Anyone who knows me minimally-so is undoubtedly aware that I’m a victim of vices, and I’m not typing about the redundant ones–drugs, sheet business, explosives–or anything like that. Those never interested me much. But I’ve always been drawn to some sort of sensory stimulation through visual and auditory arts. More specifically, I’m super addicted to record albums, film movies, and professional wrestling (NOTE: not so much sports entertainment). Books are a distant fourth primarily because my favorite books tend to be ABOUT these three things, so writing is interlinked.

I am far more interested in writing than I am books.

I don’t know if these obsessions have anything to do with my being some sort of rabid, hyperactive, raccoon thing, but the excitement I get on days where I am able to just blaze through an abundant amount of these, from one to the other to the next to hopefully never the last, is such a rush. It makes this whole thing worthwhile to me, and fun! I would love for more people to have that energy and the digestive tract that I have for interests.

Everything is SO f’n accessibly digestible nowadays that I think people are just bored with liking and searching for things to like, but that’s a topic for another blog post. 

We have this, like, super advanced internet thingy that makes, like, the quite very advanced internet thingy of our youth pale in-comparison. I remember, I wasn’t allowed to use it until I was 10, and even then didn’t REALLY know how to use it (specifically to “illegally” hunt down/pirate my interests) until I was 13/14. I remember waiting over an entire month to get wrestling results from magazines. I would either have to beg my mom to take me to a bookstore or supermarket that carried them (she didn’t let me watch), rip pages out, or pay some kids my lunch money to know what happened to Rey Mysterio on SmackDown.

Once I got a device that would carry internet that wasn’t from 1999 or whatever (an iPad 2 when I was 13) I really felt jipped. I remember I used to go to sleep at 11:30 and wake up at 3:30 every day in high school to watch as many movies and listen to as many albums before, during, and post-school hours. It was owed to myself to make up for lost time. So yeah, there is only so much time, but use it, abuse it, and work at it, because someday, you’ll be gone.

I know that that was all really scatterbrained but that’s kinda what it’s like to talk to me when I get got going.

Basically: Brandon really likes the things he likes, and is a vacuum for them. Every now and then you mess up dumping the insides into the garbage can, and they spill all over the floor.

Its funny how often I assign my own students assignment asking them to introduce themselves, and yet here I am dreading it. I guess talking about yourself never gets easier, but I believe talking about my “why” comes to me more natural. “My why” is associated with a larger life purpose rather than who I am in the present moment, which speaks to a larger issue is struggle with; acknowledging a sense of accomplishment.

I’ll start with the basics. I am a mother of four, who has had a non- linear path to education, taking extensive break before completing my undergraduate in English and a minor in sociology. I am hoping to complete my MA thesis in the spring with a focus on the colonized mind and its effect on establishing identity and the consequences thereof.

At heart, I am someone who care deeply about justice and humanity. I believe the basic fundamentals of humanity have been lost and replaced with insatiable greed and consumerism and an obsession with self rather than community. I love writing because it has been proven to be a very therapeutic outlet that has helped me navigate thought some of the most difficult times in my life.

I believe in supporting people and meeting them where they are at. I believe everyone deserves the right to live in a dignified manner. I believe at our core, we are all human and as a collective we need to enforce the true meaning of authentic community.

I’m Jasmine Dixon, I am currently a senior at Kean University. My major is English Writing and a minor in Psychology. I recently picked up a minor in Psychology because it is very interesting to me writing and thought it would be a great fit for what I want to accomplish in the future. I love music, writing, and spending as much time with my loved ones as possible.

Stepping into this new semester is quite refreshing for me. It gives me some time to decompress and apply myself in an area outside of BABIES! My fiancé and I welcomed twins into our home on April 29th, 2022. My 3 year old has taken the lead with her sisters which is amazing to me. I was trying to find a balance for both age groups in the house without having to make her always feel left out. She likes being a big helper which I have grown to appreciate, even if her help creates another mess; Through this world wind of chaos I have found some time still to still reflect every now and again.

I work from home now which suites me very well. I am a homebody and enjoy feeling comfy. I am in phase in my life where I have to be flexible, but prompt, Quiet, but heard, and making every moment count. Even now as I type this my power cord suddenly stops working. But it brings me back to how life is having me travel in this pattern of mystery. Unknowing can lead to worry, but I tend to look at the brighter side of the spectrum and sit as I can only imagine the good things to come. I have been told that I can live in a false reality but at the end of the day I am the only one who can be held accountable for what happens in this vessel of life.

Currently I’m in a time in my life where I am trying to gain more structure. I want to be more disciplined with how I live life because preparation enhances performance. My partner and I have been our biggest support systems with the help of our parents. Seeing the generations come together is something we have all waited for. Im maturing at the age of 27 quite gradually because I have had no choice but to jump right in.

Starting this new semester off I’m looking forward to the influx of new ideas and collaborations. I’m coming with an open mind and allowing myself to take the time to understand others opinions and see how they may be different from mine. As an English Grad student I love to get my point across, especially through social media, so I’m hoping that in this course I’m able to share new experiences and ideas with each and everyone of you.

As a side venture I started getting back into a game I truly love which is Sims. Since I was a kid I found so much enjoyment being able to create my own world and see how things would turn out if I had absolute control! Seems a bit selfish, but it really does help with my old tendencies of wanting everything to be a certain way. I have started expanding it and joining a discord in the social media world with it and I am happy to see where it may take me. I’ve been trying to do this for years and it never seems like I have had the time, and even though now I’m busy more than ever I feel like being able to get some relief from this game truly helps within my day to day.