Digital Story rough draft

Tom Gilchrist

November 17, 2010

AMST 100

King

                                                            Story Rough Draft

            I never really thought highly of school. I always figured baseball would take me anywhere I dreamed to go. Playing at a large university was my goal from the day I stepped foot on a ball field. I always pictured college in such a way that it got my hopes up. I dreamed of having the girls, cars, and clothes. My mom always stressed “Get your work done, or you will be sorry”. I never believed I would actually be sorry. I finished high school with a decent GPA, but nothing extraordinary that helped my case in athletics. It was a nightmare that had come true; I was enrolled in a junior college for the fall of my freshman year, in a state halfway across the country. You wouldn’t believe how much I hated myself at this point. My mother’s statement just hung over my head like a virus, while I kicked myself in the head for not believing her words.

For the next two years, studies were my main priority. I was married to my classes. I wouldn’t say it was the most love filled marriage though. After picking my grades up and finally becoming a student, I began to realize what was important in life. Who knew being stuck in a small desert town in Colorado could change a man so drastically. Arriving home, it was like my life had set to fast forward. Everyone around me was in such a rush and people were so rude and inconsiderate. Was this me? Is this how I used to treat people? Again I took that size 13 and kicked myself in the head. I had changed myself for the better. At this moment, baseball took the backseat to my morals and reputation. I was a new and better man, and I thank my mother for that.

Always have faith and trust in your elders. Their wisdom over shadows all that we may believe true.                               Word Count: 308

Public School: The Good and The Evil

My best educational experience took place on June 1^st, 2008. I woke up that morning knowing that I had finally made it to graduation. That day I thanked god for blessing me with the life that I was given. Many people are not able to experience the feeling of graduating high school. The energy, nerves, and joy bring all of senior class together for one final moment as adolescence. Walking across the stage, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I had closed a chapter in my life while starting a new one. College was 3 months away.

Words: 98

The worst educational experience that I have ever had occurred in elementary school. Teachers described me to my parents as a very energetic kid, but I don’t think my parents would have ever guessed that I would be an angered child. One day on the blacktop during recess, one of my peers decided to push me to the ground out of anger. In response I charged him and shoved him to the ground. I had broken his arm. For the next two years I was forced by the school to take anger management. Talk about your all time backfires.

Words: 99

Reasoning is Life

                Life is one big collaboration of choices. Our future, happiness, and lifestyle is based on our reasoning when making these choices. My mother always said, “you win some and you lose some, but whether you win or lose is up to you”.  I have always been a person to believe that you cannot control the outcome for everything. But as I grew up and matured, I realized that it is possible to play the cards that were dealt to you, the best way possible. To succeed, you must fail at some point in time. But, the failure can be analyzed by seeing what we did wrong to spark the failure.

                But what happens when something great occurs in your benefit and you have no idea how it happened? I believe everyone has a story with this theme. The past two years have been tough on my family. My dad lost his job late in 2008, he wasn’t the only one affected by the fall in the economy.  Life for several families including mine was flipped upside down and the dreams and aspirations were put on hold for me. Not having the funds to attend a good university, I decided to take a full scholarship to a junior college in Colorado for baseball. Although this wasn’t my first option, I realized that it was what needed to happen to keep my family from going bankrupt. The decision to go to Colorado was one that I made in the best interest of my parents, not me. After two years in junior college things have remarkably changed. My mom received a raise spring of 2010 and my dad was told that he could file for early retirement. Suddenly, things were falling back into place. I felt proud to know that I helped my family out in the long run. The sacrifice and one small choice in my life, made a huge impact in another. I believe everything happens for a reason. For all the bad things that happen to you, eventually one right move will change everything for the better. 

words: 347

This Generation Sucks!

 If I had to describe our generation in one word I would have to say we are known as generation “Screwed”. I believe in this title because we are the youth during a time of conservation. Because of the faults of our elders, and our habits of consuming the earth’s natural resources, we as a society are on a slippery slope to another great depression. With constant advancements in technology, money will continue to go to waste. We as a society and generation are completely “Screwed”.

Words:86

My Home Away From Home

As I step through the large, overwhelming gate, it hits me. The smell of beer residue and over-priced hotdogs fills the air. I am home. The players get loose, while the thousands of faithful fans take their seats. The excitement is building up. With my glove in hand, I hear the umpire speak the god like words, “play ball”. Everyone that has been there has a special story to own for the rest of their lives.

This magical place is Camden Yards, the home of the Orioles. It is important to me because of the rich culture that the orioles share with all Marylanders. I saw my first baseball game around the age of 4. From then on I have always wanted to be a professional baseball player. I am still pursuing that dream here at UMBC. I know other people can relate to this because the atmosphere at Camden Yards is something that is unexplainable unless you try it for yourself. The impact the stadium has on us spreads across all areas not just those around Baltimore. The food served there, the autographs, and the drunken fans is something that cannot be found anywhere else in Maryland. Nobody has left an Orioles game disappointed. Well, except for the past few years unfortunately. If you haven’t been there, I recommend making it out to a game. This game and place is what made me who I am. It gave me my identity.
words: 250

Place Matters Draft

As I step through the large, overwhelming gate, it hits me. The smell of beer residue and over-priced hotdogs fills the air. I am home. The players get loose, while the thousands of faithful fans take their seats. The excitement is building up. With my glove in hand, I hear the umpire speak the god like words, “play ball”. Everyone that has been there has a special story to own for the rest of their lives.

This magical place is Camden Yards, the home of the Orioles. It is important to me because of the rich culture that the orioles share with all Marylanders. I saw my first baseball game around the age of 4. From then on I have always wanted to be a professional baseball player. I am still pursuing that dream here at UMBC. I know other people can relate to this because the atmosphere at Camden Yards is something that is unexplainable unless you try it for yourself. The impact the stadium has on us spreads across all areas not just those around Baltimore. The food served there, the autographs, and the drunken fans is something that cannot be found anywhere else in Maryland. Nobody has left an Orioles game disappointed. Well, except for the past few years unfortunately. If you haven’t been there, I recommend making it out to a game. This game and place is what made me who I am. It gave me my identity.

words:250

The Goods, The Bad, The What the Hell is She Wearing!

Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga, System of a Down. These are three of the most popular musicians around and about in today’s music scene. But, along with the music comes the media and publicity scene. Who has the hottest latest trend? Who has the best outfits? These are questions that would never have been asked about back in the 1960’s. The plain laid back hippie lifestyle was the in thing. We all know that the use of marijuana played a major role in the culture, but to the public’s eyes, there wasn’t much diversity. Think of the popular names of the 60’s, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. All of these groups had an influence to drug use and dressed about the same.  Now days, you cannot find any musician wearing the same outfit to an awards show.

          The world of fashion in the sixties held an “anything goes attitude”. Colors began to flow throughout clothing, along with patterns. Looking at the UMBC students of the 60’s, not much was different from what is described. Very few were clean cut when it came to hair, and when it came to shirts and jeans, colorful button-ups and bell bottoms were worn. Jimi Hendrix played a major role in the color scheme of 60’s clothes. When performing on stage, Hendrix would wear a bright colored scarf around his forehead, then symbolizing the anything goes attitude. Music was provocative and told stories of the musician’s journeys through life.

          Since the 90’s, clothes have changed dramatically themselves. The button-up of the 60’s transformed into the flannel worn by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Pants went from being heavily baggy, which were worn mostly by gangster rappers like Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.  This was the era of the rebels, the grunge, and the notorious. Now days Rap has transformed its culture back to a conservative 1950’s look. While at the same time, certain artists are beginning to wear outrageous outfits that resemble the dada movement. These artists are role models to our youth, and will continue to influence fashion upon them till the end of time.

words:350