~:[CH12 - Day 31]:~ Sleepwalking in Seattle

 
~:[CH12 - Day 31]:~ Sleepwalking in Seattle

The sea lion wasn't actually yawning, but I was. I've been a little stressed about this day for awhile as it was a combination of; will everyone get up, will we successfully make it to the train station, will we have all the correct documents and will our hotel reservations be all set? Everyone woke up on time and we successfully planned our group split to take two separate buses to make it to the station. The check in process was smooth, we got delayed in the train a bit, but we successfully crossed the border. Due to the delay, we sped up our day and did a bag drop and then quickly headed out to the aquarium. We ended up with just the right amount of time to explore the aquarium before heading to eat along Robson. After all the adrenaline of the day wore off, I could feel myself yawning and the fatigue of the day catch up with me, however, we made it. They all enjoyed their time at the aquarium and dinner and as always, the hotel was super nice. I know we will definitely have an exhausting next few days, but for now, I can say I made it despite having to sleepwalk from Seattle to Vancouver. We're in Canada, eh!

~:[CH12 - Day 30]:~ Playtime is (Not) Over

 
~:[CH12 - Day 30]:~ Playtime is (Not) Over

We did a number of things today, but what did the seniors enjoy most? Playing on the playground was their top choice. It's funny to think about, but the reality is that many of these students lose their chance to simply play at an early age. They get so tuned in to academics or even athletics that they don't get time to simply play. It was nice to see them run around and enjoy these simple elements of the playground, although this playground is definitely on another level. I ended up cutting their time there short as we headed to the museum and visited a few other places in city center. It was actually a fun day that was pretty relaxing. We didn't have to rush around today as our timing was pretty good, which allowed us to enjoy it even more. As I reflected more on what I saw today, I am just hoping that the future generations get the chance to simply be kids, to play and to enjoy life rather than focus in on excelling academically and getting into a good college right from the start. Yes, I do want students to do well academically, but keeping that balance by allowing them to simply be kids is more valuable that many may think. Today, they were able to be kids as they ran round, jammed away in the music area and walked around snapping photos here and there. It was definitely a full day and I am just hoping that for them, this is a chance to have a little bit of a chance to enjoy these teenage moments they should be allowed to experience. As while the long list of responsibilities have already begun, I truly hope that for these students that their playtime is not over. As while I wish that they will succeed academically, I believe that part of that formula is their life experiences they'll get and the motivation they'll find from the joys in life. 

~:[CH12 - Day 29]:~ A Shadow of Ourself

 
~:[CH12 - Day 29]:~ A Shadow of Ourself

Are we present and doing what we want or are we going through the motions, finishing our routine, only for it to start over again? I think sometimes we focus so much on finishing the tasks on our list that we lose out of doing what we want to do. Yes, we do have to complete a long list of things, but if we're not doing something for ourselves, why are we doing the work anyway? We truly become a shadow of ourselves, a shell, and in the process lose ourselves and our motivations. I always try so hard not to fall into that trap. I've always been a workaholic, but I think in my earlier days, my work focused simply on doing precise work and mostly impacted the classroom. As I have come to mature, my focus has truly been on focusing most on the areas of my work that I enjoy, maintaining the areas I need to, and also making sure that I keep a chunk of my time for myself, doing things I enjoy. Strangely enough, the past few years, I've added to my workload, but what I added was something I enjoy doing (creating) that gives me the resources to lessen the limits of what I want to do. Because of it, I've been able to attend events I may not have been invited to, travel to places I wouldn't have been or visit them more often, and truly take the reins over my own happiness, allowing myself to recharge regularly in the process. I cutback on the preciseness a bit allowing myself to maintain my own levels of motivation. It allows me to avoid becoming that shell or shadow, as I allow myself to be me. As great as it may be to always be on top of everything from quickly responding to every email, grading an assignment that same day, or reviewing essays again and again, I've found myself negotiating with myself and finding the balance of what I need to do and what I want to do. In the end, each of us has to evaluate ourselves and figure out what we need to do, what is valuable to maintain and what can be cut out, but the one thing that we should never cut back on, is maintaining a healthy level of "ME" time in order to allow ourselves to be happy. In the end, we must find that thing that keeps us energize and in that process we avoid become a shadow of ourselves. As I walked the streets of Seattle this week with the students, I found one area that I will never want to cut back on (at least for now). My eyes are heavy and my body is sore, but my spirits are high, and as much as these moments may be the gray area between me and work time, it is one of the areas that truly keep me fulfilled. What in your life keeps you fulfilled?

~:[CH12 - Day 28]:~ We Escaped

 
~:[CH12 - Day 28]:~ We Escaped

It hasn't been long since I last saw the skies. Just a few days after landing, I was back at the airport with a group of seniors ready to enjoy the week. The seniors were jazzed up despite the early morning wake up required to be at the airport on time. Everything seemed to run quite smoothly as we ventured from check in to flight to transfer and to check in. The students didn't complain much about the walk to the hotel, although they were a bit tired. The newly renovated hotel was a good choice as the location is good. We may have had a bit too much in Chinatown, but still got to relax and not rush as we enjoyed a good meal, some time to browse and shop, and even a sit down with boba to escape the chilly evening. It wasn't cold, but a the same time, just cold enough. There were a few students scared of the escape room we were about to do, but in the end, they weren't as scary as they were challenging. Our groups may not have been the most experienced with escape rooms, however, in the end, three of the four groups passed with the one not passing in a room that only had a 10% pass rate. Our group was able to escape the vault .We lost some time on something we noticed, but didn't figure out and also on another that had a missing piece that would have helped us solve it a bit faster. In the end, we got back to the hotels and the students were tired yet still upbeat by day's end, which is always a good sign. We escaped day one and just hoping that the rest of the week goes the same. How did your day go?

~:[CH12 - Day 27]:~ What a Treat

 
~:[CH12 - Day 27]:~ What a Treat

I wasn't sure if I would be able to get everything prepped to do this simulation, but I ended up waking up early enough and found what I needed to make it work. Although I like to do it before we cover the French Revolution, timing wise, I had to do it after. I think it still had its impact as the students found the emotion we tried to invoke in them through the simulation. I think it's really important for them to understand, how poorly a group is treated to get them to the point of a revolution and this sim definitely does the trick. I got my lesson plans done, finished up paperwork, headed to practice, then went home to finish packing and prepping. Overall, it definitely was a hectic day, but I truly feel that through the day, while nothing stood out, small things here and there made today special, each being their own treat given to me through the day. Big or small, I've always tried to remember to be thankful for every Blessing.

~:[CH12 - Day 26]:~ Into the Night

 
~:[CH12 - Day 26]:~ Into the Night

I wondered if I would be able to survive into the night. I thought jetlag might get the best of me, but not only did I survive a lecture, I had practice and even a grill session with both Nationals and a makeup session with Vancouver. It definitely was the price I should have paid for taking the job at this juncture, but I didn't know when I accepted the job, how crunch for time this stretch would be. Regardless, in life, we don't always know what to expect when we accept an opportunity. Sure, it would be easy to decide to cancel one out, but I, for one, like to figure things out and make it work as best as possible. I noticed that this generation gives up a little easier when things get tough and their schedule gets impacted. It's fair that each person must make their own decisions for their own well-being, but I've always stood by the principle of finishing what I started. The next time around, I'll learn not to overload myself, but whenever possible, I'm going to work into the night to get it done. I hope down the line, the generations can balance the grit of grinding through with their own well-being and find that balance that will bring them the most efficiency, the most success, and the most happiness. For now, I'm thankful to work with such a wonderful group of students who seem to be headed in the right direction.

~:[CH12 - Day 25]:~ The Long Trek Home

 
~:[CH12 - Day 25]:~ The Long Trek Home

Challenge, how do. you get home through the massive amount of snow that fell in the last 12 hours? I have no clue, but somehow, I made it. Luckily we got an early morning transfer to the station since the local one was closed. We then boarded the slowly moving train to the main station and caught the shinkansen so I could make my trek home. Looking back, I am amazed that I made it home and even more so that I got to experience something so amazing. As I gain time coming back to the States, it's great to be able to literally take back time and although it could mean I could get right back to work, I used the day to recover a bit before getting back into the grind. I am not sure if I can make this trek again during this time of the year, however, looking back, I am glad that I made the choice to take this opportunity. My body and mind accepted the much needed rest as the road of recovery should be pretty short after that long trek home. We'll just see in a few days if the rest of myself agrees. What adventure do you hope to take in the next few years?

~:[CH12 - Day 24]:~Snow Way

 
~:[CH12 - Day 24]:~Snow Way

There is snow way, I mean no way, you can imagine how beautiful it was. I was a little miserable trying to deal with the weather, conditions, and even the ground beneath me, however, it was all worth it when arriving to the onsen at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen. Within the onsen sat a number of monkeys that truly helped make the trek through the terrible conditions worth it. I guess the trees did help make the trek a little better as I noticed that the snow and wind was not as bad as we were headed on the trail. As we walked back, the snow slowly fell more intensely as the storm kept strengthening. You could see how much snow fell in a short time as the level of snow kept growing on top of the parked cars. Luckily, we made it to the ryokan before it got really bad. We sheltered inside and enjoyed the amenities of the spot and called it a day. It was great to be able to look back at the trek and notice just how lucky we were. We got the shots we were aiming for and while we cut some of the shoot out, we wrapped it up plus got the shots of the monkeys. Now just leaves the challenge of getting home.

~:[CH12 - Day 23]:~Do You Believe in Magic?

 
~:[CH12 - Day 23]:~Do You Believe in Magic?

What house are you in? As I had a relaxing morning getting a few tasks done, it was nice to be able to explore and not have to worry about as many deadlines. Sure, I had dinner at 6pm, but that meant, I was able to move around and catch glimpses of things I wanted to see. I ended up seeing the Kusama collaboration exhibit, Meiji Jingu among a few other things. My lunch plans were squandered due to a long line, but it couldn't stop the great magic that the end of the night would prepare. It was a beautiful revisit to the Harry Potter Cafe as Akasaka was transformed into a mini Harry Potter center. Honestly, the food is mid, but the experience is outstanding. I hung out with my friend there and we wandered around the area to check out what we missed in the area. The rest of the evening was relaxing as I prepared for the day ahead. The weather looks a little bit sketch so I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will work out. Hopefully your days, despite their ups and downs, will have something magical make it a great one. As while we may not have perfect days, there definitely is something in the day that can make it special. Do you believe in magic? May not as much as I believe in our will power to make things work out for the better and just like the ability to cast a spell, it requires a bit of practice and a lot of mental focus and strength. Let's make this magic happen. As a side note, I'm a Hufflepuff!

~:[CH12 - Day 22]:~Truly a Gem

 
~:[CH12 - Day 22]:~Truly a Gem

If you watched Itaewon Class, you might remember that poem about a diamond. I truly feel that it's accurate as when we feel the weight of the world and deal with all the pressure that life hands us, we end up becoming a gem that shines brighter than any other. Today definitely shined, but it wasn't because the day was perfect, it actually because it was truly imperfect. I dealt with so many issues today that I normally don't, but that also what made today truly a gem. I was exhausted, yet my body woke me up a little earlier than I hoped. My morning shoot went okay as I did have some tech issues, as the back and forth of my day began. I went from enjoying the Harajuku area including Meiji Jingu to waiting in the wrong line of the restroom and getting passed by so many people as I desperately waited. I looked around to try to find a USB-C cable as I realized I left mine behind, found it, then proceeded to break it within 30 minutes of having it. The day ended with a hectic sprint as I wrapped up my photoshoot, did a quick meetup, enjoyed the show and then sprinted to my final meeting of the night only to realize I left my things in a locker (again) having to jet back out, missing the last train and having to enjoy a brisk walk back home. Of course, all these troubles brought their gems as I made a new friend, had a great shoot with a regular, and got to enjoy this beautiful performance by Kevin. As I think about Kevin, I also think of these challenges that he's had to face as of late. I know it hasn't been easy for him, but to see the energy he brings to the stage truly impressed me. He has a quality that truly invokes energy into the crowd and you truly feel his enthusiasm for performing. I think that despite all the challenges he has faced, they have helped polish him into the gem he is today. I love to find artists who are genuine and it definitely wants to make you root for them with all your might. Just like my day, I know that our struggles will allow us to shine when it's our turn to be in the spotlight. For the average Joe to a KPOP idol, we all deal with the pressures of life, but I hope we all realize that when we handle it all, we will find ourselves shining on our own stage. Today was perfectly imperfect, but that is what made it truly a gem. 

~:[CH12 - Day 21]:~With Flare

 
~:[CH12 - Day 21]:~ With Flare

I'm definitely exhausted. After landing, I hit the ground running. I grabbed a meal with a friend before heading over to Shin Okubo for the concert. It was a challenge because I didn't really know what was going on and on top of it all, left my camera in the locker at the station and it was too late to go back and grab it. What did I do? I enjoyed the experience today knowing that tomorrow was another day. It was nice being back in such a vibrant area and seeing how enthusiastic the crowd was. It was nice to relive KPOP the musical through the performance as many who had never seen it got to see a sneak peak into the show. The event ran later than expected and I literally had to run out of there to go to shoot the amazing flames at the teppanyaki spot. It was truly fun to capture some of those great moments and to catch up with some amazing people making these first moments incredible. As while I am truly exhausted, I am also truly thankful for this opportunity as I get to both work and play. 

~:[CH12 - Day 20]:~ Storm Incoming

 
~:[CH12 - Day 20]:~ Storm Incoming

There's always a bit of a calm before the storm. For me a storm can be both a time that is chaotic, but also amazing. As while those moments are the most challenging, you feel the most accomplished when you make it through especially when you're stronger because of it. As I wrapped up what I needed to, I headed on my way through this storm ahead. Somehow my schedule got so impacted that I am wondering if I should scratch something off the list, however, everywhere I look in the schedule, there is value and so I'll just head straight into what's ahead. You never know what you're capable of until you face life head on and I've tried to continuously do that in my life. I've failed a lot, but more times than not, it's proven to be a place where you learn and you grow. I hope that we all can face our storms head on and find ourselves stronger because of it, however, I always like to remind people, you're never alone and so find that one person or people who will stand alongside you as you veer forward into the unknown. 

~:[CH12 - Day 19]:~ The Loaded Day

 
~:[CH12 - Day 19]:~ The Loaded Day

I felt bad as we had to hold a grill session today. The kids survived this mammoth day as some took six finals, then rolled into their grill session in the evening. I didn't want to schedule it in between finals, so this seemed to be the only choice in a mix between their schedule and mine. This issues stemmed from way back from when that one person at the district nixed our approved schedule and left us with this default schedule, then the vote for block finals scheduling fell through. I felt bad, especially for my freshman, so after their test, I gave them all their choice of sticker. It wasn't much, but definitely noticed how drained they all were. Sadly, small decisions like these add to the toll on their mental health and it's the same people trying to get us to focus on mental health and social emotional learning. In the end, however, we can only control so much. We drudged through the loaded day, I just barely wrapped up everything I needed to, and actually had a good time enjoying the speeches of these seniors. In all honestly, I was so impressed that after such a loaded day, they could come out with this quality of a speech. It truly speaks to their abilities and reminds me of how lucky I am to be working with them. It started to rain as we wrapped up, as I headed home, and finished off the last of the tasks I needed completed by today. While there is still time in the day today, my body just wants to sit here and not move, although a few more tasks sit in front of me. I can just imagine how the students feel. I'll definitely recharge tonight and try to start tomorrow surging ahead to get back to that to do list. At least the students will get a chance to rest on their day off. What do you like to do to recover after a loaded day?

~:[CH12 - Day 18]:~ Shake It Up

 
~:[CH12 - Day 18]:~ Shake It Up

On days where I don't have a game or an event, it's pretty much been work, go home, do work, then start the cycle over again. Every once in awhile, it's nice to shake it up, as I ended up grabbing a late lunch during my break. It was a good motivator for all I had to finish tonight. Even when at Northern Cafe, I chose something different from the normal, as I had lamb with cumin. I actually have had this dish before and loved it, but for me to not choose the chicken with chili peppers is quite amazing. Of course, I did order one to go for my parents, but still, for this meal at least, I shook it up a bit. A lot of times when you try something new it doesn't pan out well, but other times, you do, you'll find something you wouldn't have otherwise. Sure, it can truly be a 50-50 shot, but that just means you'll win half the time. In the end, I was happy with good company and good food, which motivated me the rest of the evening. I truly got down to business and wrapped up everything I needed to as we finish out the week. Have a wonderful week ya'll and don't forget to shake it up a bit. 

~:[CH12 - Day 17]:~ Spontaneity Wins Again

 
~:[CH12 - Day 17]:~ Spontaneity Wins Again

Today was beyond chaotic as I tried to catch up on all the work that I needed to finish before the semester. I caught up with most by the afternoon. I definitely started the day on a good note as it was an amazing morning of trading, which became and even better afternoon. The good vibes balanced out the strains of the workload as I battled in the trenches to get everything done on time. As I wrapped everything up, after talking with my friend who knew AleXa, I decided to be a little spontaneous and go to the game at the last minute. I ended up in a pretty good spot as it was nearby the court, however, for the performance, it wasn't the best spot, as the camera man blocked my angle. Instead, I just enjoyed the performance (as I should have) and the game as well. The game was enjoyable as the Clippers battled back to take the lead, before falling off a cliff as they gave the game away. Normally, this would easily ruin the day, but of course, while I am a diehard Clipper fan, today I came to the game for the performance to see AleXa. Everything worked out as we got to chat after the game before I headed home. In the end, it could have easily been a day where I stayed home and enjoyed my run of luck, but instead, I rolled the dice one more time and ended up winning in the end. It's true that spontaneity doesn't always win, but when it does, it can lead to some memorable moments.

~:[CH12 - Day 16]:~ Sample Size

 
~:[CH12 - Day 16]:~ Sample Size

Some people know exactly what they want. They don't even need to look at the menu, because they've been ready to order that main dish all along. Others are like me, ready to try a little bit of everything to see what is the best or selecting a few dishes to be "the choice." Although it wasn't tapas, these small dishes reminded me about our choices in life. I like to dabble in a lot of things and don't really have a plan to focus on one, at least for now. I see others around me diving head first into one main things such as music, acting, business and more. To those who don't have that one go to, it's okay. It's fine to take the sampler size of life and dabble in a variety of things. A jack of all trades, but a master of none is a common phrase that I think describes me best. I am pretty decent in a number of areas, but I am not quite masterful in any particular area and I am okay with that. The main dish or the sample size, there really isn't a wrong choice. For me, I much rather get a variety of flavors with not too much of one, rather than focusing on that one main dish as my taste buds might get bored. In life, don't worry about what others may be doing and make the choices that are best for you. As while others may look at you questioning what you are doing, you are the one that must feast away at what's in front of you and you are the only one that knows what is the right choice for you. Main dish or sample size, what would be your choice?

~:[CH12 - Day 15]:~ Prep

 
~:[CH12 - Day 15]:~ Prep

As I prepared for the concept shoot next week, I thought of this photo I had stored away. It's amazing how when you work on something present, then the past always seems to reappear. It will be amazing to be able to do another snow shoot and at the same time reconnect with my friends. Although it hasn't been too long since I saw some of them last, we needed much more time to catch up this time around after being separated for so long. The day was full of planning and coordinating on top of all the grading and planning for the week ahead. I will be exhausted by week's end, but I know that all this prep will be worth it. While it could be something that I just wing, I always feel guilty if I don't do the leg work to ensure that the shoot is smooth sailing. 

~:[CH12 - Day 14]:~ Pouring Rain = Beautiful Gardens

 
~:[CH12 - Day 14]:~ Pouring Rain = Beautiful Gardens

It started raining during the conference on Saturday. We knew going in that this would be the case, but when it was time to leave, it was pouring. My freshman were engaged, but had their own struggle, while the sophomores who I taught last year, seemed to thrive. For the freshmen, this moment was the pouring rain. It was a storm they were facing, as they battled the cold and the dampness of the day. For the sophomores, it was the moments after the rain. For them, they found the beautiful gardens that bloom after facing the storm. Without that rain, nothing in that garden would grow. Just as they struggled a year ago, the storm they faced allowed them to bloom into the delegates they are today. In the end, we had eight sophomores who won best delegate awards and a number others who excelled. To see them break through and bloom was definitely a pleasure, as I know that this is only the start. While we may face these challenging storms in our life, I hope we keep pushing forward, tending to our garden and know that when we keep at it, eventually we will find ourselves standing in the middle of a beautiful garden thanks to the challenging storms of our past. It's never easy to face these challenges, but when we do, I hope we see what awaits us in the end - a beautiful garden.

~:[CH12 - Day 13]:~ Paint the Town Red

 
~:[CH12 - Day 13]:~ Paint the Town Red

The whole purpose behind this mini adventure didn't pan out, but we didn't allow that to dampen our spirits and we ended up enjoying a night out. From a good dinner to enjoying the game, we stuck to our plan and just painted the town red. I actually have been pretty much a hermit lately. I've tried to keep a low profile lately, as starting back up at school has required a bit more recharging afterwards. I allowed myself the rest my mind and body needed. I finally decided to join in on this adventure. While it could have been easy to scratch them after the stars didn't align, I'm glad we stuck it out. Despite a Clippers loss, we still created some everlasting memories and made the most out of the evening. We could have easily canceled our plans, leading to another night "hermiting" away, but instead, we decided just to go with the flow and not allow anything to ruin our opportunity to enjoy the moments that awaited us. It ended up as a night with great food, entertainment and memories as we truly did, paint the town red.

~:[CH12 - Day 12]:~ By Chance?

 
~:[CH12 - Day 12]:~ By Chance?

My friend sent me a claw machine. It was pretty epic to have it in my classroom and something fun to do when I have some downtime. It's a little easy, so it's not too big of a challenge, but still entertaining nonetheless. For those that know me, I do often play these claw games and even in Japan, I make a stop or two to play with the more challenging UFOs. This game made me think of something; the phrase, "how lucky." There are a number of varieties of it, but they all seem to mean the same thing, you won it by chance. Knowing the claw games, yes, there is something about the timing of playing to get the right claw grip. However, in all things in life, do we achieve things because we are lucky or do we have the skill or positioned ourselves so that we have the opportunity to win? I definitely will agree that life is not always 100% in our hands, but we also control our fate and our luck. Our opportunity to succeed increases when we work harder at something or make more attempts. Even if we accomplish something on our first attempt, we can think about what we did leading up to that point. I definitely know that there are moments in life when we truly get lucky, but the next time we think "how lucky," maybe we can give ourselves (or others) more credit as we allowed ourselves to arrive at that moment to have the opportunity. We can still hope that luck is on our side and maybe even keep searching for our lucky charms, but in the end, if we truly want to be more lucky, we'll need to focus on giving ourselves opportunity for luck to come our way.

~:[CH12 - Day 11]:~ Loaded

 
~:[CH12 - Day 11]:~ Loaded

Today was incredible, but I am exhausted. I ended the day feeling so accomplished, yet so wiped. I don't believe that working insane hours is a badge of honor, but I do believe doing work that is beneficial is. I stayed up late last night to finish up a meeting into the wee hours of the morning as I peeled myself off the bed to head to work. We hosted our annual philosopher's forum. It's always fun to see the students get into their roles. Baron de Montesquieu brought in building blocks to show how the branches of governments can support one another, but also survive separately, while the back and forth between delegates was quite back to sit back and watch. I then prepped for a strength workout with our track team before preparing for our skills workshop for Nationals into the night. With paperwork and more to finish up, the day was loaded from start to finish, but by the end of it, I looked back and thought about, which moment should I highlight. The moment to highlight? The moment I arrived. It's strange how when I wrapped up college, I was planning my road to secure a degree in cinematography. My plan got diverted to education as I "tried out" this job and never left. People often say it's a thankless job, but I must work at a good place as there is no shortage of gratitude. I guess that can keep you even more motivated as even when you're tired an exhausted at the end of the day, the support is actually what refuels you. My love languages is as far as it gets from words of affirmation, as actually it makes me uncomfortable sometimes (must be my introverted side), however, just sensing the gratitude and appreciation through gestures and seeing the enjoyment by the students and athletes, brings me more joy than I could imagine. I sometimes wonder what life would be like if I traveled down a different road in life. Would it be easier? Would I be more successful? Would I be rich and famous? Then I stop myself from imagining what could be and appreciate all that is. On days like this, I may feel wiped, but there is no greater feeling that knowing that all that energy was invested into something that will produce something that money could never buy. 

~:[CH12 - Day 10]:~ Just a Moment

 
~:[CH12 - Day 10]:~ Just a Moment

I knew it wouldn't be an easy script to read. We took a moment, as we remembered a dedicated and beloved member of our Cerritos community who recently passed. The script went, "Last week, the Cerritos Dons lost a prominent member of our basketball community.  Liza Matias-Scammahorn, wife of Dean Scammahorn and mother of Matthew, Ryan, and Miya Scammahorn, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.  She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend, and proud Cerritos High School Alumnus.  She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on through her family and friends.  Would you please join us in taking a moment of silence in her memory? ... Thank you." It's definitely not easy to lose someone you know. While it's not someone I communicate with regularly, I've worked with and crossed paths with her children, chatted with her husband and occasionally with her. Sometimes we never thing that in instant, someone's time in this world will be cut short. Life seems to change in an instant and it's in remembering that, that we must remember to take just a moment to send our gratitude, thanks and love to those around us. This year started with a kick to the gut in a number of ways and I just hope that it can remind us to treasure every moment we have. We never know what's going to be on the next page of life and often times, we'll come across things we won't want to encounter, but in life, there is no avoiding it. In the end, things happen for a reason and life seems to follow its plan. For that reason, it's important that we take the time to cherish those around us and the time we get to spend with the loved ones around us. In the end, I finished the script and four teams went on to victory that night. As while for those ten seconds we remembered a soul lost too soon, I'm glad that we had just a moment to remember her with all those in attendance. Tomorrow is a new day and while these heavy moments have added weight to our shoulders as we move into 2023, I hope that it also has opened our eyes to take just another moment to treasure all the special people things around us, today. 

Rest in Peace <3

~:[CH12 - Day 9]:~ Create

 
~:[CH12 - Day 9]:~ Create

It was a little exhausting getting back into the rhythm of school. I had a lot of to-dos on my list of things to do and I actually worked my way through them fairly quickly. When taking a break waiting for my computer to process after fixing my hard drive, I finished a little project I wanted to do, make a light stick for the Jars. It ended up that I found the perfect item to top the power bank to create the light stick and was happy how it turned out. When I shared it with the Jars, they were pretty happy how it turned out and everyone wanted one. I never will profit off of this (by choice) nd I don't have the time to mass produce these things, but thought it would be fun to create this out of the things I can piece together. In the end, it didn't take long, nor what it costly at all. It allowed me to use the creative side of my brain. I always enjoy the times that I can let my imagination run wild and just thing of new things to create or how I can use various things I find and this was a mini project that allowed me to do it. In the end, I didn't make much of it, but just found the right pieces to create something that everyone seemed to enjoy. I am making a little tutorial on how to make this by request and in the end, it makes me happy that I can share this little project with such a motivated group supporting Jae. What is something you created that you're proud of?

~:[CH12 - Day 8]:~ Soothing

 

~:[CH12 - Day 8]:~ Soothing

As the hours closed in until we returned to work, I enjoyed a delicious meal to end this vacation - yudofu. With the cold weather and storm brewing overhead, it was nice to have a warm bowl of yudofu. Not only did it wrap up our new year celebration and vacation, it just was a perfect compliment to the weather. Sometimes you have those moments where you have the right things at the right time. It's not always easy to predict what you'll need at any given time, but when things fall into place and it works out, there are no words to describe how awesome that moment is. It was not the most exciting break I've experienced, however, I feel as if I was able to get what I needed done. As I wrapped up my grading for the week and prepped for the week ahead, I realized how fast time had flown as I look forward to the row of tasks lined up in front of me. For now, I'll take another bit of this delicious dish as it keeps me warm amid this raging winter storm. What soothing moment do you recall most?

~:[CH12 - Day 7]:~ Ohana Forever

 
~:[CH12 - Day 7]:~ Ohana Forever

I can't believe how much time has passed since I started coaching. It's great to think about the generation of athletes who have passed through our program. It's strange to hear about them as they become doctors, lawyers, teachers and more. It's even cooler to hear that they still talk to this person or that person. I know they're not all going to stay in contact, some will grow distant, but even when I randomly see someone from the past, it's great to have that connection with them. I ran into one of my former athletes at the TC and I got to meet his wife and first child. It's not uncommon to have this encountered. At a wedding for one of our ohana, I was so touched to see so many alum still connected. Tonight, we celebrated with a group of mostly current ohana members, but just within this picture we have alumni from multiple generations as well and the current ohana members spanned every grade. Tonight made me think of those previous teams and even those moments where we encounter each other later on in life. I've always said how I enjoy it when an alum stops by and runs with us, volunteers at an event or just stops by to say hello. While I may be busy and focused on developing the athletes I currently have, the ones who graduated, will always be apart of our ohana. One day, it will be nice to see the collage of images collected over the years and even if my memory starts to fade, I'm sure the wonderful members with the ohana will remain vivid in my mind. In life you fall into situations that change your life and one of those moments in my life was being apart of this ohana. We've definitely had our moments of darkness, but from what I've seen, for myself and other members of this ohana, we've been able to provide a light for each other, even when we're lost in this difficult times. A big shout out to the ohana of past and present who have made this program into what it is. What is your favorite ohana moment?

~:[CH12 - Day 6]:~ Smooth Like Butter

 
~:[CH12 - Day 6]:~ Smooth Like Butter

It was a nice move into an easy dunk. It didn't seem like a move that would lead to a dunk, but the athleticism of the athlete is incredible. That smooth move was just like the rest of the game. There were a few ups and downs, but for the most part, the team rebounded from a rough game Wednesday and sealed a nice win. We'll have our moments that are smooth like butter and others, where we'll need a helping hand. After I got home, I was working and my friend needed a hand. We ended up solving the issue and we all got home safely. It was a bit late, but I thought to myself, if I was in the same situation, what would I do? I think I'm lucky that there would be a list of people who would step up to help, but do we all have that? Yes, there will be moments that are smooth like butter and it's easy to be a friend or companion in this moments, but who will be there for us when we hit those rough patches when we really need those people? I like to be that person for others; an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on or someone to drive endless with no destination. When people feel like they have nowhere to turn, I hope they see the people around them who will step up to the plate when needed. Tonight, I was glad that someone reached out to me. It's not often that this happens, but when it does, it definitely feels rewarding. Even if you think they know, remind them that you can be there for them if needed. For those who need help, just remember that just like I felt tonight, asking for help is not a hindrance to a friend or loved one, but it empowers them and makes them feel great. Tragically, my drive with this photo and all my basketball media crashed and I was glad to have my own friend step to the plate to start the process of recovery with me. I guess I was on the receiving end of instant karma. As when you hit those rough patches like me and my friend had today, it's great to see who comes out of the woodworks to be that one who helps your day get back on track and run as smooth as butter. 

~:[CH12 - Day 5]:~ Skip in My Step

 
~:[CH12 - Day 5]:~ Skip in My Step

Music has a way of healing. It brings energy, it awakens emotions, and adds that skip in your step during any type of given day. It's even cooler when that music is written, produced or performed by someone you know. I am lucky to be surrounded by so many people who are talented in this field. In all stages, I've worked with them, supported them or just cheered for them on their journey. As today was a day with a new release of one of those songs, I was ecstatic to be able to soak in this song and feel the spiritual energy that it held within it. It was definitely different than the music I am used to, but didn't make it any less amazing. The track was two years in the making when he first expressed interest in making a track for them. While our alum at the company wasn't the one that ultimately got the track done, I am glad that it was completed. I guess that same feeling happens to us all when we are able to reach something we've been aiming to do for so long. While it may not be a goal that takes center stage and all our energy and focus, it's one of those things that when it happens, it's like, "Cool!" As I listened to the song time after time, I like how it allows you mind to wander and injects you into a imaginary world, much like the soundtracks of so many movies. I actually talked to my class about this every year. Music adds so much to our lives. When you watch those movies, imagine watching it without that soundtrack or sound effects. From horror to romance, comedy and more, the music awakens that emotion in you and truly makes the piece whole. What is a song/soundtrack that is memorable to you or that truly has a way of healing or adds that skip to your step?

~:[CH12 - Day 4]:~ Change of Scenery

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~:[CH12 - Day 4]:~ Change of Scenery

It's been weird being at home for so long. I've been able to get a lot of work done, but also have put off a lot of work I needed to do. I thought it was about time for a change of scenery so I decided to head out to watch the freshman and frosh/soph teams play their games. While they freshmen suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss, it was still nice to get out and to just snap some shots while taking in the game. It's a lot more motivating when you're out doing things and keeps you from falling into the lazy day trap. When I got back, I got back on task to finish up a few odds and ends that I've been trying to get done the past few weeks. Yes, my list of tasks is huge, but I was able to shave off a few things after the change of scenery. What projects do you have going on so far this year in 2023?

~:[CH12 - Day 3]:~ Late Night Border Crossing

 
~:[CH12 - Day 3]:~ Late Night Border Crossing

Isn't it amazing how technology has connected people around the world. As I have been chatting with my friends in Asia, I realized how interconnected we can be without leaving the comforts of our own home. While it's great to see them in person, it's also wonderful to be able to stay connected beyond just the occasional meet ups. It also allows us to connect with people around us who we may not have been able to otherwise. It was pretty early in the morning, however, I was transported once again to Shibuya as our like group hit raid after raid around the area. The opportunities that technology allow us have expanded our potential. I definitely am a supporter of the pen & paper approach and trying to avoid going all tech, but there definitely are a a lot of benefits to using technology and this is one of them. While it would be wonderful to meet all these people we cross paths with in these raids, I'm fine with knowing just a handful of those with me and letting my imagination fill in the blanks for who's raiding with us. As we hit up stop after stop, we added up to our collections as we stayed interconnected without crossing a single border and lounged in the comforts of our own home. I look forward to when I'll physically be at all these stop, but until then, I'll let technology take the wheel. What are your favorite tech advancements that help make your life easier?

~:[CH12 - Day 2]:~ Every Second

~:[CH12 - Day 2]:~ Every Second

Like many sports, seconds can determine the winners and losers of a game. In sports, time is precious, but in tonight's game, we learned how much more precious time is in life. To witness a moment like this was heart-wrenching. The pain of past experiences reappear. As you hear about the efforts taken to save this young man's life and to see the emotions flow through the players, you see how that second is precious. A few years ago, we experienced our own miracle as a friend miraculously saved a life and I am hoping that the same can be the case for this man. This was nationally televised, but daily, this experience is one that people must go through daily. In medical establishments around the world, they see this battle between life and death and how those seconds mean the world. Just before the game, Hamlin took a photo with his mom with smiles on their faces ready to take the field for the battle for a top seed and not too long after, things would change drastically. I've experienced how dramatically things can change and it's painful. As I searched around hoping for some good news, I know that this same struggle is faced by so many today and will be tomorrow and the next. Treasure every second, every moment and don't allow yourself to put anything off until tomorrow. I feel a lot of pain and sorrow right now and hope that for all those facing this same challenge right now that the miracle happens. For the rest of us, let's make sure we treasure these seconds we have, as we never know if we'll get a second chance. Time is precious so let's cherish every second. Sending my thoughts and prayers to all. 
 

~:[CH12 - Day 1]:~ Good Morning

 
~:[CH12 - Day 1]:~ Good Morning

I didn't feel any different this morning. I didn't have a long list of resolutions. I simply was happy to wake up. It's a good morning. Every morning we get to open our eyes once more means it's a good morning. You may dread going to work, feel exhausted from the night before, or headed into the gauntlet of deadlines or simply, stress, but the fact that you have that chance means its a good morning. There are days you won't want to be there, but remember that there are many others around you who do want you to be there. They love you, they lean on you and you are a piece of the puzzle that makes them whole. We've all face that loss of someone and know how challenging it is to fill that hole in your life, that's why, every morning we wake up, it's a good morning. I didn't do anything special today. I watched football, I ate leftovers, I did work, and I enjoyed the good morning when I awoke. As we march ahead to day two and beyond, we're going to have our highlights, but undoubtedly, we're going to hit the troughs of life, in this moments, try to focus on the fact that we're still here enjoying this good morning. I didn't feel any different this morning, but it doesn't mean it wasn't anything to celebrate. Good morning.