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Jennifer Cole

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Jennifer Cole

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……….In the past several months, I’ve arrived at many conclusions about my behavior, and how it has affected others, as well as myself. I realized I have a problem facing reality and tend to act out in extreme ways to distract myself from it. I’ve become so skilled at stifling and numbing my hurt feelings, fears, anxieties, and my inner anger, that anticipating a drink every single evening seemed like normative behavior. Then it became apparent to me that feelings are just feelings… no matter how uncomfortable they are, sometimes you just have to sit with them, go to sleep, and wake up with a better, rested, and fresh outlook.

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I started to reteach myself how to think and live. My ambitions of being an event planner and starting my own business came to the forefront of my goals once again, after being buried somewhere back in college. Entering this type of business has been anything but easy…coupled with my “partying” tendencies: I have realized this business will never happen – unless I properly fuel the fire that needs to ignite it; me.

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Jennifer Cole

Copyright 2012

To Be Continued………..
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Editor’s Note: To see more pictures of Jennifer Cole, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Jennifer Cole: Photographed on April 4, 2012

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Jennifer Cole

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……….I’m currently in a time of my life where my perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge seem to have all of a sudden blossomed. It’s safe to say, I have never started to feel more in tune with myself: thus making this mindset ideal for a new photo shoot with TW. When I first turned 26, I battled the thoughts that told me I was getting older and I better hurry up and do something meaningful with my life. Then I realized that my life is still only beginning, especially now that all of my early life trials, joys, traumas, and dramas are finally starting to make sense. Older? Nah, I say wiser.

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Jennifer Cole: Legs

The first half of my 20’s centered on partying, gaining popularity amongst my peers, and escape after escape. Both good times as well as bad times lead to destructive decisions on my end: all continuously affecting and breaking down my health, inner peace, and overall well-being.

To Be Continued……….

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Editor’s Note: To see more pictures of Jennifer Cole, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

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Posted on March 31, 2012 by Bennett Lee

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“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
-Arthur C. Clarke

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……….Beyond the glass is the world as I see it. From a small room, the city in all of its modern accomplishments is laid out before me. Everything from the buildings that graze the sky to the cars driving about, technology flourishes on the other side of the glass.

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Image 2

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It’s humbling to think about how the many innovations that I take for granted could compare to that of a god to people in a different era. In ancient Greek mythology, humanity was grateful when Prometheus brought back the gift of fire. Today, I can press a button and make my own fire. For few, a press of a button could set the whole world on fire.

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Image 3

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Technology is a force that changes our world profoundly. Only 60 years ago was the Internet invented and since then our world has radically changed. The world has so many problems and science, I believe, has every solution. Poverty, hunger, disease, every obstacle mankind has to overcome, can be conquered if the power is put in the hands of the right people.

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Image 4

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“To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven….

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Image 5

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The same key holds the gates of hell.

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Image 6

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And so it is with science.”
-Richard P. Feynman

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Self-Portraits by Bennett Lee – Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Bennett Lee is enrolled in The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology – The Wharton School | School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2013 – Copyright 2012
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Editor’s Note: To read more articles by Bennett Lee, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Neffie's Legs

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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……….My window is inches from my bed and I can see my neighbor who is at least 30 years my senior – sweeping her driveway which seems effortless for her. Before my cardiac issues I could run circles around all of my neighbors while we were out doing our yard work. Now as I lay here staring at my neighbor, I can’t help but wish that I had some of her energy.

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Some of us have gradually developed our cardiac issues maybe by slow plaque buildup or an inherited genetic disorder, and some of us had a sudden onset. In either case whatever physical condition you were in before your cardiac issue; you may find yourself longing to be there again. The difference is when I had more energy I never took a minute to smell the roses. These days I find myself thankful for every moment. I take notice of things that I so easily took for granted in days past. Problems that used to seems impossible – I now pick apart just to try and find the lesson to be learned.

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Although I find myself battling depression like many others with cardiac issues, instead of those days being the norm they are now slowly becoming the exception.With that being said: we are a group of survivors and we should see the success in just that alone. There are going to be days when the “Why me” bug tries to whisper in my ear, especially if the angina or the swelling is attacking.

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However when these times come, I like to remind myself of how far I’ve come and I usually smile. That smile is my fuel and it is contagious. If I am out and I see someone smiling for no “apparent” reason – I find myself thinking maybe they are a survivor too!

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Nefertari Williams and her fight against heart disease, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Hot and Cold

Posted on March 18, 2012 by A.H. Scott

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Tony –
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……….Well, let me first warn you about this poem. It’s definitely not erotic at all. It’s about domestic violence against women. I was inspired to write it after seeing an image on a poster of a battered woman. And, it just blew me away. “Hot and Cold” is the title and even if you don’t ever use this poem on your site, I just wanted to read it. Thanks for everything you’ve done in our collaboration so far, TW..;)

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HOT and COLD

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Hot is feel of every punch you leave upon my skin
Cauldron of words scorch the soul
Get it over with and leave me alone
It’s always the same, when you say it’s all my fault
My tears have all run dry
My heart has been hollowed out
Cold compress against my bruises I hold
Balled up fist cranked back for another punch
No longer do I scream, for you have taken my voice
Holding onto this floor, as if it were my safety blanket
Impression of your fist against my skin has formed several islands of pain
Black and blue and brown are some
Yet, those that have started healing are turning a yellowish hue
I’ll be the perfect wife
I’ll be the perfect cook
I’ll be the perfect f**k for you
Just don’t hit me again
I’ll be anything but your punching bag anymore
My voice has become a smothered whisper as I promise you on this floor
As your fist unclenched, you actually rub my back and walk away
Cold compress I press to my face
My soul is ripped and needs to be replaced
Heart that once was full of life, has now become shattered in your wake
I drag myself off this floor and make breakfast as I always do for you
You come into the kitchen, eat and everything is as if it never happened
A smile from your lips and a kiss on the cheek as you leave, lets my guard down again
That voice I had lost has started to peep, as I think about what I should do
Grabbing some things and tossing them in a bag isn’t easy, but neither is staying with you
I have a few hours before you come home
These are the moments I spend alone
Should I leave him?
Should I stay?
I walk into the bathroom with a lip bloodied and a tooth chipped and decayed
Cold water I splash across my face
My life here will end soon….
If I stay, it will be at his hands I shall leave
Yet, if I go, it will be my voice I am going to retrieve
Clothes are crumpled into a plastic bag and placed by the door
I look around at our home and it’s like I’m a stranger there now
Damnit, I can’t go
Damnit, I can’t stay
My heart says I love him
My body says no way
I’m GONE
I’m GONE
MY VOICE HAS RETURNED TO ME…..!!!

Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Draped in freedom’s spirit, A.H. Scott is a sizzling scribe of unveiling sensuality. Residing in New York City, this writer is armed with pouting pen of passion and pulsating digits pounding against keyboard. Between this lady’s manicured fingers, a snaggy stylus lacerates parchment and masticates digits against a misting keyboard towards a just climax literary longing. She’s a new voice and vision of fiction. who has been writing short stories and poetry ever since childhood.

Self-Portrait: Neffie's Scar

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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……….The red pin on my lapel, the determination in my eyes and the scar on my chest are just some of my badges of honor that I wear in my war against heart disease. Although I can remove my pin, and change the expression on my face, I can not remove my scar from my heart surgery. I wear my scar with pride. It is a very small reminder of the skill that a surgeon must possess to go into your heart and actually repair it. These doctors study for a good portion of their lives to be able to one day be there for us in case our heart needs to be fixed. They must enter into our body’s somehow – so they make an incision. This, I am sure – is the easiest part of what has to be one of the most complicated jobs in the world: repairing a damaged heart.

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Yet, some of us see this scar and feel the need to hide it or cover it up. We feel like someone might see it and judge us because we have had heart surgery. Quite the contrary; whether you have a vertical line all the way down the center of your rib cage or a diagonal line from a defibrillator implant – your scars represent strength. They are beautiful. Just like an artists signature on the bottom of a masterpiece. I wear my lifesaving artwork and signature with pride showing that I too have been saved by an artist and joined the fight against heart disease!

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Nefertari Williams and her fight against heart disease, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Mike: Rain 1

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Ryun H. Hobbs

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……….. Which is the more powerful emotion – happiness or despair?

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My boyfriend Mike and I have been together for a year. We have made each other very happy on many occasions, and those are very precious moments in our relationship. There have also been struggles and mistakes made, many of them on my part, which have caused us both a lot of anguish. When assigned this task, I had only one image invade my thoughts, which I tried to capture with this picture series.

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Mike: Rain - 2

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He’s the kind of person that will let worries take over – if he wakes up in a bad mood, he will have a storm cloud hanging over him all day long. Things have been fine until earlier this semester – I decided that instead of the career route I was originally considering, I wanted to try my hands at musical theater in New York. This meant that he, already having accepted an offer at Microsoft in Mountain View, CA, would be on the other side of the country. This decision has led us to discuss things that we still are not ready to tackle: long-distance relationships, breaking up, our future…

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Many recent nights have been spent trying to console each other and discuss our situation to no relief. Even though I was scared that making him pose in a sad way would upset him for that night, the image of his worried expressions have completely taken over my mind. I thought to capture his feelings of sadness and paralyzing confusion through the lens.

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Mike: Rain - 3

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One night in particular was the hardest. We both knew that we could not avoid the topic that time, even if we wanted to. He asked if we wanted to stay together, and I did – but a long-distance relationship? Many people believe they just don’t work out. I was unable to tell him how I felt, if I even knew how I felt. He just seemed to collapse from the silence. Looking for the right words to say, I remained wordless – as did he.

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What could we say? We essentially agreed on things – we did not want to break up, but could we hold up a working relationship after graduation? It seemed as if I had more doubt than he did. Yes, I was happy with him, but we are both young and it has only been a year. We both needed to work on our careers and developing ourselves. I began to speak those words…

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Mike: Rain - 4

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To get the response that I expected, but did not want to get. It was the most pain that I have seen on his face in the entire year that we have been together. This image has been branded into my mind since. Even though we have been able to work it out a bit since that night, as graduation day looms, the relationship seems to lose the vibrance that it had not too long ago.

About The Author: Ryun H. Hobbs is a senior enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2012

TWS

Copyright 2012

Nefertari's Heart Story: Part 3

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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That was a rough night. I was unable to take the medicine that works for cramps and I couldn’t see my baby. She was in the NCU, safe and warm with the best nurses in the world. It was me that was in critical condition. When I looked to my left – I had a nurse sitting by my side, and when I looked to my right the same. I was in such poor condition that I had two Critical Care nurses sitting 2 inches from my side. They told me that the next 24 hours were crucial to my survival. My buzzers beeped and alarms went off constantly. The nurses did their jobs and I was right back each time. As soon as I was strong enough, must have been about 12 hours later – I demanded to see my baby. They made it happen and what a moment it was; she looked just like my baby picture. She had A tiny IV in her arm and a blood pressure cuff on the other arm and was so content laying there in her own private incubator. I wept thinking about all that she went through. Days went by and we both got stronger and healthier. Even though I did have a minor set back with a bought of pneumonia, I was still able to bring my baby home a week later.

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Our journey was just beginning. I was going home to 5 children and a failing heart. To repair the dissection – doctors had to place 3 stents in my coronary artery which required me to take blood thinners and about 9 other pills daily. The blood thinners require constant monitoring – especially in the beginning so I had to travel to Philly every two days with 5 children hardly able to walk. It was tough but I was happy to be alive, so I was happy to do it.

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I found out about a month later that my heart wasn’t functioning as effectively as they had hoped so I was admitted back into the hospital so that doctors could place a defibrillator into my heart. This is a devise used to shock the heart back into rhythm should it stop or begin to beat too fast. Continuing with my positive attitude – I was thankful that such technology existed and was given the label by several doctors and nurses as the most positive patient ever!

Copyright 2012

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To Be Continued……..