Nestled among the historic winding cobblestone streets of Newport, R.I., is the quaint European- inspired coffee shop, Spring Street Espresso. Noted by the clientele as home to the best quality cup of coffee in town, owner Jack MacDonald has raised the standards for everything from espresso to lattés.

As a college student, naturally I am all about pinching pennies. I work two part-time minimum wage jobs and am searching to get a third. Between insurance money, gas, credit card debt and student loans, I can barely find a couple bucks to spend on a fresh Dunkin Donuts’ coffee.

It’s a pretty harsh world out there. Even harsher now that big chains of stores are closing, multi-million dollar companies are requiring bailouts and job opportunities are shrinking everyday. Living in this type of economy is not something that our generation is entirely ready for.

On Feb. 16, 2009, HBO premiered Alexandra Pelosi’s documentary film, Right America, Feeling Wronged- Some Voices from the Campaign Trail.

Pelosi, a journalist and documentary film maker and daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, attempts to depict the elephant (no pun intended) in the room that nobody in the media wants to talk about: Republicans.

I can remember my arrival: my best friend Miya was already there waiting for me, smiling like always. I had arrived with my boyfriend of the time, but the only person I needed there wasn’t, my father. He must have been running late. Didn’t he know his youngest daughter was jumping out of a plane that day?

For my 19th birthday celebration, Miya and I had planned a Rolling Stones concert and skydiving.