When we were little we chanted, “Step on a crack, break your mama’s back.” I knew that if I stepped on a sidewalk crack, my mom would be perfectly fine, but I still avoided them anyway. “Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck” is another one that had us picking up every penny in sight.

Growing up on the north side of Chicago, I attended George B. Armstrong Elementary of International Studies. I pride myself on learning everything I have today because of that school. When I was in elementary school, Black History Month was the only time we would ever learn about Madam CJ Walker, Maya Angelou, George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, Garrett Augustus Morgan and Jackie Robinson. Not only did we know their names, but we spent the whole month of February learning about the lives and history of African Americans. We had assemblies, made poster boards, and even played trivia games on the subject of black history. At a young age, I knew that these people played a huge part in not only black history, but in history–period.

We’ve all been there, and we’ve all had that feeling. “It’s a new year, a new start, a new me,” right? We all know that sentiment of righteousness, the feeling that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to because of a “fresh” start. We can all identify with feeling as if each year brings another opportunity to start over.

When the leaves start falling and the weather starts to get a tad bit cooler, then you know it’s that time again. The holiday season starts up, bringing in the warmth we need to escape the chilly weather. With football season, Halloween and Thanksgiving all leading up to Hanukkah Kwanzaa and Christmas, it’s definitely a time full of cheer.

When you’re a kid, summer vacation means endless possibilities of fun. Sleeping in, hanging out with friends and no school work. The list goes on and on, but once you grow up, the endless possibilities turn into endless responsibilities. Summer jobs, summer school, waking up early and rarely seeing friends is what the summer starts to look like. I was never really excited for summer vacation because I never got the chance to experience the vacation aspect of it. Yes, I had my fair share of “family vacations,” but a real vacation to me was actually getting away from the family. I was determined to find the true meaning behind summer vacation, and this past summer, I finally accomplished my goal.

It has been 10 years since I made the journey back to my homeland of Somalia. I was only nine years old, but that trip will be forever engraved in my memory.

Winter usually means a number of cold months that should be filled with staying home, renting movies and cuddling with a significant other. However, when the weather changes and it starts to get warmer, you find yourself spending more time outdoors, which sometimes makes it harder to maintain a relationship.

It has been 48 years since Jacqueline Kennedy graced the world with her fashion sense. Wearing jaw dropping couture dresses, one of a kind jewelry and having her very own Barbie doll, Jackie Kennedy was a style icon that has left quite an impact on first lady fashion. Nearly five decades later, we have a new style icon, and ironically she is a first lady as well. Michelle Obama proves that she is the first lady of fashion of our generation and gives women of all ages the confidence to dress to impress.

This is the time of the year when people make promises and take oaths to eat healthy and be more proactive about maintaining their health. But most find it hard to eat right with life’s hectic schedules. Going to school, work, raising a family and all the other things going on in our daily lives can prohibit us from taking a step in the right direction when it comes to keeping a healthy lifestyle while being on-the-go.