Archive for the 'Ricky' Category

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Pushing Forward

Published on September 30, 2008 in Monthly Resolutions and Ricky. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

Time is flying here at Tufts. In fact, it’s already the first day of October!

I know I’ve picked up a few readers since my last Resolution Experiment post, so I’ll explain the game I started playing on January 1, 2008. It’s easiest for me to quote myself from nine months ago.

A year is a long time. It’s around three hundred sixty-five days on our Gregorian calendar. By my unscientific estimate, most people forget their new year’s resolution a few months into the new year. Wouldn’t that time be better spent spacing out several small-scale resolutions – temporary efforts that add up to much more than the sum of their parts?

I think so. At least, it’s worth a shot.

I’ve had some successes and yes, some failures with this experiment. Here’s the way I look at it: with this experiment, this harmless effort, I’ve done more good for myself than if I hadn’t started it.

September was my month of adjusting to college life, which I think I’ve done a great job at. I made a conscious effort to be as sociable as possible, and I’m happy to say I now have an awesome group of friends. I plan to take it up a notch in October, however. I’ve decided to alter my diet somewhat and try an experiment that I never would have seen myself doing nine months ago.

I’m going to make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of meat that I eat on a daily basis.

To you, that might not sound like much. You’re right, it isn’t for lots of people. For me, however, it’s a paradigm shift. I come from a household where some type of meat is the cornerstone of most meals. Challenging that assumption, which I’m able to do with the ridiculously large selection of food at Tufts, opens doors.

Yes, I realize that this monthly resolution may sound exceedingly lame to you, but we all have our personal shortcomings and goals. For this reason, I call on you to try something new this month. Volunteer your time, go on a diet, make an effort to get organized, read more, start an exercise routine, or try anything to be an even better person than you already are.

And please, let me know how it goes.

Years

Published on September 11, 2008 in Dover, Ricky and Stories. 0 Comments Tags: .

One year ago, I wrote this:

I had an intense experience this morning, and I’ll never forget it. At Dover Middle/High School, HS Student Council members have to say the pledge and read the morning’s announcements each day. This month is my assigned month (and some other people’s), and I had an additional duty this morning. Directly after saying the pledge, I was to instruct the student body to remain standing for a moment of silence to remember everyone impacted or stolen from us six years ago.

While reciting the pledge and this unique announcement, I became very emotional. I was certain that I would be fine before doing it, but upon saying, “I pledge,” I felt immensely sad. Completing sentences was painful, and I’m amazed that I was able to finish the task without stopping completely.

It was obvious that I was troubled by the task, but people were kind enough not to say anything to me about it. I wish I didn’t have to do that this morning. To a much greater extent, I wish no one had to.

That morning was one of the most profound experiences in my life. I remember it, second by second, in its entirety. One year later, the memories of seven years ago elicit the same emotional response from me. My most sincere condolences to those affected by that day.

A Lasting Impression

Published on September 8, 2008 in A Dover Dilemma, Dover, Press Appearances and Ricky. 2 Comments Tags: .

Twelve days ago, I left Dover Plains and arrived at Tufts University in Boston. My experience thus far is beyond belief – I’m having a blast, meeting so many great people, and am learning so much. Unfortunately, this post isn’t about my experience here in Boston, it’s about life back in Dover. I’ll write about Tufts soon though, trust me.

The efforts I took at bettering the Dover community last year are well documented on this blog. At the time, my friends and mentors appreciated my work. I wrote and said what everyone was thinking, but alas, it didn’t bring about much change by itself.

Since I left town, this may have changed. I’ve been hearing vague reports from anonymous sources that things I had written on my blog in the past have hit the desks of important people in the Dover community. The focus of my first month at Tufts was to become a member of my new community, a challenging task when there’s so much going on back home. For instance, a Google Alert I have to track the term “Richard Mondello” just alerted me that I was in the Harlem Valley Times this last week:

Frame said that she had recently been reading Dover Valedictorian Richard Mondello’s blog with great interest and had taken to heart when Mondello said that he felt that the “community leaders weren’t listening to the youth.”

“It’s a shame,” Frame said and offered to begin meeting with the Dover student council and the board of education on a regular basis.

Galayda mentioned Mondello’s work in organizing the “Register for Change” event and applauded the youth’s determination.

I didn’t know this until just now, four days after the article was published. If I wasn’t proactive about tracking my reputation, I may have ever known!

So, to my friends and mentors back home, I need a favor from you. If you hear and read anything related to me, the Dover Dilemma, or Register for Change, please send me an email and let me know. I’d really appreciate hearing anything you know, whether it be fact or rumor.

While I’m at it, if you’re a Dover student who’d like to continue down the path I set on last year, writing about injustices in Dover High School, you’re welcome to email me an anonymous report that I’ll guest post here.

Thank you. Really.

New Direction, New Beginning

Published on August 26, 2008 in Ideas, Monthly Resolutions, Ricky and Site News. 9 Comments Tags: , , , .

I’m sitting in a hotel room in Boston with my family, ready to move in to Tufts tomorrow morning. I’m very excited, but predictably scared. It’s a huge change for me – from the countryside of Dover Plains to the urban sprawl of Boston.

In the beginning of this year, I vowed to set a new goal or focus for each month and work at it. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again – I messed up. August was noticeably missing a resolution, but the most important part of accomplishing a goal is getting back on track when knocked off course.

Let’s get back on track. I’m dedicating September to trying new things, meeting new people, and immersing myself in new experiences. Although this is what college is all about, I plan to put special effort into this endeavor. I won’t lay back and let these experience find me; I’m going to go out and seek them myself.

Besides the changes in my life, you may have noticed a change on this blog. Because this is a very symbolic time in my life, a time of transition, I changed the color scheme of the blog to something much more refreshing. It’s only one of many changes that I have lined up for this website when I get some free time.

I don’t know how my blogging will change now that I’m starting college, but I assure you that I will continue to write. I’m not sure how often or about what, but I will always write about the important things in my life and how they may relate to you, especially when it comes to bettering our world.

I hope you’ll stay with me on this journey.

My Tympanoplasty, A Retrospective

Published on August 23, 2008 in Ricky and Tympanoplasty. 98 Comments Tags: , , .

Earlier this year, I wrote about an elective surgery I undertook to recover hearing in my right ear. From the time I was little, my right ear drum had a hole in it, a perforation. I went for several procedures as a child to repair the hole, but none of them were successful.

Having that hole in my ear drum had always been a part of me. I learned to turn my head to hear people better, and I adapted to wearing an ear plug whenever around water, including and especially while showering.

Fast-forwarding eighteen years, this last February, my family and I decided it was time to take another shot. Consulting Dr. Lawrence Meiteles, we were introduced to and studied a procedure called a Tympanoplasty.

The idea of recovering any hearing was truly amazing to me – thinking about it made me instantly emotional.

As a student, I’d always refused to take any time off, unless I was particularly sick. In this case, for this reason, I was willing to take any amount of time off, even in the midst of a busy senior year of high school.

I retell this story now because it’s time to wrap it up. It’s been six months since the procedure and everything is well. I can bathe and swim without an ear plug and my hearing is much better, although not perfect. Although recovery was painful and tedious at times, I regret nothing… not even wearing this setup immediately after the surgery:

Big Bandage

At this juncture, I’m renaming the category of the blog that tells this story of my life from “ear surgery” to “tympanoplasty”. Hopefully, that’ll make it easier for Googlers to find my experience. I entirely and without reservation recommend the surgical services of Dr. Lawrence Meiteles to anyone with an ear drum perforation. I couldn’t be more appreciative to have something I thought I’d never have – decent hearing.

Announcing Register for Change

Published on July 26, 2008 in Politics, Register for Change, Ricky and Social Media. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

If you couldn’t tell, I’ve been keeping myself busy. Besides working a full-time job, I’ve been planning something big – something awesome.

Let me fill you in.

It’s no secret that I enthusiastically support Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America. From the moment he spoke at the Democratic Convention in 2004, I’ve always kept him in my consciousness. Soon after its release, I read The Audacity of Hope and again fell in love with Barack’s policies, personality, and eloquence.

When there were close to a dozen Democratic Presidential candidates, I publicly supported Senator Obama. Much later, a week before Super Tuesday, I made time in my hectic life to put up signs around Dover Plains in support of his candidacy.

If you don’t recall, it was clear that Hillary Clinton would claim a clear majority of the delegates in New York state. Nonetheless, I still felt compelled to show support for Barack. There was virtually no political presence in the town from any political party and I found this apathy to be disgraceful. I couldn’t do much, but I did something.

Now, let’s fast forward. Obama’s deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand, announced that the campaign will compete all over the country this fall, as opposed to solely in swing states.

Today, I am proud to announce that our presidential campaign will be the first in a generation to deploy and maintain staff in every single state.

The Obama campaign is following Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy, an idea with merit. I share the contention that by campaigning everywhere, a truly powerful grassroots movement can take hold.

Before graduating high school some weeks ago, I created a Facebook group called Dover Plains for Obama. There, I threw around the idea that progressive Dover students should organize a campaign event in support of the Illinois Senator. Fifty-four students joined the Facebook group, and a vocal subset agreed with my idea.

That’s when I started doing some serious research. I went to BarackObama.com’s social network, MyBo, and searched for campaign events within 50 miles of Dover Plains. Here’s a map of the results:

The Obama Gap

Notice something? There’s a geographic hole in that map, a gap where seemingly no events are being held. That void is Dover Plains and its surrounding communities. This is unacceptable, but luckily, we can change this.

In the last two weeks, I made some calls to the Dover Town Hall to check up on a group’s right to peacefully assemble, say, in the middle of town. After a well-received presentation at the public Town Council meeting this last Wednesday, I obtained the town’s blessing to hold an event of some sort.

Here are the details as they stand right now:

  • Name: Register for Change
  • Tag-line: Register for Change, Rally for Hope, Learn about Obama
  • August 9th
  • All day (9AM to 6PM)
  • Intersection of Route 22 and Mill Street in Dover Plains (map)
  • Voter registration drive
  • Information tables about Barack Obama
  • Encouragement of Obama supporters to honk horns as they drive by

My personal goals for Register for Change are straightforward. I’d like to…

  • Encourage people to participate in the democratic process. Our right to vote is our most important and powerful asset as Americans.
  • Clear up misconceptions, often caused by hatred and intolerance, about Senator Obama.
  • Show Dover Plains and its surrounding communities that the young people of Dover can do something positive. I want to send a clear message that Dover’s young people aren’t all about gangs, drugs, or fighting.

It’s easy to respond that an event like this won’t have a tangible effect on the election. One can say, “New York state will vote Democratic, no matter what you do. What’s the point?” To that, I have a simple response.

If we can register one person to vote, it will be worth our time. If we can correct one misconception about Senator Obama, it will be worth our effort. If we can get one person to start thinking, we’ve made change.

I hope you can join me in preparing and executing Register for Change. I’ve made events on the major social networking sites. I encourage you to sign up.

BarackObama.com: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44kjt
Facebook.com: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=68562510053
Upcoming.org: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/933115/

Let me know if you’re coming and how much you’d like to be involved. If you just want to show up, that’s fine. If you’d like to be involved with the planning, setup, and execution, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. Anyone is welcome to email me with questions, ideas, or much-appreciated offers of help. If you contact me, please leave a phone number so I can stay organized and get back to you as soon as possible.

My Doverian friends, and my friends in Dutchess County, now is our moment. Let’s do it.