• College Survivors: What was the hardest part about starting college?
• College Dreamers: What is your biggest concern about starting college?

JamTown’s Response:

The hardest part was…adjusting to all the reading I was required to do.  I had course readers galore for every class and had to read hundreds of pages per class every week!  I was floored by it.  I thought…these professors surely didn’t expect me to do all this reading by their next class.  It’s not like I was only taking 1 or 2 classes.  I would take 16-18 units a semester.  But my professors were serious, which meant I had to get serious too.  It took a whole lot of discipline to do all that reading and I still fell behind in some classes every semester.  I would catch up somewhat by mid-terms and finals because I had to and my grades came out okay every time.  But College Dreamers! Be prepared to read or you will surely get left behind.  And there’s nothing worse than having a giant stack of reading to do while your friends are hanging out doing fun college things.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

College Survivors: Did you know exactly where you wanted to go to college? Or was it hard to decide?

College Dreamers: Do you have a first choice for college?  Or are you still trying to figure out where you want to go?

JamTown’s Response:

I knew exactly where I wanted to go to school.  I applied to some “safety” schools but those schools were really just for that…safety.  I had no interest in attending those colleges.  And actually, the other schools were in Texas because my family had a rule that everyone had to do their undergraduate studies in our home state.  However, my father knew that the best film schools weren’t in Texas.  So, I was the first exception to the rule.  The University of Southern California was my first choice for their film program and I was so excited (and relieved) when I was accepted.  It was my ticket to the west coast in pursuit of a dream.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

It’s vlog day!? Talking with an alum from another HBCU.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

I missed yall yesterday.? And I’m sorry if you missed me, but it was Memorial Day and I was living my life like it was golden all weekend long.? And let me tell you, it was the best weekend I’ve had in a long, long time.? In other news, I have been getting new subscribers almost every week for the past month or two.? Now, I’m up to 47 total from this website and YouTube.? This makes me happy.? Yall have to understand how grassroots this community is.? People are not drawn to the site because I’m doing a review of Beyonce or because I’m reviewing a popular movie or because I’m discussing some hot political topic.? We’re talking about education on here!? And the fact that people are subscribing because they enjoy the content brings me joy.? And I thank you.? (And please tell a friend to subscribe this week!)

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Question for the Day!

College Survivors & Dreamers What did your acceptance letter(s) to college look like?? Small envelope, big envelope?? What was your reaction?

JamTown’s Response:

USC has the best acceptance letter ever!? And I say this not really knowing what every college’s acceptance letter is like.? But their acceptance letter is so over the top, it has to be one of the best.? It comes in this really huge envelope that is thick and heavy.? So, I slowly opened this package 8 years ago with my family sitting all around in suspense.? And I pull out a folder that has the USC insignia on it.? At the bottom, it says, “YOU’RE IN!” in bold white letters.? I screamed, I danced, and I probably cried too.? It was the best feeling in the world.? The folder was full of pertinent info about housing, orientation, financial aid, etc.? But I will never forget that moment.? And so many of my fellow Trojans around the world experienced the same thing I did.? Not only did it make me feel special that USC was that concerned about how the good news was delivered, but it got me really pumped up to start school.? I was so proud to be a new member of the Trojan family.? I believe I still have that acceptance package stored somewhere with the rest of my tangible memories.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Response of the Day comes from a YouTuber & College Survivor: jcextra @ “Vlog Day! – More Roommate Stories” (Watch the video)

i had a terrible roomate from hell named Eric Garza in San Marcos in 1999. He was very terrible. I hope he reads this. He was so terrible, he didnt want to go to the freshman orientation and when i wanted to have friends, he said, it was not “proper to have friends”. It was as if he was in a cult. He would be eating ramen noodles and then they would disappear. He didnt want to talk about college classes or anything with me and he was very jealous because i was sociable and he wasnt

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In Wooden Nickels: CG did not have a car when he began college.

• College Survivors: Did you have a car when you started college?? Did you get one later?? And did you do a lot driving with it?
• College Dreamers: Will you have a car with you when you begin college?

JamTown’s Response:

I did not have a car when I started college.? I had a bike though!? Her name was Maggie.? And she was so great to me.? I still have her.? She’s in my garage, dusty and sitting on 2 flat wheels.? There were alot of bike riders at USC and while a nice walk throughout campus was cool from time to time, USC is huge and all some of the dorms are quite a distance from class buildings.? So my bike was an important factor in me not being late to class all those days my alarm clock didn’t wake me up.

I did get a car my senior year! I named him Boogie.? I felt so independent.? I didn’t do a lot of driving though because? I didn’t have a permit for parking at my building, which meant I had to park in the limited number of spots on the street.? And some of you probably can feel me on this.? When parking spots are hard to come by, you try to find reasons for not using your car so you can keep the parking spot you have a long as possible.? As a result, my car was really only used for the most important trips, which usually happened on the weekend.? But it was still nice to know I had a little more mobility? in the city of angels.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Hi Friends,

The vlog is up on time and everything!? What joy I have right now.?

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Tomorrow’s vlog will be a treat for my USC Trojans.? Get ready for it.? Make sure you watch and share your stories.

In Wooden Nickels: CG’s mother gives him a bus ticket to start his college journey.

• College Survivors: What was your mode of transportation taking you from your hometown to your college town?
• College Dreamers: What will be your mode of transportation from? your hometown when you begin college?

JamTown’s Response:

I took a road trip with my parents from Texas to California when I moved away to college.? It was hot.? It was long.? And it was hot.? I never really knew how big Texas is until I took that trip. ? Coming from a major city, I also didn’t realize how much of Texas is desert and country towns.? I can’t even imagine a bus trip from Texas to California.? It just makes me tired even thinking about it.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

It’s that time again.? Check out the interview I had with someone many of you may have seen before. Key words: TV Guide Channel and Chana.? You can do your own research to find out more (smile).? Keep spreading the word and sharing your stories!

So what’s your story?

JamTown

Response of the Day comes from cristine @ “Head in the Clouds.” You can find the original post under the “Aspirations” category.

dreaming??i?ve done a lot of this and since JamTown said a ?little? college still counts, i shall contribute.

first dream?.fly girl. in the early 90?s this was a new thing, i didn?t know anything aside from ballet so i had fun trying out the moves and practicing how to look cool in the mirror, it also changed my sense of style.

second dream?..oprah. this one is ironic because i?m not really talky unless i get to know you. i thought she was so cool, and like changed lives and stuff. i started wearing business suits and took courses for broadcasting. learned editing but i especially liked being in front of the camera. i thought i was meant for big things and could change the world.

3rd dream. producer. i love music, and feel i have a wonderful ear. back in utah i would listen to some of my favorite?s (then i was predominantly into hip hop so i?m thinking pete rock and cl smooth, tribe, black sheep, de la soul) i would dream that one day i would be in league with them tough like them. little girl from utah with magnificent skill?.my heart was so in it i did produce for a bit but it was way left field experimental

general dream?.to be a part of something big?.to start something big. since i live life by listening to my gut i experience things i never really thought of. eventhough my younger dreams haven?t exactly happened the way i pictured, the general picture remains. i continually find myself in situations where i?m like?.REALLY? PINCH ME?.IS THIS HAPPENING? the little girl painting is being lived but the exact details are filled in ways i couldn?t have imagined. i love it. now, i am focusing on filling in small details of my personal painting, trying to develop insight into me so i can be strong for myself and strong for others?.this is something i want to slow my big dreams down for. I LOVE DREAMING. I LOVE PROGRESSING TOWARDS DREAMS. (side note, JamTown u would make the most awesome background singer)

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In Wooden Nickels: CG moves into his first college dorm by himself.

• College Survivors: What was your move-in day like?? Did you move in to college alone or did you have help?

JamTown’s Response:

Move-In Day was so long ago.? My parents made a cross country trip to move my sister and me to California (she would be starting law school).? But after helping my sister move in, they returned to Texas.? My move-in day wasn’t for a week or so, which left me and my sister to do all the hauling.

Boy, was I grateful to have her there.? I was moving into a campus apartment, not a dorm, and so I had alot of stuff…including a bicycle.? I’m not sure how long it took us to do it, but we probably took our fair share of breaks.? I also met my roommate who was from Guam and I could already tell that she would be a character.

I was really excited about my new apartment.? The apartment building had just been remodeled, so everything was brand spanking new.? I felt so independent.? Besides a bedroom and a bathroom, I had a kitchen and a living room.? My mind was brimming with ideas on what to do with all this space that was mine (and my roommate’s).? I tried to figure it out as I read through the USC Welcome Week packet filled with events to break the ice with incoming students.? I also found out that I would be living across the hall from a pair of boys and I wondered what stories that would bring for my first year of college.

There may be more to tell, but that is about all my foggy memories will recall from that day I was released into the bubble they call college.

So what’s your story?

JamTown

This week zipped by so fast.? And it’s raining!? You know that it doesn’t rain in southern California!? Click here to listen to the famous the Tony!Tone!Toni! song that proves my point.

Response of the Day comes from Dani @ Have You Seen Your Grades?

Sigh, oh grades. Generally I am very competitive, but with myself. Well, that was until the first semester of college happened. I luckily pulled an A in Writing 140, but then slept through my Spanish midterm and ended up with an A-, never once opened my science GE book and actually partied the night before the final, and I generally didn?t care to put effort into my social issues GE (started the final research paper less than 12 hours before it was due). My GPA was fine, but I got super jealous of friends who?d been admitted into that freshman year honors society for people who?d gotten 3.5?s. That?s when the competitiveness crept back in and my New Year?s resolution after that semester was to never get below a 3.7. That?s the GPA I needed to get second-semester acceptance into the freshman year honor society, so it wasn?t arbitrary or anything. So that happened and I felt good. I realized making numerical GPA resolutions kind of made them happen magically.

After three semesters, I upped the ante and promised to never get less than a 3.9. And then to obtain the elusive college 4.0! The 3.9?s happened, but the 4.0 never did. And there was always some dumb class that I took ?for fun? that kept me from a 4.0. My favorites were: some kinesiology class (I don?t know why I pretended that that would be fun) that involved memorizing pretty much every word ever spoken in lecture; a class on hip-hop cinema that ALL my friends got A?s in; a screenwriting class where I was told I didn?t know how to express emotion; a philosophy class where I had food poisoning and spent half the final throwing up in a THH bathroom; and a sports PR class, where the corrections on my papers were ?Great job! ?A-?? I was really upset, and I?m sure it was annoying, but I get obsessive sometimes. Luckily some were 2 units, so it didn?t disturb the balance too much.

Overall, I did fine and my GPA bounced up after that sad first semester of freshman year. Once you learn the system, the partying and studying were very complementary, actually. But I always wonder what could?ve been had I ? um ? remembered I was at USC to go to school that first semester.

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In Wooden Nickels: CG gets the scholarship of a lifetime.

• College Survivors: Were you on scholarship in college?? What kind of scholarships did you get and what did you have to do to get them?
• College Dreamers: Will you be applying for college scholarships?? Which ones are you thinking about applying for?

JamTown’s Response:

I was on scholarship in college.? USC costs a pretty penny and most people that go there, rich or otherwise, get some assistance…whether it’s financial aid-based or academic-based.? It’s kind of silly to pay over $100K if you don’t have to.? I applied to several scholarships? as a junior and senior in high school.? Several of them, I ended up not using because they were scholarships for attendance at Texas colleges & universities.? I was sad about that because I got quite a bit of money for Texas schools.? But the dream was not to stay in Texas.? I was going to film school.? Texas schools were a backup.

I got one small scholarship from my high school, the Lady Catley Award.? It was named for a retired English teacher? and I was really surprised I got it because I didn’t apply for it and I don’t think I knew that it existed.? I had already received a four-year scholarship from my middle school, so I knew I would be getting some money all four years.? All you had to do was graduate from my middle school and have good grades.? In addition, I received a McDonald’s Black History Makers of Tomorrow scholarship.? They interviewed all the winners on a popular radio station in my hometown.? That was pretty cool.? I also received the academic-based scholarship at USC, which gave me money for tuition all four years.

My advice to high schoolers: Start applying for scholarships and getting your resume right early because I can’t even imagine how much college costs now, much less a private university like USC.

So what’s your story?

*Catch up on your college stories this weekend.? See you on Monday!

JamTown