Nikole DeBell

A blog to store schoolwork and articles

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Burn (Taken with Cinemagram)

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Local Fashionista Gone Beauty Guru

Local Fashionista Gone Beauty Guru

By: Nikole DeBell

  In the past, makeup artists became successful thanks to classes and certification. Yet today, a phenomenon called “beauty community” on YouTube is taking over. Self-taught beauty experts like Yesenia Vega of Rochester, N.Y., are posting videos and blogs with their advice about makeup and style. And millions of viewers are tuning in.

  “Helping others comes first,” said Vega, “If someone watches my videos or reads my posts and they actually take something away from it, that’s what means the most to me.”

  Vega, a self-taught beauty guru, first got interested in makeup around a year ago, because of another girl in the YouTube beauty community. “DulceCandy87” is Vega’s inspiration for creating her own channel.

  “She is so inspiring because she was in the Army. It takes courage to be in the Army,” said Vega. “And now she posts videos where millions of people can critique her every move, which also takes courage.”

  The number of people trying to make it in the beauty community on YouTube is growing. It has become popular because viewers of videos, like Vega, see how rewarding posting videos can be.  Those who break through to the upper elite of the beauty community have actually quit their day jobs. In these success stories, the beauty experts live off of the ad revenues from the videos.

  Vega hopes to also break through to this upper elite.

  “I want to get my name out there, then hopefully move to Los Angeles or New York to pursue this dream,” said Vega.

  Vega plans on doing this by gaining a lot of subscribers on her YouTube channel. To gain subscribers you must make your videos look professional. Vega has been purchasing the equipment to do so.

  “For Christmas I got a tripod for my camera,” said Vega, “I also bought spotlights and am planning on getting a ring light to go around my camera.”

  Although the beauty community can be very rewarding, some professional stylists may be skeptical of this phenomenon.

  Lorrie Lynn is a professional makeup artist and stylist from the Rochester, N.Y., area.  Lynn has done styling in major cities like New York and Miami, and owns her own talent agency in Rochester called New York Model Talent.

  Lynn said she could see both sides. “Professionals have the right to get mad that these girls who are teaching themselves and getting paid for their opinions.”

  Lynn admits that a certification doesn’t mean that someone is the best for a job.

  “I would hire anyone with natural talent over a certification with no talent,” said Lynn.

  Vega also admits that she can see why professionals would be concerned about this.

  “If I was a professional I would be kind of upset, like that could be me becoming famous because of YouTube,” said Vega, “but it would also be my fault for not doing anything about it.”

  Lynn said that she herself has searched YouTube for reviews on products. She believes the reviews were extremely beneficial and helped her make the right decision on products to purchase.

  Lynn had one piece of advice for Vega have personality and make her videos interesting.

  “I have searched YouTube for reviews before and if someone is boring with no emotion, sitting on their bedroom floor with a sheet behind them, I click out right away,” said Lynn. “I won’t even waste my time.”

  Lynn adds the number way to stand out from the crowd in the beauty world is to have personality and be interesting.

  “I think Yesenia could make it if she comes across as knowing what she is talking about, and lets her personality shine through,” said Lynn.

  Which is exactly the way Vega plans on making her videos stand out.

  “I want to stand out by being myself, basically let people know who I am and the real me,” said Vega, “If I do get my name out there, I don’t want it to change who I am.”

  Vega is beginning to reap the benefits of putting herself out there through her blog posts and YouTube channel. In July 2013 she has already been asked to do a bride’s makeup for a wedding.

  “Just from seeing my pictures of how I do my makeup she asked me to do her’s,” said Vega. And I’m getting paid for it.”

  Vega age 25 is a Rochester native who lives in Greece, N.Y. She is the assistant manager at Charlotte Russe in the Greece Ridge Mall, a trendy women’s clothing store. Vega said being around clothes all day long fueled her passion for fashion.

  Vega has always been interested in fashion and makeup but about a year ago is when she really realized it was something that she could make a career out of. She also has a lot of support from her family and friends.

  Vega added that her biggest support system is her boyfriend. She said he is behind her 100 percent. Jonathan Vazquez, Vega’s boyfriend, agrees that he is supportive of her dream. He has been working on building her a walk-in closet to not only store her clothes and accessories but also where she will be filming her videos.

  “I support Yesenia in anything she wants to do or accomplish in her life,” said Vazquez.

  He added that as her partner he would always be there for her and always have her back. Vazquez thinks it is great that Vega is following her passion to lead to a career field.

  “Her passion and inspiration for fashion lets me know it’s more than just a hobby, it’s her life,” said Vazquez.

  Not only is Vazquez a support system for Vega but also co-workers and friends. Tiara Lopez a Charlotte Russe co-worker of Vega’s said she is one of her biggest fans. She said she always looks forward to reading Vega’s blog posts whenever there is a new one.

  “Yesenia is an inspiration to me as well as a role model,” said Lopez.

  Both Vazquez and Lopez believe its Vega’s passion for fashion that will take her far in life.

  Lopez added that she thinks Vega is an amazing person and will go very far in life with her passion for fashion and makeup. “I absolutely know she will succeed in life,” said Lopez.

  Vega said that her biggest hope with her videos is that they will mean something to whoever watches them. She wants to help others with her videos, what means the most to her. What she doesn’t know is that they already have.

  “Her videos teach me a lot,” said Lopez. “I enjoy learning from her, Yesenia has taught me not only to do my makeup and hair but also to reach for the stars and nothing less.

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Recently I submitted a story to Democrat and Chronicle Flavors and it was published! Check it out!

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Presidential Inauguration, Bigger Deal in 2008 or 2012?

Yesterday marks the day that the reoccurring President Barack Obama of the United States in sworn into term. Today Americans can tune in as he will be publicly inaugurated, leaving hopefuls with the thought of change and a push for a better economy.

(President Obama being sworn into office. Photo Credit: AP Photo) With President Obama being re-elected for a second term many Americans may wonder which election was more of an achievement. In 2008 Barack Obama was running to be the first African American President, who stood for change. He won.

(President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. AP Photo) In 2012 he was running again, this time under much scrutiny about the economical status his last four years had left our economy in, and not many people where happy about it. To me, the 2008 election was Obamas biggest accomplishment. He will forever go down in the history books as the first African American President. That has to be an amazing feeling. Although the 2012 election was quite an accomplishment over all the criticism, the 2008 election will remain a historical one. The 2012 election will soon be forgotten about.

On sunday the President was officially sworn into office. Today he was publicly sworn in and according to the New York Times "Obamas 2nd Term Opens a Lower Key." The New York Times story on the public inauguration stated that around 600,000 people have started to gather to witness the President begin his term. This is considerably low compared to the 1.8 million who assembled to watch his first inauguration. Buffalo News also explained that this inauguration was planned to be lower key. To me this would mean that this election to the President himself was not as big as an accomplishment as the first. "Overall, though, the second Obama inaugural was set to be a low-key affair compared with his first, with fewer than half as many people in attendance, no inaugural concert and only two official balls – the fewest since the Eisenhower administration six decades ago," said Jerry Zremski. One thing I did find interesting about this inauguration that has to be special to President Obama is that it falls upon the day we honor Martin Luther King Jr. A story on CBS Philly online said...“Our first African American president being sworn in on MLK day — it’s a great thing,” and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says today is a time to celebrate the country’s progress towards Dr. King’s dream of inclusion. People are taking to twitter to show their love an excitement for the President on this day.

How fitting that we celebrate MLK on the same day of the inaguration of our President, Barack Obama for his SECOND term in office. #grateful

— Kayla Cashwell (@CashKayJ) January 21, 2013

But 'tweeters' are also vocal on the fact that the first inauguration was a bigger deal.

The 2nd largest inauguration today and the1st largest was in 2008... Our president is black!! #ObamaWish I was in DC...

— Tomika Chaney(@tomika_ortiz) January 21, 2013

The President himself also took to Twitter to express how he feels about this second inauguration.

I'm honored and grateful that we have a chance to finish what we started. Our work begins today. Let's go. -bo

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 21, 2013

I think that President Obama is excited and eager that he has a second chance to finish what he started in his first election. Although I am convinced that his first term in office was his biggest accomplishment, and an accomplishment for America in general.

( President Obama. Photo Credit: AP Photo)

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California Rollin’ Offers Sushi Making Classes

California Rollin’ Offers Sushi Making Classes By: Nikole DeBell Not many people would be able to whip up sushi for a Monday night dinner. It’s more of a “let’s meet out for sushi” kind of meal. What if you could combine the two together? California Rollin’ II at Ontario Beach will be offering sushi-making classes every Monday from now until March. The classes combine the elements of a fun night out with friends, and learning to make your own sushi creations.

(Entrance to California Rollin'. Photo Credit: Nikole DeBell) Owner Tom Beaman started offering the sushi classes to compensate for the slower months of January to March. “During the colder months in the winter not many people are really interested in driving down to the beach area,” said Beaman, “This gives people a reason to get up and out of the house.” “One of the greatest things about the classes is everyone gets to make new friends,” said Beaman, “The groups don’t all know each other at the beginning but by the end they are all taking pictures together and having a great time.” Marcy Colopietro really enjoyed her experience at the sushi making class. “I decided to go to the class because my daughter Maria works there, and insisted on me going,” said Colopietro, “I’m glad I did.” “It was a really fun night with my girlfriends and for the price of the class, you really can’t beat it,” said Colopietro. The class sits 10 people each Monday and is $49.99 per person. In the class you receive: • Food upon arrival • All you can drink draft beer, house Saki, or fountain drinks • Learn to make 8-10 rolls, which you can eat there or take home • Make your own dessert • Rolling mat (to use your new knowledge in kitchen at home) • 1 Saki bomb at the end (21 and over)

(Examples of sushi. Photo credit: Nikole DeBell) “Each roll on our menu typically ranges from $6-10,” said Beaman, “ If you ordered all we are offering in the classes on a typical night your spending well over $100, it really is an amazing offering.” The classes are family friendly and recommended for ages 13 and up. You can bring a group of friends but the classes do fill up fast.

( You can also watch the chef roll sushi on the flat screens. Photo Credit: Nikole DeBell) “Every Monday we have a list of people to call back if someone decides not to show up,” said Maria Colopietro California Rollin’ manager. “People start calling ahead and reserving spots for classes in December,” said Maria. Right now the classes are only offered at the Charlotte location. Beaman was not sure if he would be expanding the classes to the Village Gate location in the near future. Beaman hopes his classes will encourage people in the Rochester area to try new things. “Get out of the house especially during the cold winter months, which can leave people in a rut,” said Beaman. A fun night out at sushi class might be just the thing for that!

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Should Teachers Be Armed

Imagine looking around an elementary or high school teachers desk. What are some objects you might expect to see? Pens, paper, test,-handgun?

Photo Credit: AP Press Images.

With the recent devastation the Sandy Hook shooting brought to the United States many people are calling out for teachers to be armed. According to Gulf News online- in Chicago one school district is already allowing janitors to carry weapons in school. Texas schools have already allowed teachers to conceal weapons in the classroom and hoping to get more funding for training. 

According to NBC news--"NBC News reviewed the firearms and education laws in all 50 states and found that 18 of them allow adults to have a loaded gun on school grounds, usually as long as they have written permission."

These 18 states include:

Alabama

California

Connecticut 

Hawaii 

Idaho 

Iowa

Kentucky 

Massachusetts 

Montana

Mississippi

New Hampshire

New York

New Jersey 

Oregon

Rhode Island

Texas

Utah

Wyoming 

I however find this completely ridiculous. Allowing janitors and teachers to bring weapons to school is just enabling people to think that guns are okay. What if a student was able to somehow steal the teachers weapon and cause another massacre? If students can steal guns from their parents at home what is stopping them from finding away to steal one that is already present in the school. 

This also could put unneeded pressure on to a teacher that is there to protect the children yes, but also teach. Teachers get Masters degrees to educate children, not carry around a weapon. 

James DeBell is a high school gym teacher at Dansville High School. He would not feel comfortable bringing a gun to his work environment. 

"I'd rather there be school police, let teachers teach and trained officials be in the halls in uniforms. 

His colleague Greg McMaster, also a teacher in the Dansville School District agrees.

How do others feel about this?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTE4ODM5OTMzODM

People are taking to Twitter to express opinions about the proposal.

Tyler Chadwick (@tylerchadwick)-Listening to some atrocious proposal to arm teachers with guns. Hey America, more guns is not the answer. (https://twitter.com/tylerchadwick/status/290843027398873088)

Ross Griffith (@Ross917griffith)-Even my daughter says she would not trust teachers with guns. She said she has no problem with Police being there (https://twitter.com/Ross917Griffith/status/290637072639877121)

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTk1MTE5ODEzMA

I believe that students should be safe in school yes. But I do not believe that teachers having weapons is the answer. I feel teachers should be trained in how to protect students when these horrific events do occur, but guns should be concealed by trained professionals. Police officers, school security- those types of people should be carrying guns around children. 

It looks as if the government believes this may be a good idea, and possibly those who support guns. However-many teachers, students, and parents may not feel this way. 

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Getting a drink (Taken with Cinemagram)

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City Paper Post 3

Struggles of a Student Athlete

By: Nikole DeBell

 College students are always busy with schoolwork, jobs, and maintaining a social life. But what if you add an athletic commitment to the mixture? Student athletes have to find a way into their already busy college schedules to have practice, games, and tournaments. Does this mean that one of the other aspects of college life has to suffer?

 Twin sisters Madeline and Mallory Apperson are student athletes at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although they are both on the women’s basketball team together, they somewhat disagree about the struggles of being a student athlete.

 “I wouldn’t say its harder being a student athlete,” said Madeline, “there are people involved in other after school activities and hard majors who may have struggles too.”

Looking at her sister with a concerned face Mallory chimed in, “ It is definitely harder, you automatically have to commit three hours a day to practice, and that is just practice.”

 The sisters also disagreed on if there is more pressure to get good grades as a student athlete. There is a minimum GPA student athletes must obtain which is a 2.0. To Mallory, a 2.0 seems extremely obtainable and not a high standard.

 “I think there is less pressure on grades being a student athlete,” said Mallory, “people expect you to not be giving 100 percent.”

 Madeline disagreed.

 “Student athletes GPA is generally higher than the student bodies GPA,” said Madeline “I would assume this is because we are required to meet a certain GPA to play.”

 The sisters both stated that they use to resource of the Wallace Library to their advantage.

 “I go to the library right up until I have to leave for practice,” said Madeline “Then I go right back after practice because it is open late.”

 Mallory had another way of accomplishing homework.

 “I do my homework on the bus, or hotel rooms, I try to get as much done in advanced so that I don’t have to worry about it,” said Mallory.

 Along with finding time to do homework, the sisters also have to miss a lot of class for basketball travel. This puts added pressure onto the student athletes because no they need to take more time to get that work they missed. Madeline has to leave at least one class early a week.  However it was Mallory who missed the most class time.

 “This quarter I have missed half my classes, for two courses,” said Mallory.

 The subject the sisters agreed most on about student athletes was what the most difficult part is. The social aspect. Athletics can open you up to a new group of friends, your team, but it can also take you away from those who already where your friends.

 “So many times I wish I could go out and do things with my friends and not have to worry about practice or games, but you do need to worry about it,” said Madeline.

 They also stated that it takes the option of having a job away. They both agreed that while in season, basketball is their job. “What the media portrays as a college experience,” said Mallory “we don’t have and that is the worst part.”

Photo credit: Nikole DeBell

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City Paper Post 2

What is There to do Around Here? The Rochester Institute of Technology is not your typical college town. Located in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester, it is somewhat placed in its own little world. Unlike most college towns, it doesn’t have one typical strip where all the bars are in walking distance. The closest hot spot for bars around Henrietta is downtown Rochester, which is at least a 15 minute drive. So if students don’t have a car or a designated driver for that matter --what is considered the nightlife around here? RIT student Madeline Young thinks there still is a lot to do around campus. “Park Point has some good bars that a lot of students will go to because it is so close,” said Young “T.C. Riley’s is one of the more popular.” Young also mentioned • MacGregor’s which is also a short distance from campus • Mcginny’s on East River Rd • McKenzie’s on West Henrietta Rd. However, another factor one must think of is if the student is even of the legal drinking age yet? If not, they would not be able to hang out in the bars provided by Young. “There is always the TE3 bus, or as students call it ‘the drunk bus’, it runs students from campus to downtown.” said Young. The TE3 bus provides a way for RIT students to get to all the bars and clubs downtown Rochester has to offer in a safe way. Three busses run students to and from downtown every hour on Fridays and Saturdays. 20-year-old Sarah Bono chooses to take the TE3 bus to go downtown because many of the clubs offer 18 and over access. When Bono turns 21 she plans on sticking to the bars around campus rather then ride the shuttle downtown.

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City Paper Post 1

Loans but no Degree To most college students, paying back their loans is in the backs of their minds. Falling short to: classes, papers, and exams. For Monroe Community College student Cody MacNaughton, student loans are becoming an alarming reality. MacNaughton had been going to MCC for three years when he decided to take a year off to decide what he really wanted to do. A good job offer also fell into his hands so he decided to jump on that and save up some money. What happened next he was not quite expecting. Student loan bills. When he received that in the mail a million things went rushing through his head. “How do you expect me to pay for this?” said MacNaughton. “On top of car payments, rent, food, cell phone bills and now $200 a month for student loans?” He immediately got on the phone, and tried to figure out a reasonable solution to fit his budget. They left him with two options. He could start paying right away and cut his monthly payments in half, or wait 6 months to start his payments and pay the full $200 a month. MacNaughton notes that he was aware that taking a year off would mean he would have to start paying back but it is hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that he is paying for school, and he has yet to finish what he started. “It’s just weird how you go to school to eventually get a degree, which in theory should get you a well paying job. If I haven’t finished the degree, do they really expect me to be able to pay this every month?” Said MacNaughton. MacNaughton plans on going back to school and eventually finishing his degree. However now that student loans are another payment on his plate, he is not quite sure when he will have the opportunity.

Photo Credit: Nikole DeBell

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Storify on Philippines Typhoon

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Yesenia Marie

For an update, the beauty vlogger I will be profiling is Yesenia Vega.

She is a manager at Charlotte Russe a women's fashion store at the Greece Ridge Mall.

Yesenia loves expressing herself through:

Fashion

Makeup

and Hair styling 

Although her blog is just starting to become up and running she is still working on setting up her YouTube account. 

I will be profiling her journey as she dives deeper into her blog and ultimately joining the YouTube beauty community. 

photo credit: Gabby Armstrong 

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News writing II Article

I finally decided on a topic for my news writing II article. It will be following the journey of a local beauty guru as she tries to break through in the YouTube beauty community. Some beauty vloggers in the YouTube community reach millions of viewers daily and even receive partnerships with YouTube and other companies. This article will follow her in the creations of her YouTube channel and blog, and how she finds her way in a sea full of others just like her.

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Highlight Of Thanksgiving Break

When I imagine Thanksgiving break I think of many wonderful things. Mostly including:

Delicious food

Family

Laughs

Friends

Sleep

However, my recent Thanksgiving break was more along the lines of:

Work

Work

Work

Although I spend most of my time working I did get to enjoy one fabulous day at home with my family. On Thanksgiving day. 

It was perfect. Filled with a lot of laughter, jokes, and of course food. 

My favorite part of the night had to be when my aunt found her new favorite accessory. A turkey hat. 

She put on that hat and pranced around in it like it was no bodys business. It was hilarious and just what I needed to end my short lived Thanksgiving break.