A Day with J McCrea

The votes are in! The winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series goes to----- JAELYN MCCREA ! It hasn't happened yet, but it soon will.

With a creative mind and bright future, Orangeburg was definitely unprepared for this North Carolina soul. Born and raised in Concord, NC, Jaelyn McCrea is the youngest daughter of Edison and Vanessa McCrea.

Jaeyln's vibrant energy and beautiful smile can turn heads a mile away. A 20 year old broadcasting major, McCrea is a profound student at South Carolina State University. With a 3.9 GPA, her intelligence is unmatched by her peers.

Every Saturday you can fund Jaelyn smashing the sidelines with an electrifying performance. She is the captain of the cheerleading team at SC State. McCrea began cheering at the age of seven. She expressed how the sport has changed her life.

"I really enjoy sharing my spirit with others", McCrea says. "My infectious personality has made me somewhat of a brand ambassador."


Jaelyn's demanding presence has definitely proven itself over the years. She is apart of several organizations and the face of many groups. Arriving at SC State, she was inducted into the Honors College as a presidential scholar. She noted her full academic scholarship as her "biggest achievement".

McCrea was also recently crowned Miss Phi Beta Sigma of the Eta Alpha Chapter. She represents the fraternity in several events like pageants, parades, coronations, and community service. In addition, in Spring 2018, Jaelyn was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta National Sorority Incorporated. Being apart of this sorority was merely a dream and is now reality for the multi-talented scholar.

Jaelyn invests in her broadcasting skills just as much. At SC State she is a member of the school's media club where she works as a photographer and video editor. Check out some of her work on her personal YouTube: Jaelyn's YouTube Channel

McCrea has some major role models when it comes to her broadcasting career. She noted Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae as key influencers on her love for broadcasting.

Shonda Rhimes is the visionary behind several amazing shows like Scandal and Grey's Anatomy. Rhimes is a producer, screenwriter, and author. Jaelyn often compares herself to Issa Raye in terms of personality.

She considers herself an "Oreo"- an individual who is African American but behaves like your stereotypical white Democrat. McCrea told us, "I respect Issa Rae's grind. She started on YouTube and now produces a major TV show.

Jaelyn also took time to express some self reflection. Even as a prominent figure in her social community, she does have some off days. She noted her biggest weakness as self-doubt. "I'm often concerned about what others think", McCrea said. "Sometimes I talk myself out of doing things".

For the her future endeavors, Jaelyn is undecided. She plans to complete more internships so she can broaden her interests and skills in the broadcasting field. Aside from media, Jaelyn loves to travel. She has visited most Caribbean islands, and several states along the East Coast. In the future she wants to visit Japan, Brazil, Bali, India, and Portland, Oregon.

Meet Sheneice Caughman

"And now reporting live at halftime for the New Orleans Saints at this year's Super Bowl, Fox Sports reporter Sheneice Caughman!

She hasn't made it there yet, but soon she will. Meet your future NFL sideline reporter, Sheneice Caughman. Hailing from Newberry, South Carolina, she is a 26 year old junior at South Carolina State University.

As a die had sports fan, Sheneice loves the game of football. Her favorite team is the New Orleans Saints. Caughman also has a favorite athlete; Jimmy Graham.

Graham was a former tight end for the saints and now plays for the Green Bay packers. Sheneice claims, "I really like Jimmy Graham. He's the reason I fell in love with the New Orleans Saints". Growing up Caughman played softball. She was a very skilled player and her position was second base.

Sheneice was raised by a single mom and lived with her older sister. Having to share a bedroom, the two siblings often fought throughout their childhood.

You would think constant bickering would drive them apart but Sheneice tells us otherwise. She stated, "It wasn't a normal day if me and my sister didn't fight, but I love her. It's always been us and it's always gon' be us". Sheneice still continues to be family oriented . She spends lots of time with her nieces and nephew.

On a good day Sheneice likes to listen to a variety of music. Currently her favorite artists are Ella Mai and City Girls. She describes herself as a last minute person, but her greatest work develops out of pressure.

As mentioned earlier, Sheneice is older than your average college junior. She feels her biggest accomplishment in life so far is being able to return to school to graduate. "One semester turned into 5 years", says Caughman. Now she is on track to graduate in May of 2019.

Caughman has always been interested in communications, even as a child. She recalled stories of being involved in several news related projects. In elementary school she was apart of the school news channel. Caughman told us, "You do what you want to do in life as a child, but you never really notice it.

Post graduation, Sheneice plans to move out of South Carolina no matter the circumstances. She aims to upstart her career as a sports reporter for the National Football League.

Aside from her broadcasting aspirations, Sheneice likes to help and teach others. She stated, " I want to be the person I needed growing up". She plans to do this by starting a youth mentoring program sometime in the future.

A major goal Sheneice has after graduating is to travel. Her vivid imagination hold several amazing places she wants to visit. These include Africa, Jamaica, Japan, China, United Kingdom, and Greece. "I want to travel and blog about it", Caughman says. "I would like to talk about the food I eat and places I see."

Sheneice Caughman is an intelligent, bright and sometimes shy young woman, with a promising future. She has overcome many obstacles to get to where she is today . Caughman is not only a great spaker but writer as well. You can check out some of her posts on her personal blog: Behind The Face.

Let the Birds Fly: What is Twitter?

A "tweet" has become more of an artificial bird in today's world. How you may ask? There lies Twitter. Headed by its world renown bird logo, Twitter is a social media, new and networking that was created by Jack Dorsey in 2006. Billions of users interact through messages called "tweets", which allow you to post text, videos, and pictures.

Interestingly, Dorsey's love of technology and computers evolved from his obsession with trains. Analyzing one of the busiest locomotive systems on a higher level made him view how people connect in the same way.

The service limits users to 140 characters in their messages. Twitter does this to maintain an SMS style on the server. The first ever tweet was posted by its founder and stated: "just setting up my twttr". As of 2017, Twitter had 320 million active users and 1.3 billion registered users.

I have never used twitter. I guess I just didn't see the importance of consistently reporting what you were doing or thinking. I would say it is necessary for local and national news updates and maybe celebrities...but to each his own. As I go deeper into my career field, I'm starting to understand how social networking drives the world. Businesses, entrepreneurs, and several others depend on these types of servers to spread their content and effectively build their brand.

Today twitter is so common, you wouldn't be surprised that our own POTUS is an active user. President Trump often turns to twitter to express his concerns both personal and business related. He is often the cause of major social uproars for his out of pocket tweets. Personally I think Donald Trump shouldn't use Twitter for his personal concerns. It puts the country in a bad light if the President goes on a rant about celebrities he doesn't like. But hey, what did we expect when we elected Donald Trump in the first place?

The Birth of Garnet and Blue: Thomas E. Miller, SC State's First President

There's a first for everything, including the illustrious South Carolina State University. By uprooting the school's oldest records we have discovered who paved the stepping stones as the university's first President. Meet Thomas E. Miller.

Born in 1849, in Ferrebeeville, South Carolina, Thomas Ezekiel Miller was the first President of the illustrious South Carolina State University. Addressing this era, the college previously known as: the Colored, Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina.

Growing up, Miller faced several controversies regarding his upbringing and racial background. Due to his extremely fair skin complexion he was not always perceived as African American like he claimed. Even though Miller was raised by a black couple, some sources suggest he conceived from a mixed couple. Wikipedia states, "The historians Eric Foner and Srephen Middleton found that his mother was a fair-skinned mulatto daughter of Judge Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence."

Thomas E. Miller - Google.com

Around this time the Civil War was at its peak, allotting Thomas to work on the railroads of Charleston and Savannah. Soon after, the confederacy what take over the railroads forcing him to become a confederate soldier. Post war, Miller strived to advance in his education. He initially graduated from Pennsylvania Lincoln University in 1872.

Miller would later receive some law related education from what is known today as the University of South Carolina. Proving to be skilled in the political realm, Miller became active in Republican politics. He would go on to represent Beaufort in both the House and Senate in 1874-1882.

After losing several elections in the 1890s, Miller would finally be elected to represent Beaufort, SC in the state constitutional convention. His main focus was to defend the right of black men to continue to participate in the political system. He often theorized that black did not want political or social dominance but rather a voice in who makes and administers laws.

Miller struggled to preserve the right to vote, however he succeeded in convincing delegates to create a land grant college under the authority of black people. Twenty-three years prior South Carolina's reconstruction fixated an agricultural and mechanical college that was attached to Claflin University.

Original SC State from 1896 - scsu.edu

Senator Tillman quickly moved to detach the institution from Claflin by making provisions at the Constitutional Convention of 1896. On September 30, 1896 Thomas Miller along with other faculty members opened the doors of the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina.

SC State was a primary/ secondary vocational school, and could not offer a bachelor's degree until 1925. The curriculum was initially modeled on that of Hampton and Tuskegee. The school focused on agricultural and political advancement and Miller would soon become Professor of Agriculture before president.

Miller died on April 8, 1938 in Charleston South Carolina. His gravesite is located in Brotherly Association Cemetery. Some up close shots were provided on the Find A Grave website .

G.O.A.T. Assignment : Edgar Allen Poe

Born in 1809 in Boston Massachusetts, Edgar Allen Poe is one of the most influential American writers of the 19th century. I consider him the "GOAT", for his prominent work in the areas of poems, short stories, and critical theories. Much of his work was inspired by experiences in his personal life. His major influences include Lord Byron, John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. My blog highlights the importance of self expression and the uniqueness of an individual's craft. Through his literary work, Edgar Allen Poe undoubtedly set himself apart from other writers in the 19th century.

Heathen Harvest Files WordPress

Poe is often noted as the "Master of Macabre", for his exquisite delivery of disturbing, grotesque, and horrifying stories. He reinvented the horror genre by writing psychological sales that peaked the reader's interest while building suspense. Some of his most notable works are "The Raven", "The Tell Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amantillado". He is also credited with fathering the modern detective story. In 1841, Poe would publish "The Murders in Rue Morgue". The story was met with great critical acclaim.

Just as structured as he was a writer, Edgar Allen Poe delivered the same as a critic. Poe mainly focused writing style on overall construction of a piece. He often placed emphasis on the demand of language and technique. Poe was also the editor of several magazines and Publications in his lifetime. Some are the New York Mirror, Burton's Gentleman Magazine, and the Southern Literary Messenger.

Care to learn a little more about the mysterious Edgar Allen Poe ? Enjoy a small clip provided by the Biography channel at the link below !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-387NMCR6w

Don't Be Out Link In !

In today's professional world, technology is high in demand. Who we are and what we represent can easily be accessed by a simple click. Several companies, institutions and workplaces have utilized "Linkedin" as a means of discovering potential employees.

Linkedin is social networking for professionals. Users are able to create a profile that highlights their experience, qualifications, and a profile picture. You can also meet and make connections with other business professionals as a way of promoting your personal brand.

With my Linkedinprofile I plan to  show my skills as a creative writer, musician, and journalist. I also plan to make connections with reporters, PR Managers, producers,  as well as other writers that share similar creative interests. Heres a link to my Linkedin profile : Athena Hamilton - Linkedin

The entertainment industry is more than just "who you know". It also revolves heavily around "who knows you". Using LinkedIn will allow me to efficiently market myself and brand in order to attract high level business and companies.

I viewed some Linkedin profiles of individuals I know and made some important observations. One profile was my teacher, Patrick Harwood. (  P. Harwoord Linkedin Profile  ) His profile clearly states his educational experiences, certifications, and career characteristics. His page also provides insight on organizations he is apart of and other posts of his leisure. A well structured profile is key to attracting businesses and executives.

Oldie but Goodie

For this University to be so DAMN OLD, I'm very surprised one of the oldest building is still standing in its original columns. After class last week, we took a mini adventure into Miller Hall-- a once operating residence hall named after the school's first President. 

Being exposed to the older buildings on our campus really shows how much history is left behind. Just by going through simple dorm records or fines, we learned that SC State's culture is much deeper than the surface. 

Miller Hall Photo - Harwood Communications

I've walked by Miller Hall for two years, and I didn't stop to think what the building was used for or how long its been unoccupied. Recently, renovations have been made to buildings on the campus but Miller Hall in particular has been left untouched. 

On "The Living New Deal" website, there are details that feature who designed Miller Hall, the year it's construction was completed, as well as who funded the project. Check it out here : Living New Deal - Miller Hall

While on our quest, we came across several unique findings. There was plenty of furniture, documents that identified older students, as well as yearbooks dating back 25 plus years! Despite the massive amounts of dust and thinning paint which restricted my respiratory functioning, I enjoyed the trip inside Miller Hall.

What Happened to Florence ?

  Over the course of last week my university closed in preparation for Hurricane Florence's landfall . The entire coastline of South Carolina was ordered to evacuate, just to have a week of sunshine and scattered thunderstorms. I agree it's better to be safe than sorry, however the precautions taken could be deemed a little too extreme.

My Hurricane experience encompassed lots of sleep and time spent on writing new content. I also went to my high school to assist the drum line with material for the current marching season. Even though it was a considerable waste of gas, I got to spend time with old friends and my family as well.

Even though Hurricane Florence did not do much damage to my location, other areas were not as fortunate. Many parts of coastal North Carolina was torn apart by the storm's 100 mile per hour winds and catastrophic flooding.

Here is a link to more aerial photos that show the damage that Hurricane Florence has done : Huff Post - Florence

As expected news teams were quickly on the scene detailing the effects from the storm. ABC News had a piece highlighting the 4,000 plus homes that were completely destroyed in the storm. Hurrican florence is estimated ti have created 1.8 billion dollars in damages.

3 Worded Summer

To describe my summer in 3 words, I would use change, dedication, and selfishness . These factors played a major role into the development of the strong minded individual I am today . Most of my summer break consisted of working . I set goals back in March that required a lot of money to achieve . Therefore, I consistently worked three jobs in order to make ends meet . 

I held part time positions as a cashier at a grocery store, a sales associate at a clothing store, and a full time position at a teacher at a summer camp. As heavy as this workload was, I was determined to make as much money as possible in one summer.  

With all work and no play I also spent a lot of time with myself. Self - reflection has made me more aware of my negative habits, and the best ways to change them. I learned what people and environments deserved my attention, and eliminated any relationships or factors that did not contribute to my well being .  Some methods I used to attain these heights of self awareness can be found on this website: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/what-is-self-awareness/ 

At the end of the summer I met my goals of buying my first car . It was very humbling and gave me a new sense of responsibility. Hard work and dedication truly does pay off.