Katlyn Moncada

Michelle and I after she received her nursing pin. So proud of her.

Michelle. My now former roommate of three years. One of my best friends.This amazing woman is someone I have been missing already since graduation. We met by my random placement as a roommate with her sister, Sharon, and Krystal, who have also become great friends of mine. We were placed together because I transferred in and the three girls were nursing majors like me (at the time). Me being a completely open and honest person, I grew close to my roommates almost instantly.

Michelle and I continued to become closer as we bonded over boy talk, being blunt about life or even just watching movies. She is a smart, caring and loyal friend that is like a sister I never had.

Our last evening living in our apartment the Thursday before we graduated was perfect for us. We sat on my bed, ate pizza (plus more carb-filled foods) and watched “Pride and Prejudice” (a movie we have watched numerous times in our three years living together).

I will sincerely miss living with this girl. I am so thankful for her continued encouragement throughout these years. She is someone who I could wake up in the middle of the night to talk about something bothering me and counsel me into sanity once again.

As of right now, the next time I see her will be her wedding weekend in September. It is an honor to be a part of her wedding and I cannot wait to see her walk down that aisle.

Cody and I at Cypress Grove Park in Jackson.

I have posted a couple times about my senior friends from the newspaper, but not much about the other friends I am missing so much right now.

Let me tell you a little bit about my friend Cody.

He worked with me in Arts & Entertainment with the newspaper this past semester after I discovered his talent for writing in the fall (yes, you are a great writer Cody). However, our friendship definitely grew outside the workroom throughout the semester and especially within the last month. Many late nights talking, driving around in his Mini Cooper and dinners of ethnic foods like Indian or Japanese led me to realize how much we had in common and also how much fun we had together.

He never ceases to make me laugh. Granted, I do laugh at pretty much everything, but he is quite hilarious. There is also no doubt you will catch him singing. He loves to sing — with extreme enthusiasm at that — and I love listening.

While the majority of our time is spent laughing, we can be serious. Cody is so kind and has a heart for Christ. He has definitely challenged me in my faith (and continues to) since we have become friends which I really appreciate.

So when it came to his last day in town, it would be an understatement to say I was sad. He is moving back to Knoxville to go to school there. I am here in St. Louis.

This is definitely another time I have had to question God and be like, “Hey, why am I just now getting to know this person?” Because seriously, I wish I had more time living in the same city as Cody. But I take this now as another opportunity to be faithful and try to understand God’s plan is bigger than my own.

A photo study break during finals week.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

This is a verse that greatly applies to my life lately. I cannot quite understand why getting close to so many people that have I lived in close proximity to are just now becoming so dear to me. As my friend Ebbie and I kept saying the last few weeks of school that applies to my friendship with Cody is: “Why are we just now hanging out?” There is no right answer to that except I have to trust these friendships, like Cody’s, will sustain no matter the distance.

Cody and I had “matching” tattoos for like a day.

I must admit this is a time that I am glad there is a such thing as social media and cellphones to keep in contact. We may not get to hang out on a daily basis, but I am happy to know we can still be in each others lives regularly. And, I do look forward to seeing Cody on my way back home from Florida in a few weeks!

So while there may be 500 miles between us, I pray God continues to strengthen our friendship while we are apart. We are entering a new chapter of our lives, and I am going to remain positive — not sad — about everything I am going through. It is not always easy (it’s difficult for me to even write this), but God knows what is in store and I cannot worry about the future. I choose to live in the here and now.

Accepting my diploma from Dr. Dockery. Photo by Jacob Moore

I still can hardly believe it! I am a Union alumnus. On May 19, I walked the stage and received my diploma. So crazy it does not even seem real.

Before I get into life back in STL, I would like to reflect on my last weeks in Jackson. My last few weeks at school were probably the best I had while in college. Not lying. I got to spend so much time with my friends and I left wishing the time had not flown by.

Before we graduated, some of my fellow news team friends and I continued to spend time fulfilling our own little “senior bucket list.” We (Alex, Whitney, James and I) first decided to climb the roof of one of our buildings — which was not an easy task considering I do not have much upper body strength.

It was fun walking around and standing on top of the chapel as well as the library and other classes we had in that building.

The adventures continued our last week when we decided to do what most freshman usually do — tunneling. This is no fancy event. We climbed our way down into the tunnels below on campus and ended up coming out by our shopping center. It was quite hilarious. A little scary, but fun. After Alex pushed James around in a Target cart, we got back to campus and took a short swim in our school’s fountain. Ha! What a crazy time we had!

A collage of our adventures together.

Like I stated in my previous post, I am so thankful for these friendships and I wish them all the best as they continue on their paths into adulthood.

There was so much more to my last week of life in Jackson. I will continue to write about it in my next post.

Our final pub night of the semester. Definitely relieved, but will miss these guys a lot.

Starting my journey in college, I was a nursing major. Nursing. Me? I know, right? While nursing seemed like my calling to help others, I came to a realization that I needed to find another way to express myself and help others. This ended up being communications and I switched my major at the end of sophomore year to journalism. Maybe there were better majors out there for me, but I found this one — and with it accompanied some great friendships.

As I approach my final days at Union, I would like to tell you a little bit about the “news team.”

This is the building I spent the majority of my college classes in. It looks so nice from on top of Miller Tower.

This past year, friendships formed with the staff of the Cardinal & Cream — particularly the senior editorial board. We may have complained and trudged through what seemed to be the never ending complications and stresses of the paper, but we triumphed each of them.

Now, in our last few weeks, I realize I wish I had more time with them. Each of these guys are so wonderful to be around. We started to hang out away from the pub lab after our last issue finished. Staying up until 5:30 a.m. has never been so much fun before.

Our most recent adventure was a Union bucket list checkoff.  The editorial board (minus one sports editor, James, whom we missed dearly) climbed to the top of our school’s bell tower. We sat atop the tower, taking in what seemed to be a more genuine, peaceful campus. This obviously made me really wish I had more time with them.

Alex (clockwise from top left), Josh, Ebbie, me, Margaret, Whitney.

So really, the only question we keep asking is why did this news team never hang out before the end of our senior year? Ebbie and I continue to question this every time we hang out. I mean we knew we were awesome working together, but it has really been amazing that I could end up being able to consider these six people some of my closest friends now.

I guess I am just thankful for these moments we have shared and can remember as we enter the next step of our lives around the country. This is not going to be the end of these friendships. I truly hope our news team can “assemble” at some point in our future away from Union University. (Yes, I had to do that last punny phrase)

Well, I’m glad to be blogging about life again. The adventures of my last week of school will continue in my next post.

In what will probably be my last post about Whitney Houston, I would like to note the tributes about the late singer. In the midst of all the controversy surrounding her death, family members and friends speaking out and harsh rumors, in the end everyone can agree on the great voice she had that could silence a room to be in awe of her.

Most recently, Entertainment Weekly gave word that VH1 will host a live tribute to Houston starring some of today’s most popular divas. While her family will likely be in attendance, the taping is not set until December. “Since the taping is several months away, no artists have yet to be confirmed,” the EW article stated.

Rolling Stone also produced new information regarding the upcoming tribute:

“Houston appeared on Divas three times in her career, in 1999, 2002 and 2003.’We all felt that if any show could pay tribute to Whitney’s music, it would be Divas,’ said VH1 president Tom Calderone. ‘December felt like enough time where it wouldn’t be sad anymore, you’d want to celebrate her music.’”

EW did, however, create a compelling list of contenders — many of whom performed at Houston’s funeral — that would make the night an unforgettable one. This list of potential artists included: Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Jordin Sparks, Cece Winans and Dionne Warwick.

Who do you think should be included in the lineup for the special tribute? Apparently fans could give worthy suggestions considering all the time the network has to plan for the event.

The last thing I remember her saying was ‘I just want to love and be loved. I want to love like Jesus did. Unconditionally,’” Tiffanie Dixon, Whitney Houston’s hairdresser, tells contributing editor Mark Seal in June’s Vanity Fair of the last night she spent with the singer.

This quote from Vanity Fair’s “Inside Whitney Houston’s Final Days—and Her Troubled Relationships” is sad. However, quotes like this continue to be revealed in the days after her death. Yes, the concern is still there. But is anyone trying to move on from this? Apparently not.

The Vanity Fair article continued to reveal source after source of Houston’s “close” friends recalling their last days with her. Yes, I read it and thousands of other Houston fans will read it. I just do not know if the quality of these articles are worth it anymore. The thought of all the things Houston did wrong — affairs, drugs, etc. — are all terrible and I wish her death did not have to come with so much baggage. I guess that is what happens when a celebrity with as much drama as Houston dies so soon and unexpectedly.

In other news, while there are probably thousands of well-known, loved celebrities whom have passed away that are buried in cemeteries, the media and Houston’s family started an uproar surrounding her casket. According to several gossip-filled sites such as All Voices, Houston will be encased into a cement casket so “potential grave robbers can be discouraged from stealing her $750,000 worth of jewels she was buried with.”

These assumptions have not been validated yet from what I have read. But I am sure there will be many more stories surround this new gossip to come.

“This week isn’t about passing judgment on Whitney, it’s about celebrating her legacy; honoring her memory.”

This quote by William Scheuster, “Glee’s” New Directions choir teacher, summed up this week’s brilliant episode dedicated to Whitney Houston.

From the moment Rachel showed up on the screen singing “How Will I Know,” I was hooked. From a temporarily paraplegic cheerleader to a gay couple’s struggling relationship, the stylish episode cleverly inserted Houston songs which appropriately fit the teen high school drama that surrounds the characters.

Most likely due to the episode filled with memorable renditions of Houston’s beloved songs, the show picked up Tuesday evenings highest ratings of the night at surpassed NBC’s “The Voice,” according to The Wrap TV.

The article said, “Fox came in first in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and fourth in total viewers with an average 2.4 rating/7 share in the demo and 5.5 million. “Glee” at 8 p.m. was up 13 percent in the demo from last week, receiving a 2.7/8 in the demo with 6.9 million total viewers.”

So even though news on Houston floods the media more than two months after her death, at least there was a nice, non-controversial tribute for her that was filmed and performed with good taste and style.

The most recent controversial news surrounding Whitney Houston’s death is that Newark taxpayers paid a reported $187,000, according to The Huffington Post. While many loved the star, local residents are not pleased with the cost.

A CBS New York post stated:

“It was a farewell to a beloved star that touched the hearts of many, but it also cost the city of Newark more than $187,000 in police overtime, representing 5 percent of the $4 million budget for the year.”

The residents quoted in CBS New York stated those close to the funeral’s location were not allowed to come close enough to catch a glimpse.

Many articles stated the residents said they thought the family should have spent the money on overtime costs for the police efforts to maintain safety and security in the area. The CBS New York article included a poll for readers to vote whether Houston’s family should have paid the $187,000. Seventy-two percent agreed her family should have paid.

It is not surprising Houston continues to supply the media with new gossip. However, this instance is interesting considering this involves the residents of Newark, N.J. as well. The residents have a right to be concerned, especially considering the economy. Spending 5 percent of a city’s budget for a celebrity’s funeral seems unreasonable for the people of the city to support.

Catchy tunes and flashy costumes are expected to be abundant after viewing the new trailer for “Sparkle,” based on the 1976 musical, which first aired on NBC’s “Today” show Monday.

The late Whitney Houston will star on her last on-screen role as a mother of three girls. Her daughters, one including “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, form a singing group. The film follows the young women as they pursue their dream to accomplish stardom and their struggles. According to an article from CBS News, it has not been determined if the film will reveal the same struggles in the musical such as fame and drug addiction.

The film seems to have a similar connection to film plots such as “Dreamgirls.” This would not be a bad thing considering the quality and success it had.

In the days since Houston’s death, it is refreshing to see a spirit of happiness surrounding the film’s theatrical trailer debut. Houston is listed as an executive producer of “Sparkle.” The CBS News article revealed that the filming had been completed in Detroit before Houston’s death Feb. 11.

Entertainment Weekly reported on the expected soundtrack for the film. The album is expected to include Houston, Sparks and R. Kelly among other artists. If the soundtrack is anything like the original musical or comparative to the quality of “Dreamgirls,” the album should be a success.

There is no doubt the film will gross more money in the box office because of the late singer, but there is hope the film will be worthwhile none the less.