The End!!

Hello Doll and Gents!!
Well guys it is all coming to an end. I will truly miss everyone. I wish everyone the best of luck and great success when starting school this fall. Going into this year I hope that everyone has a positive mind set. Make sure that you go in to the fall with an open mind ready to experience new things.
Take advantage of every resource you have to make your time is not as stressful as possible.

Be aware of everything around you. Remember that you have support depend on friends, family and teachers to get help when needed. The bridge program was very exciting and also a new experience. Meeting new people and experiencing what is going to happen in college is an advantage that is greatly appreciated. Knowing that I have worked hard and it has all paid off by me completing this program I feel more than ready for the fall semester.

The knowledge that I have gained from bridge will help me along the way when trying to fulfill my dream. Knowing that I have everything I need around me to concur my dream will be a immense help. Wrapping up this program is very exciting for the simple fact that, when I complete this program I will officially be a student of Columbia College Chicago. This is one of my biggest accomplishments, being excepted into college. Today I am going back home to visit my family before the school year actually starts.

Going back with the letter and box stating that I am admitted will make not only me but my family proud also. Looking back on where I started slacking and procrastinating on everything I did has changed. I have gained responsibility for everything that I have to do so far. That is a huge step for me, being that I am an only child and adapting from that has been very hard, but I have overcame that. In closing I feel that I have changed a lot and I have so much more growing and changing to do. So with that being said I wish everyone the best of luck.

Mark

This is going to be my last blog entry for the Bridge Program. It’s been a good month, thankfully. I don’t regret the decision to enroll in the Bridge Program. I got to meet a lot more people than I thought I would. I came here thinking I would just be the typical quiet person that I am, but everyone made me feel accepted and brought out the fun in me. There have been some wonderful people I’ve encountered, especially in the dorms. I’ve built friendships from this program, so I’ll be going into the Fall semester not feeling like that much of a “Freshman” with not knowing anyone and being as insecure. There have been times though when I felt annoyed by certain people, just because of their maturity level. I obviously got over it and made it through the entire program, so claps to me, along with everyone else. I’m actually happy to say that I made it, due to the fact that so many people have been kicked out. I’m fortunate to have had experience this program and all the people I met, so I’m even more ecstatic to start the Fall semester to see how everyone exceeds. I know most people will.


In the Fall, I’m still indecisive if I need to be a full time or part time student, because of my job. I really would enjoy being a full time student, so I’ll see if my job will work around my schedule. I really look forward to meeting even more peers and making great connections and relationships. College is when you meet your life time friends, not high school. There’s too much extra baggage that holds on from there, especially when you come from a town that you’ve known everyone since the 5th grade. I’m happy I have something to look forward to every day now and that’s attending Columbia as a student. The thing I’m most excited for though is to actually be learning what I’m majoring in, rather than just mostly useless information that high school provided to most of us. I love to learn and have an education, especially if it’s something I’m interested in. Knowing there will be times that I have no motivation at all, I’m just going to think back to the Bridge Program and realize that if I can do this, I can push myself to do everything in the Fall.


Graduation is only 4 years away and those years are going to be rough, but they will all pay off in the end. I remember 4 years ago when I was entering high school as a Freshman, nervous as all hell, and dreading it. Those years went by so fast, almost too fast. I can barely remember what I wore on my first day, but I’m sure if I saw it now it would be seen as hideous. I really wish the best for everyone, and I hope people can say the same thing for me. It’s evident that everyone that passed today has it in them, so just keep pushing yourself and you’ll be amazed with the ability you actually have. There is absolutely no reason to say that you can’t after this. Remove that word from your vocabulary, because now it means nothing to you. Congratulations, everyone!

Well I guess it’s time to say good bye. Now it’s the last day of the bridge program and I’m so happy. Not because it’s over but because I’m getting admitted into the college. I’m so happy that now I have a college I could really say that I go to. Now enough about me, back to you guys. I’m going to miss you all a lot. It was fun. This should be our regular class. We lost a lot of good people that we liked but its ok. You have to keep moving. I expect to work really hard when the semester start. I’m happy that I made it thru this program. I’m going to miss messing with Freddy. I’m also going to miss making you all laugh. I’m kind of a comedy dude so I like to make people laugh. I’m going to make some really funny movies.

When I get to Columbia I plan to do my best because I want to be the best. What keep me motivated are my parents and my brothers. My parents have sacrificed a lot in raising us. I just want to be able to get them the things that they want and deserve. I don’t want my brothers and sister to want or need for anything; and that’s what motivates me to keep going; Also because I wasn’t to do this which makes it easier to do because it’s not someone forcing me to do something. I’m doing it on my own will. Brad and Liz you guys were awesome. I really appreciate your attitude and dedication to your work. And Liz I can’t wait to take your class. I know it’s going to be really fun. You also know what I need to work on so I know I will be a better writer after your class.

So long, Farwell

After spending four amazing weeks in the bridge program, I am sad to be leaving. I learned so much and I have met some really great people here. I am glad I had the opportunity to be in the bridge program and I think it has prepared me well for the upcoming fall semester. After reading my book, making blog posts, and writing reading responses every day, it has put me into a working mode that will benefit me greatly for the school year. I can only imagine what the actual school year is going to be li. I know that I am going to meet a ton of great people and experience some amazing things.

I think that the only part about bridge that I did not enjoy was math. I do love math and its one of my greatest academic strengths, but its not possible to enjoy math when your teacher makes it torture. My teacher, who I will not name for security reasons, was possibly, and probably is, the worst math teacher I have ever had. Even my 9^th grade math teacher, who was almost 70 years old and couldn’t hear anyone from more than 10 feet away, was better. I felt like the course work was a joke, and that a seven grader could easily complete the problems that we had. I don’t think that the math course helped me get a sense for what math I will actually be doing in the upcoming years. We were doing simple algebra, and the last time I checked, algebra is an introduction class for high school students.

My favorite part about the bridge program was the English course. I greatly enjoy all of what we did, and reading the book was really enjoyable. It was great how we went to museums and were exposed to a lot of art, which I never really thought I would see. We got to write about it and study it, and it was very enjoyable. Creating blog posts and reading everyday helped a lot too. Each day I was able to improve my reading and writing in some way or form, and I am glad to be making progress in that area. If it wasn’t for the great teachers I had, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the course at all. So, I would just like to say, THANK YOU.

-Reed

Farewell, Staci Lyn.

Even though I initially didn’t like the idea of this program I really enjoyed myself during it. The people I met and the teachers were the best. What I loved the most about the program were the teachers that I had. My math teacher was Nate L. He was extremely helpful throughout all four weeks. I’m a visual learner and the way he taught the class was plain and simple. We were treated like children and he respected us as if we were regular Columbia students. I loved my English teacher and co-teacher Brad and Liz. Brad was the nicest teacher I’ve probably ever had. Even at times when the class was out of hand he didn’t lose his cool. He was very knowledgeable and taught us little lessons on the side to make the class more interesting. Liz was pretty awesome as well. She reminded me of one of my friends and it was easy to have conversations with her during class discussions. They were both easy to relate to and helpful during class.

Another part of the bridge program that I loved was staying in the dorms. Not everyone stayed in the dorms, but the select few that did became a family. If you asked anyone in the building about the last four weeks they would tell you that it was just like a reality show. The experience was full of drama and good times that everyone would’ve watched. In the end I am glad that I chose to stay in the dorms because of the close relationships that I formed with the other bridge students. The fact that we all were in the bridge program for a reason gave us all something to talk about. We were able to connect on other levels that we wouldn’t with other Columbia students because of our high school experiences. I will definitely miss the sixth floor.

Something I’m looking forward to in the next three years is success in any and everything that I choose to do. I really want to connect and network with people to create something that I’ve always dreamed of. I really would like to start an events planning company for the fashion and music industry and I have all the right tools right here at Columbia. I’m excited to start my first year as it has always been my dream to be here.

GOODBYE!!!! :)

It is the very last day of the bridge program, and I could not be any happier with the result. I have enjoyed my time being here, I have gotten to know my surroundings and I have met a lot of very cool people that have turned out to be good friends of mine. The work was not so bad, there was just a lot of it, and it sure kept me busy during my four weeks here. I’m glad I took the opportunity of coming here because if I hadn’t then I wouldn’t be on my way to doing the things I want to be doing. Math class was a pain, I didn’t learn too much, but I did learn a few new things, plus it was a good review. English class was my favorite, and I am not just saying that because I am in there right now, I really mean it. I have always been more of an English person rather than a math person, I do not mind writing because most of the time I have a lot to say. I also had a lot of fun and good laughs in English, I had great instructors and I saw some really interesting stuff at the museums. Rather than sitting in a cold math room, we took some field trips in English, and we were in there most of the day.

But now is the time to say goodbye. It was very nice having class with everybody, I consider all of you my friends, and I will hopefully see you around campus in the near future. It goes for Brad and Liz as well, thank you for granting us with new knowledge and better writing skills that I will carry with me from here on out. Adios Brad, Sayonara Liz, goodbye Bridge program and hello Columbia.

Leaving Bridge Successfully - Malcolm Kelly

As I leave the bridge program successfully, I feel very much confident in my work effort and my ability to get my assignments done. I feel that the bridge program was a very positive experience for me for a few reasons. The program has helped me better understand the set up of Columbia College Chicago. I feel that if I had not attended the Bridge Program I would be lost if I was to attend college on the first day. I believe that every student should at least have the opportunity to attend the bridge program and that there should also be credits given for completing the program. This is because the Bridge students have put in a lot of time and work effort into the program. I leave the Bridge Program with a better understanding of what is expected of college professors and the staff. I saw a lot of associates not make it through the program. It was almost like reality show how students were basically disappearing back to their homes after being dismissed from the program. There were so many watery eyes during the time at Bridge that it could quench a runner’s thirst. I feel that watching these people fall short has motivated the ones that have made it knowing that this is a pain we didn’t want to feel.

Making Life Choices

Hello Dolls and Gents!!

When I began to research about a Performing Arts College Berklee College Of Music was my first choice. After being accepted and going through enrollment I didn’t feel secure about the decision I was getting ready to make. Going back and forth between what school I wanted to attend. I ran across a school called Columbia College Chicago. Meanwhile, I began to do research on what Columbia stood for and what did they have to offer.

Reading about how diverse and acceptable Columbia was I looked more into their program. During my high school attended Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. This school was all about the arts. I was one of the most active students they have had. I was in every stage play I sang in every choir.

Also, I took advanced music classes throughout high school. I’ve experienced traveling while working with a Music/Theater company. Given the opportunity to work with Opera Theater was deeply appreciated. Most people in high school never would have the chance to do that as freshman in high school.

For many years I have sung, acting in hundreds of plays. Doing that for so many years has steered me into what I want to really study in college, which is Vocal Performance and Musical Theater. I have chosen those because in musical theater you can become whatever you want. Taking the mind to a place where only your imagination can envision. Experiences I would like to gain why attending Columbia is more knowledge about what I am studying.

Such as writing, directing and producing play. Writing songs and creating music for others is another thing I would like to learn more about. Being able to express myself is very important to me because through music and acting I can freely express that. With that being said I feel that Columbia was a good choice for me. Hopefully it all goes well and I will become very knowledgeable able what I am trying to pursue in life.

Dakarai Lashley

While in class I asked Reed to help me out on a project because I didn’t have a camera. He told me he would and everything was supposed to be ok. The next day it was raining really badly and he told me we would not be able to film outside; Also the University Center would not let us film in there facility because we needed a permit. So we had nowhere to film. Then he tells me that he has other people to projects to film. It’s cool; I’m just going to have to do a poem and a power point. Now the poem will be easy; I’m just worried about the power point. The power point is going to be full of pictures and I don’t take pictures so it’s going to be really hard for me to find some.

I’m going to write the poem about my four years in high school. I think I have enough pictures of me in high school to put in the power point. Plus I’m also going to write about how my teacher didn’t care what we did and also was muffed by another student. Ok now I have to connect this to the book. That will be a little hard because I thought the poem was about me and my paper. Now a minute ago my teacher Brad Smith just gave me an idea of how I could connect this to the book; which made it a lot easier. I think overall I will have a good project but not the best. I’m going to do my best; but I do really well when I’m filming some a project. That’s when I can act it out and do a really good job on camera shots, angels, and editing. I have the eye for creativity in film. But that doesn’t mean my power point is not going to be good. I do my best in everything I do so it will be good and funny so get ready to laugh.

artistic rendition

For my artistic translation, what I plan to do is take my paper, and apply to a series of three pictures. My paper is about my passions and how I feel I am very similar to Mark Salzman. We have experienced similar things in our lives and I want to show that connection through the series of pictures I plan on creating. The three pictures will each be composed of two images superimposed on top of each other. For example I will have a picture of myself and Mark and it will look as if we are one person. The next picture will be a picture of me snowboarding and a superimposed picture of either a Chinese literature book or a picture of kung-fu. The last picture will of a film camera and a book. All of these pictures will represent a similarity with my life and Mark’s life. The pictures will be turned in to “rasterbations” which converts pixels in to dots and it makes the picture huge. In order to see the picture clearly you will have to stand far away which will give the viewer a “broad” view. The idea is that these pictures are meant to be viewed globally rather than locally. The idea is simple yet has layers of details. I hope that the viewer will be able to understand this with just a few looks and a couple quick conclusions.

Self- ID

I think of myself as a decent kid, I stay out of trouble and I do what I have to do to get my stuff together. I try my hardest at everything I do no matter what it is that I’m doing, my best effort is applied to everything. I was not always like this, there was a time when I had no motivation, I barley tried, but it all changed once I turned 16. When I turned 16 I had gotten my license, a job and a girlfriend. I want to be seen as a motivated hard working young adult, I want to be treated like one as well because I have worked hard to grow up, it did not come easy.

In a way, Mark Salzman and I have this connection with our self identity. It is not that we have a problem with it, it is just the fact that we try hard to impress either ourselves or our loved ones. In Lost in Place, Mark wanted to be seen as many things; a Kung Fu fighter, a Buddhist Monk, a musician, and a Chinese expert. Mark’s problem was that he could not balance all of those expertise at once, so he kept switching them around, or quitting at one thing and going on to the next, and if that didn’t work out he would go back to whatever he dropped. It was a vicious cycle within him, Mark could not decide what he wanted to be seen as, nor could anybody else. Instead of sticking to one thing, mark juggled his passions, which is okay for multi taskers. But Mark is not a multi tasker, and neither am I which is why Mark and I share a lot of the same problems, he and I get too tangled up in our thoughts.

Mark

I have two ideas for my artistic interpretation. One of the chapters in “Take The Cannoli,” by Sarah Vowell, “American Goth” is about Sarah flying out to California to have a makeover from some Goths. Basically, she has to get dressed and made up to go out to a “goth bar” later to see if she “passes.” To pass, she has to see if she fits in with the other goths at the bar. She does, just because there was some other girl there that stuck out like a sore thumb. I am thinking of putting together an outfit using Polyvore to resemble how I pictured Sarah in my head, or what outfit I would put together for her to pass as a goth, without being over stereo typical. Knowing Sarah’s wardrobe already consisted of almost all black; I don’t think it was too hard for her to pass. While reading the book, she reminded me of someone who was “darker” and shared similar personality traits to of what a goth would have. She seems pouty and sarcastic naturally, so she would probably pass in my book. The only time she didn’t, was when she was taking a cab ride home, and tipped the cab driver enormously. This blew her cover, leaving him to call her hon; what she was trying to stray from.

My other idea is to make a sketch, or painting, of what four different faces morphed together would be. The faces would be Sarah’s, Lindsay’s, the Godfather’s, and mine. I fear the outcome of this, because we all look so different, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be “pretty.” I’m also thinking of using photoshop to do this, because of the difficulty level and the short span of time I have to work on it. I might piece the faces together, but making them fit as one face. I’m more than likely going to go with this idea, rather than the other, because it relates to my paper rather than just the book.

Fashion Through The Neighborhoods, Staci Lyn.

For my artistic interpretation I want to incoporate fashion into my explaination. My paper was an expansion of my hometown and its culture. There is great history behind Chicago and I wanted to show what it’s like today. There are many subcultures within the neighborhoods which makes Chicago extremely diverse. Other states within the U.S. don’t have a broad culture like Chicago, which makes it easy to split up the neighborhoods by style. Each neighborhood has its own flare which makes it unique and easy to point out which style goes with which culture. I would also like to point out why each neighborhood has its own style and not just a stereotype. The history behind each neighborhood can explain why they have their own fashion sense. Each style will have its own explaination as to why I chose that specific neighborhood and why the outfits go along with it.

The idea I based my project off of was a magazine. I’ve read many Chicago dining, fashion, and travel magazines which gave me this idea. I wanted to spread it out to give the look of a magazine spread. I broke down each outfit with each neighborhood and explained why that style would go with the particular neighborhood. I used a website called PolyVore that gives you many clothing options and templates to make my magazine spread look more realistic. The different neighborhoods and subcultures that I chose to recreate were Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, Downtown, and various street styles. Traveling around these different neighborhoods helped me plan out the outfits better. I wanted the outfits to be as authentic as possible. Once I plan out my templates and outfits I want to print them out and glue them onto a thick posterboard to make it have a more professional magazine feel.

Malcolm Kelly - Artistic Interpretation

Artistic Interpretation

For my artistic interpretation I will be comparing the culture of the characters in the book titled, They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, to the culture that I am a part of today. I will show the differences of both of these cultures through two different songs. One song will be for my culture and the other song will be for the book that I’ve read. I think this is a good way to compare and contrast cultures because it isn’t dull and is a fun way to catch my classmates and instructors attention. This is an easy way to capture the room’s attention because everyone enjoys listening to music. I also feel that this is a relatable topic to discuss because everyone is a part of a culture if not more than one culture.
I would also try to incorporate my group members with my piece as well by having them possibly perform their pieces while my music is playing in the background. I feel like this would really give our group more of an intertwined project. Having our individual parts be incorporated with the others is a great way to give off a sense of togetherness to our audience. This also gives a crisper look off to our viewers.