“Black lives matter” has become an enduring rallying cry of people protesting police brutality all over the country, and I agree. But I also think all lives matter. On the ESPN program “First Take” recently, Skip Bayless, one of the hosts, pointed out the irony that while black lives do matter, the fact is that more black people kill other blacks than police officers do. […]
My two favorite Tyler Perry movies are “Why Did I Get Married?” and “Why Did I Get Married Too?” The first is a comedic drama, released in 2007. It’s about the difficulty of maintaining a solid relationship in modern times. Four married couples (who also are college students) and another friend go to Colorado for an annual reunion, but the mood shifts when one couple’s infidelity comes to light. The reason I like the movie is that it teaches people about marriage by showing very real-life and honest representations of how some relationships work. […]
Years ago, when I first moved to St. Louis as a teenager, my friends and I would joke that all the interesting places, cool hangouts and fun events seemed to be in St. Louis County. We would hear about something new and exciting going on and – upon inquiring where – get the response “in the county.” It gave the county a certain mystique and glamour. It made me feel like I was missing out on something as a city dweller. My thinking began to change in my late teens and early 20s, especially after I received an unusual compliment. I had been attending Forest Park, St. […]
No season says fun and adventure like summer. Most people have more free time than usual. Students aren’t taking as many classes, and it’s the peak for traveling. If you’re normally too busy or stressed to pursue romance, this would be a perfect time to give it a try. A “summer fling” is a light, no-strings-attached relationship that usually lasts only a couple of months. People have been having them since way before Sandy and Danny sang about them in “Grease.” But if this is a new concept to you, here are a few tips: […]
Being a student with cerebral palsy at Forest Park has its challenges, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how accommodating people on campus can be. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to college because of my bad experiences in high school. I was bullied by other students and neglected by personal-care attendants. But a case manager at Paraquad encouraged me to give it a try. […]
It’s been three years since I joined the Global Faith Community, a multicultural Christian club at Forest Park. Its mission is to encourage students to meet those from other cultures, learn, socialize and explore views on Christianity. I did not have any friends at Forest Park until I met Erica Li, now the club’s faculty sponsor. […]
Summer is upon us! Some of you are going on vacation. Others are coming back to Forest Park for summer semester. Most students will be hanging around the house and working. What do you have planned for your days off? Understandably, most students have tight budgets and can’t afford pricy entertainment, but there’s actually a lot to do around St. Louis that’s free or cheap. […]
Black women have been cast in the lowest roles possible on television. Historically, they played housekeepers for white families or mothers on welfare, living in the projects and barely surviving. Other characters perpetuated extreme urban stereotypes: gum-popping ghetto girls with long weaves, short tempers, giant earrings and bad attitudes. […]
It was a sad day Feb. 27, when Leonard Nimoy died at 83 due to complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was a multi-talented man — an actor, writer, director and later a photographer. He was best known as Spock, the Vulcan first officer of the Starship Enterprise in the original “Star Trek” TV series. […]
I’m finally graduating from Forest Park after attending for nine years, off and on. I became very discouraged at times. I wondered if going to college was a waste of time and if I would ever get my degree. Today, I’m glad that I persevered and achieved my goal. I’m sharing my story in case there are students out there in similar situations who are embarrassed or feeling alone. […]
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