~:[CH10 - Day 90]:~ Learning from Everywhere

 
~:[CH10 - Day 90]:~  Learning from Everywhere

It is often said that you wasted away the day on one where you watched TV or binge watched a drama all day. However, sometimes those experiences can teach you invaluable things. I wrote about this dish awhile ago, but when watching a Kdrama about a chef, I developed a recipe based on what he made. They show all the ingredients he put into the dish and so I just followed suit. The end result, a quick dish I can always make. I have most of the ingredients all the time and just substitute a few things here and there. Ultimately you end up with a creamy tteokbokki recipe. When you open your eyes, you often don't realize just how much you can learn from observing. From watching a show or even something on social media, these things can spark an idea and help you research and learn something that you may carry with you for the rest of your life. Be open to learning from everywhere, as you just never know what you might pick up.

~:[CH10 - Day 89]:~ Stronger Together

 
~:[CH10 - Day 89]:~  Stronger Together

I walked to school today to drop off something. It was hot. I didn't realize it since I don't see the outside and was wearing long sleeves and jeans. Brutal. I picked up some boxes and picked up the arrows lining the campus and was dying. It was a struggle. It reminded me of the struggle we've faced over the past year in so many aspects and remind me of the recent tragedies we faced from shootings to hate crimes. It's amazing how much of a struggle we already faced with the pandemic, yet as a society, we made it worse. We see society beat down itself even more as hatred is thrown back and forth, as we try to limit the voice of the people through voter suppression, the comments posted on social media and more. Our leadership has failed, but as a society, we have failed as well. It's hard because when someone makes a post, our instincts are to reply back creating this cycle of divisiveness; however, as I walked home, sweating and tired from carrying those boxes (yes, I walked), I saw this sign. Strong together it said. As while it focused on the class of 2021, it's something that applies to us all. We are all struggling, we are all frustrated, we are all in pain, but we also can't spend our time looking for someone to blame for it all. Instead, we need to work towards finding solution, to promoting positively and yes, we need to work together because that is when we are strongest. I understand that there are many things we need and want to see, but the wonders of the world were not built instantaneously, rather, they took time. We must find a way to put aside our differences and work together to find a solution to all these problems we are facing. Sadly, not everyone is going to buy in, but we need to get as many on board to find a way for us to move forward. There are moments that are rough and you wonder why everything is going the way it is, but those are but golden opportunities to figure out what the path ahead should be. There are so many things we need to fix, but alone, there is almost no way we can fix it. We are stronger together and I just hope that this society can figure that out so we can start on the much needed reconstruction.

~:[CH10 - Day 88]:~ Shortcuts

 ~:[CH10 - Day 88]:~  Shortcuts

I could have started from scratch, rather I took the shortcut, threw in a pack of ravioli, added the cheese and some sauce, layered in some sausage, then another layer of ravioli with more sauce and cheese. The end result? Sausage and lobster ravioli pasta. It was a very quick, yet delicious dish. I don't even remember where I saw it, but then quickly took a chance with it and it was a success. I added zuppa toscana soup with it and it made for a great dinner. Sometimes in life we want to make the full thing, but don't have the time to do it, so we figure out a shortcut. As long as it's legal, I'm all for it. In the end, sometimes we just don't have the time, but you have it in you to figure out a way to arrive at a similar destination than you had hoped. Today, my desired destination was lasagna, instead, my end results was ravioli lasagna, however, the difference between the two was minimal. Instead of giving up of what we are chasing after, maybe we can just make a few slight adjustments so we can find ourselves just about where we hoped to be using the resources you have and all being in the realm of possibility. How? Sometimes, you just got to find that little shortcut to get you there. 

~:[CH10 - Day 87]:~ The Show Goes On

 
~:[CH10 - Day 87]:~  The Show Goes On

It's a little sad to lose the feel of an in-person concert, but then again, I don't miss the waiting time to get in, the parking and even the ticketing. While the feeling of a concert is not the same virtually, it's cool you get a chance to experience acts "live" that you wouldn't have had the chance with before. You even get to see more acts that you may not have gone to had they been live, just because of the hassle, the schedule or you may have thought it wasn't worth all that time. In this process of virtually performances, you get to see which acts you would want to see live. They've figure out innovative ways to get fans on stage, to interact, and even to have surprise visits. I have to admit, it took a toll waking up at 3am and sit through the show, but it was another fun experience. I didn't even realize where I was located on the screen on the first day, but at least I had some awareness the second. I took the day as a recovery day from the cross country season, but it didn't mean I slept in, rather I woke up just as early. Life finds a way and the show will keep going on. Although when all is said and done, I probably will be too old to go to a live concert anyway, at least I had a few opportunities for these interactive experiences.

~:[CH10 - Day 86]:~ The Heated Final Chapter

 
~:[CH10 - Day 86]:~  The Heated Final Chapter

Five months. Five months later than the normal end to the cross country season, these seniors finished off their final cross country season. It definitely was a bittersweet goodbye as the heat radiated down on the athletes changing from a cool morning to rising temperatures when it was our turn to step to the line, but they all battled well. However, this race or this season does not take away from all the amazing memories I've had with this group, rather, it's the opposite, it added to their legacy. It could have been easy for them to be like many and just call it a wrap, rather they trained, they restarted and closed out their final chapter. From the beaches of Hawaii, the streets of gardens of Portland or the trails of Mammoth, we've shared so many memories together, especially with this core group that has stuck together, some since middle school. The pandemic definitely has been tough, but this group is definitely tougher. Trying to train on their own since July, going through the disappoint of cancelations, then trying to get their focus back to start back up definitely as a challenge, but they did it and did it well. You could see the effects that this had on other teams, but our athletes and this group specifically stayed sharp and pushed forward. I know that great things await this group in the future and I hope that they never forget all they gained over anything they lost. To my seniors, thank you for accepting the challenge and spending the extra time and effort to make this work and allowing me to share some of your precious moments in high school with me. 

~:[CH10 - Day 85]:~ The Comforts of Home

 
~:[CH10 - Day 85]:~  The Comforts of Home

The days after shopping at the Japanese market are my favorite. The food simply overflows in a combination of leftovers and freshly bought fish and other foods. The variations of my favorite Japanese foods overflows from the fridge, as it's packed to the brim for now. After a pretty long week, I relaxed. I had my meetings, setup the course, and held a parent meeting, but when all was said and done, it was nice to kick back a bit and just eat while streaming some shows. It's been a little interesting being stuck in my office almost all day, but there definitely are some comforts at home that I'll miss when I go back. For now, I won't think about it much and just soak it all in while I can and get back to business tomorrow. However, tomorrow is another day and today, well, it's the present.

~:[CH10 - Day 84]:~ Back Here

 
~:[CH10 - Day 84]:~  Back Here

It was weird being back here and seeing this view. I moved desk around to clear space and then setup my computers and desks. I put the minimal amount of items out, however, it still felt a little more normal. After my computer checks and our meeting, I held our individual meetings with my students before heading to grab lunch. It felt like a normal first day of school for teachers, but of course, it was not. The difference could be felt although there were some familiarities. Regardless, although there is a lot that needs to be addressed, there was some enjoyment at being back here. I loved the comforts of home, but it simply was not the same. Let's hope to a safe rest of the school year for us all.

~:[CH10 - Day 83]:~ When Nobody is Watching ...

~:[CH10 - Day 83]:~  When Nobody is Watching ...

It's easy to work hard when you're being evaluated, but how hard are you working when there is virtually no reward? Are the rewards and praise what drive you or is it the satisfaction of just getting it done. The hard thing to pass on to these athletes is to understand a non-incentivized lifestyle. There is always something to chase after, but what happens when there isn't? Do they lose their motivation? No, there is nothing wrong with anybody when they choose this approach, however, it is harder to keep going when all rewards seem lost. I have been proud to see so many of my athletes work hard when nobody is looking. For them, the opportunity came to reap the rewards of their hard work albeit six months later than usual. To see a number of my athletes move forward has truly been a blessing, but much of it is attributed to the work that they did when nobody was watching. They put in the time and the effort and with this short restart, they reaped the rewards. I think one of the things that helped me during this pandemic is learning to do work for my own satisfaction. Often times things I do  have no rewards or do not grab attention, but doing it provides me with my own reward. I hope that my students and athletes can learn  that working hard is not reserved for just when there is a reward or when someone is watching, but also for when nobody is watching.

~:[CH10 - Day 82]:~ Define

~:[CH10 - Day 82]:~  Define

If I went on social media and looked at how people would be talking about educators, they would probably be complaining about how we are lazy and we should march straight back into the classroom. They've been saying this for almost a year now. Little do they even realize how stressful this year has been on teachers. There are many who see it, but the ones who complain don't always. Sure, there are teachers who use this opportunity and maybe that is one of the reasons for the bad rap, but the majority of the teachers I know have put in 150% or more into their classes over the past 12 months. I have a new arsenal of material I can use in the classroom, I have adapted to digital learning and incorporated a number of tools I can use. I transitions some of my activities to a virtual environment and we even figured out how to hold virtual Model UN Conferences. Imagine over 1,500 students from 40 countries around the world in the same conference. However, we will continued to be judged and the question is, how do we let that affect us. How do we let that define us? Yes, we should listen to the concern and thoughts of others, but we also cannot let that be how we define ourselves. We must analyze all we know and use it figure out just how we want to define ourselves. One of my former students may seem like he is living the life in the spotlight, however, time after time, those fans (or anti-fans) try to force a definition on who he is or who he should be. I've actually seen it with a few people I know in the spotlight. They try to force their definition on these people, sometimes not realizing the impact it has on them. In this case, those around this individual tried to force this person to be someone other than their self and in the process brought on misery. They try to get some type of satisfaction of out giving people anxiety, stress and frustration as they force their ideas and beliefs on others trying to make us into someone we are not, when in reality, we need to stand strong and be the ones who define ourselves. When I look deep inside myself, I know how hard I worked and I don't need someone on social media to tell me how to define myself, what I should be doing or even what pace I should be doing it at. You may feel like they are the ones at the controls and if that's the case, take the controls back. We spend so many days of our youth memorizing the definitions of various vocabulary words trying to do well on that next exam, a definition written in a Webster's or something similar. This is one definition that only you can write, unless you allow someone else do it. I'm not going to lie; taking the reigns and trying to avoid society's pressure is not easy, however, right when you think about caving, remember to give yourself the respect you deserve and be the person you want yourself to be. While before you can do this, you need to discover yourself and who you are, ultimately, I hope that in your search, you find yourself and the words that are etched within your heart and your soul. 

~:[CH10 - Day 81]:~ This is Me

~:[CH10 - Day 81]:~  This is Me

I don't know how long ago, but I talked about how I would wake up in the morning and find my mom's fried rice on the dining room table. The Hawaiian hint was provided by the slight sweetness that radiated in my mouth after taking a bite. I've always grown up with a very Asian palette, but I grew to love all different types of food. Luckily I got exposed to cuisines of all types from the cooking of my parents to all the restaurants we would eat out at. I also enjoy celebrating all the festivals and holidays of my Japanese and Hawaiian culture and recently even began learning more than my limited Japanese I learned growing up. When I visit Hawaii or Japan, I blend in well and I definitely act like a local. However, when listening to an interview from Eric Nam today and with all the different events going on, it reminded me how lucky I am. I grew up in a diverse neighborhood. In fact, not too long ago, Buzzfeed rated Cerritos as the most diverse city referring to it as the melting pot. There have been more studies on this. However, when you look closer at the diversity within the city, you also begin to see the variations that exist within each demographic, which shows even greater diversity than what's on the surface. Regardless, the point I am trying to make is, I didn't really see the issues I encountered when I left the bubble, which many refer to it as. When Eric Nam mentioned being asked, "where are you really from?" It made me think, I got asked the same thing, many times. Yes, I have experienced a fairly Asian upbringing, but that doesn't make me any less American. It's sad that when you get a response to "go back where you came from," and you think to yourself, I am where I came from. It's strange how I feel like I blend in when I travel abroad, but when I travel within the US, sometimes I don't feel that way. This is where our problem starts, where we look and judge from the surface of things. Where we make our stereotypes and classifications. I feel like we've all done it because it's so intertwined in our society, but that is exactly what we need to do, to untangle it. We must remember though, that just like untangling a bundle of string, the faster we try to do it, doesn't always means we untangle it faster, rather we must study ourselves and the problem we face and really work to figure out where the problem lies. As while it make sense to trace it back to the source, sometimes we need to find the biggest issue to help the whole thing unwind. I think a lot of people have done a lot of reflected. They've revisited unwanted scars and they realized that hiding them under a sleeve is not going to make it go away. Amplifying our voices, not just for others, but for ourselves, is the first step in helping everyone understand the problem that exists. The hardest thing in these situations is to allow our emotions to drive us, without allowing it to control us. The issue is not isolated to just Georgia, but the hate and discrimination that exists has been growing even more so throughout this year. It existed before, but meticulous grew through the same way we are trying to fight it, amplifying a voice. In order to stop physical attacks, we must first start by condemning the verbal attacks. Words are the seeds that plant the hate and discrimination within someone. Sadly, this problem may get worse before it gets better, but it's time to not be silent and to speak up. As I quickly scarfed down my bowl of fried rice, yes it reminded me of those beautiful memories of the past, but at the same time reminded me that my Asian upbringing didn't make me any less American.

~:[CH10 - Day 80]:~ Ohana is Forever

 

~:[CH10 - Day 80]:~  Ohana is Forever

It's been nice during quarantine to get random messages from alumni. Our ohana always seems a way to stay connected, always willing to step in and help and support. Whether it's just catching up or having them come by to help out, they always seem to bring back memories and make me feel better, even when things are going well. When the opportunity to head out on the course with a member of the ohana, I took the chance. It was a perfect day and it was nice to get some exercise by walking the course with my bag. The first hole was a disaster, but I settled down and played very well the rest of the way. I wasn't too focused on my score and just enjoyed the time. While I ended up playing decently well, it was just the experience that made the day wonderful. Just over the past few weeks, the ohana has truly reminded me of how Blessed I am. To see them come from all over and reconnect has been amazing. Some support with their time and others have continued to give in other ways whether knowledge or support. Whether a quick message or some quality time, thank you ohana for making the effort to reach out. Even if we miss our connection, just the fact that you reached out means a lot and brings back so many wonderful memories. The days will come and go, PRs and the like may fade, but the memories and connections we build as ohana are forever. Thank you again for your continued support. I am forever grateful!

~:[CH10 - Day 79]:~ Early Start

 
~:[CH10 - Day 79]:~  Early Start

A little bit of normalcy. Waking up for school hasn't been too difficult, but having to wake up early to setup for a race is a challenge. It get's worse when you wake up before that for an event. Regardless, even though the sun wasn't going to rise for three more hours, it was nice to have a bit of that feeling again - race day vibes. The exhaustion of an early rise on a Saturday is something that is strangely missed. The thrill of the competition and seeing these athletes have that camaraderie is worth any an all effort required. Racing when you don't get a full season of training is definitely a challenge, but the team has managed well and we even had someone join the Ohana Hall of Fame. To my seniors, it means an opportunity to have their last hurray, as while it may not have been what they imagined, it's an opportunity to avoid such an abrupt ending. Life deals us unexpected challenges and sometimes that leaves us with moments we never experienced. As while they cannot be compared to what we experienced in the past, it's still an opportunity to make the most of an opportunity. I am proud of my athletes. In these tough conditions, they're challenging the course and some even breaking PRs. It was an early start to the day, but every hour of sleep and ounce of energy was definitely worth the sacrifice. One final week left of season and I just hope that at least it brings some final memories for this group who have endured so much. They took on this opportunity and literally ran with it.

~:[CH10 - Day 78]:~ Connected

 
~:[CH10 - Day 78]:~  Connected

They were definitely quiet, however, it was a great opportunity to connect with people around the room. I was in the room with the students from Japan and one from Thailand, while two rooms were running with students from Guam and Korea. It was a great opportunity for our students to meet people from around the world, while also trying to pass on the knowledge of Model UN. I think Model UN is one of the most beneficial classes around, not only because of your exposure to worldly issues, but the confidence you gain and other skills that are applicable in all facets of life. To see my students grow over time is one of the most incredible things and it's great to see them connect with the world around them. When I watch ASB announcements or club events, I am proud to see how many of my Model UN students are those leaders on campus. In many cases, what makes a student successful is not the content they learn, but the confidence they gain in their ability to connect with it and own it. Hopefully over the next two months we will be able to connect with a lot more students from around the world, but even while this virtual environment has left us disconnected from most of the world, it actually has allowed us to become even more connect.

~:[CH10 - Day 77]:~ This PHO-illing

 
~:[CH10 - Day 77]:~  This PHO-illing

I got pho at a drive by event. It was nice to see people I haven't seen in awhile, even if it was just for a bit. However, the fact that I was there was the most amazing part, why? It was the day of my second shot. With a race on Saturday, I planned to get my shot on Thursday just in case there was a reaction. I heard that there were many around my age that had one and so I hope that all would be good as while I didn't have anything I absolutely could not miss, there was a lot to do. Strangely enough instead of filling ill. I was able to cook up the dinner I had prepped earlier in case I wasn't feeling well and then stopped by real quick to celebrate like we do during this COVID era. I am just grateful to have had the opportunity to get the vaccine as I have just started to go back for practices and will soon be going back into the classroom. As much as there is to complain about, you realize every day how much you should be appreciative of. Strangely, I wasn't even tired, but just soaked in the opportunity to appreciate these special moments and also glad I avoided the miserable side effects some have experienced; definitely a great PHOilling.

~:[CH10 - Day 76]:~ Comfort & Pain

 

~:[CH10 - Day 76]:~  Comfort & Pain

Normally St. Patrick's Day tends to be a joyous one for some reason. Sometimes I am still in New York seeing the parade on 5th Avenue or just running around with a strange kind of energy. However, this day was filled with stress and frustration. I recently took a class in motivating students and today's district meeting felt like exactly what they said not to do. They tried to shower us with this praise of how amazing we have done and all that we've overcome and then threw out a plan that seemed like something scribbled on paper. Instead of something being well thought out with all the Is dotted and the Ts crossed, it felt like a, we'll figure it out as it comes. As we head into a much needed Spring Break for us all, their message to us was, use that entire break to prepare for this new setup. Not only that, they also took away resources that have been the most useful to us (Zoom/Meet) since they don't think they can support the bandwidth while trying to run a virtual and in-person class with groups that are split among cohorts. When asked how students in class will charge their electronics, it was simply, make sure you remind them to do it before they get to class, not realizing that some of the technology they are working with may not last without being plugged in, yet we were told not to buy our own outlets and we MIGHT get power strips. I think you get the idea by now. Confidence is not built within people through words and praise, but through action and as much praise as you can given, if your actions don't back it up, the respect and trust quickly disappears. Today was more painful as the AAPI community dealt with another blow. It wasn't just the shooting, but other attacks that also happened around the country. A lot of those around me in the AAPI community have been the most vocal, yet when push comes to shove, the effort hasn't been quite mutual. Regardless, it was inspiring to hear the chorus of voices rising together as those who were silent found their voice. The silence of many where careless words were used by our leaders and many others have manifested itself into what we see today. The seed was planted with words headed by our previous administration and grew into this evil that has grown and taken over. It's not just against the AAPI community, but for now, the AAPI community has been suffering the most. As I brainstormed all day about the final logistics about our International MUN Conference, trouble shooting and problem-solving, all of this was at the back of my mind. So much doom on a day where we were reminded that about a year ago today, all this madness started. However, when we find pain, we also find comfort. As we came together and figured a solution to our problems for the conference, as I shared frustration with colleagues and as the volume was raised by the AAPI community, I found comfort, a comfort that would not be found without the pain. The day did not have the same energy it normally has, but I found comfort when I cooked up our corned beef dinner, a meal my dad loves so much. It's definitely not a day to relax or to find satisfaction, but it is a day to find that within the pain of it all, we can also find a temporary comfort that can fuel us for the battles we have ahead. It will help us argue for the protections and plans we deserve, it will helps us think through and solve the problems we face, and it will help us speak up for a population that has been kept fairly silent. There was pain, but hopefully from this we learn, we grow and we open up our eyes while gaining the confidence to speak up. The road starts here, but it cannot end here. We can find comfort in making some progress, but we cannot be comfortable. We must use this pain and discomfort to remind us to speak up, as now, more than ever, our voice matters. Within that voice there may be pain, but that is where it begins to derive its power. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims from Georgia.

~:[CH10 - Day 75]:~ A Love Letter

 

~:[CH10 - Day 75]:~  A Love Letter

I just made it for the day and age of the handwritten letter. While the appeal of the handwritten letter faded away, it still is one of my favorite things to do. However, it always seems that we write these letters to other. It could be filled with memories, flattery or just plain banter. The question is, when you write these letters, have you every thought about what you would write to yourself? Today I wrote a "love letter" to myself. I think one of the things we all need to learn is how to pat ourselves on the back and raises ourselves up in these difficult times. I think students learning how to do this will help them learn and grow as well, as they will learn how to self-care and help them become self-dependent. While they will need to lean on others at times, in others, they will find that they are strong enough to lift themselves up. So today, I wrote that letter and lifted myself up. There was no reason for me to write this, just something I felt I could do and I am glad I did. By the letter's end I realized a lot about myself and was able to reflect on the past. It made me think of people who I may have drifted away from, but was able to reconnect with and those who I hope to reconnect with soon. It reminded me of moments I lost, but also things I gained. It also reminded me that we all need to love, but more importantly love ourselves. There's that saying, there is no "I" in team and I truly believe that togetherness is where we thrive, but at the same time, before we can thrive in that togetherness, we have to be comfortable and confident in who we are. It's not easy for all of us to find this, but maybe writing a love letter to yourself may help. Through my life, I realized most people are greater than they give themselves credit for and if we just flatter ourselves like we flatter others in our love letters, maybe we will begin to see what we were once blind today. Hoped to day is filled with love for yourself. 

~:[CH10 - Day 74]:~ The Unexpected

 
~:[CH10 - Day 74]:~  The Unexpected

It was a day full of unexpected work, but also full of an unexpected visit. Life is difficult when additional work gets put on your plate. You slave away and get the work done, knowing that it feel good when it's done. It's also nice though when out of the blue, you end up with a quick visit that truly makes your day. We did plan a few days in advance, but the text came out of the blue. It's always nice to have some interaction, but also cool to reminisce and see someone who you've seen grow up so much. To chat about those changes and to see them live in front of me is one of the most incredible feelings you get as a teacher or coach. We work so hard in our jobs because we know that a difference can be made and when you see it happen, when you celebrate milestones with them or even just get a chance to reconnect years later, it's one of the most incredible moments. As while a teacher/coach aims to help their students/athletes, in the end, it's actually the students/athletes that help us more than they realize. They provide us with motivation to keep doing what we are doing, they are the reward when we see the progress they made and all the great things they did with their lives and simply bring us joy when they remember us and take the time to reach out and reconnect. Simply receiving a message leaves me in awe, but to be able to sit and chat, even if it's limited due to the pandemic, is indescribable. Actually because of the pandemic, it makes it even more of an incredible moment. Honestly, timing is everything and I just happen to have a little time to break from the piles of work, but it probably was just what I needed to be inspired to dig in and get work done. Life is full of unexpected moments and encounters, even within this encounter, I encountered another current student and their family (or friends), however, even more so in our isolation has our ability to reconnect allowed us to recharge ourselves. To this alum, I say that I am so proud of where you are and how you've grown. As I looked back at the albums from your previous years as I promised I would, I became even more impressed. We may not all start out polished, but with the right time and attention, eventually you get the chance to shine like the gem that you are. Today was a reminder what all that time and attention does.

~:[CH10 - Day 73]:~ Hour Loss

 
~:[CH10 - Day 73]:~  Hour Loss

It was a little strange not feeling the loss of the hour. I woke up pretty easily and through the day I worked diligently. Sometimes these time changes hit you hard while other times, they're easy to handle. I did my normal rounds on Sunday, but when I got back, I knew there was a lot to do. I went through and updated the 50th anniversary website, finished up some cross country work, then focused on the International Conference that is quickly approaching. It's weird how quickly time flies, but then again, some days it simply disappears. It was "hour loss," but truly if we waste our time complaining about the hour lost, it's only our loss. I ended up putting out all the title pages and processing the topic synopsis packets I received, I then proceeded to write invitation letters and finished the night doing homework. It was definitely a lot more productive than I thought I would be even when the time disappeared. I could have easily been caught up in worrying about the loss, but instead focused on making the most of the time I had. I hope we all see that time is precious, so let's dial in and make the most of it, otherwise it's simply "hour loss."

~:[CH10 - Day 72]:~ Sunburnt

 
~:[CH10 - Day 72]:~  Sunburnt

I didn't even realize it until I got home, I was a little sunburnt and it was good. You must be thinking, what? Yes, it was good. It was amazing being back in action albeit solo and comparing times. With the first sport in our league to start back up, we rolled through the five hours plus the almost two hours of setup and cleanup that day. When asked what I would change about the day, I probably would say nothing. Sure, we had a few snafus and things that could have made it gone better, but just being able to be out there and running was something that was special for these athletes. They may have felt of shape or disappointed with their times, but hey, honestly it doesn't matter. Sometimes in life we accept the results because it means something better happened. The result? I got sunburnt, but it was because I was outside running a meet. In the end, we placed well and we had decent times, it was topped off with a good performance at our MUN conference that day. It definitely was a hectic day and a stressful one, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was so uplifting to see the athletes out there. While it definitely was a struggle for some, just the joy of being around each other was something I sensed right away. It was less about the competition and more about the experience and that made all the work put into it worth it. Of course, there definitely were some outstanding moments. Sure, we all want things to go perfect, but if we get what we were aiming for, but get a little sunburnt in the process, I'd call that a successful day and that's just what we found today. 

~:[CH10 - Day 71]:~ Solution

 
~:[CH10 - Day 71]:~  Solution

I think one of the most important during these challenging times is to be adaptable. I think learning to be adaptable is one of the most important survival skills you can have. I always think of MacGyver when I think of adaptability. Figuring out a way in challenging situations. The work from home was just starting up when we got to this unit and we were asynchronous, thus, I didn't get to do this simulation last year. I spent the whole night trying to figure out how to make this work online and for the most part, I was able to figure it out. In fact, it may have been easier to do with this new tech version of the assignment. These are the benefits of tough situations, you find incredible solutions to your problems. Instead of focus on what all our problems are or how big they are, maybe we can focus on how great our solutions can be to the situation. Let's change the way we think and maybe that will lead us to finding incredible results we never would have encountered. Problems create opportunities, so let's do our best to find these innovative solutions that exist, but are just waiting for us to uncover them. 

~:[CH10 - Day 70]:~ Drive By

 
~:[CH10 - Day 70]:~  Drive By

I took a short tour around Cerritos, dropping off clothing to people. It was nice because while these stops are quick, they are quality stops as it's been so long since I've seen many of these people. This disconnect makes the connection so much more special, even if it's just a quick drive by. As I got home, I was in high spirits from seeing everyone body. I took a quick nap before cooking up dinner, trying a new recipe which came out amazing. It combined well with our leftovers, which will make dinner the next few nights fabulous. I had a lot of work to do, so I wrapped it all up before writing my yearbook message. I guess a lot of inspiration from the day went into that message. As we write down the words of the story from this past year, let's not forget all that we learned so we can continue to appreciate all that we once took for granted.

~:[CH10 - Day 69]:~ Throwback

 

~:[CH10 - Day 69]:~  Throwback

With one of my hard drives crashing earlier this year, I knew that some of my files would be missing. I searched around and realized the file I was looking for was not buried in a dead drive, but rather buried in my sort file. When reorganizing my hard drive setup, many of my filed ended up in a sort folder. As I searched through that nostalgia hit me. Then it hit me again as I created the website for our 50th anniversary event next year. Yes, the planning is starting it will probably get a little hectic moving forward. Regardless, it was nice to chat again with some of the staff that worked when I went to school and then some of my current colleagues. I'm excited to welcome others into the planning process soon and to get going. Part of my job, I actually don't really enjoy, so if anyone really likes to connect with businesses and other sponsors, let me know, as you'd make me happy for taking that off my hands. The next year will be a lot of scrolling back over old material and I wonder exactly what I will recover and what memories will return to me. We shall see, but it will definitely be cool to see the collaboration of so many as we throw it back to the past 50 years of Cerritos HS.

~:[CH10 - Day 68]:~ The Highlights

 
~:[CH10 - Day 68]:~  The Highlights

There are so many negatives when you hear about schools and virtual learning and the like. There definitely are a lot of downsides, however, in the same breath, I've been talking about all the great things that have also happened during this time. During open house, we found ourselves hosting our Open House Sim online. While it was a challenge, we figured out how to make the most of our time while demonstrating the ins and outs of the class. I think in general, many teachers have adapted and worked hard to get things done. However, just like the students, the stress of figuring everything out and balancing it all affects teachers as well. There's always that reminder that yes, it's okay to take that break or to destress after a bad day. I've heard from students and teachers both of the struggles they faced. It's definitely been a challenging time and one of the most difficult parts about it has been being apart. Today I saw some faces I haven't seen in person in awhile. A few teachers, some other coaches, and then I got to see my athletes again. It's weird having to distance myself from them so much, but at the same time, it's nice to just be in proximity to them. As much as we've faced struggles, however, open house, gave me another highlight as a few parents sent praise our way. I know they definitely want their children back in school, but they also realize that we are working hard to make it work as is. To hear that directly from parents was a blessing. It will definitely be a year we all look back and never wish for again, however, it will also be a year that highlights what we are capable of, what we can do, but also the time we must allow for ourselves as well. It will be a time that helped us highlight just how important simple interactions were and just simple being there is. As I hear from most of my athletes, just the fact that they can be together is a blessing. Soon we will be hitting the field in our first "competition." While we will not be racing head-to-head, it will be another highlight, as it won't be about how fast they run, but more so about the fact that they get a chance to compete. Eventually we will be able to return and see each other again, but for now, let's be sure to take care of ourselves and highlight all the things we've done well. As while there are things we know we can do better, just the fact that you're still hanging in, is still something to highlight.

~:[CH10 - Day 67]:~ Rise from the Ashes

 
~:[CH10 - Day 67]:~  Rise from the Ashes

Instead of enjoying the sunny weather of SoCal, I would be freezing on the busy streets of NYC around this time. Strangely, it's a bit warmer than normal there, but still, being there in person gives a completely different feel than normal. Sure, it definitely has a lot less stressful not having to watch over a group of students for a week, but there was so much that I wish I could show them and just hoping they get the chance in the future. Regardless despite the lack of that perk, this group of students worked just as hard as any other group, nobody dropped out, almost no assignments were late, and ultimately, they finished the conference with one of the best performances we have had at NHSMUN. From top to bottom, I saw them improve and grow, while through the process we connected, even in a virtual environment. This process solidified the idea that a situation is what you make of it. You can either hang your head and say what it is not or you can face it head on and see what you can do. While the world they knew had slowly crumbled, this group rose from those ashes and battled. The Zoom fatigue must have been real, but I think some of that disappeared as they debated with students from across the world. The conference was smaller this year than in year's past. With half of the group (session 1) being about 1,500 students from 126 schools from 41 different countries around the world. even a smaller conference still had an impressive array of representation, which the students enjoyed so much. We didn't get to celebrate in person, but I was glad to have been able to congratulate our students as we had a quick Zoom session before third period started. Despite all the challenges, these students rose from those ashes and walked away with two Awards of Distinction, honoring their research & preparation as well as their contributions to committee. After the four months of work they put in despite this pandemic without a single complaint (to me at least), these honors were definitely well deserve. Congratulations to this year's NHSMUN team, I am so proud of you and you definitely made the countries of Japan and South Africa proud! With a group of youth like this, I know that the future is bright as even when surrounded pile of ashes, instead of crumbling, they showed me there there is still hope and a reason why we all can celebrate.

~:[CH10 - Day 66]:~ Proud

 
~:[CH10 - Day 66]:~  Proud

I've been pretty proud of the Model UN students this year. Despite the conditions, they've stayed engaged, attended hours upon hours of committees on the weekends, volunteered to chair all the additional committees we've been hosting and excelling in this virtual environment. Our Nationals group this year was smaller (as expected) than usual, however, it didn't mean that they gave any less. Since November, they researched, they wrote papers, they were quizzed by me, met at night for hours as a group and even after the regular sessions had ended, another group of students spend their time, six hours after committee ended, on another Zoom call preparing their plenary speeches. With a group almost half the size, we ended up with about the same number of speakers at plenary. For those not familiar, to be chose for plenary typically means you're one of the top two delegates in your committee or at least well-spoken enough to represent your committee. Tomorrow they'll get to speak in front of a virtual audience of what may be 1,000+ students from around the world. While they did not get to roam the streets of New York, they still experienced one of my favorite moments of the experience (possibly to a greater extent), meeting students from around the globe. In our wrap up, they mentioned meeting students from Greece, Mexico, Venezuela, China, Vietnam, Ecuador, Lebanon, Canada among others. They also met actual representatives from South Africa and Japan and also had some time just to chat and connect with each other more in our meetings. I hope that they will get to roam the streets next year if conditions improve, but no matter what happens, I am even more proud of this year's group than ever, NHSMUN and our program as a whole. As always, with the closing ceremonies coming up, while it's a joy if they end up taking home a delegation award, they truly have already made me proud and the work they put in is the greatest award I could be given. They represented our school well so far and I look forward to wrapping it up tomorrow. One more day, which means one more day to be proud of them all.

~:[CH10 - Day 65]:~ Prickly

 
~:[CH10 - Day 65]:~  Prickly 

Many of us have our prickly sides. It probably has become more evident during the pandemic as we deal with everything around us. It can sometimes be our way of distancing ourselves from others or simply a defense mechanism that may not be able to be explained. However, while that prickliness can often be seen as a negative, it's understood that we must create our own boundaries and draw the line where we feel the most comfortable during the right times. Sometimes we just need our space or there are certain areas of our lives that we just want to protect. Regardless of what it is, never feel bad for protecting what you want to protect, but also remember to not distance yourself from the world at all times. As I enjoyed the views of the outdoors after a morning in committee sessions, it was nice to break away from the computer screen and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Doing so has allowed me to keep my balance and I hope we all found our way to balance yours. As the sun set, it felt so good just to soak it all in as my prickliness faded away, allowing me to relax and enjoy all around me. It was a long day, but a wonderful day, capped with a much needed walk with the healing power of nature. 

~:[CH10 - Day 64]:~ Connect

~:[CH10 - Day 64]:~  Connect

Yes, these times are challenging. Normally this week, I'd be dragging a group of high schoolers around New York. Instead, the sessions kicked off behind the screen. Regardless, this challenge provided an opportunity. We heard from speakers we probably wouldn't have such as the Secretary General of the OAS (pictured above) and we also saw delegates from places around the world that may not have been able to attend. There were the typical tech issues and disappointment of not being able to meet face-to-face, but still, things like Model UN cannot be stopped even in the face of all this adversity. Rather than folding to it, we've actually been able to connect more and reach out further. During the day, I sent emails to schools in Mexico and Costa Rica and organized trainings for students in Asia. These things probably would not have come to pass without these challenges. Yes, we do want things to go back to normal, but I do hope that these opportunities that sprouted up because of the pandemic, do not disappear after it. From connected to alumni to individuals I wouldn't have been able to reach out to before, the isolation of this pandemic led to great connectivity albeit virtually. 

~:[CH10 - Day 63]:~ Lounging

 
~:[CH10 - Day 63]:~  Lounging

Some days you just want to lounge. After morning classes, I had to deal with Facebook. They took down one of my blog posts (about Myanmar) since they said it violated their rules for promoting violence. Strangely enough it was condemning the violence and advocating for peace by giving the people a voice. I was happy to see that later in the day, the post was restored as I asked if they even read the post before taking it down. When that was taken care of, I decided to break down the empty wrapped boxes I had in my car since Christmas. Yes, since Christmas. They were used as props in our family photo session and I just left them in there for the time being. One thing led to another and I ended up cleaning most of car with just a vacuuming to go. I headed back in to get ready for Nationals tomorrow, before making dinner. Today's animal was suppose to be a corgi. You can see the butt and little tail on the other side, but the face ended up looking more like a fox, but then when adding the nose, it looked like a different type of dog. Regardless, it was fun to look at and a great dish to create. I had my final sweater drop off tonight before just catching up in the chill of the night. Some days you just feel like lounging, but sometimes on those days, the day doesn't always allow for it. It was nice that I kept the balance in the day, as I was able to get work done, while also finding some time to lounge. Thinking of this warm curry, I laid out in a warm bath to end the night, so maybe in the end, I got the lounging experience I had wanted since the start. 

~:[CH10 - Day 62]:~ Exhaustion

~:[CH10 - Day 62]:~  Exhaustion

I sit her exhausted, but it's the best feeling ever. I was used to working long hours, but the feeling I have now is the kind of feeling I got after a nice long day of work. No, it's not great to work long hours, but when it's work that is satisfying, it is great. I bounced from our PD in the morning, to our check in and straight to our mission briefings. As usual, the Permanent Mission to the UN from South Africa blew us away. They always have some of the best and most informative briefings around. The students got all their answers questions in pretty good detail. I headed straight to our team meeting before moving to the meeting with the Permanent Mission to the UN from Japan. While the detailed questions were a bit challenging for someone who specialized in financing, I feel the students still had a great experience. I love the sympathy they had for the speaker as one student changed their question to ask how the speaker's typical day would go and even asked what he had for lunch. It was Shake Shack. Everyone got a laugh out of it. I love how they showed concern for the speaker after rounds of tough questions. It was definitely sad that they didn't get the opportunity to walk into these missions, but overall, I think the experience of meeting with them is still priceless. I am definitely exhausted from the long day, but it's definitely a good feeling to get back into the swing of things.

~:[CH10 - Day 61]:~ Priceless

~:[CH10 - Day 61]:~  Priceless

It was a little strange worrying about so much on just a normal practice day. "What am I forgetting?" as I walked out the door. I walked back and forth between the blacktop and my classroom as I kept thinking of what I needed. In the end, I had what I needed and things went a lot quicker than expected. We got everyone checked in and when I turned around, you can feel the joy of everyone just being around each other. It's not normal times, but it sure was nice for them to be together. They'll need to get use to the process, but regardless, just having them together running was a big W. Yes, it's a pain carrying a jug of sanitizer around or wearing a glove on a hot day, but the value of it all is definitely priceless. We are learning how to take less awkward distanced photos that make it look like they're together and even like they're holding hands. We'd all love to embrace each other normally, but for now, just being together is more valuable than anything in the world. I didn't care how the performances were in this workout, but still was quite impressed by the progress some made during this downtime. Who knows how they will perform in a race, but I was just happy that they'll get to run. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and I don't know of any generation that will understand that more than this group. 

~:[CH10 - Day 60]:~ Voice

 
~:[CH10 - Day 60]:~  Voice

Can we just stand by and watch? My friend has been updating me daily about the on goings in Myanmar and keeps asking me, "how can we protect our people?" I understand how much we have to worry about with the pandemic, but what about those who have to deal that and so much more? We complain about having to wear a mask or stay inside and I understand the impacts and effects it has, but what about those who truly lost their voice with their government being taken over and the people being silenced. In the middle of the night, people are being taken away and this young lady is one of the many who paid the ultimate sacrifice, her life. The scary thing is, the radicalization did not leave us far from a moment like this. In these moments, no matter what what are beliefs are, we must speak up because a coup cannot be acceptable especially when it goes against the will of the people. The voices of those in Myanmar have not been heard by enough people. The voices of Hong Kong were, but slowly faded away. How can we not hear these voices that so desperately need us? When we will step up and help? I know the argument is that we have our own problems to deal with, but if we keep ignoring all that goes around the world, it will be us who is left alone and isolated when we need the help. Let's all be a voice for the injustice that goes on around the world and let's give a voice for those who are less powerful. I understand that I once again post a similar message than I sent days earlier, but these people need a voice and I hope to at least do what I can to make that happen. She worked in a beauty salon, but spent her finally days protesting to return their elected leader to power. She may no longer be with us, but we can still give her the voice she gave her life for.