Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Journal.

Modern Ballerina/Teenager
My mother could not understand what was happening to me one summer afternoon as she passed through the living room to discover her seven year old daughter sitting on the couch with tears streaming down her face, solemnly gazing at the television. Suddenly noticing that I seemed very upset, she quickly came to my side to console me and to discover why I was randomly crying all alone in the living room, instead of outside pretending I was a fairy in the garden like I normally would have been doing. “Sofia! What’s wrong!” She asked, very concerned, setting down her laundry basket and cleaning supplies. Through tears I tried to explain to her how moved I was, watching this documentary that happened to be playing on television that talked about the lives of ballet dancers, and all of the sacrifices that had to be made for them to pursue their craft. I felt so touched to be witnessing such a level of discipline taking the form of sheer beauty, when transfused with breathtaking music and time-stopping dance sequences. My mother was shocked and slightly haunted that her normally happy, carefree daughter was literally brought to tears watching a program about ballet. Nevertheless, this moment influenced her to pick up the phone several days later to sign me up for ballet classes in the fall, thus beginning the eleven year odyssey which has henceforth been my life.
By Sofia Bianchi8 years ago in Journal
5 Tools for the Modern Entrepreneur
We all need tools to help us be more productive on a daily basis. Being in 2017, there are plenty of options out that are available and easy to get your hands on! We’ll go over five different tools you can start to use today and see results as well. Each tool that is mentioned is also free so it makes it that much more accessible for anyone that wants to start being productive at a new level or continue to advance.
By Junior Explicitz8 years ago in Journal
Improve Your Social Media Marketing Part II
Improve Your Social Media Marketing Part II: Marketing is an ever-evolving field. Those who enter into action boldly and take risks tend to have more success than those who make overly cautious moves. In my previous article, I graced over some best practices and tips to help increase your quality of Social Media Marketing. In this article, we will discuss some branding tips and tricks, as well as cover some other unconventional methods for Social Media Marketing.
By Christine Collins8 years ago in Journal
Chronicles of a Call Center Agent
If you’re a call center employee, you can understand the agony of being in the customer service field. We are the imaginary punching bags that customers take out their anger and frustrations on. So what do I do? I survey people for a telecommunications company based in the middle of nowhere, Canada. Is it my dream job? A far cry from it but it pays the bills and keeps food on the table.
By SoSo Yusofi8 years ago in Journal
Using Team Building to Motivate Your Company
The benefit of team building exercises have been known for a long time. Such activities can deliver high-impact learning experiences without having to resort to the classroom and bring together the individuals in a group to form a cohesive team. Team building activities have been proven to increase team skills and communication, as well as improving morale and productivity. Teams benefit from the shared experience of completing a challenging task, learning together to achieve an activity outside their usual experience.
By Wilf Voss8 years ago in Journal
From an Artist's Brain
All artists know what I'm talking about. You know, when you're sitting there looking at your blank canvas, or paper and you start to envision things that aren't there. Swirls of color, shapes, and meaning that desperately need to come out. Your hands wanting to go with the flow through your brush or pencil with every image or thought.
By Aurora8 years ago in Journal
Social Media and The Brawling B(r)and
It happens to some of our favorite bands; they call it quits or members leave. Sometimes they’re fired, and sometimes they have truly righteous reasons to depart from their band. Either way, whatever the case, with social media being so readily accessible, we’ve all seen bands and companies’ interpersonal relationships being handled on social media at times. So how do we respond? What is acceptable and what is not for them to post online? WHAT ARE THEY EVEN THINKING?!
By Christine Collins8 years ago in Journal
Darkest Light
In 2032, the only thing on 17-year-old Kain's mind is getting through his grade 11 year with his friends and sister, without any trouble. With summer coming to an end and high school starting back up, Kain and his best friends, Thom, Jane, Jen and his sister Elaine are looking forward to sports and new relationships. The goal of a simple year crumbles when Raphael, a new student, arrives. After a life or death situation, Raphael tells Kain that not everything is what it seems. Unable to leave it alone, Kain confronts his father, Brady, and learns that he, and many others are Chosen, super humans with extraordinary abilities. Kain’s world crashes down around him when he learns that his father’s friends are being hunted down by a mysterious group, angered at past sins. To make matters worse, on a live broadcast made by the U.S. Government, a small group of Rogue Chosen, aided by Demons, attack, throwing the world into panic. With trouble sprouting up at every corner, can Kain rise up to lead? Can he discover what and who he truly is?
By Brady Young8 years ago in Journal
Marketing Psychology; Get Your Head in the Game
As a prerequisite to my upcoming articles about specific advertising platforms and techniques, first we must cover a main component of what goes into marketing. Psychology. For as long as history has had entertainment, there has always been a strong relationship between commerce and art. People are always willing to pay some sort of price or barter to acquire what they need for the stimulation and emotions art can empower.
By Christine Collins8 years ago in Journal
25 Things I've Learned as a Background Extra
I work as an extra (or some like to say, "background actress") in Los Angeles. Today marks the 25th production I've done since moving here at the beginning of the year. (I got some experience in this field when I lived in the Bay Area!)
By Allie Stone8 years ago in Journal
Follow Your Dreams?
To be young and unaware... When I was 16-years-old, I was sitting at dinner with my family when my baby sister asked "Angie, what are you gonna be when you grow up?" Without thinking or heisitaing in the least, I claimed loud and proud "I am gonna be a Broadway dancer!" What came next would be the drum beat that would not stop in my head for the rest of my life.
By Angela McMahon8 years ago in Journal
Why Your Black Business "Won't Survive"
Context As I write this piece, I reflect on what brought me to the south. I lived a privileged life in California, situated in the mecca of diversity, the San Francisco Bay Area. And we can say I still live that privileged life, seeing as I can go back anytime that I want to. I was well aware of the evils of poverty and de facto segregation that lends itself to the narrative “separate but never equal.” I knew the history of internment camps in the peninsula and race riots and the establishment of the Black Panthers in the east bay. Growing up we learned about the racist Jim Crow like laws forced upon the Chinese, and we learned about the Chicano movements of Southern California. I was surrounded by whites, Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, few blacks, and an increasing population of Middle Easterners. And I got to be at the center of the Pride movement every single year. And I grew up with the notion that the south was evil, racist, and not somewhere I wanted to go.
By C Alexandra8 years ago in Journal