By: Cara Crowder

Born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas, was this magnificent R&B/Hip Hop Celebrity also known as Beyonce Giselle Knowles. She is also my reason for writing this essay because not only was she a successor she took pride in herself and her career. Mathew (Her Father) was the  music executive who managed Beyonce throughout her career. Beyonce`s mother (Tina), was her fashion designer who ran the family clothing line “Dereon.” Beyonce has a younger sister named Solange, who is also singer, songwriter, and actress just like her big sister Beyonce.

Beyonce went to St. Mary Elementary School in Texas where she learned to perform and dance. The fall of 1990, Beyonce enrolled at Parker Elementary School, which was a music magnet school in Houston. There, she performed onstage with the school’s choir.

She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and later went to Alief Elsik High School. In 1990, Beyonce was 8 years old when she auditioned for an all girl group in Houston managed by Andretta Tillman.

That reminds me of my first talent show at St. Barnabas Elementary where I also performed in an all-girl group to one of Beyonce`s songs. Her incredible stage presence and courage to do what she loved has always encouraged me to find a career I am most passionate about.

She was signed up with five other girls and their group was called “Girl’s Tyme”. Two girls (Beyonce and Kelly Roland) out of the group were entered into Star Search, a national TV talent show. They did not win the competition, but they showed enough talent that persuaded Beyonce`s father to quit his job as a medical-equipment salesman to manage them full time.

The group went through several line-ups and name changes over the few years while they rehearsed. Beyonce, Rowland, LaTavia, and LeToya were soon signed to Columbia Records with the name of Destiny’s Child in 1997. Their self-titled public appearance album was somewhat successful, but the release of The Writing’s on the Wall, their second studio album in 1999, which launched Destiny’s Child’s recognition with such singles as “Bills, Bills, Bills”, “Bug a Boo” and “Say My Name”. Despite success, the group had conflicts, which led to LaTavia and LeToya leaving the group. Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin replaced the previous two that left the group in 2000, but then Franklin also parted from the group. (All that was left) Beyonce, Rowland and Williams continued as a trio.

Their third album, Survivor, was just as successful and they continued on, with the worldwide hits “Independent Women”, “Survivor” and “Bootylicious”. Survivor was number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling over 663,000 copies in its first week. Within three months of its release, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the album three-time platinum. In 2002 the trio came to a screeching halt, they all decided to pursue solo careers. This had no affect on Beyonce Knowles career at all, she continued on as a solo artist and became even more of a successor without her former group.

Beyonce is definitely my radical because she has taught me what it truly means to be an independent woman. Her battles with her group only made her desire to do what she loved stronger. Now that I have found my passion for writing, I have and will always look to her as an inspiration to remind me how important it is to keep my career moving forward against my obstructions. She has continued to appeal to not only myself but also everyone as she persistently thrives as a motivated individualist in the music world. Beyonce has reached enormous heights throughout her entire career, which is impeccable considering the loss of her group. Beyonce Knowles is an idol and one of R&B/ Hip Hop celebrities most loved today!

By Caitlin Baxa

Speaking openly about self harm has, until recent times, been considered taboo. To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) is an organization looking to change that. My radical is not just one single person, but a movement that is changing the way people think and affecting millions of lives. TWLOHA is pushing toward a social reform with a message of love, hope, and rescue.

TWLOHA is a non-profit organization founded in February of 2006. It offers blogs, information, and most importantly outlets for individuals dealing with substance abuse, self harm, depression or suicidal thoughts. Their message is one of rescue, encouraging victims to seek treatment and recovery. The majority of their work revolves around topics that tend to stay silent. They work persistently to get their message out and encourage others to break the silence with them.

On November 16th, it will be three years since my friend, Corbin Schwalls, took his own life. There are so many questions that will never be answered. My grieving process was unlike anything I have ever experienced. It felt as though my road to acceptance had hit a dead end and I was far from my destination. It wasn’t until I came across TWLOHA that another door was opened for me. There was another way out of the suffocating and debilitating blanket of emotion I was carrying for months.

I stumbled across TWLOHA one day while on Facebook. Reading the stories and blogs shared over their website helped slowly chip away at my anger and grief. There came a point when I realized nothing could be undone, but there was something I could do. I could help put their message out to everyone I could. I could make sure that I sought out every day to touch someone I didn’t know by being a little kinder and making their day a little brighter. Most of all, TWLOHA has taught me that indifference can be just as bad as hate.

I am an advocate for this organization because of Corbin and I hope to preserve his memory by sharing this with others. I decided to major in journalism because of topics like this that shouldn’t stay silent. I want to be a voice in our generation of journalists and I chose this as my radical-a voice for Corbin.

“We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don’t get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers.” TWLOHA

By Morgan Duncan

A radical dares to be different. Embracing their quirks and unique qualities, they pave the way for other individuals to have the wondrous opportunity to be themselves without fear. A radical goes against the grain, for they know that it leads to greatness. Born an ordinary individual, Janis Joplin shattered seemingly impenetrable barriers of her time and became a female rock icon in a male dominated music industry. Invincible and ruthless are words that come to mind when hearing Joplin’s unparalleled roar. However, her deep-rooted insecurities that plagued her for most of her life are often left in the shadows. It can’t be said that these insecurities were ignored, but Janis didn’t let them stop her from sharing her unique soul and voice with the world. She was unbelievably real, fighting incessantly in battles with herself and society. The magnitude of her impact on both the world and myself will never be truly understood.
Reflecting on my own personal journey, I find many similarities between my life and the life of Janis. I may not have such a bohemian lifestyle, however, I do find myself struggling with my confidence and need for emotional release. As a child, Janis was constantly searching for more to life. She was restless, as was I, and was always asking questions and left unsatisfied with the world around her. Janis had the desire to create, which I believe any student at Columbia can deeply relate to. As a teenager, Janis was often made fun of for being different. Considering myself a major misfit, I share a bond with Joplin in the sense that I often find myself feeling alone. She spent her time painting and developed a strong interest in blues music, which was not widely accepted at the time. Janis was made fun of for this in high school, and she developed a very strong sense of self-doubt. However, she did not let this take away her appetite for life, for she must have known that only she could define herself. The opinions of others did not matter in the end for Janis, and she went on to do incredible things and change the music industry forever.
I chose Janis Joplin as my radical because she was a warrior. She fought hard in the battle to simply be herself, which is perhaps the most difficult battle one encounters. Sometimes, when I feel I am losing my sense of self, I imagine having conversations with Janice and I always imagine her telling me to let go. She tells me to follow my heart, and to never lose my intense yearning for more to life. She tells me to create my own path, like only a radical could.

By Sam Bohne

She did not start a revolution or end a war; her actions played no part in a nation-wide effort, but had a large impact on a small number of people. If one were to meet my great-grandma Pat, they would not see a rebel or a famous leader, but a woman who has lived and loved by her own rules.
Great Grandma, or G.G. as we call her, grew up during some of the hardest times the United States has seen. While most teenagers had dropped out of high school during The Great Depression, she was was the only sibling out of four to graduate high school and go to business school. To this day she still cherishes her high school diploma; neatly rolled up and placed in a drawer of her room in the nursing home. I think for her, getting an education was one of the things that made her feel empowered and independent; knowing that she could support herself. Her eyes sparkle with joy each time I tell her I am enrolled in college. Graduating high school was one of the feats she conquered on her way to becoming the woman she is today, but it was not the hardest one in her life.
Like most women of her time, she married young and had a child. Unfortunately, her husband was unfaithful and spent most of his nights “out at the bar with his girlfriends” as G.G. would say. Unlike most of the housewives of her time, she was finally fed up and put her foot down. G.G. did what she needed to do and not what society expected her to do. In 1945, G.G., the mother of  a 2-year-old, had done the unthinkable and filed for a divorce. She was not only a single mother and an outcast, but a brave and independent woman ahead of her time. I am sure she faced many harsh criticisms and negativity from others, but she did what she had to do. My great grandmother was brave and stood up for herself, even though she knew it would be a hard road ahead of her. To me she is a radical; my inspiration. G.G. showed me that it does not matter what other people think or say as long as you have the drive to get through the tough times in life. She has this saying I have heard at least a thousand times: “everything happens for a reason.” This is most certainly true. Because of her, she has raised three generations of strong-willed women. She impacted the lives of my grandmother (also a single mother), my mother (a working mom) and me (the college student working to be the first in this lineage to graduate from college).

Although her name can not be seen in history books like most other radicals, she is the reason I am here today. She is the reason I am eager to learn and become an independent woman just like her.

By Audrey Latimer

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Well I think the same can be said for inspiration. It’s the ultimate shape-shifter. Inspiration can influence your sense of style, current career path, and how you choose to live your life. It can come from another person, movie, work of art, or the world outside. Writing this I can think of at least 5 people who have inspired different aspects of my life for different reasons. Audrey Hepburn in the fashion department, Beyoncé for her confidence, and of course my mom and grandmas for how to love and care for the people in your life. There is one person though whose inspiration will stick with me not just for these crazy college years but also for the rest of my life.

Holly was my babysitter from the time I was two years old until I started going to preschool. She always had the best snacks at snack time, the best Disney movie collection of anyone on the street, and had the BIGGEST swing set with a slide that twirled on the way down. Needless to say my three year old self loved going to her house. I didn’t go over there much once I was started school so it wasn’t until I was in middle school that I noticed that something was wrong.

One day as I was walking home I noticed Holly out in her yard walking around with a cane. She smiled, waved, and asked how my day was going like she always did. I figured nothing was too serious. Over the next few months I watched as her cane turned into a walker, the walker into a wheelchair, and that wheelchair into a scooter. I finally asked my parents what was going on and they told me that Holly had what was called Multiple Sclerosis or MS. I was shocked that my energetic and hands-on babysitter was now confined to a wheelchair because of a nerve disorder that didn’t allow her the use of her arms and legs.

Not one aspect of this debilitating disease even seemed to faze Holly. Physically she was not the same woman who had babysat me many years ago. Mentally it was as if no time had passed. She drove her scooter around town every morning while her little dog walked beside her, she followed her husband around and instructed him on where she wanted flowers planted in the yard, and come Halloween she was always on her porch waiting to hand out handfuls of candy to all the kids. She had a constant smile on her face and when asked how she was doing she would always reply “It’s a beautiful day, I’m doing great!”
This past summer I was busy with working and preparing to go off to college I didn’t see much of Holly around the neighborhood. The night before I moved out though I saw her making her way down the street towards my house. As she got closer I saw that she was in a new wheelchair controlled by only her little finger. She could no longer sit up on her own and had to have straps fastened to her torso starting at her shoulders going down to her waist. In addition to all of these new changes there was something that I was very familiar to me, her big friendly smile. We talked for a while about how my summer was and what my plans where for the next couple years here at Columbia. Before she left to go home she gave me some advice. “Don’t let anything bring you down and keep you from reaching your dreams. This is such an exciting time for you go out and enjoy every minute of it. Living life to the fullest and loving the life you have will benefit you so much more than dwelling on the problems and obstacles that have been put in front of you.”

Inspiring people can be celebrities, great leaders throughout history, or musical trailblazers. But, like Holly taught me you don’t always need Grammy awards or entire books written about you to have a huge impact on other’s lives. The advice she gave me not only pertains to myself but to all of us. Everyone is going to have hardships and challenges, that’s just a part of life. The way we handle those hardships is what truly determines the kind of people we are. We only have one life to live, let’s make the most of it!

By Vanessa Bromir

My radical is someone you should know because of his great musical creations and strong perseverance. This man is none other than Ray Charles Robinson. He was born September 23, 1930 in Albany Georgia, during the great depression. Ray’s father was barely around and mother worked hard for both him and his younger brother every day. Ray’s family was poor more poor than other African American families during the great depression.

Ray Charles, Courtesy: Simpyartonline.net

Ray Charles described his childhood as happy and full of excitement even without his father there. At five years old Ray experienced one of the worst things someone could imagine. He saw his younger brother drowned in his mothers laundry tub. Shortly after the death of his younger brother, Ray started losing his vision, a gradual progression, by this time Ray was seven. Ray’s mother did not let him wallow about just because he was losing his sight. She helped him learn the tasks necessary to accomplish. According to some, Ray lost his vision because of untreated Glaucoma.
Ray loved music and all things incorporated with it since he was three. So, shortly after his vision loss, Ray went to school in St. Augustine Florida and became a charity student. This school was for people who had vision loss. At this wonderful school Ray learned how to read, write, and arrange music in Braille. He also learned to score for big bands, play organ,piano, sax, clarinet, and trumpet.
Many years later Ray met a man named Quincy Jones in Seattle Washington. Ray taught Quincy how to write and compose music, even with Ray’s vision loss. At this time in his life Ray was permanently blind. These two men became friends and their friendship lasted a lifetime.
Ray, at this time, started writing and composing his own music, influenced by Nat King Cole. His first three recordings were in Tampa Florida they were: Guitar Blues, Walkin’ and Talkin’, and Wonderin’ and Wonderin’. He finally labeled with Downbeat records. Years later Ray hit #1 on the US charts with such songs as “The things that I used to do” (1953), “I Got a Woman” (1954) and “What’d I Say” (1958).
Much later in Ray’s life his moved to Warner Bro records and made hits like; “ I’ll be good to you” (1990), and “ A Song For You” (1994). Ray made one final album before his passing in 2002 called “Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again.” Ray Charles died June 10th 2004 from liver disease.
This Man showed me that even with a vision impairment, as I have, doesn’t mean anything has to stop you. Ray showed me how to be strong, successful, and independent. Having a vision impairment doesn’t mean you have to stop doing things you love just because you can’t see. There are ways to adapt and push through the rough spots. You can be whoever you want just as long as you have the dedication and are willing to work hard. People may tell you that you won’t do it or won’t be able to accomplish anything, but as Ray showed them, he accomplished much more than one could imagine. This is what I plan to do; be successful, remain humble, and accomplish my dreams. Fighting for what you love is something Ray opened my eyes to and how to be strong. I believe that no matter what your goals are, even with a visual impairment, you can successfully fulfill them. Ray showed me that people who have a vision impairment work twice as hard as those who don’t have one; this proves to me that I can someday be anything I want to be, even if it is just a journalism student.

By Kaitlyn Mattson

With the prompt “who’s my radical?” bouncing around in my head I knew immediately, without a conscious thought, who I had to write about. Nellie Bly.

Nellie Bly, Courtesy: PBS

At 14, I was at the height of my indecision towards any sort of future plans or career path. I wanted to be so many things; the list was never-ending. A ballerina, a photographer, a doctor, an interior designer, and an architect, just to say a few. That all changed though when Mr. Vance, my English teacher, assigned a paper.

He passed out a list, numbered one to 50 with names. There were poets, inventors, writers, and actors. All somewhat recognizable names and they were either living or dead. He didn’t seem to care which, but this was our guide. We each had to choose one name on that list. And no two people could do the same person. So it was a bit of a race for the good ones.

Amelia Earhart went quick, along with Jane Austen, and Leonardo da Vinci.

I doubt it was destiny or fate or anything predetermined that forced me to choose the name I did. I really just looked at the list provided and chose a name, any name, it just happened to be Nellie Bly.

I spent three weeks learning anything I could about her life. And what I found at the end of it all was journalism.

Nellie Bly introduced me to journalism.

However, after I finished this assignment, 450 odd words about the inspiration Nellie Bly’s accomplishments gave me I realized there was another person who inspired me as well.

I met Andrea Otanez when I was 16. I walked into her office at Everett Community College, plopped myself into a seat and told her I was going to be a journalist.

She was excited, being a former journalist herself, she liked to see people being so passionate about the field.

“Have you ever done any journalism?” she asked.
“Nope.” I answered, a little defeated.
“Do you know what you want to write about?” she asked.
“Nope.” I answered, even more defeated.
“Do you know what journalism is?” she asked.
“It’s what I want to do,” that must have been a good answer, I thought then, because she smiled.
“Okay,” she said.

And that was that. I spent two years learning everything she could teach me. She was my adviser, my favorite professor, my mentor and the person who showed me what journalism is.

So see, I couldn’t just choose one or the other to be my radical. Nellie Bly gave me journalism; Andrea Otanez taught me how to be a journalist.