Asher Roth and White Panda

On Friday, December 7, Asher Roth and White Panda made a stop by the HUB.  Although it was not a huge performance as the concerts in the Bryce Jordan Center are, it was a show that my friends and I did not want to miss.  Asher Roth, a millionaire rapper, went to my high school and also performed at my senior prom.  Being the best prom in America it was even more exciting to have a successful Pennsbury alum perform.  My friends and I as well as many other people are fans of his and like to listen to his music.  With his newest album coming out on January 22, 2013 we are all excited to here what new songs he has in store.
The concert in Alumni Hall started at ten o'clock and the excitement could not be contained in my room with the guys from my floor as well as friends from back home.  Of course we decided to go three hours before it started and sure enough it back fired.  When we walked in the HUB there was no one there yet.  We sat around in the lounge until it was time to start filing in.  We were able to get front row seats.  The concert was a great experience.  Asher Roth performed for the first hour and then White Panda came on for the second hour.    I only have ever been to one other concert, but not one with just college students.  The colorful lights and blasting speakers made the moment that much better.
After walking away from the concert with broken ear drums I learned three things.  One, I would not want to be on the concert committee trying to control a crowd full of out of control college students.  Two, as Asher Roth said, music is a type of art that truly inspires people and it is that one type of art where you can express your interests and no one can take that away from you.  Three, just like the title of one of his songs "i love college".

"Never Forget"

When we were required to go to an arts/cultural event I had no idea what I wanted to do.  I felt that this assignment was going to be a challenged for me because the idea of an arts event was intimidating.  I was never an arts type of guy so I was unsure of what I would do until I got wind of the 9/11 ceremony.  I thought it would be interesting to go check it out since it was a day that we all remember, but I was intimidated to go to something alone.  Earlier the day of the performance Sam Hellman sent me a text message asking if I wanted to go.  I was glad that he invited me to go with him and that I would be able to get the event out of the way early.
This arts/cultural event took place at three o'clock on September 11 of course.  It was located in the theater building in room 114.  Sam and I met up by the corner of Shortlidge.  It was difficult to find the building at first.  We first thought it was the actually theater on the corner of Shortlidge, but then ended finding our way there.  I did not realize that the performance was being held inside a classroom.  I was not expecting it to go the way it went.  It was a a play-like performance I have never witnessed before, but I did enjoy it.
The show was called 9/11 - A Day in the Life of a People.  It was written, compiled and directed by Charles Dumas.  Sam and I took our seats in the back of the room.  Before us were 12 students dressed in different attire with a projector screen in the middle of them. At first I thought I was going to watch a movie clip, but I was wrong.  Each student stood up one at a time.  They introduced themselves as well as what character they were going to be for the performance.  The projector screen was used for showing different picture clips about 9/11.  I was really moved by the performance and was surprised by how well all of the actors were.  They did excellent job putting themselves into lives of the people they portrayed.  It was almost as if I could feel the pain of the people who had suffered on this tragic day.  They would stand up one by one and talk about what they were doing and what they had witnessed on 9/11.  What was more astounding to me was that almost all of the students in the performance were only minoring in theater.  When it was all over I was glad that I was able to go and do something in remembrance of those who suffered on that day because we will "never forget".

Self Evaluation

1.  My first semester at Penn State was somewhat of a rocky one, but definitely enjoyable.  At first it was hard for me to adjust after living at home for all of my life.  Saying good bye to my parents was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.  I was worried about the unknown as I normally do.  I was not sure how living on my own would go or whether it was going to be easy to handle.  Now looking back on my first semester experience I feel that I have become more comfortable living in this new environment and have met some new people that have made this experience easier for me as well as more memorable.  I cannot believe that my first semester is coming to a close.  It has gone by so fast.  I have been able to apart of new experiences that have made me step out of my comfort zone.  I feel that I have in a way grown more as a person by being forced to be in charge of myself rather than my parents.  They have helped every step of the way and have made me who I am today and I am thankful for that.
English 15S is definitely one class that I will remember.  It reminded me more of a high school style classroom.  That made it easier for me because I was back in an environment that I was used to and comfortable with.  This class has allowed me to meet some amazing new people and I am thankful for that.  It just shows that no one here is out to get you and that you should not be afraid to talk to anyone.  Also, it has forced me to go out and check out the campus itself and what it has to offer.  Everyone just needs a little push to go out and see new things and I am glad that this class made me do that.  English 15S also has allowed me to enhance my writing in a more positive manner by writing pieces that I never have before.  It made me dig deeper as a writer and think more about the meaning of it all.  To round it off having Ms. Squillante as a professor has allowed me to feel more comfortable approaching other professors because they are only here to help.  They are not out to get you.  On that note English15S has made this shift in my life easier and I am ready to take the next step of my journey to next semester.

2.  Blog Comments
 

1.     Sam Hellman https://cms.psu.edu/section/content/Default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=E1E2C28948144EDCA3621EFDBA4F5AA2

2.     Kelly Smith https://cms.psu.edu/section/content/Default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=E1E2C28948144EDCA3621EFDBA4F5AA2

3.     Austin Luboff

http://austinluboff.blogspot.com/2012/10/artscultural-blog-post-4-movie-review.html?showComment=1355362898258#c3181891297651705032

4.     Eddie Milisits

https://cms.psu.edu/section/content/Default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=E1E2C28948144EDCA3621EFDBA4F5AA2

5.     Elysa Kolvek

http://elysamkolvek.blogspot.com/2012/11/carrie-underwood-concert.html

6.     Bridget O’Brien

http://obrienseyes.blogspot.com/2012/09/template-i-chose-this-template-because.html?showComment=1355363829111#c4474846236695925775

7.     Tim Lee

http://satisfyyourbordom.blogspot.com/p/about-me_6.html?showComment=1355364252684

8.     Erik Johnson

https://cms.psu.edu/section/content/Default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=E1E2C28948144EDCA3621EFDBA4F5AA2

9.     Marisa Cutillo

http://marisacutillo.blogspot.com/2012/10/iah-film-review.html?showComment=1355364629839#c5666479988351735334

10. Abby Jackson

https://cms.psu.edu/section/content/Default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=E1E2C28948144EDCA3621EFDBA4F5AA2

3.  Hi Ms. S - I finished the SRTEs!