Goodbye

After repeatedly trying to create on of those picture things I decided to just write about my final post.  Although it was fun to do the blog posts it's not something I'm going to continue to do.   As you can see I'm very bad with computers and so my blog is very plain and simple.  Also, if it weren't for the prompts I would most likely have nothing to write about.  To me, although I don't know much about blogs or bloggers but I think blogs are just a very open form of facebook.  Anyone can see a blog and I just find it weird that random people I don't know can be reading things about me.  Whereas on facebook it's only people you choose to accept and friend that can see what you choose to put on it.  I think blogging is great for people who like it and want to see other peoples stories and opinions out there but I don't think blogging is for me. So although it's been fun, this is all that my blog will contain.
- Tori

Nostalgic Song

Being that I'm a dancer, I have done many recitals and dances in my life.  Because of this there are many songs I can choose from which would bring back a lot of memories.  After thinking about this for a long time I finally came to one that brings back one of my fondest memories.  'The Color Purple' was a Broadway show and in 2007, for my dance recital we did a dance to the song, 'The Color Purple Reprise.'  For some reason our teacher was very passionate about this dance and when we usually start working on a recital dance in January/February we started working on this dance in November.  I remember having the choreography changed weekly until our teacher thought it was perfect.  Our teacher would constantly hold us after class because he wanted to see it just one more time.  Then it came down to if we didn't do it perfectly we had to stay after class until we did.  I started to dread going to that class because it was so exhausting.  The class which was generally an hour lasted at least an hour and a half each week.  The first half hour was dedicated to warm ups which that alone can make you completely exhausted and then we had to do our dance.  The dance was strenuous and took a lot of energy, we were throwing ourselves around jumping, kicking, leaping, even rolling on the floor at some points.  The week before the recital our teacher made us come in 2 additional times that week to rehearse that one dance.  I remember thinking to myself that I couldn't possibly do this dance anymore I had done it so many times that I could do it in my sleep and I didn't understand why our teacher made us do it so much.  Opening night of our first show our teacher sat front row and everyone was SO nervous for him to see it, we knew that if it wasn't perfect we were going to yelled at like we couldn't even imagine at class the next week.  It was finally our turn to go on an we all stood back stage holding hands getting ready to take the stage.  We started on a blackout so we all guided each other onto the stage.  As we found our spots and the music started and the lights rose we knew we had to give the performance of a life time.  We did the dance the best we could, the best we've ever done it and at the end we all looked at our teacher in the front row and saw him crying.  Which of course made all of us cry and we were just SO pleased with ourselves and so happy that we made him proud.  It was that moment that I knew I wanted to perform forever.  It is something that I enjoy greatly and I never want to stop.

201 Words.

One event that I will never forget was Eglevsky's Ballet, The Nutcracker.  From my first audition back in 2002 to my final show in 2004.   In 2002 I was too young to audition and didn’t have enough ballet training but I went anyway.  I just wanted to see what it was like.  I didn’t make it that year and when it came time for auditions the following year I didn’t want to do it.  I decided a half hour before the auditions that I wanted to do it so I went.  Two weeks later my mom picked me up from school surprising me with the news that I had made it.  I was a mouse and I started rehearsals that week.  I remember feeling so important telling all my friends where I was going when I had rehearsal and when they came to see me perform and I got to come out of the stage door.  I made the production in 2004 as well, this time I was a soldier.  Both years I got to miss a day of school for a full dress rehearsal on the Friday the show was opening.  The Nutcracker is definitely something I will remember forever.

Thanksgiving Break

As Thanksgiving break gets closer and closer more and more of my friends are becoming more excited and even putting countdowns on their doors until they go home.  When I was talking to my younger cousin, he asked me why everyone was so excited to come home.  He said "I thought college was the best four years of your life?" That really got me thinking.. why is everyone so excited to home?  Why am I so excited to go home?  I realized that at least as a freshman this is all new to me.  Being with out adult supervision all the time and not having to constantly ask if I'm allowed to do something is exciting at first but after a while you start to miss it.  You miss not having responsibilities, having someone to do things for you, or you sometimes even miss having that older figure who's always there to help you.  Yes, there are computers and phones for you to communicate with your family but it's not the same.  Now's around the time when you start to realize that this is it, the "I'm at college and it's now time for me to grow up" realization.  You begin to realize that these breaks become more and more meaningful and more and more enjoyable.

Of course, there's also the "I can't wait to sleep in my own bed" and "I can't wait for real food" desires as well.  Even though this is Syracuse university, the beds as well as the food aren't the best.. Which again, I think makes going home that much more special.  I still have 3 days before I go home and I can't wait.  I'm going to see all of my friends from high school and of course my family who I haven't seen in a really long time.  It's going to be great to catch up with everyone but I know that once I get home I'm going to be counting down the days until I come back to SU because lets face it, college really is the best 4 years of your life.

Cancer sucks.

Although this weekend was parents weekend and it was great to see my parents and my sister, my week has not been off to a great start.  Sunday, October 23rd, marked the 6th year anniversary of my cousin passing away from brain cancer when he was just 5 years old.  Because of this I now for the past two summers have worked at a day camp for children with cancer and their siblings.  The camp is amazing and I absolutely love it.  I can't imagine my life with out it, I have made so many friends and memories there that I will never forget.  Unfortunately, with working at a camp like that there is always that knowledge that there can be bad news any second.  While I was on Facebook, and that little red (1) tag popped up over my inbox's I was not expecting the message to be from the director of my camp, Michele.  When I saw the heading of the letter ('A Sad Note from Michele') I knew it was bad news.  She only uses that heading when a camper has passed away.  I was scared to open the inbox and see who it was but I knew I had to.  I  didn't read any of the message just looked for the name.  When I saw the name my heart stopped and I immediately started crying.  The camper who passed away was my campers sister.  Even though I only met her once, Taylor, was an amazing girl and I know her sister, Jordan, (my camper) loved her so much.  Jordan would always talk about Taylor, and how much better she was getting and how she was going to be back at camp next summer.  (She was too weak to attend camp this past summer).  All of our campers used to sign our staff shirts and Jordan always signed hers, Taylor, Sierra (her other sister), and Jordan love you.  I am wearing that shirt now.  I can only imagine how Jordan reacted to finding out about Taylor and it breaks my heart to think of it.  She idolized Taylor.  I know how hard it must be especially for all of the girls being so young, but just like my cousin and my sister and I were young when my other cousin passed away I know they will get through this and keep their memories with them forever. <3

Open letter to Mike Fantini

Dear Mike Fantini,

I am currently a freshman at Syracuse University and I think the “Do Something” organization would be a great thing to bring to the campus.  Yes, there are many other clubs and ways to help out around here but I think that this organization gives students freedom and lets them choose what they want to help out with.  They can also decide to help in an already existing cause as well.  I want more people here to be aware of the “Do Something” organization and to get involved but in order to do that I need to get involved with the “Do Something” organization myself.  I was hoping that maybe you can help me get involved with the organization and give me some ideas on how I can bring awareness to the organization at SU. 

Ever since I was in fourth grade, when I won the Norma Gold Award, an award given to students that make or have made a difference in someone’s life, I knew that making a difference was something that was always going to be important to me.  In 2005, my cousin passed away from brain cancer at the age of 5.  Since then childhood cancer awareness has been a huge part of my life.  I do a lot of fundraising for the cause, giving most of my money to “Smiles for Scott Inc,” the organization founded in memory of my cousin.  The organization benefits families who might need financial support when having to pay for surgeries or certain medicines.  My freshman year of high school my friend Rachel and I made and sold friendship bracelets and gave all profits to “Smiles for Scott Inc,” we made $122 in just three months.  Another thing I am very involved in is a place called Sunrise Day Camp.  A camp strictly for kids with cancer and their siblings.  I volunteered there in the summer of 2010 and worked there in the summer of 2011 and can’t wait to work there again in the summer of 2012.  

As you can see making a difference is something that has always been important to me even if it’s in the smallest way possible, because it’s still a difference.  I have done many things to make a small difference and even some that have made a big difference, but I want to make an even bigger difference. When I heard about the “Do Something” organization I immediately wanted to get involved.  Watching the “Do Something Awards” made me realize that there are ways to make that big difference that I am looking to make.  

Thank you in advanced for taking the time to read this.  I really hope to hear back from you soon, this is a great organization that I really hope to get involved with in any way possible.  

Sincerely, 

Tori Kroll 

Letter Topic

I have been having a pretty hard time coming up with a topic or someone to write to but I think I'm finally getting somewhere.
Something that has always been important to me has been making a difference even if in the smallest way possible, because it's still a difference.  There are many people I can write to in this category but one in particular could be someone who works for the organization, "do something." "Do Something" is an organization that helps kids who make a difference in their community.  The organization gives away grants and scholarships to these kids.  The kids come up with these ideas on their own and help so many different people in need and not just people but animals as well.  The organization also has an awards show called "The Do Something Awards" when celebrities win awards for doing charitable things and helping out; but they also pick 5 kid finalists and choose a winner for the "best cause" and give I think 10 million dollars to that cause.
For my letter I was thinking of writing a letter to the editor saying that I really love the idea of this organization and talking about how more kids should be involved with this program and talk about bringing awareness to this organization.  I can also maybe think of a cause and talk about what I would and could do to help.
As of now that's all I can think of but I think I'm finally starting to get somewhere!

Quote

Every Sunday night my family would go out for Chinese food with our family friends for as long as I can remember.  One of my favorite parts of Sunday night dinners was at the end of the meal when we would all get our fortune cookies.  We would always play games with our sayings and try to interpret their meanings.  One night, instead of getting a fortune I got a quote.  I was so upset because I couldn't play the games with everyone else; but then I read the quote again and realized that it was probably one of the most motivational things I've ever heard.  The quote was "The majority of the word "can't" is "can.""  The quote is so simple and vague that I refer to it a lot.  Whenever I'm frustrated with something and I'm about to be like "ugh I can't do this" I stop and think of that quote, take a minute or two, and then finish what I was doing.  I still have the paper from the cookie with the quote on it.  It's in the back of my phone as a reminder to me that I can do anything if I just try and don't immediately think I can't.  This quote taught me to not have doubt in myself and that if I put in enough effort I can do anything.

Occupy Wall Street

Being that my dad works on Wall Street, this topic is something I can relate to on more of a personal level. I asked my dad for his reaction to what was happening and he responded with this -

"Many people throughout the world and the country are frustrated.  There are many people who are unemployed or underemployed.  Wall Street has been vilified by many politicians (mainly Democrats) blaming the actions of the banks and investment banks as completely responsible for the global economic woes the world faces today.  While Wall Street clearly deserves its share of blame, poor political policies (encouraging everyone to own a home), central bank policies and irrational decisions on the part of many individuals (buying homes and other large ticket items when it was clear their income could not possibly support those purchases) are equally responsible.  The problem with society today, is everyone wants a scapegoat or someone else to blame.  No one wants to admit to their own mistakes or focus on developing solutions.  It is easier that way.  For the protesters - "Wall Street" is an easy, convenient target.  However, What will their protesting achieve?  Will it result in additional regulations that are already costing the banks billions and billions of dollars in additional costs and hampering their efforts to increase lending? Notice how Bank of America as a result of these increased costs plans to lay off tens of thousands of workers.  Ask those people who are now newly without jobs if protests such as these are helpful.
What the country needs right now is not protests crying about yesterday.  Today, we need political leadership to work together to help figure a way out of this mess.  Better the protestors sit in front of the White House or Congress and protest the political establishment for failing to overcome paritsan views and start crafting solutions for a meaningful way forward."

It's hard for someone who sees these effects take place and knows that these actions can effect them directly.   I remember when this recession first started, my dad was working at a company called Bear Sterns.  When that business completely went under everyone was left unemployed.  My dad was lucky enough, (extremely lucky) to have found a job else where.  Now working at JP Morgan, my dad was able to respond to this "occupy Wall Street" from his own experience.  I agree with my dad when he said that people are looking for a way out, or someone else to blame.

Especially now, money is mostly a sore subject for most people, leaving people in a lot of tough situations and no one wants to be blamed for being in that situation.  As my dad said though, the protest has already caused tens of thousands of people to lose their jobs so it is obvious that this protest is not being responded to in the way people had hoped it would be.  It is a tough situation all around and I just think that within time we will find our way out of it.

I read an article called "BILLY ELLIOT to Close on Broadway January 8, 2012."  Although the title is pretty self-explanatory the article talks about the journey of the show and the creative team, as well as Elton Johns reactions to the shows closing.  


This is something I particularly care about because this show has honestly changed my life.  It really taught me to just be myself and to always follow my dreams.  I have seen the show four times, auditioned for it twice, know the entire cast, and have been on stage at the Imperial Theatre [where the show takes place].  


One of the cast members, Thommie Retter, who plays Mr. Braithwaite in the show has been giving me tap lessons for about two years now.  When I saw his Facebook status this afternoon which was, "Got some sad, sad news today! Sad indeed!" I knew something was up.  I sent him a message and asked if everything was okay.  He said everyone was fine but he had just heard some sad news that he wasn't allowed to share at the moment.  I asked if he would tell me the news when he was allowed to share and he told me I would know.  Two minutes later I see on Twitter this article from Broadway World.  I was heartbroken.  I never thought I would see this day come.  Although in the article it doesn't say why the show is closing, just that everyone is upset about it, I am sure it had to do with the economy.  The show however is still touring around the country and it's on its 7th year in London.  It won 10 tony awards as well as 81 awards worldwide.  I already bought tickets to see it again on November 22nd and am hoping to get tickets to see it again on closing night.  It is just an incredible, incredible show that I highly recommend everyone to see before it closes on January 8, 2011!