Inside an Optimist's Mind

Odds

May 23, 2019June 18, 2019 by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Creative Writing

The odds are against us

The world is against us

They think you and I can never be

They say

He’s too good for her

She’s too good for him

What is it that is so great about her

That only he can see?

The odds are against us

The world is against us

They want nothing more than to see us fail

They even say it to our faces

Don’t be with her

Don’t be with him

Can’t you see that everything would be better

If you’d forget her?

The odds are against us

The world is against us

Everyone has a million reasons why

Why we shouldn’t be together

Why we aren’t right for each other

But I have a reason to stay

And it’s the only one that matters.

Backlash

May 18, 2019May 19, 2019 by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Editorial

Social Media Plus Gen Z Equals Continuous Backlash

In an era in which social media is prevalent and every move made is monitored by other users, it is almost impossible to always remain perfect in the eyes of the public. One misstep can cause backlash not even twenty four hours later or come back to haunt someone for years. Second chances, it seems, are rarely given in today’s society.

The sensitivity of Generation Z (Gen Z) is constantly debated, some saying that Gen Z gets offended by just about everything. Yet, others believe that growing up witnessing a great deal of violence, such as the influx of school shootings and suicides, has desensitized them.

While the sensitivity levels of Gen Z seem to be in a weird paradox, one thing’s for certain: they never seem to give anyone a break on social media.

If someone were to record themselves simply saying their thoughts in a manner people may not like, the post would go viral, comments would be filled with backlash, and following that would be mockery by other users.

Just in April, Justin Bieber pulled an April Fool’s prank, in which he made it seem like his wife, Hailey Bieber, was pregnant and bearing his child. The prank resulted in controversy and was claimed to be insensitive to women with infertility issues.

Other celebrities have received backlash for resurfaced statements that were made years ago.

Artist Cardi B has faced criticism for saying she used to drug and rob men during her days as a stripper. She responded saying on an Instagram post, “I made the choices I did at the time because I had very limited options. I have a past that I can’t change we all do.”

Whether an incident happened recently, or fifteen years ago, it won’t go unnoticed, appearing in retweets and joked about in memes. Sometimes an individual will receive hate and criticism for a statement they’ve apologized profusely and faced consequences for twenty years later.

“For them it might have been a lifetime ago and they might have changed. But when it resurfaces, it doesn’t seem that way to us,” said Abigaelle Barreauny, a sophomore at MLEC.

This doesn’t go to say that the person doesn’t deserve part of the backlash. However, for one to hear a comment he or she made at age sixteen, and be held accountable for it the rest of their lives is simply unfair and unnecessary.

Not giving second chances ultimately limits growth within society. When the media is always reminding one of a mistake they’ve made, it becomes increasingly difficult to move on.

A society that is unforgiving and stuck on the past doesn’t leave room for improvement. It’s time that after criticizing someone for their wrongdoings, people either move on or let it go. Everyone needs room to grow.

Image source: Getty Images

In Touch

May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Feature

Going the Extra Mile to Keep A Friendship

Originally published in the Harbinger

As the school year comes to a close, a great fear approaches for seniors: separating from friends. It may feel like graduation will hold the last memories of hugs, conversations, and friendship; however, this doesn’t have to be the case. If both parties put in effort to keep the treasured bond, distance will no longer be a determining factor within the friendship.

Social media is becoming an integral part of the lives for many, and friendships can both be initiated and maintained through it. You can send snaps to your best friend and vice versa, showing how one another’s day is going or laughing at memes sent through the DMs of Instagram.

“We have a streak on snapchat and send each other posts on Instagram and Twitter,” said Alexandra Roberdeo, a MLEC alumnus and freshmen at Hamilton College, about her ongoing friendship with Daylin Delgado, a MLEC alumnus and freshman at Amherst College.

When you’re miles apart from each other with different schedules, talking to your best friend everyday is nearly impossible. But catching up once a week or every other week ensures that you keep in touch.

“We don’t call often but we’ve also never been the type to call all the time. We do update each other or ask each other questions like once a week,” said Daylin.

If you and your best friend are in different states, or even just different schools, there is always something new to talk about, ranging from teachers to mini adventures to relationships.

In trying to keep your bond, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity and never hesitate taking the time to tell your best friend about all the mishaps and exciting things that happened throughout the week.

And although busy schedules and distance may make it difficult to see each other often, try and make room for a visit or two. Perhaps this can be done spontaneously, on a weekend when you both are free or for special occasions such as birthdays.

“It’s not like the distance can get in the way. Last semester, I felt myself missing home a lot, so I took a train to Massachusetts and surprised Daylin,” said Alexandra.

It is also important to understand that while some friendships work out after high school, some simply don’t. It happens. However, it doesn’t hurt to try, especially if your friend holds great significance to you.

“Don’t worry about it. If it’s meant to last, it will. You can’t force something to work, but you should definitely work for it if it’s important to you,” said Daylin.

As the final days of high school approach, remember that with some effort, surprise visits, snap sending, and meme sharing, the bond you share with your best friend doesn’t have to end.

Habits

May 13, 2019May 19, 2019 by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Feature

You’re Not Alone: Things Mothers From the Caribbean and South America Tend to Do

It’s seven a.m. on a Saturday morning and you hear a voice complaining about how it is nearly 8:30 and that no one does anything in the house. Chances are that voice is your mother, and she’s either from the Caribbean or South America.

From Haiti to Nicaragua, one can find similarities in cultures, such as the dishes made. Thus, many people with parents from the Caribbean or South America can agree on different habits their mother have. One of them: Cleaning. A lot, maybe even excessively.

“My mom’s always doing chores, and she has to make it known that she’s doing them,” said Jarell Burks, a sophomore at MLEC.

Whether it is early on the weekends, or the middles of the week, many can agree that they spot their mother sweeping or mopping around the house. During this, she may [not so] subtly mention she does the most work in the household. It can get even worse – complaining after taking over the task because you’re not doing it right.

“When my mom tells me to clean, I clean. Mid-cleaning, she says, ‘you’re doing it wrong. Let me do it.’ Not even ten minutes later, I would hear her mutter, ‘I always have to do everything in this house,” said Laudith De Los Santos, a sophomore at MLEC.

Along with the great amount of cleaning, mothers from the Caribbean and South America make food that seems to last forever. A meal which only consists of rice, beans, and chicken can last from three days to an entire week.

“The food lasts for days, even more so on the holidays, added Laudith.

Laudith recalls the year her thanksgiving dinner which included turkey, rice, and potato salad, lasted for an abnormally amount of time. She said that it was New Year’s Day, and there was still Thanksgiving dinner being consumed.

“I wish I was kidding,” said Laudith.

It is as if whenever these mothers are cooking, they think “I wonder how long this food can last.” The answer, it seems, is always pretty long. And even though they tend to overcook, and the food can last a lifetime, some cook another dish before the leftovers are finished.

Mothers that are from South America and the Caribbean also tend to have a problem with time. As in over-exaggerating when they are telling you to hurry up. As in, saying you’re waking up an hour late, when it’s really ten minutes.

Junior Samendie Blanchet remembers the night she asked her mom to wake her up at 8 o’clock the next morning. “She woke me up at 6:30 telling me it was almost 8:00. I rushed for no reason.”

The cultural similarities that contribute to the similarities in habits are something the children of these parents bond over. There are posts on social media platforms, such as Twitter, in which one person posts about their mom cooking as if it was a disease, and somewhere in the comments, there is an “I’m convinced we’re all living the same lives.”

Recently, someone posted a comedic video on Instagram. In it, the male and the chef in the video was “God,” and the food he was making was the quality of Caribbean mothers. The amount of rice put in the pan represented the extent of the quality they have.

For example, the quality “best cooking” was on a sheet of paper was placed in the pan, followed by an abundance of rice being poured into it. However, when “admit when they’re wrong” was on the paper, the chef, or “God” places two grains of rice. He took one of them back.

So, if you have a parent from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, Nicaragua, or anywhere else in the Caribbean or South America, and you experience being woken up at 7 a.m. with the sounds of cleaning and “I have to do everything here,” know that you’re not alone.

Someone not too far from you is probably being woken up the exact same way.

Graduate

May 5, 2019May 6, 2019 by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Photo Essays

Mom,

Today you graduate (which is in the form of a luncheon because the ceremonies are every other year). You worked hard to get here. I remember when I was in elementary school, too young to stay home alone, you would rush to get from work, to the person babysitting my brother and I, to your night classes. At the time, dad worked a night shift as well. When completing the last two classes for the degree, after five days of working, you spent your Saturdays at class. I watched as you juggled to be a mom, a student, a coworker, a teacher, and a person devoted to God all at the same time. I know it wasn’t easy coming into the country, getting your citizenship, and building the life you now have. But you’re doing it, you’re building. You completed the class to help you speak and read English. You completed the classes to get your Associate’s Degree. You managed to get a better job with that new diploma. You continued to work hard. Now, you have your Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education.

Today we celebrate you. Today we honor you and your decision to keep pushing forward even when the times were less than ideal, even in the midst of difficult classes. You did it. I couldn’t be more proud of all you accomplished, and everything you will accomplish from this day forward.

This photo essay takes place at my mother’s graduation luncheon, in which she listens to wise words, talks, eats her meal, and enjoy the event meant to honor her, along with 38 hardworking individuals who either got their Bachelor’s or their Master’s.