The Woman They Call Beyoncé

Gifted. Dedicated. Extraordinary. These are the first words that come to mind when I think about the woman they call Beyoncé. Beyoncé is one of the most legendary performers I’ve ever seen and to see how she continually dominates, impacts, and influences the game in music, movies, clothing, and business shows that women can be as powerful as they want to be. I could go on and on about her legendary status, but in an effort to keep things concise, I’ll move on. One of the things I admire about her most is how she manages her private life and the vulnerability she chooses to share in her work. She’s known to be relatively private when it comes to her family and personal life, but when she dropped Lemonade I was blown away and impressed. To see her openly share her heart through her visionary album isn’t something often seen in the music industry – especially from someone who’s selective about what parts to share and not share with the public. Beyoncé is a living legend and I anticipate seeing her releasing even more great work in the future. Below, are my top five favorite Beyoncé songs. Choosing one favorite Beyoncé song is like choosing one favorite Michael Jackson song – it’s nearly impossible. Such is the case with legends. Check em’ out and enjoy.

Get Me Bodied

Love On Top

Run the World (Girls)

Formation

Me, Myself and I

A Year Of Being Ghosted

Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken things too far

Making Waves