Acting Class, Brave, Valentine's Day

Something that has been inspiring me lately, is my acting class. Three weeks ago I was extremely awkward in front of my classmates, but I'm suddenly seeing myself improve in my confidence and my public speaking. I guess I didn't find the point in taking risks because I was afraid of failure or in this case freezing and stuttering my words in front of my class. I'm not sure why people imagine other people in their underwear to face public speaking I think that would make me even more uncomfortable. Anyways, this class has made me dismiss any thoughts of people criticizing me because the only way to be a better actor is to loosen up and push yourself out of your comfort zone. I mean I don't think I'll be the next Jennifer Lawrence, but at least acting will help me with my confidence. (To the left is the recent acting skit we had to do, it was an hour in your life. You had to list ten things you do in one hour. I chose 5:30-6:30pm after work and the actions I do include, changing into sweats right when I get home from work, tuning my guitar, starting homework, and dancing around like a maniac. You can imagine me acting these out right?)


I was able to introduce this class to my musical side. We had to present who we are right now, so I sang them a song that makes me who I am today. This song is entitled "Brave" by Sara Bareilles. Some of the lyrics are so inspirational and while singing this song I myself felt so moved, I even teared up. I'm so relieved my classmates enjoyed it and I might just post up a video of me covering it this song. Might :)

I hope you all had a random Valentine's day. All I wanted was a heart-shaped pizza from Rusty's and I got it! I hope your weekend plans go swell.

-KIKI REYES

 

 

2014, Spring Semester, Winter Break

Hello... Welcome to 2014 and Spring Semester. If you're just tuning in to this blog now, welcome! My name is Kiki Reyes and I will be guiding you through your Spring Semester at Santa Barbara City College or giving you examples of how the student life is here at the number one community college in the nation. If you're thinking about going here and are indecisive about your decision, my advice to you is to come visit. You will fall in love at first sight.

If you've been tuning in from last semester, I hope everyone is enjoying their last two weeks of winter break. l've been using this time off to focus on things that matter to me which include spending time with my family and friends, my music, and my future plans for school. I have also been working a lot at the driving school I am currently employed at. Here's a few things I've done this break:

1. Sent in my transcripts for the universities I've applied to (Fall 2014).

2. Went hiking several times with my friends.

(Lizard's Mouth)

(Inspiration Point) 

3. Delivered presents with my sister dressed as elves.

4. Rung in the Year New with my closest friends 

5. Reapplied to the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation (You still have until the 31st, this is only for Santa Barbara natives http://www.sbscholarship.org) and FAFSA (https://fafsa.ed.gov/)

~Update on College Acceptance: I have been admitted to CSU Channel Islands

I have already been on the SBCC Campus a few times and I've noticed some construction going on; They're making this school more beautiful than it already is. 

Well thanks for tuning in and I am looking forward to share my Spring Semester with you guys!

- KIKI REYES

P.S: The bookstore is open! Here are the hours:

Campus Store Hours:

January 8th through 17th from 7:45am - 4pm

Closed weekends and January 20th.

Open January 21st - 24th 7:45 - 6pm

Open Saturday January 25th from 10am - 3pm

Open January 27th - 30th 7:45am - 7pm

Open January 31st 7:45 - 5pm

Open February 3rd - 6th 7:45 - 7pm

Open February 7th 7:45 - 4pm

February 10th

7:45am - 6pm Monday - Thursday

7:45am - 4pm Fridays

Flashback to Senior Year Before SBCC, Why SBCC, Struggling Songwriter, English Major

I was the female role/dancer in Percussive Theatre/Drumline

As a senior in highschool I was indecisive about my future. I applied to San Francisco State, CSU Channel Islands, and CSU Northridge. I wasn't going to apply to four year universities because I felt like my application didn't stand out as much as I would of liked to. Here was I a senior with a 4.33 GPA involved in programs in school (AVID, AP/Honors, and Drumline) and outside of school (Santa Barbara Teen News Network and Santa Barbara Youth Music Academy) thinking I needed something more. After I applied to those schools I started doubting myself so much that I ignored the all deadlines to further the application progress. 

On set with the Santa Barbara Teen News Network

My sister, a year older than me, was enrolled at Santa Barbara City College. Although, she was accepted by CSU Channel Islands, her dream school, she decided to attend SBCC. I told myself I would not follow into her footsteps... Until I started waiting for her classes to get out at City College. I didn't mind it because I would bring my guitar or go run at La Playa Stadium  while I waited  for her. I started thinking it wouldn't be so bad if I went here. The ocean was across the street, it was near downtown, and I could continue running at the track. I think the main reason I didn't feel confident about my college applications was because one, I wasn't sure if I wanted to major in Journalism, Songwriting,or Creative Writing and two, I wasn't ready to leave home. I couldn't leave this beautiful place, a city in which tourists come all over the country to explore. 

Capitol Records in Hollywood

I consider myself as a songwriter and back then I thought it would be easy to pursue this dream.  My plan was to move down to Los Angeles and personally hand producers my demos and have them listen to them assuming they would automatically be impress with my lyrics and hire me for their record labels. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, I know this for a fact. I tried out for two singing competitions, thinking if I get in I could perform my own songs at the showcases. I never even got a callback. It wasn't until this recent singing competition that assured myself that I'm going to keep songwriting and auditioning, while still attending school. Some say that one can easily learn from being on the streets, but I love being in a classroom listening to professors lecture about different subject. Skipping a year to see if I could make it as a songwriter is an incredible risk and I applaud those who do it, but I think having an education is beneficial as well. If people in the music industry saw that I got a bachelors degree, they can think wow this girl is serious about her education, maybe she's as serious with her music. 

My Journal

I decided that since I enjoyed reading and writing so much, I could improve my writing and discover different forms of literature by becoming an English Major. Although I've been getting average grades on my writing pieces in Creative Writing, I'm leaning away from resisting to revise my work. I need revision, otherwise how else would I improve? I visited my Creative Writing professor during his office hours and he said that I shouldn't stay in the same nineteen year old writing perspective, I need to grow as a writer. I took it a bit farther by considering to become an English Professor. I can still be both a Professor and a Songwriter. 

My advice to you is don't doubt yourself and a fail is not necessarily a fail because you gain something from it. Motivation.  

-KIKI REYES