Author Archives: Samantha

Virtues from Motherhood: What is a Mom?

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Hello all, my name is Samantha and I’m a Professional and Technical Writing major here at CityTech. Currently in my senior year, I’m involved with several offices on campus, in addition to The Buzz I’m a Peer Mentor for the First Year Programs office and a Social Media Intern for the FYLC. I’ve been blogging for the OpenLab since January 2016 and even write my own blog, Rebel Mom Web. As a passionate writer I’m driven to make a difference with my words. Inspired by my 7-year-old daughter Ava, my blog posts reflect the wisdom I’ve gained as a single mom who’s determined to make her goals a reality. When I’m not at school or a busy working you can find me exploring the city with my camera and looking for trendy new places to eat. Although I’m a born and raised Brooklynite I enjoy traveling and hope see more of the world after graduation.

The theme for my blog this semester will continue on from the spring semester. My blog’s “name” Virtues from Motherhood will remain, however the segment Things I want my Daughter to Know, will not. I have chosen to stick with one name because it is easier for readers to remember and easier to promote, they shared the overarching theme anyway. The motivation or rationale behind my blog is being relatable and letting students know they’re not alone, more and more single moms, young moms or just parents in general are coming back to higher education to better their lives. As a single mom (and a teen mom) myself I can speak from a place of experience and I hope that by sharing my story, my obstacles or coping methods to get through things, that I can inspire other young women to stick it out as well, that their goals are possible.

Last semester I found that it wasn’t just moms that were reading my material, I had a classmate send me an email and thank me for writing because one of my posts helped him realize the changes he needed to make to save his relationship. I’ve realized that sometimes all people need is to feel they are not alone, that the world is not abandoning them and that someone out there knows how they feel and got through it. I believe by continuing to be honest and upfront about situations, expectations and getting through things that my readers will return to my blog and new ones will find something to identify with and become regular readers.

 

WELCOME TO CITY TECH!

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This week we kick off the fall semester with classes beginning on August 25th! This will be my third semester here at City Tech and I’m excited to be back and work with my wonderful Professor’s, Mentors and peers. Last Wednesday I manned a table for The Buzz at orientation and it was a great experience so for my last summer blog I want to welcome all the new and transfer students to the amazing City Tech family.

Last year when I arrived I had no guide whatsoever and I ended up going across the street to Starbucks to use the bathroom because I couldn’t find one (LOL) so I’m going to lay out some of the basics for our new comers here. So first things first: where are the bathrooms anyway? Well in the Namm building from floors 3 and above they alternate meaning boys bathrooms are on even floors and girl’s bathrooms are on odd floors (also note some are closed for repair).

Next the elevators in the Namm are divided into local and express where express elevators stop at floors 6 and above and local stop on all floors. The express elevators are 5,6 and 7 and local is all other elevators. I recommend being a few minutes early to class or the line for the elevators will rival those at the DMV.

All the offices you need for major stuff like paying your bill, financial aid, bursar, registrar and more are in the basement of the Namm building. If you can avoid these offices the first few days of school by all means please do because it is a madhouse.

For help with computer and Wi-Fi stuff go to the welcome center on the first floor in the atrium (go in the Namm and walk past the cafeteria) the people there will help you set up Wi-Fi, student email and more.

If you don’t want to eat in the cafeteria on the 1st floor Namm you can check out some of the local food choices like Chipotle, Aubon Pain, Five Guys or Café metro. You can also check out my Panera Bread, Potbelly or Hills country chicken by leaving through the Adams st. exit (Pearl building).

Last but not least we have our own app! You can get it on Android or Apple by searching New York City College of Technology, which sums up what I’ve said and more! I hope you come to love this school as much as I have and never hesitate to reach out to me, as a peer mentor I’m here to help!

 

Email: s.pezzolanti@gmail.com

Twitter & Instagram: @spezzolanti

Also check out my blog The Rebel Mom 

 

Blogology: Have fun!

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While technically there are blogging jobs writing a blog shouldn’t necessarily feel like one. The old saying goes “ if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life” and it’s pretty spot on. If you don’t love blogging, or writing in general, then the experience wont be fun for you and that will translate into your writing. It’s easy to see when someone wrote something because they had to and while you might not have a choice at work you absolutely do with a personal blog.

 

Like I’ve mentioned before write about something you know and love or about something you’re learning to do and share your experiences doing so but whatever it is should make you happy on and off the blog. Some people write how to or food blogs other people write parenting or lifestyle blogs but regardless of the topic it is one that is close and important to them. Here are three ways to have fun and make your blog interesting and upbeat,

Have guest bloggers

Sometimes its fun to compare and contrast two styles of writing or viewpoints and readers might appreciate the change of pace. Be sure though that you proofread and discuss with your guest the limits and do’s and don’ts of your blog, you don’t want to lose readers.

Do interviews

Instead of just writing from the first person maybe take your topic and interview someone who has been through it too. For example if you’re going to write about changing jobs or interning experience try to interview someone who’s done it before.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Visual elements are key because people are more likely to click on links with interesting and well-shot photos. If your topic is pretty straight forward, like this one, pick a unique and interesting thumbnail for it.

Writing is a passion for many people and when they choose to write in their spare time it’s often online now days so exposure is much easier. Enjoying what you’re writing about is so important and baring writing for work writing on your own blog opens endless doors of possibility. For some ideas on how to start a blog or refresh your current on check out my previous posts this summer.

Blogology: Standing out

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Now days every time you open up you computer you’re inundated with blogs and vlogs and everything in between but with so much volume how do you make your work stand out? Well as discussed previously you need to secure things like your theme, posting schedule and word choice but there are other ways to be unique to your readers and potential audience.

Personal Touch

When somebody you know personally reads something from you it’s likely that they notice your style of writing and personal details and appreciate them. Similarly regular readers of your blog will become familiar with your writing and come to enjoy your touches of personality in each post. So even if you’re writing about a familiar subject or a broad topic your personal touches add a new spin and a fresh view.

 

Speak in the first person

When you choose to speak third person or from a distanced point of view the post lacks a personal or real life connection. Writing from a place of experience or sincerity will show and will resonate with readers to hopefully come back for future posts.

 

Cliff Hangers

When you title your posts and write a few sentences about it you should always use descriptive and intriguing language. Make the audience interested enough to read along but don’t give enough away where they wont read the entire post.

Whenever we do something that is the at the moment thing like blogging we strive to be the best and to get recognition for our efforts. It doesn’t happen over night and it takes a fair amount of dedication to do, but it is doable. If you’re committed and passionate about your writing it will show. For more tips and tricks check out my previous blog posts or follow me on twitter!

Blogology 101: Open new doors with your words

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As a writer, and especially as a blogger, your words will be seen by dozens of eyes and evoke positive or negative reactions. If you have a knack or a love for writing as I do you want your words to be able to speak over the chatter of others and make a difference. You want to be heard. So how do you do that? Well besides having a gift you need to pay close attention to your word choice and over and under tones. A writer’s choice of words and overall vocabulary is huge in how a reader will relate to and enjoy the piece as a whole so it’s important to expand your reach with words. Think about times when you hear prominent figures speak or read things they’ve written, it’s easy to pull memorable quotes and points from it because it is so strongly written. Here are a few ways you can beef up your own vocabulary,

Read, read READ!

Reading is an excellent way to expand your word bank. Try and pick up things you wouldn’t typically go for like picking up the Wall Street Journal over the post and instead of reading ABC online read CNN or fox. The larger the publication and the topic the more likely you are to encounter new vocabulary words.

Befriend a thesaurus

Growing up we all learned what a thesaurus was and how to use it but how many of us actually still do? Another way to boost up your word bank is to write an entire blog post and then go back and read it over selecting five or six words you can swap out for another word that will explain it better.

Relearn your skills

This may sound silly but it works. Take up a new understanding of something you’ve become familiar with and relearn how it works. Doing this will help you explain things in a new light and with new words. Being able to explain things in multiple ways makes your vocabulary stronger too.

Overall your choice of words can make or break your piece. If a piece is too choppy or the vocabulary is too loose it makes it hard to read. Think about the things you dislike when you’re reading something and make points to avoid them. Effort in your writing shows and readers will appreciate it, so making your vocabulary bank wealthier can only benefit you.

Blogology 101: Blogging about hot topics

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As bloggers we often stick to our theme or genre when we write but occasionally our genre crosses paths with a hot topic or current events issue. Now you can either refrain from acknowledging it at all or you can add your commentary to the situation using your blog. However when you blog about a sensitive or hot button issue you need to go about it in a diplomatic and respectful way, you never want to come off as ignorant, bashing or uneducated. Here are some things to keep in mind when writing about something that’s heavily debated.

 

  1. Eliminate bias or harsh criticism from the tone of your writing

It’s easy to get carried away or passionate when you write about something, especially something close to you. It’s crucial however, that you don’t let that leak into your writing because readers will either be turned off or overwhelmed by your opinion being thrown at them. Let your feelings be known but do it passively.

  1. Acknowledge that your opinion is not the only one

It’s only natural to have an opinion about something but a good writer can acknowledge their own point of view as well as the views of others without bashing or belittling them. Instead try viewing the topic through multiple lenses so your readers get an even palate and your audience is wider.

  1. Facts, facts, facts

The worst thing you can do is fudge information or twist the information from its source. It’s always best to use multiple sources and wait a day or two so the validity of the information can be verified over. If readers feel like they’ve been given bad information they’ll be less likely to return to your blog.

 

Whenever we write our personal style and touches shine through, that’s what makes our blogs unique, but it’s important that you fine-tune that so that your blog attracts a vast and diverse audience. You’re more likely to get better feedback and a wider following when people from multiple avenues like and share your work. Also remember being able to see multiple angles of something makes you more of an asset to a company who might want to hire you as a writer.

 

Blogology 101- Be Relatable

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On any given day you can probably find at least a dozen blogs being advertised and shared on your timeline. How many of those blogs do you actually click on? Now how many do you actually read through to the end?

In today’s day and age just about anyone can start a blog but not just anyone can have a good blog. In order to have a successful blog with a regular audience and following, there are several key points to remember but todays point is being relatable. Have you ever read something and three lines in rolled your eyes and said, “This is ridiculous” and closed the tab? Why was that? Probably because whoever wrote it wrote the blog post either without actual experience on the matter or wrote it completely lopsided and bias. So it’s important to remember a few things when writing a relatable piece,

  1. Transparency – Nobody likes smoke and mirrors so if you’re going to write about a life experience or something that’s happened to you, be honest. If there are key elements of the story you’re missing or can’t share it’s probably best to skip writing about it because your readers will find those cheese holes in the story right away and it’ll probably deter them from reading the rest of the piece and possibly anything else you post. If there’s a life lesson that you want to share but don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty then try your best to zoom in on that one aspect, why it’s important and how it’s able to stand on its own.

 

  1. Don’t be bias– Even though the experience you’re sharing is yours and yours alone you need to be mindful of the fact that the way things played out for you may not be the same for everyone. In fact nobody will see the same two scenarios the same so in order to be successful blogger it’s always better to keep an open mind. Even if you feel super strongly about something try and convey it in a way that says you believe what you believe but you’re aware and respectful of other people’s views.

 

  1. Knowledge– When you’re writing about a current event or something that’s going on in the world make sure you confirm your sources. Check the validity of the information against other sources and use neutral sources that people are less likely to disregard or dislike. For example don’t always use the same source, use several that back up the information you’ve found or have. Building an audiences trust is crucial in getting them to share your work and keep coming back to read it.

All in all people have to feel that they’re reading something that increases their knowledge, helps them through a hard time and isn’t trying to shove something down their throats. In the age of technology more and more people turn to blogs or other online forums for advice before their buy things, before they visit places and when they need advice. If you want to have a blog that pops remember your audience will be diverse so you should be too.

How do you explain hate to a child? – a poem

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This weeks blog was originally going to discuss readability and blogging but with the recent events in our nation I was inspired to write a poem. My condolences are extended to all who suffered a loss, who live in fear and most of all for the children who have to grow up in this scary and tragic world we as a society have created.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HATE TO A CHILD

By: Samantha Pezzolanti

How do you explain hate to a child? Is there really a way?

How do you find the words to explain the violence that takes place everyday?

How do you tell a child who’s innocent and unknowing,

That it’s reality that the TV is showing

Where do you find the words to rationalize the actions of a nation?

That is quick to hate and to judge but short on love and patience

How do you tell a child others can be judged by their race and gender?

Or by their religion, background or for being too chubby or slender

We raise our children to love, accept and share,

But the world around them spews hate, stereotypes and despair

We raise our children to not judge a book by its cover,

And to respect and walk in unity with one another

Yet the TV shows people who are at war with a label

Unfairly prosecuting people and leaving society unstable

So how do you explain hate to a child, how do you make them understand?

That it is not okay to take the life of another man

Or take the life of woman over the color of their skin, religion or ideas

How do you raise a child to not have fears?

Of society, of each other of the people who protect and serve,

No this is not the kind of world our children deserve

We have created a sad world indeed

One that’s chaotic, broken and in need

In need of love in need of community and in need of hope

Societies stability hangs by a rope

So how do you explain hate to a child in times like these?

If you have the answer, share it please.

Why I fell in love with blogging

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While I’ve only been blogging formally for about 7 months now it didn’t take me long to realize that blogging was something I was extremely passionate about. Before blogging with The Buzz, I had only mediocre experience blogging, only attempting (and failing) at running my own blog while I was pregnant with my daughter and shortly there after. So when I was asked by a professor if I’d be interested in blogging for the school I was skeptical that I had what it took to be a blogger but my friends encouraged me to give it a shot. I sent in my material and hoped for the best and after an interview I was ecstatic that I’d gotten the position.

I quickly found that blogging for an already established medium was a lot easier than setting up my own blog from scratch. The Buzz was already in motion and already had regular bloggers who I’d be joining and peer editing with. The existing foundation and peer support made jumping into blogging an easy transition and it was really helpful having another set of eyes to look over my work before it went live. Having that additional support gave me confidence in my work and I quickly started promoting what I was doing and the amazing atmosphere of The Buzz itself. I did some research on promoting your brand and building an audience and I was amazed at the response I got.

It didn’t take long to fall in love with and look forward to my weekly posts, I often plotted them out weeks in advance when ideas came to me. I loved blogging because I felt that I had a forum to share my story, my wins and losses and share with or support other young women who’d been in my shoes. I felt like my words would have been a comfort to me had I come across them when I was struggling and I hoped that my words offered comfort to a young mom who was struggling or at a low point in her life. I was surprised however when I realized my blogs were reaching more than just moms and young women but that guys and even fathers were reading too!

The single proudest and heartwarming moment for me though was when a classmate sent me an email that he’d read one of my posts and it gave him the clarity he needed to work on his relationship that he’d previously felt he lost. I was stunned and honored that my words were that powerful to help someone and give him or her insight into a personal situation. It was from that evening on that I was sure I would dedicate myself to blogging in some way shape or form; I wanted my words, my experiences and my success to help motivate and inspire people to chase their dreams. I’m so thrilled to be back for the summer and I hope you’ll join me as I sketch out the steps I took in becoming a successful blogger.

Schools out & blogging is in!

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Hello everyone! By the title of my post I guess you’ve figured out that school is out for the summer, not only is the spring semester over but Ava and the rest of the public school kids are free for the summer. I am super excited to be apart of the summer blogging team at The Buzz and I can’t wait to share me and Ava’s adventures with everyone. Here’s what you can look forward to in my posts this summer,

Summer Bucket List

My main theme this summer is the bucket list, which is the recap post of all the places Ava and I want to visit this summer. From museums to state parks there are a whole bunch of places we want to visit and will be sharing with my readers! Some of the places on the list are,

  • The Roosevelt Island tram
  • The museum of natural history
  • Brooklyn Botanical Garden

 

Also on my blog this summer you can find some tips, tricks and best practices for blogging, tweeting and Instagraming your way to a solid amount of followers and building a regular audience. I’ll be sharing my experiences and my strategies for building my blog here on The Buzz as well as on my personal pages. You can also look forward to me and the other bloggers leading workshops this fall!

For starters some tips are,

  • Pick a theme You’re going to build a bigger following if you have a theme because people will know your stuff is consistent
  • Post on a schedule Set days where you’ll post so your followers know when to check for new content, you can even schedule posts ahead of time so you never miss a day.
  • Be transparent– Don’t talk around or patronize situations or people in your writing, be honest and be you. People respond to honesty.