Caribbean City Type

Cristo Joven: “Quiero Mas”

Some of us have memories of when we had a band with our friends. You would practice at a friend’s house and their mom would come with food and drinks cause you guys were so hard at work. You had dreams of making it big. You would get the cute girls to fall for you. Get that record deal. But for some bands, it isn’t about the fame, or the money, or the girls and adoring attention. Some bands just want to play to worship God and use their gifts to spread God’s word to the world alongside your friends and brothers.

Today I have the honor of introducing (and re-introducing to some) Cristo Joven. A band from the Bronx where a 7 year old Stephanie would always poke her head in to see what was going on when she went to visit her cousin’s house. As teens, they would play for retreats in and out of NYC, played and served on mission trips and formed a brotherhood like no other. Fast forward to 2017, a now 20 something year old Stephanie gets a chance to interview Cristo Joven and introduce their new song “Queiro Mas”

Cristo Joven came about in the Bronx, NY when two teenagers (Daurys and Osmani) went to a retreat at the Catholic Charismatic Center. On this retreat they heard Jon Carlos sing throughout the weekend leading praise and worship to these young teens trying to find God. This brought them closer to God and also finding their calling to do the same. Bring the youth closer to Christ by music. With the help of Jon Carlos, Joan Sanchez, and of course God, they recruited their friends such as Thomas C. Ivan P. (my cousin!) and Carlos M. to join in their mission. A few years later, Robert R. came to join as well.

So now with this mission in hand, what’s it like performing in front of friends and strangers? “Very intimidating. And still at this moment I can say that I feel intimidated by the concept.” They said. “It’s a vital role playing for a purpose. And in this purpose is transitioning others to the path of God or continuing their path.”

Everyone encounters God in their own way. Some find him by reading the Bible and a verse sticks out to them. Others by a talk or homily and they’re describing their current state. And others by music. There could be one song that just makes everything click and you that becomes your song. Your testimony to God.

The song for me in particular is called “Toda Mi Fe” which means “All of my faith” which to this day is my favorite worship song over anything. This song has stood the test of time and is still played by many musicians in the church today. So how does it feel knowing that “Toda Mi Fe” is still being played?

It’s an honor. For me to hear others giving the song it’s own twist fulfill the song’s purpose. Just like “Quiero Mas”. The other day we had a great singer in Juan Grullon take his own spin on that song. It brings me chills down my spin to have someone take their time and record their spin on this anointed song”.

20106667_819082718265321_8287075903296714740_n — Source: www.facebook.com/cristojovenmusic/

Just like with any other group, separate projects such as Robert’s Solo album come about, as well as new ministries, marriage and children and CJ took a backseat for a while. So now here we are in 2017, Osmani and Robert have announced the return of CJ. What made you guys bring back Cristo Joven?

We have two reasons. Reason 1. Robert and I have this dream of sharing this strong messages to others. It’s not just in its live form. But also in it’s digital counterpart. We really want to help others in their daily drive or walk towards where your feet or car take you. It can be to work. It can be your home. It can be just on a run. We want to help others with a joint effort of other Christian artist, in their daily lives.

Reason 2: is our friend Xenia. She played a vital role with our music. She would preach and we would accompany her with music. It always come to mind when we did mission work and how it was a 1,2, punch towards defeating walls and boundaries that God’s children face everyday. Xenia suffered an accident in 2008 and is now bedridden, but her light and spirit still shine as bright as ever. Now that we have her sister (Lizbel) we have the mission statement going strong.

They have made their comeback with a new song on July 21st called “Quiero Mas” which means “I want more”. The song is speaks about a lost soul on a tireless journey that finally made it’s way back to God and wants to have more of God’s love. You can hear more about the song here

As for their hopes and dreams for this next chapter they have agreed and said: “it’s the Lord’s plan. I have no say on what happens next. I can just present it to him and see how he wants us to continue this blessed journey. But I can say that one prayer that stands through is that I have my brother next to me. They understand that what they’re singing isn’t just words put together by someone so it sounds nice. These are God’s word to us, His message of love to us. “In some way shape or form we are as important as the word that is being read to make our friends and family understand the importance of that moment. l with God.”

For many close friends and family, we’re thrilled for this return and new journey. And for those who are new, you’re in for a treat! Wishing the best for Robert and Osmani on this next chapter!

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An Update for when Life doesn’t go as Planned….

Portrait of stressed woman having head pain — Source: http://www.playbuzz.com

I’m sure we all had an idea of what our lives would plan out in the next 5 years. I saw myself graduating college, going straight into grad school, finding my dream career and husband and being married at age 25. Now, having recently turning 24, I laugh and go “aww” at my ambition.

It’s great to have plans and set goals, but at the same time, life will hit you with curveballs that you just didn’t account for. I didn’t get into grad school the first time. Or the second time. Or the third. (Forgot how competitive my field is). I’m not engaged or even in a steady relationship. But for many of my friends, my plan came true for them. Many of them entered grad school and my social media is flooded with engagement pictures and sappy captions.

And there are days where you wonder: “Did I do something wrong?” “Why are they living my dream now?” “I feel stuck. I feel left behind.”

After chatting with some friends, doing a little soul searching, and a glass or 2 of wine later, I came to accept my current place in life. I may not be where I want to be, but I am where I’m supposed to be. It’s so easy to focus on what you don’t have and forget about the many things you do have.

I’m not in grad school now or diagnosing speech disorders in a classroom, but I did get hired as an assistant teacher to one day become the Spanish Immersion teacher. And who doesn’t want to teach adorable little kids Spanish? I’ve gotten to work so closely with the teens in my parish and to watch them grow and become future leaders themselves is probably the most rewarding part of the year.

So there isn’t a special someone in my life, but I’ve been blessed with the greatest friends who constantly show me their love and appreciation for our friendship.

I’ve worked and edited my poetry which is on Instagram now if you choose to follow (instagram.com/stellerez) which will one day become a book if God allows.

There’s so many things that I’ve done that I’m super proud of that I can’t write (cause it would be a suupeeer long post) but this update post is just a reassurance that life doesn’t go according to plan and that’s okay. We all have our unique journey towards life and we don’t all have to achieve it at the same time. There is no deadline for any of your dreams so if it takes you longer than others, it’s okay. We’ll be cheering you on until you make it.

Thank You Jose Fernandez

When I imagined writing a post about Jose Fernandez, I thought it would be about him breaking records or entering the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, this post is not about that.

On September 25th, 2016, the world lost baseball’s best friend in a late night boating accident and the baseball world stood still. All teams honored him in their own special way; many hung jersey’s with his last name and number in their dugouts, David Ortiz offered a moment of silence for him instead of being honored for his retirement this year. And Jose’s team, the Miami Marlins, cancelled their game that Sunday.

What was it about Jose Fernandez that everyone loved him so much? For once, his story of how he got here is a true American Dream story. To make his dream a reality, he made multiple attempts to come to the US from his native Cuba, arrested at least twice, but did not give up. He finally crossed the waters and came with his mother to play.

He credits his love of baseball to his grandmother, who taught him about the game and was one of his biggest supporters. She eventually came to the U.S and was able to see Jose play on the field. His relationship with his mother and grandmother was one that touched our hearts and showed how important family is to him and how important family should be.

Anyone who has met Jose or has seen Jose play can attest that he is one of the kindest and loving people they have met. He had such a love for the game and his teammates that was utterly contagious to everyone he’s touched. The passion that he had while playing and watching the game showed how much this sport meant to him. It showed him living in the moment and just being grateful for living his dream.

One undeniable detail is his talent. Jose clearly was born and made for this sport and his numbers didn’t lie. Even going through Tommy John surgery, that didn’t stop him from leaving his mark in the baseball world. Making appearances 2 All Star Games, breaking Marlins club records for pitchers and winning Rookie of the Year for 2013. In a short amount of time, he grabbed the attention of many fans and experts who could not believe how good he was and can only imagine the great things he could do in a few more years. Sadly, we won’t be able to know how much more he could have done.

But this post is not one to be upset over. This is an appreciation and gratitude post. So I just want to take this moment to say thank you Jose.

Thank you Jose for showing us what persistence means. To continuously fight for what your dream is no matter how impossible it may seem.

Thank you for showing us to live life and enjoy every moment that we’re given.

Thank you for showing us that dreams do come true

Thank you for always giving us a reason to smile, whether it was by a great play or you goofing around.

Thank you for reminding us about loving your family

Thank you for making us feel like your family and best friend

Thank you for always giving back to those, especially the youth that want to play

Thank you for your humility

Thank you for being an inspiration and motivation to so many of us.

Thank you for your passion

Thank you for your heart

Thank you for your love

I hope you enjoy the field of dreams in heaven and may your legacy continue on in the years to come. We miss you and we love you

Jordan Fisher – 1st EP and the Next Big Thing

If you want to hear what angels sound like, keep reading.

So unless you’re a huge Disney fan, many of you (especially the older crowd) many of you may not have heard of Jordan Fisher until this year. He made his appearance on the show Liv and Maddie as Holden and was on Teen Beach 1 and 2 movie, with his song Wanna Be With You . He has many songs heard on Radio Disney and is popular among the younger crowd. And he made his big break to all of us on Grease Live! as the loveable Doodie. His song, Those Magic Changes, was one of the favorites of the night.

After that, everybody wanted to know who was this adorable soul and where they can hear more of him. Especially me with my tweets

Someone tell me who Doody is so I can meet him because marriage. #GreaseLive

— Stephanie (@Stephy_steph25) February 1, 2016

Now that I know @Jordan_Fisher is Doodie, thank you for "Those Magic Changes" one of the best performances of the night!

— Stephanie (@Stephy_steph25) February 1, 2016

This 22 year old Southern songbird from Alabama is as humble as can be; a video game, anime loving singer, actor and dancer who also did gymnastics back in his younger years. Anyone who has met him in person can attest to how kind and a joy he is to speak with. One interview here about some fun facts you can read here. He made many appearances in shows such as iCarly, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Teen Wolf. He’s known well in the Disney Channel world as a singer, choreographer and an actor and was ready to make his music career known to the world.

His first single, All About Us, hit waves this summer and had us all wanting more. Loving his fans so much, he spent his summer all across the U.S and out of the U.S performing and promoting his single and future album (which I did get to attend, yay!) Every fan that has met him can attest that he is beyond humble and makes every fan feel so special and part of the #FishFam

What makes him different than today’s artists is that his voice and his music brings you back to the days vibes of Usher combined with similarities of Nick Jonas. A talent that is hard to come by, singing effortlessly and agreeing that he is an undeniable talent that you have to listen to. He has a huge presence on social media and takes you on his journeys everywhere and you can see how much he loves his family, his music family, and the hidden Starbucks menu.

His self titled EP, with 4 songs, brings you great music to dance to and sing to, together with lyrics that are IG quote worthy to post. To say that Jordan’ future is bright is an understatement and we can’t wait to see what else he has for us. Until then, enjoy his EP and fangirl along with him on social media on the great things of this world

Follow him on: Twitter || Instagram || YouTube || Snapchat – Jordan_fisher

I’ll leave you with my favorite song off of the EP ❤

Con mucho amor,

10 things I learned while Dorming

From the first two years I dormed at my college, I learned a lot about myself and how I live/deal with others my age. It’s different from living with your parents/siblings. These are new people with different families, stories and ways of life from you and you have to adjust accordingly since you’re both trying to make the best of this situation. Here are some things I learned while I was dorming at college!

1. You have to do things on your own

Mom was a true MVP. Not that I was lazy, but I was always so involved that cooking and laundry barely had any time in my schedule. So when I wanted a home cooked meal and it was only Tuesday, she was on the other line with step by step instructions. Doing laundry was pretty much a drag and a chore I disliked the most, especially when you had people who have no sense of time and left their laundry in the machine and it’s been off for 20 mins. Your clothes gotta go!

If you’re not feeling well, you have to make your own appointments at the school clinic. Since you’re living with so many students at once for so long, you’re bound to get sick in some way or form. Hopefully you don’t have to go too much, but do take advantage of them and not wait till the next time you go home to see your doctor.

There’s only so much pizza and campus food you can eat before you get insanely sick of it. So making pasta sides and rice were some of the ways I got by. Also when I went home, I would stock up on some goodies, saving me tons of money on my meal card. I was treating everyone by the end of the year!

2. Call home as much as you can

Your parents are worried about you, as much as you want to deny it. And you miss your parents. It doesn’t have to be an hour conversation, but just to keep them up to date on how school’s going; your roommates, your classes, your health, etc. If your parents know how to video chat, even better!

This goes for your neighborhood friends as well. Your best friends that are now way more miles away than you are used to, call and video chat with them as well. You know school is not the same without them.

3. Have a good relationship with your roommate(s)

No one says you have to be best friends with your roommate. No one says you have to hate your roommate, but you should have a good relationship with them. One that you’re able to communicate with them and hang out with them from time to time. You’re gonna see the person/people a lot for the next year, so you guys should be able to live in a peaceful manner.

Speak to them before move in day and see who will be bringing what so there isn’t any repeats of anything. Celebrate their birthday and decorate the room. Spend a night in and watch movies on ABC family. Also, let them hang out with their other friends, and your friends. Be considerate of their needs and differences and try to make the room and environment as comfortable for both as possible.

If by any reason you guys cannot live together, speak to your RA and the RHD (residence hall director) to see what steps have to be taken in order to solve the problem. It can range from just talking it out to somebody having to leave the room. Don’t let the drama build up.

4. Bond with your floor as much as you can

As much as you’ll see your roommate, you’ll see your floormates a lot. Some you’ll have class with, some will be friends with some of your friends. These people will become a family in some sort of way. Not every single one, but there will be a select few that you’ll draw close to and make the dorming experience that much better for you.

Some of them can throw great sports parties, be your connect to some of the greek life parties and some can be good at hair and makeup and can hook you up! These might be your future roommates, best friends, wedding party, significant other…who knows?!

5. Take advantage of the campus activities

As much money you are paying for dorming tuition, there are a lot of free activities and groups to join after the school day is done. They usually involve free food and a friend or group sponsoring the event and it’s a great chance to bond and meet new people! Since your home is only a few steps away, there really isn’t much of an excuse for you to not go out and enjoy yourself. Unless you have a major paper due tomorrow, in that case, turn up at the library.

6. Keep your room clean!!

I cannot stress this enough. This is more for the guys because the stench of B.O by 5 guys is forever embedded in my soul. The struggles of making more guy friends than girl friends. But please do make an effort to have a cleaning schedule, cleaning the bathroom, kitchen (if available in your room) and your personal space. A clean and well organized room makes you feel better and it’s only less thing to stress about. (Besides that paper that’s due tomorrow)

7. Have a good relationship with your R.A

Your R.A is in charge of your floor and can be your best friend or worst enemy. Some are pretty easy going, and some are very difficult, so it’s important to stay on their good side! They can make or break your dorming experience so it’s good to be friends with them and ask them for advice on some college questions you’ll have.They can be a great source of wisdom!

8. When your other friends come and visit/stay over….

It’s great when your friends come over and see how you’re living and they get to spend time with you! Also there will be times where it’s too late for your friends to catch a cab home so they’ll have to crash for the night. Tell your roommate(s) in advance (part of the whole communication deal from before). Try to leave your roommate’s side of the room untouched and unused (especially when they are away)

Make your guests feel welcome and make the appropriate accommodations (space for them to sleep, places to put their bags and necessities). Be mindful of the rules of your dorm building and make sure your guest is aware of them. Again, there are some strict RA’s and RHD’s out there so better to be safe than sorry.

9. You will be homesick

You’re gonna miss home. Most likely the environment is pretty different from home. You’ll miss your parents, your siblings, friends, and the atmosphere of the neighborhood. So there are times that you should take a weekend home and catch up with everyone and just enjoy being home for a while. Some live to far away from their dorms to experience that so take advantage if you can!

10. Enjoy your mini freedom!

Dorming shows you what you know and what you need to learn if you ever want to leave the nest! Enjoy it while you can because it brings about some of the best memories of your college career! So take the time to meet people and enjoy the ride!

Con mucho amor,

What should be in your college bag

So this post is mainly for the Freshman but anyone can benefit from this post. So you’re in college and you’re not taking 8 classes M-F anymore. There are less classes but more work. But if you’re prepared it won’t be that bad.

Don’t feel that all of your school supplies have to be expensive. There are some things that are worth the money and some that you can find cheaper and work just as well. Remember that each class is different so you might have to add a few things here and there. Here are some things that should help make organizing your bag helpful

Planner

Without a doubt you need this. You’ll have 100 deadlines to make, activities, events, going home/vacation that you need something to stay on top of it. Which planner you want depends on you. Each one is different; big or small, either just monthly, just weekly, or a mix of both. I really like any small planner that has both a monthly and weekly page. I have 2 planners; one that’s a school year and another for just 2016. Both were from Deals at a good price. But if you really want to treat yourself to a Lily Pulitzer, go ahead lol

Notebook or Binder or Laptop

This again depends on you and the class. If your professor allows laptops in class and you feel more comfortable taking notes there, then by all means. I’ve learned that I’m not that person at all, I’m way more old fashioned. But if you are, make sure you have it all organized by subject, topic and date. Use Evernote, One Note, or Notekeys.

I’ve also tried using binders for classes that call for more PowerPoint presentations than textbook readings. It’s a good thing to use if organized well. For example, placing tabs in the binder to separate either by subject or content. Having folders in the binder to help organize papers you may not want to hole punch like these. Decorating the front cover is always nice to do. Use reinforcements for the loose-leaf paper so nothing rips. If you fear that you might lose paper, then transfer the notes to your computer either by Word or One Note.

I’m as old fashioned as it comes and usually prefer notebooks. Depending on your class load and schedule, you can buy separate notebooks for each class, or two multi-subject notebooks (for example, one NB for your Monday/Wednesday classes and another for Tuesday/Thursday/Friday) or one big 5 subject notebook for the whole semester.

Pens and pencils

This is by far the most obvious but the most important if you’re not using your laptop. Have enough pens and pencils in case you lose one, it runs out or if the cute person behind you needs a pen. (That’s how it starts kids!) I’m totally kidding. But do make sure you have your basic colors, or if you wanna color code your notes to make it seem nicer by all means. Also, don’t forget the highlighters!

Expandable Folder/ Folder with Tabs

You’re not gonna carry 4-6 folders for each class. Why would you? Expandable folders make it that much more easier to organize your assignments, syllabus and past exams. There are two kinds that I use. The typical vertical expandable folder that closes and a horizontal one that I place in by book bag for easier access during classes.

Flash Drive

I can never stress how important it is to have one of these. I can’t tell you how many times when I would e-mail and essay to myself and it didn’t go through or the file got messed up somehow. Or if your computer crashed and your 8 page paper is gone for-e-ver. Invest in a good USB drive and organize it well. With all the papers that will come your way, you’re gonna want that little guy to come in clutch.

Post-its/Flags

Probably one of my favorite things. Idk what I would do without them. There’s so many ways to use your standard post-its, mini post,-its the mini-flags, etc. for your studying and note taking. Take this video to show you how to take notes from a textbook with post-its. I’ve recently started using transparent post-its and I find them pretty cool for now

Miniature things

Things such as a mini stapler, pair of scissors, hole puncher, etc. You get the idea. Again, these things come in clutch for you and your friends!

Charger(s)

Needed for all you smartphone addicts. And your friends that forgot theirs. Also invest in a small portable charger in case you’re in class and you don’t have an outlet near you or if you’re out and about. I got my portable one from 5 Below.

Personal items

Ladies- you know which ones I’m talking about. Also include any first aid kit items such as band-aids, alcohol wipes, etc. in case of emergencies. Minimal make-up for touch up in between classes. Also wipes, hand sanitizer, mini-perfume/cologne, you get the point. Gotta stay fresh. And money. Yeah that’s kinda important. Campus food will get expensive if you don’t have a meal plan, and money for transportation and impromptu outings like the movies or dinner.

Food/Water

Anyone who knows me knows I am a very cranky person without food. So have some snacks for class and in between classes such as granola bars, fruit, etc and drink a lot of water! You’re gonna need it when you’re running around from class to class to meeting!

Also don’t forget your confidence! You can’t fit that in your bag!

10 Things I learned my Freshman Year

It is with such a bittersweet feeling that I won’t be going to college this fall, (cause your girl graduated!) But don’t worry, I’ll be in grad school next year! But I can remember my first day of freshman year like it was yesterday and I still can’t believe I am a college grad. Nonetheless, here are some pearls of wisdom from an old hag (haha)

1 .The transition from All girls HS to college was interesting

I spent my 4 years in High school in an all girls catholic school. Although I did attend a Catholic college, it was still different. Instead of mandatory mass during the week, it was just a friendly reminder. Instead of being taught by Sisters, I had Brothers as professors. There are guys in my classroom as my classmates and not here for just after-school activities. And there were no uniforms. I have to think about what to wear now? ughhh. Although guys in my classroom weren’t much of a distraction (except for the occasional cute guy here and there), the environment and vibe was different from high school. But it’s a different world in college altogether.

2. Advisers makes mistakes, communication is key!

I will start off by saying the 3 advisers I had were beyond awesome, but the first one messed up. In my school, they make the schedule for the incoming freshman for the Fall semester (but you pick out your spring one). I’m not sure how I was filed under the ‘bio major’ category, but they placed me in a math class designed for bio majors. Imagine my surprise halfway through the semester getting ready for the Spring that my adviser asked me why I was in this math class if I wanted to be in the Speech department. Granted I didn’t declare yet, but it was already too late to drop it, and I was pretty upset since I don’t like math….and it was an 8:00am class.

I took care of my courses from that point forward and did pretty well with my speech adviser. Balancing cores, major and minor courses was pretty good after that incident. But you have to tell your adviser what you want and what you’re going for. Hopefully your college is diverse enough for the things you want.

3. 8ams are for the very strong (and I’m not so strong)

Again, Fall semester was not my lucky semester. My schedule was made that every single day I had an 8:00am class. It was pretty annoying because it is nothing like an 8:00am in HS. Getting ready in the early morning (trying not to wake up my roommate when I dormed) and find the willpower to even go to class was a struggle. Granted, by 12, I was done for the day, but it wasn’t worth it. There is a huge difference between an 8am and a 9am class.There are some times where you can avoid an 8:00am and sometimes where you can’t. My best advice is to find someone willing to suffer along with you. When I began commuting, a friend that lived in the neighborhood offered to drive me and we would make sure we had coffee at hand. It’s something I don’t miss about college. Not one bit.

4. Making friends is pretty easy (but keeping them is harder)

In the weeks that I was going to move into college, I thought no one from my high school was coming with me. I had a friend from home that was, but we weren’t going to see too much of each other because of the different majors we were taking. So at orientation, I made it a mission to get out of my comfort zone and make new friends. It was actually not too bad. 2 of them are now my greatest friends, and one because my roommate by the grace of God. When you’re a freshman, it’s easy to make friends because everyone is friendly. You don’t know anyone and they are going to put their best face out there. So freshman year, like high school, is like a honeymoon phase in your academic career. If you’re standing next to them at graduation (or if they’re cheering from the stands), then you’ve got some good ones.

5. Peer pressure is real, but not that bad

College is by far a new world for all of us. We’re all from different hometowns and cultures and we all don’t do the same things. I personally, didn’t like going out on my college campus (or surrounding areas) because that party scene wasn’t my style. I didn’t like house/EDM music that much and there wasn’t much Spanish parties around. So I stayed in. I also made a promise to myself to not drink until I was 21 (for personal reasons.) Many understood and didn’t badger me about it. Some thought I was old fashioned, but that was okay. I still went out, but I made sure the girls got home okay. Peer pressure is only as bad as you allow it to affect you. If you’re feeling too pressured by the people around you, then maybe it’s time to get new friends.

6. Roommate drama is real

I’m so grateful to say that in the two years that I’ve dormed, my two roommates have been nothing but wonderful. But there was drama even next door to us. Communication is soooo key, especially when you have to live with this person for a whole year. Some people can eventually get along, but some are beyond repair and alternate measures have to be taken. Sometimes you have to live somewhere else or leave the school altogether. But try your best to maintain understanding, you’re both in school and have your own stories, careers and cultures.

If you’re commuting, which I did the last two years, make as much commuter and dormer friends as possible. It’s great to have someone to ride home with and also someone to spend the night at their dorm if it’s getting too late to go home. Don’t just go to class and leave. If you can, stay a while and spend lunch and some free time with other people. Get involved and enjoy the campus

7. Organization is key

Please. Organize yourself. Too many times I’ve seen or done this. Missing papers and assignments because I didn’t organize myself well enough. And my anxiety would go through the roof. Depending on your professor, they can be understanding or have no pity for you at all. Many are assuming that at this point, you should be responsible enough to handle your assignments in an orderly fashion. And they should hold you to those standards, and so should you. Everyone has their own way of organizing things but make sure it’s effective. Invest in a good planner and write everything down. Do things early and get them out of the way.

Source: www.ru-screwd.com — Source: http://www.ru-screwd.com

8. Adult conversations are a must

One of my favorite memories of freshman year is the conversation that I had with 2 new friends that turned into a political debate. We didn’t go at each other’s throats, but expressed our views in a calm and understanding manner. It was refreshing to know that I could have such conversations and not just about which celeb is pregnant and unneeded gossip. You’ll hear more about elections, political views and laws, local and worldwide news and your views will be both asked and tested. Even though I went to a Catholic school, not all of my peers were Catholic. It’s important to recognize opposing views, as well as respectfully disagreeing and replying to opposing views. Take a look at the news, research and be informed.

9. You’re on a different path that won’t be smooth.

What you get out of college is what you put in. We can only blame professors and financial aid so much but there are some things we need to take the L for ourselves. Could I have studied better? Should I have dropped that class when I had the chance? Did I seek help from multiple sources? You will be disappointed in yourself a few times (especially if you’re a perfectionist) but it’s just another opportunity to learn and do better next time. You won’t always get a 4.0. Some classes are tougher than others. Some people have a better grasp of a subject than you, and that’s okay. Please don’t compare yourself and your success to others. Your path is different and so is everyone else’s. So worry about yourself and your path. It’s unique to you.

10. Enjoying the simple things

With all the assignments, projects and deadlines that you’ll have to pull your hair out for, always take the time out to enjoy the small things in life; the down time you will have with your friends, the activities that your campus offers, the view, movie nights, etc. Always remember to have fun and take care of yourself and remember that you’re doing the best you can.

Don’t count the days until graduation, make the days until graduation count!

Carlito Olivero and D.D.B.R.W.S

Okay so story time! Picture it! 2007, this new show called “Making Menudo” premiers. If you’re familiar with shows like “Making the Band”, then it’s the same concept. This show was to make a new generation of Menudo. Intros begin of all of the contestants and here comes this kiddo:

Something told me that he would make it far in the music world, but this kid had far exceeded my expectations. He had such charisma and talent that he stood out in a different way from the other guys. Which of course, worked out in his favor. He ended up becoming a member of Menudo with four other guys, doing performances all over such as Six Flags. Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and others. Fans loved watching them perform together and be silly together when they showed their adventures on YouTube. You may remember this song from back in the day…

Sadly, Menudo couldn’t go as far as many of us dreamed. With the album leaked and other issues arising, the band had to break up. Many of them either pursued other groups or did their own solo work. And Carlito was no exception.

He continued making his own music, with songs such as “Love Letter” and made covers such as “0-100” and “Swimming Pools“. He’s collaborated with J-Dash with this amazing song called “Tabloid Truth” He created his own website where he has a ton of free music and videos for you to enjoy.

Fast forward to X-Factor Season 3 and this happened.

And in that moment, all of the girls I knew from back in the day who were just as much fans as I were reunited and cheered him on all the way to the finals! Being #3 finalist was a big deal for all of us and we could not be anymore proud of him. But we all knew that this wouldn’t be the last we would see our Chi-Town kid.

He took a chance at acting, being in movies such as “We The Party” and “Chocolate City”. On the TV world, he was in an episode of “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Modern Family”. More recently, he has been cast in the 3rd season of ‘East Los High‘

But one of his more prouder accomplishments has been the release of his first independent album: ‘D.D.B.R.W.S’ which stands for Dreams Don’t Become Reality While Sleeping. This has pretty much been his motivation to keep on making his dreams a reality. It makes the difficult nights he went through all worth it to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The album in itself is 11 tracks of a story. When you listen to it from start to finish, you can see the story Carlito is trying to paint. You can see how the story grows from getting to know a girl, the journey and the end result of it all. The musicality of it all are definitely songs that you can hear at the club and on the radio as summer hits. Don’t think that he has forgotten his Latin roots, with some of the songs that have a Latin feel to them. Two of the more popular songs on the album are “Pon Ya Body” and “Find Your Way Back” . He speaks about the road to making DDBRWS in a video series on his channel: Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV.

You thought that’s all he does? He also has a clothing line called Harmonic Crescendo which all of his fans sport on a daily basis. which you can get on his website! He’s slowly but surely taking over the entertainment world in all aspects. As goofy and silly as this guy is, he’s so serious and focused on his work and people are starting to take notice and help that dream become reality. Some have known the potential since 2007 and some are just noticing it now, but better late than never to recognize real.

Carlito, I’m beyond proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished. Thank you for being an inspiration to everyone that if you dream it, you can achieve it. Thank you for bringing tons of fans and friends together through the power of music. This is only the beginning of an amazing journey and career.

Be sure to order DDBRWS on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon !!

Follow him on all his social media accounts: Instagram || Facebook || Twitter || Snapchat – Carlitoofficial || YouTube

I’ll leave you with my all time favorite video of him P.S Carlito, if you ever see this, this needs to be on the next album, or at least available for download. Kay thanks!

Starts at 1:39

To my crush that isn’t ready…

I can be really cliche and say that I saw you in a crowded room and from that moment, I knew you’ll be mine. But this isn’t Hollywood and I’m not that much of a girly girl Disney romantic (just slightly).

To be quite honest, when I first saw you, I thought it would be the last time I did. I didn’t set my hopes too high and thought of you as another good looking guy that would have been nothing but an attractive memory.

I was actually in the midst of a very complicated relationship at the time that I met you and you were the farthest thing from my mind. You kept popping into my life so unexpectedly, also with the help of social media and mutual friends, which made me question which one of you had to stay. The more distant he was to me, the closer you came into my life. This wasn’t supposed to happen, and yet, here I am, writing this post, waiting for you to respond to my text.

I have a really bad track record in relationships; cheaters, liars, manipulators and guys who have just been the definition of cold. And yet, you have completely broken the mold. You can’t even compare to my history and for that I am thankful. Your qualities are everything a girl SHOULD be looking for in a relationship and best believe that it is on my list. You’ve given me a different sense of happiness and peace that few people have been able to give to me…

But I know you’re not ready. The thought of a relationship is the furthest thing from your mind and this post will not help at all in making that a top priority in your life anytime soon. And that’s okay. I’m glad that it isn’t. I’m glad that you’re putting other things first, like your family, career and yourself. Please be selfish and continue to grow into the man that you’re supposed to become.

And it’s okay, I’m not ready either. As much as I’d like to lie to myself and say that I’m ready for a relationship, I know that there is so much more growth for me in all aspects. I can’t demand a man with x,y and z qualities if I’m not working on or having those qualities myself. I’ve been in many relationships where I was lifting the guy up and being pushed down in the process. I’m also not waiting for a guy that’s so far ahead of me that I feel I have to rush my progress. I need someone to walk alongside me and go along for the ride. Sure there will be bumps, but you won’t be too far to help me. I want to choose you not because out of loneliness, desperation or to say I have a boyfriend so I can show you off on social media. I want to choose you because I am comfortable with myself and who I am, and you will be there as an enhancement. I promise you that you will not be my whole world, but just my favorite part.

I can write 1,001 reasons as to why you should date me right now (and with valid reasons), but there’s no point to that. I’m not someone that you force or push a good sale at like I’m a cheap piece of jewelry. People know the worth of diamonds and pearls and don’t need a spokesperson to let them know that this is something of value. I am a person of value and my actions and character can attest to that.

There is probably a 99.9% chance that you won’t even read this, and if you do, you probably wouldn’t know it was you. And that’s okay. I’m not trying to speed up the process or light a fire in you to notice me. This was probably more for me and my readers to have another insight on life. You and I may up in a relationship. We could get married. We could never leave each other’s friend zones. Heck, you could be talking to some other girl right now. And whatever the outcome may be, I’ll be content with it. Because I know God will not give me someone that belongs to someone else.

I’ll be praying for you.

East Los High: Season 3!

If you haven’t watched Hulu’s original series, East Los High, stop and watch the first two seasons ASAP.

If you’ve watched the first two seasons and can’t wait for season three, fear not because we’re only days away from it! Cause you and I both know you missed this theme song:

East Los High is nothing like you’ve seen before, different from your mother’s and abuelita’s novelas. but still packed full of drama, love and dancing! This show takes pride in their latin roots, with a full latin cast, music from Spanish artists such as Becky G and Sanchia, and problems going on in the world such as teen pregnancy, STD’s, betrayal, kidnapping, sexuality, domestic violence and falling into the wrong crowds all while teaching the viewers. It’s not only seeing them go through the experience, but having people telling them the risks and consequences of their decisions. The viewers have seem to enjoy the series, since season three is now here!

Each season has focused on a different main character, trying to get through life even when others make it seem impossible with peer pressure at an all time high, and circumstances that are beyond their control. What’s great about this show is that you not only see the struggles of the main character, but on the other characters as well. East Los High has taken some favorite and memorable characters and we’ve seen them grow before our very eyes. We’ll continue to see our favorites that we’ve loved since season 1, Ceci and Jacob, grow before our eyes and teach these youngsters a thing or two about life.

With every passing season, the drama gets more and more intense. With all of the cliffhangers that were left at the finale of season two, viewers are dying for season three to come out so we can have all of our questions answered. Such as:

Will Ceci say yes?

What happened to Nick?!

How will Camilia face her monster?

Things we can also look forward to are the new addition to the bomb squad: men! Yes Ceci has now decided to bring guys along for the bomb squad ride. We’re introduced to four new handsome members: Eddie, Omar, Luis and Santi who will bring some more fire to the Bomb Squad!

Another piece of good news is that East Los has new cast members such as Christina Milian, Catalina Moreno and JD Prado to work along side the old and new cast members.

east-lost-high-new-cast-members — Source: Latinpost.com

Catalina Moreno plays Carmen, the mother of bomb squad member Eddie (played by Carlito Olivero) who is trying to give her son the best life possible. This isn’t an easy feat for her because she is undocumented along with having failing health. Prado will be playing Jesus, a new guy who has to work with Camillia. Your mysterious bad boy to the T shows Camilia that there’s more to a person that meets the eye. Christina Milian’s character Lilliana, will also be working with Camila, but as her mentor, showing her the ins and outs of the music business.

Make sure to follow them on all the social media! Official Website || Twitter || Instagram || Facebook

We’re a few days away from season three and I for one, can’t wait to see the drama unfold! Enjoy the binge watching this summer kids! Until then, I leave you with this Bomb Squad tease!