Youthful Life: X

"Beauty is power; a smile is its sword." John Ray The process of becoming "pretty" or at least "prettier" has been fascinating for me. I vividly remember how people used to look through me, as if I wasn't there, as if I was invisible, as I wasn't even worth a passing glance. Now I get stared at, people do double-takes, and I feel too  seen. Couple that with the rarity of my deeply rich blackness in predominantly white spaces and its impossible for me to separate out what's the discomfort or fascination of me being black with me being aesthetically pleasing. Either way, I'm getting a lot more attention because of the way I look and I don't quite know how to deal with it. It seems like a fluke, a practical joke, or some kind of cruel prank but people are genuinely taking an interest in me. The compliments whether it be on my clothing, my smile, or my everything in general just come from every which way. I'm having difficulty a...

Being a teenager is all about reading signals and making moves. Let's be real, college is not only to get an education, but it's to find that special someone. It's about playing the field, working the room, and being classically "single and ready to mingle." To all the people out there who fear they may be #foreveralone - I'm right there with ya. It's because we're going about this whole flirting/dating/relationship/casual hook-up thing wrong. We've been trained to do it one way and one way only, but the reality is that way works a specific kind of person that we all can't be and definitely aren't. Forget it and let your body talk. Societal norms - whether we're aware of them or not it's what we base all our standards off of. People walk around and think that literally nobody they see on campus is hot because they're freaking looking for Taylor Lautner, James Wolk, or Armie Hammer - you're going to be disappointed, that...

Being a teenager is all about getting things going. It's about starting something up and making some progress. Our generation has a tendency to take a backseat (no New Boyz, you're not wanted here) to our own lives and wait for things to be handed to us on a silver platter. Sorry to burst your undeservedly privileged bubble, but it's to go to work and go after what you want (Cat Daddy - call me Spongebob). Have some ambition and take the initiative, make moves. College is one of your best opportunities whatever you want. The only person stopping you from doing something completely amazing. There's so much you can do, so many people you can get to know and places to go. What's stopping you from putting yourself out there and going after what (or who you want)? What do you have to lose (well other than your dignity and your reputation, awkward)? Think about all the emails we get on a daily basis from anyone and everyone has something to share. Job listings, intern...

Being a teenager is all about is getting caught off guard. You may think you're prepared for everything that comes your way, but no one and I mean no one can ever be completely impervious. You can't predict the future. You can't know what's going to happen - what do you think this is That's So Raven - no this is real life. You can only sit back and let things happen organically (not like the chemical science), and get awestruck, flabbergasted - hell, gobsmacked. College is one of those places that truly has no boundaries. I feel like it's everyday kind of thing where lines are not only drawn but crossed like a freaking Teen Wolf powder circle. You never know what people are going to say or do, it's only up to you to be in control of yourself and take responsibility for what you bring to the world and more specifically your campus. There are so many times that I think, "I would never ... say or do that" - and while that might be absolutely corr...

Being a teenager is all about getting your flirt on. Yup, I said it - every once in a while you've got to go out of your comfort zone and go after the cute girl across the way. When you see someone that catches your eye, it's that instant spark, the moments the surge of electric runs through you and it's like lightning. Then a few moments later you hear the thunder and that's the beating of your heart. It's about to go down, this is lightning. Going to the mall during the day is one of the weirdest things ever. I know it's like senior citizen time where they just go window shopping and browse around, but truth is - not all people in the AAA club are like Betty White. Some people love the oldies, but I'm a modern man and I prefer the kiddies - preferable days old newborns (that sounds really weird, I just really like babies). Anyway, my mom and I pick up my sister, Bianca, from her long day (an hour and a half exam) from school and we're off to down...