Chapter 2 closed

Walking into Cal State Northridge just two summers ago I didn't know what to expect. I had finally made it to a place in which my dreams were suppose to blossom and grow, well they did.


The end to receiving my B.A. at CSUN is tomorrow, I just can't believe it is finally here. Some of you know it has taken while for me to get here.

I have always loved school and every chance I got I was there, summer, winter and regular session. Heading into college and a single mom I didn't think I get this far. I had to take on two, sometimes three, jobs while taking very few classes in order to be there for my child.

With the support from my family, especially my mom and dad, I had full support of receiving my higher education and still while working I was able to start taking a full-time role in school.

My time at East Los Angeles Community College change my life for the better. My advisor added a mass communication class on my schedule and while taking it I fell in love with what the news offered.

Jean Stapleton, the ELAC Campus news publisher, was the teacher and she soon pushed me to be on staff. Shortly after taking the first news paper class I became sports editor and my journey as writer came together.

I was about to finish school satisfied with only my AA, but my advisor once again, said "You are almost done and I'm putting you down as a transfer student" so here I was starting my second chapter of my life finding a four-year college to go to.

CSUN admitted me and I began my journalism career. My first semester was a breeze and by spring of 2010 I was on staff as a sports writer and interning with Fox Sports West as a production assistant. My writing only became better with the help of Melissa Lalum and my editor Gilberto Manzano.

The time I had in the newsroom at CSUN was crazy, exciting, professional, fun, exhausting and overall awesome. In the newsroom I met some inspirational people, who I will hold close to my heart always and forever. They were there for me as I was there for them, supporting each other through classes and life's everyday drama.

These last 16 weeks I met more people outside the newsroom that have touched my life in a certain way or another, to my beat the CSUN women's water polo team (which I did not know anything about), CSUN basketball team that had a good season and some skilled players to watch and meet, the media relations department (Bob V. and our weekly visits to talk about life and sports) to those in my classes that were nice and made my classes more enjoyable.

I went through CSUN as a student, staff writer, assistant sports editor to sports editor. This journey of two years has come to an end and quickly. I can go on, but I will end it here.

I now will shut the pages to this chapter of my life in order to start a new one after tomorrow.

With that to be continued...

Wow it is finally over

After three semester on the Daily Sundial at Cal State Northridge I am finally done. I published my last sports page on Thursday May 12th and it came out today. It was pretty emotional seeing the last page as sports editor being exported to the printer. Today I seen the final result and also published the last stuff online (other then two stories my senior writer said he wants to put up).

As much as I was stressed this year and completely over the paper, because of all the other load of classes and stuff I had, I am going to miss all of it. The people I met through the three years on the paper made my college life at CSUN worth it. I couldn't have gone a day with out the many friends I made through these years. I have to thank everyone that gave me the opportunity and support of doing something I love and that's write and photograph sports.

This semester was a lot of work as sports editor, but with so much to do I think I did a good job. I wish I had more time to use more of the ideas I had, unfortunately I couldn't.

I do love that fact I had the chance to take more photos of games. I believe over the season I got better in capturing some great moments at the CSUN men's basketball games, water polo and the Big West Tournament at the Honda Center.

My life was centered around the Sundial and it was like a real job. It was also a family, dysfunctional at times, but we all got along for the most part and had some great times. I will miss you all and hope that whatever the future brings to you will be a AWESOME one.

Up next graduation on Tuesday!!!!! =) wow I made it

How bout that Dre

Quick write up before I head back to work. Just have to say wow to Andre Either, who has been on a 30 game hitting streak. I am proud of him, but I don't think he is going to break the record of 56 by Joe DiMaggio. It is a nice ride though for him and the Dodgers, who have been caught up in the news since Opening Day.

With some new ownership hopefully the Dodgers will turn around its season and have a better year this time around.

Two more weeks of school!!!!!!

To you friend

#justsaying...... never forgotten.. hope everything is going well.

Count Down

It has been such a rough semester and now it is down to four weeks in the newsroom, five weeks of classes/ finals and six weeks until I walk for graduation. WOW

I can't believe how time is flying by, I want it to go faster, yet I still want to push the breaks and stop it all so I can restart over.
Not to say Cal State Northridge hasn't been good to me, it just went too fast. I love school and learning and I am not yet ready to stop that in a school setting. But I must move on and try and grow up in the sense of getting a career. 

I have applied to grad school, but not to sure if I will get in and if I don't I have two options, which will give me more experience in what I want to do.
The count down has begun and now I have to push myself to be more motivated and end what I started when I entered college.

Not missing you

They way you change with me in the last month-in-half was hurtful in certain ways, I took the short ends you gave me as if you were just having a bad day.

I told you I will care for you forever and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
I only want the best for you and to succeed in all your goals sweetie.

I want to miss you, but the way you treated me as a friend in the end I just can't. I wished so many times you start being the friend I met in the beginning, but it wasn't happening.
You said you understood what I was telling you when I told you how I felt, but I don't think you really did.
Now if we ever cross paths it be as if we never even met, two strangers walking along the same route, but never saying a word to each other.
I asked many times for an explanation, which with everything I did for you, I think I deserve, but I guess I will never know what made you decided to leave my life.

I don't miss you because of the way you shut me out, but I will confess I miss the sweet friend, who gave me the best hugs and text me "how are you" "I appreciate everything you have done for me" and "I'm glad you are in my life" that is what I will miss about you.

Goodbye sweetie (maybe just for now.. maybe)
-MJM

Dodgers win!

Waking up today I just didn't know what to expect. A four year tradition of my dad and I going to the games ended today because he had to go to work =( Here I was with an extra ticket and kinda of feeling down, but I knew once I got to the stadium everything was going to be okay.

I left home 15 minutes until one and just like always I was there on time to be the first at the gate I enter.

Heading to the lines I seen my uncle Robert, aunt Carol and Linda. Then the blue gates opened and we were in the stadium. It is like I never left home, the familiar faces welcoming me, hugging me and saying "we are back" YES and even in the heat I was able to take it and get photos with Dodger short stop Rafael Furcal and catcher Rob Barajas.

Rafa and me

Barajas and me

Seen mostly everyone I wanted to see there at the game and like I said being HOME was awesome.

Hearing Vinny's voice "It's time for Dodger baseball" as the team ran out to the field was priceless.

I was able to share the day with a friend, who got out of work to make it. As for the game it was a great pitching dual between Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum, but the Dodgers prevailed with two runs to give them the 2-1 win over the hated Giants of the bay.

Going back to Blue Heaven Sunday!