Tips for Overcoming Personal Statement Writer's Block

It's that time of the year for seniors: College Applications! Dun, dun, DUN... For those applying to UCs and CSUs the November 30th deadline is fastly approaching. One critical element of the college application process (and in my opinion the hardest part) is writing your personal statement. A personal statement allows a school to get a glimpse of who you are as a person outside of the academics. Your personal statement gives you a chance to tell your story.

So, you may be thinking "What exactly am I supposed to write about?" Well the answer is simple...YOU. Your life experiences, amibitions, inspirations, etc. I heard many cases where people wrote about obstacles they overcame (like deaths in the family, pregnancy, drugs, etc) or situations that challenged them (i.e. growing up poor, single parent household, raising siblings). If this doesn't ring a bell for you, don't worry! Just because you didn't live a hard knock life doesn't mean that you don't have a story to tell. Talk about an experience that makes you unique, your hopes and dreams, why college is important to you. Everyone has a story that needs to be heard.

Personal statements for UCs and CSUs were open-ended when I was applying to college. (I think they ask you a specific question now) I didn't have a tough childhood (not to discredit anyone else's story) so I chose to write about my involvement in an organization called Young Black Scholars (YBS) and how it prepared me for college. I was honest about my experience, stating that I hated getting up early on my Saturday mornings to attend these college prep workshops. But I also explained the value in these programs and how they helped me develop discipline and an appreciation for higher learning. Yes, this was a simple story, but I was able to show my desire to excel and growth as a student. Writing my personal story was hard and required many, many drafts. Remember it can be done! Here are some personal tips to writing a great personal statement:

• Keep it Real/Stay True to Yourself. Don't make up things to make yourself to make your story sound juicer than it is. Be honest about your experiences.
  
• Get Creative. Don't just tell your story! Paint a picture and leave the school feeling like they know you. I started my personal statement with a funny anecdote to draw the reader in.


• Don't be Afraid to Expose your Faults. If you received bad grades don't be afraid to explain why. Or maybe you have a parent on drugs. Don't be afraid to show your weaknesses or talk about disadvantages that may have held you back. The key is to expose your faults and explain how you overcame them.


• Show Growth. It's important to show what you've learned from a situation.
  
• Don't Restate What's on your Application. Your application is like your resume. When writing your personal statement try to talk about a situation that isn't easily seen on your application. Allow the reader to learn something new about you.
  
• Answer the Question. Read the prompt carefully and answer only what they ask you. Try not to go off topic and definitely stick to the word count you're given.


• Peer Review: Ask your teachers, counselors, parents, etc review your personal statement before you submit it. It's important to get different perspectives during the editing process.
  

Good luck writing your personal statement! If you would like help, please feel free to contact me at BrownstoneMag@gmail.com

-- Tymika Morrison
Brownstone Team

What to Save and Spend on this Winter Season

Hey girls! Winter is quickly approaching and it's time to start taking better care of our hair! I know that sounds like a lot of work, but with the right tools, it’s actually really simple. All you have to is know what to splurge on and what to save on.

Shampoo: SAVE

Whenever I wash my hair, I just grab whatever is in the closest. You can buy shampoo from the dollar store or your local beauty supply store. As long as you make sure to scrub your scalp, your hair will be strong and grow healthily.

Conditioner: SPLURGE
Conditioner is the one thing that I will spend major money on. Conditioner helps tame my hair and makes detangling it so much easier. I don’t know where I would be without it and it’s the one part of my hair routine that I follow religiously. The conditioner I use is one by Paul Mitchell Instant Moisture Daily Treatment, it’s kind of pricey but it leaves my hair silky, soft, and shiny. I have to actually go to a salon to get it, but if you go online to they have a salon locator that carries the line.

Flat Iron: SPLURGE
From all of my experience with flat irons, I’ve found that if I pay for enough for one, it will last me forever! With less expensive flat irons, they work well for a while, but around the fifth or sixth time I use it, it starts to fizzle out or start to develop problems. Only after I finally bit the bullet and bought a more expensive Solia flat iron, did I notice how much longer it has lasted me. You can buy one on Amazon, for a little over $70. I know it sounds like a lot but trust me, it’s worth it.

Hair Dryer: SAVE

I know this sounds weird, spend money on a flat iron but save on a hair dryer. You would think these things go hand in hand right? Wrong. Because of all the heat you use on your hair, you should try to keep it all at a minimum. If you plan on flat ironing your hair, you should air dry your hair in a braid or up in a bun so you don’t damage your hair with unnecessary heat. If you can avoid using a hair dryer, then you should. However, I know that sometimes school or extracurriculars get in the way and you have to get your hair done quickly, so I think that you should look for less expensive hair dryers for those kinds of days. If you keep your hair drying to a minimum, a small inexpensive hair dryer will last you years! The last time I got a hair dryer I was around eight (and I still share it with my mom) so I can’t say that I have any solid suggestions, however all of my friends have said that they have gotten their hair dryers from Target and I found one that was under twenty dollars and is super cute! I’ve researched the reviews and talked to a bunch of my friends and I think that this is a great buy! They come in a bunch of different colors and I think I might pick one up from my local Target.

Hair Treatments: IT DEPENDS
I understand that taming your hair as a young African-American female can be a pain. Sometimes you just want to chemically treat it when it gets tough. Though I discourage you from doing so and embrace your natural hair texture, if you decide to do so, it does depend on what kind of results you want. If you want just a better way to tame your hair and keep the curls down, I recommend just buying a less expensive boxed treatment. But if you do decide to go that route, make sure to go online and research which boxed kits would work best with your hair type and what kinds of results you expect. Another option that would fall on the pricey side is if you want to completely get rid of your curl -something I strongly discourage! You would want to go into the salon and pay a stylist for a relaxer treatment. One thing you have to keep in mind with both of these treatment routes is that both require a lot of upkeep and you would have to touch up your roots every four to six months as your hair continues to grow, so that would eventually rack up the bill. When I was younger and I relaxed my hair, I used an olive oil based one. I found that it kept my hair straight and soft. You can buy it on Amazon for around eight dollars and it’s the best at home relaxer I’ve ever used.

There you go ladies! Everything you should save and spend on this winter season! I hope you all have fabulous holidays and winter fun!

-- Alexandra Scott (Berkeley High School, Age 16)

Jr Correspondent

Editor's Pick: Convertible Mittens

Okay ladies, this month I'm raving about my favorite winter find this season: convertible mittens. Sounds a little high tech, right? But, if you're like me and you have long finger nails, then you're probably used (and highly annoyed) to getting holes at the tips of your gloves. Not cool! Who wants to walk around with a finger poking out?

I recently was in American Eagle Outfitters and saw the cutest pair of mittens. It's kinda hard to describe, but basically convertible mittens are kinda like hobo gloves (gloves with the fingertips cut off), but the cool part is there is an attachable flap to cover your fingertips. So, if you're outside you can keep your fingers covered from the cold and if you're inside you can take off the flap so that your fingers are free and can still stay warm. Simply genius! I did some research to find out that these gloves are EVERYWHERE and come in so many cute styles (plain, strips, animal print, etc). This weekend, I bought a pair of dark gray convertible gloves from Target for only $10.99. I can't wait to get another pair! Check out these cute convertible mittens:

Forever 21 ($4.80)

Forever 21 ($5.80)

BDG Convertible Gloves ($16)

Mixed Stripe Convertible Gloves ($16)

AE Luxe Convertible Gloves (19.99)

-- Tymika Morrison
Brownstone Team

Decisions, Decisions...

As a kid, you’re asked pretty often “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never had a real answer to that question. I used to always say “doctor” just because it sounded good. It would impress people.

But, as you get older, you are expected to have more of a solid idea. A lot of students start college & immediately have a plan, know exactly what they want to major in, and get going. But, for some people (me included) it’s not always that clear. You’re still figuring out what you want to be.

I used to wish I were one of those people who would say things like, “Ever since I was a kid, I just knew I wanted to be a dentist… I just knew I wanted to be a dancer… I just knew I was going to be a teacher…” and so forth. Sometimes, it takes a while before it comes to you. But, if you’re in high school or college & you still haven’t a clue, here are some things I learned along the way that may help you as you figure it out:

Figure out what you’re good at and foster it. I’ve always been somewhat creative and I knew this about myself. I love writing, so I write often. What are your hobbies? If you enjoy drawing or singing or even math, try to be the best you can at it. You never know where it can lead you. You may even be able to make a living off of it.

Participate in activities that are related to what you like. Most schools have a lot of options for extra-curricular activities, like: the school paper, athletic teams, choir/chorus, debate team, student government, etc. There may be a group or club at your school whose specialty is something you’re interested in. If so, join them! You never know what you’ll figure out from it.

Research majors. Before you begin applying to colleges, take a look to see what majors they offer and what the requirements are for you to graduate in that concentration. It may help to match up your skills/talents with classes you have to take to major in a certain area. Looking at the kinds of majors the schools are offering can also give you some ideas.

Take general requirements. If you are applying for college or starting your freshman year, it’s okay to go in as an undeclared major. But, in the mean time, take those classes that are general requirements for all students. No matter if you end up majoring in music, engineering, communications, or pre-law, General Education requirements are… well… required. (Or, “Gen-Eds” as we called them at my school – UIUC, holla!) Those classes included things like math, science, english, and history. In order to maximize your time there if you’re undecided, load up on Gen-Eds. It will help you to stay on track to graduating on time.

Research careers that may interest you. One thing I realized is that there are a LOT of different careers out there; some that might be really interesting to you that you may not even know about! Once I realized I wanted to work in television, I then had to figure out exactly what it was that I wanted to do & what I was skilled at doing. My graduate school (shout out to Syracuse) really helped me figure that out. So even if you think you may like, for example, law, find out the various types of careers or specializations there are within law. You may be able to pinpoint something that will spark your interest.

Talk to people who do what you might like to do. These people usually offer so much wisdom & insight. Seek out someone who does what you’re considering & reach out to them if you can. Ask questions about their experiences. Who knows, they may even be able to help you out in the future. ;)

Much success to you all!

-- Chevonne Collins

Guest Blogger

Halloween Costume: Tricks Aren't for Kids

“Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girl can say anything about it." – Mean Girls

Gone are the days of the cute little fairy or big round M&M Halloween costumes. Enter our childhood's replacement: the sexy school girl and naughty nurse. Like the quote from Mean Girls says, Halloween seems to be the one day of the year when it's okay to walk out of the house wearing next to nothing. I am officially calling Halloween the "Who Can Wear the Least Clothes" contest! Some girls just have no shame. *shaking my head* Even traditional costumes (i.e. teacher, maid, police officer, referee) are made more provocatively. Let’s be real here, there isn’t anything better? Where is the creativity? We may have bypassed the kiddie section, but that doesn't mean immediate access into the video vixen club!

So, it seems like we’re left with two problems: (1) How to find an original costume and (2) one that is still respectable at the same time. Here are a few suggestions I hope you guys can take from:

• Go to the thrift store first. Some of these thrift stores should be called costume heaven because there is just so much you can find and put together that is probably cheaper than anything you can find online. I would suggest JetRag or Out of the Closet!


• Remix a generic costume. For example, instead of a police officer, try being a member of the SWAT Team or something. What about cute zombie or pirate? It’s so easy to forget that there are other costumes besides walking out the house like a Victoria Secret model.


• Be a celebrity. I’ve heard of many people being Nicki Manaj, Lady Gaga, Beyonce or Rihanna, but the cool thing is that celebrities have soooo many looks you could probably find at least 10 different Gaga or RiRi looks.


• Make it a group act. Going as a group is lots of fun! Be the Supremes, TLC, Destiny’s Child or even the Fanta Girls. This is easy because you can get really creative with your costumes. Just match in some way and you’re good to go! So who’s gonna be Beyonce?




• Bring the old school back. I'm sure you're heard your parents talk about how fun the 70's where. Why not go back in time and create a costume from the 70's, 80's, or even the 90's? For the 70's, you can find a pair of bell bottoms and an old afro wig to rock. For the 80's, get some leggings and an off the shoulder shirt. Don't forget the side ponytail! And for the 90's, try cross colors. Jump, jump if you remember Kris Kross. (lol...that was probably before your time)
  

The main point you guys should take from this is be creative and don't feel like you have to show off your whole body to have a good costume. A costume can be cute and still have more than five strands of fabric. Trust me, when you go out to any Halloween events you won't be attracting the right attention. Guys shouldn't only take notices of you because your assets are hanging out! Okay, that enoug of me sounding like a mommy. Go out and have fun, be innovative and try new things this year! Make your costume. No one else will have it because it was made by your own hands. Feel free to send us pictures (brownstonemag@gmail.com) of the master pieces you're created!



-- Rebecca Matey
Brownstone Intern

Politics: Not Just for Adults!

So on Friday, President Obama came to my school, USC! People weren’t allowed to camp out so they slept in the library till about 5 am and began lining up. By 11 am, the official time for gates to open, the line had become 4 miles long, wrapping around the ins and outs of the school! If you guys have been keeping up with politics, there are a lot of important issues on the California ballot such as the state budget, environment, whether to legalize marijuana and electing our next governor. President Obama came for a Democratic Rally to encourage and stress the importance of voting in this election. His presence was so surreal and approximately over 37,000 people were in attendance.

I know you’re in high school and can’t vote in the upcoming election, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t understand what's going on in the political world. Has your teacher ever asked you about a current event in politics and your immediate answer was, “I dunno” or “I’m too young, none of this effects me.” I know that in high school, I just followed whatever my parents said without knowing anything about the candidates or what issues they stood for. The reality is that eventually, you’ll be able to vote and it won’t be any good if you only choose whoever your parents are voting for or who looks better.

Politics may seem like a very boring topic, but think of it like this; Everyday people complain about gas being too high, no jobs, schools are too big, not enough teachers. All of these issues affect you too! You aren’t excluded because you’re not of age to vote. So, you might want to start caring about these issues and get involved now. Here are a few ways your voice can be heard:

1. Get Involved in a Campaign: Find an issue or politician you really love and help out in a campaign. This is an easy way to really learn about the issues and plans for the future. If you’ve heard about a politician that you like a lot or even a campaign, google them and see if they have any nearby offices. Contact them and see how you can get involved with their campaign.

2. Go to a Rally: Going to a rally with friends, seeing the celebrities that also support the issues, and seeing people like President Obama speak is so much fun! You hear what his plans are for a country that is just as much yours as it is for adults.

3. Join Organization that Promotes Youth Voting: Orgs like Rock The Vote and Youth Vote really bring a youth together, engage them in the issues, and also entertain them at the same time.

Voting is the only way to change things. We are the people and We the People need to make sure that our country is run well. Get into politics now and you’ll have no problem feeling insecure about voting in the future! Trust me, I wish I knew what half my classmates knew when I first got into college. If I went on a trivia show about our governors or senators, I would have probably gotten all of the questions wrong. So get to know about your politics now, therefore you won’t be so behind when it’s time to vote. Take a look at this video and see how much you know about our politics!


-- Rebecca Matey

Brownstone Intern

Tolerating Differences in Others

Did you happen to notice classmates, teachers or friends wearing purple this past Wednesday? Or maybe while logged on to Facebook or Twitter, you wondered why some of your friends’ or followers’ pictures were purple? Well Wednesday, October 20, 2010 was Spirit Day. According to The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) website, “the idea behind Spirit Day was first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month. Just like "Spirit Week" held in many high schools, Spirit Day can be summed up in three words: "Everyone Rally Together.” There was not a parade or actual rally, but just a simple opportunity to show support by wearing purple. Spirit Day is so significant now because of the recent media coverage of youth being bullied, and in some cases, bullied to death, over their sexual orientation.

We all have the right to express different opinions, however when we disagree with someone on something as serious as sexual orientation, it is important not to act out in a way that will harm others. The media has shared several stories about teenagers who have decided to take their lives as a result of the bullying. Media outlets such as CNN and People Magazine recently showcased the story of Tyler Clementi, an 18 year old Rutgers student who committed suicide after being bullied by his roommate. His roommate decided to live stream an intimate moment of Tyler online for everyone to see and make fun of. This was an extreme violation of privacy and as a result, the embarrassment Tyler felt lead to the decision to take his own life. No difference in opinion should ever result in a person wanting to take their own life.

It is imperative to recognize that bullying can be manifested in many different ways. Most of us may just think of bullying as physically hurting another person, but teasing, taunting, name-calling and sending harassing texts, e-mails or wall posts are also considered forms of bullying. Although Spirit Day prompted me to think about this writing this blog, remember bullying can come from anything, not just sexual orientation. Our ethnic or cultural backgrounds, style of dress or interests are all things people choose to pick on. I urge you whatever differences you have with someone, simply leave them as that. It’s ok to disagree, but causing harm to someone else is not the answer. Think about how important your life is and the lives of the people you care about. Remember the person being bullied is also someone’s sister, daughter or friend and we just don’t know how sensitive our words or actions are to them. Life is too special to be unexpectedly interrupted by bullying.

Most importantly, if you are being bullied or know someone who is, tell someone! If you are not comfortable talking to your family, friends or school counselors there are also anonymous options. LGBT youth in need of immediate help should contact The Trevor Project 's 24/7 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Sites like Facebook also have information on how to prevent online bullying. The resources are there, so if you need help please reach out and remember you are not alone.

-- Martine Rouzan

Brownstone Team