Enjoy Seasonal Reading

By Preslee Pope

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            If you're a reader like myself, then you know that every book gives you a different feeling then another. Whether it is a character in the story or just the plot itself, you are invested one way or another. So what makes you really get into a story? What makes you pick up a book at the store and say, "I've got to read this!” What makes you pass on to other readers your love for a particular book?

My favorite genre of books is teen fiction. Even though I'm two years out of my teens, I enjoy the drama and intensity of teen fiction. An adult fiction book would not include spontaneous adventures like a teen fiction. You can always bet that a teen story will include sneaking around and amateur love with drama involved. I also enjoy books that involve murders, kidnaps, rape and anything of that nature.

Sometimes I choose a book solely based on the author. John Green is a good example. He wrote “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Looking for Alaska,” “Paper Towns,” and his newest edition, “Turtles All the Way Down.”

Now I have to admit that I would have never bought “Turtles All the Way Down” if it was not written by John Green. The story is about a 16-year-old girl named Aza who is investigating a fugitive billionaire with a $100,000 reward at stake. It seems rather boring if you ask me. I'm not that invested into the main character like I was in his previous books. I'm also not invested into the story itself.

A website that is known to give detailed reviews on books had a lot to say about Green’s new novel. Read it here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/10/john-green-turtles-all-way-down-review.

One of my favorite books of all times is “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold. Surprisingly enough, I found this book at a Goodwill store. I had watched the movie a few years prior to buying the book and enjoyed the book more. The story is about a teenage girl who was lured into an underground hideout by a neighborhood man. He rapes and murders her and is watching her family and friends solve the mystery of what happens to her. It is both beautiful and sad at the same time. It is beautiful because of the passion and love that her family had for her and how they never stopped trying to find out what exactly happened. It was sad because of the way she died and how her killer had no remorse at all. You can read the full summary at https://www.shmoop.com/lovely-bones/summary.html.

I recently have been interested in a book that is coming out on Nov. 7, 2017 called “All in Pieces.” It is about a teenage girl who has anger management issues, and she also takes care of her disabled brother. She stabs her ex-boyfriend in the hand with a pencil because he is making fun of her brother. She is then sent to an alternative school and has to then face the struggles and challenges of being there. The author of this book is also the author of eight other bestselling books that I have yet to read but would like to. You are able to pre-order the book and read further information on it at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-in-pieces-suzanne-young/1123385431?ean=9781481418843#/.

A Motlow State Community College student, Jordan Donalson, is a book lover like myself. When asked who her favorite author was, she could only agree that it was John Green. Like myself, she is a fan of some of his classic novels, including “Paper Towns”. She was inspired to read the book after reading and watching “The Fault in Our Stars.” She fell in love with the main character, Margo, for her spontaneous personality and her eagerness to make sure fellow book mate, Q, had an adventurous night.

I have a few favorite places that I will purchase books from. The main one is https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.  They have a really wide selection of books, and they are all categorized in a way that makes it simple to find exactly what you are looking for. I also can get some really great finds at http://www.goodwill.org/. They have paperback books for under a dollar and hardcovers for under $3. Another great place is http://www.mckaybooks.com/. When I walk in there, it takes my breath away by how many books that place has. They are all used books, but you can find anything from classics to books that came out this year. The place is two stories high and stays busy. Come and join me on my reading craze!

Preslee Pope is a 22-years-old and a student at Motlow State Community College.

 

 

 

 

Life-Changing Steps for a Fitbit User

By Lindsey Lance
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Have you or someone you know ever wanted a fun way to get healthy? A Fitbit tracker could be the answer to create new healthy habits.

A Fitbit tracker is a small device that you wear around your wrist like a watch or a bracelet. This tracker allows you to know your heart rate, steps taken, and how many flights of stairs you have climbed up and down during that day. Fitbit also has a app where you can track how many ounces of water you have consumed, how many calories you have eaten compared to your steps taken, and how long you have been active without stopping.

There are many ways that Fitbit allows you to have fun while using their product. By covering long distances, and conquering large step goals, you are able to earn badges and trophies. Earning step goals over time begins to motivate you to achieve greater and greater distances. Your Fitbit can also learn your name and provide you with encouraging messages throughout the day.

Another quality Fitbit has is the ability to tell you how close you are to your step goal. Fitbit allows you to compete against friends to see who can get the most steps in one 24-hour period, and to see who can reach their goal the fastest. This allows you to have some healthy competition with your friends, without realizing that you are actually getting healthier at the same time.

Here are many things that Fitbit allows you to do that other trackers can not do: http://www.mtv.com/news/2367706/things-you-can-do-with-a-fitbit/.

As a Motlow State Community College student, Fitbit has been inspiring to me. I used to think that the time I spent walking from class to class was time that I wasted. Since having a Fitbit, I have seen that the time I spend walking to class puts me closer to my step goal.

Other college students that I am friends with use Fitbit trackers as well. Some college classes such as aerobic walking allow you to use your step tracker to complete assignments, and track your progress over the duration of the course.

Here is a website that can help you understand how you can still be healthy as a busy college student: https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolinekee/lift-those-textbooks?utm_term=.dqoewYwV80#.tgXbp2pr48 .

Mikayla Carroll, one of my friends who uses a Fitbit tracker, provided her view of step trackers. I asked her why she thinks using a step counter makes exercise more fun.

"Step trackers challenge you to stay motivated, and they celebrate your successes when you reach your goal" she said. "Step trackers also tell you what you are doing well on, and show you ways you can improve your workouts."

I also asked if she believes  knowing how many steps she's taken makes her more motivated to get healthy.

"Yes, because if you are able to see how far you have come, it will make you want to push yourself to do more" she said.

If you or someone you know are interested in buying a Fitbit tracker, you can look at all the different styles and purchase one at https://www.fitbit.com/home.

(Lindsey Lance is a student at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tenn.)

Motlow State Student Government Members Meet With State Legislator

By Bill Kraus

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

         SMYRNA -- Members of the Motlow State Student Government (Smyrna Campus) met for lunch on Oct. 30 with newly-elected Tennessee State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin) to learn how and why he decided to seek the elected post and run against the incumbent legislator.

         Four members of the Student Government heard Whitson say how angry he was with his current representative, who was "facing in excess of 20 sexual harassment charges by State female employees and interns." Whitson told how he began with a "shoestring" campaign consisting of little money but lots of enthusiasm" and eventually beat the incumbent in the primary election by an 80 percent to 20 percent landslide. Whitson went on to win the General Election in November 2016 with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Pictured left to right: Sophomore Senator Cameron Droddy, Sophomore Senator Anood Ezzeir, State Rep. Sam Whitson, Freshman Senator Alex Perry, and Freshman Senator Rhett Kimble

         Over a delicious lunch at Famous Dave's, Whitson urged Motlow's student leaders to "finish your education... become active in politics and eventually seek office yourself." He served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, retiring with the rank of colonel.

         Whitson subsequently met that day with the two American Government classes that are taught by Dr. Bill Kraus. Students heard similar messages with the advice that "young people should become active in the political world today and become our leaders tomorrow."

Musician Bryan Cumming to Speak at Motlow on Nov. 7

By Chuck Whiting

Motlow Buzz Editor-in-Chief

         SMYRNA -- Bryan Cumming, an acclaimed jazz-Americana artist and member of the Grammy-nominated group The WannaBeatles, will speak from 2-3 p.m. Nov. 7 (Tuesday) as part of Motlow Smyrna's "Famous Communicators Speakers Series."

         Bryan, who sings and plays guitar, sax and cornet, has recorded with popular acts such as Al Jarreau and The Pointer Sisters. He recently released a new CD, "Come Out Swinging," that pays tribute to the classic songs and legendary jazz artists of the Silent Generation.  

         In 2009, he and three fellow members of The WannaBeatles walked the Red Carpet in Hollywood after receiving a Grammy nomination for the CD "Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond." Cumming also produces and records artists at Studio 23 Nashville.

         The musician will share his fascinating story in the STAH Student Lounge with photos, videos and live music demonstrations. Admission is open to all members of the Motlow family.

         "Come Out Swinging" celebrates the spirit of swing with a lively mix of traditional jazz classics and originals. Highlights include covers of standards written and/or performed by legendary artists such as Nat King Cole, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Fields, and Irving Berlin. The album, which was recorded at Java Jive Studio in Nashville, features Kelli Cox on keyboards, Adam Mormolstein on drums, and John Vogt on bass.

         "I grew up listening to the music my father loved, including recordings by jazz artists such as Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and Glen Miller," he said. "As my music career has developed, I've found myself gravitating toward swing. It has a life-affirming tempo that expresses optimism, enthusiasm and energy. I hope my new album will inspire motion, inviting dancers to sway together, bounce, and enjoy the moment, just like in my daddy's day."

         A Georgia native, Bryan Cumming grew up in a musical family playing Dixieland and classic jazz and singing harmony on Beatles songs. After serving a year in the U.S. Army playing saxophone, he toured and recorded with Martin Mull. He moved to Los Angeles in 1976, playing sax on sessions with artists such as Al Jarreau, The Pointer Sisters, Maria Muldaur, Al Hirt, and The Ohio Players. 

         He later joined Billy Vera and The Beaters, performing at the Tokyo Music Festival and on the number one single "At This Moment". He performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Choir. He toured Japan and South America with David Soul, and toured four years as the lead guitarist for ShaNaNa. 

         Among the covers on the CD are "Sunny Side of the Street," a standard recorded by Tommy Dorsey and The Sentimentalists in 1944. Other covers include "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "It Had to Be You," and "Blue Skies." 

         The album's title track, "Come Out Swinging," swings to life with the sounds and lyrical images of the '30s, '40s and '50s.

         "I wrote the song in 2008 to honor the classic swing music I learned from my parents," said Cumming. "'Come Out Swinging' is a nostalgic look at yesterday. It is presented as an imaginary epiphany, where the singer hears the phone ring and mysteriously hears the sounds of old swing tunes. He gets inspired and preaches the message 'it's time to play' to his listeners."

         Hit songwriter and author Jason Blume says the project "offers a refreshing blend of original and traditional swing tunes that are both fun and exhilarating."

         Since moving to Nashville in 1988, he has performed and/or recorded with artists such as K.T. Oslin, Cleve Francis, and the Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band The WannaBeatles.

         For more information about Bryan Cumming and his new album, "Come Out Swinging," visit http://www.BryanCumming.com. 

History Club Goes Spooky With Ghost Tour

By Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Managing Editor

     SMYRNA -- The Sam Davis Home is a local Smyrna landmark that many Motlow history students visit (especially if they choose to do the Historical Site Paper for my classes), but the typical house and grounds tour pales in comparison to the annual Sam Davis Home Ghost Tour, held only during the Halloween season. This year, the History Club had the chance to experience all the spookiness the Ghost Tour had to offer.

     Sam Davis is remembered as the “Boy Hero of the Confederacy” because as a teenager at the beginning of the Civil War, he signed up to be a runner for the Coleman Scouts, carrying messages and intelligence between Confederate leaders in the area. Sam was captured by the Union just north of the Alabama line and court martialed as a traitor. Given the chance to save his life if he gave up information on the rest of his group, Sam made the statement, “I would rather die a thousand deaths than betray a friend.” He was hanged in November 1863.

     In 35-degree, extremely windy weather, our intrepid little group of seven met at the site to see what ghosts awaited us. They added to the ambience by not having any lighting except for small candles along the way. Needless to say, between the cold and the dark, we were already a bit spooked before things even began. The special tour started off with a hayride throughout the grounds, following the route the wagon took when bringing Sam’s body home several weeks after he was executed in Pulaski, Tennessee. Our guide told us how Sam’s mother was in the upstairs of the house and fainted when she saw his casket being brought up the drive. On the hayride, we could see the shadows of people in the grassy areas but nothing prepared us for the “Rebel Yell” battle cry and cannon explosion that happened right beside the wagon. I’m pretty sure it scared our guide worse than the rest of us because he screamed louder than we did!

     Once we reached the house, we were taken into the parlor where another guide told us about how every family at the time had at least one prized family music box and the museum still includes one the family had had back in the day. They would have kept it in the parlor for guests to enjoy, but because it is so valuable, today it is mainly kept in the manager’s office. Still, when the house gets quiet, people have reported hearing the sounds of the music box playing. Our guide told us that the museum manager herself claims to have been sitting in her office, heard the music coming from the parlor, and gone to check, thinking someone might have put the box out for display. She returned to find it on her office shelf where it was supposed to be. We didn’t hear any music that night but it could be because we were really close to the aforementioned cannon explosion which left us with ringing ears.

     Next we went to the side porch where our guide told us about later generations of the Davis family having reported a young woman walking the porch, yet not making any noise at all. Thinking she needed help, the family members tried to talk to her, to get her to take them to wherever something was going on. Maybe she tried to do just that but she was able to go directly through the wall to her destination, and not being ghosts, the family members weren’t able to follow her. Granted, we didn’t see any ghosts but they point out the section of the wall the girl supposed vanished into. At the same time, a zombie Confederate soldier walked up behind us and started breathing very heavily. I am proud to say that I neither punched him nor bolted straight into the ghost wall, making a Ramona-shaped hole in my wake.

     Finally we met the last of our guides in the room where Sam’s body would have been taken in preparation for his burial. I think this was the saddest part of the tour because it was the most historical, least related to the ghost aspect of things. During the 1860s, bodies were embalmed with arsenic to help preserve them. The guide told us that bodies from earlier than this have been exhumed and because of the arsenic treatment, they actually had not decayed. It might be a while between a person’s death and their funeral, especially during wartime. If someone died as a part of mass casualties on the battlefield, of course they would not have received this treatment but being a solitary victim of execution, Sam’s body should have been given this process. Unfortunately, he was not; he was placed in a simple coffin and after three weeks, his family was allowed to retrieve him and bring him home for burial. You can imagine how things were at that point.

     If you have never been to the Sam Davis Home Ghost Tours before, I encourage you to put this on your bucket list for next Halloween. It definitely met the History Club seal of approval! We look forward to going back for the regular tour in the future… without the zombies and cannon explosions I hope!

Superman, Wonder Woman & Spider-Man

     Students, faculty, administrators and staff members participated in a wide range of scary shenanigans during the recent Fall Festival on the Smyrna campus of Motlow State Community College. These photos were snapped by various members of the Motlow family, including John Butwell, Heather Koller, Ramona Shelton, Anthony Czelusniak, and Hayley Pierce. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Festival Brings Halloween Excitement to Motlow Smyrna Campus

By Anthony Czelusniak

Motlow Buzz Staff Writer

         SMYRNA, Tenn. – Motlow’s Fall Festival was held at the Smyrna campus last Tuesday, giving students a chance to relax, and clubs a chance to show off.

         Over half a dozen clubs set up tables to show off their Halloween spirit. The Physics Department had a magic show, demonstrating the magical wonders of natural sciences. The magic show also had students preforming sleight-of-hand card tricks. 

         The costume contest had 27 contestants with the ultimate winner being Marina in her banana costume.

A costumed attendee (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         The Criminal Justice Club had a “what am I touching” booth where participants would stick their hand into box and try to guess what was inside by touch alone.

         Jabberwocky Mad-Libs was the Writing Center's main attraction, having collected some of their favorites to display inside the Writing Center.

         The Art Club and Sociology Club both had pumpkin decorations to display.

Pumpkin Decorations (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         The History Department had no small part in this year’s Fall Fest, with both fragrant and frightful displays.

         History Club’s booth was dedicated to the smells and flavors of fall, showing off the history of various fall flavored spices from around the world.

History Club Booth (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         Professor Heather Koller’s Honors History students had set up a haunted house in the faculty office area. The impressive attraction featured jump scares and freaky monsters to cause panic to anyone inside. What was more impressive was the effort that the students put into the haunted house.

         “I’ve been here since 6 a.m. to put the haunted house together,” History student Hunter Mosely explained.

         The Fall Festival provided an opportunity for the newly formed Smyrna Arts Entertainment and Media (SEAM) Club to introduce themselves to the student population. SEAM is a club that allows students to explore topics and events related to all forms of media and arts. Club President Joshua Brashar was excited to have the opportunity to introduce the club to the fellow students. 

SEAM Club Booth (Photo by John Butwell)

         Brashar excitedly said, “We had plenty of enthusiasm for the club and had quite a few people sign up.”

         Brashar was quick to praise his fellow club members. “Everyone was able to pitch in and help to make today a success for us.”

         Faculty members and Fall Festival committee members Regina Norwood and Candice Grissom both said that this year's Fall Festival was a success.

         Norwood commended the student volunteers. “There have been a huge number of students volunteering to help with the set-up and clean-up for this year.”

         Grissom added, “This year was over 50 percent bigger than last year’s Fall Festival.” 

Hogwarts costumes (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

In The Motlow Spotlight - Emma Sagor, Harvest Queen

By Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Managing Editor

      You probably have heard her name, seen her picture, or even got some of the popcorn she gave out in her campaign for this year’s Harvest Queen, but now here’s our chance to learn more about Emma Sagor!

Question: Tell us something interesting about you.

Answer: "I lived in Maryland for 16 years of my life before moving here. It was not only a new environment in changing states, but I only had a year to get adjusted before going into college.

I write songs. I am a part of a youth band.

I want to follow all my dreams. There is no such thing as “I can’t do something.” I have lots of interests, and I will work hard to accomplish things, even if I don’t get them completely done.

I want people who come into the Writing Center or students in general to understand that I am approachable. I want to help people. It is the best feeling when you get to help someone out of their dark or stressed out space. You give them a peaceful moment so they know that things are going to calm down." 

Question: Why did you choose Motlow? What is your major/what do you want to be when you grow up?

Answer: "Originally I was from Maryland, but I moved here in my senior year of high school. Since there is the Tennessee Promise, I knew I wanted to go a community college. I was homeschooled, so the fact that this was a small campus made it a great fit. It was definitely much less of a culture shock that going someplace bigger or harder to get to for classes.

I am majoring in General Studies and have found my interest in English this year thanks to the fact that I work in the Writing Center. I would have majored in English, but by the time I decided to go that path, it was too late to graduate with honors, so the General Studies route was the best option.

I really enjoy photography and also giving people advice, so I have thought about majoring in Photography and minoring in Psychology so I can help people but also have the chance to see the world and take pictures everywhere I go."

Question: What is your favorite thing about Motlow Smyrna?

Answer: "I really found my favorite thing this semester in how nice the professors are. This is a great working environment with how much the professors care about you. You never get the feeling that you are just a student; it feels like a little Motlow family here.  For instance, Professor Bush learned about my interest in singing and songwriting, so he has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and participate in open mike nights."

Question: Are you involved in any clubs or organizations here at Motlow Smyrna?

Answer: "I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors Program. I also work in the Writing Center where I tutor students and encourage them to embrace writing styles and learn new things. My favorite part is seeing the student’s light bulb go off when they understand something."

Question: What made you decide to run for Harvest Queen this year?

Answer: "Honestly, I don’t normally like putting myself out there because I’m the sort of person who would rather help others than put the spotlight on me. But being homeschooled, I never had the opportunity to do this kind of thing before. So I did it for the fun aspect of it, to have the chance to connect with other students."

Question: What piece of advice would you give to a first-time incoming freshman (i.e.- what do you wish you had known on your first day here?)

Answer: "You don’t have to know everything on day one. High school makes it seem like you need to know everything before you get to college. But this is a learning process. If you mess up, it isn’t a failure. It’s a learning process. Don’t get discouraged if you were a straight-A student in high school but get a B on your first paper. This work is different, and it is definitely a process."