UPDATE: Hurry Up and WAIT! (Written By AmbassadorNique)

Happy Black History Month! We only get 28 days to celebrate so lets make the best of it!

Something I think is cool that you may have noticed is my daily dedication to black history. Each day I will try to celebrate blackness by sharing a photo of someone that has inspired me to be greater.  

As I wait for March to come I look forward to hearing back from the University of Washington’s iSchool program. Accepted or not there are many goals that I would like to achieve in the near future. Since my grad app is now finished I’ve moved on to applying for new jobs. I would like a role that will allow me to receive hands on IT experience that will help me succeed in any Information Management program. 

Along with job hunting I am putting the final touches on my PhotoVoice Eagles With Camera’s project and planning the Meet The Artist Display this month as well. Stay tuned for details.

Speaking of the kids, D and I will help fundraise $650 to help send a student from Northgate Elementary to Washington DC this May! If you wan’t to help us leave our names with a donations here. https://squareup.com/market/northgate-elementary-school 

Speaking of Photo’s! I hope to update my seasonal Gallery in my living room and plan on getting one of my photo’s printed on a canvas painting.

Before I forget.. February 18th! 4-6pm at UW we will be screening “The House I Live In” I am really excited to be screening this doc. Check out the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0atL1HSwi8 

As far as AmbassadorNique Productions I would like to get Patches made to make more shirts and beanie’s. If anyone has leads let me know!

I hope to also make time for reading and writing. I am slowly reading the book Of Men We Reaped and Sonia Sotomayor’s – My Beloved Country is next.

I also want to make Digital Stories from the pictures I took this past fall even though my hard drive recently crashed and I lost most of them because I didn’t back it up! BACK UP YOUR STUFF PEOPLE! In more than one place! 

There is much work to be done and time continues to move forward. Keep your back to the wind, your head high, your eyes focused and your shoes tied. Live long and prosper!

-AmbassadorNique 

Life Hack “Creating Positive Change” (Days 18-20)

Okay.. I’ve accepted that weekends are the hardest times to stop and write these. Anyway here it goes!

1. Write down 3 gratitude’s.

I am very grateful for my roomates. They definitely make my life a lot easier and simpler! They put up with me and they save me money! I am grateful for other peoples time. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to sit with a few people to just bounce ideas. Lastly I am grateful for my social consciences. 

2. Journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had over the last 72 hours

Its hard to think of just one. I spent time with The Fung Bros and Richie Le, spent time with D. Worked on my photo project with Zac, had coffee with Winston, spent time with D’s family, saw some friends. Definitely was a great weekend.

3. Exercise: Yes

4. Meditate: Yes

5. Write one positive email praising or thanking someone in your social support network: Yes

Stay humble, Stay Foolish and Stay Disciplined… (Written By AmbassadorNique)

Life is good. Last Thursday I was able to be a sit in photographer for a friend of mine during a Culture Night at an elementary school where he teaches. It is a yearly community event that has been going on for over 10 years. It’s a fashion show with food and outfits, and music. I had a great time and it was nice to see so many different cultures celebrating all under one roof. My pictures were not as popular as I would have thought, but most people didn’t know they were free, and I guess getting your picture taken by a stranger isn’t something everyone runs to get done. Nevertheless I took 50+ pictures. It reminded me of the international fashion show I was able to help start at Central as an undergraduate.

Last weekend I spent the whole weekend with D and we had great adventures. I was able to sit in a 3 hour video editing class to learn more about Final Cut Pro X while she studied for her Anatomy class. I found I knew more than I thought I did but was able to pick up some new tips. Afterword’s, I cooked for her and I bought her a one hour deep tissue massage. Apparently deep tissue is more painful than it is relaxation. LOL Who knew?! Nevertheless her body felt relaxed afterwards.

The next day D and I would hike Tiger Mountain with my co-worker and a 75 year old doctor who teaches in our department. We’d bugged him for weeks about taking us with him on the climb that he does 3 times a week. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. One of the bones behind my knee had been hurting for the past week, but I knew hiking would make D happy so I just pushed through. This was probably a mistake. The mountain was A LOT steeper than any of us would expect. I really didn’t think I would make it, but two hours later it felt so good to be at the top and we all felt accomplished!

It felt like going down took longer than climbing up. We traveled through rain, sunshine, dirt, mud and even snow! All in all it was a great bonding experience. I learned that the only way to train to climb a mountain was the climb mountains. So… That’s what I will do!

All in all I am doing great! I cook all the time now. I have started making connections and reaching out to old contacts to start my Graduate application process. This Thursday I my top braces will be removed. I am SO excited about this! Saturday morning I will go to the dentist to get an x-ray of a dead tooth to see what my options are, and immediately after that around 11:30 I will take a practice GRE exam.

 Apparently If I register for the full time Master program I am applying to the GRE is not required. There is an info session next Wednesday evening where I hope to learn more and be closer to making a decision.

Work is work.. I am learning how to be in control of my own happiness and not let the attitudes of others ruin my day. I am also doing my best to use my spare time wisely.

My relationship is good. Dating someone who is ambitious and goal oriented is not always easy, because the sacrifice is quality time. However, if you love a person you should love them enough to want to do whatever you can to help them reach their goals while reaching for your own. I am still learning and definitely still maturing. It’s a process.

Oh yeah… I BOUGHT MY TICKET TO JAPAN! How could I forget?! Now its just about being ready to climb Fuji. No joke, half way up tiger mountain I was thinking there’s no way I can make it to the top of Fuji. My ticket was really expensive, but nevertheless its an investment. I am determined to make it to the top and it will be the experience of a lifetime!  

Overall life is good. I hope to climb a new local mountain in the near future. I plan to continue to stay disciplined about my finances and focused on continuing my education. Speaking of education D’s younger sister got her acceptance letter from Seattle University. Still waiting for like 9 more schools, most importantly Stanford! Nevertheless her journey inspires me. While many say there is no hope for the youth or the future, I say we’ll just have to wait in say.

Stay humble, stay foolish and stay disciplined.

-Ambassador

LaPierre Fights To Stop The ‘Nightmare’ Of Background Checks

This guy Wayne LaPierre is a few tablets short of a medicine cabinet. What an idiot!

“Senator, our Sandy Hook promise is — is always to make this country safer, which is why we’ve advocated immediately putting police, armed security, in schools; fixing the mental health system; computerizing the records of those mentally adjudicated. I would hope we could convince some of these companies that are just — I’m not talking about First Amendment, I know they have a right to do it, to stop putting out such incredibly violent video games that desensitize.”

Ugh.. Dude, you’re a lobbyist for the NRA!!!!

LaPierre Fights To Stop The ‘Nightmare’ Of Background Checks