Black Tie Lounge

I shouldn't go too long without blogging because when I finally get back around to it, I'm so cluttered with all the things that I haven't said that my words come out as jumbled as my thoughts. I appreciate those friends that even though I have not seen them in ages or spoken to them frequently, it's still like we are able to pick up where we left off without the awkwardness of wondering what I should and should not say. I'm going to try that with you all. Some pretty big things happened this summer but it wasn't as fun as I hoped. I made more money than I have before. Got to connect with students in a powerful way. JudahLYFE appeared as a guest on Bobby Jones Gospel, which is a show that is televised nationally. I started my first full-time job with benefits. Sound amazing huh? I say it wasn't the best because I didn't enjoy it like I hoped. Have you ever had some of the best times in your life take place in some of the most rockiest of circumstances...

Each summer, I get the opportunity to advise students. This includes keeping them on track with finishing their degree, helping them understand the requirements to transfer to a 4 year university, and giving them sound advice so they don't  go into debt for  by making all out make bad choices.  So, I'm in the Advising office and the majority of people I work with are teachers. We got into a discussion about our expectations when it comes to student conduct. This then transformed into a discussion about how this generation has entitlement issues or have been babied only to their detriment. What's sad is that these are the same jokers failing out of class. One of my colleagues said that it's like they can't be embarassed. Calling a student out in the middle of class, or giving them an F does not embarass them. Good conversation. This morning the discussion continued but it was directed toward an event that happened at Herndon High. Allegedly several students pull...

Guess what song I woke up to this morning? Well I didn't exactly wake up to any song. Instead I cut on the television after I woke up and the song that played after some random stripper song--the type that has a beat and the type of lyrics that will only have an affect if you are drunk in a club throwing ones--was a song that I am beginning to use as my own. Low and behold after the stripper song was a video to "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia, which is the latest single off the album Nothing But the Beat. Pop music fans may recognize Sia because she is featured on FloRida's song Wild One. "Titanium" goes like this: I'm bullet proof nothing to loose fire away fire away Ricochet, you take your aim fire away fire away You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium Not only does this song get me hyped to run when I don't want to but it also encourages me to keep pushing through the ...

Certain songs give help me say things that I don't have the words to express at the time. Certain songs almost prophecy over my life to what I want to accomplish. Guy code says I should never sing a Beyonce song, so I'm telling on myself when I admit that I really like the song "I Was Here" off her latest album. I had two interviews last week for positions that I never planned to be interested in. Walking out of the last interview made me feel a certain way. God has so much favor in my life. I seen him build relationships and bring opportunities that I never asked for when I was in a place where I had no hope. I think the greatest thing I could do after college was experience some of the hardships of life and of being in a transition. From not having a job to only working part-time, to being separated from friends and brought to a place where I only had time on my hands. I'm not going to tell a sob story but everyone has those moments that are hard for them. Thr...

I'm watching a video that I assign to my students for points toward their grade. I decided to share this and other videos I have used for my class. Listening Chapter Language Interpersonal Communication This is just a taste

I got some time before class to shoot the breeze and just read. I got to read on academic advising, which I'm very interested in. When I think about advising, I believe that every opportunity that I've ever had has lead up to me going into that particular field of education. I have concluded that it will allow me to weed out the clowns that just don't give a what. I have to see them on a weekly basis unless they just altogether don't come to class. Advising will also give me a common ground with students because the meetings will be mutually beneficial. Students have to see me if they want to see me not because they are required to. What I plan on talking about has nothing to do with advising but everything to do with the ways I dodge students. Maybe this is because I'm getting older or maybe this is because I'm getting meaner but sometimes I just don't want to talk to certain people. It's like I have to mentally and physically prepare myself to conv...

Fresh off the car break in, I came up with the bright idea of polling my students to see what things I can adjust. Sure I may come to class with some chucks and an H&M sweater or V-neck T-shirt, say some very sarcastic things, forget the very material I am presenting but I do care what my students/clients think about my services. I always wanted to get some instructor feedback but I never cared to actually think about what to ask. This time, well, I still didn't think of what to ask. I kind of came up with the questions on the spot but I did follow through with what I was thinking as I carried out this poll. I asked if the students were satisfied with the course at this point. I asked if there was anything that I could do more or less of. Lastly, I asked for general feedback. Now if I judge my students based of the looks on their faces as I present material to them, then I'd say that I was in to possibly get ripped a new one. To which I would have just kindly said eff you,...

Tomorrow class will be in session and I don't exactly have it all together. Trust, I'll have it on point by class time. This semester I've made a few changes. Instead of doing 8 week sessions to bring in the bank, I'm teaching the full 16-week semester. This will give me more time to focus on the students and actually give me time to plan assignments. Assignments: that's another area I have bulked up on. Buddy boy those that had me last Spring had it good. I rarely had assignments but I was hard on them when it came to the work they actually did turn in. This time I'm more informed and am ready to facilitate the progress of my students. The only thing right now I'll be somewhat winging is this public speaking class I picked up last week. Enrollment for that class was through the roof so I took on that course to make sure I had enough classes to keep me at a certain income level. Speaking of enrollment all my classes are full. I want to roll my ...

I'm headed to Philly in the morning and I'm up applying to a position at UMD! I got the urge to see my rating on ratemyprofessor.com and here is the feedback that I got. This is further proof that I would have loved to have myself as an instructor. Since they said I was so easy, I'll definitely have to make sure I make things harder. HA HA HA Snitches! In all honesty, I appreciate the kind remarks. This just made my night. They like me. They really like me.

Fam, it's been a long time coming. My focus for the past six months has been on all 70 odd students that I have taught this semester. I can say that I'm talking to you just after I've reached the end of the first semester. It has been crazy. Crazy good, crazy strange, crazy awkward, crazy inspiring, and all around a crazy learning experience for me. I'm very proud that I have been slightly initiated into higher education and I want more. More for myself. More for others. I'm in a good place. So while I'm in that good place, never actually attaining all of the top things I've been reaching for, I get an opportunity to possibly go back to NYC. I'm in talks with a recruiter who thinks that I may be a good fit for some of the agencies on her list. With that said by mid June I'll be taking a trip back to the big city to see about it all. What's funny is that I haven't thought about working at an agency since leaving NYC back in 2009. When...

Now that I'm an educator things like these. . . . just watch. In The Know: Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don't Give A Shit?

After a weekend laying in bed, sick with the flu, I am back on my feet and fulfilling my professorial duties. I am grading a discussion board assignment that I gave both of my classes about a week ago. I am not impressed at all. As a matter of fact I'm a little ticked off that some of these students would turn in work that reflects badly on them. Don't get me wrong, quite a few students did well but when the distribution is from 90's and 80's to 50's and 40's what am I supposed to think. All I can think to do is lay the smack down. We've got to fix this, This is really ticking me off.

Here's a thought: How can I get my students to understand that anything I assign, put in the syllabus, or announce in class is NOT just a clever or witty suggestion nor a creative idea to be pondered? It's an assignment that I meant for you to do for a grade. Oh well, that's less papers for me to grade. Bring on the zeros. Professor Curry

I'm going to get a lot of flack for this but I really just want you all to feel me on this. As a black person in any environment where other black people are the minority, I'm going to notice and be drawn towards other black people that I may cross paths with. Whether it involves me only saying hello or progresses further than that, those moments are significant to me. As an educator, I look for opportunities to mentor young black males and help them along the path. With that said, I'm going to naturally flock or pay special attention to any black students, particularly black males, that I may have in my class. So naturally that has happened but not in the way that I would hope. I have a young black male in on of my 8 week courses. Let me preface this by saying that I have yet to sit down and speak with this student. He portrays a demeanor as though he does not want to be in my class. I get a very deliberate lack of participation when it comes to him-- mind you this is a...

The Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. How ya love that! Oscah released his MADSOUL Mixtape Vol 1 available for FREE Download while supplies last. I'm writing my first exam.I saw Marsha Ambrosius at The Park on Friday. Let's start with Marsha. Two nights before the event, I found out that Marsha Ambrosius would be performing live at The Park. There actually was not much to that night. Honestly! The room was so packed that I had to go to the 4th floor to view the band from the balcony. I had a pretty good spot for several reasons. Number one, despite how packed it was, I could still look down and see everything. Secondly I was standing in front of her VIP section where I saw her stuffing her face the whole time. I thought it was funny. It was show time and everyone pushed their way to the front. This is where it got ignorant. We had some really loud chicks push there way in front of me and my crew. We were standing right behind the camera man, giving him enough room to do wh...

The Pittsburgh Steelers just beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 in the play offs now its on to the AFC Division Championship. Last Sunday I got picked to model in DC Fashion Week 2011 . Shout out to Ean Williams and Corjor International . Some of the photos from the model call were featured in Shy Magazine . I will be making an announcement concerning the modeling portion of my brand lol. Really I will, so sit tight. So, I know everyone wants to hear about my adventures as a community college instructor. I survived my first week with plenty of stories to tell. There was not a night that I did not stay up late because I was preparing to lead the class. The funny thing is, since I got hired 3 weeks before the semester I did not really plan out my semester in full. So I'm pretty much going through the book with the students and getting comfortable with the material myself. It's crazy. I kept running into technology problems in the classroom because NVCC decided to change my passwor...