Part Dos

Coming from the small town of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, 19 year-old Milagros Pacheco has always had love for the hip hop game. As a young child back in '95, hip hop hop's top sellers were always played around the house. Whether it was Biggie, Tupac, Salt-n-Pepa, Eve, Ruff Ryders, or Jay-Z, Millie enjoyed the rhythm that these artists' carried. At that young age of 5, Millie always knew that she wanted to be a performer. Maybe it had to do with her dad's love of music or her mom's love for dance. Either way, it was something that was always inside Millie's heart. From that point on, she has performed on her high school stage for talent shows a number of times. On top of that, she has done various dance performances and recitals. The adrenaline rush that she feels from these performances are so rewarding. She only hopes that one day she will be able to perform on a real stage in front of a HUGE crowd.

A salary is a fixed compensation periodically paid to a person for regular work or services. Meanwhile, reality is something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive. Sometimes, unfortunately, reality does not provide us with a high salary. Sometimes, people have to accept what they are given and be grateful that they have, at least, that much. There is a chance that someone out there might not even have as much as you do. The point is you must never take anything for granted. Thank God that you are safe and healthy and in good living conditions. You never know, people out there might be begging to have what you have. In other words, salary is a nice thing to have. You can do a lot with a lot of money. But is it the root of all happiness? Absolutely not. Reality is facing the facts...living life the way you're supposed to live it, not wishing you had more. Basically, a high salary is a benefit to life, but you can do without it. On the contrary, reality is what you make of life and the good that you take out of it.

This brings a very important issue to hip hop today. Some hip hop artists believe that salary is everything. As long as they have a nice crib or a hot whip, that's all that matters. Is that really the case, however? My mom always tells me, "Some people have all the money in the world but lack health. Although we might not have that much money, we have to thank God that we have our health." This is statement that not everyone realizes. It is not clear to everyone in today's hip hop game. Many people would rather have that expensive watch or bling than spend time with their family or loved ones. This is not the way it should be. Therefore, everyone should learn to be extremely grateful for every little thing they are given. Each and every one of these gifts is a blessing and should be treated as such. Never take anything for granted.

Milagros Pacheco still loves the hip hop game, regardless. However, she hopes that one day she can join the game and participate as an artists as well. Given this opportunity, Millie will remember her roots and encourage others to do the same. In her future, she will not allow material objects or cash flow get in the way of her simple lifestyle. She will live the normal life that she has lived her entire life, listening to Eve and Jay-Z in the small living room of her apartment. No matter where life takes her she will never stop loving her beautiful mother, strong father, and intelligent little sister who have brought her such a long way in life. She thanks them everyday for everything that they have given her and will cherish them for the rest of her life. Above all, she thanks God, the One above, for giving her this opportunity of living in this exciting world of hip hop.

Grateful

Thriller by Michael Jackson

My performing arts major class performed this at our Senior Year Halloween Assembly! =)

(The dance starts like a minute into the video.)