Sayje Jaffe



Projects by Sayje Jaffe

IU STUDENT MAKES WAVES IN BLOOMINGTON PERFORMANCES

By Gracie Helfrich, Makenna King and Sayje Jaffe 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (April 3, 2025).

Indiana University constantly sees thousands of students make their way through undergrad tracks. Students enroll, take classes, switch majors, find internships, and graduate (sooner or later). Indiana University sees this pattern time and time again. It is more than common. 

Contrary to this pattern, something less than common can be found within Freshman Matt Trzaskus; that something is passion. “My passion for performance started when I was really young. I really liked Star Wars and I wanted to be a Jedi. And I figured out very quickly that Jedi aren’t real, but actors are.” Trzaskus said.

This passion for performance is also seen in Freshman Jaxon Brown. Brown is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree of fine arts, focusing in cinematic arts at Indiana University. Yet, Brown’s passion for performance has faced obstacles. 

“I definitely prefer performing, but I don’t really give many chances to. So, I’m like behind the scenes.” Brown said. He hopes to have more opportunities in the future.

This interest in performance is something Brown also discovered at a young age, similar to Trzaskus. “I think 13 [years old] was the first time that I watched a film where I was like, I want to do that.” Brown said. The film discussed here was Back to the Future

Yet, Trzaskus discovered his love for theater at an even younger age. He recalls third grade to be the year where his interest began, encouraging him to join school-lead theatre groups. He states, “I started really doing it [theater] in middle school and I’m still doing it [theater], which is kind of surprising to me, but it’s just as exciting.” 

Matt Trzaskus explaining his relationship with theater, and how it affects him daily. He participates in multiple programs, and has regular dress rehearsals.

Trzaskus is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree of arts focusing in theater drama and english at Indiana University. He is a member of Boy in the Bubble Comedy Group, who most recently produced the show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind; additionally, Trzaskus is currently performing in a production of Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegrut. 

As he pursues a double major while simultaneously devoting himself to multiple productions at once, time management has become an ongoing struggle. “It is a constant uphill battle with time,” said Trzaskus. 

“I’ll really admit I undertake a lot of things because like my mom told me that if you always say yes, you won’t ever miss an opportunity,” explained Trzaskus, “However, I’ve learned very quickly that eventually you do have to start saying no.” 

This endeavor with time management is a hardship that not only Trzaskus has faced in his pursuit of theater education, but it is also something Brown experiences, where, “I think there are little moments when I release something [film] and I’m like, ‘oh, this is great.’ But then it’s like, for me, it’s immediately on to the next. So, I don’t really sit in it that often. So I guess it’s like the little moments of doing so,” said Brown. 

This struggle is something that Trzaskus has met with motivation found in theater itself. “It’s [theater] a huge time commitment. You’re like at the end of your you’re like, I’m done. Like I maybe never want to do a show again. And then everyone walks out to you and tells you what the show meant to them or what this work you’ve created; I write as well, what it meant to them and if it made them feel something, whether that was ‘Oh my gosh, that was so funny’ or ‘Oh my gosh, you made me cry’ or ‘That was shocking’”, said Trzaskus, “Like the rawness of human reaction is something that only arts can, like, pull out in the way that they do. And each time you get that experience, whether it’s someone laughing at your joke or crying at your line delivery, it’s like for me, it’s like addicting.” 

Jaxon Brown uncovering his past with performing arts. He is a film major that enjoys learning about all aspects of theatrical acting and film.

Brown finds his motivation through career aspirations. “I want to make it [performance] a career.” Brown said.

In conjunction with finding motivation through career aspirations, Brown also finds motivation within those who inspire him. Brown is inspired by musician, artist and comedian, Donald Glover. 

“He [Donald Glover] does whatever he wants, really. And I want to be able to do that creatively and still make money, you know.” Brown said.

Both Trzaskus and Brown are students who stand out within the pattern of students who enroll, take classes, switch majors, find internships, and graduate (sooner or later). They stand out because of their passion for performance, and their constant diligence.

Matt Trzaskus guides viewers through his  theater journey to showcase the dedication it takes for success. He acts in the play, “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind”, and hopes to share his talent with the world. 

Apple Introduces its newest product, the Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Sayje Jaffe
Riley Benak
Mary Majeski

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) – The Apple Watch is the most personable device Apple has created yet. It is a computer on your wrist. The Apple watch will allow you to zoom, scroll, send messages, check your calendar, see your heart rate, all while on the go. The new device keeps true to the original idea of a watch, while at the same time expanding upon it in order to create a digital helper.

The Apple Watch is  a precise device that includes a customizable time-piece, Tim Cook continues “It is synchronized with the universal time standard, and is accurate within plus or minus 50 milliseconds.” The watch is personalizable, in which you can change the colors and apps organization to make it tailored to your taste. Apple CEO, Tim Cook states “We created new intimate ways to connect and communicate, directly from your wrist.”

Professor using new Apple Watch product to quickly respond to an email.
Indiana University Professor uses the Apple watch to respond to emails and texts messages effectively without having to glance at her phone.

The Apple Watch can also work in tandem with the iphone. Connecting everything from your handheld iphone to your wrist. The watch also is a fitness device that allows the user to set health and fitness goals such as amount of steps per day, cycling, higher heart rate on runs. The watch is equipped with a GPS that can track how far you have moved allowing the user to gain a complete picture of their all day activity, not just highlighting the quantity of movement but the quality as well. Apple did not want to take the iphone and shrink the interface, but instead, decided to create a digital crown on the side of the apple watch in order to make it easy for users to scroll. Tim Cook explains the digital crown “includes infrared LEDs and photodiodes that translate rotary movement into digital data.” The digital crown controls the Apple Watch. It is how users scroll, zoom and read.

“We have conceived, designed and developed the Apple Watch as a completely singular product… You can’t determine a boundary between the physical object and the

software. We’re introducing an unparalleled level of technical innovation, combined with a design that connects with the wearer at an intimate level, to both embrace individuality and inspire desire.” says Senior Vice President of Design, Jony Ive.

The watch activates its display when it senses that the user is about to use it. Navigation is fluid with the digital crown. The digital crown is the home button, the zoom in – zoom out, and the adjustment button. Each app is expected to be used for low, lightweight interaction. The watch also allows for dictation making it easy to respond to messages throughout the day. The display screen senses force. Jony Ive says that “tiny electrodes around the display, recognize a difference between a tap and a press” giving users instant access to a range of contextually specific controls. Apple has developed a linear engine in the Apple Watch that provides taptic feedback and a water resistant speaker, leading to a distinct gradation experience. The heart of the watch consists of a chip of multi systems that is programmed to protect the electronics. The range of watch faces included on the display provides functionality and customization.

Women using her Apple Watch to track her exercise
Student at Indiana University riding her bike while her Apple Watch conveniently tracks her progress and fitness levels.

The customization dives beyond the interface. Apple has designed 6 different straps and a mechanism which makes straps easily interchangeable. The sport band  is a sweat and chemical resistant high performance elastomer. The leather loop is soft and quilted, concealing magnets for fast adjustment. The solid leather closes with a metal clasp, wrapping symmetrically around the wrist. The simple leather classic buckle is modeled after a traditional watch. The stainless steel link bracelet is slim, containing a 2.6 millimeter band. The Milanese loop is made out of a flexible stainless steel mesh, completed with a magnetic closure.

Tim Cook  introduces Apples newest product the Apple Watch and shows off some of the amazing features offered. 

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