First Person

I never thought our combined stories could ever evoke so much emotion in one room. Thankyou so much for those of you who attended the premiere and for those of you who stood outside dissappoined because the tickets were sold out. I’m still in awe after we recieved a standing ovation. In the moment you don’t realize that your not alone in your struggle. forgive me if I’m a little out of sorts. But I really do appreciate the many people who came to me after seeing the movie and told me to not give up….and for those who trusted me enough to share their own stories of life’s dissapoinments. As confusing as this juncture in my life is …I’m happy to know that I’m not the only one who has walked this difficult road filled with family and financial issue that affect the drive and direction of life’s Yellow bricks.

I appreciate you all fro your kind words and prayers and I hope to see an outpour of you and your family and friends at the 2nd and final screening of first person for the philadelphia film festival

Thank you so very much
-Malikka

prayer is a great main course…..meditation and chanting are awsome side dishes …..
I miss the big hugs cheek kisses and loving words…let us all bow our heads and pray …at a family meal before the father…

Ya OUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM
AMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEENnnnnnnnn
amiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyn

I need a big helping of all of the above.
if your out there reading this…..take the tim to prayfor us all…..

The students, families, and crew of First Person recently got to see the completed film for the first time. Below are excerpts from the written response of Ginger Graves, Kurtis’s mother.

Hi Ben here are my comments after watching the DVD…

In some ways, I finish watching this film thinking that it was a
failure because no one made it to a four year college. On the other hand, I
felt it was a success because it showed real life circumstances and how
they affect the lives of everyday people seeking to make it from high
school to college. This was awesome because nothing is hidden - not the
start of boot camp, incarceration or advanced college entrance to the
discharges - from the dropouts to the GED’s - to the graduations, to
college acceptance and scholarship availability - from the family support
system to the lack there of. It all comes down to real life issues and
challenges. These young people never gave up they are still pushing
forward. This is the key to this project and it has indeed accomplished
its task through the lives of these six students.

I pray that those watching this film especially the young people won’t get
discouraged…I pray that they see instead community college as a stepping stone to a four year
college… We need to make sure our children look
at this community [college] experience as a stepping stone, low cost opportunity not
a failure to not make it to a four year college.

Great Job overall. Praying for much success! We can benefit
these young people in the struggle to make it against all odds and their
ability to do so. I know I have said alot. call me if you want to talk.

umm lets see how about some good updates….. ummm my mom got married …she seems pretty happy about it…. I saw the completed First person video….I cried at least 10times..everyone should see it…and I also heard that some film festivals are interested in us….

that makes me feel good …I jus hope that I’m not a big dissappointment in the end…..I know there has to be thousands of people out there praying and putting positive energy out ther for me and my friends hoping that we’ll all make it big…
Thankyou

the semester ended and so did my college experience…..I decided to take some time off to get my mind together and to save some money…. so far I guess everything is ok..
I’m working at whole foods full-time and I’m supposed to start a second job soon..
I wish I could spill my guts and tell the universe every thing thats wrong in my life but I don’t really want the sympathy …I just want things to be easier….the burdens to be lifted and happyness to return…
I wish I could go back to that origional master plan I created for my life….the one with all the money …the white picket fence the whole 9….
I miss the comfort of my dreamland…..reality is so ….whats the word……utterly dissappointing…
I keep questioning the purpose of our lives….
the religious me …would say …”the purpose of life is to reach perfection and return to the most high”
and yet life says ….”the purpose of this life is to dream big….aim small get a job work your whole life forget you hopes an dreams no need for time to yourself to seek perfection life’s about survivlal……sleep when you die”
I dunno its strange how with every new turn in my life the mask over my eyes begins to evaporate……These are all the things my mother worked so hard to protect me from,…..The idea that life isn’t as easy as it seems……
what else can I say……
Thanx Mom for giving me a Childhood