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Hi Friends,

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview someone I truly admire, R. Michael Thomas of www.thafeedback.com. Get to know someone who entertains people around the world everyday and who has a deep, dark college secret from his past.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I’m in the middle of uploading this week’s vlog and it’s taking a little bit longer than I thought because it’s a Skype interview.  In the meantime, let’s talk about school son (because they’re randomly on my mind).  USC has a number of songs that are hard to keep up with…the fight song, the alma mater song, the other 5 fight songs….

I’m a little ashamed to say that I don’t know.  I don’t think I know the words to the school song.  Maybe there aren’t words to the school song.  Let’s see….

…after doing some Google research, I found out that “All Hail” is the school song and was written for the finale of a student show.  Here it is being performed by the SoCal Vocals, a popular a capella group on campus.  It’s the first song.  The second one is “Tusk”, one of USC’s many fight songs (Bruins cover your ears for that one).  Maybe someday I’ll learn the words.  What about you?  Do you know the words to your school song?  Have you even heard it before?

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Today’s vlog features yours truly! Enjoy!

So what’s your story? JamTown

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Hi Friends,

Check out my interview with Jessie Payo, the lead singer of Jupiter Rising, a pop/rock/funk duo whose music has been heard on CBS’ Criminal Minds, MTV’s The City, The Hills, My Super Sweet 16, & Making the Band 3, the Disney Channel’s Jump In! & Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior and on commercials for Chevrolet, Fox Sports & Major League Baseball.

Be sure to check out their music and visit their official website for a FREE music download!

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Hi Peeps,

I’m still waiting for a part to come in the mail for my video camera to be fixed.  Since I have a bigger presence on YouTube, I may do a little less blogging.  Not sure.  What do you think?  Nevertheless, I have truly enjoyed my break, but I’m looking forward to hearing your college stories again!

College Survivors: What are some things you miss about your college days?

JamTown’s Response:

• Not having to worry about the real world.
• Having all my friends across the hall or 5 minutes away.
• Free stuff, free food, free concerts.
• Student discounts.
• USC football games in the student section.
• The amazing classes in the cinema school.
• Riding my bike all the time.
• Trips to the 24 hour Dennys at 1am.
• The parties.
• Eating lunch with my friends everyday.
• Singing in the gospel choir.
• Buffets in the cafeteria.
• “Meeting of the Minds” (or girl talk) with my friends.
• The immense amount of randomness that occurred on a daily basis.

So what’s your story?

Hi Friends!

I’m back from a much needed break and I still wanna hear YOUR COLLEGE STORIES!  I hope those of you who still have summer breaks fully enjoyed yourselves  and are ready to hit the books again.  Welcome to all my new friends.  Feel free to check out the college stories and the college vlogs.

I am so excited for what’s to come with Wooden Nickels and I can’t wait to share my updates with you.

• College Survivors: What was the best/worst part of heading back to school?

JamTown’s Response:

The Best: reuniting with friends, football season, free food, partying, one step closer to graduation, more advanced movie screenings in film classes, dance company, gospel choir, riding my bike to class, meeting friends for lunch, thai plate express (open til 2am).

The Worst: buying overpriced books, the return of all-nighters, moving in, papers, department of public safety on their chariots, standing in long lines.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

• College Survivors: Where were the places on campus where you were most likely going to see long lines?  Did you avoid the lines are brave them?

JamTown’s Response:

Financial Aid gets the #1 spot.  This office had long lines most of the time.  I think that is consistent among most colleges too.  Also, the bookstore had long lines, even with their 10 cash registers.  Most of the popular food places on campus like Carl’s Jr., La Salsa, Wolfgang Puck’s, Betty Crocker, and every place worth eating had long lines.  Sometimes, the lines in the workout rooms could get long for machines like the elliptical.

Most of the time, I would just suck it up and wait in line.  But I hardly ever did that for the financial aid office.  I usually planned my days so that I could go to the office in the early morning hours and beat the rush.  Because out of all the lines to stand in, I don’t think there’s anything worse than standing in the financial aid line…it’s pure agony.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

• College Survivors: Did your parents ever visit during parents weekend?  Was it a positive experience?

JamTown’s Response:

My parents were never able to come during parents weekend when I was in college.  It would’ve been awesome if they did because there was so much activity going on during that time.  It would have been a great way for them to experience some of the staples of USC life, especially the crazy, hype atmosphere of football season.  I also usually performed with the Gospel Choir and there were all kinds of dinners and concerts with big-name artists each year.  One year, Nancy Wilson performed during parents weekend.  It’s one of the many highlights of my college experience.  I was floored by her youthfulness, her beauty, her stage presence, and her amazing voice.  And while my parents couldn’t be there (and they really wanted to be there), I was fortunate enough to have my oldest sister come in their place…and that was something I was truly grateful for.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

• College Survivors: Did you have to deal with any fellow students or friends overstepping their boundaries?  How did you handle it?
• College Dreamers: How would you handle someone overstepping their boundaries?  Would you confront them?

JamTown’s Response:

Oh yes.  I did have to deal with habitual line-steppers.  I even had to deal with one that was a professor (refer to College Vlog #4).  To resolve my issues, I would pull them to the side and talk to them…most of the time.   Other times, I found that those kinds of people just need to be ignored.   Sometimes people are aware of their behavior and sometimes they aren’t.  But more often than not, a situation that’s actually affecting your ability to be productive or situations that are consistently affecting you in a social environment need to be nipped in the bud.  And you wanna respond sooner than later.  Otherwise your feelings may erupt in a way you don’t want them to.  But the habitual line-stepping from people you come across in life…that won’t ever go away.  There’s always gonna be someone else who gets out of line.  So if you don’t know how to handle it, start learning now.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!  The best birthday gift for my birthday month would be to lock down an executive producer for this film.  We’ll see what happens.

Here’s a funny question.

• College Survivors: Did your college have many opportunities for students to get free food?  Did you take advantage?

JamTown’s Response:

Oh my gosh.  If a student at USC was really focused and organized, he could get a free meal probably every day of the week.  There was always some organization or department having a meeting and/or function that was open to the student body and serving food, as well.  Most of these groups had food at their events because they knew it would attract a crowd.  And it definitely did.  Residential Advisors at the dorms and apartments across campus would have free food events for their residents, as well.  I knew a few people who would bounce around from meeting to meeting about things they had no interest in just to get a free lunch or dinner.  Sometimes it can be that crucial, especially when you have to deal with the expenses of attending a private university.

And you too, College Dreamers, can take advantage of this great opportunity for free nourishment.  Here’s what you need to do.  Keep your eyes open as you walk the campus and peruse any flyers posted.  Most organizations will include that they’re serving food on their flyers.  If your college has a newspaper, check it for postings about meetings and school events that are also serving food.  Lastly, keep your ear to the street as you go throughout the day.  You’ll probably hear fellow students or dorm mates talking about the free meal they are going to get for the day.  Keep listening for details or do independent research to find out more info.

I did a combination of meal plan + free food plan when I was in school and it worked out very well for me and my budget.  Now my College Dreamers have the tools to do the same.

So what’s your story?

JamTown