This is something that I've wanted to write about for a while because it was a big deal for me. First I must preface this with an in-class assignment we had in my journalism class. We were to interview each other and write a 250 word article on something interesting that we found out through the interview. Later our professor posted them online and showed a few on the screen in class so we can read. A few people had complaints that their stories were inaccurate or they were misunderstood, and then mine (the story ABOUT me, not the one I wrote) was displayed in class. My professor asked me if I had any complaints/if she got anything wrong but I said, "Nope, she pretty much got me perfectly, to a T." So I want to share the story with you all, it's short.
"Setting Trends in Texas"
By Kelly Japsi
Abigail Hernandez or “Abby” an aspiring magazine owner is not the typical St. John’s freshman, for one she is 20 years old, not the standard age for a freshman coming into college. Like many she is a resident student, but her story getting here is quite interesting. Abigail comes from El Paso, Texas, which is mostly populated by Mexican residents, including Abigail and her family. People in her town hardly ever leave, but Abigail knew early that she would not be one of those people; her thirst for diversity and future career brought her to bustling, face paced city of New York.
Her family having been in Texas all their lives were very reluctant to have their oldest child leave home. For the two years Abigail was not attending college she worked to help support her family, which added to the objection of her going to school so far away from home. She expressed that her friends understand her reasons for leaving, while her family were uneasy until they visited the St. John’s campus. Her family appreciated the fact that St. John’s was a good quality Catholic school, a large part of their life in Texas.
The real reason Abigail decided to attend college in New York? She believes her passion for Asian pop culture; especially music would be more accepted and appreciative in a city like New York rather than Texas. She even remembers the song that got her captivated by the genre, “Gee” by Girls Generation. She recounted advice she received from someone in Texas who told her that getting an education in New York would give her an edge on the magazine industry in Texas, although she does not plan on going back.
Along with being a role model for her three younger siblings, this Texas native is already making a statement at St. John’s by writing in the entertainment section of the Torch. We should be very interested in seeing where this aspiring magazine owner can take the Asian pop culture scene in New York.
So before this assignment I had always wanted to write Kpop related articles for my school paper, but was always too afraid to suggest it to my editor, but after being interviewed by Kelly, she inspired me to go for it, so I did! I don't know why I was so worried, my editor was all for it! I had just suggested an album review on SNSD's new mini-album Hoot that came out on October 24, but she thought the idea was so cool that she said I could do a 900-word artist review on them. A 900 word article as a contributing writer that's a big deal...on my FAVORITE kpop band ever that I am freakishly obsessed over?!?! NO PROBLEM!!!! I was so excited and eager.
So the newspaper came out a few weeks ago and I was so excited, I got an ENTIRE half page (vertically lol) AND they used my absolute FAVORITE picture of SNSD ever!! Here's a screencap of the PDF version of it. - It's my favorite picture because Hyoyeon is front and center for once and she looks gorgeous! :)
Anyway, the reason I'm writing about this - so I was proud of my story, my friends were happy for me, we taped it on my wall along with my other stories, whatever, I was content and that was that. BUT THEN, I found my article on the paper's online website...and OMFG I could cry of happiness. 10 people "liked" my story on Facebook and it was tweeted once. AND they used my second favorite picture of SNSD (here's a screencap)!!! - It's my second favorite picture of them because when I was first captivated by "Gee" and decided to Google "SNSD", that was the first picture I ever saw of them and I instantly fell in love.
So, being sooo proud that 10 people had "liked" my story, I posted it on Facebook and tweeted it. Which caused my friends to like it as well; then my friend Kellie and my mom reposted it on Facebook...and now it has 50 "likes", 50!! I don't think I have that many friends who care enough to click on a link, let alone a link about kpop lol, but I guess I do. But it doesn't matter that it has 50 "likes" all from my friends, the thing I'm most proud of is that before I posted it on my Facebook and my friends liked it - there were 10 random people I DON'T know who genuinely liked it enough to "like" it! ♥ I feel so proud and accomplished, and I feel EXTRA happy that it happens to be on an article about SNSD! ♥
AND one person even went as far as to COMMENT on the story! (Lookie here!) That was just even more touching to me. ♥
After I found out that my story was liked and commented on, I went snooping for my other stories, and they had no "likes" or comments. So then I went through other stories online of other writers and none of them were liked or commented on either, just mine! And the other stories were written of waaaay more popular subjects that people would want to read about (Four Lokos being banned in New York soon?!) That is just crazy to me (that people liked my story on SNSD, not about the Four Lokos being banned lol).
So yeah, I just wanted to share my proudest moment and accomplishment so far in college, and in my journalism career. :) HERE is the article in its entirety if you want to give it a read. :)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Quick Thoughts About Thanksgiving
I've been putting off writing a formal introduction to this new blog of mine, but it's Thanksgiving and I have a few things I want to get off my chest so I figured now was as good a time as any.
So first off, hi, I'm Abbyelectric, and I've been a blogger for many, many years on livejournal (here) but I finally made the switch (not completely I'm still going to keep up with lj!) to Blogspot. :) I'm a Mexican from Texas who's obsessed with Asian culture but I have other interests that I tend to obsess over as well which just comes out chaotic (hence the "Electric Chaos" title).
Anyway, on to the reason I'm blogging now: Thanksgiving! There are only a few minutes left of the holiday here, however there are still 2 more hours left where I cam from so this still counts to me. :P
So every year I, like many others celebrating this American holiday, think of what they're thankful for and it's usually the same things, family, friends, etc. And I agree to some extent, however these are my thoughts on being thankful for Thanksgiving. I'll try to keep it as short as possible because I'm quite the rambler!
1) First of all, people should be thankful for their lives every morning they get to see another day.
2) I'm honestly so thankful for my roommate Emmie. This is my freshman year in college and transitioning from Texas to New York was honestly a lot harder than I ever imagined. I was so eager to leave my hometown with not a single glance back, I never thought I'd miss it as much as I do now. However, through this entire cultural/geographical/life changing experience has been my roommate, a New York native, who's been by my side the enitre time. I lucked out in getting roomed with her, and it is because of her I was able to spend a pleasant Thanksgiving upstate NY with her family while I was unable to go back to Texas for the break. If it weren't for h, I'd be stuck on the ghost town of a campus during this time!
3) Lastly, I am thankful for my sense of sound. I know, it sounds somewhat weird but think about it, what's the one sense you CANNOT live without? For me, it most definitely has to be sound. Sight comes in close second, when I think of all the beautiful sights and movies available to us, however I absolutely cannot even begin to imagine life without music!!! Think of how dominant music and sound in general is in everyday life, think of not being able to speak or have your voice be heard? That is just a world I cannot fathom, as a chatterbox journalist haha.
So these are the things that I am usually thankful for daily, but just extra thankful for today! :)
I hope all you readers out there appreciate everything you have in your life and are thankful for it not just today but everyday! A "thanks" or appreciation can go a long way!
-Abbyelectric
P.S. I wrote this all on my Blackberry so sorry for any errors and sounding rushed and stuff, also I'm usually not this polite/formal hahaha.
So first off, hi, I'm Abbyelectric, and I've been a blogger for many, many years on livejournal (here) but I finally made the switch (not completely I'm still going to keep up with lj!) to Blogspot. :) I'm a Mexican from Texas who's obsessed with Asian culture but I have other interests that I tend to obsess over as well which just comes out chaotic (hence the "Electric Chaos" title).
Anyway, on to the reason I'm blogging now: Thanksgiving! There are only a few minutes left of the holiday here, however there are still 2 more hours left where I cam from so this still counts to me. :P
So every year I, like many others celebrating this American holiday, think of what they're thankful for and it's usually the same things, family, friends, etc. And I agree to some extent, however these are my thoughts on being thankful for Thanksgiving. I'll try to keep it as short as possible because I'm quite the rambler!
1) First of all, people should be thankful for their lives every morning they get to see another day.
2) I'm honestly so thankful for my roommate Emmie. This is my freshman year in college and transitioning from Texas to New York was honestly a lot harder than I ever imagined. I was so eager to leave my hometown with not a single glance back, I never thought I'd miss it as much as I do now. However, through this entire cultural/geographical/life changing experience has been my roommate, a New York native, who's been by my side the enitre time. I lucked out in getting roomed with her, and it is because of her I was able to spend a pleasant Thanksgiving upstate NY with her family while I was unable to go back to Texas for the break. If it weren't for h, I'd be stuck on the ghost town of a campus during this time!
3) Lastly, I am thankful for my sense of sound. I know, it sounds somewhat weird but think about it, what's the one sense you CANNOT live without? For me, it most definitely has to be sound. Sight comes in close second, when I think of all the beautiful sights and movies available to us, however I absolutely cannot even begin to imagine life without music!!! Think of how dominant music and sound in general is in everyday life, think of not being able to speak or have your voice be heard? That is just a world I cannot fathom, as a chatterbox journalist haha.
So these are the things that I am usually thankful for daily, but just extra thankful for today! :)
I hope all you readers out there appreciate everything you have in your life and are thankful for it not just today but everyday! A "thanks" or appreciation can go a long way!
-Abbyelectric
P.S. I wrote this all on my Blackberry so sorry for any errors and sounding rushed and stuff, also I'm usually not this polite/formal hahaha.
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