Try

Try

by Michelle Stiles

"Be this. Do that."

"You're too skinny. You're too fat."

"When I was your age I was married with a baby."

"Get your act together. You're just being lazy."

"You're smart but settle for a menial job."

"Ugh your clothes are disgusting! You look like a slob."

But what ever happened to, "Follow your dreams?"

All this internalized pressure comes out in whimpers and screams.

You're going through depression like it's no big thing.

Sometimes you scream. Sometimes you sing.

On the surface you cover up with a smile,

Impeccable hair and a flashy style. 

But on the inside you feel empty like nothing's good enough.

They tell you, "Suck it up lady, life is tough." 

Although you try to get help as your dreams go up in smoke

You shouldn't  cry because then you'll just be a joke.

But I say, "Let it all out and cry."

Because in the end, at least you try.

Frogger Prince

Frogger Prince

by Michelle Stiles

Frogger Prince died reciting poetry. 

I wonder who the lucky lady could be?

Did she have green warts and eat flies? 

Have a certain twinkle in her eyes? 

Whatever she looked like she must 

Have something special to deserve his lust. 

For Frogger Prince must've known 

To win her heart before the lawn got mown. 

Across the cool blue water he swum. 

His chance at true love had finally come. 

So against the current he paddled and pushed

 Hoping his heart would remain unsmushed. 

When he finally arrived at the edge of the pool 

Frogged Prince looked refreshed and cool.   

On his hind legs with his hand on his heart 

He said, "My love you are a work of art!"

On and on he confessed his love 

As the sun shone from up above. 

Then suddenly a loud noise was heard. 

The lawnmower roared on his last word. 

From the lawn mower a large rock ricocheted 

Hit him in the head so dead he now laid. 

Pity the poor dear for he wasn't a bloke. 

Just a lovestruck frog too young to croak. 

Many ladies would've kissed Frogger Prince. 

Now the idea of that makes them wince.

Paul's Text/Mad Road Clip (SCREENPLAY)

Paul's Text

by Michelle Stiles

EXT. PAUL'S HOUSE - BACK PORCH - TWLIGHT

PAUL (70s), full white hair yet still has his vigor, sits on the rocking chair with a hand-knit blanket over his lap and COFFEE MUG in his hand. He wears bifocal GLASSES.

The sound of CRICKET CHIRPS and BULLFROG RIBBITS are heard in the distance. Trees silhouette the gorgeous sunset of purple, orange, and light gray hues.

Paul sips from his COFFEE MUG. His CELL PHONE vibrates. BUZZ! Paul opens a text message.

RAYMOND (TEXT)

INTERVIEW WENT WELL. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT GRANDPA. LOVE YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

Paul smiles to himself. He takes a final sip and puts the COFFEE MUG down beside the rocking chair.

PAUL

Such a good boy.

Paul removes his GLASSES and closes his eyes. He dozes off.

                                                      FADE TO BLACK.

Only A Storm

Only A Storm

by Michelle Stiles

 

On a dark and stormy night

I sit in my room full of fright.

The thunder grumbles all around.

It makes me fumble at the sound.

How lucky I am to be in my warm bed

I could be frozen and drenched outside instead.

Drip. Drip. Drop. KABOOM!

That sudden drop came too soon.

I hide under my the covers to keep warm

And remind myself that it’s only a storm.

Hart Has Heart (article)

Hart has Heart

By Michelle Stiles

            The State University of New York at Oswego has a unique living arrangement for international students. Hart Hall Global Living and Learning Center is the dormitory on campus where students from all around the world live together. Every student from Canadian to Chinese is welcome.

            I interviewed five awesome women about what life is like living in Hart Hall. The students I interviewed are four one-year residents. Qianying Xia and Junting Wang are from South China. Cynthia Suggs and Chance Talcott are from America. I also interviewed Hart Hall’s Faculty Resident Mentor / Conference and Programming Coordinator, Dr. Rebecca Burch. She is a nine-year resident as well as a SUNY Oswego professor. She is the woman to talk to about living in Hart Hall.

            In order for a student to reside in Hart Hall they must undergo a process. According to Dr. Rebecca Burch, “A student can request to live in Hart Hall through the Reslife office. There used to be an essay requirement, but that may have been waived. To remain in the hall, the student must be enrolled in the IST 190/390 course.  Students in the course must attend and/or participate in a total of six (6) pre-approved lectures, panel discussions and other activities that enhance their classroom learning experiences. Three (3) of these activities must be Hart Hall (in-hall) events. Students are also required to complete ten (10) hours of approved community service per semester.”

The community service and ISTs are meant to get the students involved as well as fulfill the one credit class requirement. Dr. Rebecca Burch explained, “IST is the acronym given to the International Studies course. However, this was changed to Global Issues and Awareness, so IST actually stands for Global Issues and Awareness.” The ISTs range from watching International films to PowerPoint discussions conducted by the humanitarian club on campus ONE @ SUNY Oswego. They are both fun and informative. When asked about the least favorite thing about living in Hart Hall from the student’s perspective, the work was the top reason. However, what college student doesn’t complain about work?

Another interactive part of living in Hart Hall is that American students get paired with international students as Conversation Partners. Cynthia and Junting are conversation partners as are Chance and Qianying. This way the American students get the chance to learn a new language while the international students can practice their English. As an example Qianying and Cynthia demonstrated what it is like:

Qianying: “Cyndy你怎么样？ (Cyndy nǐ zěnme yàng?)” Cyndy how are you?

Cynthia: “我很好. (Wǒ hěn hǎo)” I am fine.

Conversation partners are also a good way for international students to get translations and homework help. Most of the time conversation partners turn out to be good friends.

            The interactions between international students and American students vary. Sometimes there is a language barrier that makes it difficult for them to connect. However, the American Hart Hall residents are sensitive to the international students and for the most part are accepting and understanding. According to Cynthia, “It also depends on if you’ve got the conversation because at first you’re still shy because you don’t know the person. But once you get to know them it doesn’t matter if they’re from a different culture. It’s like you grew up with them & are like ‘Hey how you doing? Whatsup girl?’ That kinda thing.” Language barriers can also interfere with classwork sometimes. No need to fear though because SUNY Oswego provides services for students that may need extra time taking exams or who have learning disabilities.

When a student lives in Hart Hall it is important for them have an open mind. Part of the experience is being enriched with a collaboration of different cultures. When asked how she likes living with international students Chance replied, “It’s the only reason I’m here. Because I like being surrounded by culture. I live in America I know what its like.” It is a unique living arrangement to have so many different people living in one place but that is part dorm life. There is and always will be a fish out of water feeling when any student (international or not) moves into the dormitories. When in college students don’t only learn academics; they learn how to socially interact with people from different backgrounds.

Another major change that international students face is the climate. Many of them come from countries that have little to no snow and in Oswego, New York snow is a major factor. When asked about the weather Junting said, “We are from southern part of China so actually we seldom see like that much snow. It’s so cold but snow is like good for us to see because we’ve never seen it much but the wind is not good.” True the wind can be brutal. That is why it is a virtue that Hart Hall is attached to a gym and dining hall.

The dining halls serve many different American meals. International students have the chance to get try new delicious American food. However, some meals can make students sick if they are not accustomed to the way in which the food is cooked. Dr. Rebecca Burch made a valid point, “Cooking their own meals in the hall can actually be beneficial if they are sharing their culture with others (and thereby making new friends) or cooking with other students from their country because this can help eliminate their homesickness and their hunger.” Food is an easy way to experience other cultures because everyone likes to eat.

For those of age, drinking and smoking can be an easy way for international students to bond with American students. Although excessive drinking is not permitted in any of the dormitories, downtown Oswego has an array of different bars and dance clubs. “Other cultures have lower ages for smoking and drinking and allow public smoking and drinking on campus and in residence halls. Students from these cultures can have a difficult adjustment period here (imagine a student who is used to smoking in their room, now having to go outside into the snow 25 feet from the building, or a student walking into a res-hall lobby drinking a beer and getting disciplined). Other cultures have similar rules to ours so they have less of an adjustment,” said Dr. Rebecca Burch. One of the best ways for international students to make new friends and fit in is to get involved on campus. SUNY Oswego provides countless clubs, sports and other group activities.

Hart Hall is the basis for international student living on campus. However, students do have the option to live in other dormitories. When I asked if they, “Think it would be better if the international students were spread out throughout the campus in different dorms?” the results varied. Junting thought that, “Like if I stay in another hall with like all Americans but just like me and a few foreigners I would feel like a little bit burdened. Like half/half: half American students and half international students. It would be good like international students from many different countries. Not only from some specific country.” It also depends on the individual. Dr. Rebecca Burch made an interesting point “We have had students move to other residence halls, particularly on west campus, and then request to move back into Hart. I think certain halls (Funnelle, the lakeside halls) are more welcoming and accommodating to international students. However, this can also differ with culture. Students from Asian cultures have had terrible experiences with west campus, but the Canadian students (the hockey team) live in Onondaga and have no problems that I know of.” Hart Hall is usually the most comfortable living arrangement for international students on campus.

            Leaving college for any student can be a bittersweet experience. Chance, Cynthia Qianying, and Junting all agreed that it would be sad for them to go back home and leave their “college family”. However, it will be a happy feeling for them to be reunited with their families in their native countries.

            I asked the students “If you could rate Hart Hall on a scale of 1-10, 1 being ‘Horrible, I hate it’ or 10 being like ‘It’s the best thing in the world’, what would you rank it?”  Cynthia and Junting gave it an 8. Chance and Junting gave it a 9. Dr. Rebecca Burch also admitted “I adore living here”. All in all Hart Hall is a fun, welcoming, informative, and culturally rich living arrangement on SUNY Oswego campus.

Slapped (Flash Non-fiction)

Slapped

by Michelle Stiles

When I was in elementary school I got a referral for slapping an annoying boy. It was a hot June day at lunch so I was already irritated. My friend Nina and I were minding our own business when Jesse came around. He kept saying “Mama” repeatedly. Nina and I were livid. When we couldn’t take it anymore, I stepped up and slapped him hard on the back. POW! Struck, Jesse screamed in anguish. I got in trouble but my fellow classmates cheered me on because Jesse annoyed everyone and he had it coming. For elementary school is the old time you can get away with fighting without serious legal consequences. It was worth it.