There’s no missing TaraAshlee on Buzznet. Her infectious cheerfulness is only matched by her love for Buzznet. She helps run the Buzzmob and she’s one heck of a fine photographer to boot. Yet there’s even more to her story: we found out what keeps her brain ticking, how she was influenced to become a photographer, and how her first Buzznet meet-up came about. –Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth
[Editor’s note: By request, this issue of Get To Know was conducted by Buzznet Admin and Buzzmob King ElRich. Hey, we’re always willing to try something new around here! –Mark]
Buzznet: Why did you initially join Buzznet?
Tara: I initially joined Buzznet with my ex-best friend back in about April of 2006, before the Black Clouds & Underdogs Fall Out Boy Tour!! My bff and I were both crazy about Pete Wentz. We originally decided to join because he (Pete Wentz) had a profile and we wanted to comment on his pictures when he posted. Well, my parents found out about my account. And just as I was starting to make some amazing friends and get more interested in Buzznet for other reasons non-Pete Wentz related, they made me delete my account. They thought it was dangerous, like MySpace was getting a rep for at the time! So in January of ‘07 Mom gave in and let me make another Buzznet, the account I have now. So I have been on for nearly 3 years.
Buzznet: But you still <3 the Pete Wentz. I saw the photo you did for his B-Day party. Explain your love for Pete and list for us the things you have that are FOB-d out.
Tara: Oh of course I still love Pete Wentz! I am so into everything that he does. What most girls first grab onto about the Wentz is that he's hot, and yeah, he definitely is. But the reason I first grabbed onto him was because of the lyrics he writes. I follow his blogs religiously and it's kinda pathetic sometimes. I check them everyday. Petewentz.com & Buzznet are my homepage tabs! Well, those and Twitter. Almost everything I do is naturally FOB-d out!!
Buzznet: So what keeps you glued to Buzznet?
Tara: The people, naturally. It's all the amazing relationships I've made throughout the time I've been active on the website! I've gotten involved with so much on here and it seems I can't live a day without Buzznet. I love looking constantly through the unique photography showcased by so many users and fantastic groups on the site. And I even love showcasing some of my own!
Buzznet: Speaking of the people, I hear you are having a meet up with one of your mates you met here on Buzznet. Who is it, and what made you two decide to meet up?
Tara: Oh yes! One of my #1 "Buzznet Besties" xxxdropaheartxxx a.k.a. Caity is coming to my house this Friday (June 12th). She's from Ohio, about a 6 hour drive away. She's coming up for my graduation party, which is on Saturday. We've tried several times to make meet ups before, but so far this is the only one that will be successful. I'm ecstatic to meet her and actually hang out! Caity has inspired me with different types of photography she's done, and different bands she's influenced me to listen to. She's simply fantastic and I cannot wait to meet her! We've decided to do various photo shoots, a video blog, and a journal entry of her visit. It's exciting and I hope to meet more of my Buzznet Besties in the future.
Buzznet: Hooray for graduating! What are your plans after high school?
Tara: Well, I want to write for a magazine. I am a huge fan of AP (Alternative Press) and Rolling Stone. I have always had a passion for writing and music of any sort, so it just seems like that would be a natural choice. I am enrolled to start at Purdue University North Central in Indiana on August 24th. My ambition is to get my bachelor's degree at PNC, then to transfer to Depaul University in Chicago, IL for the following two years to get my Masters! During that time, I hope to possibly become a summer intern at AP's base in Ohio!
Buzznet: Which is best: A unicorn or narwhal?
Tara: Unicorn! You can ride unicorns around and go, "Weeeee!" You wont get wet! Unicorns are magical!
Buzznet: Your Buzznet profile is full of all of the amazing things that you contribute to the site. How do you carry this over in real life? What types of things do you do to make everything awesome and leave your “Tara mark” on?
Tara: My "Tara Marks" are left probably most easily by just the attitude I have about everything. I try to keep things constantly perky and exciting! I love countdowns. I count down for almost everything: shows, special dates or anything exciting to me. For example, when you wake up in the morning, what is more exciting: thinking, "Hmm am I gonna get a bowl of Cocoa Crispies soon?” or, “Oh my god, 53 days till Warped Tour!!?" I like to live in the moment but look to the future for what's to come. Well, the good things anyway. It throws a spin on everything and it rubs off on people in the best ways. Sometimes I'll drag the people closest to me into those special dates, and they'll be just as excited.
Buzznet: Has anything you've done on Buzznet influenced your life?
Tara: Yes, I believe a lot of it has. I used to take pictures just for Buzznet. I would take shots specifically to post and show to my Buzznet friends. After becoming a Buzznet Original and seeing my pictures on the Featured Photos page, I got a lot more into photography. I still do it for fun, but I take it more seriously. I got a Nikon D60 for my 18th birthday this year and after calling my cat my ‘baby’ for the past 10 years, my Nikon has now taken over the name! Photography has become a big deal to me. After continually seeing great examples of it on Buzznet, I now appreciate it much more. I especially like shooting shows; concert photography has got to be one of the best things to ever come my way, Putting music and photography together, you can't go wrong.
