I’Mani Sellers: Better Half

portrait of beautiful african american Upenn student

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Posted on March 17, 2015, by I’Mani Sellers

Kass has been seeing Denny for a while now and their relationship is very serious. Kass prides herself in not worrying about what people think about her and not letting that influence her decisions about life. Kass also prides herself in not letting just anyone into her life.  Denny was a very different story.

She has known Denny and she has seen him grow and mature, just as he sees her grow and mature. They spend as much time together as they possibly can. Kass describes him as her better half.  Kass and Denny have planned everything about their future, and they would not let anything change or jeopardize that. At least that is what Kass thought.

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IMANI-BLOG 2

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Denny came to Kass one day and told her he had enlisted in the army and was leaving to boot camp in three weeks. Three weeks was all they had left together for a while. It hurt Kass so much, because she believed Denny betrayed her; he had betrayed their dreams. She was angry; she wanted nothing to do with him for a while. She was ready to erase him from her life.

As she counted down the days, she realized she would regret not speaking to him before he left, so she gave him one last goodbye. She sought comfort in her friends at school, but nothing was like the touch of his arms around her as she hugged him. Nothing else could complete her.  She writes him letters, and every time she signs them with, “How can you live without your better half of your heart?”

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young woman looking at picture of her and her boyfriend

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She still sits at home, waits for his return, does her daily routine of going to classes, but she does not feel like she is living. She is still looking for the answer, of how to live without her better half.

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woman looking sad being comforted by friend

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Photography and Text by I’Mani Sellers, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: I’Mani Sellers is a sophomore with a focus on the field of STEM,  College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2017.

Corey Fader: My Second Mom

portrait of Myra by Corey Fader

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Posted on March 2, 2015 by Corey Fader

For the first 16 years of my life, Myra was like a second mother to me. While my parents were busy working, Myra was there to take care of all of the housekeeping, cooking, and my sister and me. As early as I can remember, she would push me around in a stroller to museums such as the Please Touch, Franklin Institute, and the Museum of Natural History. She was always there to bathe, feed, and support me in any possible way.

As I grew older, everything around me started to change. I went through a notorious time in my life when I had to figure out exactly what I wanted to be. I was on the brink of expulsion at school, and I was associating myself with a bad group of friends. Even though these were a few rough years for me, I always knew that I could come home and have Myra brighten my day. She taught me right from wrong, and significantly helped me navigate my way through tough situations.

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Entering high school, I was aware that my time with Myra was beginning to come to a close. My sister was getting ready to go off to college, and I was much more self-reliant than when I was younger. As each day of freshman year went by, I realized that we were that much closer to the end.

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black woman wiping tears away

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I can still vividly remember the day that I learned that Myra would no longer be with us. My parents let me know that Myra had received a full-time teaching position at Trinity Academy. I immediately went to my room to cry, and I was confident that Myra was doing the same on the other end.

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black woman expressing sadness

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I suppose people are correct when they say that you never fully appreciate something until it is gone. There is not a day that goes by that Myra does not cross my mind, and I can honestly say that I would not be where I am without her.

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close up of black woman's hands

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Photography and Text by Corey Fader

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About the Author: Corey Fader is a freshman enrolled in the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2018

TWS: Portrait of the Day in Celebration of Black History Month

Portrait of the artist, Mikel Elam. by tony ward
Title: Portrait of Love

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Photography by Tony Ward, Copyright 2015