10-Second Reading Exercise

As soon as I passed the park, I checked my cell phone to look at the time. It was 9:33. That meant that I only had 7 more minutes to get to class. I turned on Westminster where it met Weybosset, but then it started drizzling. A gust of wind prevented me from taking my next steps. I crossed the street and hurried to the CIT -- out of breath.

Manifesto

As I try to enhance my learning experience and shape my goals, I understand that I still have a lot of growing and improving to do. I constantly think about ways I can improve my work, my communication and social skills, and how I view myself. I understand that it takes time to find ways to cultivate my sense of identity because growth occurs only through a progression and understanding of one’s experiences and circumstances. As I continue to grow, I hope that I can further develop the skills to speak without feeling nervous and shy, to write without being doubtful about the way I express my thoughts, to create art without feeling like people will automatically shutdown my work, and to just be without feeling like I do not belong.

I Remember (Mother)

I remember sharing moments with my mother
I remember her soft chuckles of laughter when we would watch episodes of either The Honeymooners or The Golden Girls, late at night
I remember her dedication
I remember the hours she would spend making/sewing garments for her customers
I remember the swishing sounds of her sewing machine
I remember the small sweat-beads accumulating on her nose as she worked tirelessly
I remember the savory tastes of her home-cooked meals, and she would always ask me how does it taste in her sweet Bajan accent: “It taste good?”
I remember when she moved 3000 miles away
I remember the ongoing pain she dealt with because of her arthritis
I remember seeing her down
I remember her tears
I remember the last time I talked to my mother
I remember telling her I was coming home for Thanksgiving
I remember saying goodbye to my mother – the lump in my throat getting larger; trying to hold back my tears

(Dedicated to my beloved mother)
Written: 3.13.09
Revised: 4.4.09

~Patrice

I Dream of Her

I will protect you
Have no fear
I will guide you
Throughout the years
On my chariot I will take you beyond
The mind’s eye

As the sun kisses the sky
Think of me as your guiding light
I will never forsake you
I will be your guardian
Leading you to your highest goals
Despite any obstacle that unfolds
Helping you to stay strong

Even though you cannot see me
I will be there…
In your heart
In your mind
In your dreams

Written: 4.29.09

~Patrice

Sharing Our Dreams

When I have dreams they are sometimes vivid and seem endless, as they transition from one to another. I often wonder if dreams have any meaning, especially when it seems as though they will reveal a specific message or pertain to a significant person. I am curious to find out what others think about their dreams. Please feel free to share one of your dreams or leave a comment/response to any of the following questions:

1. Does everyone dream?
2. What do dreams convey about a person, a person's imagination, etc.?
   
3. How do dreams relate to real life?
4. Can dreams send a person messages about reality?

Letting Our Story Speak From Its Pages

Letting Our Story Speak From Its Pages - funded by the RI Campus Compact and Raise Your Voice Civic Engagement Fund - will give students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to document, share and voice how being at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has affected them socially, intellectually and artistically. This project will demonstrate how each individual voice can make an impact on RISD’s future decisions. I believe that this act of sharing one’s experiences verbally or visually can be an effective way to help people express themselves, open-up to others, gain visibility, break barriers, and discover that they are not alone within this often demanding and challenging environment.

Here are some sample questions that can be used to help describe your experience:

1. Has your experience been rewarding? Challenging?
2. Do you have difficulty adjusting to this environment?
3. Is this environment what you expected it to be?
4. Do you feel like your voice is heard within the RISD community?
5. Do you feel isolated or do you feel “right at home”?
   
6. Do you feel like you belong?
7. Have you met others within the community that share a similar experience? Or do you think your experience is unique from everyone else?

Please leave your responses to any or all questions as comments on this thread. Thanks.