Pray for the WORLD Great Oaks/ Diamond Oaks!

  I wake up always wondering, thinking, hoping, praying, and achieving greater success. Sometimes I get away from certain things just to clear my head. I look around and ask myself, "Lord is this the place that you blessed me in?" A place full of sin and unforgiveness? A place full of lies and absolute horror, murder, and turmoil.

  But yet a place full of temporary peace, love, and sweet words. A place where every song in the world has a story behind it. A place where imperfection exists? With all that I am saying, with all the tears I shed on the inside, with the unforgiving past that keeps coming back to haunt me, for being looked at by so many as a "weird individual", for never having a girl friend for so long because I don't understand them at all but yet they love to stereotype me first and hurt me to the point where I just say, I GIVE UP! I rather focus on my goals instead!

No matter how much I like girls, It will be hard for me to consider a relationship because I of the words that some have said to me in my past. In other words, everyone has skeletons in their closet, everyone has some horrible moment in their past, and the only thing I can do is say Thank you to all for the pain, love, truth, and lies that have taught me to only be a better individual each day. I understand that this post may not make sense at all but just pray for me. Thats all I ask. I love Diamond Oaks and I love to learn. But just because I'm always nice, love to learn, and that I am a very respectable young man, does not mean that I don't cry, get angry, suffer on the inside, deal with confrontations with my own family, and etc.

  I'm human too. I shed blood just like everybody else. I am a black male just trying to become the next success. Is that so wrong? Well, I will continue to pray for everyone in the world and just continue to keep the faith! God bless Diamond Oaks and again, THANK YOU ALL for the accademic and everyday lessons in life!

THANK YOU ALL FOR A FANTASTIC TWO YEAR EXPERIENCE AT DIAMOND OAKS!!!

I would also  like to discuss some of my favorite memories here at Diamond Oaks.  It’s a long list so get ready folks. I would have to say that I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful memories here at Diamond Oaks.  I would like to say that my favorite memories would have to be, meeting most of my friends/ new friends at Diamond Oaks, Learning how to improve my art in Digital Arts and Design, learning how not to distort my art, learning about the many Adobe Programs, watching almost every clip from the basics of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and etc. from Adobe TV.com and Atomic Learning.com, working on homework which always kept me busy, working on my senior research project, learning about different behaviors and etc. from everyone, learning to accept most things in life and know that “nothing is new under the sun”, forcing myself to try new things, showcasing my music video in my Junior Year, Painting/ drawing a future MTV stars along with others in Digital Arts and Design, drawing my friends, working on pictures for my future anime business, producing my first flyer for my mother with my design (proved to be successful), and overall, my ups,downs, success, and failures have all inspired me more to just learn about what all life has to offer, know about some of the injustice in the world, and to continue to fulfill my goals no matter what happens! Thank you all!

Thank you Ms. Ramey.

 My experience in Digital Arts and Design was an interesting and fascinating one. I would have to say that most of my uncertainties and mistakes came from me. I lost so much faith in my art that I look towards others to see if my art was acceptable and professional. My mother, my God brothers and sisters, the DAAP teachers, Mrs. Brogden, Ms. Mullvey, Mrs. Freeman, and many others say that my art is very interesting and that they love it. All I ever wanted, was my own form of art.

  I accepted what the Digital Arts and Design team has said about my art. I even accepted some laughs and snickers from it. I even accepted the fact that I need to take multiple art classes in order to improve upon my art.  For those two years I have been in that class, I have been broken, repaired, broken, repaired, broken, and repaired again. I was constantly fighting myself everyday to improve myself.

  I even worked on 100-150 sketches of cartoons and real life images in order to improve my art. All the art that has been rejected, I will use to my advantage, I will make sure that I will build some foundation where everybody’s art can be accepted… no matter what it is. So I thank you Ms. Ramey for teaching me that. For teaching me that nobody will believe in my  own art style,  BUT ME! 

I detest being missing days at Diamond Oaks!

  Good Morning everyone one at Diamond Oaks. This has not been a glorious week for me at Diamond Oaks. I means Jesus Christ, the worst part about school, is  being too sick too even go to school. If I go to school sick, I’m not in the best of mood and I just have a fake smile towards everyone that I’m in perfect condition when in all reality, I’m suffering on the inside. Since I was a kindergartener, I ALWAYS wanted perfect attendance, I  always wanted  to work really hard to be a perfect A+ student, and most importantly, keep myself in physical shape and keep myself healthy so I can never become sick. Boy, were my goals too high and not that hard to accomplish at times. Missing school is a NIGHTMARE!


 When you come back, you have tons of work to make up; you have unexcused absences, and NO PERFECT ATTENDANCE?? It is so inefficient. For the past three days, I miss being at Diamond Oaks. But noooooo. Instead, I have this illness that I have  been suffering  with since birth that has always caused me to never ever in my life have perfect attendance.

 Why is it, I can have excellent grades bur NEVER perfect attendance?  Oh well. God please heal me and I really need everyone’s prayers. I am in the worst condition, my chest is getting really tight, my voice is really deep and hoarse, and I am just a huge sick mess trying to get ahead of the class but still behind in two classes. Well God bless and I will see you all Thursday! The illness that I am speaking of is called “BRONCHTIS”! Yeah, it’s horrible! Well time to rest, study, and taking a breathing test! Have a nice day everyone!

Thank You to all my Senior Year Teachers at Diamond Oaks!

 Now during my junior year, I was very happy because for the first time ever in my life ( I thank all my teachers from Pre K – now) I finally have male role model teachers in my life. Now in my senior year, the pattern continued to me only having female teachers. But these female teachers have changed my life too! Mrs. Broening taught me, not to be so hard on myself and to look at math as a way of how to figure life out so I won’t spend my money so carelessly!  Statistics is a very interesting subject and I will definitely take into consideration that if one pack of chips has 32 chips and the other bag only has 26, that it is ok, due to a  factory manufacturing error.

  Mrs. Brogden has really touched my art and opened my ideas up when writing my future anime. She has not only taught me a lot about language arts, what a narrative is, and how to correctly write a Senior Research paper on my topic of 3D/2D/ Sketched art  in Video game design, she has taught me, that it is ok to add some type of humor in your anime and what not. Mrs. Freeman has taught me that life can be looked at in different perspectives and that we are all forever learning and guessing at life, even when it comes to voting for certain rights.  I am truly honored to be in their class and all I do is learn more and more from them. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH is all I can say! J

Thank you all my Junior Year Teachers at Diamond Oaks!

 Wow!  So many new friends. I don’t believe I can only do a maximum of just ten posts, because so much has happened here at Diamond Oaks.  I would like to go back to discussing how I made so many friends but first, I would like to talk about my teachers in my Junior Year!  My Social Studies teacher Mr. Stiger has really inspired me to pay close attention to our government and to make sure that we elect officials that are helping this country grow and not perish into nothingness.

   Mr. Lind has showed me that Math is very essential in life even when making video games. As frustrating and challenging Cognutive tutor was, it has really improved my math skills indefinitely! Mr. Cederdaul ( now my Anatomy teacher this year) has showed me that science is everywhere and has inspired me to go out there and learn more about life and its many possibilities! Mr. Malof has taught me to have faith in my own style of how to create movies, plays, and etc. while at the same time, following the basic rules and guide lines to fulfill my dreams. He has even helped me with a little flash animation by making sure that the animation is balanced and now all over the place so that it flows with the story and makes sense to the viewers and audience.

  I would like to THANK THEM ALL! If I were to go any further on how they changed my life, I would have to write a book! These teachers are truly amazing!!!! J

A Clone of me at Diamond Oaks?

 Michael Hall was a very educated buddy of mine and somewhat, an alternate futuristic version of myself. Let me further explain. We are both over achievers. We love to learn about new things. Even through tough times in class, we find a way to help each other out in Digital Arts and Design.

 He loves video games just like I do. Michael Hall has even taught me some basics of how video games are even made. The process he taught me was that each video game takes a year or so to make because there are so many individual teams that work with the graphics, frame animation, scripting, coding, 3D modeling, 2D modeling, rendering, shading, concept art, and many more jobs and tasks. I was so fascinated by the whole topic. Michael Hall has introduced me to lot of bands to listen to including Linkin Park.

 He has even showed me different comic book styles of art and the many possibilities to make a comic.  I was so inspired that I decided to take the offer of taking an art class that Ms. Ramey introduced to the whole class.  The teachers there at the DAAP program at the University of Cincinnati accepted my style of art and stated that it was “unique!” Nobody has ever said that my art was “Unique”!  I almost started to cry and had more faith in my art than I ever had before. I mean every has either looked at my art in a deranged way but to say Unique, really healed me! 

A God blessed Queen named Mrs. Brogden at Diamond Oaks!

   First off I would like to say Thank God for her. She really made my senior year along with all of my senior teachers, a really enlightening and educational year.  This post is all about Mrs. Brogden. I would just like to tell Mrs. Brogden personally, thank you for loving my art the way it is and not criticizing it. Thank you Mrs. Brogden for saying so many positive things into my life and for giving me hope even through my darkest days.

   Thank you for being a friend that I can trust and can go to anytime. Thank you for hanging my art up for everyone to see and for asking me to draw a superhero version of you. Thank you for helping me with my Senior Research Project! Thank you for using my Canterbury website as a strong example. No other teacher has ever used my artwork or anything of mine as a good example except YOU!

   You are the only one that made me a giant highlight. During my years of school, I felt like an outcast just trying to work really hard, learn all I can, and make it through life. I tell my mother almost everyday how you always make me smile when I’m not having such a great day in lab because I’m trying to perfect my artwork and etc. God knows, tears of happiness came out my eyes as I was typing this. I just want to not only thank everyone but most importantly…THANK YOU MRS. BROGDEN!

   I can’t wait for my mother to meet you in person one day. J Oh and as for the title of this post, that is all I think of women. I can’t think of them as I hear in these rap songs because that is not my characteristic. 

Rivalry and Friendship at Diamond Oaks

 After I met Paige, I then met Michael Acree.  Now Michael Acree would have to be another reason why I love Slipknot, System of a Down, Serj Tankin, and other famous rock bands including Disturbed. Our friendship was sort of back and forth. We are video game/ rock and roll buddies! One time after we were finished with our work in Mr. Malofs class, Michael Acree and I were watching some frame animated epic fails of Halo 3 and we were laughing our gluteus maximus off in  class. We started to talk about famous rock bands, life, and video games.

 Michael Acree and I both have dreams of becoming video game designers. We even helped each other out with our Digital Arts and Design projects. Our friendship had some down sides, but we talked those issues out like grown adults and moved on. Now a days, we let each other borrow video games from each other, keep us updated on video game news, love to work on projects in Digital Arts and Design, Listen to loads of rock music together, and we are just awesome friends. My buddy is the best  educated comedian ever.

 He will tell you a joke that will make you laugh so hard, that you will forget that you were having a bad day. Even through our ups and downs, I can’t wait to work with and compete against my buddy once we start our video game business in the mere future. 

A Beauty named Paige at Great Oaks!

 

    Good Morning Great Oaks! Today is yet another glorious day to learn at Diamond Oaks! As the first week at Diamond Oaks continued, I last left off on my last post stating how I met new friends that changed my whole perspective!  I was so happy and honored to have more friends in my life. Another new friend of mine that I have met was Paige Elizabeth.

    Now Paige was a very interesting friend of mine. When I first met her, she seemed to be a little uncomfortable with my character and my eagerness to learn. She didn’t understand why I loved school or worked so hard. But after so many months later, I influenced her to try new things that are positive for her and use school as a great advantage. First off, I have to say that Paige image was that of a queen.

    Her smile and beauty always made me smile. Her conversations always made me laugh and she was very fun to hang around with. She is very intelligent too just like everyone in Digital Arts and Design. I remember seeing movies of romance and actually wanted to ask her out, but my Goals override my passion and I just became her friend. The decision worked out just fine! 

New Perspectives on Different Friends at Great Oaks!

      During my first week of school I have met a bunch of new friends during my junior year and Senior Year but first, let me start off on the first week of school. It all started when I really needed some assistance with my stock motion animation assignment. I met an epic looking fellow, with head phones, a rock band shirt titled (Avenged Sevenfold), and I assumed he was a senior.  I introduced myself in a kind and gentleman like manner. He replied with a gentlemen like handshake. I asked him if he could help me with the stock motion animation Photoshop assignment.

      I was so amazed at how he taught me the Photoshop command that I used in all of my assignments titled Command A (Select All)+ Command C (Copy)+ Command V (Paste)! He was very impressed with me and I was very impressed with him. After he helped me with my assignment, he introduced me to one of the most epic bands I have ever heard of. AVENGEDSEVEN FOLD!!!! I was flabbergasted at the drum solos and the vocals!

      The title of the song that he introduced to me was “The Beast and the Harlot!” I then made this our official friendship theme between Joey and myself! Bros forever! I even became friends  (excluding those that I already knew but care for so much and pray for too!) with Mike Jones, Michael Acree, Jonathan Owen, A.R (Quameo Walker), Makayla, Sam and his best bud, George Klayer, Kayla, Kaeley Ohler, Jessica Felts, Jason Garret, John, Tyler Eggleston, Ricky, Alex Voland, Maribeth, and Paige Elizabeth. These friends have helped me and taught me a lot along with the whole Digital Arts and Design team!

Another Glorious Day at Great Oaks!

  Good Morning Great Oaks! As I got up to get dress and have some delicious breakfast thanks to my forever loving mother, I went on the bust to my journey to learn something new to that is going to open my mind to new possibilities and boy was I right. I finished my stock motion animation using the two rare and expensive Scorpion and Kung Lao Mortal Kombat action figures! It took quite some time to animate the figures movements frame by frame to show the two combatants actually fighting each other and boy was it a joy to do. The first time I actually finished my stock motion animation, it consists of over 100-150 frames and guess what everyone?    


 Photoshop crashed due to the fact that I used too much RAM to work on my assignment, that and I forgot to save and save often. Well when I reopened my project, there were still some of the frames that were saved and I just reduced my project to a maximum of 81 frames.  In each frame, the action figures would move towards each other and face each other in Mortal Kombat by performing a series of kicks, punches, grapples, and etc. My inspiration to do this was when my new friends and I learned about the new upcoming Mortal Kombat! That’s  right folks! When I first started off Great Oaks, I kept myself isolated from those I did not know. 


  However, when I decided to sit with somebody to start a friendly relationship, my whole perspective changed right before my eyes! 

My First Glorious Day at Diamond Oaks!

   Good Morning everyone! Today I would like to discuss my first day here at Great Oaks. When I first walked in, I was flabbergasted at how clean and professional the Great Oaks environment was. Everything was in order, the employees were very positive, and overall, I was very excited to start my first day in the Digital Arts and Design field and meet my academic teachers as well.  When I first walked in the Digital Arts and Design lab, there I met some mysterious new faces along with some familiar ones.

   I was really excited to sit at my workspace and get started on my first assignment in my Digital Arts and Design lab. However, I was a little bit too zealous over being in this class for three hours that I hooked up the Internet gigabit cord, power cord, Internet cord, and power adaptor up to my laptop. However, my Digital Arts and Design teacher looked at me sternly and first asked for my name. I replied with a passion to learn and achieve greatness. However, she responded by repeating the instructions of “Wait on the class” but still at the same time, was very impressed.  Everyone laughed and I did too because I was so eager to learn.

   Our first assignment was a stock motion animation. A stock motion animation is basically where you take a model and move one of its anatomical parts, take a picture and then repeat the process until you combine the pictures together to make the models look like they are actually in motion. Good times and hard working times. Also meeting Mr. Stiger, Mr. Lind, Mr. Cederdahl, and Mr. Malof was an amazing experience and an absolute honor to learn from such great teachers.