At this point… my birthday list has ONE item: an electric scooter.
Because what is going on with these gas prices?! I just left Sam’s Club thinking I got a deal… and still felt like I got ROBBED. Respectfully, are we… going back to the bus?? Are we carpooling like it’s a field trip?? Somebody explain the plot twist.
Nah. I’m gliding into my next year silently, electrically, and stress-free. No more “$80 just to THINK about driving.” I’m pulling up like zzzzzz—wind in my face, wallet intact.
And listen… little mama… you thought we had a date?
No, no, no. YOU picking ME up. We switching roles like an Usher interlude. I’m not financing romance AND gasoline. Choose one.
Get me that scooter. Stop playing with me.
#GasPricesGotMeBent #ElectricScooterEra #BirthdayWishlistEnergy
Life tried to pull a plot twist on me today.
Car dies RIGHT as I’m getting off the e-way… on the way to work.
Now, real talk… a few years ago? That would’ve wrecked my whole week. My mood, my money, my mindset… all of it. Especially back when folks kept messing with my Kia. I would've been stressed, frustrated, probably spiraling a bit.
But this time?
I just sat there like… “Alright. Let’s handle it.”
Why? Because I’ve been doing the work behind the scenes.
People laugh when I say I give myself an allowance.
People don’t always understand the discipline.
The saying “no” to things.
The planning. The structure.
But THIS is why.
At some point on my journey, I asked myself:
“What system do I need so life doesn’t knock me off my square?”
And the answer was simple…
Start small. Build an emergency fund. Be intentional.
So today, even though I KNOW this repair is about to cost me…
it’s already accounted for.
No panic. No setback. No derailment.
Just a moment that reminded me:
I’m building something real.
Something for me.
Something for my future family.
Something that can withstand a random Monday plot twist.
If you needed a sign to get your finances in order… this is it.
Protect your peace before life tests it.
#Withdow #ProfDow #JustABoyFromIllinois #winning
🎤 SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT 🎤
CMAT is flipping the "Black Box" into the Apollo and the stage into a whole experience.
Pull up to the Show Me What You Got Talent Show & Open Mic — where students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends step into the spotlight and let their talent speak LOUD. 🎬🔥
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Chicago State University
Douglas Hall (DHS), Room 116 – Black Box Theatre
9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628
🎧 Vibes by DJ Harley Gwen
🎭 Energy: unmatched. Creativity: unlimited.
Alumni & students — this is your moment.
Come be seen. Come be heard. Come connect. 🤝
If you haven’t been back to the department in a minute, this is the perfect pull-up. See what we’re building, tap back into the community, and remind everybody just how bright CMAT shines. 🌟
This isn’t just a show… it’s networking, it’s celebration, it’s family — all in one room. Whether you’re on stage or in the crowd, you’re part of the story.
Let’s make it one of those nights. 🎤
#Withdow #ProfDow #JustABoyFromIllinois #CMAT #ShowMeWhatYouGot OpenMic ChicagoCreatives CreativeCommunity NetworkingEvent LiveTalent GoodVibesOnly
This ranch got me acting like I’m in a scavenger hunt movie
The @walmart exclusive Ghost Pepper Ranch by @kraftheinz is NOT a condiment… it’s a lifestyle decision. Spicy, creamy, a little disrespectful
I had to track it down like it owed me money… and yeah… I cleared the rack. No shame.
RUN. Don’t walk. RUN. Don’t walk. RUN. DON’T WALK.
Before it disappears like your self-control around wings.
#RunDontWalk #GhostPepperRanch #WalmartFinds #SnackAttack #SpicyLife FoodieFinds HiddenGem ClearedTheShelf
Giving flowers while we can still water the roots…
Today is Chicago State University Giving Day, and I gotta keep it real for a second…
This is where I found film.
Not just as a hobby… but as a calling.
Sitting in those classrooms on the South Side, being pushed, seen, and nurtured (shoutout @_christine_list 💐), something clicked. CSU gave me the space to explore, fail, grow, and really understand who I was becoming as a storyteller.
And let’s not skip over this part… affordability matters. Access matters. Opportunity matters.
So today, we give back to the place that pours into us.
If CSU ever poured into you… this is your cue 🎥
If you believe in building up the South Side… this is your moment.
💚 Link is in my Linktree
📲 Also in my stories
/s/45akij
🎓 Let’s invest in the next wave of creators, thinkers, and leaders
#CSUGivingDay #ChicagoState #SouthSideStrong #PourBackIn #BlackExcellence FilmLife GiveBack SupportEducation FromCSUWithLove JustABoyFromIllinois
Heartfelt gratitude to Chicago State University and @officiallycmat for an incredible trip to Tennessee this weekend, where a handful of my peers and I were blessed with an opportunity to work alongside Paramount members and the creators of Storytellers Lab. It started with my classmates and I getting some behind the scenes footage to the four of us being given creative control to spearheading interviews with talent and ultimately conducting the whole segment ourselves. Thank you Storytellers Lab for allowing Chicago State to formulate the questions, set up equipment, and capture amazing stories from the artists. Thank you @easytheblockcapt1 for sharing The Trenches with us. I hope we made you proud. To our professors, Daniels and Dow, who were locked in with us and offered tremendous insight & guidance, we appreciate you fellas. CMAT, we thank you and appreciate you, @csupres and Prof Khan, and everyone involved in making this incredible opportunity happen ✨🥀✨ #chicagostateuniversity #murfeesboro #CarAintGotNoRoof
CMAT Alumni Event Film Screening 🎬✨
An afternoon of stories, connection, and coming together.
The Communications, Media Arts & Theatre Department proudly invites alumni, students, and the community to a free public film screening celebrating the work of CMAT alumni. Join us for a beautiful shared experience featuring three powerful short films that explore love, loss, healing, and human connection through deeply personal lenses.
This is more than a screening. It’s a moment to sit in community, support alumni voices, and feel the power of storytelling together.
🗓 Saturday, February 7
⏰ 12:00 PM
📍 Chicago State University
Douglas Hall (DHS), Room 116 – Black Box Theatre
9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628 FREE and open to the public
Bring your friends. Bring your people. Everyone is welcome.
RSVP: /e/4ZHX7ehbYfbNG1F5vnfl?source=share&c=XkkFLk2H
Featured Films Include:
Life in My Eyes by Marshal Gibson, a moving documentary offering intimate insight into the daily lives of people with visual impairments.
Coping by Derek Dow, a narrative exploration of grief, creativity, and healing through virtual reality.
Daniel McKnight by Rhonda Nunn, a heartfelt anniversary story set in Chicago that blends love, humor, and surprise.
🚗 Parking Information:
On-campus parking is available for $5
Free street parking is available on 95th Street
Whether you’re a CMAT alum coming back home, a student seeking inspiration, or a community member who loves meaningful cinema, this will be a special space to connect, reflect, and celebrate creative voices.
Join us in the Douglas Hall Black Box, Room 116, and experience three films, one afternoon, and a whole lot of heart.
Free. Public. Powerful.
#showtime #watch #pullup #Withdow #ChicagoStateUniversity
I sat with my director’s reel today.
Not to judge it.
Just to listen to what it was reminding me of.
This chair has always been home.
This year is about asking more of myself.
More patience.
More intention.
More courage to follow the work where it wants to go.
There are still frames left to capture.
Stories waiting on breath.
Moments that only exist if I decide to show up for them.
If you’re building something and need a director who treats vision with care and process with respect, I’m open to the conversation. Bring clarity. Bring purpose. Bring a real plan.
2026 feels wide open.
Back in the chair.
Let’s create.
#DirectorsReel #BackInTheChair #CinematicLife #2026Vision #WithDow JustABoyFromIllinois VisualStorytelling Directing
“Updated teaching pedagogy: mild humiliation through performance. If dancing in front of the class is what it takes to keep y’all locked in, then lace the shoes up. The things I do for student success.”
#awwprof #Withdow #dangman
Not my event, not my sweater… but absolutely my people 🎄🎬
Crew Call Collective is back with the 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party, and if you’ve ever been to one of their events, you already know the vibe: real creatives, real conversations, real community. Chicago film + arts folks showing up for each other, per usual.
Free entry, RSVP required, food and drinks flowing (for purchase), and they’re even collecting toys for families this holiday season (optional but dope). Pull up, support, and wear something aggressively ugly.
I’ll always champion spaces that actually build community. Tap in.
Follow: @crew_call_collective
#ChicagoCreatives #CrewCallCollective #UglySweaterParty #FilmCommunity #SupportYourPeople #ChicagoFilm #CreativeCommunity #WithDow
