Putting it in Perspective

**Note: Post Date is August 20, 2009**

I took to the stage once more as I participated in and produced the Semester at Sea Summer 2009 Voyage Talent Show. It was a tiring night but a successful one. Dancers, singers, pianists, guitarists, and comedians all came out last night to show off their amazing talents. And that they truly were.  Of course some acts naturally fall short but the bulk of the night’s talent was exemplary and I was impressed. I had a front row seat as I watched the night unfold. Dan, my fellow NYU colleague, was the MC as he added that special something to the night. He is absolutely hysterical. I sang "Remember when it Rained" by Josh Groban and sadly my performance wasn't to my full potential. In my opinion a comedic duo stole the night with slogan songs poking fun at some premier personalities on the ship such as Executive Dean, Dia Draper and Global Studies teacher, Alex Nalbach. It was funny and included some of the fun we’ve had with them on this voyage.

Taking charge is a large undertaking as I determined the acceptance of acts, the order of the show and any other logistics that follow such as seating, lights and sound. I of course had a helpful team but me being the controlling person I am couldn’t finally relax until the conclusion of the evening. The community, especially the Deans, seem to be appreciative and have even shown their appreciation by rewarding me with some gift certificates that I can use on the ship. I am extremely thankful and humble to receive any sort of reward, but I’m simply doing something I love to do. It comes with a small sacrifice that doesn’t even compare to the reward of seeing a final and successful product.

There were some battles along the way concerning content of some pieces. In particular, their was a student who wanted to perform slam poetry. The content wasn’t flowers and sunshine but it certainly had a topic that could speak to people and relate to the theme of the voyage which is “Human Rights”. However, the Deans conversed and the ultimate verdict was she could not perform in the show due to its content and young audiences. I, as well as others, worked diligently to persuade the board otherwise and highlight this unique and impactful talent. But I regret to say, I’m not superman. My human powers could only stretch so far to try and change the minds of some conservative thinkers. But besides the minimal hiccups I am proud of this year’s talent show.

With classes and finals behind us, we have nothing to do but kick back and relax as we enjoy the concluding days of this two month cruise. And so that’s what we did. Some earlier than others as Erika heads up to the deck at about 8:00am in the brisk morning. I joined the A.B.A. gang later in the day at about 11:00 seeing as tanning isn’t much of a priority for me. But it was nice to relax. Nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to prepare for, just to simply wait. However its funny, you can only do nothing for so long. It’s like Ellen Degeneres says in her Stand Up Comedy: “Here and Now” that we procrastinate so that we don’t have to do anything, but once we are given that chunk of time to do nothing, we choose to do something! Relaxing isn’t a long past time, for me at least. It soon becomes unproductive, static and the opposite of living. So as we bask in the sun and eat our afternoon away, I itch for something more. Maybe a nice run will do.

Although I must admit laying poolside with the gang is a nice alternative to the headache of homework and studying. We took pictures, had a bunch of laughs and just began to put things into perspective.  And I begin to slowly do that.

Summer by India Arie

Goodbye Summer
I hate to see you go,
I wasn’t ready for autumn wind to blow

My heart is frozen in this place
Waiting for another Summer’s day
To bring you back my way

In actuality no summer day will ever bring this unforgettable two months back my way. But each summer, in the ones to come,  I’m sure I will look back on this one and know how near and dear it is to me and remember the amazing time I had. For now, I look forward to the rest of the summer I do have. My return home will be full of family and friend gatherings, fun events like concerts, visit to the race tracks, and my first visit ever to the Statue of Liberty. It will be quite ironic to finally visit this historic landmark after traveling the distant waters of the Mediterranean. Being on a voyage where the theme is “Human Rights” and experiencing many cultures in which that term holds no value, it will be quite the visit to a symbol that stands for freedom and equality for all.

Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson

The storm is coming, but I don’t mind.
People are dying, I close my blinds
All that I know is I’m breathing.

I want to change the world, instead I sleep.
I want to believe in more than you and me.
All that I know is I’m breathing.
All I can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing, now.

It has been hard visiting nations such as Egypt and Morocco and facing their impoverished state first hand. There were many trips offered to visit orphanages, but I couldn’t imagine the amount of heartache and despair that would loom above me after visiting any orphanage let alone ones of such neglect that are in these underdeveloped nations. I’m an extremely small player in the global world, virtually non-exisitent, but I yearn to make a difference and be a force in this unfortunate world of ours. And it isn’t just the state of these certain nations, our very own has always faced a huge poor demographic and it is currently facing times of economic hurt. It is also the number one contributor to our environmental state as a human race. Yet, I can’t help feeling helpless as these facts and figures weigh heavier and heavier upon my conscious. I don’t want to be a contributor to the destruction of this planet, nor the reason a young boy must go hungry, but right now the best thing I can do is be appreciative of what I do have. I have an abundance of food, I have a loving family and amazing friends, I have a bountiful education and a prospective future, I have life.

Meaning by Gavin DeGraw

Mountain the trail
But you got it in sight
Sometimes the only way is jumping
I hope you’re not afraid of heights!

Reach in my pocket, for a bill that isn’t there
And to face of the undoing, still isn’t more than I can bare.

Love has a reason
There’s a meaning to the world
We’re giving love.

It’s always been good to me.

This it harder than it seems, but in lieu of the unfortunate states of life I have witnessed, it makes sense to wake up a little more kind, a little more positive, a little more happier, a little more grateful and bundle that all up into one thing called love. People think we only need water and food to survive, but we need so much more. We need human touch and acceptance; we need to laugh and cry, we need love. And even though I can’t complain, for I’ve always felt loved, I still need to make a conscious effort to be a little more positive and a little more loving in my daily life, because there is a reason.

It all goes by so fast by Ray Charles

Ain’t it funny how the years go by like pages in a book?
If I had another chance, I’d stop and take another look
And I’ll remember, every moment
And treat it like it might just be the last
Cause it all goes by so fast.

I’m not old, by any means, but I am older. Becoming older scares me. It makes me bitter, anxious and helpless. Time is one thing I can’t seem to control. This afternoon as I stood once more looking over the engulfing ocean I felt myself existentially looking at me. Here I am, age 21, traveling the world. I will be graduating a top university in less than a year, I will be living in the city I set to live in and it all seems to have been written. These plans have been inside me for a long time. As far back as my elementary years. And now its coming to fruition and more plans and ideas present themselves, such as this one. Before we left, Erika said, “Hey we should write down everyday all the things we did and all the funny times we had and then write a book.” I laughed but I said ok. Not to make a book of course but to write it all down. It wasn’t until now that I understand how extremely lucky and smart I am to have done this. In our life, let alone this trip, so much happens, so many moments, so many experiences that our memory isn’t capable of capturing it all. By choosing to keep a journal, or a blog, you have the ability to preserve at least some of it. And as I look back on my short 21 years of life I can only pick out a handful of moments that stick out. But how much I wish that I could look back and truly remember a particular moment in my life. It all goes by so fast. And so it hasn’t been decided, but the prospect of continuing this blog and capturing more moments is a possible one.

Dream Like New York by Tyrone Wells

So many dreams come and go.
We blink are eyes time flies by and we don’t know
Whatever happened to those childhood years
When we thought we could fly?
We got to keep those dreams alive.

And dream like New York
As high as the skyline
Aim for the stars above those city lights
I wanna dream like New York
I’m running down Broadway
Got to catch the next train, I’m making my way.

How many times have you tried and failed?
Have you watched your dream slip away?
Well every hero falls and ever soldier crawls
And every dreamer dreams again.
You gotta dream again!

Go on and dream like New York.

Even though I stand here confidently today and am prepared for the roads that lay ahead tomorrow, each step in my life begins with a dream. Dreams are easily categorized as silly or unattainable, but they wouldn’t be called dreams if they were practical and easily accessible. Dreams come with uncertainty and hope at the same time. And they need ambition and faith in order to come true. One dream of mine was to live in New York. And now I am happy to call it my home and can’t wait to be back there again in two weeks time. In New York stems another dream of being an actor. Even though the career aspect isn’t there, I ever much so consider myself a trained actor. And so it may be luck, but it took a dream to get me there. So keep dreaming, no matter what.

Explore. DREAM. Discover.

~Michael-Anthony

P.S. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity