The Compass Thursday, September 20,2001
6
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MAKING COLLEGE COUNT
LaQuisha Tisdal
quisha81 @ hotmail.com
Copy Editor
The New Student Orientation
Committee of the Counseling and Testing
Center, the VANS (Viking Assisting New
Students), and the Student Government
Association hosted the “Making College
Count" seminar at Elizabeth City State
University on Thursday, August 16, 2001.
This presentation is a program designed
to help the freshman college students
make the most of their college experi
ences and beyond.
The “Making College Counf presen
tations offer a look at what decisions and
choices await students during the new
experience of college, helping them to
recognize their true potential. This pro
gram is free and is made possible
through corporate sponsorships.
The “Making College Count” Orien
tation was presented to more than
50,000 students at over 100 colleges and
universities across the nation during the
2001 academic year. It has been featured
on CBS News, CNN, and MSNBC. It has
also been highlighted in USA Today, The
New York Daily News, The Chicago
Tribune, and The Washington Times.ln its
Orientation Booklet, Barbara M. Kirby of
North Carolina State University in Ra
leigh, NC, says “‘Making College Count’
engages students in goal setting and
thinking “success” early in their college
career.”
Ms. Terri Wilson presented a one-
hour presentation of a real world look at
how to succeed in and after college. New
and continuing students were given
insights about the secrets to success
and what they need to do to strategically
prepare themselves for their future
career. The program was presented in
the ECSU Fine Arts Auditorium and
highlighted many issues to the new
freshman. Along with the Making College
Count brochure provided by the com
pany, Ms. Wilson encouraged students
“to have fun and build a great future while
you do it”. She interacted with the stu
dents by allowing them to participate in
physical and verbal activities. She
stressed the importance of the first year.
“Freshman year is your defining and
easiest year of college” she said.
The motivational, informing, and
intelligent Ms. Wilson started her career
at Oakland University in Michigan. With a
Broadcasting Communication degree.
She saw a need to give information to
students to help them achieve their
dreams. She says that she likes to meet
new high school and college students.
“When I am talking to them and the lights
go off in their head, that means they
understand what I am saying to them. It
makes it worthwhile and it is fun,” she
said. Ms. Wilson’s motto is a prayer she
says before each presentation, “Allow
me to be used as an instrument to reach
your young people and encourage them
to continue to work towards the dreams
you have placed in their hearts,” she
says. ■,
Ms. Wilson enjoys traveling across
the country delivering these programs as
a certified “Making College,Count”
speaker. She meets with her boss twice
a year and communicates with her co
workers by e-mail. “I enjoy the freedom
of my job,” Ms. Wilson said. Five years
from now, Ms. Wilson said that she sees
herself continuing her impact in the lives
of young people. In the near future, Ms.
Wilson will bring the “Making College
Count” program to Perdue University,
Morgan State, Tri-State University and St.
Thomas University.
Kimberly Charrle Blackwell
Contributor
What Is Faith?
“Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen,” Hebrews 11:1. Faith comes from
the Word of God. To have faith, you have
to know three things. The first thing that
you need to know is what you want.
Then ask yourself does it line up with the
Word of God or is it the same thing that
God wants you to have. The second
thing you need to know is where you are
going. Is what you desire going to take
you to another level spiritually? Spiritual
levels are similar to levels in school,
because there are new things that you
have to learn in each level. However,
there is something at every new level
that tries to hinder your advancement.
The third thing you have to know is that
Jesus is always standing by your side.
When children of God have faith, the
word “can’t” is not included in their
vocabulary because anything is possible
through Christ who gives them strength.
Even if you are not a child of God, the
devil will try to destroy your faith. Most
Christians really do not understand the
saying “faith without works is dead.” For
example, you want a car, but you do not
go to work. You know that you cannot
expect to get a car if you do not work.
You have to work diligently, pray without
ceasing, wait patiently, and have faith.
Paul said in Romans 8:31, 32, “What can
we say about such wonderful things as
these? If God is for us, who can be
against us? Since God did not spare
even His own son but gave us every
thing else?” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 talks
about how God stays with us during
stressful times. When you pray, you do
not have to worry. Remember that God
does not want His children to struggle.
Stressing yourself out is not a good thing
because it can burden you and, also, it
can make you age before your time.
Stressing yourself is similar to being
worried. In Isaiah 26:3, 4, Isaiah says,
“He will keep us in perfect peace all
those who trust in Him, whose thoughts '
turn often to the Lord. Trust in the Lord '
God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is
your everlasting strength.” In Luke
12:22, 23, 25-28, Jesus tells the dis
ciples, “Don’t worry about whether you
have enough food to eat or clothes to
wear. For life consists of far more than
food and clothes. And besides, what’s ,
the use of worrying? What good does it ,
do? Will it add a single day to your life? ,
Of course not! And if worry can’t even ;
do such little things as that, what’s the ^
use of worrying over bigger things?
Look at the lilies! They don’t toil of spin, .
and yet Solomon in all his glory was not -
robed as well as they are. And if God
provides clothing for the flowers that are
here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you ,
suppose that He will provide clothing for ,
you, you doubter?” We should trust and ;
believe in God instead of worrying about ]
our circumstances. In Jeremiah 17:7, ,
Jeremiah says “Blessed is the man who
trust in the Lord and has made the Lord ■
his hope and confidence.” Matthew 14: ;
25-33 talks about when Jesus came to
the disciples by walking on water. It also
talks about how Peter went over the side
of the boat and walked on the water
toward Jesus. When Peter saw the high
waves, he lost his faith and started to
sink. Jesus instantly reached out His
hand and grabbed him. “You don’t have
much faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you
doubt me?” Along with faith, you also
need to have inner strength. To have
inner strength, you must take your eyes
off of people and look at yourself be
cause your eyes are the gateway to your
mind, body, and soul. You cannot have
faith and be weak-minded too. You have
to know that God is going to make a way
somehow.
Entertainment
STUDENT REACTIONS TO THE DEATH OF
MINISTERING TO SOULS THROUGH SONG aALIYAH DANA HAUGHTON
Antonio Barrow
Assistant Editor
ThegreatchefOI ©yahoo.com
Many people, Christians and non-
Christians, enjoy listening to gospel
music. There are many varieties of it to
suit listeners of all ages and back
grounds. These varieties are Traditional
and Contemporary, which includes
Rhythm & Blues, Jazzy, Pop, Alternative,
and Hip Hop also known as Gospel Rap.
Some people do not like the other variet
ies because of the music genres that are
set behind the message. Some people
will say that gospel rap is too secular, but
at the same time they enjoy the Rhythm
and Blues form of gospel, which some
will also consider secular.
The type of Gospel music that is the
main target for negative criticism is
Gospel Rap. The reason for these varia
tions in gospel music is the variation of
the audience. For example, it is not
realistic for a teenage Christians to enjoy
music that an older Christian would
enjoy. The aim of variations in gospel
music is to inform and reach different
audiences. Gospel music, no matter
what genre it imitates, teaches stories
from the Bible and also inspires us to live
the life that Jesus Christ lived. People
will miss the message if they continue to
pay attention to the genre that certain
gospel music imitates. Older people are
predominately the ones who tend to
complain about secularism in gospel
music that resembles Oldies, Disco,
Jazz, and Rhythm & Blues music.
People listen to these types of music, but
they tend to believe that it should not be
used in gospel music. Also, older people
think that gospel should follow the tradi
tional style, like the kind of gospel music
that is sung in churches or the old
spirituals and hymns that were sung
before the advancement of the new
styles of music.
The purpose of gospel rap, for
example, is to draw troubled youth from
the less fortunate and inner city popula
tions into the church. Many people
complain about how these children do
not go to church or how they are not
active in the church. Most of the younger
children and teenagers listen to rap
music. Gospel Rap music brings Chris
tianity into familiarity to these troubled
youth and it will minister to their souls.
While the children are listening to the
music, eventually, they will want to learn
the words to the song. For those who do
not like the traditional gospel because
they are not moved by the words, gospel
rap will serve as a mediator to the child;
therefore, the child can actually listen to
the music and allow the song to minister
to them.
There really is not a difference
between artists such as Bebe Winans,
Shirley Caesar, Luther Barnes and B. B.
Jay, New Direction, and Mary Mary.
They are all sending out the same
message, only to different audiences.
Secular may be labeled as secular
music, but to label Contemporary gospel
as secular and separate from Traditional
gospel is wrong. Gospel music is gospel
music; the form does not make a differ
ence. As long as the Word of God is
being spread throughout the music, the
type of music that is imitated in Contem
porary music does not matter. The
message is the most important compo
nent in any type of music. Gospel music
is a Spiritual sermon and an inspirational
message spoken through song.
By: LaQuisha Tisdal
Copy Editor
The talented artist and actress, Aaliyah, was killed in a plane crash on
August 25, 2001. Aaliyah had just connpleted filming her videos “Rock the
Boat” and “More Than a Woman.” She starred in “Romeo Must Die” in June
2000 and has sold over five million albums. Aaliyah was a positive per
former and role model to young people. Her creative influence and superior
talent will be missed along with her presence.
“It was shocking! It lets you know that
your life is very valuable. You have to thank
God everyday and cherish every day.”
-Shanna Woodley
“I was hurt because she was our age.
She was nice too, but being nice does not
matter.” -Jerry Lane
“It was a real tragedy because she was
a role model to young people. She will be
dearly missed.”
-Kristen Bowen
“She was a nice person and I realize
that death could be close and it could happen
to anybody. It was really sad, especially to
the music industry.”
-Iron Parker
New Vocal Artist, Lina is Coming to ECSU on Septemeber 25, 2001