~:[CH12 - Day 59]:~ Under Construction

 

~:[CH12 - Day 59]:~ Under Construction

Our campus continued its construction. When taking this photo, I chuckled a little because in the original plans of the school, we were suppose to have a pool here. I think this was God's way of saying, this spot was made for a pool. Just kidding. However, it's been quite testing to experience this stretch of time where construction is on going around campus. From the front office to the new science building, everyone is inconvenienced during this time period. Regardless, in the long run, we hope that it will mean a better campus for our school down the line. Just like our lives, we make our plans and begin to build. We are met with unexpected delays, expenses, and ultimately have to change our plans at the last minute, but in the long run, all these sacrifices and challenges are the price we pay to ultimately upgrade our lives. I am hoping that in the end, these upgrades help us out and allow us to find a better place for our Dons.

~:[CH12 - Day 58]:~ Skill Set

 
~:[CH12 - Day 58]:~ Skill Set

Cerritos is often referred to as an academic school. However, one thing I appreciate about the school is the wide range of skills sets our students possess. Our school excels in academics, but we also excel in a wide-range of areas as our students show off their range of skill sets. As while many will go into fields where this academic success helps them, I also see a lot of students who excel in other fields showing their athleticism, their artistic ability, their acting abilities, and their creativity. From those in business, teachers, musicians and actors, doctors and nurses, and engineers. The list is endless and when I hear of the great things there up to, it does make me quite proud. As I graded assignments today, I was impressed by the designs that they cam up with. Some of them got their inspiration from previous designs, but added their own spin and many of them you could tell that this was something in their skill set. As we sheltered away, trying to stay dry as the storm raged outside, I was glad to see these beautiful designs that made me appreciate the fact that on a regular basis, I get to see the full skill set of many of my students. What is your best skill in your skill set?

~:[CH12 - Day 57]:~ Dis(Comfort)

 
~:[CH12 - Day 57]:~ Dis(Comfort)

Splitsville is a cool little spot for some good entertainment, but not necessarily for bowling. You can bowl while you are there, but for anyone who actually bowls, it definitely will throw you off. I didn't realize how short the approach was and almost ate it the first time. Then I change to a three step approach, but my muscle memory didn't like it and never let me get comfortable. Regardless, I was comfortable and enjoyed the afternoon with my cousin who was celebrating her birthday. With my first cousins, we grew up as a tight knit family. It was nice to spend so much time with them whether traveling, an amusement park, supporting each other, or even just a family event. I appreciated my upbringing, being the youngest, they always took care of me. We recalled our trip to Six Flags when we were younger, the first time I rode on Viper. Every time we gather, there is definitely something we can recall, whether while we were younger or even something more recent. While the pandemic broke some of our routines, we're slowly getting back into the swing of things. Just like my bowling approach, it may not always be the most comfortable, but overtime, you figure out something new and find a new rhythm. I definitely didn't find my rhythm for my bowling approach, but it definitely was a fun and relaxing day just wandering and enjoying the time we had to share. When I got home, I went inside and bundled up to keep myself warm, as I was filled with so many warm memories of such a beautiful day. 

~:[CH12 - Day 56]:~ Persistence

 
~:[CH12 - Day 56]:~ Persistence 

We had a meet scheduled today. It ended up getting canceled. I used the day to get some work done and prep for the final stages of planning for our upcoming conference plus the meets ahead. Of course, today was also one of two days of the Global Hoenn Tour. While I was in Vegas, I couldn't catch Latios. I thought it was just my account as time after time, he would run away. I found out later that other trainers were complaining they had the same issues. As the rain poured down, from time to time, I'd glance at my phone to try and catch what was around. There Latios was, ready to be caught. Finally, Latios was secured. Although I have caught it in the past, I had this strange exhilaration simply to catch it. In life, we face these same challenges. Something that we think will be so routine ends up being a challenge. It's easy to get frustrated thinking it's such a simple task, but life throws challenges at you sometimes where you need a little persistence. It was just a game, but it did parallel many moments in my life where I threw my hands up and walked away, later realizing that I could have done it. It's frustrating to fail, but it's more frustrating to have regrets knowing you didn't take your shot. Even if we come up short, when we face off with our fears and go after something we may not have a shot at, at least we can walk away knowing we did everything we could. When we keep taking these challenges, eventually we may find ourselves capturing the one thing that evaded us for so long. Today, I secured it and I just hope that this will remind me to always take that shot. Sure, this was a small fry in a large basket, but it's definitely a big lesson that will help me eventually secure the big catch. 

~:[CH12 - Day 55]:~ Shelter

 
~:[CH12 - Day 55]:~ Shelter

My story says it all. It rained so much in LA today. I already knew that it would be the case, but all I could hear outside was the rain pouring down. There were gaps in the rainfall and luckily it happened to be when I stepped out of the car, but overall, it led to numerous things being canceled, including our meet tomorrow. Of course, maybe the rain was the shelter I needed. Normally we take shelter from the rain, but in this case, the rain allowed me to have a day to rest tomorrow. While I was looking forward to our meet, part of me was grateful to relax tonight and not have to think about all the things I had to prepare for tomorrow and not having to set my alarm. Life as of late has been so chaotic. When I am not working, I am grading, editing, trying to respond to emails, and keeping on top of this and that. With Nationals coming up and our track season in full swing, it meant my snacks and lunches were packed, I was at school late, and there was always something upcoming I needed to plan. The rain gave me an extra day to work on a lot of what I thought I wouldn't have time for. Sometimes these types of things are a blessing in disguise. For snowboarders, it will mean a great pack, while for us Californians, it will bring much needed water. Sure, there will be headaches that come with it such as the closure of the 5 at the Grapevine, flooded streets or canceled plans, but it also meant I could watch the game (online) and catch up with friends over LINE. Traffic will be worse and there will be headaches due to this weather, but sometimes the rain will bring shelter to us in other areas in our lives and while we may not see the benefits instantly, down the line, we'll realize that this hassle we face now, will benefit us in some way down the line. Every storm ahs it's purpose, so let's bear through it and reap the benefits of these challenge times when they finally are revealed to us. Be safe and hoping you can stay dry and warm. 

~:[CH12 - Day 54]:~ I'm Not a Weatherman

 
~:[CH12 - Day 54]:~ I'm Not a Weatherman

A few days ago, I tried to predict whether or not it would be wise to hold our annual Black & Gold Meet today. Looking ahead at the forecast, it didn't look good and so I postponed it. I was wrong. The entire stretch our meet would have occurred, it didn't rain much. Of course, the track was wet from the hail earlier in the day, but still, we would have managed had the meet went on. Of course, I am not a weather man and am not always great at predicting the future. Life is like that, unpredictable. From all the things that happen to the people you meet, you never know where the road will take you. Tonight, we had a little farewell dinner for someone I can now call a friend. I remember him running by during band warmups claiming how fast he was. He ended up being one of my fastest runners and one of the few that ran in college. Of course, most importantly, he became a coach who was able to truly pass on his knowledge and skills to the athletes. Luckily for us, his move was delayed half a year so he could coach one more season and while I wish he could stay longer, I know it's time. Of course, just like the weather, I never could have predicted how much time we'd spend together. When the pandemic started, we ended up having weekly mini-chats that were quite comforting during my weekly boba run and my TJ run every other week. While I did enjoy the solitude much of the time, it was n ice to break from that mold every once in awhile. The boba runs turned to mini adventures, round of golf and more. While life wasn't normal, it created some normalcy in my life and for that I am grateful. I never could have predicted how important this connection would be, but ultimately, it kept me sane during the most challenging times of most of our lives. Life has a strange way of throwing storms in your  life when you least expect it, but as our reoccurring cross country theme goes, if there is no rain, there are no rainbows. I am truly grateful that I was Blessed with a ray of sun during the storms and while I am sad that he will be moving, I am happy that this move is because he met one of the goals he was aiming for. I know there are great things ahead as I know all the work that has gone on behind the scenes and how meticulous he is when he is truly focused on his goal. Eventually, when I make one of my treks do to a shoot somewhere around the world. I am sure that our paths will cross again, but instead of with me, he will be in the pilot's seat. I'm not a weatherman, but even if I could predict with such great accuracy, I couldn't have predicted how great the weather would be during this lengthy storm. Wishing you the best on the road ahead and thank you for everything. 

~:[CH12 - Day 53]:~ Fighting Against the Wind

 
~:[CH12 - Day 53]:~ Fighting Against the Wind

The storm was rolling in as the winds began to pick up. It was quite the cold day as while there was little to no rain, the wind was bone chilling. It ended up being a day where we just tried to survive. As we rolled to the track, we ran intervals today as the meet tomorrow was postponed due to weather. The athletes battled as the home stretch had a nasty headwind they had to battle. They were blown around, but never were they knocked down. We face those times in our lives where we face moments of great resistance. We feel like we won't be going anywhere and we know there is trouble ahead, however, we keep pushing forward. It would be easy to bow out of the workout, but many of these athletes continued to battle through the entire workout. Life is the same. We have the choice to call it quits, the question is, will we? I've seen the grit of many deteriorate over the past few years, but slowly, I see that grit returning in some. I am hoping that many more will continue to do that and rather than letting the wind blow them away, they will face it head on and keep pushing forward, no matter how long it takes them to get to the finish line. Ultimately, the forecast stayed true and when we get the same challenging forecast in life, I hope that we don't allow ourselves to give up, allowing ourselves to show that we can face up to all the resistance life can throw at us. 

~:[CH12 - Day 52]:~ The Invisible Pain

 
~:[CH12 - Day 52]:~ The Invisible Pain

I always appreciate hearing speakers on the Day of Remembrance. As I heard their stories, I realized that this experience would not be one available to all students as we move forward. It's sad that these stories will one day be taken away from us as first hand accounts, but it's experiences like these that allows these stories and lessons move on. Many of times, I've heard friends, survivors and others talk about how their parents or grandparents refused to talk about what happened because of the trauma surrounding it. They bottled it up inside and lived with this invisible pain, some until they passed. While some experienced good memories while they were in the camp, later in their lives, I feel that they realized that they had lost 3-4 years of their lives and when they returned were in many cases unwelcomed. They were left with scars of racism and hate that they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives. However, one of the speakers mentioned that when he returned back to Lakewood, he was welcomed back to a warm and accepting environment. As I talked to my students, I mentioned how we often have a choice. While they couldn't override the governments decision, people could decide to spread hate and discrimination or make the extra effort to make an environment welcoming for others. Our choices don't just impact others, but can continue to add to the pain or become the band aid that can help begin the healing process. Inevitably, we will face another fork in the road in our lives and will have to make another decision in life. Ultimately, it's is up to us, but I hope when we arrive there, we can make the decision that is not only best for us, but allows us to ease the pain that may reside in those around us. 

~:[CH12 - Day 51]:~ Speeding Away

 
~:[CH12 - Day 51]:~ Speeding Away

I said goodbye to my friends as I had to head back to get some work done. I knew I would be tired, but made it through the trek home. It's always nice to go for a drive, as you get to think through all the things that life doesn't allow you to. Your mind is clear and you're focused on driving and whatever happens to be on your mind. I enjoyed the beautiful views as I drove home and while most of the traffic frustrated me (especially since it's always in the same spots), one of the jams was in a spot that allowed me to enjoy the beautiful views. I slowly trekked through that stretch without a worry on my mind. I got home and finished up the work I needed to, but overall had a pretty relaxed day. Our days often feel like we're speed through them as our time goes speeding away, thus it's great to find a little time, even if just for a short while, to find your own way and enjoy what you want to. I didn't always give myself undevoted time to myself, but in recent years, I realized more and more that the time I set aside for myself is most valuable when I focus on just letting myself drift away and enjoy my time without any distractions. I hope you all can do the same. 

~:[CH12 - Day 50]:~ Outside Looking In

 
~:[CH12 - Day 50]:~ Outside Looking In

I honestly didn't know what to expect, but I knew I would be tired by day's end. I was right. After a conference the day before, I woke up early and drove over to the PoGo event. I arrived a little early and luckily snagged one of the last parking spots available. I think there were thousands of people there, although I don't know what the exact count was (or even an estimate). If you weren't part of the event, you would think that it was just this generation staring at the their phones and not paying attention to anyone else. It was kind of true as I almost bumped into a number of people throughout the day. However, each person was on their quest, aiming for a particular goal, whether it was making new friends, collecting, battling, and more. I was impressed by the variety of people from young to old, local and not and much, much more. Some were dressed up and spirited, while others just looked casual like it was another day at the park. Just like anything else in life, people invest into things they enjoy. As an outsider, you may not understand, but I hope that you can be understanding. Whether it's a type of music or style, the food someone eats or everything about their day to day I hope we can be understanding and appreciate our differences. Even within the PoGo community there is such a range and I'm not talking about the people. There are those who use it for exercise, some for socializing, some who collect casually and others who battle competitively. We are all so different and have our own interests, so when we are on the outside looking in, you don't have to take part in something those close to are into, but at the very least, appreciate that they are doing something they enjoy. I ended up walking 30,000 steps today around this park and still was playing when the event was all wrapped up as we found a few more opportunities to keep playing and when I think back, as exhausted as I am not, I am glad I decided to attend. As while I didn't accomplish all the goals I set my for myself today, I was glad I was able to experience such an event and learn even more than I knew before. 

~:[CH12 - Day 49]:~ Beyond the Paper

~:[CH12 - Day 49]:~ Beyond the Paper

It's always great to see the progression of your students. As we pushed forward through the year, this step in the process for the freshmen is to begin giving speeches, mods and comments without any notes. Some feel comfortable doing it, while others still quite do it. For those who did it without the paper, it's great to see their flow and projection improve and while they may stumble from time to time, they truly begin to see that exponential growth that creates our top delegates of the future. Of course the other obstacle we face is to help these students avoid chasing the paper (award). It's easy to get caught up in the drive to get an award, but I always try to remind them that the award is not the true measure of their success. Some of the delegates who didn't win an award today showed a lot of promise, while some of those who did, really made great strides to improve. Whether or not they get that award matters less to me than whether or not they gained knowledge and experience, whether they learned from this opportunity and how they great through the process. The grades cannot always measure if a delegate was a success and I hope that the students see this. Many of them, by career's end, will deserve a standing ovation for all the great speeches they gave in their committee. However, no matter how great they may say they were as freshmen, they too started with the same struggles my freshmen face. Today I saw many of them progress beyond that paper and they truly demonstrated how far they've come and that truly made me proud. There is still room for growth and I am waiting on a few more to truly sprout, but in the meantime, I hope that they see that the measurement of their success today relies not on any paper that they may or may not have received. Allow your progress and development be the true indicator of your success. Great job to all!
 

~:[CH12 - Day 48]:~ Not Today

 
~:[CH12 - Day 48]:~ Not Today

Sometimes, a day is just not your day. As I rolled through the day eager to get to the girls semifinal game afterschool, things seemed to be rolling well. Even when I arrived at the school, I got a great parking spot. However, that was the end of things working out. The girls held a slim 2-1 lead as they went into halftime, then an amazing kick from midfield and a goal on a penalty shot, sealed the loss. It was heartbreaking to see this team lose as they had played so well most of the game and just had a few moments that cost them the W. Regardless, the left it out on the field and I couldn't be prouder plus they'll have another shot as they advanced to the state regionals in a few weeks. When I got home, it was another visit from my niece and nephew. Most seemed to go well, but it did end with a few tears as today just was not the day. In the end, however, it was nice to have them visit and most of the stay went well. We'll have those days. Even when things are going well for the most part, the finale may not be what we had hoped for. Even if 99% went our way, that 1% can easily dampen the situation. Of course, perspective is important to allowing yourself to keep pushing forward. Today was not the day, but I am hoping that tomorrow or the next will have a better ending. If we keep pushing forward, we can give ourselves a better chance at the ending we seek. It's not easy to accept when things don't go our way, however, sometimes you have to realize that there isn't much you can do and you'll just need to work on it for next time. I am hopeful for what the future holds and hope that things pan out a little better than they did today, but I will also remember that even if the ending didn't finish as I hoped, there was still that 99% of the day that went well and I only need that 1% tomorrow to turn the tide. While today wasn't the day, I'll still be hopeful that maybe tomorrow will hold the key to finding that final 1% that will change this ending for the better.

~:[CH12 - Day 47]:~ Surprise Guest

 
~:[CH12 - Day 47]:~ Surprise Guest

The days have gotten a little more hectic as I've had to do a little more work than usual as some challenges gave me a little bit more work. Regardless, I felt as if things just kind of rolled through as I wrapped up one thing after another. Someone once asked me what a typical day looked like and how busy I am in a given day and today may just have fit the definition of what my day might look like. From grading and recording speeches, to Nationals grills, help sessions at lunch, finishing up reservations for Nationals, practice, weight room, and then home to write a recommendation and finish up some final tasks for the Security Council Conference and a few other things for the International. Of course, no matter how busy things can get, it's always nice to take a minute to chat when you get a surprise guest. I used to see this guy daily as a student, an athlete and then a colleague (coach). It's strange that when you talk with someone you haven't seen for quite sometimes, sometimes it just flows and for us, today it did. It's great hearing how things are and the new things they're up to. By day's end, I was definitely tired, but I felt accomplished as I crossed almost everything I had on my to-do list off. As I looked back, I appreciated the great speeches I was able to hear today as my students have grown over the course of the school year, I was thankful that we wrapped up another great practice, and I was reminded about how lucky I am to work with such great students, athletes, and colleague who I'll get to create so many memories with as I go through my day. At times, the list of things to do can become daunting, but in those moments, I think about why I am doing what I do and there's no doubt that in the end, it's been worth it and that's why I truly don't mind. 

~:[CH12 - Day 46]:~ When They Fly

 
~:[CH12 - Day 46]:~ When They Fly

The sun set and the athletes were still out there working. It's a bit tougher now that we start 30 minutes later for practice, but what can we do? The sunlight runs out and the athletes have to quickly wrap up their practice as we have no lights to allow them to keep going. Of course, I am proud of the work they do and the fact that they keep pushing themselves and doing what they can. It's not always the case, as I need to mold some of these athletes and try to get them to do what they need to do. Sadly, it sometimes can be a bit harder to get them to focus and do what is necessary to be prepared. In class, I had an issue with one of the students and it definitely made me sad to see a student who clipped their own wings. It's never my hope as an educator to see a student or athlete flutter. While they make mistakes and poor decisions, I only hope that their wings will heal and they will feel that moment when they begin their ascent as they begin to fly. In life, I am not sure if everyone gets this chance. I feel as if some people just don't allow things to fall into place or others who don't get the opportunity. For now, I'll look forward to the day that my students and athlete will fly and when they fly, it truly will be a moment that will stick with them forever and one that will remain with me as well. I don't get to see this moment for all my students and athletes, but even if it takes them a lifetime to finally do it, I truly hope they get to experience that feeling, as everyone deserves that chance to fly. 

~:[CH12 - Day 45]:~ The Chill & Fatigue

 
~:[CH12 - Day 45]:~ The Chill & Fatigue

I stayed up late working the past two nights on a few projects I've been working on and also prepping for the upcoming in-house conference this weekend. On top of it all, it was definitely a chilly day as the cold air was quite penetrating. I had initially planned on going to the girls soccer quarterfinal game, but with practice running late and everything else, I thought it would be best to rest up and hope for a big W so I could go to the semifinals game. I got the sweet news that they had won, which lifted a weight off my shoulders as I would have felt bad for not going to the game today and I used the time I had to finish up a few more things I had on my to-do list. It definitely was a quiet evening as we celebrated yesterday, but I still able to enjoy the day, as I made my mom a hilarious card. I secretly dropped it off on the table and could hear her laughing as she looked at it. The laughter made me smile and was definitely ended my day on a high note. Valentine's Day has always been a day full of sweets, gifts, messages and more and I know my students enjoyed shifting through the bucket of candy I gave out. However, I do hope that they can see that this day is no different than any other day, where we have an opportunity to make those who we hold dear, smile, laugh and feel appreciated. While this day seems to make things so grandiose, our daily appreciation and love can truly be in the precious moments we share together. Happy Valentine's ya'll!

~:[CH12 - Day 44]:~ Warmth of the Heart

 
~:[CH12 - Day 44]:~ Warmth of the Heart

With the possibility of rain, we celebrated Valentine's Day a little early at my house. I had an interview in the afternoon, then headed to the store to pick up a few things. Initially I thought it would be pretty empty since it was a Monday and most didn't have the day off, but after driving by Trader Joe's, I thought it might be a little crazy. It ended up being fairly normal traffic in the stores as I picked up what I needed and went home. I didn't have everything I needed, but since it was a little chilly, I whipped up a little kimchi jjigae on the side. Since my dad's spice tolerance level is way down, I added more spice to my own bowl using the brine from my kimchi. In the end, it turned out to be a wonderful meal as we enjoyed it together, celebrating the love that we shared together. I appreciate the fact that we got to celebrate this meal together in the comforts of our own home. As while fancy dinners and outings are sometimes the trend, a nice meal together at home sometimes is what truly hits the spot. 

~:[CH12 - Day 43]:~ Flowing in the Wind

 
~:[CH12 - Day 43]:~ Flowing in the Wind

One of my favorite things is to watch my friend perform in Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession. Every year, it's been slightly different, but each time, it was magical. This year, the route definitely was a lot longer and so I tried to plot out my path to get the best moments captured. Since the first showing was past noon, I was happy that I didn't have to rush out of the house. I was debating going to both parks, but decided to get some work in before heading out. I found the perfect spot as I enjoyed the entire procession before running through the park to catch the procession near Paradise Pier. I figured my way around the barriers and got to another spot before it ended. My experience paid off, as I got an even better spot during the second showing. I relaxed and enjoyed the third procession and truly enjoyed the artistry and beauty celebrating this great event. From the decorations to the food and even the merchandise, I can tell they've put more and more effort into it. Coming from a diverse town, I've always felt comfortable. I've appreciated the fact that cultures were represented and respected and while we definitely have our share of issues, when traveling outside the bubble of Cerritos, I notice just how lucky we have it. I think that's why I grow even more attached and are more appreciated of events and performances related to culture. You can truly appreciate others and can gain a better understanding about your friends, family and the many others you'll cross paths in your lifetime. We all have our differences including the soil in which we were brought up, but ultimately, in the end, we are one. With racism and other forms of discrimination on the rise, I hope that people will begin to see people for who they are and learn to treat each other with more respect, love and compassion. As I watched the colorful ribbons flowing through the wind, it made me think about the colorful world in which we live and my hope that we can flow together in the wind, beautifully and in harmony. Let's work together to erase hate and allow our beauty to be displayed in unity during the procession we call life. 

~:[CH12 - Day 42]:~ Enjoying the Sweetness

 
~:[CH12 - Day 42]:~ Enjoying the Sweetness

Life is definitely sweet. I had plans for the evening, but changed them around in order to celebrate with Grandma Taira. While she is more of a great aunt than a grandma, I've been lucky to know here and share some great memories with her. I cannot imagine living until I am 103, but I can imagine the amount of great memories she has of life. We never know how long we will live and whether we are Blessed to survive for a century or whether or time is cut short, I hope that we have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and sweet things that life has to offer. I also hope we savor the sweet moments we can share with the loved ones around us whether it be just a causal lunch or a celebration, it's in these moments that we have the ingredients to make the cake of our lives, adding to it with each passing memory. Tonight was fairly uneventful, as we eat together, watched a game and just chatted, but it's in its simplicity that I sometimes find the sweetest moments of life. Happy Birthday!

~:[CH12 - Day 41]:~ Stacked Against Us

 
~:[CH12 - Day 41]:~ Stacked Against Us

There was definitely excitement in the air. We got a decent crowed that showed up at the game and the energy in the gym was electric. Going up against the #6 squad might have seemed like we were outmatched, but it never felt that way. Even with the fouls stacked against us (20-9) and two of our starters fouling out, the team took the game down to the wire. Down four, we sunk a three, but the whistle blew and the ref once again tilted the game in their favor. For a team that was at one point 2-13 this year, you couldn't have imaged them doing what they did tonight. They didn't look afraid, they stay composed despite another first quarter double-digit deficit and every time they looked like they would fold, they fought back by tightening up their D and attacking the bucket.  They were smaller in height, but never allowed that to be the reason why they lost. They battled inside and even attacked the rim on offense, never showing that they were afraid of this team. When the buzzer sounded, the score showed that we had lost, but truly the season showed that we won. This team was radically different than they were in December. They did everything they could to get where they were today, sacrificing free time and vacations, all so they could give themselves the shot. With a bounce here and a call there, the game could have been different, but either way, nothing could change how proud the crowd was of this squad. With their backs up against the wall, they closed our the season 12-3 and nearly advanced to the quarterfinals. They hit some of the lowest lows that I've seen, but these moments helped the weather all the challenges that they faced moving forward. They adjusted, adapted and because of it, tonight they shined. As they had their final talk together, I know they wish the outcome would have been different, but they truly showed that heart and passion mixed with dedication, discipline and determination can take you a long way. It's not the ending that they may have hoped for, but I know that by night's end, there wasn't anyone who could say, they weren't proud of seeing what this team had become.

~:[CH12 - Day 40]:~ Reflections

 
~:[CH12 - Day 40]:~ Reflections

There was definitely a positive vibe after today's workout. The athletes enjoyed it and I was pretty happy that they felt this way. It's definitely felt like a long week and I was tired. I was supposed to drive out to the girls game after practice, but I checked the traffic and my body was also telling me to rest and so I did. I got some work done with that time and felt pretty good. As I scrolled back through the photos of this day, this image popped up and I definitely appreciated it. As I looked at it, the song "Reflections" played in my mind and it definitely made me think. What do we see when we look in the mirror? As I work with students daily, I also wonder, what do they think about themselves? Are they confident in who they are or do they doubt their abilities? Do they look and smile or does it trouble them to do so? For all of us, we sometimes struggle to see who we truly are when we look at our reflection. Society puts such a burden on us that we are unable to see the truest form of ourselves. Society makes us morph who we are many times and does not allow us to truly be happy. As we look at our reflections, especially overtime, we may begin to see "ourselves" faded, but when in reality, our presence should be even stronger. Instead of looking at the surface when we look in the mirror, I hope that we see that we are standing there after making it through another day, another day of experience, another day of memories and another day where we can accept and give love. I've talked about it countless times, life is difficult, but in living, we are able to learn more about ourselves and hopefully that means we'll see our true reflection. Who is that one I see, staring straight back at me? I hope all of us will one day be able to see our truest form of ourselves. 

~:[CH12 - Day 39]:~ Believe

 
~:[CH12 - Day 39]:~ Believe

It can't always help you overcome talent, but belief in what you can accomplish can truly help you overcome obstacles you otherwise wouldn't have. It's hard to believe when you're down, but as I've said many times before, when you keep trekking forward, it does a lot to help you get to where you hope to be one day. However, in the process, if you lose faith in yourself, your chances of reaching those goals is quite slim. I know for this team, this win meant a lot. It was so hard for this team to believe in themselves at some point that even I sent a message to a player trying to ensure they kept the faith. After a thrilling first game win at Kennedy, the team dropped ten games in a row and 13 of 14 including a number of games where they collapsed at the end. I know there were doubts by the team, but they kept pushing forward. Even though they are a fairly young and inexperienced team, they hung tough, they rolled with the punches and got back up every time they were down. All the struggles they faced helped build a foundation for them as they moved forward. They improved, they gained confidence and slowly, they became polished. While they're still on the road towards their final goals, tonight was an incredible moment. They started slowly and went down by double digits in the first, they kept it at six at half, then they pushed forward with some tenacity at the start of the second, battled, then never looked back. Their focus, their intensity, their heart and most importantly, their ability to believe in what they could accomplished truly helped them win tonight's game. It was heartwarming to see them celebrate, jumping  up and down, as they stood somewhere that they could only be because they believed even when the darkness could have easily broken their spirits. Who knows what will happen down the line, but simply put, this game was one that I will remember for a long time as it truly was a gem that was developed through the challenges they faced over the past few months. They dedicated themselves, sacrificed so much, gave it their all and in the end, it all paid off. Congratulations! 

~:[CH12 - Day 38]:~ On Fire

 
~:[CH12 - Day 38]:~ On Fire

I had to spend the day putting out a few fires that had spilled over from the weekend. I am a big planner and layout my schedule months in advance so when I encounter these challenges, I have to squeeze in some time to make things work out. While one worked out how I had hoped while the other did not, I did my best to resolve the situations was best as possible. Luckily, although not the most ideal, things seemed to settle as best as they could. Life is like that. We put out the fires we can and pick up after the ones we couldn't stop. In the end, we have to decide whether to rebuild or just pick up the scraps we can salvage and move on. As practice passed and the eve arrived, I headed to the MUN room, as we had another grill session for Nationals. Whether a school calls them a grill or a roast, it's all the same, trying to make sure the students are best prepared for their conference. While the performances tonight were not quite polished left, with a month until the conference, I could tell that they were getting there. They do need to research more, command their information better and present it more smoothly, but they have the time to prep and we'll be working on this to ensure that when they arrive at the conference, their performance is fire. I think this process in preparing for Nationals is something that truly helps them light that fire within themselves and helps them learn and grow, understanding what it takes to truly be prepared for a conference. At most conferences, they can figure their way through a committee even when they haven't researched as well, but when we prep for Nationals, my hope is to corner them so the only way they can get by me is if they are truly prepared. I think that drives them towards finding a way to do so and we end up with a lot of delegates who find exponential growth in this process. Fire is one of the main elements in life. It helps us nourish ourselves, it provides us light in the darkness, and it can also spark our motivation towards greater things. If we can control it, it can be powerful, but when we let it get out of hand, it can be devastating. Tread with caution. be prepared, but also, don't be afraid to truly see the possibilities for you when that flame begins to burn within you. 

~:[CH12 - Day 37]:~ On the Road Again

 
~:[CH12 - Day 37]:~ On the Road Again

When most people hear me say this, they think I'll be traveling again. When I use this phrase today, it's referring to our run. While I am definitely tired, it was nice to be back and having the kids get out on their run again. For many, they see it as a good thing to be out and about traveling, but from another perspective, being away helps you miss the comforts of home. I appreciated being back home, being able to drive and trying to get back into my routine. It was hectic as I spent the day trying to fix my computer, catching up on paperwork and dealing with a few other situations. Some people say that normalcy and comfort are boring, but today, I definitely saw it as being a luxury. Our lives will find its peaks and valleys as life truly is an unpredictable adventure. We have moments where we hit those highs and feel unstoppable and other moments where we feel so low, we almost want to throw our hands up and give up. The lesson I learned through my hardest times in life on this road of life is, just trying to keep moving forward, even when you get knocked back and all odds are stacked against you. We make mistakes in life, we face difficult situations, and at times we feel hopeless, but it is then that we must work the hardest to simply push forward and calling those reinforcements around you ready to lend you a hand. To all those pushing through those trenches of life, I wish you the best. To those enjoying the highs, laugh, smile and truly soak up the wonderful moments, to those in the middle, embrace the comforts and normalcy and to those in the lows, know that you will survive this and become stronger and remember that we will always be here to support you. I'm on the road again, but I guess looking back at it, that's every day, as we travel this road of life together. 

~:[CH12 - Day 36]:~ Out of Commission

 
~:[CH12 - Day 36]:~ Out of Commission

This day can be painful or joyous. It's award day. As per usual, I reminded the students that awards cannot measure your performance. Whether you face someone just better than you or circumstances keep you from earning an award, there are too many factors in play in Model UN which can earn you or prevent you from receiving an award. Thus, the only measure that I like to focus on is, how substantive were you and how active were you in committee. The students worked hard and you could see their passion as their frustrations oozed out when other delegates had no substances or didn't take it seriously or their joy when they connected with other delegates or successful merged a group. They worked their tails off and truly excelled among the 1,300+ who attended one of the largest high school run conference in the world. By day's end, however, the team was exhausted. After an early morning call to take their luggage down, to a day full of committee and a night flight back home, you could see how tired they were after all the effort they put in. Similarly, my energy level was low as a I took a nap on the flight home. My body and mind were out of commission and sadly, when I arrived home, I found out my computer was too. I guess it was quite the symbolism as the computer probably felt like I did, maxed out. I guess it helped as it forced me to go to bed earlier as I tried to prep for tomorrow's school day. It will be a tough turnaround tomorrow, but I've had worse. We ended the trip with ten students winning awards, but that was overshadowed by the hundreds of memories we created. From enjoying the snow at the mountain top, solving the puzzles of the escape room or jamming out in MoPOP, this trip was truly one to remember. As while some students were happy and some were sad by day's end, I hope that when they look back, they have nothing but good memories from this amazing trip. In the end, however, I am definitely glad to be home and it will only be moments before I am truly out of commission. Good night!

~:[CH12 - Day 35]:~ Celebrate

~:[CH12 - Day 35]:~ Celebrate

It was our last night in Vancouver and we ended up finally coordinating a team dinner. It's been tradition for us to eat at this spot and I am glad we finally got to eat together. A few of the students hit the end-of-the-week wall as fatigue took over, but nothing that a little Pedialyte couldn't help. The students faced the challenges in committee, mostly from being scorned for having too much information. I have always been an advocate to try to improve Model UN worldwide by trying to help program understand what it takes to truly be prepared for a conference and what it takes to do well. In SoCal, I think we are so blessed with so many strong programs and thus our level of preparation is always on another level. As always, I reminded the delegates to not worry about the other delegates and do MUN the way we know how to do it, substantively and diplomatically. While they will not all be happy with how things went during committee, I know I can be proud of them for pushing through and doing what they could to find success. After dinner, they all had their last chance to explore the city and one group went to catch the final showing of the night of the BTS concert at the theater. I did my final room check, finished packing, then spent the rest of the night, finishing up a video I needed to finish by this weekend. It was a great night and even I was celebrating as soon, instead of patrolling halls, I only have to worry about patrolling myself and making sure I get to bed on time. Let's celebrate!

 

~:[CH12 - Day 34]:~ Umbrella

 
~:[CH12 - Day 34]:~ Umbrella

I'm not sure if it was an ominous sign, but the first day the rain would impact us was today. It wasn't a heavy rain, but during our dinner break the rain began to fall and it looks like it will continue off and on until we leave. I guess it's always challenging when you have the conference at the end of the trip. We really don't get to choose, it just depends on how our school schedule works with the conference schedule. We've had a long week, but the students got themselves focused and ready for committee. As usual, the difference in styles threw them off a bit, but I know that many of them kept their composure and focused in on what they needed to accomplish. As the students struggled with this and that, I tried to get them to focus on what they needed to work on in hopes that it could turn things around. I told them that we need to shed the negative energy and try to figure out what opportunities lie within these obstacles. The rain is definitely an obstacle and while it could have easily drenched us, we can deflect much of it with something as simple as an umbrella. For our own lives, sometimes our situations are like that. We already have what we need to deflect much of the problems we face, it's just a matter of whether we decide to open our umbrella or not. Instead of looking at how these obstacles are a problem, we can simply spend that energy looking for the solution. In the end, most of the students survived and found that solution and I am confident that those who didn't will find their umbrella soon enough.

~:[CH12 - Day 33]:~ How's Life TREEting Ya?

 
~:[CH12 - Day 33]:~ How's Life TREEting Ya?

I think everyone loves coming here. It's beautiful and the air was crisp and clear. The students enjoyed wandering around and exploring. They definitely were tired as we've been going nonstop for almost a week now and every time we come back early, they have a load of homework to do. However, they've done a good job balancing fun with work. As we close out our trip portion of the week, the students were getting a bit anxious as they realized committee would be starting tomorrow. They ran into the first delegates from another school and the conference staff began to arrive. After exploring Granville Island and ice skating our final "free" night away, it felt good to have the students still enjoying their time as they begin what they came here for. I know they're exhausted and hope they have the energy to make it through this final stretch, as I know that. throughout the afternoon, I felt the fatigue (food coma) and barely could keep my eyes open. Regardless, it's been fun, but I can't say that I am not excited to be able to watch them in committee and not have to worry much about reservations, directions and more. Almost all the planning portions are done, so now, I am feeling a lot more relaxed. How's life treating you?

~:[CH12 - Day 32]:~ Beyond Imagination

 
~:[CH12 - Day 32]:~ Beyond Imagination

When we are lucky enough to visit this spot, it tends to be one of their favorite spots. It was even more incredible when mother nature decided to dust the place with centimeters upon centimeters of snowfall. While it may have slowed down the tubes, it made for an incredible wintery landscape beyond imagination. It was a little bit of a hassle as everything was getting a little wet, but it was well worth dealing with it all to capture all of these great moments. You cannot capture the beauty of the moment, but I tried my best so that they could have these lasting memories for years to come. It definitely was an exhausting day as they woke up early once again, but I think the trek was well worth it. We ended up venturing out later that night and they strangely had a bit of energy left over since they all took naps in the bus. as they excitedly chatted about how amazing it was in the mountains. Although I've been here before and I assume I will be back here again, for now, I will appreciate the fact that I got to experience this incredible scene that seemed to play out perfectly. As the clouds cleared away momentarily, the snow fell beautifully atop the trees and the laughter of the students echoed through the mountains, today truly was beyond imagination.