sHecKii
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How St. Bonaventure and Justin Timberlake’s ‘The 20/20 Experience’ Relate
St. Bonaventure University,located somewhere between civilization and 1982, doesn’t exude pop…
Public speaking is a science, but presenting is an art. Being a great public speaker is not enough. These tips will help make any presentation unforgettable
Revolutionizing Windows 8 Phone? Find info, RSVP for Tony Lee’s IMC defense on March 19 at St Bonaventure!
The Must-Have 4 Qualities to be a Gambler, Poker Player
“All in,” and couple flips of cards later, $1,000 in chips find a way to you.
A gambler often…
- #RacistRager? Really, Kappa Sigma?
What do you think that means?
For Duke University students on Feb. 1, that meant a fraternity party dubbed “Asia Prime” where students dressed up in stereotypical Asian costumes.
Kappa Sigma fraternity at Duke is now suspended, but…
- How a Dessert, an Old Cooking Book and a TV Show Saves Lives
Jonell Galloway: Depressed. Wallowing in self pity. In search of a way out.
The cure? Lemon curd.
Yes. That bright-yellow, mayonnaise-looking, sometimes-way-too-damn-tart blob.
But not any blob. Jonell credits her grandmother’s 1971 recipe for not only improving her self-esteem, but helping her “find a reason to to continue loving life.”
“Thanks to this passion I have opened a blog, discovered hidden talents,” Jonell said on her blog, The Rambling Epicure. “The frightened and psychologically bruised girl that I was in the past has healed and blossomed considerably.”
Her change she wanted to see in the world didn’t involve people to become chefs or bloggers. Jonell found an outlet, a medium, that allowed her to become that change.
And science has proved cooking’s therapeutic value, too.
According to “Occupational Therapy and Mental Health, 2nd Edition,” cooking has therapeutic values physically, cognitively, socially and intrapersonally.
The textbook said cooking can help someone develop “self-esteem, competence and insight into one’s abilities by providing a sense of accomplishment in creating a satisfying meal.”
Still skeptical?
How about “Julie & Julia,” a 2009 movie based off a true story of Julie Powell cooking all of Julia Child’s 524 recipes in “Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I” in one year to rediscover passion for life?
Kim Severson, a The New York Times staff writer since 2004, wrote “Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life,” a book about learning and relearning life lessons that she lost sight of.
Cooking as therapy does work. It helped these three individuals find ways to cope and contemplate.
And it helped me. Tremendously. And one day, I’ll have the courage to share it.
But I don’t need to today.
While watching “Leverage,” a modern twist to a group of thieves turned into a Robin Hood-esk gang, Eliot Spencer’s connection to food mirrored mine. The ex paid assassin turned into a benevolent peacekeeper said, “I could use my knife to create instead of destroy.”
Like Jonell’s lemon curd, Julie’s blog or Kim’s book, we all found ourselves in ways we didn’t expect.
People ask me all the time: “How do you have the time?” “How time consuming is it?” “Where do you get the recipes?” “When can you cook for me?”
[Look at my food creations on Instagram]
Like Eliot said, look again. Look closely. Really closely. Then, imagine it as the cook’s art. And hear Eliot say this:
“You know, I didn’t feel anything for a long time. And Toby taught me how to cook. And after he did, I started to feel stuff again. That’s what I shared through my food — this is my art. This is my art, Parker. It’s like letting a stranger in your head. Just for a second. And you allow them to feel what you’re feeling… Look again.”
<p>Sometimes in life, out of the clear blue sky comes a vicious storm. We must seek out the shelter of a cave in order to survive. We might feel as though we’ll never escape the dark crevasse. </p> <p>But there is always hope. </p> <p>Just when I felt like giving up … I clung to such moments of grace, no matter how small, as proof that behind every closed door, there lies an open space.</p>
I recently finished a biography by Ping Fu, a co-founder and CEO of Geomagic and 2005’s Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine.
Her story made me laugh and cry. It inspired and devastated me.
This quote is from chapter two, titled Behind Every Closed Door Is an Open Space.
On Friday, it’ll be 100 days left until graduation, leaving friends and mentors, to go on my life journey.
And that quote gives me hope.
Ping’s story epitomizes “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (I will do a big post on this later.)
I highly recommend you read this book. And, if you want, email me and I’ll lend you my Kindle copy!
- Be The Change: Ryan Lazo - Living the Life He Loves, Loving the Life He Lives
Ryan Lazo always wears a bright, orange bracelet on his left wrist.
Always.
That rubber band’s inscription reads: “Live the life you love. Love the life you live,” a phrase that carries so much weight to him, professionally and personally.
“It’s a reminder,” Ryan said, before I finished asking the question about the bracelet. In fact, it was the only question he answered without taking a second or two to collect his thoughts.
Two years ago, Ryan, then a sophomore, read a letter from his freshman roommate, Nick Muccia, asking him to live that quote.
Nicholas Allen Muccia died in November 2010, shortly after Ryan received that letter. Though he didn’t know at the time, Ryan read one of the last things Nick communicated to anyone.
“There were times when I wanted to leave, especially when he passed, and not come back,” Ryan said. “It was kind of tough to see that empty bed there – which I made sure it had his sheets on there, the whole year, and I wouldn’t touch it.”
[Click to read Ryan’s letter to Nick, via The Intrepid]
Now Ryan’s 21, a semester away from graduating St. Bonaventure University with a journalism and mass communication degree. Since that November, he made a conscious change — a change that others noticed immediately.
Prior to that November, Ryan said he did “what makes you happy” ahead of what needed to be done.
“Some of our best times together were when we played ‘Call of Duty’ while pre-gaming on weekend nights before we went out,” said Connor Baird, a student who hung out with Ryan and Nick frequently.
After that November, however, his life outlook changed.
“It hit me: ‘Is this what I wanted to do?’” Ryan said about the partying more than working hard. “No. What I want to do is make a difference.”
People now describe Ryan as kind, genuine, loyal and ambitious. But without fail, everyone mentioned Ryan’s work unmatched work ethic — one that he admitted didn’t exist when arriving at St. Bonaventure.
“Ryan is one of the most professional, hardest-working young men I’ve encountered in my career,” said Jason MacBain, sports information director at St. Bonaventure. “Ryan has found a way to do this by fighting through several personal hardships over the past year, something which I admire even more about him.”
Oh right. More hardships.
Because Ryan, while at school in fall 2012 semester, received a call from his family about his Rockaway Beach, N.Y. home has been flooded by Hurricane Sandy.
(( To this day, me coming back home to see Ryan Swiffer-ing our already-clean apartment because he needed to do anything but think about his family that he couldn’t see breaks my heart. ))
But no a single tragedy impacted his work ethic.
Since that November, Ryan dedicated himself to be a professional sports writer. He went from being a sports columnist at The Intrepid, a campus online newspaper, to running it as a co-editor in chief.
He went from writing sports blogs on Bleacher Report, an online blogging platform, to writing professionally for Baseball Digest and Pickin’ Splinters, both nationally syndicated sports blogs.
“He had (the men’s basketball team’s) record picked for A-10 play, and I thought he was crazy,” said Daulton Sherwin, who worked with Ryan at The Intrepid. “I though he was being kind and giving our team wins. Well, wouldn’t you know the little fucker was pretty much dead on at the end of the season.”
[Click to read Ryan’s column predicting the Bonnies will make it to the NCAA tournament.]
Ryan recently began a St. Bonaventure-only sports segment for WVTT Olean.
Ryan went from hiding alcohol from campus resident assistants to becoming a member of the St. Bonaventure’s orientation team who mentors incoming freshmen.
“Since day one, Ryan has been an extremely hard worker in achieving the goals he set out for himself,” said Sally O’Rourke, who dated Ryan for three years. “He is the person who has motivated me to not only discover what I wanted to do in life but to work as hard as I possibly could to get there.”
Ryan grew up too quickly. He experienced death — but more accurately, loss — before 20. He has consciously sacrificed personal gratification for others, especially his family. He treated Sally like a wife, always, making sure her needs were ahead of his.
Where does he get all this power? Strength? Drive?
“When I’m feeling down, I look at (the bracelet) and go, ‘Why are you down?’” Ryan said. “You’re blessed to be here today, and you’re here for a reason.”
True to his form, he doesn’t think of himself first. Until the day he dies, he’ll read, “Live the life you love. Love the life you live,” and think of his best friend.
And that letter from Nick. And that unspoken promise he plans to keep.
“When I was around Nick, he was the one to spark a room,” Ryan said. “When he walked in, everyone smiled. I was a little bit passive with that. In high school, I was in his shoes — the person that sparked the room. It was a change for me, but I didn’t mind taking a back seat to him.
“I realized how many people he touched, and I wanted to emulate that as best as I can,” he said. “He gave everybody a chance, even if they crossed him, he’d forgive really quickly. And I want to get to that point. Because that’s definitely the life I want to emulate.”
[[ FULL DISCLOSURE: I’ve lived with Ryan for the last two years ]]
“Be the change you want to see in the world” is the quote I live by. This blog section is dedicated to individual who exemplify that concept.
If you know anyone who deserves to be nominated for this blog, please contact me via email or Twitter at @sheckii. 
Picture from Ryan Lazo, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy of their home
Hurricane Sandy devastated many homes and families — including St. Bonaventure University’s own.
Ryan Lazo, a senior journalism and mass communication major, is from Rockaway in Queens, N.Y. — one of the first New…
Please support my roommate of two years. Whether you can donate food, clothes or money, I know that the Lazo’s would really appreciate it.
I will always be grateful for what Orange Coast College did for me — professionally and personally.
OCC made a confused, arrogant, disrespectful boy grow up. The Coast Report helped find a passion. I still talk about covering Jourdan “Jourdie” Watanabe’s death and how that changed me as a journalist.
Sean Collins, the men’s golf coach, instilled discipline and a positive thinking mentality. And helped me shoot 68 and medal in a tournament!
But most importantly, the people I’ve met at Coast believed in me.
Me.
And no one did that before.
That was three years ago. “Coast to Coast,” a e-news blast to the OCC community, decided to write a story about my latest USA TODAY College contribution.
This place is special, just like how special St. Bonaventure has been. I would love to come back and teach at either one of these institutions.
But I just wanted to say thank you, OCC, for being just what I needed. Without you, I would’ve accomplished nothing in my career.
Sometimes writers forget how much luck is involved. I once again got humbled by it today.
My last USA TODAY College story was the No. 1 read story, but this one hasn’t received that much traction. The “5 questions that will take the fear out of talking to your professor” story generated lots of comments, too.
But regardless of if one or 1 million people read it, I hope I helped people out. Because I’ve never taken that responsibility and honor lightly.
This also may be the last USA TODAY College story I write. I’ll be graduating in May and won’t be eligible to write anymore. And for that — and everything else — I owe @USATODAYCollege a lot of gratitude.
- Interactive timeline: #sndcle highlights
- Crystal Garner
OK. I need to learn how to develop this. Awesome job by Crystal Garner, another fellow travel grant winner.
We asked some of the SND CLE attendees what was their favorite part of the conference.
Here are the reactions from Adonis Durado (Times of Oman), Jessica Peguero (Gannett Graphics Group), Lucinda Wallace (Pink Triangle Press) and Lyndsey Nielsen (Gannett).
My last work for SND Cleveland, a video of asking people what their favorite part of the conference was.
Minus the food poisoning bout (never having pizza again in Cleveland), I had such a great time meeting everyone. Hope this won’t be the last time we cross paths!
Working hard, or hardly working? Liking my gig at the SND Cleveland conference so far.
Day two of SNDCLE started off with a keynote from Marisa Gallagher, vice president and executive creative director of CNN Digital, and awards for World’s Best-Designed.
Various breakout sessions such as Vanessa Wyse’s “Wait. Is it Possible to Create Something New? In Print? In 2012?” drew huge crowds from the attendees.
More photos and videos from Day 3 soon to come!
[Photos by Tony Lee - @sHecKii]
At SND CLE’s kickoff social gathering at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Tony Lee (@sHecKii) asked the attendees about “What has SND (Society for News Design) done for your career?”
Here are the responses from New York Post’s Theo Caviness, Cape Gazette’s Jen Ellingsworth and USA TODAY’s Chuck Rose.
I always wanted to take a camera into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Well, this will do!
SND CLE had a kickoff social gathering Thursday night’s at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
Gold winners from this year’s digital and print competitions were recognized before the attendees got to enjoy a special all-access pass to see exhibits.
All attendees enjoyed a buffet with pasta, salad and pizza. And, of course, an open bar was taken advantage of!
[Photos by Tony Lee - @sHecKii]
My third USA TODAY College story in 12 months is about to be released soon, but I realized I didn’t promote my second one on Tumblr.
I don’t have the analytics, but being the No. 1 most popular story — even for a day — on a national website was such an honor.
Thank you, everyone, for always supporting me. It means the world.
Jay-Z’s “Decoded” inspired me to create a series of designs like this, using his art (known as words to us) to create another art form.
.
All will be revealed soon — and I really hope to follow through on this — to tell my story, like Shawn Carter did with his book.
- My Private Journal Entry: All I want to hear is, 'How was your day, babe?'
After coming back from Oxford, I fell into a mini depression. Well, depression is too strong of a word, but it wasn’t good.
I have never shared something from my journal before (and yes, I keep one!). When you write for a living, you need something sacred just for you. This is that.
This entry is very personal, but also not something I’m ashamed of. This entry isn’t directly related to marketing, advertising or social media — but everything about my life ambitions.
Hope you guys find it useful. And I hope you won’t do what I’ve done…
Danielle had a loved one to go back to. So did Iggy. Chey and Jon got to spend an amazing six weeks together. Sean found a girl. And bunch of others have people they love waiting at home.
I had no one.
I still remember when Denny stopped me during a basketball game and said, “Do you know why you’re going to make it in this industry? Because no one outworks you.”
But at what cost?
After the four-day vacation, everyone came back ready to go home. Home. Where family members, dogs, friends and, most importantly, loved ones awaited them.
I had no one.
Because I’ve been so fucking independent to a fault.
My family loves me. No doubt. But I can go a year without seeing my dad or stepmom. My stepbro and I don’t have a relationship. But then again, I’m 27 fucking years old. I’m a grown ass man.
What else would I expect?
Then, there are friends. My best friend Michelle is in a great, loving relationship. So proud of her still. My boys from the shop started to get girlfriends. I don’t play TCGs much anymore either. Most of my high school friends are married now.
Jerry talked about how he misses his family terribly, but no words could describe how much he missed his dog. I don’t have a pet, either, because I’m a fucking nomad.
So yeah. I had NO ONE. No one who loves me like that anyways.
What Denny said has manifested. No one outworked me. Therefore, my skillset, confidence, resume and everything in between is unmatched at Bona’s. That used to be arrogance. I’ve worked harder than anyone to make that into a fact.
My life has finally become what I dreamed of. I’ve battled so many demons to get here. And I’ll say it again:
Without St. Bonaventure University, I’d be dead, in jail or in rehab.
Even Julie said it has been only one year, but I’ve matured so much. But only if my dad believed any of that. Unless I become a creative director at a top-5 worldwide agency, I don’t think he’d ever be proud of me………..
On that note, I wish he’d want to see my documentary. My Oxford video. Anything that I do really. Because I’m not an industry leader or a paid six-figure-income professional, he thinks all I do is junk. Amateurish.
Days like today, it makes me feel even more alone than I already am.
Who’s in my corner?
It’s my third night being up at 3:30 a.m. I blamed the jet lag, but now I know it’s my soul in torment. Jesus I’m a drama queen, but that’s what it honestly feels like.
I turned my life around not because I wanted to have a family. I wanted a loving wife. I wanted children who looked up to me like a hero. I wanted to be that family man.
So that’s what I want. A family. Pure and simple. But it’s not like I can use the Popsie line and say, “Nice shoes. Wanna fuck/get married?”
At hookah, I still remember people telling me I lived the life. Yeah, I have — and I continue to — but I have no one to share it with.
No one.
It’s like if a tree falls in the forest and no one heard it, then did the tree really fall? I haven’t lived the life because I have no one to share it with.
For the first time in my life, love has to be the No. 1 priority now. Seriously. I don’t just want a girlfriend to have a girlfriend. I want someone who I can be a rock for and someone who’ll be in my corner.
Otherwise, what was the point of getting my shit together?
So glad to have met guys like Bill, Iggy and Sean. I’m finally surrounded and engulfed by people who make “Be the change you want to see in the world” a reality. Not only that, I love all my friends at Bona’s. Honestly they’ll never know that they literally saved me from killing myself.
So this is a promise, journal. I will get my personal life together. Because I want love, love that I can share with another female. Not just that. I want to strengthen all my personal relationships, too.
Because quite honestly, that’s the only people in my corner.
I don’t want any success if it means I’ll have no one to come home back to. I ran away from the negativity to find happiness and strength. Professionally, I have that. In spades.
Now, personally, all I want to hear is, “How was your day, babe?”
And a “I love you, too.”
Who would've thought I'd make it here?
