makaya06’s Blog

“Are you nervous?” Al asked his nine year old daughter as she is getting ready for her dance recital.
“No daddy, why would I be?” She replies with her innocent curiosity.
“Your just going to be dancing in front of hundreds of people, I would think you would be nervous”
“No, I have performed these routines so many times already, I am just excited”
I remember this moment so vividly. Its like it happened yesterday. The feeling of going on stage in front of hundreds of people would make almost anyone nervous, but not young Makaya. I was invincible, nothing could hold me from my bursts of confidence.
Although quite courageous, I am not so much as I was before. Now when I am getting ready to go on stage, I get those butterflies. Those feelings of doubt, everyone does. But when I do, I think back at that conversation I had with my dad, and I get that renewed burst of confidence.

This past year, our country’s recession has had a great impact on us fellow Americans. The impact, though quiet depressing, has been argued to be a positive kick in the face to today’s society. I would have to say that I agree with this argument one hundred percent.

In today’s society people are focused on the instant gratification that comes from seeing that new hit blockbuster every Friday night, the ritual morning latte, or the new trendy sidekick. What is more important should be saving money for your child’s college tuition, your retirement, or just for those times when you need emergency cash. Most people today, or before the recession, did not see the negative long term effects of so much unecessary spending.

That’s where the depressing, but good intentions of the recession come in. People are starting to realize that they do not have as deep as pockets, if any, than they did before. We are having to cut down on the material, not so important things that we spend our money on every day. Having to budget our money on just the things that our lives depend on maybe isn’t such a bad thing. I know, a tragedy, but we have to realize that spending money on necessities and saving the rest will bring us that delayed gratification for our future. Not just the future for ourselves, but for the whole of the country.

Hands and hair flying throughout the air, while dancing and jumping to the beat of the loud music blaring into your eardrums are just some of the ways to exemplify this memorable evening, It was my 16th birthday, one of the most important birthdays in any American girls life, and I had taken four of my closest friends to the Tyga and Metro Station concert. I was thrilled to find out that it was in my favorite place in the world, downtown Portland, at the Roseland Theater. The whole Portland trip was a blast but the concert was definitely the highlight.

I remember being in the crowd, tightly linked arms with my best friends and jumping up and down to the beat of the music. Two feet from the stage, we felt as if we were louder and more crazed than any of the other fans In the ear-splitting crowd behind us. The people that attend this concert were all very diverting and obnoxious, which made it even more exciting. Unfortunately everyone was drenched and also very perspiring.

So while we were all squished on top of each other like sardines, mosh pits started forming throughout the already insane crowd and people began to sing and yell even louder than before. When you would sing you could hear the echoes off of the lofty ceilings and when you would jump you could feel the floor jumping with you. It was like a trampoline with its maximum capacity.

After the concert was over Trace Cyrus, of Metro Station, threw his guitar pick into the roaring audience, but because of all the chaos, nobody had noticed. I decided to pick it up. The guitar pick was the perfect souvenir to a perfect night. A night that will be hard to forget.