FINALS, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS aka 2012, & REFLECTION! (FINALS WEEK) [LAST BLOG!!!]

HEY WHAT'S BOWLIN' MY AGGIES?!
It's Me, Ya Brotha, Ya Boii, Ya Cuzzo, Coming @ you again with another Post!
     I hope all is well with you and your families in this great time of year. I can't wait 'till this friday to see the USU AGGIE FOOTBALL TEAM play in the IDAHO POTATO BOWL!!! Happy Holidays! I don't know about you, but I have "The First Noel" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on repeat! I just can't wait for Christmas & the New Year, but first FINALS!!! I have several finals this week, but good thing there is an ample amount of time between my finals which will give me some time to exhale. Meanwhile, I will continue to study, and keep pushing because I believe that the race is not given to the swift or the strong but the one who endures to the end. So keep studying my AGGIES and keep those grades up. =)
     I honestly can't believe it has been a semester of school already. It seemed just like yesterday I started posting these blogs & videos. Well as both this semester and this year start to come to a close I can't help but reminisce. I think if I had to put it all in a sentence to describe it it would probably sound something like: I LOVE UTAH STATE & I LOVE BEING AN AGGIE!!! Going to school up here and being an AGGIE is an unexplainable experience. All I can say is that you have to come experience it for yourself! Well I should probably have my head in a book right now, so I wish you all the best, and warming holiday greetings! Enjoy this SEASON OF LOVE and I will catch you AGGIES on the rebound in the NEW YEAR 2012!!!


     BE ENCOURAGED!!!

NO TEST WEEK, 20TH CENTURY!!! [Last Week Of Classes Part 2](Pre-Finals Week)

AYO What's Happening My Aggies?! It's Me Ya Boy, Ya Friend, Ya Mans : T.J. Coming at you with another post!

I hope all of you are reading this post well. I want to encouraged all of you to stay strong and positive even in this season. As the semester's end draws nigh continue to grind it out 'till the end and make sure you meet & surpass that grade. I hear how students are being accepted to USU for next fall already, and I can't wait to meet the incoming class! Shout out to my Aggies who submitted their applications already!

Right now campus is getting ready for NO TEST WEEK! I can't believe that this is the last week of classes for the fall semester! I am so grateful for making it this far in my education and sometimes I feel the need to remind myself of how far I've come (literally, from NYC lol). This week also means that secretly, FINALS are looming so get ready!!! However, as much as I love to study I will need some air, and there is nothing more refreshing than a night of theatre!!! 20th Century is showing on campus this week. So if your looking for me and I'm not practicing, or studying you will find me at this show!

Be Encouraged & Study Hard Aggies!!!

Wintersongs Concert & The Last Week of Classes (Part 1)

     Hey Aggies! It's Me Ya Nephew, Ya Couzzin, Ya Kinfolk: T.J.

Here with another quick post!
   
      If your like me during this time of year you just can't wait 'till school lets out! I LOVE Utah State, but sometimes a brother has to go back home and be with his family =) but I have three weeks until that happens. So I will be on my grind, which means I will will be studying, knuckling down getting my assignments in, and staying focused in class and making sure I finish this semester strong! I honestly, have to keep reminding myself that I have to finish this semester first because my mind is already on next semester! I am always ready to take on the next big thing in my life. So speaking of this semester, this week is the Wintersongs concert. This year's concert will feature USU's Chamber Singers (who were nominated for 3 Grammy's last year) University Chorale, & Women's Choir. This will be a traditional winter concert with carols, holiday songs, & christmas cheer. I know I will be there will you?
So like I've said life for me never stops just picks up and slows down, but I am so glad you are coming along for the ride!!!

Be Encouraged! & Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, BDAY THANKS, & BREAD PUDDING!!!

Hey Y'all It's Me Ya Boy, Ya Turkey, Ya Bro : T.J.
Coming at you with another post. I just want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, my Big 20 was great and now we are headed for the BIG 21!!! I hope all is well with all of you as well. Be Encouraged in the holiday season, I hope you are able to spend it with those you love and cherish. As for me I will be planning on a great holiday and some studying =)! I posted a video of me on thanksgiving eve after I just had bread pudding for the first time so I got excited: Enjoy!


Be Encouraged!!!

PS. By the way it's okay to listen to Christmas music now so start your countdown 'till Christmas

A Message 2 Future AGGIES, Some Sports, & It's My BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!

It's Ya Man, Ya Nephew, Ya Friend: T.J. What's Goin' On My Aggies?!!

I hope all is well with you and your family especially during this time of year with the holidays and Christmas Break right around the corner. I hope your working hard in your classes and trying to finish the semester strong! Shouts Out to all my High school Seniors & Juniors I hope your on top of your collegiate paperwork because Graduation is going to happen sooner than you think! So consider this a friendly reminder from me encouraging you to hurry up and submit your applications, write your essays, come up to campus for a visit, etc. and Hopefully I will see you in Aggie gear REAL SOON!!!

Baby Birthday Picture (Don't Laugh) =P

 
     As far as this week goes, the campus is really electric off of one of the greatest sports weekends in Logan that we've had in a while. USU Man's Basketball defended home court against the Courgars of Provo and the USU Men's Football came back with a stunning victory over San Jose State and now they are two games out of Bowl Eligibility. Man how I wish you were there, but let this post get you excited about coming to Utah State!

  
    Lastly, this friday is Diversity Day for high school Seniors & Juniors! I hope you've booked your ticket and I hope to see you there! I can't wait to met all the new potential Aggies of Utah State! Also, this Friday is my BIRTHDAY!!!! The day that only comes around once a year where I celebrate my gift of life! I'm so excited, I honestly don't know how I plan to spend the celebration, but I'm sure I will think of something fun. =)

Be Encouraged Aggies!!!

USU Volleyball, 11.11.11, Vetrans Day, and a tiny tiny bit of FOOTBALL

Hey AGGIES!!! It's Ya Bro, Ya Cousin, Ya Kinfolk, T.J.

     I hope all is well with all of you as it is with me. This was a bitter-sweet weekend because USU Volleyball ended another great season with their last home game on Saturday, Now their on the road then off to the WAC Tourney 2011 (GUD LUCK LADIES!!!) Moreover, with Thanksgiving 20 days away and Christmas about 40 days away you can't help but get excited. This is that time of the semester when you get ready to make that final push to finish this fall semester strong. Usually students start thinking about the holidays and going back home for break and this provides the living undercurrent for students working hard just to get done with this semester. So I hope your studying hard, getting your applications in, and writing those papers, etc.

This is the Cathedral of the Madeline in SLC (Pretty Huh?)

   

     This week is one of those once in a lifetime kind of weeks because this Friday is 11.11.11 which is really cool if you ask me. So if your like me (and your not going to make it to the BYU vs. USU Basketball Game) then you will be paying homage to soldiers, and others who fight hard to protect this country because it is Veterans Day. This year on 11.11.11 I will be performing at the Cathedral of the Madeline in SLC in a Veterans Day concert! The American Festival Chorus & Utah State Chamber Singers will be performing the Benjamin Britten War Requiem. 

Here's a link to the article the Salt Lake Tribune wrote about it, check it out!!!:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/52836922-81/war-logan-britten-cathedral.html.csp

Be Encouraged Aggies and have another great week!!!

P.S. I have to say I've been an Aggie football fan since the beginning of the year, been to every home game so I think I'm well within my AGGIE PRIDE to say GO AGGIES w/ the upset of Hawaii (BOWL ELIGIBILITY WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE THIS SEASON ONE GAME AT A TIME)

AGGIE SPIRIT - I CAN"T BELIEVE IT'S NOT OCTOBER!!!

Hey Aggies It's Me Again, Ya Friend, Ya Boy, Ya Aggie: T.J.

     How are all of my readers doing?! I hope all is well. Here I am coming at you with another post! I hope all of you had a safe Halloween weekend and my weekend was great. Quick recap it all started with the Men's Basketball team first exhibition game against UC San Diego, then the following day Women's Volleyball was great as we cruised past Louisiana Tech. I have cheered my heart out and AGGIE PRIDE is alive and well here on campus!!!

     This week is the first week of November and I can't believe it! This semester is really going by fast!!! However, this week not only is there a Men's Basketball game & a Women's Volleyball game this Saturday. I can't wait for Wednesday night because there is another Big Band Jazz Concert which I'm sure will be one of the best of the semester. Also, in lighter news Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Organization Incorporated will be hosting it's first annual Black & Purple Ball! And I hear this will be one of the classiest events of the year So get excited!!! Enjoy the video below I found about AGGIE SPIRIT (It's a little old school but you'll get the point!)

Be Encouraged!!!

P.S. Shout out to all my readers who came out to the Utah State open house this past week. It made me happy to see so many potential AGGIES!!! I LOVE ALL OF YOU & Thanks for your support!!!

HEY IT'S FALL!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY PRETTIES!!!

AYO Wut's Up My True Blue Unbelievable Aggies!!!

 It's Me again, Ya Man, Ya Cousin, Ya Brother: T.J. Coming at you with another Blog. 

Right now as I write fall is in full swing up here at campus, and i don't know about you but I can't help but run through heaps of leaves or feeling that morning breeze from the mouth of the canyon. Logan is always beautiful this time of year and I love it!!!

So here we are a little more than halfway through another semester and I can't believe it! In the spirit of Halloween I wanted to share with you some of my experiences in celebrating the spooky holiday. 

     Odyssey Dance Theater returned to Utah State for a performance of its incredible Halloween dance show Thriller this year. I didn't get to see them when they came up to campus before so I was very excited. This show was filled hilarious moments, scary comedy, & some awesome dancing. This definitely set my mood for HALLOWEEN (OoOoOoO!!)

     Lastly, As a young man from the "BIG" city aka NYC I had never been in a haunted corn maze before let alone knew of what it was. Some friends and I went to the haunted corn maze after the USU Hockey game (which we won of course!!!) and it was one of the most terrifying and funniest moments of my life. Believe me I was scared out of my mind, my friends and didn't have a map or used any lights and on top of that they made me lead (AHHH!!!) There were some hooded figures, some guys with chainsaws, and I think I saw a dead zombie in there. Honestly I'm just glad I made it out of there alive!

I Decorated My Door For Halloween!!!

P.S. On a serious note:

Even though there is never a dull moment for this AGGIE I want to encourage you to be safe, responsible, and alert this Halloween, And I will be back next week with another post MY PRETTY!!! (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!)

SHORT BLOG, AGGIE BASKETBALL & POETRY

Hey Aggies It's Ya Boy, Ya Man, Ya Nephew again: T.J.

I hope all is well with you like it is for me. This week was Mid-term week so not a whole lot of action going on for me but during my study time I wrote this poem that I wanted to share with you because you and I both know what's coming up soon: AGGIE BASKETBALL!!!

Utah State Basketball: Aggies

By: Anthony Pratt Jr.

This year I believe that we will win

We be true blue aggies see

Our passion lies within, so pick up

that ball, teamwork is the key

brush your jersey off, and lace your sneaks

It's that time again

To show this world that you belong here

and there is no other way

history lies on our spectrum floor

we abide by what we say

I'm ready for an upset this year

I wanna be blown away

Be Encouraged!!!

Please Don't Go Home This Weekend & Middle Week =D

Hey Wuts Up Aggies!! It's Ya boy, Ya Man, Ya Nephew: T.J.

                  And I'm coming at you with another post!

          I hope all is well in your classes, family, life, etc. This week is what i call "Middle Week" I call it that because it is the middle of the semester. So congrats to all Utah State Students for working hard and moving foreword. We aren't near the end of the semester yet, but well enough into it so there's no turning back now!!! 

          This past weekend was great. There were a lot of events going on around campus. Some of those events included a Gospel concert, Women's Soccer, Men's Rugby, A 5K Run, etc. Most importantly, the USU Aggies Football Team had a great showing against the Wyoming cowboys who visited Romney Stadium Saturday night. I say all of that to say this: THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE ON CAMPUS!!! This weekend I went to the football game and I felt that there were way too many empty seats in the students section. As USU students we need to stand up, and show out our AGGIE PRIDE!!! I want to encourage students to refrain from going home every weekend. Part of being in college at Utah State is enjoying the student social life. I am not trying to put college over family, but I believe one of the best ways to "gain from" college is to experience all that it has to offer.

        P.S. Don't forget to checkout the "JAZZTOBER FEST" aka the BIG BAND/JAZZ concert this week and it's all going down up here at Utah State University!!!

Be Encouraged!!! 

CHOIR WEEK!!! DO RE MI!! LEGOO!!!

Hey Ya'll its me, Ya Aggie, Ya Nephew, Ya Kinfolk:  T.J.

        I hope by this time a lot of you have settled into your school routines, and probably taken an exam or two, and even figured out a rhythm to this whole College Thing. If not keep working at it but meanwhile here's another post from yours truly about what is going on in my life this week. This week is the week I call Choir Week! Where I will be performing. This year however I will be showcasing in two concerts. This Wednesday is the annual Autumn Voices concert which will feature some of Utah State University's best choirs such as Chamber Singers (which were recently nominated for three Grammy's), Women's Ensemble, & University Chorale. This will take place on campus and it's free to USU students! I would invite everyone out to this show and come early because this show Always Sells Out!

        

         Moreover, this Friday is another concert of epic proportions. American Festival Chorus is presenting: "Celebrate! An Evening of Gospel Music" This concert will leave you feeling uplifted, blessed, and holy-spirit filled. There are also several guests coming to perform at this concert. Salt Lake city's very own "Calvary Baptist Choir" will be performing. Also, my mother will be coming all the way from New York City to perform and I am so excited! This concert will take place in the Kent concert Hall on campus so i recommend you get your tickets early (prices vary). So strap on your Aggie Belts and come with me on another action-packed week for me so I hope I see you at these events because they will be stellar! Other than that keep working hard, keep studying, and keep that AGGIE PRIDE!!!

Be Encouraged Y'all!!!

(Post-Homecoming) Aggie Pride & (CAINE COLLEGE) AGGIE ARTS

Hey here's another post coming at you from Ya Brotha, Ya Relative, Ya Aggie: T.J.

      I hope as you are reading all is well with you. Classes are well underway and campus is just buzzing about what is going on within the next few weeks. Homecoming this year was one of the best I've ever been to. I took advantage and attended almost ever single event and I am tired but I feel like I've gained like 20,000 Aggie Pride points!! I also had a photo of me taken at the football game and it was posted in the Herald Journal!!! As much as I loved homecoming all great things come to a close.

       So I will spend this week mostly catching up in my studies but I did have a chance to go catch "Proof" by David Auburn playing here on campus in the black box theater. I am always inspired when my fellow students & Aggies are displaying and showcasing their talents in such a way that I get to enjoy their gifts. Utah State may be home to arguably some of the best athletic talent in the country but if you ask me some of the best kept secrets of USU happens behind the artistic creative door of the CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS!!! So go out and catch a show, play, concert, recital, etc. you just might be inspired just like I was!!!

Be Encouraged!!!

HOMECOMING 2012!!!

Me After Winning Mr. USU & My Escort

      Hey Ya'll It's Ya Kinfolk, Ya Brother, Ya Son: T.J.! How are you?! I hope your school year has gotten off to a great start because I know mine has. This week will be one of the best weeks of my entire school year: HOMECOMING WEEK!!! Homecoming week is a week where there are a lot of events that go on around campus and all kinds of alumnae come back to their alma mater UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY!!! I am so excited that I can't contain myself as I write this post! 

I would encouraged anyone and everyone to go and experience this AGGIE HOMECOMING!!! There will be a ton of events but this year some of the highlights are the USU Football Game vs. Colorado State, Homecoming Dance, Mr. USU, etc. As the current reigning Mr. USU I am reflecting a lot on last year's homecoming when I won! Above is a Youtube Video of what Mr. USU is all about! Check it out!

I can't spill all the info. because I don't want to ruin the surprise you just have to come up to Logan for the entire week and strap in because this week is going to be AWESOME!!! Also, this year for True Aggie Night/Homecoming night after the dance Utah State will breaking the Guinness World Record for the LONGEST KISSING CHAIN!!! It's all going down this week here at the main campus in LOGAN!!! Do you still think Logan is boring?!

Be Encouraged Y'all

9/11 & Go Greek! (Pre-Homecoming)

Hey My Aggies!

It's Me again,! Ya Dude, Ya Cousin, Ya Kinfolk: T.J.!

           Coming at you again with another weekly post so get excited! This weekend was a great weekend to reflect and think about what took place a decade ago in New York City; 9/11. I am an out-of-state student from New York City and I can't help but remember that day. I was in 5th Grade, Ms. Esposito's Class at P.S. 84(Public School). Long story short, I am thankful that all of my family got home safe that day. I hope this weekend you were able to have a moment of silence, a prayer, etc. for those whose lives were lost. I am proud to be an American, and so glad to see how my hometown (NYC!) and America has progressed since then.

My Brothers & I After Spring Step Show 2011

         




So this week up here at USU is Greek Recruitment Week, & I am excited! This week interested students will GO GREEK! Which means they will join a fraternity or sorority. I am an active member of Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity Inc. I crossed in Spring '11, and I am loving every single minute of it. I would encouraged any and everybody to go Greek. Going Greek is one of the best way to get involved here at USU. You can become part of something bigger than yourself, connect with local and national alumni from your Greek Organization, and its a great way to build long-lasting friendships. A lot of my best friends are Greek, and we all inspire one another to do better academically, socially, and as leaders. Lastly, going Greek is a great way to show some Aggie Pride! Speaking of Aggie Pride, I am not only excited for this week, but also for next week because next week is: 

HOMECOMING!!! 

So Stay Tuned! & Be Encouraged!

Jungle, Sports, College, & Aggies!

What's Going On Aggies?

Here Is My Room! (Can You Tell That I Love USU Volleyball?)

        It's Me, Ya Man, Ya Friend, Ya Cousin coming at you with another blog! It's that time of year again, and College is in session. Book-bags, pencils, old friendships rekindling, and the constant jockeying for study rooms in the library is back at an all time high. Well, if your like me you study in your own room and you've already started to get into your GROOVE with classes & managing your time.

       This Labor day weekend was a great weekend for Sports but mainly Aggie sports! This weekend NBC televised the World Track & Field Championships! I hope you got the chance to catch Usain Bolt (the fastest man in the world!) and team Jamaica break the world record in the 4x100 this weekend. Also, most of you know the football team almost pulled off an unbelievable upset down in Alabama against the national champs from last year, Auburn (Shout out to the USU Football Team!). However this weekend I found myself here in Logan @ the Spectrum, where the Utah State Tournament/ Invitational and the USU Women's volleyball team played against Idaho State, Syracuse, and Texas State! It was a tough tournament, the Aggies lost the first game against Idaho State but came back to beat Syracuse, and pulled out a win against Texas State in a nail biter! When all the smoke was cleared, the Aggies walked home with the championship (of course!) and this year's tournament MVP was Josselyn White (she was awesome!!) I was so excited that they won, and that was the highlight of my weekend (sigh). So college starts up again on Tuesday, and I am so excited for this 2nd Week of school and ready to see what I can get into! Lastly, I hope this blog reminds you that Logan isn't a desolate desert, it's more of like a jungle gym so this week I hope you Get Jungling! (made that word up! LoL)

Be Encouraged!! =D

OMG…COLLEGE STARTS THIS WEEK!!!

What’s Gud Y’all

            It’s Ya Boy, Ya Man, Ya Nephew, Mr. USU, T.J. I hope this post is reaching you well! Honestly, I can’t believe classes are starting up again. Even for me, this feeling of anxiety & nervous jitters are always present this time of year. As the students start to populate the Logan campus, and the days start to get cooler, I can’t help but get excited. I’ve been running around all week trying to get my books, walking with my connections class, and reconnecting with old friends. I love the atmosphere!

I am SoOoOo HYPED, because this year I will be interacting with you through this blog & my videos. I will be giving you updates about what is going on weekly as far as things on campus, my life, student life, etc. Also, once a month I will post a video of something cool I did IN LOGAN! So strap up and get ready because I will be showing you a side of USU that you have never seen! I invite you into my world, and I hope that by the end of this journey you “Discover Utah State University” or better yet, discover yourself @ USU!

Be Encouraged!!!