Posts tagged arts

I always stress to people that in today’s world, determination is a trait that can set you miles apart from someone else. The strong will to do something or become someone would be real, if one keeps on a path of determination. I often say that nothing in life comes easy, and almost everywhere you turn there is a massive wall that always block your route to success. 

Whether you believe your destiny is written or you have full control of it; always remember to be your best! I personally believe its a mixture of both. Too often I see events occurring for the best, but at the same time those events could not have occurred without my interest in getting it done! 

I believe that many are blinded by what the term determination means. I often ask some of my creative colleagues why not get a ‘normal’ job. You can get up 5am in the morning, go to work and come back home satisfied that you have used your day to its maximum limit. I marvel at the fact that they don’t even have to tell me why. They are very determined to stick with the Arts and prove to the world that what they do, is a valid form of employment. There are many days that they are poor and many days that they are comfortable. I have no clue if the fluctuation of their bank accounts excites them. 

I honestly believe that no matter what your circumstances are, you can make things work for you. There are 24 hours in the day and there are countless things you can do to make yourself generally a better person. Volunteering develops the mind, and gives you a wealth of experience that guides you on to so many bigger things. Take this from someone who has been doing it for over 7 years. 

I am beginning to have hatred for picky eaters. These are the people who refuse to get jobs they know they can do, but because its not of their standard, they refuse to get into it. No one jumps the level on a corporate ladder overnight. I always tell my employers that I am interested in learning from the ground up. I want to know what its like to work at the roots of the organisation to how complex it can be to the top. The experience that I get would be wroth it in the long run. 

These days I am battling with an ill relative. Its hard, because its not really a walk in the park kind of illness. It requires constant care and supervision, but despite this I refuse to give up. As of now, I tutor students part time, and I make it work for me! The money isn’t near impressive, but the satisfaction and experience is worth a lot more.

Let’s all rise and smell the coffee and be the best that we all can be!

I had it all planned out. A nice planned picture perfect day coming back from my vacation. I got all my outstanding giemagazine assignments out of the way, since I had to attend Lilliput’s 2012 theatrical production for media coverage. I do not know who fooled me into thinking that I could get from Santa Cruz to St. Ann’s in about an hour. I need to keep reminding myself that I am living in a developing country that is congested by constant traffic, with no prescribed peak hours.

I have another issue. Is there no one living in St Anns? I completely forgot that people would be heading home at this late hour after work, so surely I was expecting rel ketch ass for taxi to get to Queens Hall. To my surprise there was a string of taxi’s  lined up going to St Ann’s on a late Thursday evening. My issue then became getting the taxi to be filled quickly, as oppose to running down taxis to get to Queen’s Hall. In the end I paid for the trip, because when it comes to Theatre Arts, I spare no expense. I reached 5 minutes late, and I nearly died because of it. One must always have respect for the arts, and reaching late is clear example of utter disrespect. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the private media viewing of the performance. Lillliput Theatre is known as the flagship for Children’s Theatre in Trinidad and Tobago, and last night they lived up to that reputation. If you guys would like to see the show. It’s being held at Queens Hall for the next three days.

Friday May 18th, 2012 7:30pm

Saturday May 19th, 2012 5:30pm

Sunday May 20th, 2012 5:30pm

Children $85.00 Adults $95.00

The show is entitled “anansi and the world wide web” and features social and political commentary through the voice and stories of Anansi the spider. Make sure to look out for the young thespians Christopher, Kenya, Shermake and Asia who I had the pleasure of interviewing for giemagazine. I would post the story on tumblr once its published. These kids were inspiring :D

After the show one of my friends called me to go out. Frankly I was very excited because I have been dying just to lime with one of meh ‘padnas’. However I must always remind myself, that some people are just born set ups! What amazed me though is that I was ready to put everything out just to have a good time last night with anyone! My finances went straight down to plan Z, and everything else that I had to do, just got pushed aside, all just to lime and hang out with a friend who I look up too so much.

I realized that sometimes I have to pull myself back and take a look at the situation and appreciate what you have. Last night I got a private viewing of a leading theatrical company in Trinidad and Tobago. Hello Shahad… in case you did not realize you have a life! It is with this life you should make the best of it! I eventually came home and sent out emails till 2 am in the morning. Since I got up I wrote up the article and continued sending out emails for our eco carnival pre band launch, which is really beginning to take shape. Even though I take d lil set up in good stride, I rel doh like it. I fed up get brace by people when I was younger, I could do without that feeling of worthlessness these days, since so many things seem to be going my way.

I love all my friends deeply, and I understand that inconveniences can occur from time to time.  But jed less talk and more action. That’s d game I play!

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel

2012 is not getting off to much of an exciting start as I had originally anticipated. Its basically starting with overcast clouds and the chance of an isolated thunder shower.

I got results for two of my Theatre Arts courses. The grades do not really matter, because all I am concerned about is my GPA standing. The grades that I got for these two courses dropped my gpa by 0.1 points. I know its a little, but at the same time, its quite daunting for me as I await results for my environmental courses. I know to myself that I always put in much more work for my major as oppose to my minor, and after some predictive calculations I can assume it would raise by 0.2 points for the better, or 0.1 point for the worse. In the end I am finding peace in knowing that it would raise before the new semester beings.

The new semester beings this Wednesday, even though the university classes begin on the 23rd. I am to report for classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm-5pm. Its horrible I know. I would be honest I am not ready to go back to classes. These are the classes for production 2 for my theatre arts minor. After suffering from the least impressive grades in the department, the last thing I want to do is walk back in so soon. They really did not give me a sufficient period of time to fully catch myself from this small downfall. 

I would have really appreciated if I had known about this before. They may have sent a verbal memo, but this department doesn’t use emails or online learning for anything. Its always word of mouth or notices on boards. Because I have to go to school early in the new year, I have to take time off from my part time job.  Thus I would be losing $112.50 every week. Who the hell is going to reimburse me? There is no choice in the matter, because to be honest I cannot afford to not have a job right now. I have to get books, as well as pay for at least 3 carnival fetes that I MUST go to. I can’t afford to play Carnival on the road…. but I could very well afford to go at least one all inclusive :D

Ugghhhh…. Okay the upside to this is that these classes are rehearsals for our production in March. Next year marks the 50th Independence Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago, and the production would be based upon this theme. We haven’t decided what our exact roles are, but I am hoping that I do not have to perform. I prefer to work on the production, rather than be on stage. The only reason that I want to work backstage, is because everyone wants to be an actor. Everyone wants to be a star. I personally am not for that. I would be just as proud to invite all my peers and tell them that I helped build this production and I would like them to come and see. 

So yes next week is gonna be all about rehearsals and all that fun stuff… but $112.50? Dread I aint go lie… that go relll hut meh! Every cent counts with me. I am contemplating to only attend two classes per week to get the gist of everything. If all three classes are mandatory, then I would have to kiss that money goodbye. 

I know part of my resolution is to have respect for the Arts, but having respect for the Arts is costing me dollars. I guess its a sacrifice that I would have to make….. bye bye vacation :(

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel