Good Morning Beautiful Ladies!!

Time to check out one of your fave groups Mindless Behavior with their new video ‘Valentines Girl!’

Hello Coremag readers,

I’m beyond thrilled that I have been invited by the Coremag staff to write a monthly blog. I don’t take it for granted that I have been given an outlet to reach thousands of young females on a monthly basis. The thought of it also makes me a little nervous. How many girls are interested in the opinion of a preteen 12 year old? Well all it takes is one. If something I write can make a difference to just one young person than the jittery nerves will have to take a back seat. My faith has to replace my fear. Yet as I set in front of the computer typing and asking my mom for help I realize the jittery nerves did not take a back seat. They were front and center. Using one of my favorite spiritual lines, “my faith has replaced my fear”, wasn’t working as I battled what would be my first blog. I’m constantly told by my mother that first impressions are so important. So you know my first blog has to be on point. “Mom, please help me.” As she gives me that, ‘this is your project’, look she asks what is the biggest issue I face as young girl. Ahh there it is, bullying.

I can’t look at the news anymore when it comes to young people killing themselves because they have been bullied. Maybe I have a hard time watching or reading about bullying because to think that someone can be driven to that state of mind by another classmate is so frightening. As someone that has been bullied a lot in school, I don’t like to think about it getting so bad that it could drive me to suicide.

I have come to the realization that it seems to get worst in high school. The bullying in middle school has been bad enough so that is not a comforting thought. It does not matter that I have been on television. It does not matter that I’m a youth leader for Rev Sharpton’s National Action Network. It does not matter that I’m a child. What matters is I know like most of you what it feels like to be bullied. What we have to be careful with is not to become like the people bullying us. This is not the time to apply the saying. “ if you can’t beat them join them”.

Some times the kids that are being bullied do become bullies themselves. They feel if they are doing the bullying than maybe the bullying against them will stop. I even very, very briefly thought about becoming friends with the mean girls in school so they would stop picking on me. I realized all I would be doing is making someone else’s life miserable and being a part of the problem instead of the solution. I hate to think that I said something to someone else that brought their life down instead of saying something to bring their life up. Also I would be a homeless 12 year old bully. My mother doesn’t play that. If there are any girls reading this blog that bullies, tease or pick on other people please stop.

You might think you are being funny because other kids in the class laugh when you say something mean to someone but you are not being funny. You are being cruel. The kids that laugh when you bully someone only do so because they are glad they are not the subject of your bullying. That nervous laughter is a sign of relief that it wasn’t them being picked on. How miserable someone must be when making fun of people is their only form of communication. Kids are losing their lives because a miserable person have bullied them to the point of not wanting to live anymore.

How many kids have switched schools because they could not deal with the teasing anymore? How many young people’s lives have been turned upside down because of bullying? Social media has taken bullying to new heights of despair and made it easier for bullies to pick on others even when they are far away from their victims. Let’s try to understand what makes a person a bully. Usually they are just unhappy with themselves. Because they are miserable they want someone else to be miserable also. Hence, they pick on someone so they can see the look of misery in that person face and that makes them feel as if they are not the only unhappy person in the world. It also gives them a false sense of control and power. Bullies also pick on people to get attention. If saying something mean is the only way for you to get attention then you need to find a new outlet. Pick up a skill or hobby and become good at it. Trust me, positive attention feels way more better than negative attention. If you are a bully ask yourself why you feel the need to make someone unhappy. Then don’t be afraid to find help so you can stop being a destructive person. There is nothing wrong in asking for therapy. It is better to get mental help now than to be dead later because you picked on someone that had nothing else to lose in life and they decided to do you harm.

Recently a girl called me a freak and the whole class laughed. Yet this freak, as she called me, stood at the National Mall in our nation’s capital, Washington DC on October 15^th and delivered a speech before thousands on national television. How ironic that now I’m blogging about her and other bullies like her. She had an audience of a few. I have an audience of thousands. I have empowered myself against bullies. Calling me names doesn’t change what is on my birth certificate which is Victoria Pannell. It doesn’t take away my sense of who I am. I will not let it stop me from being the creative person I was meant to be. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t always feel as strong as I do now Bullying still hurts, but I deal with it in a different way. At one point I was bullied so much I didn’t want to go to school. I don’t get bullied as much but it still happens. It helps that I have great mentors and other young people around me that rather uplift than put down. Not everyone has that circle of support. Create that circle. Find other victims of bullying and befriend them. There is comfort and strength in unity. It also empowers me when I realize that bullies are not born but created by circumstances and pain in their life. I refuse to be bullied now the way I was before. I will do something about it if it gets to the point where it interferes with my life.

There are different levels of bullying. If you are bullied to the point of not wanting to go to school, have a drop in grades, suffering from depression or heaven forbid, you no longer want to live, tell someone. The first place to start is the principal. Put the school on notice that this is happening to you. If you don’t have a parent that will do something find some adult that has always been kind to you and notify them. You can also try your pastor, priest or bishop or someone at your place of worship. My mom has decided to take a more direct approach. If I ever get bullied again the way I use to, she is taking the bully, their guardian and the school if they didn’t help, to court. It is not that hard to start a lawsuit. You don’t need a lawyer and it is not expensive. People get paid thousands everyday from someone that caused them emotional damage. And we all know bullying is very emotionally damaging. If even if you don’t win you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did something about it.

Our educators need to stop bullying from happening in the classroom. If they have a bully in the class they need to do something about it. My teachers will call my mom for me talking in class but will not call authorities on a bully. To that I say, “No more”. The US Department of Education and local Departments of Education have to be held accountable for letting bullying continue. If they can create laws that stop prayer in schools nationwide they can create laws that will stop the bullying.

To Coremag readers don’t let a bully destroy who YOU are. Years from now when people are calling you the next Oprah or Warren Buffet, that bully that picked on you is still going to be simply known as that bully from school. To the bullies, head into a new direction and lift young people up instead of putting people down. If you have mistreated someone, say you are sorry and ask if you can start fresh. You just might end up meeting your new BFF. Even if the person you mistreated doesn’t become your friend after you apologized and stopped bullying him or her, you will probably sleep a lot better at night. Thanks for reading and see you next month. 

-Victoria Pannell

You are a young lady who rocks many hats! Being a singer, actress, writer, graphic designer and spoken word artist, what made you pursue all of your talents?

Everything I do now survived the “Let’s See If She Quits” test. When I was younger, my mother allowed me to take up and quit as many extracurricular activities as I wanted. Trying this different approach proved to her the things I really cared about. I used to want to be a ballerina, a track and field star, a swimmer, a gymnast, sociologist, and a myriad of other things that don’t interest me anymore. (Although with acting, I can pretend to be all those things!)

I have never quit performing, which led to my singing and acting career, and I never gave up my love for paper, which led to a career in graphic design. I always believed that you should live to work and not work to live. I wanted to be able to establish a career out of things I genuinely loved to do.

Poetry is a powerful way to get your emotions across while also relaying a message to the audience, how did poetry become an outlet for you?

When I was a sophomore at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN, I joined a group called the Poetry Society. That was when I was introduced to poetry as a spoken word art form. I have always written poems but I had never recited a poem in front of a group of people. My first poetry reading was NERVE-WRECKING. I was scared. S-C-A-R-E-D! I didn’t bother memorizing the piece and I stood with both of my hands clutching the piece of paper that I’m sure was rustling because I was shaking. I was presenting a very personal piece and that was the first time I felt vulnerable and naked in front of a crowd. Yet, when I began talking, I was at ease. It’s easier for me to share personal information through poetry as opposed to talking about it in everyday conversation.

After encouragement from a fellow poet, Jada, I participated in my first poetry slam a few months later. During that moment, at 19, I experienced freedom sharing ideas that I wrote in solitude. People were listening to what I had to say. Ever since, I realized that poetry is an amazing platform to call attention to important issues or to speak on the behalf of the voiceless. Poetry is my way to tell someone how I feel without the awkward silence. Poetry is my way of telling someone off without getting into an argument. Poetry is my way of venting, loving, sympathizing, being funny, entertaining and educating.

You own the fantastic graphic design company, Lifted Soul Inc., what made you want to start your own business?

I wanted to eat. Lol. No, but really, when I graduated from undergrad, I had two choices: Begin working in the corporate world of Enterprise Rent-A-Car or attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Hollywood, CA. I choose the latter.

I have a B.A. in Music and I knew that I wanted to pursue a professional career in the arts every since high school. After I graduated from college, I felt pressure to begin a career that I could make a lot of money in however, my desire to further train in the arts exceeded the traditional path others thought I would take. I wanted to pursue my passion. I wanted to do what I loved to do.

However, passion doesn’t pay the light bills. Love won’t put groceries in my refrigerator. I’ve always loved designing images on my computer and when I moved to Hollywood in 2009 I decided to turn that love into a business. I used some money that I should have used for tuition and invested in an MacBook and Photoshop and got to work!

Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged when pursuing your dreams, how do you stay positive to continue to conquer your goals?

It does get discouraging and sometimes LIFE has a way of distracting me from my overall objectives. My foundation and faith in God helps me to stay relaxed, positive, and confident that if I stay on the right track everything I plan to do will prosper. I talk positively to myself out loud everyday and I also have a “Faith Book.” It’s a small book that I carry with me everywhere I go that has a bunch of pictures and phrases that reminds me of all the dreams and goals I hope to reach.

I also stay positive by hanging around positive people. NO NEGATIVITY ALLOWED. That stuff is contagious.

You were nominated in the Black Theatre Alliance Awards, how has acting impacted your life?

Stepping into the world of another person that isn’t real and pretending to be somebody else is sooooo much fun! It allows me to explore other life situations that I may never experience. It stretches me to think outside of the box and think, “How would the character respond?”

Acting has also impacted my life by teaching me discipline, strengthening my work ethic, and it encourages me to stay physically fit and mentally sharp. Right now, I’m working mainly on stage. That requires a lot of rehearsals and a lot of energy. I have to make sure I am focused and alert.

I have been acting professional in Chicago for almost a year now and the relationships that I’ve built are irreplaceable and I am definitely enjoying working with some of the most talented people in the industry.

What are 2 pieces of advice you would give to girls who wanted to pursue their dreams but are nervous?

You are the only YOU created. There will never be another you. EVER. Nobody can do what YOU can do. Are there a million doctors? Yes. Are there a billion writers? Yes. A there a trillion singers? Yes. But nobody can do what YOU can do like YOU can do it! Be confident in your abilities and what you have to offer. You may not only be the missing piece to solve a puzzle, but you may also be the first piece to a puzzle the world never thought to solve.
Consider everything a learning experience. Learn from setbacks. Learn from heartbreaks. Learn from past failures and move on!

We are all about empowerment at C.O.R.E, what does empowerment mean to you?

Empowerment is a women’s secret weapon. Empowerment is inspiration for others to keep going. Empowerment is the “get out of bed to change the world” kind of attitude that makes people motivated to keep going. Empowerment is giving yourself permission to be amazing and not apologizing for it!

Fun Faves- Fave Food,? Artist? Song? Celeb Crush?

Don’t judge me. 🙂

Fave Food: Macaroni and Cheese in any form. Homemade, from a box, microwaveable snack packets, or any other form I haven’t discovered that I’m sure will be amazing. Macaroni and Cheese with a ice cold Pepsi on the side.

Fave Artst: Beyonce is my homie.

Fave Song: It’s a tie between A Song For You by Donnie Hathoway and Here Without You by 3 Doors Down.

Celeb Crush: This answers changes every two minutes. Today I’m in love with Jesse Williams from Grey’s Anatomy. Yesterday, it was Mehcad Brooks.

Check out more Lisa B…

Twitter

Facebook

The Lisa B Experience

Hi Fit Ladies!

From tests to parents to boyfriends, everything and everyone you deal with on a daily basis can have you completely stressed out. Even though you know working out is a huge stress reliever, you just always don’t have the time to squeeze in an hour workout. How about if I told you that all you needed was 5 minutes to relax your entire body?? Well I have the answer…it’s all in your breathing! The phrase “just take a couple deep breaths” is a true statement when it comes to calming down.

Check out these vids on how deep breathing can have you super relaxed before that 2 hour exam…….

-C.O.R.E Fam

Good Morning Lovely Ladies!

Check out Misty Copeland! She is the first African American female soloist at The American Ballet Theatre in over 20 years.

Check her out….

Be Inspired!

-C.O.R.E Fam

Happy Valentine’s Day Love!

It doesn’t matter if you are having a special date with your boyfriend, having girls day or munching on all the vday candy you can find, remember this day is about loving and appreciating yourself.

So show some extra love to the most important person in your life…YOU!

Check out Esperanza Spalding new song ‘Black Gold’ as she gives you a reminder of how precious you are!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Name: Charese Allen

Age: 13

City: Nashville, TN

Grade: 8

What’s your dream job and why?
My dream job is to be a psychologist or an artist. These are my dream jobs, because I love to help people with their problems and I love to draw. I want to have my own art studio.

Which hobbies do you love to enjoy?
I love drawing and writing poems.

Who is your biggest celeb crush?
Chris Brown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fave song to JAM out to right now?
My favorite song is “We Found Love” by Rihanna

If you could change 1 thing about the world what would it be?
I would change the violence in the world.

What does empowerment mean to you?
To me, empowerment means to give power to someone or to lift someone up.

What are your plans after high school?
After high school, I want to go to college.

How have you helped someone in your life lately?
I have helped my little brother with school work.

Who is your role model & why?
My role models are my mentors, because every day they show me how to be a young lady. They teach the importance of being a woman.

Good Morning Fit Ladies!

So I know with school, parents, teachers, guys, and friends your life can be a tad bit stressful. Well, sometimes the best way to release your stress is to take time to breathe and stretch.

Check out how to do  Sun Salutations. This yoga move is a great combination that stretches your entire body and will leave you feeling ready for the world.

Good Morning Beautiful Ladies!

Check out Gabrielle Clover as she rocks out Frank Ocean’s hot song “Thinking About You” on the violin…

Good Morning Ladies!

Sometimes we forget just how FLY & AMAZING we are or how much power we have as girls. Well don’t worry, C.O.R.E is always here to remind you of your worth!
Check out the powerful poem “Phenomenal Woman” originally written by the great Maya Angelou performed by Jazmine Williams.

-C.o.R.E Fam