doing what you love...

so photography is a passion of mine, and i've realized that i am truly happiest when i'm taking pictures... i've been in a bit of a slum this past week and a half, and after i was asked by lexi yesterday i f i had taken any pictures for my 365 picture a day project... and i hadn't. and i realized that those that i had been shooting, weren't fun, active, random, engaging, lifestyle shots. but they were pictures taken, just to get the shot in for the day. So today, i had my camera with me, and stopped to drop something off with a friend of mine in the library, ALISON!! :-), and she had on these green chucks with here legs up on the table... SUCH a photo-op! OMG! so i took a few shots, and was talking to her about a photographer that i look up to Jason Q Tran amazing photographer, and his style. so i decided to try and use his style really quick since i had a model, we took a few pics, and i kept playing with her shoes and such, and just had a good time, doing what i love! THEN i saw jason, a composition major, who i've seen carrying around his "canvass" or sheet music with him, and i'd been wanting to shoot him, doing what he does best. i thought it so cool, because his the sheet music is his "canvass" of choice, like a painters is an actual canvass, mine is life in general and my environment... and i had so much fun... i actually feel better now! like, my whole persona,  personality and mood has changed... it's just something about doing what you love, especially when it's a talent that God has given you... and on top of all of that... THE SUN IS OUT... THE CLOUDS ARE GONE!!!... BLUE SKIESS!!!! SUN RAAYYYSS!!!!! THANK YOU JESUS! :-) REJUVENATION!!... take home lesson... always make time in your schedule for that which you truly enjoy, or your life will end up lifeLESS!

...what a day!

mercy... what a day today was! tuesday's and thursday's are my busiest days... the kinda days that you just run thru, not remembering much, but the goal is to successfully get to the end without any major problems occurring. it started off unusual as i spent the nite at some of my friends house because i didn't want to risk being stuck at home again like i was yesterday due to the snow, and heavy winter weather. so i didn't go thru my normal routine, missed breakfast at the cafe, got played at the library. since the campus was shut down (on today of all days, there clearer of the two days compared to yesterday when the weather was WORSE!)... the campus was shut down till 10:00, chapel time, and that included the library where i wanted to study until chapel... so i sat in my car and read some of Romans until chapel.(inspired by old mrs. Cartwright, the lady who swipes students into the cafe in the mornings. She had never seen me come in before, and warned me that i shouldn't get breakfast this morning because the hot food was shot down. she then proceeded to tell me a little about herself, and how she basically was depressed for a while, after her husband died, but God gave her the opportunity to go back to her home country, and do some missionary work. she didn't want to come back to work at the school, but upon her return she heard that the students actually missed her, and is now determined to take advantage of every day of life God continues to give her and be a blessing to others... quite a testimony this morning!)..... froze my toes in the process! Chapel today was presented by two huntsville police officers... the main officer... cock diesel brotha, swole as i don't know! but he presented the danger of gangs, and a number of other issues that are pertinent to Oakwood right now considering all the violence going on right now. As i was shooting, i saw a white young lady with a video camera covering the event. i spoke with her afterward... i really need to work on my public speaking, especially when the person could be a possible contact for a future job (she works for WAFF), but i definitely stuttered thru the whole conversation... we both seemed to be excitedly conversing though. just before that though, one of the vice presidents of the school came over to me, and without much of a greeting asked me if was shooting and covered the program... as if that was all i was worth to them, like if i hadn't he would chastise me for not shooting... as if he doesn't always see me with my camera at just about every event... i guess i just felt like a worker, and not student, and like his single interest in me was whether or not i took pictures....
NEWHO i've got this project for multimedia due...  thursday. we have most of it completed, its just the last few things, transitions, voice overs, etc that need to get done... as i was working with my group though, this thing called "senioritis" crept into my being.... the feeling of carelessness... especially for my next class... one of the few classes business majors have to take to walk, and have heard stories since freshman year about how horrible, the teacher and in turn the class is... the man (and i later learned its the same way across the board) gets excited if you get a 50% on his test!... he said very good to a girl that got a 68%... took me way off guard.. he does curve, which is good, but the man just can't teach! and the whole class... since like 2005 knows it! this is one class that will be the test of my college career... if i can get thru this, i know i'll be able to make it.. WOW!
NEWHO took my time coming back on campus. Stopped by the market to get a little something in my stomach, sat down and talked with a girl friend of mine about life in general... it really is just good to get stuff out sometimes. i was voted as the male senior with most school spirit, so i had to go take pictures for the yearbook spread for that.... never happened cuz the female never showed, and i had to get to choir practice which i was already late for. left in record time and made it to the library to join another girl friend of mine in a study room. ran into my play sister from atl, but the conversation me and the first girl had is what sticks... it was pretty deep about relationships, and her relating to guys, not being able to settle down, or realize the difference between a guy whose honestly interested and one that's just gonna play her down the road, either sooner or later... did get a text from my twin, a God-send, such a life text...1 Peter 4:10, 11... read it, marinate on it.... apply it... pretty amazing. ran into another friend of min leaving, who reminded me of my 365 project, so b4 i went home, i took a walk around campus... take in all of the day, wind down. got an OK shot of some shadows on a tree with it's limbs.... nothing major, but it got me a pic.... hoping for a better day tomorrow, since it's lighter, but i def have to sing with the choir for a concert right at the end of my meeting for my major Project management group... wonder how that's gonna go.
and before i go, i introduced a friend of mine to blogging this week... check her out! kollegekouture.blogspot.com/

... nite all!

... long story short, i took a spanish clep exam today, didn't pass, and to my current knowledge, the score from this exam was what could catapult me into the graduation scene, or prevent me from receiving my degree at the intended date...

... so right now my options are 1- register for spanish 1 and 2 at an online school to show proof that i am enrolled in the needed courses (if it's not too late to do that...)  and walk but don't receive the degree until WAY later, or 2- finish this semester with what i have, enroll in the two classes this fall, and walk next may with 2011.... i honestly am not all for walking this semester knowing the there is no degree coming until i complete to college spanish courses... it would be a fake excitement on my part... walking across the stage knowing i have more to do... a friend of mine brought up the idea that, this exercise really isn't for me, it's more for the family, parents, and supporters.... eh, i can partially agree with that, but i definitely am the one who sat thru 8 semesters of classes.... this has ALOT to do for me... completion of the requirements for a bachelors of business degree in information technology... (oh, but wait... i didn't! cuz i still have TWO courses to complete!)

this of course has to draw a spiritual/personal growth lesson. God has been working with me about putting things aside/procrastination beyond the depths of the normal battle, and it's sad that it's come to something as monumental as this to shake me, but God will go to the end of the world, grinding the very core of our being to get us to be completely dedicated to him, to refine our character, and have properly used that talents to HIS glory(one being time... management, check out Christ's Object Lessons, EGW, chapter on talents...) ... i think i get it God... 

.... if it wasn't for God...

i have a really hard time internalizing the fact that it's only God that allows/enables me to do certain things... i say it all the time... "only God" but i've been the one doing it all this time i never really think about the fact that it literally is only God that works in me to succeed at anything good... all good things come from Him, and me being a sinful man can only produce evil, so in essence, it truly IS only God that bring us to do acts of kindness, bring glory to His name, excel at whatever craft we set our hands to do. and when people say you did a good job.... yes, you did a good job of putting faith in the Father, and then working the problem out... as a child, the thought never comes to mind... with our parents growing us up in a certain way, we form habits, carry on tendencies, follow actions, but never truly consider why we do what we do, and what our true nature is, but when it boils down to the nitty gritty... if it wasn't for God....

My heavy day...

 today was a pretty interesting day... but my tuesday's and thursday's usually are. i've got racquetball at 9, chapel at 10 on tuesday, then b2b classes from 11:30 until 3:45... sucks!... but it definitely keeps me busy. I'm actually deeply interested in my racquetball class though. like i came to practice with a few friends last friday afternoon... high energy, intense concentration, its a serious workout... definitely may end up being a new hobby of mine. chapel was academic convocation where my choir, the Aeolians sang (which i was only able to sing one song with because) i also had to shoot, as i am the one and only student photographer for the Public Relations dept at the school, and the main head honcho is the LEAST bit camera savvy.... Dr. Baker also initiated a panel discussion going into depth about the code of conduct that has been trampled on over the last couple of years. personally, unless an individual has convictions of there own, they aren't going to uphold the standards setup. the statement was made, what are you going to do when you get a job in the real world, which is a great argument, but as a Christian school, attempting to uphold Christian standards, our main mission should be that, and the latter will fall into line. As students we have to understand the standards that are setup, realize that we did sign a contract stating we would abide by them, and not make a big fuss about it when confronted on the issue.... you knew about what the school stood for before you came... why is there this issue!?.. get you lives together please.

definitely got an email from Insight Magazine (the adventist youth publication) responding to my first photo assignment that i turned in, and the Art director said they were "AWESOME" and that he looks forward to working with me more... couldn't be more excited!... i'm published, and now have a connection with a major magazine! god couldn't be better, because i DEFINITELY didn't even ASK for this! WOW

In choir 2nite my director was being a bit more detailed in his rehearsal, and one of the members seemed a bit disturbed, and to ME like what he was saying was personal... could be wrong, but what i drew from the situation is that, in life we can't take what people say to or about us as being personal... one, and mainly, if we living a life totally and completely dedicated to GOd, with our will being His will, everything we do or say is as a result of His bidding, not our own. so when someone approaches us in a twisted kinda way, we have to remember, i'm living a life for Christ, and if you truly TRULY are, then they need to address their problem to the almighty one, cuz I'M in line with HIM! Amen?

aaah, goodnight, and thank God for a light day tomorrow

The Questions of Life...

hey guys... so it's been a good minute since i've posted anything, not that i had anything consistent, but i really want this blog thing to be successful..

ever since school got back in session, my life has gone from 12 to 10,000, with classes, projects (starting already since i'm taking the highest level courses as a graduating senior, HALLELU) trying to keep up with current relationships, mend old ones, and carefully build new ones, life has been a blur. i did plan out a schedule of how i would use my time during the week. thing is with schedules, to make them successful, you've got to WORK them... anybody can plan, but to be a success, you have to actually implement the plan into your life. putting aside things that easily distract you, prioritization *UUGHH!*, and then trying to work my photography business into the whole picture... i honestly see school right now as a hindrance to my business growth, because i don't have the time i need to devote to working the biz. and people are still trying to get odd shoots off of me... Ivey does not do free photo shoots anymore! and of course my spiritual life plays a HUGE part in this whole mess. i'm thankful for people in my life who do remind me of where i need to be, spiritually, academically, socially (bugging me cuz i've not spent enough time with them), relationally (lord knows there are a few girls on this campus that I would love to spend some real time with, but is it truly the right time.. mercy Lord! and then what to do after school! UGH! the Biz? Grad school in savannah/atl at SCAD? take the continued internship/job offer in bham.... what to do... the questions of life....

... Last First Day

so it's mad early, but i feel the urge to make a little not on here.




today is my first day of classes for the last semester of my time at oakwood... gotta bit of a weird feeling because i'm just hesitant about what to do after school... but for right now, i have to reprogram my mind to the mode of school and classes... i've been worried that my vacation mentality won't be shaken for a while... waking up MAD late, moving REALLY slow, etc. I DO however have the feeling that this may be my absolute BEST semester at oakwood... well, until i look back at my class schedule... this on class... like always, really may put a damper on the semester...
but this first half week of classes usually isn't all that bad though. The choir is actually going to be leaving this Friday AFTERNOON i heard, we're starting our weekend tours first week of school... this is going to be a busy week for us..




but anyway, i've gotta find myself eating breakfast, dressing, preparing myself and all the i'm bringing with me to campus, because i won't be back home until the end of the day since i live FOREVER away from campus. But that's OK... i think i'm on the right track so far... Had worship, (SSL), prayed it up, and now i am on my way... pray for ME!