~:[CH11 - Day 334]:~ I'm Not a Robot

 
~:[CH11 - Day 334]:~ I'm Not a Robot

I'm not a robot, but that doesn't mean, I don't need time to recharge. I knew that it would be a little crazy trying to transition from working abroad to getting back to work at home. Most people who know me think I am crazy at times, but when thinking about it as I let my mind and body rest a bit is, I figured out how to manage myself and my body. When I first started teaching, I remember sitting at my desk, looking in a daze, realizing things were definitely not normal. I ended up at home, then soon after, I would be checking into the hospital. Thinking back, my schedule was overloaded and similar to what it is today, but I also realized, I didn't allow myself the breaks needed to allow myself to recover. Busy people end up being some of the most productive, at the same time, behind the scenes, they also find the time they need for themselves (or at least I hope). I try to keep my boundaries strict for what I am focused on and while it may not be the most convenient for most, it is the most healthy way to approach the way I attack life. My mind and body today are in the docking station recovering so that it can be ready to march forward once again at full speed. It's time to recharge.

~:[CH11 - Day 333]:~ Always Reflecting

 
~:[CH11 - Day 333]:~ Always Reflecting

One of the most important things in life to do daily is to reflect. After enjoying a wonderful day at TeamLab and the Uzu Ramen, I just ventured around enjoying a few different spots I have yet to explore. It was nice in a way to have the uncertainty, but I also ventured to places that were more familiar to me. After the long day, I did reflect on the day and all that I enjoyed and things that could have gone better. It's not me to linger on things that I cannot change, but it's not a problem to think about them to see what you need to change and adjust for the future. Additionally, I love to appreciate all the thing opportunities I have been given even down to the ability to walk and breathe. As we face challenges in our society, there are so many obstacles we must overcome and I am just hoping we all reserve time to reflect to so we can change, appreciate and truly treasure incredible moments like these. As I scarfed down the ramen in this beautiful setting, I was impressed at how the view was endless around us. It made me think about how our opportunities are endless and it all starts when we are able to look back and reflect our ourselves and our lives. We lack many things, but let's make sure that what we are lacking are not things that we cannot provided ourselves. A little reflection should go a long way. 

~:[CH11 - Day 332]:~ Just Like Magic

 
~:[CH11 - Day 332]:~ Just Like Magic

It was pretty cool to check out the Harry Potter Cafe after an afternoon of working all day. I had four meetings before headed out and met up with my friend. It was a little tough making the reservations as you have to do it about a month in advance, but the experience itself was definitely worth the effort. The dishes all have a little bit of Harry Potter flare and the drinks have their own little magic as well. The food is not what you visit this place for. I'm not the biggest fan of British food, so it wasn't my cup of team, but regardless, it was magical. The whole area was decorated nicely and I appreciated the effort they made to truly make the experience magical on top of the holiday decorations as well. There are moments in life that feel magical and today definitely was one of those days as I enjoyed all my interactions through the day. I finished the day exhausted, but that just meant the day expended all my energy to make it truly magical. 

~:[CH11 - Day 331]:~ Precious Connections

~:[CH11 - Day 331]:~ Precious Connections

Many people say that it's fate the brings people together. I guess it can ring true, but it also takes work for you to keep those precious connections. As I once again worked on those connections, it was great to see people I have connected with for such a long time. It's interesting to hear our conversations change and how their lives have been redirected to where they are today. It's definitely joyous to meet with them time after time and just hope we can keep these precious connections alive. There are a lot of links I want to keep, but it will definitely take focus to make sure they are never disconnected. Sometimes that connection may feel like it's been severed, but the great thing about life is that in many cases, we are able to reconnect that connection in hopes we can strengthen it in the future to ensure the precious connections stay intact. Today was full of those moments and while it ended on a bit of disappointed as we were hoping for a Japan victory, we still enjoyed these precious moments we spent together. Here's to many more wonderful memories in the future.
 

~:[CH11 - Day 330]:~ Beauty in All Forms

 
~:[CH11 - Day 330]:~ Beauty in All Forms

When working, I enjoy it the most when working with people who have a kind heart and are just genuinely nice. It was great to reunite and do this shoot for this wonderful soul. A beautiful singing voice, a kind heart and just great chemistry with the camera. While the plan was initially was in disarray, the setup of the day ended up being great and worked out perfect. Especially living in LA, we are always surrounded by talented individuals from influencers to celebrities, but in all. honestly, we definitely need to prioritize those who are not only talented or visually appealing, but who have their hearts and minds in the right place. The most attention and respect should be directed to those people from any walk of life, as they are the ones who will bring the most beauty to our worlds. As I scroll through social media and hit link after link about celebrities or the toxicity on social media, I realize even more so that this needs to be our focus. Luckily, I am surrounded so many wonderful people who show beauty in so many forms, especially the ones that matter. As while I've captured so many images, the true beauty of someone can never truly be captured as the greatest beauty cannot always be captured through the eye of the lens. 

~:[CH11 - Day 329]:~ Refreshed

 
~:[CH11 - Day 329]:~ Refreshed

I definitely was exhausted, but I headed out to catch tonight's performance. Sometimes we feel like not moving at all, but when we finally do, we are glad we made the effort. Often, we are rewarded for our effort and while that can't be the case all the time, it normally rings true. I wandered around a bit before heading back for a meeting. It was great and refreshing to get out and definitely a great way to start the weekend. Life gives you many choices and when you talk the one that seems like it would be more exhausting or inconvenient, you might just find that it's the choice that will leave you feeling refreshed. Here's to a refreshing weekend!

~:[CH11 - Day 328]:~ A Day of Thanks

~:[CH11 - Day 328]:~ A Day of Thanks

It wasn't a traditional Thanksgiving. I woke up and couldn't get out of bed, so just laid there. I missed Turkey Trot again. Of course, my body was telling me to rest and so I listened. I ended up watching the World Cup, cleaning and then converting footage for the banquet video. During the process, my drive crashed and I was in a pit of a panic. Luckily, I figured out how to repair it and all was good. I didn't even think to ask what we were doing for Thanksgiving. I've been so busy, it didn't cross my mind. Luckily, we were going next door for a small gathering. I was a bit sad that I didn't get to see everyone, but happy and grateful to see a few, spend time together and just enjoy each other's company. Life has definitely changed post-COVID, however, no matter what I know that every day, I will have so many things to be grateful for. Here's to the comforts of life and the love of friends and family. To you all, I send my deepest thanks.

 

~:[CH11 - Day 327]:~ Almost Out of Gas

 
~:[CH11 - Day 327]:~ Almost Out of Gas

It was a long drive home, as it was my second time driving home from Vegas within a four day span. The traffic was fairly smooth aside from a few pockets of traffic, which allowed us to cruise on home. I was exhausted as I woke up early to catch the end of Japan's World Cup game. It was worth it as they ended up winning, however, it left me a little low on energy after a long double trek to Vegas. I made it home and cleaned up a bit after unpacking, then got ready to see the kids. I was definitely tired, but you always have an extra reserve of energy for moments like this. It was fun to run around and enjoy some time together, but I knew once they left, my body would be ready to say goodbye. I was right. I threw my laundry in the dryer and got ready for bed. As though my energy levels are low, there's no doubt that given another chance, I would do the same. From the weekend race to the few days with my dad and even the night with the family, it was all fuel well spent. At the end of the day, I knew I needed to find time to fill up my gas tank, but for now, I'm too tired to worry about that and will leave it for another day. Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

~:[CH11 - Day 326]:~ Just Chill

 
~:[CH11 - Day 326]:~ Just Chill

Our tee time was delayed due to frost. We weren't surprised as it's a typical occurrence. As much as we wanted to get out on time, we just went to the café, kicked back and relaxed. We played with another father-son pair and it ended up being great as we chatted and just enjoyed our time together. It was fun watching them jokingly talk trash to each other, but just like us, the father would be winning the round. The weather warmed up nicely and the round, which started out bad, got better as we went. We finished up, met up with JJ for lunch, then spent the rest of the day just relaxing and enjoying our time together. We originally planned to watch a movie or show, but ended up just wandering the strip and taking photos. Surprisingly, it ended up being the right choice. Yes, Vegas is a place with so much to do, but also a place where you can also take a moment enjoying it doing nothing. 

~:[CH11 - Day 325]:~ Food Reigns Supreme

 
~:[CH11 - Day 325]:~ Food Reigns Supreme

When everyone thinks about Vegas, they imagine "Sin City." The city that used the line "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" got that reputation through that. While Vegas has its debauchery that one can enjoy typically associated with Vegas from casinos to partying, it can also be enjoyed through food and shows. When the full fall break week started, I started a tradition of going to Vegas with my dad. Sometimes my mom will go or someone else will join us, but typically, it's just me and my dad. We always plan it around a round of golf and then add in a few good meals. Tonight, we started our adventure at Lotus of Siam. I always forget to make a reservation so we typically are stuck waiting during lunch for a table, but this year, I remembered in advance and snagged us a table. As always, the garlic prawns were on point and we enjoyed our night exploring the menu. We spend the rest of the night on the casino floor and watching all the games going on, just relaxing together, but looking back on the day, it's no surprise that food was the focus on the day and I'm sure it will be the focus for the rest of the trip. What's your favorite spot to eat in Vegas?

~:[CH11 - Day 324]:~ Going Bananas

 
~:[CH11 - Day 324]:~ Going Bananas

The athletes weren't at 100%, but they still stuck it out and were ready to run. After a long day the day before, they tried to refocus on the race ahead. However, despite the challenges, they raced hard and well. Their times may not have been new PRs, but they did push in the races and challenged the field. It's always a challenge to stay focused for a season, but even harder when you decide to take on the junior olympics circuit. It was a fun little break to drive out to Las Vegas and support this group. The drive home was much better than the drive to Vegas, however, it was bittersweet knowing that I was heading home to pick up my dad before turning around and headed back for the week. As I thought back on the weekend, I was glad that these athletes were able to finish on a good night and also had a chance to start their break going bananas. 

~:[CH11 - Day 323]:~ A Thousand Miles

 
~:[CH11 - Day 323]:~ A Thousand Miles

The athletes spent the day together as they headed to Top Golf, had lunch and then walked up and down the Strip. It was fun to explore with them as they ventured from spot to spot. They didn't think much about the walking, but rather just chatted together. Aside from photos, there was less phones and more chatting and looking around which was nice. It was a bit exhausting and maybe not the most ideal thing to do before a race, but it was more important that they enjoyed their time. They ended up walking all the way back to the hotel before eating dinner together with the families. It was a great carbo-loading meal before heading to watch Ka. By night's end, my body felt like it had walked a thousand miles, but it was worth every step as it was enjoyable to wander through all the sites and shops with this group. I figure they'll be exhausted after today, but at least it was filled with a load of memories to kick off their fall break.

~:[CH11 - Day 322]:~ Big or Small, Be Thankful ...

 
~:[CH11 - Day 322]:~ Big or Small, Be Thankful ...

It was the day before fall break and as usual, my students were making thank you cards. I always feel they can spend a little time to slow down and send gratitude to someone around them. It's great to see them enjoy this final day in what sometimes can be hectic, especially with seniors who are have college apps coming up. It was a hectic day as after cleaning up, I did a little tech help, packed, prepped my car and got ready for the game. I rushed back to school and got in my shots, but sadly it didn't help me much in the game. Luckily, we won in the end, although I had to leave just after the half to shower, change and then headed out to Vegas. The traffic was bad on the way out and although it was expected at around rush hour, I though the carpool lane would have been a little better. It wasn't. About six hours later, I arrived in Vegas and was finally able to rest. The traffic could have put a damper in my day, but just the fact that we made it and were here or that my students had the time to show gratitude or to think about the students who were amazing supporters during the game made me smile. I am so thankful for everything I have in my life and even if things always don't go to plan, I definitely appreciate all that I have. Thank you to all the amazing people around me who have made all these amazing moments I've lived through or been there when things were tough. Everything, both big and small, have impacted my life and there is nothing I am more grateful for than those who are my foundation from family and friends to students or athletes, you make my ordinary life extraordinary. I spent the rest of the night just lying on my bed, but for even being able to do that, I was thankful.

~:[CH11 - Day 321]:~ Visibility

 
~:[CH11 - Day 321]:~ Visibility

If you cannot see something, is it actually still there? If you cover it up, is it actually gone? If something is no longer present, does it mean it never existed? It was a strange process of thinking as my tooth that has suffered so much through a chip, then a root canal, finally was being covered with a crown. It was a very cool process to go through and to see the crown being made was also cool. When it was all said and done, I had a beautiful crown and what felt like a brand new tooth. I thought to my self though, will I always remember going through the process without part of that tooth? When things are visible, it becomes more evident that they exist, but when they disappear, the memories of them still linger within you, just maybe not to others. Over time, the memories of them may fade away, but my feeling is that they will alway stick with you. I think of the stitches above my eye when I got kicked in the face when swimming or when I flew head first into the coffee table. Today, I also saw an alumni for the first time in so many years. As I thought about it though, even though we didn't see each other for awhile, the memories we shared with the team during that era never disappeared. Years between meetings, yet the memories never faded. True, we won't be able to remember everything, but things that are both good and bad while always be memories you keep with you, even when they are not visible. Will I remember the experience with this tooth ten or twenty years from now? Only time will tell. Others may never even notice, but the stories that come with it, will just be like the memories that never left me of the good times of the past as we chatted over dinner. I guess the pains of the past will stick with us just as much as the good times will even when their visibility has faded away, which is why we should try our best to fill our lives with more good memories than better with good food, friends and fun. It's not easy for us all to do, but maybe focusing on the good will allow the pains of the past to fade away,, slowly but surely.

~:[CH11 - Day 320]:~ In Action

 
~:[CH11 - Day 320]:~ In Action

Many of my mentor teachers were great. I learned a lot as I first started out and one of the things that stuck with me is that when students are engaged in a topic, they tend to remember it more. Yes, they do need information and some will get it better than others, but it always feels that the topics with the most activity and interactions tend to linger with them more. As we had another class activity, it's always little bit of a challenge to get them on the right track with this one, but they always figure it out and seem to enjoy the process. It definitely helps to have technology as it speeds up the pace of our fact checks as we verify information as we go through the process. All in all, I love it when the students get invested into the topics and even if it means a little emotion comes out, it's great because it means that they are thinking about it. In the end, tomorrow's closing day may end up with one side "winning," but in the end, there are no winners and losers when they are able to absorb this material and are better able to grasp what they are learning through interaction. 

~:[CH11 - Day 319]:~ Beauty in Arrangement

 
~:[CH11 - Day 319]:~ Beauty in Arrangement

I graded presentations today, I watched practice and enjoyed a nice celebratory meal. As I looked at this dish, it reminded me of people. Do I mean a specific person or am I talking about people in general? In life, I feel that we all have the tools to succeed. I do agree that many are placed in tough situations and are disadvantaged while others are privileged, however, if we look at ourselves in detail, we may just find an amazing set of tools we can use and put on display. For those of us who are able, analyze your skill sets and you as a person in general. What are some things you wish to highlight and how to do you arrange them within your display? Look at yourself and your abilities and figure out how you can organize what you have to offer. It doesn't have to be in a way that will impress others, rather in a way that will be best suited for yourself. What will be most efficient and how do you organize the things in your life so you can best take advantage of what skills and traits you have to offer. As I think about my seniors who are working on their college applications or my alumni applying for a job, they all have to do this when they look to make their new transitions in life, but we can also do this on a personal level to get the most out of who we are. I didn't really want to dig into this dish at my friend's restaurant (Dakara Sushi), but I did and I smiled as not only was it visually nice, it was quite delicious and refreshing. The balance and thought put into this meal was perfect and I know that even when we are disadvantaged, we can help ourselves if we just figure out the best arrangement for our own lives. 

~:[CH11 - Day 318]:~ R&R

 
~:[CH11 - Day 318]:~ R&R

I have an incredibly long list of things to do for the banquet and started working on them today, however, I was able to get to work right after work. It's very rare for me to get home after my actual work day ends as we normally have practice late into the day. It wasn't getting dark when I got home and so when I got to work, it was quite strange. After working for a few hours, I noticed it wasn't much past the time I normally get home. It's weird for me to think about it, but I imaged having this many hours in a day and wondered, if I had all this time daily, imagine how productive I would be. In the end, that many hours to work is not a reality and besides, I think it would make me less productive. Regardless, it was another day where I had a bit more time to breathe, as I took some time to enjoy my dinner as I watched a Kdrama. It was strangely nice to get some of that R&R, but I know it's short lived as tomorrow, I jump right back into the grind. What do you like to do when you have time for R&R?

~:[CH11 - Day 317]:~ Season Ended?

 
~:[CH11 - Day 317]:~ Season Ended?

Our season ended yesterday, but somehow, my first day after it was over, I was back out on a course, watching some of my athletes run. Most of them didn't run this first race since they were waived to the next round, but I got to watch a few of them try to join the others in the regionals. In the end, the two that did qualified and it was fun to watch them. Yes, the season is over, but now it's fun to sit back and just watch, yelling here and there, but with a lot less stress on my shoulders. After heading home, I was able to get some work done knowing that tomorrow, we won't have a normal practice. For a few weeks, I'll having some breathing room to get a few things here and there finished, but still we have meetings, a banquet and others plans to attend to. While the work cycle never really stops, it's nice tp get a breather every once in awhile. Congrats to the qualifiers!

~:[CH11 - Day 316]:~ Every Ounce

 
~:[CH11 - Day 316]:~ Every Ounce

We finished the day at Red Palace after expending all our energy this morning and all season for that matter. Yes, our season ended today. Being in one of the toughest divisions, we knew it would be a challenge to advance, however, this year, the athletes didn't back down. They enjoyed their race, but also pushed hard. A few had cramps and some were battling slight injuries, but all kept working and kept pushing. Some improved from the invitational and some did not, but there was no disappointment in my eyes by day's end. We knew this season would be a tough one from the start, but the work the team put in this year made it much easier. They continued to progress and improve and while the times at face value weren't top notch compared to the best teams I've coached, the improvement these team made every week definitely was what was highlighted. It's easy to give up when you are the underdog, but when you see a group overperform, it becomes something that you remember even more than teams that were simply talented. I always tell my team that success is not finishing first in a race, rather it's putting your heart and soul into something, pressing forward and never giving up. In the process, there will be disappointment and you're going to miss your goals, but it doesn't mean that you were not successful. Giving every ounce of yourself to chase after something you wish to achieve is the greatest way to achieve success. In the end, the athletes finished where I projected with the girls hitting the exact number I predicted, but if I looked back at the beginning of the season, I know they would have far exceeded my expectations. They hung tough this year, gave it their all, and grew together as one ohana. Sadly, we'll have to say goodbye to our seniors, but soon enough, we'll also dust ourselves off in a few weeks and get back to working knowing that there is much more to achieve. It was a successful season, but the only way to find that same success (or greater) is to keep working at it, day in and day out. This team gave me their all and today, I couldn't be more proud. Ohana RNR.

~:[CH11 - Day 315]:~ Handwritten Quality

 
~:[CH11 - Day 315]:~ Handwritten Quality

I used to write so many handwritten letters. Do you have one of them? I believe I told this story before. In high school, we used to write letters all the time and did the most my sophomore year during summer school. We'd write them, slip them through the wall to the other class and write back and forth. We'd have notebooks with friends or significant others and wrote letters back and forth. Even now, the most precious gifts aren't physical, rather, the letter that comes with a gift or even if it doesn't come with a gift. As we prepared for CIF, I spent the second half of the day off writing these handwritten notes to each of my athletes and coaches. There is a quality about them when I look back at them and just appreciate it. As while on a computer I can reproduce each of these to look exactly the same, instead, each of these cards are different and while similar, each has their own qualities that are different from another. I wish that students these days would appreciate the art of handwritten notes and send them to each other more often, but instead, a text message with emojis it is. Regardless, at least for our ohana, at least once a year, they'll write to each other and receive one card from the team and from me so at least within our team, this art of handwritten letters and cards doesn't disappear completely. What is your greatest memory of a handwritten note?

~:[CH11 - Day 314]:~ In Proximity

 
~:[CH11 - Day 314]:~ In Proximity

It's always fun to venture through this week or two between league and CIF and see the team grow closer. In many cases, just being forced to be with each other makes them grow together more. While in some cases, the CIF team all hang out together, when we have a team that has friends in different groups on the team, when they are in proximity of each other, the grow even closer together. I think it's like that with most things. When you see people on a daily basis, it's more likely that they become a closer friend to you over time. While distance can make the heart grow fonder, just be around each other helps you build those connections with one another. It can work the opposite way, but nine times out of ten, it seems that our ohana becomes what it is because of proximity. As we begin our final stages of the season, looking back, it's definitely been great seeing the entire team grow together, get better and just find ways to push each other to be better. At first, we got off to a slow start, but as time progressed, the confidence built and I saw more and more people connect with one another. That connection is what drives success and was made through us simply being together every day for the past few months. When all is said and done and we go our separate ways, I always hope that down the road they built that connection strong enough so that it can never be broken even when they're no longer in close proximity. 

~:[CH11 - Day 313]:~ Long Distance Connections

 
~:[CH11 - Day 313]:~ Long Distance Connections

Almost every night, I send a message out to my friends in Japan, Korea, Thailand, HK or elsewhere. Through wandering and working, I've been able to create connections around the world and it's pretty cool to always have someone to chat with if I want to and even to setup cool events like we did today. We've been lucky to work with schools around the world, helping them learn about MUN, answering questions or doing what we can to spread MUN or simply improve the quality of debate by providing as much support to others as possible. As busy as their schedules are, We had a group of ten juniors and seniors show up to answer questions for the sixth grades students in Jeju. We had some of our finest help out and I was impressed at how they did. I was even happier that they got to connect with students around the globe and help them as they prepare for their first conference. For our MUN students, these connections will be memorable, as if I compare them to my own connections, I know just how special they can be. A late night LINE or Kakao message as I get ready for bed is a great gift and I truly treasure how special they are to me. While I wish I could be with my friends who live on the other side of the world as me, at least I know they're just a few keys away with technology improving as it has. They may be far away, but modern times have made the distance seem non-existent, even from the comforts of our own homes.

~:[CH11 - Day 312]:~ Oh, How Bittersweet

 
~:[CH11 - Day 312]:~ Oh, How Bittersweet

The day started off with a win, but also felt like a win that could have been even more grand. While you don't want to complain when you get that win, you always are left with that, "what if." It was definitely a bittersweet moment celebrating, but also still wondering. It strange how the day would play out that way from start to finish. As I finally got my root canal, the pain subsided, yet, I still had soreness from the surgery. I made it in time for class with a numbed right-side of my mouth, which eventually subsided. I headed to our CIF dinner and enjoyed the evening with the team, as we celebrated another year in CIF. While the rain tried to ruin the night, it broke just enough for us to snap a few photos before headed home, well for most of us. I headed to an election party afterwards and despite the joyous atmosphere, as I look at result after results, they all didn't play out how I had hoped. A few did and a few didn't, I guess that's the story of life. in our lives, we'll face too many days like this. In our bittersweet lives, we'll see love and death, success and failures, good times and bad, however, the fact that we can experience its bittersweet nature is truly what makes life miraculous. Our days will get rained on, our timing will be off or we might not be able to grasp that one thing we hoped to attain, however, life will find a way to balance it and give us something special to balance that bitterness. We can see these moments as adding bitterness to our sweetest moments or sweetening up our bitterest moments. Yes, today had its ups and downs, but I definitely know that in the end, I'm just glad that the sweetness appeared at all. 

~:[CH11 - Day 311]:~ Preparing for the Storm

 
~:[CH11 - Day 311]:~ Preparing for the Storm

Many times in life, we can prepare for what's coming. In some cases, we know that bad times are coming and so we do what is needed so that we are impacted as little as possible by the impending storm. Regardless of our preparation, many will get wet, but unlike those who were oblivious or unprepared, we won't get soaked. Bad times are sometimes inevitable, but we can minimize the impact of those storms we face, by doing what we can to look ahead and ready ourselves. Although in some cases, we can do everything our power to fight off the storm, in most cases, these storms are approaching are unavoidable, thus, all we can do it plan. As this storm approached, I prepared myself and with this past "storm" of event after event, I did what I could that each went off with as few issues as possible. As while in most cases you can't walk out of a storm unscathed, you can walk through it as if you're undeterred by it. 

~:[CH11 - Day 310]:~ Rollercoasters

 

~:[CH11 - Day 310]:~ Rollercoasters

It was a long weekend, so it's no wonder why I was exhausted by night's end. I woke up early as my body forgot it was daylight savings. Luckily, none of the students showed up an hour early. I was able to roll through the committees and check out how the students were doing. I was amazed, but in one committee, I was there for about five minutes and heard every one of my delegates speak, a rare feat. Committee after committee, the delegates were fairly engaged. Some could have been more assertive, some could raise their placard more, but all in all, I was fairly happy with how they were doing. With the energy high during lunch, after awards, I had a swing of emotions, some high and some low. It's the standard at conferences. We have some who thought they did well and the evaluation didn't match with what they expected and on the other end, others who didn't think they did well that end up with more than they had thought. I always see the rollercoaster of emotions and it's always exhausting to manage most of them. This time around, I felt most positive vibes than anything else, but there were a few that need a little pick me up. I guess this parallels to the life they'll face ahead. The day they expect a promotion or recognition, they may get overlooked while sometimes they'll get a surprise promotion or bonus. Life is not always predictable and contains a range of emotions. My best advice for them is to keep your emotions in check and as even-keeled as possible as pitfalls await just as much as surprises. It's not easy to do for anybody, but even tougher for a teenager. I hope that in the end, they can focus on their performance and their own self-evaluation versus the recognition given out, as it makes life a lot tougher when you based your "success" solely on the perspective of others. Success comes in many forms and I hope that they see that it's simply not about the piece of paper (or absence of one) that shows their success. Next month, we'll go through this cycle again when we head to Mira Costa and hope that they'll learn and grow, ultimately seeing the true success they should be seeking out. 

~:[CH11 - Day 309]:~ Facts Over Lies

 

~:[CH11 - Day 309]:~ Facts Over Lies

I don't like to get involved in politics much. When I feel there is an important issue or I feel like a candidate deserves or needs support, I'll definitely post and support them, however, if I had a choice, I'd continuously and quietly make my choices then cast my vote. I always am sure to vote, but rarely will you see me out at a campaign event. Today, however, I decided to take photographs an event for Jay Chen. As an independent, I've received so many fliers from both side and when receiving one of them, I was so appalled at it, that I decided to get a little more vocal and involved in the campaign. His competitor photoshopped him and declared him Communist China's choice, yet failed to realize that he is Taiwanese American. They challenge his patriotism, yet he served the country as a veteran. However, these fliers and banners try to mislead voters otherwise, especially in communities where communism is something that haunts their past. The fearmongering tactics have no place in politics. I am fine when candidates tackle each others records, but when they cross the line, it's not longer a political campaign, it's just straight out lies. I get so infuriated thinking about these advertisements. After reading the Rafu Shimpo's Red-Baiting article and talking to a friend, I realized the greater extend of these advertisements, it fuels the anti-Asian hate issues instead of combating it. It has led to some harassment and just reading some responses online, you can see what a simply flier can do. I cannot predict what a candidate will do when I vote for them. They could change over time and in the next election, I may no longer support a candidate, it's happened. However, when a candidate runs a campaign like this, it should be a red flag for anyone that they can't be the right choice, no matter what party you're from. Hopefully in the future, our government will pass a law to try to avoid this type of campaigning from happening, but until then, the only way we can let our voices be heard that this is wrong is by using our vote. No matter who you support in any of these upcoming elections, I hope that you use your voice by exercising your right to vote, but also hope that you can consider the character of the people we elect over simply their policies.

Rafu Shimpo - https://rafu.com/2022/11/incumbent-steel-accused-of-red-baiting-in-battle-for-45th-cd/

~:[CH11 - Day 308]:~ Sometimes We Spin Out

 
~:[CH11 - Day 308]:~ Sometimes We Spin Out

It was a great night. The athletes were crowded around together in the arcade after a fun night on the track, as we celebrated another year in CIF. We always try to remind them that this is not a given and they need to appreciate it. Life is full of pitfalls and they never can anticipate what's ahead, thus they should appreciate things, even the ones that seem commonplace. In my own race, I had two clean races and it took but a minute or two for me to get bumped, then spun out. What felt so certain after some good runs ended with me facing everyone else in my race, as I knew my chances dwindled. Luckily, it was just a fun competition, but this happens all to often in life. You get the feel for things in life, you feel confident, then something knocks you off course or out completely. It's easy to give up when that happens or you can do your best to take it in stride, suit back up and get ready for the next opportunity you have. As we ended the night, some were victorious, others were not, but I hope that even if they spun out or didn't meet their own expectations, that they strengthen and prepare themselves for their next opportunity down the road. Some may have felt like they left empty-handed, however, if they truly look back, hopefully they'll see all the things they walked out of there with. 

~:[CH11 - Day 307]:~ Electrifying

 
~:[CH11 - Day 307]:~ Electrifying

It definitely was another exhausting day. It's been one thing after another the last few weeks and tonight was no different. Regardless, I chose to go today, as I wanted to check out the Lightning Thief. It definitely was worth the time despite the fatigue I faced through the day. I wanted to take a nap, but worried it would make me more tired or I would oversleep, so I worked for a bit before heading back to school. It was definitely fun to watch the musical and while the lighting and fog made it harder to take photos, I still was able to capture a few I was happy with. There was some good energy and humor plus some new faces I haven't seen before. As expected, however, everyone played their roles well and it truly was an electrifying performance. In the end, I was injected with a little more energy that helped me make it through the rest of the night. Amazing job cast!

~:[CH11 - Day 306]:~ Warmth in the Cold

 
~:[CH11 - Day 306]:~ Warmth in the Cold

I prefer the colder weather over the heat. While I don't like it when it's too cold, I usually dress well for cold weather, which is one reason why I like it. On this cold day, I was a little worried it would be too cold, but it ended up not being too bad. Even better, we continued our tradition of CIF cards, as each athlete wrote messages to each other, a moment that definitely warms the heart. While some will joke around in their messages, there are often a lot of sweet and awesome messages that I truly enjoy reading over on my own card. Our CIF week is filled with so many traditions, many of which were added along the way, but regardless, many of them are opportunities to grow together more, learn more about each other and create lasting memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. Here's to many more messages and moments to warm our hearts.

~:[CH11 - Day 305]:~ Be the Hope

 
~:[CH11 - Day 305]:~ Be the Hope

It wouldn't be uncommon for someone to feel as if they're surrounded by darkness. One of my friends acknowledge how unmotivated she was to stay consistent with her tasks, while another was butting heads with someone at work. It's easy to pull ourselves down or find our ways to create tension and add more darkness to our world. As I looked to the skies, dark clouds surrounded us, but the hope that shined through was clearly evident and truly inspirational. I can't always stay positive and avoid conflict, but I do my best to take a second before adding to the problem rather than finding the solution. I want to try to be the hope that others are looking for when they are unmotivated and depressed  and I want to avoid adding to this darkness that tries to block the light from shining through. We live in times that are difficult and challenging and I always question myself, why am I making this more difficult for myself? I'm sure you can also reflect and find areas where you are doing the same. At practice, we hit a bit of a stumbling block, but instead of falling, the group refocused and got themselves back on track. At times it will be difficult for us to standing up to challenging situations which may seem hopeless, but if you look towards the skies on one of these beautiful days, it only takes a little light to peek through to see the gloriousness amongst a sea of darkness. When we work on being a light, rather than spreading darkness, we will leave others in awe and be the hope that others are looking for when they need someone to reach out a helping hand. I will work on stopping myself from adding to the problem and rather do what I can to help be apart of the solution, the hope that others seek when their world is full of darkness.