2017 Solar Eclipse

On Monday, August 21st, the United States was able to witness a total solar eclipse. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the United States was on February 26, 1979 whose path passed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. This year the path of totality started in Salem, Oregon and ended in Charleston, South Carolina. Fortunate enough, Orangeburg, South Carolina was in the path as well as South Carolina State University’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium being used an official site to watch the eclipse. While it was extremely hot as everyone waited patiently for totality, viewers were entertained by South Carolina State University’s Marching 101 band and cheerleaders. A white balloon was released from the fifty yard line to record the total solar eclipse from our location for the rest of the world to see. Around 1:14pm, the moon slowly started to cover the sun. It wasn’t until 2:40pm that everyone saw with every minute how dark it was getting. When it hit totality, everyone in the stadium went crazy! I was speechless and amazed at the sight before me. The whole experience was worth the wait. I plan to try to see the next solar eclipse in 2023 and the next total solar eclipse in 2024. Everyone should get to experience this at least once in their lifetime.  

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-an-eclipse-58

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-who-what-where-when-and-how

A Final Look At James Brown

As we wind down our days this school year, we have really learned alot in this class. But probably even more about James Brown. This exhibit has opened my eyes and my fellow students eyes into the life of James Brown. So to enlighten even more of our fellow students, I have produced a video promoting Mr. Brown and the exhibition of his life.

This exhibit titled "The Influence of James Brown: His Imprint on Music, Dance,  Style,and Politics" is on display through July 2015 in the I. P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium on the campus of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC. The hours for the Stanback Museum are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.

Do It For The Vine!

On October 31st South Carolina State University opened up a new exhibit in the Stanback Museum dedicated to the life of the late James Brown. My class was forunate enough to visit. Here's a quick tour of the Godfather of Soul.

I personally found this exhibit fascinating. Who would have thought someone born from humble beginnings in South Carolina could change music and the world. *hits James Brown dance move* 

My Photo Slideshow

This week we had to make a photo slideshow. At first, we were told to use Kizoa, a website that gives you the basic tools online to create a slideshow from your photos. Honestly, that website was too basic and boring. So I set out on a quest to find a better website to make a slideshow on. Upon my discovery, I found Slidely. It was an awesome website for creating photo slideshows from multiple photo sharing platforms.

The Rose That Grew From The Concrete by Slidely Slideshow

I decided since my birthday is coming up that I would do a slideshow on the transformation of me.(Scorpio Season!!!!!) I had so much fun with the website. You guys should go check out Slidely.

Picture Processing Project

The assignment this week was to take photo editing software like Photoshop to test our creativeness at improving the quality of photos.... or like I did have fun and make it look cool *inserts emoji with the shades*. So here are some of my before and after of the photos that I edited.


For these photos I used an app called Photo Director that you can find in the Google Play store. So no Apple followers you can't use it. Underneath each picture I will list what I did. I mostly did these photos to make them different.

 I call this "Land of Opportunity"

Before

After

  - wild orchid

- realistic

- flatten

- light leak #1



 I call this one "Gentle Soul"

Before

After

- rotate

- clear

- dreamy

- antique

- chocolate

 This picture is called "Exploding Memories"

Before

After

- dramatic

- realistic

- highlight

- retro wash

 This is my favorite and it's called "The Cool Kid".

Before

After

- blur

- skin tool

- high contrast

- clear

- white balance

- HDR

- antique

- grunge #4

- saturation

I had so much fun with this assignment. You should all try out photo director. Or any photo editing software. Even if you are not a mass communications major.  (Even though we rule the world lol.)

My Other Life

So quick announcement. In my About Me,  it states I'm a Wattpad author.

If you don't know, Wattpad is a website for mainly teens and young adults who want to publicly write stories to share with others. I joined in spring 2013 during my freshman year of college after discovering it. I have been writing since about sixth or seventh grade thanks to a friend. 

I have a book I kinda have been writing from off the top of my head and have really been enjoying my imagination going wild. The story is called BOSS STATUS. It is a book for people with mature mind sets. If it were a movie I would rate it PG-13.

If you are into urban fiction and "thug/gangster" stories, you'll love BOSS STATUS.  Link at the bottom.

http://w.tt/1seuQml

PSA To My Readers

Sorry I have not posted anything inspirational in a while.  When I post these quotes I think of the impact it had on me. I don't want to post something lackluster. Like those memes on Instagram with the same repetitive quotes.

I want to give you something that if you were really at your lowest and discovered my page with my quote of the day you see the brighter side of things and push yourself to keep going forward. I've heard too many stories of too many people just giving up because they had no one to push them and say it's gonna be okay.  You're gonna get over this bump in the road.

As of recently I've had to encourage myself. I have broken down so many times and had no one to go to because I had to be strong. But I say this quote to myself every time I break down: "It's just a minor setback for a major come back. " That helps me get through the day. My mother tells me all the time "Shay, you're gonna be big. You're gonna be someone great. All the stuff you've been through and you're still standing. You are gonna be successful."

And when I make it, I'll remember that. Until then I will encourage others because that seems to keep me going and staying positive. But I'll try to do better.

Until next time 💋