My journal entry from Mrs. Kerns' class dated February 27, 1993 (very unedited)

On monday my brother and me went to Malibu grand prix.  What it is is racing track.  So you can be under 18 and drive in a mini car around the track  They have Video games there and you can eat there.  When you are going around the track the car can go up to about 25 miles per hour.  When I was going around the track there was a sharp corner, and I was going the vehicles top speed and I spun off the track.  I was alright but it was fun.

Jon

Good Vibrations (from a future movie star)

Black, white, red, feel the vibration....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13SJ7_DZMNg

Rutgers vs. USF (a little late)

http://gleaner.rutgers.edu/2010/11/08/usf-bulls-stampede-over-rutgers/

Journal entry from March 6, 1993 (Mrs. Kern's class)

When I went to the mall with Eric and Scott something terrible happened.  We went into the arcade everything was okay.  I sat down with Eric to play a race car game I had bought a poster a little bit before this time.  When we finished our game I looked down for the poster it was gone!  I got so angry.  I'm never going to take any chances at the mall.

Jon

Learning from Katy Perry's Fireworks video

I'm impressed by Katy Perry's video Fireworks.  It impresses me for two reasons:

•      She is known for pop, sexy, fun loving songs with little meaning to them and this video has meaning to it.
•      The message is excellent.  It talks about being and accepting the person who you are even if you are not perfect.  The lyrics tell us to embrace who we are, flaws and all.  Ultimately, we need to shine!

Sometimes music videos do not accurately portray an artists message (i.e. Nelly's latest hit and Katy Perry's California Gurls).  The music video hits it right on, and I feel like it inspires you to be the person who you are meant to be and shine.  NOT, what others and our world want us to be!

Check it out below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&ob=av2e

People with challenges

When I think about the challenges we face in life....it's sometimes overwhelming.  But, then, I think about people who have overcome challenges.  This helps me realize that you can have challenges and ultimately, overcome them and be successful.

Do you know the story of Frederick Douglass?  He was born into slavery.  This is kind of a dead end don't you think?  I mean, what kind of life do you think someone would be able to have having been born into shackles?  You had very little freedom, obviously.  You couldn't get educated.  Without access to such life treasures, how can you be successful?

Frederick Douglass had a realization at a very young age.  He realized that the pathway out of slavery was through education.  This is why slave owners didn't allow blacks to get education.  Although immoral, they weren't stupid.  Knowing this true point, Mr. Douglass began to seek out white kids in his Baltimore neighborhood as he learned to read and write.  He made a game of it and told them that he could out spell them.  The kids balked at his comment and  began to engage in this active type of learning.  This was how Frederick Douglass learned to read and write.

You see, you don't need to have all the tools to overcome challenges.  What you need to do is begin a process of looking at how you can achieve or get what you want.  This was what the future world renowned speaker did as a boy.  This is what you can do now.

RU vs. Pitt article!

This was a difficult game for the scarlet knights.  Coupled with the loss of Legrand and an excellent Pitt game plan, they were easily defeated.  It's time to regroup.  They are two victories away from a bowl bid and can bring that total to one this evening in South Florida.

http://gleaner.rutgers.edu/2010/11/01/rutgers-struggle-against-pitt-without-injured-legrand/