Reflections Magazine: Poetry Contest

Showing posts with label Poetry Contest. Show all posts

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Survival in College by Yasmin Moses

As I embark on the next stages of my academic career, I have met some incredible professors and former classmates who have become my peers here at Miami-Dade College-north that have become like family to me, and have kept me motivated through my turbulences and fears in completing my program,. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the College Prep Department and Reflections Magazine editors Professors Marlene Cueto and Bert Lorenzo. Thank You for inspiring me and helping me coordinate the first college prep poetry contest, and in instilling good values and etiquette in preparing for the college life. I wish you all the best, may God Bless you all. It has been a rewarding road to continue successfully in college; therefore, sharing this appropriate editorial for future students who enroll in college prep courses has come at the appropriate time when it can be useful to others because it has helped me in the regular college courses and will continue to do so in the future.

There are many survival tips for college students; however, I would like to share a couple of my own that I believe will be helpful from a student’s perspective. Here are my top 4:

Plan: Often I found many of my classmates cramming for tests, and trying to fit in their work and class schedules to study. If you have a daily routine where you work and attend school, take a 20 minute break for yourself. Plan your day according to what classes you have the next day, and 2 or 3 weeks prior to study for an exam.

Focus: If you are taking more than 2 classes each semester, you should focus on those classes individually. For example if you have classes Monday through Friday, and you also work, wherever you are at a specific time focus on that place and time. Don’t wonder about tomorrow’s class, or schedule unless you have an exam.

Stay calm: Remember the only way you cannot make rational decisions throughout your semesters in college is if you panic! When worse comes to worse just stay level –headed, and you’ll get through everything just fine.

Never say “I can’t”: I’ve learned from many of my College-Prep Professors that you should never utter the words “I can’t” because “You can”! If you think negative then negative outcomes will come to you. Never limit yourself in the possible things you can do.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Making a Change through Education by Mr. Darius Orjuna

Reflections Magazine: 2009 Poetry Contest Third Place Winner, Darius Orjuna
with Professor Marina Rodriguez

Hard road to travel, through the path we live;

Taking a dead end job, not knowing what an education can give;

We settle for something easy, instead of going for something hard

because at the end of a challenge there’s a reward, like a game of cards;

So if you choose a road, education is right.

Which one would you rather have, a P.H.D or a dead end job for life?

Monday, January 25, 2010

Education is Key by Mr. Odel Gonzalez

Reflections Magazine: 2009 Poetry Contest Second Place Winner, Odel Gonzalez
with Professor Sarah Garman

If knowledge is power, then education is key.

If knowledge builds towers, then education builds me.

My future, my life, however I want to be,

Only depends, on my will to achieve.

Don't want to be a statistic, my dreams reveal more.

Don't want a hard living, an easy way to earn more.

As long as I study, as long as I learn,

Then a change in my life will be on the road I turn.

It only takes common sense for one to be wise.

It only takes effort to clear darkened skies.

Education is future. Education is key.

Education is the means on which I build a better me.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

My Soul is Tired by Mr. Stevre Losse

Reflections Magazine: 2009 Poetry Contest First Place Winner, Stevre Losse

with Professor Lois Smith (left) and Sabrina Walters (right)

I’ve been there, I’ve been here

my soul is tired like the old man on the hospital bed gasping for that last breath of air.

I’ve seen friends die

brothers lie

mothers beaten and abused all because of a fathers' pride.

My soul is tired too weak.

It has been beaten to its weary feet.

It’s funny how she fought for us to sit in the front seat, but

we still choose to sit in the back seat.

We have been brainwashed but not of choice but because we made life such a disgusting choice.

Babies killing babies, brothers killing brothers, fathers raping daughters.

Is this what god intended life to be?

Stink an ugly like a fungus growing out of an athlete feet.

My soul is tired too weak.

It has been beaten down to its defeat.

It’s the holiday season and the hurricane Katrina victims still don’t have a place to sleep or eat.

Man is it me or government trying to keep us weak the land of the free the home of the brave.

What we should call it is the land of the deprived and the home built by slaves.

The rich get fame and he poor get shame. Shoot!

I’m thinking about sending Obama a copy of this to ask where the change is

because this world still looks the same.

But I tell you what is a shame how we still have not overcome.

Instead we put the blame on each others' name, so I say again my soul is tired too weak.

It has been beaten down to its weary feet it has been beaten down to its defeat. Can’t you see my brothers and sisters my soul bleeds

like maple seeping out of a maple tree?

Dame when will we be free.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

REFLECTIONS POETRY CONTEST 2009

A special thank you to all the participants and the faculty who encouraged their students to submit entries to this year's Reflections Magazine Poetry Contest.

Congratulations to the winners of the
2009 Reflections Magazine Poetry Contest!!!

Stevre Losse, Odel Gonzalez and Darius Orjuna

I also extend a special thank you to Lauren Ellis a

t Pearson Publishing for sponsoring and supporting this event for a second year.

In the next few weeks Reflections will showcase the winning entries and post additional photos, so please check back again soon.

Bert Lorenzo, Yasmin Moses and I thank all of you who contribute regularly to this magazine and have made this journey with us such a memorable and pleasurable one.
Marlene Cueto

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Falcon Times Newspaper Features Reflections Magazine

The Falcon Times Newspaper, the student newspaper of Miami Dade College North campus since 1961, features Reflections Magazine in the February 18, 2009 edition.

In her article, staff writer Krystal Mederos provides a brief history of the magazine, highlights the 2008 poetry contest winners, and applauds the efforts of our very dedicated staff.

As the magazine's creator I am very honored.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

2008 Poetry Contest: 1st Place Winner

Congratulations to Rachel Marshall!

1st place winner

Am I?

Am I too pretty for you?

Am I too complicated for you?

Or am I just too bright, exceptional, astute, smart, brilliant, perceptive, well informed, resourceful, profound, penetrating, original, keen, imaginative, attentive, reasonable, capable, ingenious, knowledgeable, creative, alert, quick-witted, sharp or just plain old discerning?

Or just call it clever because I just used twenty-three words just to say one thing.

Am I intimidating you because I'm outspoken?

I've learned lessons along the years

And so far my faith has not been broken.

Am I wrong to want to succeed,

Because I want success?

Or should I just follow along with your gossip mess?

I'm sorry that I stepped out of the box rather than to stay in it.

I concern myself with political issues such as the Gena 6

World wide issues such as the Genisi

My nation's issues such as how my president and I don't see eye to eye

Keep things on my mind

Like how I can save mankind

I want to be someone important so I will not sit to the side

Nor the back

But I will be in the front

Willing to pull any stunt

To prove my point

Because there is a point to all of this!

So you tell me the answer to the question I am going to ask,

So am I too refined, well-bred, cultured, mature, grown-up, cultivated, matronly, settled, skilled, rounded, broken in or just plain old shrewd for you?

Because I've got news for you,

When you close the magazine,

Turn off the TV,

Turn on the radio,

And your friends are gone and you're all alone

Open a newspaper

And read what has to be read

And the same issues that are in my head

Will now be in your head!

And then you can ask the question to someone else

Am I?

I want to help create my future so I'm not forever blaming my past…

I want people to have memories of me that will forever last…

I want to be that great poetic story teller…

I don't want to be stuck saying "I can do better".

And then you can ask the question to someone else

Am I?

Having mo better blues on a rainy day

And just because it raining that doesn't mean my sky has to be gray

My sun can still shine

And so can I!

I can drown in a flood and still can't wash away what's in my mind

I've taken plenty of time to perfect my mind

So again the question is…AM I?

College Prep Poetry Contest sponsored by Pearson Publishing, College Prep Department North Campus, MDC and Reflections Magazine

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

2008 Poetry Contest

The editors of Reflections Magazine send out a special thanks to all the contest participants, Geoffrey Philp and Pearson Publishing for generously sponsoring this event.

We are especially thankful to the family and friends who attended, and to the faculty and staff who always give their love and support to the students.

As Yasmin mentioned at the ceremony "We could not have done it without you all!"