Last time I blogged it after I had returned from the Phi Theta Kappa conference in Florida. so much has happened since then that it has been crazy. The end of the school year was near, and that meant it was time for PTK to select their new executive board for 2010-2011. After a long deliberation a new team was created. Before I name the new team, I just to take time and thank all the officers (even the ones that were only here for a semester or less). In no particular order, thank you to Kinjal, Carolynn, Phil, Gabby, Delfino, Genie, Olivia, Danesa, Alex, Adam(Monkey), Corinna, and Brandy. Without all of you we would have not accomplished what we have this year! I also want to thank the members, and all the chairs that have helped all year. All of you are truly wonderful and all of your skills and hard work made this team even better. Last but not least, I want to thank both of the advisors Amybeth and Zaza. Being advisors is not an easy task, and both you have done an amazing job this year and I know I can go to both of you if have any problems. Thank you for always helping out. So the new team is as followed: President: Ali-Reza Kashani Vice-President: Danesa Tamayo Secretary: Gelica Atta Treasurer: Ryan Barrie Scholarship: Kristy Pfaffinger Service: Hannah Houde Fellowship: Kyle Milnamow Information: Karen Gonzalez To all the new officers, I can't wait to start working with you and I know we will have a wonderful time together and we will succeed as a team as well. Before the new officer began, there was one more conference, and one more chance to win awards for our team. On the first weekend of June, our conference was held in Rockford where the Illinois region came together to recap the year. Meeting new people and saying goodbye to others it was absolutely a great conference. On Saturday we had the awards night and Rho Kappa Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa won 11 awards. In no particular order: Most distinguished member (Delfino) Outstanding officer (Danesa) Illinois distinctive award (Olivia) Most spirited award ( Jenn Braden) Most outstanding president (Ali Kashani) Scholarship award Leadership award Five star program One for hosting a conference last October Hallmark awards Mossy distinguished chapter (first ever for the Rho Kappa Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa) Then came time for Relay For Life at ECC and it what amazing. This being one of my favorite event, and most important I was excited. From 10am on June 11th to 8am on June 12th, the event was a success. Raising over $50,000 was great to hear in the morning, as this was the second highest we have raised since 2004. Thank you to all that have helped for this cause. Now I'm all caught up with my events, thank you's, and I'm ready for the new beginnings. Next semester will be a fun filled year and I can't wait!!!!

Two weeks ago was the most fun I have ever had in a long time.  Being in Florida for Phi Theta Kappa's International Convention was amazing!!! Disney was just fantastic, and dreams do come true. Even with a lack of sleep for five days, it was all worth it. Our chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, was up for six awards this year, and there was a great result by winning four awards. With all of our hard work that we all put for the year, it all paid off.  The first awards that we won was Distinguished Member Award, and Delfino Tapia, was chosen to be one of the top 30 out of thousands. Then we won Distinguished Officer Award, and Danesa Tamayo, was chosen to be one of the top 30 out of thousands. Last but not least for the individual awards, I, Ali-Reza Kashani  won Distinguished Chapter President, and was chosen to be one of the top 25 out thousands.  Moving on, we also won the Scholarship Award (which is Alex Aavang's position) , and we were one of the top 30 chapters to win this awards, and the only one in Illinois to win a hallmark award. None of these awards could have been won if we didn't work as a team, and without the support of our members and participants in our events.  So thank you to all that have been part of this wonderful experience!!! Rho Kappa did it!!

While in Florida, I was able to meet so many different and wonderful individuals that made this experience even better.  To anyone that wants to be part of a team that will flourish your leadership skills, as well as, meet a lot of people, should definitely join Phi Theta Kappa.

Now here is a song that I just discovered last night. Its called Ride to California by Paper Tongues. Enjoy!!!!

It is getting closer.....Phi Theta Kappa's Conference in FLORIDA,  excitement is pumping through my veins.  Being that it will be my first time going to FLORIDA , I'm just crazy excited. This conference happens every year, where we can win awards for our hard work throughout the year, and as well as meeting other Phi Theta Kappans from all over the world. Last years conference took place in Grapevine Texas, also my first time in Texas, and let me tell you it was everything in Texas is bigger. Words cannot describe how wonderful and amazing the hotel was, the first general meeting with every chapter of Phi Theta Kappa all over the world, and meeting new people, it is an experience that I will never forget. But know there is a new adventure to go on and it is taking place in FLORIDA. I can't wait to explore a new state I've never been to, and of course go to DISNEY!!!!!! My first time going to DISNEY and I cant wait. 

But Now I'm enjoying my spring break, and relaxing.  But also, I have been listening to new music, and this time it's from one of the most consistent rappers in the last 5 years. Ludacris has amazed me once again with his new album Battle of the Sexes. This album features many artist with Ludacris and it is pretty good. In this album, Ludacris makes fun of Tiger Woods and his problems that he encountered after Thanksgiving. The song is called Sexting, and I find it to be a good song.  But the song that got my attention is called I Know you got a man featuring Flo-Rida. So definitely check is album called Battle of the Sexes is truly an enjoyable album

Lately, I've on a music surge.  I will listen to any kind of music that is out there from reggaeton , to country, rap, hip hop, indie, rock, screaming bands and many more.  For example while listening to Ipod right now I went from listening to Shinedown which is a hard rock band, to listening to the Black Eye Peas. So the music I listen to ranges. While on this surge for finding new music, I came across an Canadian Indie Band called Tokyo Police Club. This band was formed in 2005 but disbanded shortly after. They soon came back together to create Tokyo Police Club. Since 2006 hey have appeared in many festivals around Canada, and they also went on tour with the band Weezer.

Music is very helpful to me in many situations.  If angry, listening to music relaxes me to calm down.  While trying to study music helps me focus Without music, I don't know what I would do. Music let's me express my feeling through songs depending my mood. Its a good way to channel emotions.

 Enjoy one of Tokyo PoliceClub's song from their Album Elephant Shell.

This weekend was one that enjoyed dearly.  Usually I don't like to discuss what I did over a weekend because it is just listing what I did, but this one was a productive one.  I did do my homework and other work I was suppose to do, however, after wards I started finding new music to listen.  My Ipod was kind of getting repetitive with the same songs. So while looking at yahoo's top 100 songs under every category, I started to get ideas of what I wanted to listen.  finding similar artist to what I like, which is everything, is very difficult to do. Ultimately, I found what I was looking for.  Timbaland's Shock Value II, was finally discovered, and I was BLOWN away with all the greatness that was in his album.  There were a few songs that  definitely  were prefered more than others, but there are all great.  The ones that stood out the most to me were;

1. We belong to the music featuring Miley Cyrus
1. I'm not a big fan of Miley, but this song is very upbeat and it get's me moving
2. If we Ever Meet Again featuring Katy Perry
1. This song is very catchy to listen to.
3. Meet Me in the Middle Featuring Bran'Nu
1. This song tells a story about how you have to comprise in a relationship to make it work, it has a good beat.

All his songs on this album are awesome.  Shock Value II features many different artist, which gives it the uniqueness that other albums don't have. Other Featuring artist are; The Fray, Chad Kroeger (from Nickleback), Daughtry,  Drake, Justin Timberlake, and others.

To show my love or Timbaland's new Album Shock Value II here is one of his videos. Enjoy!!!

So far in my Calculus class this semester, we have been learning the basics which can also be known as Pre-Calculus. My professor loves to use metaphors to explain different topics that we are learning, which I believe is a good way to do it.  Anyways, one that stuck was that right now in the beginning of class we are all on Pre-Calculus island, and to move on to the Calculus Island, we need to learn the different tools to move on.  So as we are learning about limits and their purpose, I'm learning all this information.  And of course last week, I answered a question in class, and my professor told everyone in the class that I had moved on to Calculus Island. I was so excited, I finally love math and I can't wait to learn more about calculus and its different topics!!

with all this excitement here is a music video, enjoy!


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Welcome back everyone to another great semester at ECC!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful break, but know it's back to business. For some it started sooner. Throughout my winter break I have been working with the rest of the Phi Theta Kappa officer team and some alumni to complete these hallmarks. From these hallmarks our chapter of Phi Theta Kappa here at ECC can win awards, and this year I believe that we can all six awards we are applying for. We have some talented writers, and editors for these hallmarks, so when we go to Florida in April for our conference, I believe that we will come back with six awards. I guess we'll just to wait and see.

Also the new semester has started!! I'm very excited for this semester as I'm taking my first ever computer programming class. So far I love the class, and I love all of my classes. Calculus class is very enjoyable and it is a comfortable learning environment. Then my History, and Political Science class are very interesting, but very similar. I know that this will be a great semester.

Here's a song that I've been enjoying lately.