let me introduce myself

Hello! My name is Emily Teach, I am currently a sophomore English major but I'd like to eventually go into adolescent education. I just transferred this semester from Buffalo State. I am from the small town of East Aurora, NY, right outside of Buffalo. I'm shy at first but once you get me talking it doesn't stop.

I'm not the kind of person that likes to draw attention to myself.. I like to blend in. People who know me well can always tell what I'm feeling or thinking by my body language. I feel like body language is one of the biggest ways to tell how a person is feeling even if they're saying they feel the complete opposite. For example, when I feel awkward or uncomfortable I cross my arms or play with my hair, just little things like that can give away a person's feelings. Eyes are another important factor of the body. Eyes tell it all and see it all. I don't know how I could ever live without being able to see the beautiful world we live in. My dad has always told me that "you only get one set of eyes, so make sure you take care of them" and it's the truth. Imagine not being able to see everything around you, every little miniscule detail in the world you would miss. "Eyes are the the window to the soul." 

Communication

My name is Kyle Scudder and I am currently a junior studying music performance. I am from Fredonia, NY, which is about zero minutes away. Yeah, I grew up in Fredonia, and I'm still here. It's kind of weird, but totally okay. College has been pretty interesting for me so far. I've realized many things about myself, but also realized I have no "grand plan" for my life. I really just want to not have much of a plan. I just want to get my degree, move somewhere, do cool things, write a book, live, etc.

So how does my body play a role? To sum it up, I use my body as a way to communicate. I talk with my hands. I communicate with facial expressions, how I stand, how I sit, and the way I speak. Music is also a way for me to communicate. For the most part, my hands are the most vital part of my body. My hands, fingers, and arms work together to produce a motion that sends a stick or mallet to strike my instrument. Also, my core and legs are essential for me to keep my balance. Music is extremely active for a percussionist due to the many different instruments we play as well as the different ways we play our instruments.

My body is an outlet for communication, whether it be words, body language, or music.

Myself and Change

       My name is Joe Allison. I'm a senior Philosophy Major with a sociology minor. I am taking this class because I need twelve more credits to graduate. I enjoy reading and discussing books so I was hoping to broaden my horizons in this class. I'm from a small town out side Rochester called Palmyra. The down that is credited in history for creating the Mormon religion. I work two jobs currently, I'm a cashier at Crosby's gas station and I work at the cafes on campus. I'm trying to save money so I can buy a car before I graduate. I am going to move after college and try to find work somewhere. After a year if I am still struggling I'll try to go back to school but for now I need a break from the schoolwork.
         I think I relate to my body because I and my body are always changing. Everyone changes overtime physically and mentally. Whether one likes change or not it happens, it is inevitable. Change seems like it is never a great thing in the moment but without change life would be boring. Change needs to happen in order for life to happen. Next time you change your hair style, or change your mind on whether you like coffee, think that change doesn't have to be terrible. All I can hope for is that I change for the better. Physically, hopefully healthier,  mentally, hopefully wiser.

Just a Little Entry About Myself, as a Person.

I'm Luke Dumke and I'm from Lancaster, one of the suburbs of Buffalo only about an hour down the road from Fredonia. I'm currently a sophomore majoring in Communication Video Production with the intention and hope of getting into a minor of English Writing. I've been a writer for years so I hope to do something along the lines of that in the future. Apart from the smudges of ink on my hands, there really isn't much about my body that could define me as a writer. But I guess all in all, a person's physical appearance can really tell a lot about them to the eyes of someone else.

There are more non-physical traits however about myself that describe me as a person. Aside from the obvious physical appearances, such as weight, hair color and the way ones dresses, I think that one of the bigger things about a person's body that can really define them as to who they are, is just the way they behave. I don't talk out loud all too often, because I'm more of a jot-it-down-on-paper sort of guy. I also have an awful habit of biting my nails which probably comes across to others that I'm constantly a nervous wreck. And another big thing that clearly defines me is just my basic personality.

 I guess one's personality doesn't really show from the outside, but it's all apart of yourself, so I think that my personality is another thing that helps define me through my body. I'm cooperative and although sometimes I don't speak my mind, I find myself open to other peoples' opinions and listen in on them carefully. I try not to slouch because we all know that poor posture is an immediate sign of low confidence and it can even lead to issues down the line. While mentioning the topic about confidence, another part of myself that helps define me as the person I am is my eyes. Learning about communication has taught me many things but one of the most important things is eye contact. So while talking and listening, I keep a firm eye onto the person who is speaking and presenting and I think that helps define me and the ways that I act and behave as a person. Those are just the little things that I tend to notice in myself. Yet as each year progresses I can see myself growing as a person by taking note on my behavior around others and the way I act. And as long as I take care of my body and keep a good attitude about everything, I think I can become a better, more confident person overall.

THE NEXT AFRICAN LEADER

MY NAME IS MICHEAL (PHRESH MIKE)MIREKU AND I'M CURRENTLY A JUNIOR PURSUING A DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I'M FROM GHANA ,WEST AFRICAN ALSO KNOWN AS ''THE LAND OF GOLD''.BUT I BASE IN THE BRONX . MY FAVORITE HOBBIES ARE PLAYING SOCCER ,FOOTBALL ,TABLE TENNIS ,CHILLING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND TRAVELLING, ALSO THE COOL THING ABOUT ME IS I SPEAK 5(FIVE) DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. HOW MY BODY REFLECTS WHO I AM. I FEEL LIKE AM THE NEXT AFRICAN LEADER ,POWERFUL, INTELLIGENT, AND CAPABLE OF ANYTHING.ALSO THE WAY I DRESSED CAN TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT ME .      . ASHEE !!!!!!

Self

   Hi!! I'm Brea Spinelli. I'm a freshman here at Fredonia and studying Communications specifically public relations. I'm from Albany New York... not a very interesting place haha. That's why being about 6 hours from home was perfect for me. Loving it here at Fredonia so far!
   I honestly don't have very many hobbies or things I'm amazing at, haven't found my hidden talent out just yet at least.Although I do know something that may set me apart from everyone else... Im a extremely caring person. Always have been and always will be. Yes, my body is important to me obviously but my state of mind has always been the most important thing to me! I value my compassion and big heart over any other part of me, its what makes me...me!

My Story

Hello everybody! My name is Ilana Lieberman and I hope this font makes it so that the capital 'I' doesn't look like the lowercase 'l' because people never know how to say my name and that annoys me. Props to you, Professor Mcgee, for getting it right the very first day.
I live in Binghamton, NY so that's four and a half hours away! I actually spent a summer here though for a choral camp, so I'm very used to the campus and it doesn't really feel like college, or at least the expectations of college I used to have. That's okay though.

Anyways, I am a freshman B.F.A. Acting major here at SUNY Fredonia. I also take quite a few dance classes and am thinking of taking up a dance minor. This Spring semester I will be performing in the Fredonia Dance Ensemble later this February and RENT, the musical, in April! You should all come watch. :) This being said, I would have to say that I depend on my body in order to succeed in what I want to pursue in life- the performing arts. I have to stay very healthy in order to sing, act, and dance. I exercise a lot on top of my dancing in order to keep up with stamina and muscular endurance. I also have to stay flexible and make sure that I maintain a good diet and drink lots of water. They say that "abstinence" is the best thing for performers, but not the kind that you're probably all thinking of. The abstinence I refer to means refraining from drinking alcohol in excess and eating lots of junk food, which pretty much goes hand-in-hand on the weekends (ha Calios haha). But anyways, I do consider my body a huge part of my life. I identify with my body completely because I feel that performing is a huge part of my life, and I absolutely need to keep my body in great shape for that.

All About Me (Rianna Seelig)

Hello, my name is Rianna. I am a sophomore English major with a minor in Writing. Although I have made it a point to engross myself in literature and all of its facets (including the love of writing that often comes along with it) for what seems to be my entire life, I am often caught off guard by certain requests from the professors here at SUNY Fredonia. I will admit I did not expect to ever be describing the importance of my body concerning the person I am (a sort of reverse character analysis on myself). However, I am willing to try, and am oddly intrigued by the assignment. So, here we go...

I have never been one to outwardly draw attention to myself. I am always walking as though there is something urgent I am on my way to do, even if this is not the case, often frustrated by those who walk at a leisurely pace. Arriving to my destination on time has always been important to me, and you will always find me walking with a determined expression on my face, my arms firmly at my side with my shoulders tensed. I slouch ever so slightly when sitting, never due to laziness or inattentiveness (well, okay, maybe sometimes it is...), I just enjoy being comfortable; it helps me concentrate.

I can be antsy. I shift my weight when speaking to people, bounce my feet when sitting through lectures, crack my neck, crack my knuckles, stretch... I like to keep my blood flowing. If appropriate, I usually will have one of my feet on my chair, tucked under the other leg, with a bit of a slouch going on. I like feeling a little more laid back in learning environments. That is not to say I am never stressed-quite the contrary. More often than not I am stressed. I am always chipping my nail polish off, or just doing fidgety things with my hands in general. I am always very aware of my hands; I like having something to hold all the time. Cups of tea or coffee, a pen, a water bottle... just something solid to grasp, something to entertain my hands for extended periods of time. I write constantly (I prefer the traditional pen and paper), so my hands play a big role in how I express myself, a much bigger role than I tend to remember. In addition to all of this, my roots are Italian; it is physically impossible for me to carry on a conversation without large, exaggerated, dramatic hand gestures.

I would attribute an even greater form of expression involving my body to my skin. That is to say, I would attribute it to the skin I have purposefully altered. I have a few tattoos, and don't plan on stopping any time soon. My tattoos are a direct expression of the things I think, feel, believe... I love them. I use tattoos to express myself constantly. This may be too specific, however, it was the first thing I thought of when this assignment was announced. My body allows me to express the millions of thoughts and feelings that are going through my head at all times, and I am very grateful to be able to call this body my own.

My Story

Hello everyone! My name is Dino Salkic and I'm currently in my last semester as a Biochemistry major. Over the years I've changed majors several times and contemplated different career paths. I've always been enthralled with science and technology, and to be a part of the fast paced world we live in today just adds to that excitement. There has always been a part of me that has been especially amazed with medicine. I find the meticulous nature of the job and the continued dedication that a career in medicine requires to be both challenging and welcoming to me as an individual. I therefore plan on attending medical school after graduation.

Even though medicine is my passion now, soccer has always been an incredible and constant part of my life. I see my feet and legs in a different light than most people because they have allowed me the opportunity to do something that I have loved my entire life. My ability to play has given me something to bond over with my dad and provided me my own little oasis and getaway. School, as everybody knows, can be beyond stressful at times and everyone needs some way to forget about things for a while. Running and working out is the way I can escape if I feel the need to. I've always done both of these to improve in soccer, and now that my playing career is over, I still enjoy a good run and work out here and there to focus my mind on something else. It's important to have some sort of stress relief.

My legs, most of all, are an integral part of my body that I feel have shaped me as a person. It takes dedication to play soccer throughout your life and into college. You constantly have to improve to beat out the next guy, and I've taken this dedication into my studies and pursuit of a medical career. To be successful you have to have confidence, and I've realized that your body language has a lot to do with how people view you. As a doctor you want to convey your confidence to your patients through a firm handshake or body posture, for example. I now take this into mind on a daily basis and try to convey my confidence to people, which I can do to a significant extent using my body language alone. If I plan on pursuing a career as a surgeon, for example, my hands will have obvious significance to me. Any career in medicine, though, will require meticulous work with my hands. The way I am perceived by others, the way I get away when I need to, and the career I choose one day are all driven by my body and its components. It has shaped who I am and will continue to do so in the future.

About Me

My name is Lauren Voelkle. I was raised in Marilla, NY, right outside of Buffalo, but I've been living year-round in Fredonia for the last two years. I am a senior Psychology major and minoring in English (possibly Women & Gender Studies soon), although, I will be returning in the fall for my last semester in order to graduate in December. I've been a member of S.T.E.P.S. since my freshmen year. You may have seen me in previous Summer Orientation sessions...feel free to say Hi or ask me any questions! :)

Ever since preschool, one of the most noticeable things about me was my height. I was usually the tallest girl in my class, but the height difference quickly diminished when I entered high school. It is both a blessing and a curse- I can play a lot of sports, but I am also terribly clumsy. Sometimes I wish I was shorter, but I've realized being tall isn't so bad. My friends even made up a nickname for me- Long Legs. Also, my legs help me travel well. I can walk fast, reach my car pedals easily, and hike/climb with confidence. My parents live in Pittsburgh, my sister lives in Seattle, and my brother lives in Buffalo, so I am constantly traveling around alone to visit them. I mean, who is going to mess with a tall girl like me? Just kidding, but I now know self-defense, thanks to SUNY Fredonia's awesome class (which I highly recommend). Good luck to all this semester!

Self-Portrait

Hi!
When I first read over the definition of this class in the syllabus it seemed very odd to me.  I've never really thought a lot about bodily actions in narratives.  Once I think about it the concept makes a ton of sense, body language is a huge factor in determining someones character.  I think for me my most pronounced body part is my hands, hands are the most important part of the body.  What is a person without their hands?   Hands are used in just about everything from doing the dishes to texting your hands are your best friend.  The most important thing about my hands is writing.  I love writing and typing fiction stories.  My hands are the ones that make sure what I think gets down on the paper.  When my brain is all jumbled sometimes i just let my hands keep going and turn my mind off for a second.  It really helps clear writers block and even relieves stress.  It's amazing everything your hands go through and still they dont wear down and break.  In a lot of ways the shape, color and texture of your hands tells a story about you.  Where you've been, or even what you like to do.  I dont know if anyone else knows how important their hands are but if you just think about how you use your hands in a day it might surprise you.

Victoria  

Self

Hi everyone!

My name is Karie King. I live in Mayville, NY which is about 30 minutes from Fredonia.  If you have been to Chautauqua Institution some of you may have heard of it before.  I have lived in the same house all my life. Anyways, I am a senior and I graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  

Our bodies distinguish us as an individual. Personally, I think my eyes and hands shows my identity. My eyes see the world. I love to travel. I have been many places in the world including Montana, Hawaii, on cruises, and Florida just to name a few.  I am a hands on learner.  For accounting you use your hands to calculate different numbers. You have to make sure assets plus liabilities equal owners equity otherwise you have to find where you have an error.

Personality is another way that makes people different from everyone else. I am shy when I am around a large group of people.  Once you get to know me and I am comfortable with you I open up to you. Everyone one is different which makes all of us unique individuals.

~Karie King ~

Maria Freda

Hi, my name is Maria Freda and I am freshman liberal arts major. I don't have any idea about what I want to do with the rest of my life and I think thats okay. I am from Buffalo, New York and I went to Williamsville North High School. I am very family orientated which, I think, has shaped who I am as a person. I have a stronger personality and I will stick up for what I think is right. I am also a very loyal person and I will do anything for my friends and loved ones.

I also enjoy reading, writing, and performing. Due to this, I think my lips and mouth are how my body relates to my identity. I was apart of the theater company, Academy of Theater Arts, for seven years and I was also involved with my school's musical and chorus department. At my theater company, I was able to dance, sing, and act by expressing my body. Dancing and acting use all of your body parts to convey a message to your audience. My favorite aspect of performing, however, was being able to sing. I need my mouth and lips to be able to do this and I think they relate to my identity because I use singing as a way to express myself. If you hear me singing a sad tune to myself it is my way of working out a hard situation. If I am upbeat and humming I am in a good mood and I want others to feel the same way. I also use my hands to write songs and poems. Well, that's just a little bit about me, can't wait to get to know all of you!

Self Portrait

Hi! I'm Chelsea Ottman, and I'm a junior Childhood Education Major with an English concentration. My birthday is February 10th and I'm turning 21! I'm from Oswego, NY so I'm very used to all of the snow. My hometown gets a lot of it. I want to move down south once I graduate from Fredonia, but I do plan on going on to get my Masters degree so that depends on where I decide to go for grad school.

I think that my fingers, my eyes and my face as a whole are the most important parts of my body. I use those to express myself the most. I've played the violin since I was 8 years old and I continued to play in an orchestra all the way up to my senior year. Since college started, I don't have time to play my violin on a regular basis, but I do pick it up and play every once in a while. The fingers are the most important part of being a violinist. We use our fingers to tune our strings using the pegs and the fine tuners, to play notes, to control our bows on the strings, to rosin our bows so that they slide across the strings well, and to turn the pages in our music. Our eyes are also important because we use them to read the music and to see our instrument and what we are supposed to play. Lastly, we use our face as a way to show emotion while we are playing a piece. Depending on the piece that we are playing, our expressions will change to match the mood of the piece of music.

Self Portrait

Hi! My name is Halie Degnan. I grew up in Jamestown, NY, which is about forty five minutes away from Fredonia. I'm a Freshman English major and I hope to have a minor in writing eventually. I used to play the violin and the piano. I played soccer for a while and I ran track. I love to read and write but none of the body parts used for those activities really felt like they defined who I am as a person.

I've noticed that as I get older the decisions I have to make get more difficult. A big part of who I am choosing to be comes from those decisions and I realized that sometimes it is good to go with your gut feeling. So the body part that defines me would be my heart. I like to think that it is important to make choices in life based on the things that make you happy. I've been trying to sort out the details from what I feel is right. My decision to go to college at SUNY Fredonia was one that opened my eyes to a choice where I would use my heart instead of my head. I think making choices based on a feeling can be good and even important sometimes.

I think the ways I am feeling show in the ways that I act and that my heart has played a huge role in deciding who I aspire to be.

-Halie Degnan

Cory Jackson- Introduction

Hello everyone!  My name is Cory Jackson, and I am currently within my final semester here at Fredonia and anxiously moving forward to medical school in the fall.

When I introduce myself to others, most immediately note my height and weight as I am 6’3 and roughly 150 pounds.  This is often the root of merciless teasing from those that I care about including my father and my girlfriend (who is all of 5’2!).  Whether it is, “Hey go and hide behind that stop sign” in hide and go seek, or “you seriously cannot dunk a basketball?  Can’t you reach your hand up and touch the rim?” my height is a constant source of enjoyment for others.  This characteristic has led to strong relationships between those I care about, as now that they have opened the floodgates, I am able to tease them as well, always resulting to a fun time together.  Although I have a bunch of fun with this attribute, it also leads to discomfort.  I am unable to sit up straight in the car I currently drive because I would be in constant contact with the roof of the car.  

As I am determined to proceed through medical school, I consider my hands to be exceptionally important (I plan to pursue a life in surgery).  But this identification with my hands began in middle school when I first began to play the guitar.  This is also the time when I began to grow my hair, which was extremely curly, and reached down to my chest.  I played the guitar for two years before joining a band and playing on stage.  I always viewed my playing as a harmonious relationship between my two hands, as both were responsible for very different aspects of playing the instrument but when combined could produce something beautiful and strongly emotional.  This dedication that I had to playing onstage helped me progress through a time in my life where I was quite shy and anxious in new situations as being on stage did not permit these elements of personality!  I believe this experience led to my desire to become a surgeon.  I see a direct relationship between using my hands to create music and then using them to help people proceed through their lives. 

Self Portrait

Hello My name is Morgan Thompson and I am a Freshman Liberal Arts major. I am from Kendall, New York, a very small town about 30 minutes West of Rochester. I have always loved playing soccer. My all time favorite hobby is photography.

My eyes are most important to me because I love taking photos. Photography had been a hobby of mine since I was twelve when my dad bought me my first camera. My eyes help me decide what filters and lenses to use and the most important settings for my subject. Not only do my eyes help me decide what a good picture is, they do so much more than that. They help me edit and design so that my pictures come out the best that they can. My eyes are essential for what I love to do.

Kamrie Gademske

Hello all,

My name is Kamrie Gademske. I am a freshman adolescent english education major. I grew up in Buffalo New York, only about an hour away from Fredonia. I am a summer baby, born in July making my zodiac sign a cancer. I am a girl whose body relates to my identity in several different ways. I like to workout and stay healthy. Therefore, my body portrays this look by staying in good shape, keeping active, and eating healthy. I come off as a quiet girl who doesn't say much in front of large groups of people who I am not familiar with. I guess you could say I am shy in that way. I show this by not saying much and keeping to myself. However, once I get to know people I open up much more but I still always have my guard up. I consider myself to be a hard worker when it comes to my academic studies. I use my hands to complete this work on time and efficiently by writing, typing, or reading. When I forget to do something my body portrays and anxious appeal. I will start rushing around everywhere trying to figure out what my next move will be.

My personality is a large component when describing my identity. The body language that I perform based on my personality says a lot about who I am as a person. I believe in giving everyone a fair chance and not judging someone based off of first impressions. So, my personality comes off as very bubbly and welcoming to new and old faces that I encounter. I believe that everyone's body can change with their identity. Everyone is in control of themselves. The best part about the body and identity being interrelated is that you can control the changes you personally make in life. Well that's a little bit about me personally, can't wait to learn more about all of you!

~ Kamrie Gademske

Self Potrait

Hello! My name is Catherine Han. I'm a piano performance major. I'm from Long Island. I'm a bit on the shy side although I have gotten much better during my years here at Fredonia. Having the chance to communicate with all different types of people have allowed me to open up immensely. I'm also short, and for some reason, that makes me have low self-confidence in myself. As a result, I actually tend to slouch a lot.

Music has always been an immense part of my life. Ever since the age of 5, I was immersed in the world of music by learning to play the piano. Later on at the age of 8, I learned to play the violin. I find it amusing how my parents have no musical talent whatsoever yet I have been blessed with the gift of being really talented. I love playing music since I feel I'm in a completely different world and I'm able to let go of all my feelings and just completely be immersed into the music. I have the capability of releasing any tension I may have had over any strenuous school work, or just simply for the pleasure of enjoying music.

Being a musician, I believe my body can identify myself regarding the type of person I am. In my opinion, the most apparent body part of all would probably be my hands. My hands and fingers are extremely soft and delicate. I'm thinking this probably has something to do with the amount of practicing I've had on the piano over the years up until this day. To be able to play the piano, you must be extremely relaxed particularly in your arms, hands, and fingers. Some people may not know what a huge difference that makes, but it really makes a world of a difference! How contrasting the sound is between playing with rigid arms and fingers and extremely relaxed arms and fingers is absolutely amazing. The rest of my body is actually quite relaxed as well when I play the piano. However when I'm away from the piano, I look as if I'm not walking with a straight back, which is somewhat strange. Although, I blame this on my father since he's like that as well. I guess it was a hereditary trait, but what can you do? Now, going back to using my body parts to identify myself, I'm extremely gentle and careful about everything. That even applies to my own school-work. I always strive to be the best that I can be. I would say this strong drive to be near perfect comes from being in the music field and always feeling that I need to be the best since the music field is extremely competitive and of course everyone wants to be the top of the top. I've had this mindset ever since I was a young child. In my opinion, I feel this is a great mindset for myself in particular because it pushes and motivates myself to soar to even greater heights that I could ever imagine.

This is how I believe music has truly shaped the person I am today and how my body parts further illustrate that. Until next time!

Kerry Brooks - Imagination

There is a part of the body which is not corporeal, a part which cannot be seen. Oddly enough, I feel that this abstract entity is what has shaped my identity the most. The part of the body which I am referring to is the personality. It may seem strange to call my personality a part of my body, but it has been shaped since I was an infant by the people around me. I didn't chose the people who raised me (or the way they would effect me) any more than I chose my height or my biological gender. My parents and four siblings shaped me into the person I am; they shaped that part of my mind, that part of my body.

This part of my body, the personality, has made me into the person I am more than anything else. Not only does my personality shape my identity, but the two interact with each other. I emphasize certain parts of my personality while trying to conceal others in order to create an identity which I can be proud of. One piece of my personality which I have let shape my identity the most is my imagination. Most kids play imaginary games, and I was no exception. In fact, I never abandoned my imagination, even as I got older. I still write fiction and engage in activities such as Dungeons and Dragons (yes - I'm a big nerd!) in order to keep my imagination alive. As an aspiring writer and avid reader, I consider my imagination one of the most important, if not the most important, part of my identity. The identity I have today wouldn't have been possible without my personality, the part of my body which has shaped me the most.

My Self-Portrait

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Mitchell. I am a sophomore, Childhood Inclusive major with a concentration in English. I am from Homer, New York. Most of you have probably never heard of it before, as it is a very small town, but it is 3 and a half hours from Fredonia and about 30 minutes from Syracuse.

I am a person that has a hard time sitting up straight and not slouching. When I stand, my left foot never is straight, it always is turned to the side. My left knee has a large scar right on the knee cap. If you look at my hands/arms, you may notice that my pinky is quite crooked and that my left wrist is a little wider around than my right wrist.

These are all physical characteristics that I think of when identifying my body and they all have a story behind them. For as long as I can remember I have played some kind of sport. In high school I played soccer, volleyball, and softball. In soccer, the played the position of goal keeper (and still do today). My slouching and bad posture is a result of that. When playing this position it is important that you keep your hands low to the ground when in one on one situations, so I have been taught to slouch. It is an unbreakable habit. As far as the scar on my knee, I will save you the from the gory description, but a chunk of my knee was taken out with metal cleats while making a save. My crooked pinky? That was broken after a player kicked my hand instead of the ball, bending backwards and jamming it. My left wrist has been sprained many times, during many sports. The most embarrassing case was while back pedaling and in the process of trying to catch myself I crushed my wrist. My ankle was badly injured during a volleyball game when I went up to spike and when I came down and twisted my ankle, but to make things worse the girl on the other side of the net came down and landed on that same ankle as it was twisted. Let's just say 3 months later I was finally able to start walking on it.

All of these incidents may make it seem like I am an accident prone, but I like to think that these incidents have left me with physical characteristics that make me the person I am today. They show that I love sports, competition, and being active. Those are all characteristics that I would use to describe myself, and the physical characterisitcs that I have discussed help me identify myself in that way.

-Jessica Mitchell

Self Portrait

Hello my name is Shayla Lipscomb. I am a Freshman and I am a social work major. I am 18 years old. My birthday is April 30 and I am a Taurus. I am from Buffalo, New York and I attended Tapestry Charter High School.
I like to think of my body as Identification. There is certain things about me that makes me different from everybody else. There is a certain curve to my smile that make my smile different. There is certain shape to my body that makes it easier to distinguish myself from other. I have a certain walk that makes me stand out. The interesting thing about the body is that everyone else have the same thing, it is just different.
We often decorate our body with Tattoos and piercing, some may call that art.
Our bodies is our temples, it is our life. One we our gone, our bodies are too.

My Side

Hey there! My name is Samantha (or Sam, either works for me) Conner. I am a sophomore Communications Disorders and Sciences major. I live in Eden, New York, about halfway between Fredonia and Buffalo. I have 3 cats which I think should have more... yes.
I think my body greatly reflects who I am. One of my favorite things is making faces at people. You can say so much to someone without having to say a single word if you make a good face. Mostly I'm making silly faces and making people laugh, which I absolutely love. I think it's a different way of communicating and shows how I don't always like speaking up so much but I can say what I think without saying anything at all.
Another thing that is important to me are my eyes. My grandma is almost nearly blind which makes me appreciate being able to see. Whenever my grandma stays at our house, I always help her around with whatever she needs. It reflects who I am because it enables me to help someone very near to me.
One thing I like doing in my spare time is watching YouTube videos, and not just the random videos of cats running on a treadmill (but those are funny- having a bad day? watch some cats on a treadmill. Seriously.), but watching people who have made careers from making YouTube videos. My eyes and my hands allow me to watch these videos and engage in an entirely different community that I love being a part of.
I guess I never thought my body reflects me in such a way.
Huh.

Self-Portrait

Hi!

My name is Alanna Hazard and I am a sophomore dual major in History and English with a minor in theatre.
Some of my greatest passions are reading, writing, and performance. Personally, for me, all provide a cathartic experience and take me away from reality for a little while.

In terms of how my body reflects who I am... I am rather small. Ok, that's not entirely my point here. What I mean to say is the fact that I'm not a really big person has resulted in me having a very energetic and large personality.

For some reason I believe that unless I'm super loud and in-your-face witty, I will be completely passed by. So subconsciously, I attempt to make up for my non-imposing physical form by being this way. Honestly, I am wholly under the impression that it's my physique that's made me so spunky.

As an extension of that, I act the very same in my school, work, and social lives. You can't see me? Too bad because I'm everywhere. I work incredibly hard for my grades, participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible, and juggle a great number of people on a day-to-day basis.

So I guess my point is here- before I get too obnoxious- is that my body is the direct cause of my overall personality and behavior. Not to say that's a bad thing! Anyways, I'm proving my own point by rambling. Ok, that's all for now!

Voice - James Lillin

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Okay, glad that works.

If I'm remembering correctly, the assignment was to give an initial introduction and tie together how my body interacts with my identity. Or something.

Well, my name is James Lillin, I've lived in Minneola, Farmingdale, Smithtown and Kings Park on Long Island, and most recently (High School), I've lived in a town called Hamburg, a suburb of Buffalo. I'm a Freshman Theatre and English major, and I'm planning on adding a minor in Women's and Gender Studies.

Our human bodies are probably the best example we have available to us of many different parts acting in tandem, where the resulting system is something that far transcends the parts. Part of me wants to write a huge dissertation on the miraculous ways that our physical experiences impact our mental state so much, or how our perception and environment are intertwined, but I have a feeling that not only will I have plenty of opportunities to expound on that in class, but I also have tea brewing that'll get cold and bitter if I make this five pages long.

Instead of that, I'll just focus on one particular part of my being that affects me greatly, and that is my voice. Of course how we say things not only affects our thinking process as well as what we say, but I don't want to get philosophical and analytical here and just stick to how it interacts with my identity. Being a theatre major, and having a passion for the stage, has definitely helped to inform my appreciation for my voice, but it goes beyond that. I do stick more on the acting side of theatre, and though I enjoy singing, it's neither my forte nor my chosen method of expression. Rather, it's the delivery of words that I find most intoxicating, the rhythm and beat of the performance that I find most rewarding.

Whenever I was asked for advice, or just my viewpoint, from my younger classmates in High School about vocal performance in a play setting, I'd always hammer home what I am for most in dramatic settings, which is silence.

They would say "Silence? Why? Isn't that the opposite of what you want? No sound, no feedback, no laughs, or anything?", and I tried to explain why silence was the most impactful sound in a theatre setting, more so than a gunshot, explosion, fireworks, or laughter. I view silence as a sign that not only is the audience not bored, or talking amongst themselves, but that they're so captivated in the moment that a silence that, at another point may be disquieting, is at that point enthralling.

It's those environments that I love to make, being able not just to guide the audience in a performance setting, but to also share truly intimate moments with people who are often complete strangers. It's a huge part of my identity, and one of my favorite feelings in the world.

It carries over to Slam Poetry, one of my biggest passions. Being able to perform with a strong voice, being able to make consonants crack, or vowels whisper, to shout over a chorus of applause and snaps, and then bring the atmosphere crashing down to have people, and myself, in tears, is almost unworldly. Those are the types of moments when, whether in the audience or performing, everything empties from my head except the moment, and the voice of whoever is performing consumes me completely. It's then when I feel most alive, and it's for moments like that that I live for.

ANYWAY, this is running long, and I don't even know if voice is an acceptable part of body physicality to be analyzing, and it's a blog, and my tea is lukewarm, AND I GOTTA GO TO CLASS, so, yeah, that's me, love y'all, stay sexy and don't forget to YOLO.




- James Lillin

Bill Lista's Intro to Self

Hello All,

My name is William (Bill) Lista and I'm currently a junior pursuing a dual degree in Early Childhood/ Childhood Education, concentrating in English. I'm from the Rochester area, and was adopted from South Korea at the age of one. One of my favorite hobby's is seeing live music, whether it's at a show or a music festival. Therefore I'd state that my eyes, ears, and legs are significant assets to my body since I love seeing, listening, and dancing to my favorite musicians. Yet these aren't the only reasons I see these body parts as being significant because they keep me knowledgeable and aware of my surroundings at all times, and allow me to react to any situation on my feet.

Sincerely,
Bill

Welcome

Hi All,

Welcome to your blog site for Novels and Tales. We will use this blog as a virtual extension of our class space. You will all be added as authors to the site so you will have full access to post on the blog. Although I may occasionally chime in, this blog is primarily a space for collaboration with your peers.

This site has been created in order to:
·         Extend learning opportunities beyond the confines of the scheduled class time and space, blurring rigid barriers between academic, campus, and community discourses
·         For those less easy with speaking in class, it provides a space where students can have the time to process ideas and contribute to the ongoing discussions of the course
·         Encourages a habit of writing as a collaborative act of communication and dialogue in which students may discuss reading responses, connections to local and global contemporary events, brainstorm papers, plan projects, ask questions, get feedback on rough drafts etc…
·         Provides a place where visual mediums such as photos, videos, diagrams may be easily shared as well as hyper-text and web links
·         Exposes students to alternative viewpoints and experience amongst peers as well as the opportunity to see how other students are working with and making connections with the course materials
·         Encourages students to form relationships built around academic work

        Although I have set up a basic template, you have free reign to suggest/implement new design elements. As a class you will need to decide whether you want this space to be private or open to public viewing and/or commenting. Please be aware, I will not post course information such as reading schedules,assignment descriptions, due dates, or the syllabus on this site- Please refer to ANGEL for this ongoing course information