The Compass
Monday, November 25, 2002
prepare for the unexpected
[
Antonio Barrow
Editor
tonv8248118@vahoo.com
In tliis life, people face many chal
lenges that affect their social being.
This editorial is dedicated to those
who have faced these challenges and
who did not give up.
Many people have faced the loss of
loved ones or someone they knew.
Many people have faced diseases
or other ailments that got in the way that
kept them from achieving their goals.
Many people have endured broken
friendships and relationships over little,
petty arguments.
We may wonder why we must take
on these challenges. Often times, chal
lenges prove to be stepping-stones in
building our faith and giving us more self-
confidence. Consider such hurdles as
tests; if you prepare yourself, you will
know how to handle them when the time
comes.
When we are faced with adversity,
we often times react negatively, which I
think we should not do. Instead we
should look at such personal challenges
as just that, challenges that help us to
define our purpose and our relationships
with others.
If you lose a friend over a petty
argument, do not claim it as an incurable
disease. Claim it as a test and prepare
yourself for things to come.
Losing a loved one does hurt, but
remember as you cry that life, like a
river, is still moving on. Get up, handle
your pain and keep going.
Do not give up, even when these
challenges get tough.
Take these adversities as tests to
move you to the next level. And remem
ber that these experiences help replen
ishing you along the highway of life.
Some situations do come unexpect
edly, which is why many people fail the
test. They do not know how to react to
situations except through negative
behavior, somewhat like a student who
fails a test and then wants to drop out of
school.
When unexpected situations come,
and you pass, know that you have
conquered defeat and that whatever new
challenge occurs tomorrow, you will be
better prepared to handle it.
Preparing yourself for the unex
pected by having courage and a sound
spiritual base is a fail-safe formula for
tomorrow.
DEFINING SUCCESS
LaQuisha Tisdal
Assistant Editor
apostolic quishaOl ©yahoo.com
Success is not necessarily gain
ing fame; it is the achievement of
something desired, planned, or at
tempted. It is an accomplishment that
follows a plan for an intended purpose,
for example attending college or
graduating from law school. Being able
to execute a plan and achieve a de
sired result signals for many whether •
or not a person is successful. A person
must be willing to fall in some points,
only to prevail in others. According to
Winston Churchill, “Destiny is not a
matter of chance, it Is a matter of
choice; it is not a thing to be waited for,
it is a thing to be achieved.”
‘The Lord gives us a plan to
follow. It Is outlined in His command
ments. And all those commandments
are designed to build stability within
us. We are not to excuse our failures
and weaknesses: We are not to say
we are made the way we are, and
thereby justify our sins. The Lord
expects us to rise above our weak
ness, become strong, and pattern
ourselves after Him” (Anonymous
author).
I hope to encourage you with this
poem I wrote to encourage myself:
The Compass
The Compass is published by Elizabeth City State University under the direction of the
Department of Language, Literature, and Communication, Dr. Velma Blackmon,
chairperson.
Editor Antonio Barrow
Assistant Editor LaQuisha Tisdal
Sports Editor Jason Mitchell
4rts & Entertainment Editor R^kiya Williams
Advertising Manager Kymber Taylor
Photographers Rich Harvey
Layout Designer(s) Antonio Barrow
Writers Kimberly Blackwell, Kristal McClendon,
Charlene Israel, James Hill, Detra Stith, Curtis Overton, Kerry Aim Cummings, Robert
Davis, Michael Webb, Kimberly Hockaday, Mario Bradley, Travis Billups, Rukiya
Williams, Damion Lewis, Antoine Rascoe
Funpage Designers Heather Malone, Antonio Barrow,
Elizabeth Martins „ ,
Advisor Kip Branch
inancial Advisor Branc
Contributors Shawn Smith, Apnl Emory,
Derrick Wilkins, David DeAngelo, Sylvia Steele, Jennifer Thoms
Please send your letters to the editor and poetry to ECSU Box 815,
Elizabeth City, NC 27909. All letters must include writer’s signature,
address, and telephone number.
A Nigga and A Man
By the Way
Excuse me Mr. Sweat,
I noticed you were upset.
I was wondering what was wrong
And I thought I’d sing you this song:
“Talent is not hard to find,
Use your soul, heart and mind.
Honesty is the key to success.
Do not cheat to be the best.
Insight helps you commit yourself.
Try not to base life on greed or
wealth.
A positive attitude can help you
everyday.
Wouldn’t you want others to treat you
the same way?
Acknowledging God will help you if
you are a beginner,
You will grow into a holy man
To later help another sinner.”
You may be experiencing difficult
situations,
But I’ll be the one to simplify any
complications.
Whenever you need to talk,
I am Jesus and I’ll help you start your
walk.
If you continue to stay focused on
your goals you will walk right into your
success. Every person must recog
nize their key to success in their goals
and dreams as they strive to make
their goals come true.
*Note: Notice that student’s ideas
of success differ under the Viking
Gossip section of The Compass.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PON'T SEEM TO UNPERSTANP.
THERE'S A PIFFERENa PETWEEN A NiGGA ANP A NAAN.
A NIGGA IS SO^AEO^IE WHO'S SORRY.
they are the ones ^AAI^|NG PAPlES ANP NOT TAILING ON THEIR RESPONSIPILITY AS
A PAPPY.
KIGGA SIT AROONP THE HOOSE WITHOUT A JOP.
mailing a so-o\a living py gampling. poing prugs, or looi^ing for peopu to
ROP.
ANP THEY ARE EITHER SHACj^lNG WITH SO^AE LAPY
OR STILL LIVING WITH ANP EXPECTEP TO PE TAkTEN CARE OF PY THEIR ^^O^A^AY
KIGGAS ARE THE ONES PRESSING SLOPPT ANP kfEEp A NAPPY HEAP.
ANP MOST OF THESE NiGGAS ENP UP |N JAIL. HOMELESS. A PRUNkT. PRUG APPia. OR
PEAP.
KOW A MAN SOMETIMES MAlrES MjSTAl^ES. PUT ISN'T SORRY
KOT ONLY POES HE HAVE A PIPLOMA OR A COLLEGE PEGREE.
BUT A MAN IS AU APOUT TAkfiNG CARE OF HIS RESP0NS|PIL|T1ES.
HE HAS A REAL LEGAL JOP ANP CAN TAkfE CARE OF HIS PAPlES.
A MAN WILL RESPECT WOMEN ANP POESNT PRAG APOUT HIS SEX LIFE.
ANP THE ONLY WAY HE WILL MOVE |N WITH A WOMAN IS |F THEY PECAME HUSPANP
ANP WIFE.
A MAN'S HAIR ANP aOTHES |S ALWAYS NEAT
YOU WON'T FINP A MAN LOOKING L|I'E A NASTi' PUM OF THE STREET.
A MAN WORIrs HARP EVERYPAY
KO MATIER HOW MANY OPSTAaES ARE THROWN IN HIS WAY.
HE I^EEPS going.
lyORI^lNG HARP ANP STRUGGUNG
BECAUSE A MAN WILL NEVER SEITIE FOR LESS.
tSPEQALLY WHEN HE I^NOWS HE CAN HAVE THE PEST
50 LAPIES WHEN YOU PEGIN TO COMPLAIN HOW YOUR POYFRlENP
OR HUSPANP IS SO SORRY
ORHOWHE^SOLAZy.
THEN YOU NEEP TO UNPERSTANP.
YOU HAVE FOUNP YOURSaF A NiGGA. NOT A MAN.
ICIMPERLY HOCl^APAY
(^Ibry, Qtory
Qbry, Qbry
Cfirist has opened our eyes
9{pzu, xoe can see
And are aS[e to distiryuisfi.
Tfie zvheatfrom tfie weeds
‘Darlqiess die
‘Wherever loe Srin£ iJie Ci^ht
‘We have a neiu song in our hearts
Listen to the Cyrics we recite:
Jesus ibves mej yes I
J^or the ‘BiSk. teds me so
‘Every step we tal^ on this
SpirituaCjourney, we grow
‘Why me worry, why we worry
Qod is in controC
‘We are saved souls
Out to save souls
‘Bring the truth
limt liberates
‘We are all here Sy divine purpose
9\(pt Sy mistai^
If you were not here for a reason
‘you could’ve Seen ta^n out
Last season
‘Didyou ever tal^ the time to calculate
All the treason
Arul things that happened Sefore the
eyes of Qod
‘That he found displeasiry
‘Brother, sister, Qod spared you
That means you have a joS to do
!He's a miracle worl^r
Lool^at all the things he Srought us
through:
Siclqiess
Slavery
‘Disease
Ejection
‘Bondage
‘We were once Blind, ttow we can see
‘That the Lord is filling our cup udth
peace
‘Emptying out the confusion
‘Because He’s the Qod of peace
And not the author of confusion
Life is restored
‘When we step out on faith
As we Selieve,
Our douSts are Seirg erased
‘When we speal^things into eTQStence
Angels move on our Behalf
‘When we speai^the name of Jesus
Demons tremBle - we laugh
‘We laugh a joyful laugh of victory
‘While the devil chew on the gum of
defeat
Do a joyful dance unto the Lord
‘Who said we had to Be on Beat?
^oice my people
Wsfreedom time
longer do we worl^f or Satan
‘We resigned
9{pw, our hearts are designed
‘To serve you. Lord
The slaves even praised you
‘While they were on Board
And in iJk cotton field
Singing spiritual hymns
Step By step Sy step
It was faith wall^ that led them to
freedom
And it's gonna ta!^ faith
To wali^into our deliverance, healing, and
destiny
And it's gonna ta/^ faith
To give life to our visions, arul to do
Qod's iinll
And it too/^faith
To asl^ Qod to come into our lives
Arul Because of your faith, thinl^of what
9le has done for you yesterday.. .just
thinly..
So why lose faith today
~ James !Hill
HAVE A NICE ANP SAFE THANI^SGIViNG.
REMEMPER TO SAVE SOME FOOP FOR M
REST OF THE FAMILY/