What's the new haps?

Okay. So I know I haven't posted in a while, however I do have a very good excuse. Ready? I HAVE A LIFE. I have a job and school that I must continue to prove myself worthy of having. I dunno. Its been kinda rough lately...on my part only (because I choose to do things out of order rather than set my priorities). I'm not the only one though. I recently found out that the number of students at my school (Florida A&M University) are really lax this semester. Mainly returning Juniors and Sophomores. Seniors are trying their damndest to get outta here while freshmen are attempting to keep up with the pace: Parties, after-parties, before parties, clubs and orgies. Us in between folk are just blowing by like wind. I keep telling myself that I'm gonna do better everyday yet I don't. I say that tomorrow's a different day and that it's gonna be different. Sure it's a different day, but my ste-lo is still the same. I know what it is...i'm lazy and still living off of my summer's high. Sooner or later I'll get it together (prayerfully before i graduate)...see you later




*MS. ISSIPPI*

Just thought I'd say Praise God for everything...

I FOUND A JOB...

So...last time I was here I complained about not being able to find a job...especially one that I knew I would enjoy doing. I am happy to tell you people that I, Lakeisha Danielle White, now have a job at Lane Bryant. I may have another job at Old Navy if I play my cards right. I'm so excited because just when I thought I was about to go home and work for my sister in the GNC health store for retail experience, here calls Lane Bryant for an interview and a starting day of the following Wednesday.

My starting day (Wednesday) I had an interview with a representative from Old Navy. it was totally awesome...the interview was smooth, straight to the point, and convienient. Not only was the Old Navy interview an hour before my Lane Bryant orientation, but they are both in the same building, Tallahassee Mall. I'm so stoked...I'll keep you updated on what happens next...

Sitting in Florida...

Yea...all this sitting in Tallahassee, Florida without a job...cut it out. I find it funny that by this being the summer, no one is really hiring for jobs. I mean Sears, Bath and Body Works, Toys 'R' Us, Dillards, Macy's...no one. This is a bust...clearly the pits. I just don't understand. Why is it that the nice, clean, willing to be a hard worker can't get a job? Yet these loners with failed suicide attempts, gangbangers and whores have twelve jobs. My dawg Shannen just said she saw a crackhead with a job...in the mall. The mall...really? Why does she have a job and not me? I don't understand...

Then there's the dilemma of not having retail experience that everyone seems to blurt out loud..."Do you have any RETAIL experience?" Forget that...man just give a sista like me a chance to prove that I can what little Becky Sue or Jasmine can do...you're selling clothing for God's sake. I can sell opened ketchup packets to a lady in white gloves...why won't you Floridians give me a mother freakin' job?

But that's okay...see my sister is the manager at GNC in the mall back home in Mississippi. She told me that if I ever came home and needed a job, then I'd have on. Here lies the problem...in Florida, minimum wage is $6.75, a quarter away from $7. Some jobs even start you out with more than that. Yet in Mississippi, minimum wage is between $5.25 and $5.75...what am I gonna do with that? What bills can possibly be paid with that? I understand the cost of living in Mississippi is cheaper than Florida but can't minimum wage be the same everywhere? This is clearly a bust is slowly turning into the pits...

It's Getting Hard...

Last night, I listened to my mom on the phone tell me about a few hardships she's been having for the past few months. I felt that since I always call her for support that if she needed someone to talk with...just to vent...someone other than her husband who is going through the struggle with her...then I should be that person. Why shouldn't I be that person to listen to my mom...she always listens to me...

Last night, she told me about how tight money was getting at home. I felt so useless, impotent. I felt like there was nothing that I could do to help out. I have no job, I'm a full time student in Florida and I'm attempting to go to summer school to graduate early. It just hurt my heart that I couldn't say or do something that would miraculously clear up the mess that seemed to have my family engulfed, wrapped...

Last night, my mom made me realize how good God has to be. Although she didn't mean to call me and vent...it just sorta happened...she said,"But we're gonna be okay...cause when one door closes, God opens another one." That's all she said...I just sat there in awe and thought, "You are so one of the bravest ppl in the world. To deal with the situation as it is and still see the brighter side." I noticed that I too share that same trait, that same characteristic. I always attempt to see the brighter side of things,"God has this thing under his control. Whatever happens...its for my good. You just need to figure out what that good is." I always tell ppl that...so why couldn't I have told myself that last night while I was in pain?

Last night, I didn't realize that I'm a lot like my mother when she made that statement to me. It took my Freshman sister, Karis Chandler, to minister to me that we were a lot alike and that God is still in control. Karis, although she's not saved, she's a Christian and wants to develop a better relationship with God. I thank God for her being there for me last night. Clearly, out of the "family" I'm the one that ppl tend to talk to about things...but when you're the "talk to guy" who does the "talk to guy" talk to? Karis...that dang Karis...she's one in a million.

I talked about everything last night. I just prayed (after I got off the phone with Karis and my mother) that God blesses me with a job that I could pay my tithe, give and offering, and send something home to my parents. That's all I want to do. Because I'm not thinking about myself...thinking selfishly...I know God will bless me because of that. Honestly, that's all I want to do. I'm just gonna wait on the manifestation of God to work and clean this mess up. I will look the Devil in his face and tell him,"Nice try, but you're gonna have to do better than that to get my goat. Come at me harder."

MASSACRE: VA TECH

As I sat in the Florida A&M University school of Journalism and Graphic Communications, I went numb. All I could do was blink and wipe away the endless stream of tears that form a river on my face. I watch in horror as students were being carried out of a dormitory one-by-one and sometimes two-by-two. How could one man send an entire classroom in peril? How is it that one may could kill and kill and kill again over and over and over? What were his motives? Was there something the school could have done? Many more questions continued to ponder my mind as I looked at the television screen in dismay.

The Virginia Tech massacre (as it has been labeled) is truly one that I'll never (for as long as I live) forget. I can remember the time and place of which I sat hoping to awake from this terrible nightmare. My heart went out to the families of those slain by the Asian gunman who has since been labeled as a loner. My mind immediately went back to the year Luke Woodam, a Pearl, Mississippi native, killed his parents, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend's bestfriend. I remember it being on the local news and then the national news as "Teenage student kills four and injures others". That was a complete shock...

Less than two months later, the Columbine shootings occurred...I couldn't help but feel drained because of the excitement taking place around me. I kept thinking, "Is my school next...should I just not go to school and try street life? Is education worth being killed for?" I just didn't understand what was taking place and why. Now we have the shooting deaths of 33 people including the gunman himself who committed suicide. What is really going on in the world? Are we living in our last days of struggle...warning does come before destruction.

I thank God for my life being spared...because less than a week ago MY LIFE was in danger. A fight occurred at a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity house party after two men began to argue. Shots were fired, people fled, and I (along with others) was trapped on the floor under Nikes, Reeboks, stillettos, and other shoes trying to escape with their lives. I just began to pray and ask the Lord to take care of me and those who were at the party with me. Then I hear about this 23-year-old kid firing shots at a professor and his students, a residence assistant, and passer bys attempting to help....

Again, my heart goes out to those students at Virgina Tech who died in a learning environment. I pray for their parents and other family members that they not hold malice in their heart towards the gunman or his family, for it is God's judgment that shall determine his fate. Virginia Tech...keep your heads held high and continue to further your education in whatever it is you want to be in life. Life shall go on...so live yours to the fullest....Godspeed and blessings on your life. Amen.

The Finger Pointing Game?

I'm sitting in the library (a particular study area in the new annex) with three of my new project members. One is eating Doritos while the other two are sitting back listening to me quote the "Finger Pointing" game. The Finger Pointing game is not your typical ordinary game. No, because of what the game is...I can't say the actual rules and how to play however, I can say the instructions are in what is said, "This is the finger pointing game. Watch and listen to see who it is." These girls have written out the words of the Finger Pointing game and have started to scratch out one word at a time to get this game. I didn't do this...I just pouted and said, "I'm not playing anymore." They are really serious, but don't know how long it takes to figure the game out.

It was tought to me by my freshman brother Alex one night and it took me 3 months to figure it out. The Finger Pointing game is so simple and easy...yet it feels so hard to understand. There is not a limited number of people who can play this game. The more the merrier. The wierd thing about the Finger Pointing game is that it doesn't matter who you point at, and it doesn't matter who the "who" is in the game (referring to the "watch and listen to see who it is" part).

Its funny to see people sweat about this game and not know why. People get frustrated because they don't know how to play the game...it's really relaxing see others get mad like I used to be. "Why is it me...why is it her?" These are questions I'm being bombarded with, and I can't seem to get rid of them...they keep coming back for more. This is hilarious...I'll keep you posted.