Dear Next Year’s freshman,
This is a letter that I am writing to inform and to encourage you in everything that you do especially during your freshman year. During my 1st semester I faced many obstacles that made me feel like the world was coming down on me. In all of this I found myself putting things off to the side and not being able to complete the work that needed to be done till the day it was due. In doing this I would take time out of other class periods and try to finish what needed to be done which caused me to get behind in that class. In all this the main thing to learn was NOT to PROCASTINATE. Yes, you might say that putting something’s off to the side won’t hurt you but it will when the next day you have something due and you completely forget about both of them, and when you remember both of the assignments go down as 60s. Now think how your progress report would look like with 12 assignments ranging from 80 to 100 with two 60s big as day underneath. –Not so nice is it. You have to stay on top of your game or else you will be benched (recovery). During my semester of one of my very good friends dropped out of school because they couldn’t take the load. I want to prevent that from ever happening again, in order to succeed in life you need a High School Diploma and need to be in progress of a College Diploma to succeed in today’s society. Don’t believe me? Okay. McDonald’s won’t even hire you if you don’t have a high school diploma or either in progress of one. I’m just being real you can NOT make it in today society without education. We ARE the young people of TODAY and don’t ever let anything or anyone tell you different. Good luck, be prepared, have FAITH, and stay positive.
Sincerely,
Katrina J. Blanks
Katrina J. Blanks
P.S. - If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to your mountain, "MOVE!" and it WILL move... and NOTHING will be impossible for YOU! - Matthew 17:20

Future

To achieve in this world today one must contain a high school diploma, bachelor degree, and some sort of further education. One of my career goals would be to become an attorney so that after x amount of years I can be an official Judge of District courts. In this I will have had to attain a bachelor in political science pre- law. I realized that I needed education if I didn’t want to live like my mother and so many other women and men in the world. It was had seeing my mother showing her expression of grief over unpaid bills because she did not the educational background like other parents did. I have always known that I was going to college to graduate and then go to a law school that stressed the importance of excellent morals in and out of court. Education plays a major part in my goals because I want to take in all the knowledge that a teacher, professor, even an adult can offer me. I want to be able to refer to a situation that has already been taught to me so I can either improve it or avoid it. Someone’s life has many inputs that only someone of the educational field could have instilled in them. I want to be a powerful black African American that knows how a school system has helped her and isn’t afraid to tell other youth about it. This brings up the next goal of being an inspirational speaker for the youth of this great country. Since we are the youth of today and the fact that we need to stick together and survive under all circumstances. Which includes school, help out one another if you see someone having trouble in their studies besides it makes us all look good and makes us proud of ourselves.

Finals

I'm so ready for the semester to be over. I have never been so eager before. This week happens to be finals so I am studying hard as I can. But somehow I ended up on blog spot doing my last couple of blogs for the semester. Next year, I might keep in touch on here, but it will be very few blogs I have signed up for 18 credit hours...whoo... But believe it or not the finals for my classes aren't even 1/2 of my grade. But back to studying Love Ya'll

My Poems

Since it was You
by Katrina Janeen Blanks
Lately I've been feeling lonely,Missing your touch, voice, and sense of being,The pleasure of your body being close to mine,Giving me a feeling that no other could,\You brightned my day with just one smile,But could this be real,Or something out of the oridnary,The fact it was you who gave me back the air in my lungs,You who made me strong,You who gave me a smile like I was on a McDonald commerical,But since you've been gone how am I supposed to live, breathe, or laugh,Since you was the one who gave me a feeling that no other could.
Copyright © 2009

Role Model

I chose Maya Angelo not only because she is a strong black woman, but because of the trials she faced throughout her childhood. She went through a different setting than I but the story reflects similar emotions. Her mother and father separated, she started to live with her grandmother, and she was raped. Her vow of silence shows that such a tragedy had shut her down. I was not raped, but my father has tried to kill my mother and myself. I was in a place like Maya where it was just my poetry that displayed the emotions that I could not. Silence is not the key to everything, instead it just avoids the present world. Maya taught me that even though as humans we must go through things we must learn to bounce back from it and not let it keep us from our destination. I must stand up for myself in all I do, because if I don't who will!!

FYI

Sorry I haven't been blogging, I have been pounded with papers, projects, traveling, and being deprived of sleep. I guess this is what freshman year is really like. So please forgive me :(

On a lighter note this is to inform about how God will allow certain people to come into your life only for a season and us as humans take it as they are there for a lifetime. During high school there happens to be a certain crowd that you hang around with, you have a certain umph about you, and your not an adult yet. As you mature more and find a greater understanding you find out that everything that glitters ain't gold and that the grass on the other side went through a drought just like yours. Your friends are always placed into a tree format you have your leaves that drift away every time a wind blows by or they might even stick on till fall comes and it starts to get cold, you have your branches that grow with you but break off as soon as some pressure is applied to them, then you have your roots who never leave and supports you all year or life long, and you are the trunk or the body of the tree yes you may be cut down but you will still have your roots to help keep you nourished.

Back On Campus

Well now I'm back at NCCU. It felt so good to be home, to catch up with JTH Alumni, see my Nana, and get some real sleep in a real bed. I started my break off by helping my Nana cut collards and cook them, make homemade potato salad, snap beans and corn, etc.. Then my best friend came by and we did some brief talking and then she went on her way back home. Wed. I went and got my hair re-cut, highlight, and dyed. I really liked it, I just knew I was TOO CUTE!!! My brother Taurus came in from DC and he picked up my Uncle from Fayetteville. Then on thanksgiving I ate my favorite, chitterlings hot sauce and rice, OMG!!! I went to heaven... Then I went cross the bridge to Bladen County to see my daddy and the rest of the family...can you say grilled deer meat OMG!!! I left there full with the biggest smile on my face. Friday I was woke up 4 am to go and spend all the money I had earned on Thanksgiving Day...But I was able to get 2 pairs of Coach shoes, some pants, shirts, and a new pocketbook. I didnt get to go out this time I was home but next time we're gonna make up for this one.

Homecomeing week

Hey guys, Well it's homecomeing week and so far its been wonderful. On monday I attended the 106 & Choir ball... We mocked Bobby Jones Gospel and 106 & Park. Bringing back the old school jams like "WHO CAN I RUN TO" by Xscape and some new jams like "IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER MAN" by Jazzmine Sullivan. Tuesday we had Tye Tribett and GA. Where W.P.I. got the chance to open up for him. We song 4 songs and we rocked it. Wendsday we had a Talent show but I didnt get to attend (I had a paper to write). Thursday was " TO KILL A RUNWAY" which was the fashion show. Now that was too nice, music, dances, and modeling. Now today is the legendary Step Show. This will be done by the Greeks. I attended it in 9th grade, but I loved it then and I know I will love it now.

Fall Break

October 16-19...So deiced to go home for break which was a 2 hour drive man was i tired but anyway here's how my run down went.
Friday (16)- 8am Spanish I class-she didn't cancel class like my English teacher did :(
9:15am Left the Bull City Whoo
11:00am Returned to my home town Wilmington went straight to get my hair washed and cut
2pm-9pm Went to my besties house, went to Bladen county to see my fathers side on my family, and went to olive garden
Saturday (17)-10am Back over besties house, spent the night, ate Crab legs, stayed up to around 1:45am
Sunday (18)- 9am-1:20pm Church at Miracle Rock Ministries
3pm Dinner at Grandma's House
Monday (19) 11:45am Back on the road to Durham

I always like going home, because it's a sentimental time. I get to shower without flipflops, sleep in a room by myself, and not worry about getting up in the middle of the night with people playing on my floor making loud noises. But sad to say my next trip back home won't be till Thanksgiving (yay I get to gain 10 lbs. and won't lose it walking back to my dorm lol)....

W.P.I

Coming to college is about education and networking. Classes should always come first in your daily assortment. Then follows networking, when you get out of your dorm join some groups, create a circle of friends, and become a person who has knowledge of how to be serious and how to have a good time.
In September I joined a group called Wordship, Praise, and Inspirational Mass Choir- WPI. is the nondenominational student gospel choir of N. C. Central University. We sing various songs from Youthful Praise to Ricky Dillard. This is a group of students that accepts you as you are, every one is considered family, and they have a realistic spot in their heart for religion.
There's about 45- 60 people involved in W.P.I which is a pretty big crowd, but everyone manages to know when someone is missing or even if they see you out of practice they will stop you to see how you day has been going. Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 til 8:30. This year for homecoming we are having Tye Tribett perform and we are going to be opening up for him which is truly a blessing.

Awesome God - Ricky Dillard & New G

Relationships

These are my best friends and so far the only ones that I have remained in constant contact are 2. I love my "Thugmisses" {insider} we're all off doing educational things to help us better in today's society. I spent Labor Day weekend together and ended up having too much fun. {pictures are not for every ones eyes}. KKKR Me being the loud one, Kayla being the musical one, Juciey being the keep it real mean one, and RaShon being the baby momma but these are my girls.

It's been 2 years and our love for each other has yet to fade instead it gets stronger. This is my Twanny, my teddy, my baby...And I love you with every ounce of me.

OMG I'll call you back I'm going to take a bath... I'm doing homework... my phone is going dead and I'm not in my room to charge it... you have 7 new voice mails... press 1 to hear new voice mails.... This is what I go though in a long-distance relationship; but I know he wants me to be successful, and I want him to be as well.

Classes, Homework, and Commitment

Well once again I'm back on this blog... This time it's about the classes. I have 16 credit hours so that's 6 classes per semester. That's one 8am class of Elementary Spanish1 a 9am class of English 1110 a 10am class of Dimensions of Learning and a 1pm class of Fitness.... but this is only on Monday and Wednesday and 2 on Friday. My Tuesday and Thursday classes are Introduction to American Government at 9:25 and Heredity and Society at 11:35 where I'm the only freshman. So far I have taken 3 test and 2 pop quiz...exciting right?:) My professors tell you what they want, how they want you to do it, and when it's due, but if you decide to do it, that's up to you.

In my English class we are in the process of writing a reflection paper about something that changed the way we look at things or someone who had a great influence on our lives... Which we only had a week to write... I was so confused because I'm use to getting at least a month before any paper happens to be due. My professor is the sweetest woman in the world; she's funny energetic and outgoing but she let the students and myself know that this is now college and that things will be passed to you on short notice. Then on top of all that we are reading Obama's book Dreams From My Father, I felt as if my little world was coming down.... But I regained myself and made my effort to keep pushing.

¿Como te llamas? Me llamo Katrina. Yo soy inteligente. Yo soy agradable....My Spanish has never been better. While, I was in high school I just did whatever to pass, besides my teacher was easy going so therefore you ask her a question (even during a test) and she would give you an answer. I thought I was through with Spanish I hated it with a passion but now I can actually live with it.

This only happens to be a break down of two of my classes but there's four to go that I will cover in a later blog. I love college and nothing can keep me from doing what I have to do besides myself. In the words of my mother, "Stay strong, know who your help comes from, and know that we love you and are proud of you."

The Intro.

A girl that has been kept away from harms way, someone who looks to God first, a person who considered a "newbie", yet she will always be herself and handle hers. This girl is me, Katrina J. Blanks. Born and raised in Wilmington, NC with 1 brother who is an Eagle Alumni and 1 sister.

This is my first year @ NCCU let alone in college. I have only been here for 15 days and have felt like my world had been flipped upside down, but yet I still stand. I have delt with home sickness, slight roommate problems, and going from a place where everyone knows you to being almost invisible. The classes have been fairly easy but the teachers started giving homework the first day. I'm even in a biology class where I'm the only freshman, so I decided to always be ahead of the game (studying every night, taking notes on while I read, and testing myself).

My first week here my mother came to visit from Wilmington two times, which made me want to go home even more. I'm use to being at home in my own space doing things my own way, but when it came to living with someone I found it hard to do, because you have to think about whether they want the TV on, if they want to take a nap while your talking on the phone, or if they being company over and you don't know or want to see anyone. My roommate and I both had to compromise and communicate more often. Since, we talked about our situation everything has been fine, and that's one of the main things about college: compromising and communicating. I have met some of her friends and they all seem pretty down to earth which is always a plus. One of my best friends happens to be back in my hometown attending CFCC while my other best friend is at UNC-C, so I'm pretty much left here by myself. But I believe as the year goes along I will find myself in a more "home" type enviroment. This is just the begginging because the best is yet to come.

Starting Up Something New

Okay this is going to be something new,but yet fun for me...