First day of school

Yesterday was my first day of school in Florida at Valencia College and........

It was awesome! I loved every minute of it. From the palm trees and beautiful fluffy clouded sky to the active environment where a diverse group of students go, I couldn't help but be excited :]

My first class was with Professor Brand, an English teacher who knows what she wants from her students, challenging them and pushing them to succeed, already assigning us a paper to tell her about ourselves and to find out where our writing abilities are at right now. She said there was no minimum or limit and that it could be just a paragraph if we wanted it to be...... so of course I try and over achieve.... with mine being two pages long, whoops... I guess I'm getting use to this Blog writing that its becoming natural to write a lot, huh?

oh oh oh and I met this girl in class who works for disney!!! woohoo! :) looks like I know who I'll be sitting next to during class!

My second class was with Professor Caldero, a Latin Humanities teacher who is a fun, active lady and as long as you participate in her class will be fun, otherwise.... not so much from what she said (meaning lots of quizzes to see if we read and such)

Tomorrow is my second day of class and I hope everything goes well....

Goal for tomorrow:

meet at least 2 new people :D

Night everyone!

The Decision

At midnight on August 19th 2011 I made the decision to change what I've done to my body in the past to get to places I wouldn't otherwise see possible. Today on August 22nd at around 5pm I checked my mail for the second time in the hopes of a delivery addressed to me was there. Sure enough a small box laid in my cubicle of a mail box sent to Ethan James Rivera.

When I looked at the package I knew what it was, I knew what I was getting myself into and I knew why I was doing it.

I made the decision to buy a tattoo removal ointment to remove my two tattoos I have on both of my lower legs. The decision wasn't random or spontaneous but thought out and very bittersweet in the end.

I made the choice to remove my track shoe because of the way it turned out after a couple years of having it. It bled together to the point where you can almost not recognize its a shoe anymore.

On my other leg I had my friend sketch out a "XC" emblem with an arrow through it and the verse, Romans 5: 3-5. I made the choice to remove this one NOT because I am no longer religious or do not run anymore (I run all the time and am religious) but because of the professional aspect of tattoos.

I want to work for Disney's entertainment during my next college program as well as after the program through out the rest of my college days. I attempted to cover them up, but they either smudged on my clothes or were noticeable in different types of lighting. I tried different types of cover up but nothing seemed to work for me and while I would love to keep them, I need to look out for my future and success with Photography and Disney.

 This is not to say that I will never get a tattoo again but for now I am attempting to remove these and IF I was to get anymore the location will definitely be more carefully planned out.

I don't regret my tattoos at all and I know there are people out there who will judge my decision to get them removed and people will judge my decision to get them in the first place. People judge others all the time...... But....

Don't let your life run by those who judge you, because then your not in control of your own life.

My legs will see you in a couple months!

Happy World Photography Day!

Happy Friday.......and Happy World Photography Day photographers and non photographers a like! In honor of the occasion I took a picture of a totem from one of my favorite movies, can you guess what it is, or are you dreaming?

grab your camera and take a picture!

When one door closes another one opens

A little over a month ago I wrote a post about my photo entries for this competition hosted by the Digital Rev Tv site that they posted on YouTube.

At the Beginning of this month I was informed that I sadly didn't make the competition, and two days ago they showed the first official episode of the competition posted on YouTube. Although I was upset about not making the competition I think the DRTv made a good decision on the top 16 contestants that they chose out of 200 entries.

Some people would beat themselves up about not making it into the competition, others would be afraid to try anything else in the fear of failing again and a select group would learn from their mistakes, not let failure hold them down and move forward towards their goals. 

Once I found out I was not accepted into the competition I continued my search for wedding photographers in the Florida area to second shoot for since I am still VERY new to photography and wouldn't dare take on a wedding by myself without some experience first. 

With that being said after finding Jasmine Star, who is a world wide known wedding photographer based in California I decided to take a chance at posting something on her Facebook page asking her if she knew anyone who lived in Florida that I could potentially second shoot for. 

A girl by the name of Julie Story who happens to live in Clearwater Florida commented on the post.... and long story short, we're meeting up sometime to talk photography :) regardless if it works out or not considering the distance with me living in Orlando I will take chance to get where I want.

 I am slowly getting one step closer to my goal and meeting new people along the way is always a plus in my book:) You just have to remember that whenever one door closes another will always open, you just have to sometimes be patient, or look in the unexpected areas ;)

Happy Thursday!

A accomplished to do list

6:10 am woke up

6:30 am killed a cock roach (yes who needs coffee when your woken up to that >:| )

6:50 am 4 Mile Run

7:20 am Shower and food

9:00 am Saw a Valencia Community College Academic Advisor

10:00 am Registered for classes

11:30 am Walmart for Groceries 

12:30 pm CVS and got a Sun pass for the Highway

1:00 pm Home and ate

2:30 pm Played Halo

3:30 pm much needed nap 

6:00 pm spoke to my Dad about school and financial aid

7:17pm scared Alex (rough estimate)

7:30 pm registered for my Florida voter card

and tonight a hang out with some awesome friends!

today was a good day and I feel accomplished. One Step Closer to my goals in life :)

Happy Monday everyone!

1 Year Ago

On August 11, 2010 I arrived at the Vista Way Check in to The Walt Disney World College Program.

It is now August 11, 2011 exactly one year after I went through the program, went back home and decided to make the decision to leave everything behind to pursue my own life and ambitions by coming back to Florida.

If it wasn't for my roommates and co workers at the Electric Umbrella along with all the other amazing people I met through out the life changing experience I wouldn't be where I am at to this day with the desire to become a photographer :)

Thanking everyone who I met while In Florida from August until January 2010 is the very least bit I can do because you all are so different and unique with all of your own goals and ambitions and thats what made this program so beautiful; combining so many different backgrounds into a 5 month program and in such a short amount of time and becoming so close.

You will always be apart of the life I chose to pursue

 Become the diamond in the rough in your own life :]

Let the memories begin

To Sum up the weekend I would have to first thank my good friend and previous cast member co worker Blanca for all that she has done to make me and Patty's weekend a very magical experience :)

We started off the weekend going to Magic Kingdom for Patty's very first time and it was nothing but magical from meeting Disney Characters to seeing Cast members dancing and loving there job, to the rides and of course the food like Pineapple Dole Whip floats and to top it all off? a little Pixie Dust

As the day progressed we made it to Hollywood Studios where we rode the Tower of Terror and yes I screamed more then she did.... made our way to Rockin' Roller Coaster, Star Tours and met Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear topping off the Beautiful Night with the new wishes fireworks that I had yet to see (yea they were amazing!)

The next day we went to Epcot for the whole day because of the amount of things we needed to accomplish from Soarin, Finding Nemo, Test Track, and Mission Space to my old job from when I was in the College Program to speak to my old manager and friend, Ruben.



Finishing the day we went around the world starting Canada and ending in Mexico getting stopped by Patty every once in a while with comments like "Omg there's Alice!" or "Omg there's a Princess... I dont remember her name but I want a Picture with her".

during one of our waits a Cast Member by the name of Nicole who was a Character attendant for Belle and Beast had gone through a confrontation with a rude family yelling at her that "they did this to us last time!!" and just being very ignorant. All in all nicole handled herself really well and although they said they would complain about her being a bad cast member, I told her that patty and I would be going to guest relations to compliment her on handling herself so well :) ( later on they wrote her a applause o gram at guest relations for her)

After watching Illuminations we headed off to bed to give our feet and my camera a rest.... Tired and exhausted we slept for such a long time till the moment came where Pattys mini vacation had ended....

but it was all amazing and so worth it, want to know why? because the Best reward was hearing Patty tell me she had the time of her life this weekend :')

I love Magical Moments and this was definitely a Magical Weekend :)

The storm and a loved ones passing

Last night at approximately 1:29am I was informed that my one and only Uncle Andy on my mothers side had passed away. The feeling of someone you lost is always a troubled thought, whether it be your friends or family members.....


what makes it difficult is knowing you had a connection with them whether it be conversing with them or knowing them your whole life. The passing of a life with someone you know gives you reason to reevaluate the relationship you had with them, from the time you were born to the day their life has been put to rest, you think of all the good times, the bad times, the sticky times, and the sweet times.


My uncle had many battles in his life, from addictions, to illnesses, to getting in trouble, but I loved him still endlessly and he was honestly a true inspiration because as long as he had all these problems, he still kept moving forward....


This quote was taken from the Rocky Balboa Movie because it will always remind me of one of my very close friends from back in High School and my loving Uncle Andy:

"You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life,

but it ain't about how hard you hit.

It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,

how much you can take and keep moving forward,

that's how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get what you're worth,

but you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers

saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her or anybody.

Cowards do that and that ain't you, you're better than that!

Until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life."

My Uncle for majority of his life fought, and that is why he had a life, because even when know one else  believed he could fight, he did the impossible going as far as he did and I look up to him always for this.

My uncle battled a storm and although he lost to it, the result of a storm is something beautiful, and knowing he's at rest is sad, but knowing he's not suffering is comforting. 

I Love you Uncle Andy, always and forever. 

School and a Beautiful weekend

After much delay due to getting situated with fixing my car, working and paying rent, I finally went through student orientation online for Valencia Community College :]

My next step is to attend an in person orientation tomorrow at Valencia's west campus where I can finally register for classes! 

Although I'll only be a part time student until I am a resident, it seems as though I'm taking the very long route to finish school....

But I am very happy with the decision I made to save money by attending Valencia and once I am a resident attend University of Central Florida with a Major in Business Management :] 

Following the Orientation a very special someone will be visiting me in the beautiful state of Florida. Not only has she been my best friend for years but also my girl friend Miss Patty Valenzuela :)

and what better way to celebrate her visiting me? taking her to the happiest place on earth for the FIRST TIME of course! more news to come but till then... 

Happy Thursday Peeps!

Why do I need a College Education?

I need a College Education so that I can make more money then what a server gets paid.

I'm not saying by any means that being a server is a horrible job, But to rely on tips from guest, and having lots of physical stress on your body from working long busy shifts isn't the type of job for me to want to pursue for the rest of my life.

Determination > Being Complacent 

  I will be Successful. 

And I will afford better food then Ramen Noodles and Cereal. 

Happy Monday!:]