~:[CH8 - Day 90]:~ To My Roots

~:[CH8 - Day 90]:~ To My Roots

There really isn't enough time in the day to do all the things that we want to do. There are many things that we love that we have to put aside since we have to decide exactly how we are going to spend those precious seconds of every day. However, once in awhile, you get the chance to catch up with those things that you love and get to work on nurturing that love. Today was one of those days where I got caught up on working on one of these tasks, which ended up taking the day to get together and up. While there isn't much content spread throughout the site, I know that eventually I will get to compile all the things I am working on to this very site. As much as you grow, your roots are forever grounded and while you may reach for the sky far away from where you started, you're still connected to the roots that ground you. Today, I went back to my roots which contain my art history past and eventually soaked up all the nutrients around me, allowing me to revitalize myself. As busy as we are, let's all find the time to go back to something that we are or were passionate about and soak it all in. While we may not be able to do it on a daily basis, it's a great break from this crazy world that sometimes engulfs us to the point where we feel suffocated. Today, I unleashed myself from the binds of all that was suffocating me and took one step forward towards all the beauty that awaits ahead. 

~:[CH8 - Day 89]:~ Time to Chill

~:[CH8 - Day 89]:~ Time to Chill

It was a little weird to not have much to worry about today. The only thing I was thinking about was making it on time to where I was headed. That's it. Not work and no meet, something that is rarefied air for me. I ventured out to the Staples Center, getting a closeup look at the players. After a great win, we found a place to eat in the city and later that night I was able to meet up with my friends and just chill. You have no idea how good it feels to just sit back, relax and chat. Whether or not we talked about anything important, the key was that we were together and having a great time. As we explored the Hangar at Long Beach, which opened last year, we enjoyed great food and just a great time together. While it's great to be responsible and productive, we all need some time where we set it all down and just give ourselves some time to forget it all. Tonight was one of those nights and it was just what I needed.

~:[CH8 - Day 88]:~ A Numbers Game

~:[CH8 - Day 88]:~ A Numbers Game

Who knows if this will be the last time we go to Trabuco or not. Sometimes the cost of the event is too much for the experience that you get, but then again, you always have to think about whether or not the money is worth it all. Trabuco is one of my favorite meets to see the athletes run as it's at a good time and the competition allows for a lot of PRs. However, you must weight the costs and benefits, much like you do in every day life. What is worth your time, your energy, and your money? I think it's a decision we have to make every day. It's a numbers game; a decision of opportunity cost. Is this the place I can best spend my resources? Whether or not it is for money, for my time and energy, it has been worth it to spend these late nights at meets watching these athletes compete. Over six hours of races and an eleven hour process from departure to return, every second has been worth it. Although the documentary of breaking five didn't come to pass for our younger boys, the effort that they put forth to do so has been a fun process to watch. Narrowly missing their goal time was something that one athlete faced last year, but this year, I have about five looking to break the mark and every week, they inch closer and closer to doing so. Earlier in the day, the topic of math came up in my class and I know how much math runs through our day; especially in my life. I still have a lot of times to transfer to our results sheet and who knows if it will be the last time I post results from Trabuco. Regardless, I wouldn't take back any of the memories I have from this meet, as they are some of the best memories of track that I have had and some of the best investment of my time that I have made. 

~:[CH8 - Day 87]:~ There's a Power Inside of Us

~:[CH8 - Day 87]:~ There's a Power Inside of Us

As we wrapped up our one-on-one interviews, I began to be reminded of the power that we all have within us. Many of us don't believe in ourselves enough and I see it on a regular basis with my students. Whether it's not going out there and taking risks or shelling up because of all the things we faced. We don't allow ourselves to reach our potential because we are too afraid or unaware of the power that resides inside of us. While our school musical was a bit mature at times, I think the underlying message was quite clear in that we have the power to rise up and change the situation around us if it's something we're not happy about. The voice that resides within us is more powerful than we could ever imagine and it only takes us knowing that in order for us to understand just what we are capable of. Every day, I am around capable students and in a single day I saw my students as artists as they drew amazing propaganda posters, I saw them as thespians, as they acted their hearts on on stage at our musical and project diversity, and I saw them athletes, as while today we prepared for tomorrow, just the process of them doing all that they needed to do. Every day, I come across students that I know will be successful someday and it's when they finally realize the power that lies within them will they come to realize that potential. We all have that power within us and it is my hope that we can all come to realize it. 

~:[CH8 - Day 86]:~ Grinding Through

~:[CH8 - Day 86]:~ Grinding Through

It was one of those crazy days. Running from meeting to meeting, catching up with alumni at lunch and dinner, a quick stop here and another one there, and in the end, I made it home and simply crashed. It was exhausting. It was a perfect parallel to my athletes who faced a little warmer than usual weather when it came down to one of their harder interval workouts of the year. They had to try and grind it through and even when the times got tough, I was proud to see them make it. It was helpful to be inspired and motivated by all of our visitors of the day who came back during their spring breaks. From a former runner to the alumni, it was nice for all of them to gather as they watched our athletes work through the difficult moments. This moment is something that will parallel life for them, as life will not always be smooth sailing, but if they keep their mind focused and strong, they will remain standing in the end. These five made it today and I hope that number will continue to grow as we move forward.

~:[CH8 - Day 85]:~ Moments We'll Never Get Back

~:[CH8 - Day 85]:~ Moments We'll Never Get Back

I'm not sure if people realize that we come across moments in our lives daily that we will never get back. We always think that we have so much time, but the ultimate reality is, every one of our moments that we have in our lives are precious. Especially for our seniors, these days are coming to a close, as the moments they have together as students can almost be counted on a hand as we close in on graduation. For some, they're too busy thinking about their AP tests, proms, and other upcoming events, that they forget to live in the moment and enjoy the days that they have and one by one, they slowly disappear into thin air. Similarly, freshman feel as if they have all the time in the world, when they begin to realize that these carefree days will one day be non-existent. It's not a post to create negativity, rather, it's one to remind us all that there are moments we won't get back. The time we spend looking at our phone costs us precious time with our parents, the game time that we spend after school could have been used to join in an activity, and similarly, all this time we allow to pass us by, we'll never have the chance to get back. Sure, there may be other chances to do something similar, but for that very opportunity, the chance is lost. Who knows if that time will be well spent, but the chance we take is often worth it, as we just cannot allow these precious moments slip through our hands, as these are moments we'll never get back. This could be misconstrued as a post related FOMO and whether that is the truth or not, I just hope that we all can see that time is precious. Every tick of that precious clock is one that we could have used wisely. The moments we complain and cry, the moments we waste time, and the moments we wonder, what am I doing, are all precious and so we must treasure them and spend them wisely. Give them to a loved one like your family and friends, spend them on the things you love to do, and most importantly spending them knowing that it's a moment you'll never get back, so make the most of it. Tomorrow is but another day, of course, it's another tomorrow that will soon no longer be here. How will you spend it?

~:[CH8 - Day 84]:~ In Exchange

~:[CH8 - Day 84]:~ In Exchange

This title is not a first. Every year, we have exchange students who visit us from Japan and this year also coincided with the arrival of dancers from Japan who have been competing in local competitions. It's great for our students to see them perform and to understand that differences in cultures. I think it's a great learning experience for our students to meet them and to learn from them in the process. I always like to do a little extra for them to welcome them to our school. The dancers impressed our students as we heard the oooohs, the ahhhhs and the cheers of our students. This kicked off our project diversity week, as we celebrate the diversity that exists on our campus. While students may not realize it, these is such a blending of cultures on our campus and a balance of various backgrounds. While we have our issues, I am amazing how great students get along and become cultured in the process. Life is not only about learning from a textbook, but also learning from what is around us. Through my travels, I have seen this and am glad the students can also see what they have to learn from that is directly around them. 

~:[CH8 - Day 83]:~ Believe in Something Greater

~:[CH8 - Day 83]:~ Believe in Something Greater

Ginger tried to get her way out of the enclosed space. She saw something she wanted and wanted to go after it. When I traveled up to San Jose for the game, it didn't dawn on me that I would be going to church on Sunday morning, but that's life. Things aren't always planned and while we may know where we are headed, as the message in church said, we also have to remember where we are. We all hope and dream for something greater only to find ourselves in the pits; we want live, but in the process we discover death; we want to be happy, but often discover anger and sadness. Life is about these extremes and while some days are good, there will be a good number days that aren't so good. Life is ever-changing like this, however, the one thing that shouldn't change is our beliefs and our faith. As I listened to the message, I thought to myself that my focus on my destination cannot change as things go well or not, as I cannot forget the Lord when things are good and call on him when things are bad. While he is one to answer our prayers, we cannot neglect him until it's convenient for us to do so. We must remain consistent and if we truly belief in something greater, we must have faith, both in the good, the bad and those moments in between. Later that night, I sat in agony as UCI made a run and fell short of advancing to the sweet 16. However, as I drove home, I thought about the message of the day. Much like my destination home, there is a place I want to get to in my life. It is in something great that I believe and while my ability to get there is still undetermined, I'll do what I can to get there, much like Ginger trying to get out of the enclosed space and into the outside world. There will be good and there will be bad, but in the process, I cannot allow my belief in something greater than us all waver. Keep your eyes set and let not let ourselves get led astray. Every day is a battle and sometimes we will be led of course, but if we maintain a constant faith, I know deep in my heart that we will be forever rewarded. 

~:[CH8 - Day 82]:~ Zero Visibility

~:[CH8 - Day 82]:~ Zero Visibility

After spending the beginning half of the day at a track meet, I headed up to San Jose for the game. I decided to come up earlier so I didn't have to rush tomorrow and also gave me an opportunity to grab a meal and catch up. However, the fun of the drive changed to a reality, as a traffic jam ensued and emergency vehicles passed by, one after another. I didn't realize what was going on until I saw about 15 of those vehicles lined up and as I continued to see car after car after truck involved in the pileup. I later learned that there were about 50 cars involve in the crash and about 100 stuck in between the accidents that occurred. The fog and drizzle were probably two of the main causes of the accident, but it was a reminder of how little we can see in front of our own lives. While we have a plan of what we ultimately want to do, there is no one that can tell us what lies ahead of us. In the next second, you could have a heart attack, slip and fall or something of the sort. There is no telling what is next and therefore, it's always important to remember to never put things off whenever possible. Especially when thinking about telling loved ones how you feel or to take care of business that is important, you want to do it while you can, as while we always assume that tomorrow may be here soon, you never really know if it will actually come. It ran through my mind countless times after I passed the accident and I'm sure others were thinking it as the clear roads were slowly traveled on by cautious drivers trying to avoid a similar fate. We just don't know what's ahead of us and because of it, let's never forget how important every second we have is, as we have zero visibility on what life will bring us next. 

~:[CH8 - Day 81]:~ Prepared for Change

~:[CH8 - Day 81]:~ Prepared for Change

The sound of coins echoed through my second period class. It's a small class, but even though it's my smallest class, they collect the most for Pennies for Patients. Every day, the routines was "journals," but instead of that, you'd here them counting their coins. It was the smallest class that raised the largest total and ended up with a per capita of just over 51 dollars. The effort they put in was astonishing and I was so impressed by them as well as my other classes that were looking for that change. Maybe today was a foreshadowing of things to come, as I was able to see things different for a change, as UC Irvine pulled the upset in taking down Kansas State. However, as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same and in a bittersweet moment, the senior girls took a picture they've been doing since the start while they passed this tradition on to three freshmen. As we found success at today's races with a whole lot of PRs set, I was so happy by night's end with all that went on and while I know that tomorrow things may very well change, that is apart of life. While you cannot control what happens around you, you can prepare yourself for what is possible so that you can be ready for change. In all our lives, change is coming and how we handle it will show a great deal about the people we are and the direction in which we head. No one can predict what will happen next, but there isn't a reason why we shouldn't be prepared for the changes that lie ahead.

~:[CH8 - Day 80]:~ In the Heavens

~:[CH8 - Day 80]:~ In the Heavens

You can sometimes wonder what exactly is planned for us all. As the glorious sky opened up overhead, clearing a path for us to hold our meet, you wonder if this was all in the plan. I grew up in a Christian school and learned a lot about the Bible, but also about myself in the process. I grew and learned, but every time I looked up into the sky, I wondered, what is coming down to me from the Heavens? We live in a world where we can GPS our way to anywhere we want to go, but there is no road map to the place that I have in mind. As the storm clouds raged on, so did the meet and despite the drastically changing weather, I was in awe as I soaked in the beautiful views around me. I was stressed and upset (having to run a meet that we were guests at), however, I found tranquility in the Heavens. As while tomorrow will be a day that is better or worse, I know that my strength that heads my way comes from above. I could sit here and continue to wonder what is planned for us or rather, I can trust the process and be welcoming of all that coming my way. 

~:[CH8 - Day 79]:~ Seeing Through the Storm

~:[CH8 - Day 79]:~ Seeing Through the Storm

Turbulent weather sometimes only allows you to see the storm itself. Rather, if you look a bit closer, you can focus in on the beauty that lies ahead. As a storm raged through as the fatigue of Wednesday starting to creep in, I found a way to battle through the day and survive this storm. We finished practice before it started to rain and I got to relax a bit as it was quiet at scrip this evening. As I thought of the beautiful skies that surrounded me as the storm raged on, I wondered how a storm could roll in with such a gorgeous view overhead. That's just it. Life may seem like it's giving you a storm, but sometimes, if you look close enough, you'll see all the good that lies ahead. We all have to go through our storms, as we won't always have an umbrella to shelter us from these storms, however, in the process, we learn, we grow and because of it all, we improve. 

~:[CH8 - Day 78]:~ A Magical Ride

~:[CH8 - Day 78]:~ A Magical Ride

I started off the day posting this image to Instagram asking, "what is it that you love ... #donttakeitforgranted." What ensued was a day that was filled with the type of magic that makes you want a day to never end. As while the day was hectic, from the start it was memorable. From great interactions, to wonderful gestures, good food and just overall success, it was one of those days that felt like you were walking on air. As I thought more about the question I posed, I realized that what I love, is just everything. It's amazing how things fall into place and you have the opportunity to do things that you never thought you'd do, but in the process you discovered you loved to do it. That's  kind of how my life went. As I finished the night with the musical Aladdin, I thought about how truly magical this ride has been and while I didn't have a genie or a magic carpet, it didn't mean that I couldn't see all the great things that were around me all along. As while the story of Aladdin talks about all the magic that the genie possessed, it returns to the fact that the magic is actually in the person who you are. As while we dream of riches and magic lamps that may come our way, the only thing we truly need is ourselves. Today it was the love of those around me that made today wonderful and honestly, that is where all the magic begins. Don't take for granted the loved ones around you, as if you want the riches that a genie can bring, just love endlessly and you'll have all that you could have ever wanted.

~:[CH8 - Day 77]:~ How You Play Your Cards

~:[CH8 - Day 77]:~ How You Play Your Cards

A long time ago, I picked up a review game that I still use as my go to today. While it can get a bit noisy, the students enjoy it and it seems to be a good prep for the exam. Every time we play, I think about how life is a lot of times about how we play our cards, how we read others, and how we respond to the situation. In many cases, life will burn us and leave us out to dry, but if we slowly battle back, we can get ourselves back into the game. I guess the job as a teacher and coach is like that on a daily basis, as you try to figure out how to best play your hand with your students. Do you bluff? Do you go all in? Are you patient? It seems that I always take a different approach with every period, every year. It's strange how different the personalities are in every class. Later on, I learned about the realities of getting played in life. As I filled out  my taxes, everything was about the same as it was the previously year. The only difference? I am bringing home thousands less on my federal refund and a bit more in the state. I already prepared myself and even delayed my filing date in case, but sadly, most of what I heard was true, I got hit hard with the bluff, but sadly, I never really fell for it, knowing something had to be too good to be true. However, that is life. I could sit her and complain or write a long post about how bad the political landscape in this world is, but I am not going to waste my time. Rather, I'm going to get back into the game and work my way back, as while I could wish for something better, my time is better spend finding a different way to play the hand that I'm dealt. You can't change some of things around you, but you can change your mindset and your ability to maneuver the path ahead of you, no matter how many obstacles you face. As while I may not have been dealt a great hand with my hole cards, I know that unlike poker, in life, I can work hard enough, so I need not worry about that river.

~:[CH8 - Day 76]:~ The Skills of Being Lucky

~:[CH8 - Day 76]:~ The Skills of Being Lucky

I heard it all the time. "You lucked out." "What a lucky guy." "You've got luck on your side." "Beginners luck." Sure, sometimes that may be the case, but I've always been a believer that when you improve your skills and strategies, you give yourself a better chance of being "lucky." Even when you head to Vegas, knowing what games you should play and how to play them, help you to find success. We all need "luck" to be on our side, but if we work on improving ourselves, our chances will increase exponentially. With a day full of work, I closed off the night with a friend at the Clippers game and just when things felt like they were in control, a furious come back came from the Nets, but it was Lou who hit that "lucky" shot, something he practiced thousands of times. For those who sit back and hope for luck to come their way or who think that all their life they faced tough luck, it may be true, but it doesn't mean you can't work to improve yourself so that maybe you'll have a better chance of things falling your way. Maybe the lucky four-leaf clover we are all searching for is not in a field of clovers, but rather in our sleeves, when we roll them up and get down to working on ourselves. Maybe then, we'll get lucky and discover that pot of gold we knew was always awaiting us at the end of the beautiful rainbow. 

~:[CH8 - Day 75]:~ One Shining Moment

~:[CH8 - Day 75]:~ One Shining Moment

Nineteen hours later and three wardrobe changes later, there's no doubt that today was one of those special days; those one shining moments. After a successful meet in the morning, I headed over to the OC Cherry Blossom Festival where I enjoyed my time, capturing great photos, eating good food and having a great time. The weather was perfect and it seemed like things could not get better. They did. Fast forward five hours later and I couldn't imagine that I would be sitting in the fourth row, cheering on my alma mater (UCI) with an alumni of our basketball team (Evan Leonard) in a dominating victory in the Big West Tournament, punching their ticket to the big dance. By day's end, I was exhausted, however, had the opportunity to change my schedule, I wouldn't do it for the world. I didn't get a chance to breathe today and left so many more messages than usual unread, however, today truly was one of those shining moments in your life that you will forever remember. These days and moments don't come often, so when they do, soak it all in and just smile. Today was one shining moment and in the timeline of my life, it will truly be a day that will shine. 

~:[CH8 - Day 74]:~ May We Fly ...

~:[CH8 - Day 74]:~ May We Fly ...

The painted lady butterflies continued to fly as they migrated up the coast. It was a beautiful sight and makes you wonder about the beauties of nature. How do they know where to go? What do they do as they flutter along? If you could see from the perspective of these beautiful things, there would be a lot of questions and maybe not a lot of answers, but with limited time to enjoy this, I soaked it all in and smiled as I knew that it was something we could enjoy. I guess it paralleled to track and field. We joined up to a new invitational and while a small meet, the facility was beautiful and the meet was run efficiently. Sometimes you wonder what is going on in the minds of the athletes as they float along to their destination. While they may be running in circles, it's the mental game of running that amounts to almost everything. I sat back and enjoyed watching the athletes as they celebrated in success with all of our medals and PRs and while there were some defeats, I know that these moments of falling short are just what these athletes need in order to find themselves in a place where they can get back up and become stronger. By 8:30pm, we were already wrapping up and I got home a little before I thought I would. Sometimes you wonder why things happen, like how I ended up teaching and coaching, but sometimes, instead of asking all of these questions, you should just sit back and enjoy the fact that it is happening. The butterflies will soon disappear as their migration will be complete, however, the memory of these moments will forever remain. 

~:[CH8 - Day 73]:~ We RUN MUN

~:[CH8 - Day 73]:~ We RUN MUN

It was that day. I woke up early and went around campus, posting up our envelopes for the imperialism game. Yes, we run in MUN. This is my cross-curriculum with PE (sort of), as the students roam around campus with some powering their way to the next question in trying to take over the lands on campus. It is one of my favorite lessons as they begin to see how imperialism works, as they take it on themselves. This crazy week continued as after that, I prepped for the meet, getting everything put up and setup, hoping all would fall into place. The meet was quick and we ended up taking the sweep. We finished the evening together as a group and I came home and just crashed down, trying to finish as much work as I could before heading to bed. It was a day full of MUN and RUN(NING) as usual, but as exhausting as it was, there were great memories created in the process. 

~:[CH8 - Day 72]:~ Just Do It Yourself ...

~:[CH8 - Day 72]:~ Just Do It Yourself ...

When I think about the title, I think of Pinterest, "nailed it," but the reality is, in a lot of cases, this is quite true. There are many things that we can get that are ready-made, but some things, we just need to take care of and do it ourselves. My dad has always searched for the perfect clam pasta and every time, you can sense a bit of disappointment in his voice as he eats. A few weeks ago, my parents celebrated their anniversary and so I wanted to cook for them, but every time I tried, the timing just wasn't right. Today, it was. I whipped up a rice wine clam pasta. It was suppose to be white wine, but shopping in an Asian market, I got what I could and it turned out just fine. With a very basic sauce, the onions and garlic are what had to carry the flavor and so it did. As I pieced together a recipe, I ended up with this great dish and happy how it turned out. My parents were just as excited, as I refilled their bowls. It was something that I could do for the loving parents that have done so much for me, including putting a meal on my table. Sometimes in the midst of all that craziness that is going on, we forget how quickly time flies and how the once agile people that you called your parents are now just a bit slower, have a few more white hairs and wrinkles, and have a bunch more candles on their birthday cake every year. It's these moments that while so simple, mean the most. I am the type of person that always has appreciated the effort that people make to write a hand-written letter or card, even more so than any gift they could buy, and today reminded me that something that I just do myself, can be even more special than taking them out. I know that regardless of how it turned out, my parents, much like many others, would have been happy with the effort that I put in. Sometimes, while these glamorous gifts, events or dining locations can be special, sometimes, just doing it yourself can be even more valuable and memorable. As I washed the dishes and put them away, I smiled knowing that at least this time, I definitely "nailed it."

~:[CH8 - Day 71]:~ Time and Time Again

~:[CH8 - Day 71]:~ Time and Time Again

With some changes by the school, there was less traffic than normal in the gym, regardless, we made the effort to bring in new athletes into the program. As I went back and forth across campus to try and cover the sports tables while also checking out the progress of the MUN debate, I thought to myself, I've been doing this for a long time. It's been such a routine for me over the years, I have done the same thing time after time, trying to bring in new athletes and grow the program. There was some promise with those who came by and who really knows what's in store for next season. Regardless, it's always great to work with these wonderful students as despite the craziness and rush all around, I would do it all over again for these wonderful students. Tomorrow will be another day, but it doesn't mean that it will be any different, as a day where you are living and breathing, is time we cannot take for granted. Make the most of your time here, before all of it disappears. 

~:[CH8 - Day 70]:~ At the Table

~:[CH8 - Day 70]:~ At the Table

I know over the next few weeks, this will be a common sight, as the alumni begin going on their spring breaks. I always love catching up with them even if it's a crazy day where I am trying to catch up on everything. With a day to finish up what they didn't last week, I was able to catch up on most of my work and get back into the habit. It was nice being back in the routine and despite the "cold" weather, I felt rather toasty, as I have gotten used to the east coast weather. The next time I go back to the east, I am hoping that the weather will even better, but who knows, the weather these days is quite unpredictable. As I sat back at my desk and tried to get back into the routine of things, I couldn't help but think that it was nice to be back. While the day itself was nice, it was also nice to get back to meeting up with the alumni, as with them is where I have some of my most precious memories. 

~:[CH8 - Day 69]:~ Home, At Last

~:[CH8 - Day 69]:~ Home, At Last

As I sat down with my friend this afternoon, I realized that the past few months have been the craziest of my life. From work to freelance work, to just a few R&R stretches, I haven't been able to stay home very much. I knew this was coming and realized that the stability in my own life wouldn't be the same for this stretch. I began to prepare myself, as I wouldn't see my friends and family as often as I wanted and there was a lot of planning to do. Looking back, I often think, I shouldn't have done this or done that, but the reality is, you make your choices and you live with it. Yes, it was great to see all these wonderful places, but being away, just helps remind you that home is somewhere that is special. I get to be home for a long stretch and I do not mind at all. My mind and body need some time to recover and I need to reconnect with the world around me now that I am finally grounded. Strangely, when I landed back home, I actually got another freelance offer in Asia, but for now, I had to decline, as I need to enjoy home, at last. The Instagram life is something that many dream of, but then again, why can't we see that all around us, there are moments waiting to be captured. As while the beauty of the world around us may be able to be displayed to the world there, Instagram can never capture the beauty of all the relationships and intangible things that we hold dear, right here in our own backyard. As while I have been away for more days than I have been home recently, I will welcome with open arms the weeks ahead that will be enjoy in the comforts of my own bed. Yes, I am home at last and I couldn't be happier.

~:[CH8 - Day 68]:~ What the Eye Cannot See

~:[CH8 - Day 68]:~ What the Eye Cannot See

Every year, this week seems like somewhat of a routine. I tour around Manhattan and wander from place to place. Despite how similar the routine every year is, it's never the same. Every group has a different obstacle, they all have their different personalities, and there are always different adventures. As I walked to and from the United Nations building today, I thought about how every turn we make in life, changes what happens in our lives from the people we cross paths with, to the sites that we see. Those are the decisions that impact our lives. I love to see how much delegates grow and learn and while you cannot change everyone, you can instill something in them that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. They will learn values and traits and will figure out things about themselves in the process. Some will get it right away and others will realize it years down the line, thinking back to this opportunity they had. No matter what they outwardly show, however, the eye cannot see how they have been forever changed by the process, the experiences and the relationships they built over the week. For me, as routine as this trip may seem, I am also forever changed every time I go on this trip. I'll almost never get emotional, it's just not who I am, but it doesn't mean that I am not nervous for them when they go up to speak or proud of all that they accomplish over the course of these three months. We returned with an Award of Excellence, but that could never take place of the rewards that this trip offered them, things that the eye will never see. Tomorrow, it's back to reality, but for everyone, it will be a reality changed by the week that they all had. 

~:[CH8 - Day 67]:~ Up for Debate

~:[CH8 - Day 67]:~ Up for Debate

It was the last full conference day at it was definitely up for debate on how it went. We got a mix of reactions with a delegation speaking at plenary to a large group of them who just missed the chance. Regardless, I loved seeing them in committee focused on what they needed to do. Dinner was actually spent in a queue trying to get tickets, while I hung out with an alum. Surprisingly, it ended up being pretty fun despite eating in, as the frustration led to laughter. The end of the night had almost the whole group going to the social, enjoying the music and the environment of loads of people all around. It has been an exhausting week, but there's one thing that's not up for debate, this will be an experience they will remember for a long time coming. 

~:[CH8 - Day 66]:~ Giving a Voice

~:[CH8 - Day 66]:~ Giving a Voice

I had lunch with my friend and took him around the conference and I got the response I often get, I wish I had a chance to do this in high school. This program is one of the programs that gives you skills that you can most use beyond your years in school and when outsiders watch it, I think it's always evident. As I roamed the halls today, I was proud to see our delegates engaged and involved and showing diplomacy all around. As I listened to our delegates, especially those from Sweden, I heard them arguing for the rights of ALL people. Earlier in the day, we met with the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations and one of the points of emphasis on the policy of Sweden is to give a voice to everyone with a special emphasis right now on women in government. It was great to be able to meet such high level individuals who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. The students loved the experienced and carried their enthusiasm into committee. As the day turned into night, I met with a friend real quick before heading back over to the conference after dinner break. I had such good timing and saw so many of my students speak and speak well. One in particular I thought may get distracted since I was there, but she confidently stood up and wiped away all my fears, as she had her voice her. These student fight to give a voice for those who do not have one and in the process they find their own voices. This benefit is exactly why all the time spent prepping them conferences is well worth it. Today, reminded me why.

~:[CH8 - Day 65]:~ The Moment We've Waited For ...

~:[CH8 - Day 65]:~ The Moment We've Waited For ...

You know those times where you work so hard to prep for something, hoping that all will go well? It could be a conference, an interview, a big competition, or even an event like a wedding. You plan everything, you work hard and hope that it all works out. For these students, this is that moment. We always work with our juniors to prepare for NHSMUN. We go through a process and in that process, I've seen so many of our students grow year after year. The excitement of going to New York is an amazing moment by itself, however, being able to participate in one of the largest conferences they have ever attended, is also quite amazing. There are delegates from over 60 countries and thousands of delegates in our session and just being in that environment alone can be intimidating, however, on day one, our students looked confident and well prepared, as they should have as they've collected over 200 documents each in preparation. As I sat and chatted with a few alumni who went on this trip back in high school, some remember a lot and some a little less, but all in all, it was an experience they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Our younger delegates are never sure if they should do MUN or not. One of the alumni mentioned how he was so scared of talking that he didn't want to even talk to his counselor to change out of MUN and grew into the person he is today. It is in this moment that many of them are glad they stuck around, as this week tends to be an experience that can be surpassed by few of their high school memories. Wish them luck as we head into an exhausting four days of conference! 

~:[CH8 - Day 64]:~ Art Has a Way to Heal

~:[CH8 - Day 64]:~ Art Has a Way to Heal

There was art all around us today. From the landscaping of Central Park and how picturesque it can be to the art in the MET, my eyes were filled with joy at every turn. As we closed out our day, it was the art of theater that reminded me of the ability of art to send a message and help us heal. As I have scene Wicked nearly 30 times, I have been able to look closer and closer into the message that it sends. In the past, I looked at how we treat people impacts them and this time, I began to think about how art helps us learn, grow and heal. As while the mistreatment of Elphaba may have hurt her, it also helped her become stronger and to grow. While we never want to be mistreated, it's also a lesson that can help us rise up if we don't allow it to defeat us. Yes, we should treat others as we wish to be treated, however, we also have to try to see that we are able to overcome it all. All the art we saw at the MET wasn't always made so easily. In fact, sometimes people were scorned and criticized because people didn't see what they were doing as art. Many of these artists didn't allow others to bring them down and created magnificent piece after piece. As an artist myself, I find that when creating art (as well as looking at it), that I find myself able to recharge and heal from all that I am suffering from; it's therapeutic. Whether your art is like Picasso or you still draw stick figures, keep expressing your creativity and soak in the creativity of others. Art is all around us in music, dance, drama, and media along with the traditional, so soak it all in and allow it to help us grow, learn and heal.

~:[CH8 - Day 63]:~ Life's Not Always So Clear

~:[CH8 - Day 63]:~ Life's Not Always So Clear

You always can wonder why something in your life happens, but it could be days, months, or years later that you actually find out. Life is not always so clear, but that is also what makes life, well, life. As I looked out my window and saw this incredible image, it made me think of all the times that things happened that I never understood why until later. There is definitely a treasure trove of things that will be explained in the future, but only time will tell. As I met with a friend over dinner, it made me think of how we met and how things have fallen into place since. When things go right, things seem to be a lot clearer, however, life seems to be what happens when things go wrong. One day, all that made today such a whirlwind will be explained and hopefully, we will all discover something about ourselves and those around us. It definitely was an exhausting day, but when you look back on it all, you smile as things just seemed to work out. Yes, it's definitely not always so clear, but somehow, just somehow, things seem to work out just fine. Today was a definitely a reminder though that when things get cloudy, just lift up the shade and let the light in to brighten up the world around us, as the once cloudy view of the road ahead will once again become pristine and clear.

~:[CH8 - Day 62]:~ We Don't Need Superheroes

~:[CH8 - Day 62]:~ We Don't Need Superheroes

We watch movies about superheroes all the time, but that doesn't mean that we need them in our lives. In reality, we only need ourselves. I think one thing that we need to realize is that we have the tools in our lives to save ourselves or those around us have them as well. Life always has a challenge for us that we may be difficult to solve, but instead of hoping for a miracle, maybe we can start believing in ourselves, knowing that we are capable. I think we are so focused on an easy fix to our problems, that we lost the grit and the ability to grind our way through things. Life is going to be difficult and going to provide challenges, but we can be the heroes we need to save ourselves and those around us. We may not have lasers or the ability to fly, but that doesn't mean that we cannot do great things. We can do great things if we truly believe that we have ability to. We don't need superheroes, because we have the tools to be the ones to save the day; just believe. 

Tag a friend who is a hero in your life! 

~:[CH8 - Day 61]:~ Exhaustion

~:[CH8 - Day 61]:~ Exhaustion

We landed at Newark and had a delay before we could get off the plane. It kept pushing us back. I'm not sure if it would have changed things, but when we got out of the terminal, it was snowing. The kids were overjoyed before we had to catch the bus into the city. Our rooms weren't ready, so we ventured out, skipped the High Line because it was closed and then ventured off to SoHo/Chinatown/Little Italy. We grabbed food and then I met one of my friends. It was great catching up and while it ended up running long and the rain kept the pace of traffic on the sidewalks super slow, it was well worth it to just see how things were going on. We ventured to Washington Square Park and the reflections provided a beautiful view for all! We finished the night off with Times Square and the Empire State Building. As usual, the kids were exhausted by the end of the day and while most were not used to my style of traveling, they still hung and enjoyed their first day in New York, maybe too much so. We will see how the rest of the trip goes, but for now, I'm sure that they're all pretty exhausted. 

~:[CH8 - Day 60]:~ The Joys of Life

~:[CH8 - Day 60]:~ The Joys of Life

I don't always get to come home, but when I do, there always seems to be a joyful smile on his face when he is with grandpa. The laughter radiated through the house as he sat next to grandpa. It was a little saddening as I knew that I would be leaving home soon, however, it was comforting in knowing that he was doing well. I tried to get everything done before I left for the trip. It's always a challenge to leave when we have school the day of, however, we managed and got to the airport, most of them early. United seating was a total mess and pretty uncomfortable, but when you have a moment like I had today, even these bad situations can't ruin the joys of life that are so special.