hungry, and for some reason I was craving a huge piece of grilled chicken. So, I asked Siri, "Siri, where can I get grilled chicken?" She gave me about 15 spots within a 5 mile radius where I can go get some grilled chicken. I checked the reviews to all the places, obviously realizing I wasn't going to walk 5 miles off campus to eat, and decided to walk almost 2 miles to a place called FMZ Grilled Platters.
Most people would refuse to walk around Newark. They here about the dangers of the city, such as daily gunshots, murders, assault, armed robbery, etc. Yeah, I guess all of that is true, but it was the middle of the day, and my stomach began to make noises comparable to a dying cow. I began my descent towards the grill, which happened to be a few blocks past Penn Station. I had never walked this far off campus before, so I had no idea what I would be in for. It was a beautiful day out, too, about 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky as the sun beamed down and posted reflections off every car and glass object that was in its path.
During my walk, I was truthfully in awe about what I saw. Not only in Newark a highly diverse town, but there are shops and restaurants varying between so many different cultural ranges. there were Indian Cuisine restaurants, Tuscan grills, Arabic stands and smoke shops, and so many more small ethnic businesses in such a small area of downtown...
I finally arrived at the FMZ restaurant and ordered a 10 dollar platter of grilled chicken and french fries, (yes, I know, a bit hypocritical of myself to order grilled chicken with a side of fattening, deep friend potatoes.) The food finally came out, and there was truthfully a place that was over a foot long, and about half a foot wide, covered in grilled chicken, broccoli and mounds of french fries... and I don't mean a small hill of french fries, but enough french fries alone to feed a family of 3. There was no way I was finishing all of this by myself. I ate all the chicken and veggies, and attempted to make a dent in the french fries, but as I kept eating, I could have sworn more fries were spontaneously reappearing on my plate. I decided to call it quits, and left the restaurant.
At least I had a long walk back to school to burn off all of these damned calories. I continued to pay attention to my surroundings, and realized that maybe myself, and many others, have the wrong impression of Newark after all . . . . .
Most people would refuse to walk around Newark. They here about the dangers of the city, such as daily gunshots, murders, assault, armed robbery, etc. Yeah, I guess all of that is true, but it was the middle of the day, and my stomach began to make noises comparable to a dying cow. I began my descent towards the grill, which happened to be a few blocks past Penn Station. I had never walked this far off campus before, so I had no idea what I would be in for. It was a beautiful day out, too, about 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky as the sun beamed down and posted reflections off every car and glass object that was in its path.
During my walk, I was truthfully in awe about what I saw. Not only in Newark a highly diverse town, but there are shops and restaurants varying between so many different cultural ranges. there were Indian Cuisine restaurants, Tuscan grills, Arabic stands and smoke shops, and so many more small ethnic businesses in such a small area of downtown...
I finally arrived at the FMZ restaurant and ordered a 10 dollar platter of grilled chicken and french fries, (yes, I know, a bit hypocritical of myself to order grilled chicken with a side of fattening, deep friend potatoes.) The food finally came out, and there was truthfully a place that was over a foot long, and about half a foot wide, covered in grilled chicken, broccoli and mounds of french fries... and I don't mean a small hill of french fries, but enough french fries alone to feed a family of 3. There was no way I was finishing all of this by myself. I ate all the chicken and veggies, and attempted to make a dent in the french fries, but as I kept eating, I could have sworn more fries were spontaneously reappearing on my plate. I decided to call it quits, and left the restaurant.
At least I had a long walk back to school to burn off all of these damned calories. I continued to pay attention to my surroundings, and realized that maybe myself, and many others, have the wrong impression of Newark after all . . . . .
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Quarter Life Crisis
My first year at Rutgers Newark was a disaster. My grades were terrible; probably due to the fact that I was smoking multiple times a day, everyday. I wasn't doing any work, I was screwing around outside of school, I wasn't taking anything seriously....
I skated through high school. I was lucky to be that kid that everybody knew. I was an athlete, I was an anchor on our daily news bulletin, a live broadcast to every class in the school, that started every morning, (along with the flag salute). I talked to kids from sports teams, the choir, the band, color guard, dance team, etc. You name it, I was friends with somebody there. All my teachers absolutely loved me, so my grades were represented as such.
Well, obviously, this didn't work once I got to college. All I wanted to do was hang out with my group of guys, have fun and take nothing seriously, and yes, this reflected on my grades. At school I had a personality equivalent to a boulder. I slept in every class, (I actually found out I had mono during this time). I sat by myself and spoke to nobody in my classes. I didn't want to be bothered.
After freshman year ended, my GPA was at a miniscule 2.5. I had the same habits and still hated everything about Rutgers Newark. I don't remember when, or why...or how, for that matter, but something happened to me that summer that made me evolve. One day, I was a scummy loser, and the next day I woke up alive and mature, ready to take on life. It was as if one night's sleep changed me; I pulled a 180. I decided I was going to take school seriously, stop fucking around and figure out what direction I wanted to go in life. I asked myself, "Where is this going to start?"
Well, that's a pretty dumb question to ask yourself. Start with your education, your future. Start your evolution at college, you stupid fuck!
The first day of my sophomore semester I decided I'd make some new friends. I figured that talking to people and conversing with people would open me up a little; it would help me become more social. I met a bunch of people that were the most chill and down to Earth people that I've ever met. I still talk to them on a daily basis and we hang out as often as possible.
To make a long story short, my GPA skyrocketed. Last semester I finished with a 3.7 ! I decided I'd major in Criminal Justice, along with a minor in Computer Science. Most importantly, I broke out of my immature stage. I stopped being miserable and lazy and stupid, and made some great memories with some new, close friends.
I called it my "quarter life crisis."
I skated through high school. I was lucky to be that kid that everybody knew. I was an athlete, I was an anchor on our daily news bulletin, a live broadcast to every class in the school, that started every morning, (along with the flag salute). I talked to kids from sports teams, the choir, the band, color guard, dance team, etc. You name it, I was friends with somebody there. All my teachers absolutely loved me, so my grades were represented as such.
Well, obviously, this didn't work once I got to college. All I wanted to do was hang out with my group of guys, have fun and take nothing seriously, and yes, this reflected on my grades. At school I had a personality equivalent to a boulder. I slept in every class, (I actually found out I had mono during this time). I sat by myself and spoke to nobody in my classes. I didn't want to be bothered.
After freshman year ended, my GPA was at a miniscule 2.5. I had the same habits and still hated everything about Rutgers Newark. I don't remember when, or why...or how, for that matter, but something happened to me that summer that made me evolve. One day, I was a scummy loser, and the next day I woke up alive and mature, ready to take on life. It was as if one night's sleep changed me; I pulled a 180. I decided I was going to take school seriously, stop fucking around and figure out what direction I wanted to go in life. I asked myself, "Where is this going to start?"
Well, that's a pretty dumb question to ask yourself. Start with your education, your future. Start your evolution at college, you stupid fuck!
The first day of my sophomore semester I decided I'd make some new friends. I figured that talking to people and conversing with people would open me up a little; it would help me become more social. I met a bunch of people that were the most chill and down to Earth people that I've ever met. I still talk to them on a daily basis and we hang out as often as possible.
To make a long story short, my GPA skyrocketed. Last semester I finished with a 3.7 ! I decided I'd major in Criminal Justice, along with a minor in Computer Science. Most importantly, I broke out of my immature stage. I stopped being miserable and lazy and stupid, and made some great memories with some new, close friends.
I called it my "quarter life crisis."
Saturday, October 26, 2013
"Repeat yourself."
21.
“Repeat yourself. If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it
again.”
I wake up every morning around the same time, whether I
need to get ready for work, school, or my Fire Academy course. I need to check
up on sports daily, so I watch ESPN or check the ScoreCenter app on my phone
just saw I could get my daily fix. Some source of physical activity must be
present in my day; if it is late at night, and I have found that I didn’t work
out at all, I’ll walk around my block in a few times or go for a bike ride. I
love staying in good health and shape. Staying hygienic is important, so I
brush my teeth and shower on a daily basis. Obviously I eat and drink the proper
amount of fluids to keep me awake and alert. Oh, and for breakfast, I need my
daily vitamins. I make sure to check my betting website daily; I know my sports
and winning gives me a thrill that is hard to be matched. It’s like winning a
mini lottery, but not based off of luck, off of my personal knowledge. I often
search PLNDR and H&M’s online website, in case anything I like goes on sale
or is newly added to the website. I love fashion, and dressing nicely and
properly makes an individual seem more organized, independent, individualistic
and unique. Social media is a must, sadly. I don’t have much time to see my
friends, so social media and texting is a way for me to keep up with their
lives and how they’re doing on a daily basis.
I hate doing homework, but who doesn’t? I need to do it,
because my grade (and hopefulness for a future job) depends on it. Driving my
parents or my sister to work every day is a nuisance, but they need to make
money to help support themselves and myself, as well. For the first time in my
life, I think I would be able to grow an awesome beard, but the necessity to
shave for fire school hinders that from happening. I wish my cat could feed
herself. I hate the smell of that nasty food in the microwave. Sleep? HA! A
figment of my imagination. Insomnia is a real sickness, people; you aren’t an
insomniac just because you stay up until 2am. It’s beyond my control, but it’s
a daily routine I can’t break.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Since Kindergarden
My short term memory is terrible; I could barely remember the last sentence I spoke or the last thing I ate, but my long term memory is fabulous. I'd say the best aspect of my long term memory is my ability to remember faces. Once I see an individuals face, I could tell you how I know them, where I met them, and most importantly, their name. Even if I don't know them, I am positive I'll be able to recognize if I have ever seen the individual before.
You're probably wondering what the fuck I'm talking about . . . .
Well, I was buying lunch at Robeson the other day, and I was staring at this girl for a solid five minutes...but I wasn't just staring; I was in a deep mental trance and my mind was wondering who this girl was and how I knew her. So, it probably looked like I had to shit or something, and I was day dreaming, all while staring at some girl.
It didn't click. You know when you can't remember something and it pisses you off so much that it sticks with you for the rest of the day and you stress over it and you just feel like screaming, "FUCK!, but you can't because you're in public???? Yeah, that's exactly how I felt.
I went home and the only thing on my mind was where I have seen this girl before. So I went on my phone and checked every source of social media I have. Twitter followers? Nope. Instagram followers? No. Contact List? Nope. I decided to check my Facebook, saw my friends list and realized I would have to scroll through over 2,000 friends. So I did....
Luckily for me, before I even started checking my friends list, I decided to refresh my Facebook home page. The first status was an old friend I had from Hasbrouck Heights, saying how she had so much homework to do for college. I read her name and the anxiety and stress fled from my body, it was her! Her name was Rachel, and her and I were those little kids who were best friends and did everything together. Mind you, I moved from Heights in third grade, so I haven't seen this girl in years.
I decided to message her and told her I think I saw her at Rutgers Newark, and proceeded to ask her if she went to school there. Damn I'm good, because I was right. I haven't seen this girl since I was probably 8 years old, and I recognized her face 12 years later. We wound up meeting up at school the next day and caught up; we spoke about how our families were and how life has changed over the many years. What a coincidence that we ran into eachother.
You're probably wondering what the fuck I'm talking about . . . .
Well, I was buying lunch at Robeson the other day, and I was staring at this girl for a solid five minutes...but I wasn't just staring; I was in a deep mental trance and my mind was wondering who this girl was and how I knew her. So, it probably looked like I had to shit or something, and I was day dreaming, all while staring at some girl.
It didn't click. You know when you can't remember something and it pisses you off so much that it sticks with you for the rest of the day and you stress over it and you just feel like screaming, "FUCK!, but you can't because you're in public???? Yeah, that's exactly how I felt.
I went home and the only thing on my mind was where I have seen this girl before. So I went on my phone and checked every source of social media I have. Twitter followers? Nope. Instagram followers? No. Contact List? Nope. I decided to check my Facebook, saw my friends list and realized I would have to scroll through over 2,000 friends. So I did....
Luckily for me, before I even started checking my friends list, I decided to refresh my Facebook home page. The first status was an old friend I had from Hasbrouck Heights, saying how she had so much homework to do for college. I read her name and the anxiety and stress fled from my body, it was her! Her name was Rachel, and her and I were those little kids who were best friends and did everything together. Mind you, I moved from Heights in third grade, so I haven't seen this girl in years.
I decided to message her and told her I think I saw her at Rutgers Newark, and proceeded to ask her if she went to school there. Damn I'm good, because I was right. I haven't seen this girl since I was probably 8 years old, and I recognized her face 12 years later. We wound up meeting up at school the next day and caught up; we spoke about how our families were and how life has changed over the many years. What a coincidence that we ran into eachother.
Tickets
For a few of my semesters here at RU, I'd have a day where I only had one class, so there was no point of taking the train when I could just drive to school. The transportation for school is so much faster when I drive because there is no train that I need to catch. I would drop my mother off to work in Lodi, my father off to work in Clifton, and take the car to school. I mean, it did fucking suck that I had to pick them up at 5pm, but at least I could have the car for myself for a few hours....
My first semester I was stuck with a math class at 8:30am on Friday morning, (the last time I will ever take a class that early). I would drive every Friday, so I had to drive everybody to work for 8, and then rush to Newark and park before my class started. I received about 10 tickets in the mail in a matter of a month for "blowing red lights". Those fucking cameras are good; it was funny, because they give you a link where you could watch a video of yourself blowing the light. Every time I'd say to myself, "There is no way I blew this light that bad....", but trust me when I tell you, the light was red for at least 3-5 seconds.
Yeah, that was 45-60 dollars down the drain every letter, depending on the area in which I blew the light.
Well, anyways, once I got into Newark, I would be driving around in circles for fifteen minutes looking for a parking spot. Whether I parked on Bleeker, University Ave, or any other street, I probably got a ticket once a week. It took me a while to understand that some meters have an A,B,C,D parking range, some have just A and B, some are 2 hour limits and others are only 1 hour limits. I would remember walking to my car, seeing that ticket in the windshield underneath the wipers, and getting so pissed off. I specifically remember finding parking up past Essex County Community College, about a mile or so outside of campus. I was fed up with the tickets and figured I'd find free parking, no matter how far I would have to walk. After my classes ended, I was walking back to my car and actually watched the officer put the ticket on my windshield. I lost my shit. I told the officer this is bullshit, and that I do not deserve a ticket for parking here. There was no yellow curb, no fire hydrant, no meters, no residents only parking, NOTHING! The officer had me read the sign that was displayed a few cars in front of me. No exaggeration, it read "No Parking: Tuesdays 4pm-5pm". I looked at my phone to check the time, and it was about 5 minutes past 4, (my class finished at 3:50). I guess that's where they fuck you. Tuesday, from 4pm- 5pm. I thought I was on Punk'd for a second, looking for Ashton fucking Kutcher hidden in a bush somewhere, but then I realized I'm not a celebrity....
Here's some advice fellow bloggers: pay your fucking meters correctly and don't run red lights in Newark.
My first semester I was stuck with a math class at 8:30am on Friday morning, (the last time I will ever take a class that early). I would drive every Friday, so I had to drive everybody to work for 8, and then rush to Newark and park before my class started. I received about 10 tickets in the mail in a matter of a month for "blowing red lights". Those fucking cameras are good; it was funny, because they give you a link where you could watch a video of yourself blowing the light. Every time I'd say to myself, "There is no way I blew this light that bad....", but trust me when I tell you, the light was red for at least 3-5 seconds.
Yeah, that was 45-60 dollars down the drain every letter, depending on the area in which I blew the light.
Well, anyways, once I got into Newark, I would be driving around in circles for fifteen minutes looking for a parking spot. Whether I parked on Bleeker, University Ave, or any other street, I probably got a ticket once a week. It took me a while to understand that some meters have an A,B,C,D parking range, some have just A and B, some are 2 hour limits and others are only 1 hour limits. I would remember walking to my car, seeing that ticket in the windshield underneath the wipers, and getting so pissed off. I specifically remember finding parking up past Essex County Community College, about a mile or so outside of campus. I was fed up with the tickets and figured I'd find free parking, no matter how far I would have to walk. After my classes ended, I was walking back to my car and actually watched the officer put the ticket on my windshield. I lost my shit. I told the officer this is bullshit, and that I do not deserve a ticket for parking here. There was no yellow curb, no fire hydrant, no meters, no residents only parking, NOTHING! The officer had me read the sign that was displayed a few cars in front of me. No exaggeration, it read "No Parking: Tuesdays 4pm-5pm". I looked at my phone to check the time, and it was about 5 minutes past 4, (my class finished at 3:50). I guess that's where they fuck you. Tuesday, from 4pm- 5pm. I thought I was on Punk'd for a second, looking for Ashton fucking Kutcher hidden in a bush somewhere, but then I realized I'm not a celebrity....
Here's some advice fellow bloggers: pay your fucking meters correctly and don't run red lights in Newark.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Jim Brown
My day was finally over. A tiring Thursday afternoon; four straight classes followed by a nice workout at the Golden Dome. I took a shower in the locker room, put my school clothes back on and started my walk back to the train station . . . .
School was getting pretty overwhelming, and with summer a few weeks away, I had established a serious case of the similarities to "Senioritis." School was stressful and I couldn't wait until my exams were over so I could enjoy my summer. Well, at least I didn't have school for the next three days, so I just wanted to get on this damn train and go home.
I made it to the train station. I reached into my back pocket for my wallet; "Fuck, no ticket." I took some money and change out of my wallet, and as I put the money into the machine, a gentleman appeared behind my left shoulder.
I always have the same experiences with homeless people in Newark. I hear some bullshit story, which, most of the time, makes absolutely no sense and has no correlation to anything relevant in life, and get begged for some money. I don't mean to make myself seem like such a great person, but a majority of the time I give the person some change. Usually, I'll buy them a dollar nutrition bar at the concession stand in the train station, just so I am sure that they won't use my dollar to buy any drugs.
I forget the story he threw at me. Maybe something similar to, "I need some money for a train ticket home." I don't remember, but I think I didn't pay attention to him, to be honest. I acted like he was inexistent.
He tapped my shoulder, and when I turned around, he said, "Who's Peterson?" I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was wearing my Adrian Peterson Vikings jersey. I went on to explain to him who he was, and how he was the best running back, maybe the best football player in the NFL at the time. He was amazed and kept asking me questions about AP, he wanted to know more. You could tell he was so interested in every verb and adjective I used to describe AP and how fierce, hard and elusive he was as a running back.
Then, it was his turn to talk. He asked me if I've ever heard of Jim Brown. I told him yes, but I obviously never watched him play. The man spoke about Jim Brown as if he was a God; he even told me he was "hands down the best football player" he's ever seen. The man knew so much information about Jim Brown. For example, he told me where he went to college, how many rushing yards he had in his career, how many touchdowns, etc. The man's eyes were huge and bright, as if he was reminiscing back on the good old days.
The train pulled up, and I told him I'm sorry, but I didn't have any money for him. He seemed not to care, I could tell our conversation meant much more to him than one dollar. He thanked me, blessed me and told me God is watching me and has my back. That man taught me a valuable lesson that day. I understood to keep my ears and eyes open more. Just because the man was homeless, doesn't mean I should make assumptions and think he was such a terrible and worthless person.
School was getting pretty overwhelming, and with summer a few weeks away, I had established a serious case of the similarities to "Senioritis." School was stressful and I couldn't wait until my exams were over so I could enjoy my summer. Well, at least I didn't have school for the next three days, so I just wanted to get on this damn train and go home.
I made it to the train station. I reached into my back pocket for my wallet; "Fuck, no ticket." I took some money and change out of my wallet, and as I put the money into the machine, a gentleman appeared behind my left shoulder.
I always have the same experiences with homeless people in Newark. I hear some bullshit story, which, most of the time, makes absolutely no sense and has no correlation to anything relevant in life, and get begged for some money. I don't mean to make myself seem like such a great person, but a majority of the time I give the person some change. Usually, I'll buy them a dollar nutrition bar at the concession stand in the train station, just so I am sure that they won't use my dollar to buy any drugs.
I forget the story he threw at me. Maybe something similar to, "I need some money for a train ticket home." I don't remember, but I think I didn't pay attention to him, to be honest. I acted like he was inexistent.
He tapped my shoulder, and when I turned around, he said, "Who's Peterson?" I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was wearing my Adrian Peterson Vikings jersey. I went on to explain to him who he was, and how he was the best running back, maybe the best football player in the NFL at the time. He was amazed and kept asking me questions about AP, he wanted to know more. You could tell he was so interested in every verb and adjective I used to describe AP and how fierce, hard and elusive he was as a running back.
Then, it was his turn to talk. He asked me if I've ever heard of Jim Brown. I told him yes, but I obviously never watched him play. The man spoke about Jim Brown as if he was a God; he even told me he was "hands down the best football player" he's ever seen. The man knew so much information about Jim Brown. For example, he told me where he went to college, how many rushing yards he had in his career, how many touchdowns, etc. The man's eyes were huge and bright, as if he was reminiscing back on the good old days.
The train pulled up, and I told him I'm sorry, but I didn't have any money for him. He seemed not to care, I could tell our conversation meant much more to him than one dollar. He thanked me, blessed me and told me God is watching me and has my back. That man taught me a valuable lesson that day. I understood to keep my ears and eyes open more. Just because the man was homeless, doesn't mean I should make assumptions and think he was such a terrible and worthless person.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Inspiration from a student
"You see, I just got out of the hospital and I figured I'd come to the train station and beg. I hate begging for change but I need to get home." .....or "I just got out of jail and I need to buy a train ticket." .... but mostly, "Hey man, you have a dollar for me?"
Almost everyday after school, from my walk down University Avenue to Broad Street Station, I get approached by some sort of homeless and/or handicapped individual asking for money. I mean, it doesn't bother or scare me at all; living in Clifton, Lodi and Paterson has presented me with similar altercations. Yeah, a majority of these beggars probably need their fix, whether it be crack, alcohol, etc. Yet, one experience and a blog post by a student in our class has made me realize something different.
There was a woman, right outside Broad Street Station. She sat in a wheelchair, due to the fact that her right foot was amputated. I was approached with her hospital story, how her foot was amputated as a child due to infection, and whether she could borrow some money. I mean, we aren't dumb; most people are aware when a crack head or alcoholic, or any sort of heavily drug abused individual is in our presence. The features are very distinct, and, (call me rude or stereotypical), especially in a city like Newark, these individuals are easy to spot out.
Except, this woman actually seemed like your average 50 year old, African American woman. She went on to tell me a story of her childhood. I had a few minutes to spare before the train came, so I decided to listen. Once, some guy explained to me how much he loves the NFL and how Jim Brown was the best running back he has ever seen in his life....
Back to the woman. She was very sweet, and kept going into detail about her life of poverty and being handicapped.
A few days later, one of the students wrote a blog about her troubles with arthritis...
I analyzed Alyssa's blog so much while reading it. It really made me think and understand how much people can suffer, even due to a handicap issue that nobody can notice by looking at you. This woman lived her whole life in severe poverty, and on top of that, did not have a foot, yet, she seemed so happy and thrilled and grateful to be alive! Basically, I am trying to explain to you all that the Alyssa's blog really made me realize not to take anything for granted. Also, the woman at the train station also inspired me in a way. As much as I think my life may suck, or how much I may be down at one point, there is always a way for me to get back up. Also, there are many people that have it worse than I do. Not a knock on them at all, but rather a knock on myself. This woman really changed my outlook on not taking life for granted and actually live a little.
Just because things aren't looking up doesn't mean I can turn things around and make an experience or a lesson out of it.
Almost everyday after school, from my walk down University Avenue to Broad Street Station, I get approached by some sort of homeless and/or handicapped individual asking for money. I mean, it doesn't bother or scare me at all; living in Clifton, Lodi and Paterson has presented me with similar altercations. Yeah, a majority of these beggars probably need their fix, whether it be crack, alcohol, etc. Yet, one experience and a blog post by a student in our class has made me realize something different.
There was a woman, right outside Broad Street Station. She sat in a wheelchair, due to the fact that her right foot was amputated. I was approached with her hospital story, how her foot was amputated as a child due to infection, and whether she could borrow some money. I mean, we aren't dumb; most people are aware when a crack head or alcoholic, or any sort of heavily drug abused individual is in our presence. The features are very distinct, and, (call me rude or stereotypical), especially in a city like Newark, these individuals are easy to spot out.
Except, this woman actually seemed like your average 50 year old, African American woman. She went on to tell me a story of her childhood. I had a few minutes to spare before the train came, so I decided to listen. Once, some guy explained to me how much he loves the NFL and how Jim Brown was the best running back he has ever seen in his life....
Back to the woman. She was very sweet, and kept going into detail about her life of poverty and being handicapped.
A few days later, one of the students wrote a blog about her troubles with arthritis...
I analyzed Alyssa's blog so much while reading it. It really made me think and understand how much people can suffer, even due to a handicap issue that nobody can notice by looking at you. This woman lived her whole life in severe poverty, and on top of that, did not have a foot, yet, she seemed so happy and thrilled and grateful to be alive! Basically, I am trying to explain to you all that the Alyssa's blog really made me realize not to take anything for granted. Also, the woman at the train station also inspired me in a way. As much as I think my life may suck, or how much I may be down at one point, there is always a way for me to get back up. Also, there are many people that have it worse than I do. Not a knock on them at all, but rather a knock on myself. This woman really changed my outlook on not taking life for granted and actually live a little.
Just because things aren't looking up doesn't mean I can turn things around and make an experience or a lesson out of it.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
I guess . . .
My blog will contain images, confrontations, conversations and experiences from my time in Newark. This blog is my introductory blog post, so my audience could understand what my blogs will consist of (as well as how my mornings start every day).
My typical introduction will be the train ride I take to Newark everyday, but prior to my commute, I have the same routine every morning. I am a very habitual person; I guess that's how things go when you have OCD. So, once I wake up at 8, the first thing on my mind is eating. I metabolize faster than your average human. I cook my egg whites, usually three, and have my glass of orange juice with my daily vitamins and fish oil pills. I make sure I have my school clothes picked out ready to go, instead of staring at my full closet worth of clothes and thinking to myself, "I have nothing to wear." I guess that's what having older sisters did to me. Throw on my clothes, hit the road, and off to Montclair State University train station....
I can write an entire blog solely on my stories on the NJ Transit Train, but I figured my experiences in Newark were much more controversial, meaningful and, well, much more fucked up. I guess Newark is just a peculiar and irregular city... Don't misinterpret my words, I am not bashing Newark whatsoever, I'm just telling it how it is. Shit, I'm one of the most peculiar and irregular guys I know.
Comparing myself as a young Caucasian male to an urban American, mixed race city? I guess I have a few comparisons, (other than peculiarity). Ill save those for my remaining entries . . .
Well, back to my "typical introduction". After parking at MSU, I usually have to sprint up three flights of stairs, over the overpass, and down a different three flights of stairs to make it to the train platform before 8:56. I guess I need to start waking up a littler earlier. Anyways, I jump onto the train, and arrive in Newark before 9:30.
And then, it begins . . . . The start of my day in Newark, where crack heads talk to wheelchairs, the air is filtered with the smell of marijuana, a homeless man smashes his toes with bricks and so many other deranged stories. Yet, I am also speaking about the same city where business is extraordinary, history surrounds every corner and the tiniest gesture could really make somebody's day. I guess you'll need to keep reading my blog entries to find out more.
My typical introduction will be the train ride I take to Newark everyday, but prior to my commute, I have the same routine every morning. I am a very habitual person; I guess that's how things go when you have OCD. So, once I wake up at 8, the first thing on my mind is eating. I metabolize faster than your average human. I cook my egg whites, usually three, and have my glass of orange juice with my daily vitamins and fish oil pills. I make sure I have my school clothes picked out ready to go, instead of staring at my full closet worth of clothes and thinking to myself, "I have nothing to wear." I guess that's what having older sisters did to me. Throw on my clothes, hit the road, and off to Montclair State University train station....
I can write an entire blog solely on my stories on the NJ Transit Train, but I figured my experiences in Newark were much more controversial, meaningful and, well, much more fucked up. I guess Newark is just a peculiar and irregular city... Don't misinterpret my words, I am not bashing Newark whatsoever, I'm just telling it how it is. Shit, I'm one of the most peculiar and irregular guys I know.
Comparing myself as a young Caucasian male to an urban American, mixed race city? I guess I have a few comparisons, (other than peculiarity). Ill save those for my remaining entries . . .
Well, back to my "typical introduction". After parking at MSU, I usually have to sprint up three flights of stairs, over the overpass, and down a different three flights of stairs to make it to the train platform before 8:56. I guess I need to start waking up a littler earlier. Anyways, I jump onto the train, and arrive in Newark before 9:30.
And then, it begins . . . . The start of my day in Newark, where crack heads talk to wheelchairs, the air is filtered with the smell of marijuana, a homeless man smashes his toes with bricks and so many other deranged stories. Yet, I am also speaking about the same city where business is extraordinary, history surrounds every corner and the tiniest gesture could really make somebody's day. I guess you'll need to keep reading my blog entries to find out more.
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