from facebook.
This note is inspired by a personal attack I received this morning from someone who has never met me. I also realize that of the 2700+ friends I have on here, only a small percentage know me personally.
My name is Elyse Jankowski. I was born on April 1, 1986 to the best teenage mother I could ask for. My parents were never married and split up when I was young. As an only child, I grew up with my grandmother and my mother, who worked 2 jobs and went to school. I occasionally visited my father, a hard-working plumber by trade. I was very much a loner, quiet in school and diligent with my studies.
In middle school, I was incessantly teased, yet managed to find a group of friends that I loved. Around that time, I began fostering a great relationship with my father, who married my step-mother and adopted my step-brother. They moved to Florida for a few years, and I flew down several times to see them.
I briefly attended Communications High School before returning to Middletown North, where I was heavily involved in extracurricular activities. I was a member of the National Honor Society, founder of the short-lived Animal Rights Club, Editor of Viewpoint literary magazine, and Editorial Editor of The Lion’s Roar newspaper. I was an honors student at the top of my class, graduating #11 out of 420.
In high school, I started to discover the local music scene. Though I had seen Midtown and Fenix TX at Club Bene in 7th grade, I cite my first real “show” as a local gig at M&M Hall during my sophomore year. I wanted to become more involved in the exceptional music community that was thriving around me, so during the summer before junior year, I started an independent zine called Stars and Scars. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but quickly cranked out the first issue with a few band interviews, feature pieces, and show and CD reviews.
What started as a simple project to keep me busy quite literally became my life. Interviews began pouring in, and soon, I was sitting face to face with my favorite bands, many of whom were poised for stardom. Stars and Scars gained recognition from Spin and Rolling Stone, local advertisers and music stores nationwide, not to mention bands and record labels. I truly felt like I was doing something good for my community and for myself. I could not be the shy girl anymore. I needed to go to shows. I needed to talk to people. Much of my character was developed during the ages of 16-19. Stars and Scars was in print for 3 years, before converting to the webzine it is today.
I will never forget crying when I received word that I was awarded a full Presidential Scholarship to my first choice school, Ramapo College of NJ. I selected Music Industry as a major. Freshman year was a bit awkward, as it should be, but it set a great foundation for me. I was hired at the Women’s Center, where I then worked for the next 3 years. I was also appointed President of PUNK Club (later RamaShows), the concert-organizing club on campus that nearly ceased to exist. I was given the opportunity to single-handedly revive a community, and it was anything but easy. I learned how to run shows and rounded up club members. Before I graduated, I organized over 20 concerts on campus, in venues with capacities of 75, 400 and 1200, and ultimately discovered what I want to do in life.
I interned at Max Cruise Entertainment, Eyeball Records and fuse tv. I graduated summa cum laude a semester early and dove right into work at Clear Channel Online Music & Radio, at which point my life became an ironic contradiction. I was working for one of the most despised companies in music, but doing so in an attempt to bring more local artists into the mix. My efforts proved futile, and I left after 6 months.
I was in limbo for a little while, working at a beach store and psychiatrist’s office for a few months. My dad had moved back home, and I couldn’t be happier. I hadn’t lost my love for music. In fact, I registered Stars and Scars as an LLC, bought liability insurance, and started running shows in Middletown. I also organized a 200-person protest when G106.3 FM shut down, which was the only big alternative station around that actually supported local artists. In addition, I started a band, Fredrick Dedrick, with my best friends.
I now continue to run Stars and Scars and work at the National Women’s Health Resource Center, a fantastic nonprofit in Red Bank. I never thought I’d find another job like Ramapo’s Women’s Center, and it is extremely gratifying to know that I help and empower people daily. I do not drink or smoke. I love to ride my bike. I have been a vegetarian for 7 years. My goal is to someday open a music venue/hangout where anyone can come enjoy local/national music, read books, play games, grab coffee and meet mentors. I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished and excited to aim higher despite the constant resistance I face from those with misconceptions of my character and intentions.
That is just a bit of my story so far and if you’re interested, I encourage you to get to know me better. I define myself by the things I have done, but there is much more below the surface than you probably realize.
My name is Elyse Jankowski. I was born on April 1, 1986 to the best teenage mother I could ask for. My parents were never married and split up when I was young. As an only child, I grew up with my grandmother and my mother, who worked 2 jobs and went to school. I occasionally visited my father, a hard-working plumber by trade. I was very much a loner, quiet in school and diligent with my studies.
In middle school, I was incessantly teased, yet managed to find a group of friends that I loved. Around that time, I began fostering a great relationship with my father, who married my step-mother and adopted my step-brother. They moved to Florida for a few years, and I flew down several times to see them.
I briefly attended Communications High School before returning to Middletown North, where I was heavily involved in extracurricular activities. I was a member of the National Honor Society, founder of the short-lived Animal Rights Club, Editor of Viewpoint literary magazine, and Editorial Editor of The Lion’s Roar newspaper. I was an honors student at the top of my class, graduating #11 out of 420.
In high school, I started to discover the local music scene. Though I had seen Midtown and Fenix TX at Club Bene in 7th grade, I cite my first real “show” as a local gig at M&M Hall during my sophomore year. I wanted to become more involved in the exceptional music community that was thriving around me, so during the summer before junior year, I started an independent zine called Stars and Scars. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but quickly cranked out the first issue with a few band interviews, feature pieces, and show and CD reviews.
What started as a simple project to keep me busy quite literally became my life. Interviews began pouring in, and soon, I was sitting face to face with my favorite bands, many of whom were poised for stardom. Stars and Scars gained recognition from Spin and Rolling Stone, local advertisers and music stores nationwide, not to mention bands and record labels. I truly felt like I was doing something good for my community and for myself. I could not be the shy girl anymore. I needed to go to shows. I needed to talk to people. Much of my character was developed during the ages of 16-19. Stars and Scars was in print for 3 years, before converting to the webzine it is today.
I will never forget crying when I received word that I was awarded a full Presidential Scholarship to my first choice school, Ramapo College of NJ. I selected Music Industry as a major. Freshman year was a bit awkward, as it should be, but it set a great foundation for me. I was hired at the Women’s Center, where I then worked for the next 3 years. I was also appointed President of PUNK Club (later RamaShows), the concert-organizing club on campus that nearly ceased to exist. I was given the opportunity to single-handedly revive a community, and it was anything but easy. I learned how to run shows and rounded up club members. Before I graduated, I organized over 20 concerts on campus, in venues with capacities of 75, 400 and 1200, and ultimately discovered what I want to do in life.
I interned at Max Cruise Entertainment, Eyeball Records and fuse tv. I graduated summa cum laude a semester early and dove right into work at Clear Channel Online Music & Radio, at which point my life became an ironic contradiction. I was working for one of the most despised companies in music, but doing so in an attempt to bring more local artists into the mix. My efforts proved futile, and I left after 6 months.
I was in limbo for a little while, working at a beach store and psychiatrist’s office for a few months. My dad had moved back home, and I couldn’t be happier. I hadn’t lost my love for music. In fact, I registered Stars and Scars as an LLC, bought liability insurance, and started running shows in Middletown. I also organized a 200-person protest when G106.3 FM shut down, which was the only big alternative station around that actually supported local artists. In addition, I started a band, Fredrick Dedrick, with my best friends.
I now continue to run Stars and Scars and work at the National Women’s Health Resource Center, a fantastic nonprofit in Red Bank. I never thought I’d find another job like Ramapo’s Women’s Center, and it is extremely gratifying to know that I help and empower people daily. I do not drink or smoke. I love to ride my bike. I have been a vegetarian for 7 years. My goal is to someday open a music venue/hangout where anyone can come enjoy local/national music, read books, play games, grab coffee and meet mentors. I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished and excited to aim higher despite the constant resistance I face from those with misconceptions of my character and intentions.
That is just a bit of my story so far and if you’re interested, I encourage you to get to know me better. I define myself by the things I have done, but there is much more below the surface than you probably realize.