Hey World! Alright the whole world isn’t reading my blog, so hey Mount! Lol. Anyways how’s everyone doing? Summer is near, so I can’t imagine why anyone would be down. In case anyone was wondering why I write this blog, the reason is not only because I get paid but also because I can somewhat be a voice for the students of MSJ and also because I feel I have something interesting to say, every time I blog, that I think the people of the Mount might be interested in.

So this past Wed. March 24^th, 2010, I attended a scholarship luncheon hosted by the Mount in the Corona room for individuals whom received scholarships from the Mount’s generous donors. I expected the luncheon to consist mostly of students, but to my surprise sisters, faculty, adult students, and more were all at the luncheon. It was a great experience and very inspirational. While there; I met sisters, faculty, adult students that came back to school to get their degree and other young students like myself whom all received scholarships from the Mount. During the luncheon two students spoke and both of their short speeches had an impact on me. One of the students, who was handicapped, spoke about how his struggle in high school to fit in led to him having a subpar GPA and a loss of hope of attending college. Nonetheless, the Mount took care of him and changed his life by giving him an opportunity at their institution with a scholarship.

This luncheon really made me grateful for the financial help the Mount has given me while simultaneously giving me a chance to meet other individuals who received scholarships. With this being said I would gladly appreciate it if the Mount would award me an additional scholarship because I have had superb academic success since my enrollment at the Mount. So if you are a high school student or anyone searching for a good education and you’re considering the Mount I say go for it because their generosity in awarding scholarship is indicative of their generosity to help their students in the classroom and just in general. And before I go I have a quick example of this generosity. The other day I was having trouble opening my mailbox, and a janitor, who always has a great attitude despite having to clean up the ridiculous mess that some students make, stopped what he was doing to help me open it. It’s the little things like that, that make the Mount the institution it is. Alright I’m out for now but I will be blogging again soon, because I feel like I’ve been neglecting all my readers. Until then peace.

What’s up everybody? It’s that time of the year again, when on a daily basis you can expect jaw dropping upsets, where a Cinderella team emerges. You’ll experience heart stopping, game winning shots that hang in the air for what seems like an eternity before it torches the net. And last but certainly not least it gives millions across the nation the chance to be NCAA tournament gurus in regards to filling out brackets for how they envision the NCAA tournament will play out.

Now if you’ve read my blogs before, then you know how much I promote and brag about Chicago basketball players being so good. Well now I have evidence to make me credible. The best player on three of the four number one seeded teams , in this year’s 2010 NCAA Tournament, are from Chicago. And amongst the field of 64 teams, we have a copious amount of players from Chicago making us very well represented. Just to give you a quick list of the names of the Chicago ballers in this year’s tournament, we have: Sherron Collins of Kansas, the number one seed in the Midwest region, we have Jacob Pullen of Kansas State, the number two seed in the West region, John Scheyer of Duke, the number one seed in the South region, and Deandre Liggins of Kentucky, the number one seed in the East region. In addition to those players, we also have Evan Turner of Ohio State who is in the race for Player of the year and DJ Cooper, who is a young up incoming impact freshman for Ohio University.

So when you fill out your brackets, remember what I’ve been telling you about Chicago basketball players and you might be surprised how accurate your bracket turns out. Alright I’m out y’all.

What’s up my MSJ fans? This is your main man Najeeb signing in to drop another intriguing blog. If you don’t know already I am from Chicago, a city that literally breeds phenomenal basketball players. The reason is because growing up all we do is hoop and for some individuals in the inner city of Chicago, basketball is the only way out of the “hood”. I’ve seen some amazing talent in Chicago so to say that Michael Romes, a Kentucky baller, has really impressed me like no other is really a bold statement. For those of you who don’t know who Michael Romes is, well let me just say he is the greatest player to step foot on the courts of the Harrington Center.

Romes is from Villa Hills, Kentucky and is Beechwood high schools finest. Michael is an Athletic Training student like myself and he has aspirations of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. That’s just a little background information to show what kind of focus this guy has. What many people don’t know is that despite playing at a D3 school he has offers to play basketball professionally overseas and after a whole season of practicing with him and watching him abuse other teams during the season, I think he should continue his basketball career and pursue a professional career overseas in Europe. Michael is a 6’4 215+ SG whose game is extremely crafty. His jump shot is pure and his work ethic shows that he is the hungriest player to win every game bar none. So if you see Michael Romes tell him he should go overseas to hoop and if you have a facebook page join my fan page for Michael Romes. That’s all for now folks until next time peace.

What’s up everybody? I first have to apologize to all my MSJ fans and others reading for being M.I.A (missing in action). Things have been hectic with my hard academic schedule and the stress from our basketball team’s losing streak, however; that is no excuse. But anyways I wanted to talk to you guys in this blog about the barbershop. And I’m not talking about the barbershops in Delhi, Ohio that the people of Cincinnati are accustomed to. I’m talking about the Chicago style barbershop that usually caters more to the African-American population but will accept anyone. Some of you all may have seen the movie Barbershop starring Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer. If so this movie, based in Chicago, was a very good depiction of what the barbershop is really like. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, the barbershop is the black man’s country club. It is much more than a place you go to get a haircut. In the barbershop, barbers are cracking jokes all the time on any and everybody. If you don’t have thick skin, then the barbershop is not the place for you. You can always count on the local street hustler to stop by selling “CDs DVDs”. Old men are playing chess daily and constantly telling young guys like me how good we have it and I bet you’ll hear them say “back in my day” lol. As far as the barber is concerned, he’s more than just a guy that cuts your hair. As Cedric the Entertainer put it in the movie Barbershop; “See, in my day, a barber was more than just somebody who sit around in a FUBU (for us by us) shirt with his drawers hanging all out. In my day, a barber was a counselor. He was a fashion expert. A style coach. Pimp. Just general all-around hustler. But the problem with y'all cats today, is that you got no skill. No sense of history. And then, with a straight face, got the nerve to want to be somebody. Want somebody to respect you. But it takes respect to get respect.” And that is why I like going to the barbershop because the experience is one of a kind. So next time you go to the barbershop think about everything you’re missing out on and consider looking for a new barbershop where you can experience this. Look out for more interesting and intriguing blogs from your main man Jeeb soon to come. Thank God every morning for waking you up to live another day. Deuces.

I am still amazed right now.  This has been the most amazing day of the year so far.  I have so much going for me and I am sure many other people do too.  So I have decided that I am really ready to pursue different options and break out of my own stubborn ways.  I met this wonderful person who has opened my shallow leveled eyes.  I used to look at the glass as half full and dripping ever so slowly down to nothing.  No more do I think that.  College does not change you but has an influence on your changes.  The people you associate with, the person you date, your friends and family are some of the most significant factors in the development of a person.  I have noticed many changes in myself.  I am no longer shying away from things for fear of a let down or fear of failure.  We can not run from these good things because that small thing can get compounded by other small things.  However, if you direct it to it may also be compounded by good positive things in your life.

As I write I notice more and more how one event can bring someones morale up.  I really have become happy with the choices of my past because I would be the same.  I have many people in my life that have turned my look on school around. I finally see what hard work can do.  As I met a graduate student who is studying to be some sort of a Biophysicist I noticed I can do anything if I set my mind to it.  We all need to stay positive and good things should come to those who fight through the tough times.  I really have to say that this spring break was a spring break that will forever have changed my look on life.  We all should thank one person today for having a positive impact on our lives. 

I would like to thank Mike. 

You are awesome! One of a kind. Toast to ever lasting friendship!!!

Who will you thank today?

As I have mentioned before. Reflecting is a great thing to do.
God Bless!

So I noticed today that I am going into the RED ZONE!  My bank account is down to $15.00 I have a credit card bill of more than $200.00.  I don’t want to turn to my mom because as I am she is going through a tough time.  As I am lucky enough to have developed a great relationship with the management at Hollister where I work, I hope to get more hours.

College is rough.  It costs a lot of money and I know that.  I am lucky enough that my parents did what I hope to be able to do in my future.  My parents both worked 60-70 hour weeks and my father traveled for the longest time to help earn enough money to help pay my education.  I have to pay parts of it here and there but in this time of the slow economy I am picking up more of the cost.

I am going to have to stop shopping, buying groceries and cut back on going out.  I hate borrowing money from my mom.  It is really hard for me to say “Hey.  I know you have taught me to save and not spend but I need to borrow some money.”  She will make me pay her back before I am allowed to borrow more money.  It just stinks that I have gotten my hours cut back to 6 hours a week at $7.30.  That’s a tiny pay check.

Well I have learned my lesson finally.  I realize that these luxuries have to go and I have to buckle down for the time being.  I can’t frivolously spend my money anymore.  It seems we all have to make cuts.  I am going to have to sit down and realize what is important and what’s a luxury and what is a necessity.  We will get through this and then I can spend my money more freely yet still be saving more than I spend.  Hopefully  this time comes sooner than later.

So as you may have read I have been an aquatics junkie for the last 10 years of my life.  When I was a child I used to play in the sinks instead of washing my hands.  That is where it all started.  It all started with me having to take swimming lessons because we had pools on both sides of us when I lived out in California as a child.  (I grew up in Cincinnati and moved here when I was 6 turning 7).

Well here at the Mount I came in thinking oh great the pool was covered up by the wrestling room.  Well I can get it back! NOT!  I wanted to start a water polo team here at the Mount but there is just too much working against us.  Recently I have noticed that I have been giving up on things I worked so hard at in the past and I need to change that.  So I have decided that I am going to talk once again with a my friend who’s sister was the girls coach this past season.

We are going to have a hard road ahead of us.  It is a sport that we would be playing against schools that are much bigger than we are.  One of my coaches played for University of Dayton’s club team and we had a dual against them.  So they went easy on us teaching us more so than playing then all of a sudden they started these hoots and hollers and they were swimming like no other.  Mind you these are big guys!!!

Somehow I am going to have to generate some interest here at the Mount and the community.  My thought was to open it to other colleges in the area but I do not know how that would work out.  We have no pool on campus nor do we have a pool that we use off campus.  This is something I believe in strongly.  I feel I can do it.

The lesson here is to not let college end your activities that you were a participant in while you were going through your high school career.  I worked too hard to let it all go.  Maybe I can go and help coach at my old high school.  First off I have to get into shape no matter what I do.  Staying healthy is going to help me in and out of school.

I thought also of starting an Active Minds chapter here at the Mount.  That is a strictly collegiate program that helps to educate people to the signs of mental health issues as well as give people resources to seek help for their issues.  It is a great thing going to the Mount.  I like to think that the opportunities choices and fun is endless here.

So life has been pretty boring lately. Nothing really exciting going on in my life. My weekend kind of sucked too. However I did watch the 51st Grammy Award ceremony on sunday. That Chris Brown sure knows how to hit a woman. Coldplay, one of my favorite bands won three Grammy's that night I believe. The one thing that truely got me excited is that blink-182 showed up to present the best rock album of the year. Blink-182 has been broken up for 5 years. It was nice to see them on stage again. Then they announced they're getting back together and recording a new album. Now that made me smile. Blink-182 has always been one of my favorite bands growing up in High School. So I think I'm suppose to write more in my blogs. I think my boss wants me to have at least 250 words. Hmmmm....I've been improving on the piano quite significantly. I'm almost finished with my first book. The grades are good. The girls....well I don't want to talk about them *laughs*. Speaking of which I'm definatly not looking forward to this weekend. Another pointless hallmark holiday that has to make guys like me feel left out from the lovey dovey crap. Well think I'm going to treat myself to dinner and a movie. Taco Bell and friday the 13th. *sigh* Another lonely weekend.

Well today is election day. I've been glued to the tv all day excited about who the new president will be. It looks to me like Obama will be our next president. I was expecting McCain to win but both candidates look very promising.

Well now I'm more than half way through the first semester and I've learned a lot on surviving college so I thought I might share my college survival guide.

1)Don't skip class

2)Lock your dorm

3)Study For Tests

4)Don't Overestimate yourself

5)Don't stress, you can always bring your grade up.

6)Eat breakfast

7)Manage your time wisely

8)Get plenty of sleep

9)Facebook=bad

10)Join clubs and study groups

11)Don't Procrastinate

12)Don't play too many video games

13)Stay involved

14)Manage money Wisely

15)Work a part time job or on Campus

16)Stay in Shape

17)Go out and just have fun with your friends

18)Stay Connected with family

19)Get close to your advisor

20)Don't Give up!