So~Bee~Love

Plot Overview This book explores the life of a teenager who wakes up in a different body of someone their age, never the same person twice. This teen has been living like this for sixteen years, living each day for that person and never getting too involved in their life. But when they meet Rhiannon everything changes. Qualms The books overall sentiment was that love transcends all and that A was special because they didn't identify as any gender or race and had lived through all walks of life giving them a unique perspective on the world. And although to many people this seemed to be a progressive book, I thought the intent was great but the execution was horrible. First,  can we talk about how all the characters were defaulted to be white? As I was reading I found it uncomfortable the way POC characters were introduced to the reader and the use of stereotypes and lack of originality with the characterization. As a Latina, I felt great offense about the Latin

This past weekend was the opening weekend for the Black Panther movie. I was fortunate enough to get tickets during opening weekend and experience this cinematic masterpiece. And although the movie was amazing in all its glory, filled with pop culture references to and its commentary on disparities of being black in the United States - my Black Panther movie experience was interesting, to say the least... I live in a small city in Pennsylvania - and if you know anything about Pennsylvania, it is by no means the pinnacle of diverse places in the U.S. (except for Philadelphia).  Fortunately, my little town is very diverse but we're surrounded by white suburbs. I was too late in grabbing tickets to see it in the city theater so I was left with going to the 'burbs to see Black Panther. Although I was a bit worried to be surrounded by white people to see a Black superhero movie I was still excited to experience the greatness of the film. From start to finish the film h

I've recently noticed that I am not the same person I was when I was in high school. I'm not the person I was last year and I'm not even the same person I was yesterday. Every day I experience something new and I grow as a person. Good or bad, the way I walk through life has an effect on how I live and interact with people. Taking time off from school, I've realized that I don't talk to the same people. I've grown apart from some and others I've lost touch. But I'm not mourning the loss of the friendship because I realize that I no longer need those people in my life, I outgrew them. Although like plants there are certain things that help to make us grow. Whether it's sunlight or water we need both to survive but it's about finding the right balance that makes a plant flourish and bloom. Right now I feel like I'm still in the balancing stage. Each day I'm testing out different levels of water and sunlight trying to find

I have a confession to make... I have a baby face! Yes, it's true! Probably not what you were expecting me to say but it's true! My youthful looking face coupled with my short stature makes for a perfect excuse for everyone to mistake me for a sixteen-year-old. I am nineteen. Every time someone questions how old I am I feel like Penelope Disick being hit in the face by a car door. Last month I started a new job at a marketing firm as an intern. And as any new job goes, you mingle with as many people as you can to get to know who you'll be working with. During my first week, I went out with some of my colleagues for a walk around the block. Our days usually consist of sitting behind a computer. So going for a walk to stretch our legs sounded like a great idea, plus getting some fresh air is always nice. While we were on our walk small talk sparked and we all were talking just trying to get to know each other. Then one guy turns to me and asks "What grade ar

As a veteran of the single person life, I know a thing or two about Valentine's Day. Each year it's a day where couples can get together and shower their loved ones with gifts and affection. But why do single people let this day make them bitter and upset? I like to think that Valentine's Day is the one day that couples get to be obnoxious about their affection to their partner without too much judgment. Besides their anniversary couples don't get to be gushy about their partners without someone judging them for it. As a single person, I realize the purpose of this "holiday" and choose to let it inspire me instead of making me bitter. I like to think that one day I strive to be in a healthy relationship so that we can celebrate together. Also with each passing year that I'm single, I choose to live the person that's always been there for me, me. Self-love is the kind of love I choose to demonstrate on Valentine's Day. Which to b

2018 has been a year of new beginnings for me. This year I feel like I have more control of my life and I am learning to navigate and figure out what I like and what I don't.  This also includes music and lately, I've been into more indie and R&B music. I managed to create a playlist with songs that fall into these genres as well as some other artists that fit the vibe. Speaking of vibes, I call this my "Good Vibes" playlist. Here are some of my favorites from the album! Kyra Skye Kyra is an Ithaca College student originally from Nyack, NY. My amazing and talented friend recorded and produced her own EP in the span of a month. Formerly a member in the band Izzy True she debuted her solo career with her Summer Nights EP.   Each song on her EP is very personal and special, a nice in your feels song is "Dancing in the Rain". Smallpools Smallpools is a US-based indie pop band that formed in 2013. The band consists of Sean Sca

As much as it pains me to write this...When I was growing up I wanted to have blonde hair and white skin. All the media I consumed portrayed people with those physical traits and I just wanted to be like them. When I was younger I didn't appreciate my melanin-enriched skin or my naturally bouncy curls. I wasn't ashamed but rather I longed to have smaller eyes and a more pointed nose rather than my afro-latina features that were shining through. Growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s I always saw white people in very prominent roles. I remember few POC characters that were represented on the big screen. And even fewer that were shown outside of their stereotypes. Much of the mainstream media in the U.S. led me to believe that white was right. Although the U.S. has a majority white population, there are plenty of POC who live in the U.S. that don't share those same traits. In recent years I have noticed a shift in mainstream media that has created mor