Closing Time

As my year comes to a close, I’ve found that I have done more evaluating of my life than just living it. As unfortunate as that sounds my balance between residential life (as a Resident Assistant), soccer, and school has been nothing but topsy-turvy. I feel like this Winter break will be a defining point for my life as I look to find myself as a soccer player and student. I’ve weathered this storm, and I look forward to my spring semester in anticipation to reaching great new heights. If this will happen, only time will tell, but I truly am relaxing, recharging, and preparing to hit it hard when the time comes to return to Barry University.

With that said, I do believe that I reached goals in every facet of my life worth mentioning:

1. I made it through RA Training and Training camp simultaneously. I want to delve into this, but let’s just say that two departments cannot own 100% of you. Even still, they tried.
2. I successfully molded 2 faces together in my Photoshop class… I was instantly reminded of why Fred Bertino and I should never have children.
3. I managed to pull out of the semester with nearly a 3.8 GPA.
4. Coming off the bench for Barry University Men’s Soccer this year I managed to put in 4 goals and 1 assist.
5. We also finished 4th in the league, opposed to the pre-season poll that had us at 6th.
6. We entered into the Sunshine State Conference Tournament as the 4th seed and won the tournament with a goal differential of 6-0.
7. I scored the insurance goal in the SSC Tournament final against University of Tampa to take the game 2-0.
8. As an RA, I helped with a student wide program (put on by my supervisor) on AIDS awareness. We held a candlelight vigil for residents around the campus pool. The experience was good, in that it brought awareness to an epidemic that needs understanding and support.
9. We also held a program this year to raise awareness for the starving children of the world. The program was called From Hunger to Hope. As a group we raised around $300. Personally I rose just over $40. In order to accomplish this, we fasted (didn’t eat) for 24 hours, drinking only water. The point being, to spend a day in the life of a starving child.
10. I made it through RA Evaluations with an extremely positive vibe from my supervisor and staff.

For a more in depth look into our season, please visit:
http://www.barry.edu/athletics/M-soccer/kornerblog.htm

Killer's Korner Takes Flight

It took half a season... and a few weeks of my own stumbling around... but the school has got my blog fully functional. There will be an update weekly. As of now there are two posts. Catch up on our season and enjoy! The next blog will be out within this week.

Link to direct post:

http://www.barry.edu/athletics/M-soccer/kornerblog.htm

Season (9/14/09)

hey mark

this is nicole

u look like slim shady

yes the real slim shady

britney said a hot slim shady

i kinda agree

That was a fun message I received this week... I don't know what to say about it... some people apparently think I bare some resemblances to Slim Shady (Marshall Mathers)...

In other news. School has started and I'm trying to get back into the run of things. Not really happening this semester! For some reason I want to hold on to my vacation as long as possible. Even still I think reality will set in very soon... the fact that I can't just play soccer and live on campus without attending SOME class. Rough life... I know.

I have almost completed my SINGLE room that I am so excited to have. As much as I miss my roomy, its nice to relax and enjoy the lack of commotion. The worst part is that even with the extra room I've struggled to fit everything in without cluttering the room. Guess I have too much stuff.

We have stumbled to a record of 3-2-1. With conference games starting on Saturday I know you will all be on the computers listening to the radio broadcast ;-)! In our last two games we fell to Christian Brothers 2-1 and beat Webber 3-2 (Double OT).

Lastly, as some of you know, Barry isn't located in the best of neighborhoods. This weekend we had a player who was robbed at gun point just outside our campus walls. Luckily no one was injured, but we are all praying that he will have a speedy recovery and be back into the flow of everything soon.

"I'm like a head trip to listen to, cause I'm only givin you
things you joke about with your friends inside your living room
The only difference is I got the ****s to say it
in front of y'all and I don't gotta be false or sugarcoated at all
I just get on the mic and spit it...

Guess there's a Slim Shady in all of us"

-Slim Shady

Season (9/7/09)

We have now entered completely into our 2009 season. This being my 3rd season with Barry University I have found there is still much for me to learn. Our team formation has changed and I'm struggling to find myself in a new roll. I do believe there are good days to come, though it will be difficult to find them in this stormy weather. We traveled to South Carolina this weekend to face Lander University and Flagler College. Lander fell hard in a 6-2 loss. Flagler fought to keep a 0-0 tie, which for us, was as good as a loss. Celebrations rang clear from their sideline as they slipped through overtime to claim a tie. We are currently sitting with a record of 2-1-1.

While this is the most mature team I have been a part of since entering Barry University in 2007, we have a lot of work to do if we expect to see a ring come early December.

Look for my Barry University Blog to be posted on our athletic website sometime this week!

www.gobarrybucs.com

Training Camp (8/16/09)

Things were never meant to go perfectly and this season is serving as a perfect example why... We are in a situation that needs time, persistence, and thought to overcome. A player departure that could cripple a team... will hopefully, lead us to a stronger core. Training has continued in a classic style. Extended two a days... (long long long hours on the pitch) followed by ice baths that are now REQUIRED for all players. To make the process more efficient, we have utilized the large style recycle bins and filled them with ice and freezing water. Dipping down to our waist and soaking the legs for 5-10 minutes after each training session for the best impact. Once you adapt to the cold you don't even notice the water! So it isn't all that bad.

Training Camp (8/12/09)

Turns out that I was in for more than I had planned! From one task to the next it's a nonstop day from 6:00 AM (first soccer session) to 8:00 (conclusion of RA training for the day). After only three days we have seen our roster cut down to 23 players. The first nights focus was on the fitness test and getting some game play in to get the initial assessment of all the players. We ran the beep test... I dropped out with only 3 players left. I know... NOBODY wants 2nd 3rd or 4th... but sometimes that Miami heat can kill!

The second and third days were focused on technique and full sided game play (11 vs. 11). Today we ran against each other for two 60 minute games. Once again... that Miami heat was kicking my butt. The heat is interesting, because its only hot because of the humidity. This can in fact cause problems for all our players. Such things as full body cramps (this is no joke... happened to two different players this year and the last), dizziness, minor cramps, headaches, and overall heat exhaustion. Makes a person wonder sometimes why we put ourselves through these conditions for a sport that relies completely on cardiovascular/muscle fitness....

Answer: We love the sport and the weather only sucks part of the time =). The temperature can only get better from here on out!

On the flip side... there is Resident Assistant (RA) training.... I am loving it. Some of the best people I have met so far belong to the RA family. My Residence Coordinator is caring and compassionate towards his the 10 of us in the group. Couldn't ask for much more. The hours are long and sometimes hard to get through, but at the end of the day there is nothing I would rather do.

On a final note, I have been selected to "blog" my experience and that of the men's soccer team through our website at http://www.gobarrybucs.com/ . My understanding is that I will be updating the blog once weekly with writing and video's. I am looking forward to blogging for the team!

Hope everyone has, to this point, enjoyed their summers!

Summer Training #4

With less than a week before my return to Miami, I look to say my final goodbyes to family and friends. Entering my junior year at Barry University will be exciting as I look to make it the best one yet. I've got training camp to look forward too, so starting on August 10th I will be back on the grind with one focus in mind... A trip to the National Tournament, but ultimately a National Title. For up to date information visit:

www.gobarrybucs.com

School also brings excitement as I will be entering into my first full year as a Graphics Design Major. Meaning I will be taking specific courses to fit the needs of the degree. No need to lie though, most of my excitement comes from the fact that I indeed have NO class on Fridays.

Look forward to a day to day journal of both training camp and Resident Assistant training. Until then goodbye and enjoy what is left of the summer!