~:[CH10 - Day 151]:~ Focus

 
~:[CH10 - Day 151]:~ Focus

I set aside Monday to grade. I think it was a good chance to remind ourselves why we have this day off. Too many times, I've thought of it as a long weekend, but failed to celebrate those who we've lost that gave us the chance to enjoy life. As I watched the commercials and looked through the ads our seniors made and graded the work from other classes, I thought about how different it could all be, if there was a powershift in the world had it not been for the sacrifices of those who gave all. Their families also gave so much, as they lost their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and more. As much as we celebrate these long weekends with what we do on our to-do lists of fun, let's also be sure to pause and take some time to reflect on why a particular holiday exists. I need to remind myself as well regularly. To those some and to those who gave all, we salute you and thank you on this day and everyday, as without you, we would not have all we have today.

~:[CH10 - Day 150]:~ Just Enough

 
~:[CH10 - Day 150]:~ Just Enough

This weekend's (Sat-Sun) plan was to do nothing; well, just enough. After the stress of last weekend, I figured I shouldn't plan much and just lounge, relax and do, well next to nothing. I met with my family, a few friends, but nothing that would even remotely trigger any fatigue or stress. It was a recovery day. I messaged only when needed and did just a tad bit of grading, but overall, it was my escape. As I flavored my corn which strangely filled me up pretty good, I added the toppings and found a perfect balance. Yes, it looks like it's loaded, but the flavor, was just enough as the excess fell back down to the plate. That's life. Sometimes, you just let things go and let it fall and find yourself in one of those days where you recover and recharge, getting ready for the days ahead. Interestingly enough, the busiest are behind me, but still, nonetheless, it was nice to relax and do just enough for this weekend.

~:[CH10 - Day 149]:~ Simply Quiet

 
~:[CH10 - Day 149]:~ Simply Quiet

It was a little chaotic when they came over, but overall, it was simply a quiet day. This weekend is one for me to hibernate and I enjoyed being able to do that today. Most people just assume because of my job that I enjoy being at all these events and in the spotlight, but I much rather be in a corner working on something quietly. I like the drive to someplace cool and exciting events, but not the crowds that come with it. Regardless, it is nice to interact for a bit especially when I haven't had the chance to see these two for the past month or so because of the track and field + MUN schedule. Life is changing very quickly and life will go back to a more normal, however, for now, I'll enjoy this opportunity to crawl into a cave and hibernate. Sorry if I don't respond to you too quickly, as the do not disturb sign is up. 

~:[CH10 - Day 148]:~ Sketch

 
~:[CH10 - Day 148]:~ Sketch

One of my students sketched this for me during one of my classes. It was a great gift from a talented student. When I look back at all the gifts I received throughout my life, it was those that were personalized, drawn, or created that stood out. Even if it didn't take a lot of time or money, just the sentiment in it makes it more valuable than anything else. Most people know that I save almost everything and in that collection are most of the things those around me created. I have a hard time throwing anything away, but even more so with things that are created like this. It was a wonderful end of the week, but I cannot lie, I am definitely ready for the weekend. Not because of all the adventures that are to come, but simply because I can rest and do nothing. It's been that kind of year. Time to hibernate. 

~:[CH10 - Day 147]:~ Untraditional

 
~:[CH10 - Day 147]:~ Untraditional

I've never been a big cake person. I think I say this every year. I eat sweets as I like to try different foods, but if you were to ask me what kind of cake I wanted for my birthday, I'd probably say none. I've had all different types of cakes for my birthday from mochi ice cream to a drumstick, but this tops them all. For lunch, I took a quick stop at Dakara sushi and they made me this beautiful sushi cake! I love this place so much and even more so since I've known the family who owns it for the longest time. Aside from the balloons, boba and Pepsi that normally fill this day, I ended the night in an untraditional way, holding practice and taking photos at the CIF game. The more I think about it, this is the perfect way to spend my birthday, doing the things I enjoy doing. I may not have had a fancy dinner (a lunch though) or a big party or celebration, but just the well-wishes from everyone is enough to truly appreciate the day. The best gifts come from the thought and time it takes to send that message and the heart that comes with it. Yes, we've all had untraditional birthdays, but I'm perfectly fine with this type of celebration as I'm happier when I'm pointing the spotlight rather than when I'm in it. To all those who took the time to send me messages, texts, etc, thank you so much. It has been incredible to receive messages from all over from people throughout my entire life. I am truly Blessed to have known you all and everything I have done up to this point is attributed to you all. I love you all and hope to cross paths with you all soon. For now, it's time to go back into hibernation until I finish this untraditional, but beautiful sushi cake. 

~:[CH10 - Day 146]:~ Legacy

 ~:[CH10 - Day 146]:~ Legacy

It was sad that tonight was the end of the boys basketball season, however, it made me think that often times "the end" is not where things stop. When you leave a legacy, your influence and the memories of your presence carry on and you truly become part of the foundation on which the future is built upon. Time after time I have to witness the end (sports, graduations, banquets, etc.), but these are the moments that bring memories of not just this group, but those groups of the past that also were apart of the legacy. I think when you think about it from that perspective, you realize that putting in more than just enough, that helping raise up others rather than just yourself, and modeling what you want to be remember for are all key factors. Winning is great, but leaving a legacy is greater. A legacy is gained, not by winning a championships, but by showing good character, leaving something better than you found it, and making those around you better in the process. In many programs at our school, that is the case and this is one of them, attributed to the students, the athletes, the coaches and all other supporters such as staff and parents. A championship will be remembered with a number on the wall and made some articles, photos and videos, but when you leave a legacy, you become apart of those who come after you and who stood alongside you and doing so, you are carried much further into the future. Tonight closes another chapter as we once again say goodbye, but that only means, that the foundation of the program has now become stronger as we look towards building into the future. 

~:[CH10 - Day 145]:~ Reach for the Sky

~:[CH10 - Day 145]:~ Reach for the Sky

The athletes have come out as often as they can. They beg for more time and with CIF coming up, we can give them a bit more than we had before. I am sad that we didn't have more time with this group, as they have been self-sufficient as we all try to juggle everything going on. To create a certain routine and then try to get everyone to change it midstream is tough, but at least for the athletes, this change was one for the better. I know this past year and few months were tough, but there is no reason why these students and others can't still reach for the sky. Life has its rough patches, but it's up to us to find a way to piece it all together. Some will need more support than others, which is fine, but I hope that in the process, we all see that not all is lost and that we can still chase after all those dreams we aimed for. There is a greater weight we will have to carry moving forward, but that weight will make us stronger in the end. Life is challenging, but we are stronger than we know. Trust in yourself and your abilities so you can reach for the sky and find out that you can fly. I'll see you when we all start to soar. 

~:[CH10 - Day 144]:~ In Celebration

 
~:[CH10 - Day 144]:~ In Celebration

It's not the best situation to have to celebrate your birthday in a pandemic, but you can be grateful when you can celebrate with the ones you love. I stopped over just next door to say hello to wish my little cousin a happy birthday. Of course, he has grown up so quickly as he already is going to be in high school next fall. I think while we all want normalcy, I think we all realize what is important about these celebrations, the time with those we love. As I dragged myself through the day, exhausted from one of the busiest weekends in awhile, this is exactly what I needed to inject a bit more energy into me to make it through the rest of the day.

~:[CH10 - Day 143]:~ Spending Time

~:[CH10 - Day 143]:~ Spending Time

I had this great idea, let's have an international conference. Never in my plan did I have league finals on the same weekend and also three other videos and paperwork due for my other gig coming up. However, in life we have to choose how we spend time. As I went shopping at Trader Joe's, I thought, I am fine rejecting a task if I don't think I can do a good job, thus if I take it on, I'll spend the time to make sure I do it well. On the same note, this weekend, after the meet, I could have relaxed, watched some games or a Kdrama, grabbed some food, but I chose to do something productive with that time. Don't get me wrong, we all need time for ourselves, but also we need to be productive with time as well. I was so proud of my students who decided to spend their time organizing and running this amazing experience for the delegates. Some spent from Friday at 5pm all the way through Sunday afternoon for the conference. On top of it all, they took time to contact schools, train delegates, send emails and more. The logistics in planning this are more complicated that the surface shows, however, with the right people, it is like clockwork. The students I work with were the rights ones and I couldn't have been more proud. One of my students received an email from a students in Japan talking about how she was nervous before, but now she is comfortable talking especially with her international friends. Other students from France said something similar. In total, we had four continents represented and we already started planning for April of 2022 when we can do this all again. This weekend was crazy to say the least, but not for a second did I second guess my decision to take this on and that's what life is all about. Some look at those at busy and wonder why they're so busy and stressed, but sometimes the work they are doing are actually what drive and motivate them and truly make them happy. As I made my last award and sent my last email, I definitely smile because I was happy spending the time the way I did. Find those things that make you happy, that inspire you, and that motivate you and spend time making yourself happy.

~:[CH10 - Day 142]:~ Championship Caliber

~:[CH10 - Day 142]:~ Championship Caliber 

League Finals fell in the middle of the International Model UN Conference. The night before I was in session until 11pm. In the morning, I got to Pioneer and setup by about 7:45am and then logged into the Europe/Africa session in the middle of the field. Life in the pandemic led to a concentration of events in such a short period of time,  however, we survive. Regardless, I focused in on the championship and these athletes came focused too. They came in so focused that we took home 39 individual league titles, eight relay titles and had 15 individual qualifiers with a number in multiple events. A lot of their victories were attributed to their own work. The athletes who beg for more practice time throughout the season showed me that all that work paid off. They didn't win those titles because they were just more talented, they won them because they trained like they wanted to be a championship caliber athlete. I think sometimes that gets lost in the instant gratification society. People often are impatient, but the ones who often find the most satisfaction in their success are the ones who spent all that time working. There are many others who didn't win a league title that fit this bill and regardless if they can claim they are a league champion or not, they are truly championship caliber. 

~:[CH10 - Day 141]:~ The Last Ounces

 
~:[CH10 - Day 141]:~ The Last Ounces

There's definitely a lot to do ahead, but this weekend was probably the one that has consumed my life for the past few months. I love that we took on this task, don't get me wrong, but of course, it added a lot of stress to the plate for us all. Regardless, to see students be able to interact with delegates from other places around the world was a great feeling. To understand that while we had a dinner break, they were having a lunch break was mind-boggling in itself and while I hope we can grow the numbers, I was fine giving this experience to those who came. While we had more mods and assistant mods who helped in the process, this was part of the crew that made this first day of this three day conference happen. Tonight and tomorrow night we will host some students from Asia/Oceania while tomorrow, they will host a larger group from Europe/Africa. As I stressed out about getting everything ready for today, double-checking everything for league finals tomorrow, and then also figuring out if we got everything aligned for the European format we are using for the Europe/Africa session, I realized just how amazing the students I get to work with are. As much work as I do, they do much more and really are what make this run especially when the day of the conference arrives. I'm on my last few ounces, but at the same time, while my tank is heading towards empty, they help giving those last few ounces I need to make it. They are the amazing crew who started us off on the right foot and made this amazing experience possible. 

~:[CH10 - Day 140]:~ Make Time

 
~:[CH10 - Day 140]:~ Make Time

Honestly, I didn't have time to shoot today, but I made time. In fact, I shot a little bit of the freshman game, came back for the end of the JV game and start of the girls game, popped over the CIF volleyball game and finished off with senior night. Life is full of choices and sometimes you find a way to make hours in your day. Luckily, despite the choice, I finished all I had to do for the conference and for league finals. Of course, it was great to celebrate the seniors and to see all the basketball team take victory. It was a little sad that one of our seniors (pictured) missed the senior night events since he is also in the musical which was performing at the same time. He played three quarters and then jetting out for his scene in the play. Thus, I thought it would be good to feature him here and appreciate all that he contributes to the school. From ASB to athletics, MUN to the musical, and just the joy he brings to campus in everything he does makes him amazing. I am so blessed to work with so many amazing students and while doing what I do keeps me busy, their effort is the reason why I make time. You make time for the things that are important to you and the aspects of your life that are worth spending the time for and working for this school really makes it easy to spend that time. Day after day, week after week and more, every minute, second, day and more is worth it. I hope you find the same in your lives and if not, find those things that you want to make time for and invest more time doing what you enjoy and love.

~:[CH10 - Day 139]:~ The Never-ending Day

 
~:[CH10 - Day 139]:~ The Never-ending Day

It was one of those days that I thought would never end. Although it was not one I had to physically go to my classroom, the work involved was much greater. After check in, I started getting all the documents organized for the International this weekend. I did more than I needed, which also might mean less work on the day of the conference. I still have a load of work to do, but so much more time to do it! I realized that I also had to finish a video for another project and also work on doing the heat sheets for league finals. Oh wait, in the middle of the day, I remember, I had to distribute wristbands at practice. I ran back and got them out to the athletes, drew up the roster and the guest list, before sitting in our final meeting with the chairs. I am exciting to get through this week, but then I wonder, what will I do with my time next week? Did I mention I also had to finish up the slideshow for Premios? Oh boy! There are days that will be like this. It's that list of tasks that seems to never end. It's overwhelming and keeps you away from doing what you want to do. HOWEVER, in the end, when you wrap it all up, that feeling of accomplishment is definitely something that cannot be matched. While doing all the work, yes, I sometimes can get stressed, but rarely am I overwhelmed. Why? I take each bit chunk by chunk and finish what I need to. I take a short break to finish up smaller tasks like I did today with POs, then get back to wrapping up the larger task. With every finished assignment, my motivation grows and the by day's end, I realize what I accomplished and can feel proud. It's frustrating to get so much work and sometimes you can easy become discouraged, but focus on one thing at a time and take a break from it when needed. By doing so, you don't overwhelm yourself and that never-ending day will reach its end much sooner than you ever could have imagined, as you realize that never-ending day is the same 24 hours as the day before and the day after. 

~:[CH10 - Day 138]:~ The Pause

 

~:[CH10 - Day 138]:~ The Pause

I typically expect that Tuesday will be the toughest day of the week. While I have my longest teaching day, I also have practice, I normally cook, and then finish off with my language class or classes. However, within that day, I am sometimes lucky enough to be home to catch the call that puts a pause in the day. Normally I am grading or doing homework or both. Today I was grading. However, as much as there is to do, it's fine to take a little pause to say hello. Sadly, I haven't been able to be at many of the visits on Saturdays due to track, so the calls become even more important. As many have learned, virtually is not the way we want to live our lives, but I think we also have to appreciate the fact that at least we have the option to go virtual. Regardless of how busy are days are, don't forget to pause for those moments that are important and will actually make you more productive because of the joy that it will bring to your day! Productivity is great, but it exponentially improves with inspiration! 

~:[CH10 - Day 137]:~ Workhorse

 
~:[CH10 - Day 137]:~ Workhorse

I like being a workhorse. While I often get thrust into the spotlight, I rather be working behind the scenes doing what I need to do. When I get in this mood, I don't like to be bothered (or focus so much I ended up being oblivious to any messages) so if you don't get a response, which is probably everybody, I probably am working. Regardless, I made my way through my workload today bouncing back and forth between the work for the conference this weekend and our league finals on Saturday. I ran a meeting I am not really in charge of and then am figuring out how to best organize our two sessions of the conference that will span eight time zones! I could probably spend the rest of my life doing work like this, however, as you know, I am a teacher and tomorrow, I'll be in front of the camera again. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but you just can't get away from who you truly are and for me that is being a workhorse. A few more hours of work to go. Let's do it!

~:[CH10 - Day 136]:~ On Thyme?

 
~:[CH10 - Day 136]:~ On Thyme?

If I survive this week, I will jump for joy. This weekend was one full of work. After sleeping in just a bit, I got a lot of work done for the International next weekend, had a quick meeting, organized materials for league finals which is also next weekend, and tried to wrap up as much grading as possible. I thought that life might be easier in this environment, but it's showing me that it wants to be the same (or even busier) than before. Regardless, I carved out time to cook dinner, before I got back into the thick of things, working away. I have a few videos to make this week, a lot of meetings and even more paperwork, but hey, it's a little bit normalcy before the summer arrives.

~:[CH10 - Day 135]:~ To The Finish

~:[CH10 - Day 135]:~ To The Finish

It was our last league dual meet and both of our teams were undefeated. Knowing the importance of the race, everyone stepped up, everyone did additional events if asked and in the end, they came out with a victory. The team finished with an unexpected score winning by 60+ points on both varsity levels. The athletes ran smart races and showed they were ready and I was so happy with how they did. They even were efficient with the hurdles today. I think this team grew an appreciation for the opportunity to compete, as they have put in a lot of work and effort. Every day I literally have to kick some of them off the track because they want to keep practicing on their off day. Most had to practice on their own for most of the week, as the restrictions made it easier for them to do certain workouts on their own. This season was far from ideal, but I was glad the team got the chance to compete, that the were a very hard working and likeable group and that they also performed. We still have league finals and CIF to look forward to, but as far as dual meets are concerned, this chapter is done, as we finished strong to the finish. A challenging year, but one we finished 20-0! 

 

~:[CH10 - Day 134]:~ Oh Shoot

 
~:[CH10 - Day 134]:~ Oh Shoot

It's been a few years since we had a dominating post like we do this year. A freshman who towers over the rest, but also has improved immensely. In my view, she had a triple double as she swatted and tipped away shot after shot and even made the offensive player change their shot and  normally miss. While I won't be able to verify if I am correct, her presence made the difference in the game. Actually, today was a day filled with amazing games as all four games came down to the wire. ALL FOUR! In all cases, we held on to the lead and took the win; two over Servite and two over Pioneer. It was an entirely exhausted day, which started with a late night (the previous night) to address a rude email, however, the day turned into an amazing one with a pleasant parent greeting during office hours and just an overall good day. I am so exhausted after a day that seems just like a normal day, but when you aren't used to it, you know your body will need to recover the next day. I feel like I worked out, but all I did was stand and take photos. Of course, my camera is pretty heavy. I shot the night away and enjoyed seeing the teams find their way to victory. Those lazy nights at home may be gone, but I wouldn't trade this for any of that, as it's nice to get back into a normal swing of things. I already can tell my body will punish me tomorrow, but for now, I'll just reflect on a wonderful day to end another exhausting week.

~:[CH10 - Day 133]:~ Avoiding the Laziness

 
~:[CH10 - Day 133]:~ Avoiding the Laziness

I try to never lay down before I am ready to go to bed. I fall asleep pretty heavy and am pretty close to being like Snorlax. Regardless, I was pretty tired through the day today as I have had a good pile of work. I got through a decent amount of grading today before heading back to school to take care of some work. I ventured back for a meeting before I cooked dinner. I decided upon Snorlax as it seemed simple enough, but I didn't realize how much rice it would take. After a quick venture, I did a lot of personal work today and then took a little time of my night to do my own thing. As much work as I may have, I try to make sure that I always leave time for things that I want to do and today I did just that. Nothing really stood out for the day, but I know that by day's end, I got a lot of the personal to-do items off my list, things I've been putting off for some time. There's just a little bit longer to avoid the laziness that is lingering in front of me. It says, but you only have a few more weeks, but to me, it means, I have a few more weeks to focus and get to work by avoiding the laziness. Let's go!

~:[CH10 - Day 132]:~ Finding the Keys

 

~:[CH10 - Day 132]:~ Finding the Keys

Honestly, it was a pretty miserable day. I got off to a good start, but as I ventured to school for a meeting, I realized, I left my gate key in my sports backpack (which I left at home). It earned me a little extra mileage which ended up being great since I ran in the Macs before our meeting. The meeting went smoothly as we covered all the bases for our reunion. [If anyone wants to work with marketing and promotion for it, let me know!] However, since I was in that meeting, we joined our full staff meeting from the room. The frustration mounted as we were placed in a webinar format which allowed for no dialogue on a issue that needed it. Sure, maybe it becomes less productive, but at least all sides are presented. If it was just me, I would probably slap myself and be like, deal with it, but it was shared with colleagues right next to me and those who messaged me as well with the same issues. Honestly, if someone has a different opinion that me, fine. However, if we are trying to present something so we can choose what is best, at least do it in a manner that is (1) planned out, (2) organized, and (3) not misleading or biased. Sadly, this was not the first time this has happened. One of the keys we needed today was to provide a fair and balanced discussion and presentation that started in September, not a few weeks ago. Regardless, I like the fact the people shared their points on both sides and while I rather had not had to do it via email, at least there was dialogue. With this an another issue, I looked at my watch and it was still only 1pm. I had to rush home as I had a meeting at 1:30pm and from there the keys were all found. I grabbed the physical keys from my bag, I had a meeting that provided clarity, but also added something wonderful to the day and I got to see the athlete compete (soccer, volleyball) and especially enjoyed the joy on the face of the volleyball players as they celebrated Senior Night. The key to the day? Express your thoughts when you feel it is needed, yet don't let it bring you down. There are great things awaiting in a day that seems so dragged down and the key to a happy life is to soak in the joy rather than letting the bad taint the entire day. Yes, my day began with my keys being left behind, but I recovered them by day's end to make the day less miserable. Life is challenging enough, there is no reason why you should make it even more challenging. 

~:[CH10 - Day 131]:~ To Cheer

 
~:[CH10 - Day 131]:~ To Cheer

It definitely has been a challenging season to say the least. Figuring out how to get everyone's practices in, while working around soccer games and making sure everyone can unlock what need to left us a lot of work to do, but we made it. As we close in on the final REGULAR week of practice, it ended up being one of the most normal days of practice, with most areas converging on the same day. It was definitely a day to celebrate. It was an exhausting day as I held interviews to prepare for next year, appointing new officers for MUN. I also try to figure out this and that so that my plans in the next month are all aligned. There is a lot to do, but it was nice to have a normal day and I guess it's a reminder that the simple, everyday things in life are things we should remember to give a cheer for. 

~:[CH10 - Day 130]:~ Teleporting

 
~:[CH10 - Day 130]:~ Teleporting

Today as I talked with my friends from Japan, we talked about the wish that we could teleport that we could visit each other. When I visited last January, I didn't know it would be my last time I would see them as I was slated to return just a few months later and then a few months after that. Instead, it's been almost a year and a half since I have seen them with our only communication being video chat and Line. Regardless, I keep hoping that the day will come when I can see them, for now, I just hope with these futuristic glasses that look like a filter, but actually are not, hoping that the world can teleport me to Japan and let me stay for now. Instead, I spent the day working on this and that, getting ready for the week ahead. I had some time to rest, but also some time to catch up on things I needed to do. However, with the downtime, the wandering mind let me back to this moment of wishing and hoping. As great as days can be, there will be days where we feel like we just want to get away, but sometimes we can't. Today was that day for me, nothing bad, just the hope that the normalcy of life will return shortly. For now, I can only dream of what awaits me in the future.

~:[CH10 - Day 129]:~ Sweet Treat

 
~:[CH10 - Day 129]:~ Sweet Treat

I ran some errands in the morning and during those errands, I picked up a few treats. One for me and one to celebrate Mother's Day. I already had my gifts and knew what I was making for dinner so it was just a matter of adding anything that would make the day better. The good thing about The Pillow Talk is that their desserts weren't too sweet. Personally, aside from drinks, I don't eat as many sweets. Even with these, I only had a spoonful of the matcha and tastes of the others from the leftovers on the spoon after scooping. Of course, the sweetest part of the day was the time with my parents. My mom has been talking about 갈비for a few days now, so we grilled up the short ribs, cooked some pork belly and made some side dishes. It was nothing special, but we always seems to have these types of days, as the hassle of going out to a restaurant on a holiday is a bit much. I accomplished so much in the first half of the day that I was able to relax just a bit during the second and that was also definitely just as sweet. As while Mother's Day may come and go, I know that we can show gratitude to our mothers and those who have acted like our mothers every day, as they sacrifice so much so we can be where we are today. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

~:[CH10 - Day 128]:~ Upgrades

 
~:[CH10 - Day 128]:~ Upgrades

As we walked onto the Glenn campus, I already knew I would be impressed by the stadium, however, I was even more impressed with the whole facility when I arrived. They did an amazing job with their upgrades and I was impressed. Although I don't know the $$ spent on the upgrades, they did use the bond money to upgrade their sports facilities at the very least. Our team wrapped up the race pretty quickly as we cleaned up, headed back and I got a little time to relax before heading out again. There's been very little in terms of entertainment done before this week, for good reason of course, but this week's definitely been an upgrade with a nice socially distance experience tonight. With the feel of rolling through a set of Stranger Things, the experience itself was pretty interesting. It definitely was a one time thing for me at least, but definitely something you should check out if you are a fan of the show. Thinking about the logistics of it all was a little perplexing. I am glad this week is over and while there was so much going on that I enjoyed, it will be nice to go back to a more normal relaxing day that I got used to, at least for now. At least this week was getting me prepared for a more normal year coming up (at least we hope). As while we've survived through the past year plus, let's get ready for some upgrades that await us in the days ahead.

~:[CH10 - Day 127]:~ Bouncing Around

 
~:[CH10 - Day 127]:~ Bouncing Around

Today I worked even more than yesterday and I felt every bit of it after a long week. This week felt like forever, but throughout it, I celebrated. I had that extra energy during 2nd, I enjoyed Allegiance during 4th, I got some work done for track during 6th and 8th and even got a wonderful visit during office hours with a student pumping more energy into my day by giving me a "fake speech assignment" that was a thank you. I jumped into the gym before heading back home for the International Meet & Greet with the Japanese students. While they were quiet, it was great to have a translator with us and just cool that we got to interact with some students from around the globe. I just wish more showed up for the Meet & Greet. I headed back to school for the varsity game and the energy in the game was incredible. It was fast-paced with a lot of action and some high flying plays. It was nice to be able to shoot again and while I cannot always make it out, when I can it's a nice feeling to be able to produce something for them. I went home to wrap up track work, do a little MUN, and then finally upload the picture. I had a long day yesterday, but worked four more hours today, but even though I did and as exhausting as this week was, I enjoyed every minute of it. 

~:[CH10 - Day 126]:~ A Drink with the Bestie

 
~:[CH10 - Day 126]:~ A Drink with the Bestie

I'm not sure this what Jepsen had in mind when I told him let's grab a drink. In reality I never told him that (I don't really drink anyway), but it's always fun to continue our selfies as it's a daily routine I hope will never end. Overall today was a pretty long day and I wrapped up doing some last minute items such as emails for the International. As fun as it is, there is a lot of coordination necessary. I discovered that a school that I thought was in Peru was actually in Venezuela and we added a school from Senegal! Regardless, today was a day full of a bit of everything and I just hope that as fun as today was, that the days do not all become busy like today. Today was a little too normal. By night's end I thought back to how much I was able to squeeze in a day and today, I even amazed myself. We should definitely drink to that, just now with your best friend in your hydro! 

~:[CH10 - Day 125]:~ The Joys of Life

 
~:[CH10 - Day 125]:~ The Joys of Life

Today I got to hand out certificates from the LA County of Supervisors. Normally, we might have gotten to receive these directly from Janice Hanh and Lynda Johnson, however, the students were still overjoyed to receive these certificates and they were well deserved. Sometimes we underestimate the resilience of our students, but these juniors truly showed me the work they could put in despite the struggles of the pandemic. They shined in committees and I was so proud of all of them. These joys continued as I snapped some of my favorite photos ever later that evening; ones I will never forget. While it was a last minute decision to take on this task, it will be among the first I remember, which happens often. The joys of life don't always come with things that are planned, but at times, also from things that are done at the spur of the moment. The joys of life is in the adventure with things that are planned and others that are unexpected. Don't live a life without planning, but also don't live a life that is preplanned. Find the balance as both provide a joy that will bring fulfillment to your lives. 

~:[CH10 - Day 124]:~ Change It Up

 
~:[CH10 - Day 124]:~ Change It Up

It was a little strange, because on a day like this, we would normally have an event in the quad and a crowd gathered. We had our event in the quad, but it was a much smaller crowd. Regardless with pool noodle spread around and staff dressed up, it made for a fun day around campus and a definite change from the norm. It's such a weird feel to have such a common restrictive routine, however, it is n ice to break out of that cycle. I am not the biggest Star Wars fan, but I was willing to get dressed up for this. I started out wearing my costume all wrong, but fixed it up by the end of the day and truly celebrated the Fourth. In life, even when we feel there is something we need to follow, change it up and even if it's just for a day, find the greatness that awaits us by taking that leap of faith. 

~:[CH10 - Day 123]:~ Tearing Through the Day

 
~:[CH10 - Day 123]:~ Tearing Through the Day

Most who know me well know that my relationships with pants has been a challenge the past few years. I honestly think it's because I like to wear the same rotation of pants so they get worn and I wear them as long as I can. I think most can agree that certain pants just fit better. In any case, I've had some epic tears, none more famous than my Vancouver Model UN trip where it was like five in the morning and I crouch down to make sure that I didn't leave anything behind and hear the rip. Trying to fix it, I used safety pins and ended up stabbing myself. I took a train from Vancouver to Seattle with a tear in the middle of my pants and sewed it up later that trip. Regardless, life will have its fair share of tears in it. As comfortable as life may get, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you might face that same very predicament. The tear, another, and possibly another. It is by no means easy. The loss of a loved one, losing a job, or just trying to make ends meet are not easy to overcome, but I am here to remind you that in life, you can sew those tears or start anew. By sewing you leave that reminder and have a story to tell or a memory to keep, while starting anew allows you to move forward. Yes, it was another day with another tear, but it wasn't terrible at all. In fact, the tear reminded me of those good times as I message that Vancouver group and joked about all the crazy memories we had. Life has been tough, but I know that we can make it, because we are durable and much more durable than any pair of pants I own.

~:[CH10 - Day 122]:~ Don't Have a Cow

 
~:[CH10 - Day 122]:~ Don't Have a Cow

I have a busy week coming up, so I tried to get as much work done as I could today. From catching up on paperwork, to putting in times, getting some MUN work done including editing videos, uploading photos and doing homework, it was a very productive day. To top it off, I finished off a drama, started a new one and watch portions of some games. There are times where you fall behind on things you need to do; don't stress. The time will come where you can catch up and you just have to realize that you cannot prioritize everything about yourself. You need to make time for you. In the middle of all this work, my parents were talking about finding a pot that drains for a plant and it just so happens I got my mom a pot for Mother's Day. I gave it to her early and this is the result. It was just the cherry-on-top during a busy, yet productive day; the catchup day I've been waiting for. 

~:[CH10 - Day 121]:~ Progress

~:[CH10 - Day 121]:~ Progress

It's not easy running track on such short preparation, but I am proud of my athletes for going after it. They dealt with the short training season, they worked hard to get into shape and they are racing their way into shape; slowly, but surely. Our team moved to 3-0 in league on all levels and really used a balanced attack to do well in our meets. While we could have more areas filled, I am happy with what we were able to fill in the amount of time we had. Even if they miss their PRs, just the fact that they are here, trying to make progress is what counts. Although we had to deal with the frustrations of the starter, we still managed to make the most out of the day. There were a number of good performance, but none better than the simple effort these athletes put in to being here and giving it their all. It's not easy, but there out there and that's what matters. We're not all going to be where we were when we left off, but just take your time, ease your way in and just be proud that you put yourself back out there again. With enough perseverance, it won't be long, before we find our way back to where we were, if not surpassing it.