~:[CH14 - Day 90]:~ Anticipation

 
~:[CH14 - Day 90]:~ Anticipation

I'm not sure if it was because I was looking forward to the time or if it was because I was home all day, but today felt like one of the longest days. As I think back, I don't even remember going to class in the morning, as it felt like it was another day. To keep myself busy, I went grocery shopping and cooked up lunch and dinner. I wanted to remake the seafood noodle recipe I created in January and it turned out just as good. I made so much that I ended up having to share with my family as I packaged it up and sent it out. I watched part of a few games and some dramas, plus I cleaned on top of it all. Finally, the time had arrived as my friend and I were trying to get our express pass for Universal. As I jumped on when it opened at 11pm, it was lagging. I knew there were some system issues, so I kept trying. It continued to fail, time after time. My friend actually told me the Japanese site was working so I was about to wrap it up on their site, although it required a Japanese address. I jumped back on the global site and failed time after time. I was a bit discouraged as the anticipation for this moment led to disappointment. In life, we face that. We anticipate something and are let down. Sometimes, we have to wave the white flag and sometimes, we can search around and find another way. People who know me, know that I will keep working to try and make something work out if I want it to. Tonight, I didn't give up. I refreshed time and time again and finally, it popped up. An open slot on our day! To my dismay, there was an error when finalizing the order and the stock had run out, or so it said. I didn't give up and finally, it worked out where I was able to secure what we were aiming for. Despite a temporary let down, my persistence paid off. For those moments we wait in anticipation, it won't always work out, but when it does, it feels great. I feel accomplished today, not only because I secured what I was aiming for, but also because of all the things I accomplished throughout the day. I hope we all get to experience that thrill of anticipation for a particular moment and I hope that when you finally arrive at that moment, you find the same joy that I did tonight. Have a wonderful week ya'll!

~:[CH14 - Day 89]:~ Diligence

 
~:[CH14 - Day 89]:~ Diligence

It's hard to stay disciplined. On a day I wanted to just play, I woke up early and jumped online for class. We were practicing situational conversations and it was nice to be able to go through some situations and ask questions when needed. Leaving class, I felt like I had picked up a few more things I could use for the summer. Focusing in on what you need to do is not easy, but when you do, you tend to be able to accomplish a lot. For some, it takes a lot to stay on task, however, know that you can do it. Like my students, each of us has to find our way to get on track. We must find our way to find a way to become efficient and diligent so that we can make progress. Today, I made progress, I accomplished a few things on my list and was able to make efficient use of the day. I allowed myself some free time, still yet, I did accomplish what I had hoped for today. At the end of each day, ask yourself, did I accomplish what I wanted to? If not, do your best to figure out what can get you on track and what will motivate you throughout your day. You can do it! 

~:[CH14 - Day 88]:~ Waiting on a Breakthrough

 
~:[CH14 - Day 88]:~ Waiting on a Breakthrough

I got to sleep in a bit longer than usual, as the meet began a little later. I still had to go to school early to get the poles and then load the car on the way to the meet. It was a nice small crowd for us, which was nice as there was less to worry about and allowed me to focus on the athletes there. One of my seniors has been desperately trying to hit his goal and it's a little sad to seem him struggle with it. Of course, I can sense that based on the work he does, he's going to get there. For all of us, we feel like we are on the cusp of something greater. We sense what is possible and we hope that we can find that breakthrough. My word of advice to you is, don't give up. Keep pushing forward. Trust the process. If you've done what you can to get to that point, know that your time is coming. Believing in yourself is a large part of the battle. While it may not always carry you across the finish line, it will help you get closer. At the end of the day, I hope that this senior reaches that goal and all of my athletes find their way to progress. There will be the typical ups and downs of life, but as they keep pushing forward, I am anxiously waiting on a breakthrough I am confident is coming. 

~:[CH14 - Day 87]:~ Catching Up

 
~:[CH14 - Day 87]:~ Catching Up

This weekend was an unexpected three day weekend. We've never had this day off before, thus it was nice to be able to enjoy this extra day. I've been so behind on everything that this extra day will be spent catching up on work I needed to complete. One of those tasks will be uploading photographs. Last night, I was lucky enough to attend the song release party for Kevin Woo. I went through and edited those photos today, as part of the stack of tasks I have to complete in the next few days. As much of a bore it may seem to be, I find happiness when I catch up on the work I need to finish, as it takes a weight off my shoulder and truly allows me to enjoy my free time ahead. As while some may prefer to go out and enjoy their time exploring, I'll only truly be able to enjoy those moments when I wrap up everything I need to have done. I closed the night out chatting my with friends from Japan planning out our projects that will start in a few months. This was just the tip of the iceberg as I will roll up my sleeves and start tackling the pile of tasks I have lined up to finish this week. How do you feel when you are able to finally catch up on that to do list? How do you reward yourself?

~:[CH14 - Day 86]:~ Connections

 
~:[CH14 - Day 86]:~ Connections

It was quite the challenging day. I woke up early and moved all my boxes to my room. I had most everything I needed, now I just needed it all to fall into place. For the most part, it did. They arrived early, leaving us enough time to take our time on the tour. My students seemed a little timid at the start, but opened up and they began to converse comfortably. With presentations, the students learned about each other, before they interacted in a variety of activities that the students from Japan prepared. It was great for our students to learn about Japanese culture while meeting new people. From games to karaoke, traditional dance and calligraphy to origami, there were a range of activities for them to participate in. Our students performed a few songs for them, which was one of the highlights of the day for them, while I could see how much our students enjoy participating in their activities. At the end of the day, the connections these students make will have a lasting impact. While they may not be life changing, simply experiencing a different culture will help open their eyes to the world around them and the same will go for their students. I'm sure they learned a lot from each other. After practice, later that night, I headed to LA for a release party for Kevin Woo. I often get asked how I have so many connections through various channels and it's just like how our Tezukayama experience began. In life, you end up finding the right people who connect you to opportunities. You either take them or you pass them by. However, when you take them, you often find yourself gaining even more opportunities and experiences or get the drive to chase these types of experiences down. The key to making connections is putting yourself out there, as once you do, you never know where that road will take you. For today, that road took me to a wonderful cultural exchange for my students and a fun night celebrating an artist on a journey of their own. I hope we all can find those connections that will lead us to the destination we hope to arrive at in the future. 

~:[CH14 - Day 85]:~ Cooling Off

 
~:[CH14 - Day 85]:~ Cooling Off

It was warm the past two days. Today, it cooled off significantly. It's strange that one the days we want to chill out, it gets a little cold, but regardless, it still ended up being a nice chill day overall. It was a bit chaotic as we prepared to welcome the students from Tezukayama, however, for the most part, everything else was pretty relaxing. It was interesting to have a conversation with one of my seniors as we talked about the layout of the Cerritos Towne Center, as we discussed, rent and business. We talked about the challenges these business face and we joked about his run for office in a few years, although it's not something out of the question down the line. I always love to see the insights of my students. Aside from the classwork and practices, it's always intriguing to see what is going on in their minds. For some it's sports, others it may be pop culture, while others it's politics and economics. Just taking the time to listen though, teaches you a lot about these students, a side you don't see in the classroom. I hope we all find the time to take a break from what we typically do and do something to chill out, cool off and discover new things, as you'll never know what great things you'll uncover.

~:[CH14 - Day 84]:~ Behind the Scenes

 
~:[CH14 - Day 84]:~ Behind the Scenes

I attend and work at a lot of events, some of which I plan myself. It's incredible to watch the inner workings of an event. From concerts, where you consider the sound, video, lighting and more, to even what may seem like the simplest of gathering and events. Each requires such a large amount of preparation and thought. As I move from event to event, I always have to go through the checklist to ensure that I didn't forget anything. As I plan for the upcoming visit from the students from Tezukayama, I thought of all the various things I needed to make sure I took care of before the day. As I wrap up the last few things on the agenda, I took a quick look at the names tags I made for the visit. I smiled knowing that they turned out well. Through the process of planning, I learned so many things. I learned how to make and create things, I figured out how to do certain things easier and faster, and I learned what was needed and what is not. As I attend events, I learn the layout, which helps me create a plan for the future, hoping to be more efficient than the last time. To all those who plan events, I appreciate all the work you put in focusing on every last detail. We don't always know and see what goes on behind the scenes, but every person plays a role in helping make an even move like clockwork. It may seem easy at times, but it's not. From sporting events to concerts, birthday parties and more, all the work put in should be appreciate. I applaud those who do this on the regular and I hope that we all can appreciate those who make these wonderful events work. The next time you're at an event, but sure to appreciate all those people who made it possible, as while it may seem like a breeze, there's so much more going on behind the scenes, which should never go unnoticed. To all those past and present who played a role behind the scenes, I thank you!

~:[CH14 - Day 83]:~ A Little Extra Energy

 
~:[CH14 - Day 83]:~ A Little Extra Energy

It was a bit random. On this hot day that drained a lot of out of me, one of my runners handed me a Pokemon card. He said, "this is for you." I laughed as I turned it around and saw it was a basic energy card. It's worth a few cents, but as I thought about it more, its value was quite immeasurable. Even the simplest of things has a value greater than its market value. The market determines what people are willing to pay for something, as I often cover in my econ class. However, while this card may not be valuable and its intrinsic value outlook is similar, the card came to me at just the right time. It lightened the mood on this challenging day. Most things were actually going pretty smoothly as I wrapped up grades and took care of this and that, however, it still provided me with a little boost I needed at the end of the day, which helped me push through as I wrapped up another project. To many, this basic energy card is just a common card, but the value of something to the right person and at the right time, may be much more than you may realize. Luxury items may dominate the advertising market, but little do they realize that the things that bring the most into our lives don't always have a price tag. An old photograph, a handwritten letter, or a simple compliment may have a value greater than you could have ever imagined. Today, I received a little extra energy from one of my students and while I'll never be able to sell this card online or trade it for anything, it is just the thing I needed and at this very moment, it was the most valuable card in the deck.

~:[CH14 - Day 82]:~ Let's Rock!

 
~:[CH14 - Day 82]:~ Let's Rock!

I wasn't feeling to well last night, so I was debating whether to show up to today's event. However, I ended up heading out in the morning to the Shrine for the Arc World Tour Finals. I didn't realize I would be seeing some of the same competitors that I came across at EVO, but I discovered the connection when I arrived. It was cool to see the interactive free play booth when you're battling against some of the same characters that are playing in the game. I think for a fan of the games, it's an unrivaled experience. The lines were constant throughout the day, which made time pass by so quickly. It was fun to capture all the moments and interactions throughout the day. It was also cool to get a special screening and sneak preview during the event. It was also cool to follow the CEO around a bit as he greeted fans in a polar bear suit, an unusual, but catchy idea. By days end, I was exhausted, but I will appreciate all the experiences that so many had today and was glad to be able to capture many of these moments through a camera. No matter what you're interested in, I hope that you always  allow yourself to enjoy it and never allow anyone to deter you from enjoying what you love. While it may not be the preference of others, don't feel like it means you can't enjoy it yourself. Soak it all in and make the most of your precious moments. Let's rock!

~:[CH14 - Day 81]:~ The Power to Do Great Things

 
~:[CH14 - Day 81]:~ The Power to Do Great Things

We woke up early and arrived early. We planned for some traffic and the meet was pushed back, so we ended up on site before most teams. It gave us time to relax and enjoy before the meet began. The meet went smoothly with some running great performances and others falling short of their goals. There always is a bit of a mix. However, you see athletes who break down walls and find a way to accomplish things they may not have imagined. Two athletes shook their heads when we told them the time to aim for, yet they hit those times. Another athlete was thrown in to fill a race and he excelled. For all of us, we have the opportunity to do great things. First, we need to get out there and do something and secondly, we need to believe in ourselves or sometimes just have someone believe in us. Be that person who believes in others so that they can excel, however, similarly, believe in yourself so that you can accomplish great things and find out what you are really capable of. I was hoping to get home early, yet an accident on the freeway slowed us down as we literally were parked on the 91. However, while the smooth ride home didn't quite work out, I know that there will be another chance where we will be coasting along, on the path to doing something great.

~:[CH14 - Day 80]:~ Keeping It Simple

 
~:[CH14 - Day 80]:~ Keeping It Simple

Aside from work, I've noticed that I kept my life fairly simple. Nobody will probably believe me when I say this, but most of the "cool" things that I do are usually related to some type of project or commission. I've toned back some of my own personal ventures in order to focus on progressing in another area. Some would say that it's still part of my own personal ventures - a passion project. On this Friday, I thought of going to the Clippers game or even heading to an even to capture some photos, instead, I headed home and got some work done, relaxed, and just recharged. With so many different activities, I think keeping it simple is truly the way I want my personal time to feel like. While the occasional outing is always great, I don't mind eating a home cooked meal, sitting down and chatting with my friends, or just watching a drama. I always find myself in this state after this busy stretch of time, as the strains of traveling for work can sometimes be consuming, still yet, a part of me appreciates this time and it feels like it's become more of my own preference. It was a simple day and aside from a quick visit from my niece and nephew and a few alumni, it was a simple day that I quite enjoyed. As I sit here and write, I am content, relaxing before our meet day tomorrow, separated from the crowds and noises I am often surrounded by, hidden away in the tranquil space I call home. We all find our desire route and even if we plot our destination into our GPS, it's okay for us to veer from the path that's given to us, as change is inevitable. For now, I've taken a detour into this simple and quiet haven. I hibernate when time permits. Eventually, I may want to come out of this cave, but for now, I will cozy up at home and enjoy the simplicities of life.

~:[CH14 - Day 79]:~ The Mirage of Perfection

 
~:[CH14 - Day 79]:~ The Mirage of Perfection

At least through six games, my bracket was perfect. Then, it tumbled. It is life. Even more challenging that a perfect bracket for the NCAA tournament is perfection in life. I sometimes hear people say, "they do it so perfectly" or "she is so perfect" when in reality, perfection is just a mirage. A robot or AI isn't even capable of perfection, thus, how can we as humans be perfect? I don't discourage anyone from trying to achieve perfection, but at the same time, I hope people realize that a phrase that is more true is, "nobody's perfect." Every once in awhile, we may find perfection, but it does take a number of imperfect attempts to get there. Practice, hard work, emotions, and more pile up in striving to get to that pinnacle everyone aims for. It's okay to aim for it, but don't obsess over it. In the end, if you can only accept perfection, you may just be setting yourself up for failure. Appreciate the imperfections as it  helps us learn and grow, it helps us develop grit and perseverance, and it allows us to understand that we are human. We are going to make bad decisions every once in awhile, we'll find ourselves regretting something we did, or we may find disappoint in our performance, however, we also must remind ourselves that it's natural. It's even more true as we watch the NCAA tournament as the person who misses the go-ahead shot or who commits a foul that sends a team home may feel like they just messed up. The reality is, there will be 67 teams heading home and only one who will have a perfect record in the tournament and even that team didn't play perfectly to get there. Never allow that one mistake or even a series of mistake define you, rather allow those mistake to make you better so that your definition can develop into something you want to be, instead of that standard that is simply a mirage. Accept imperfections and you'll find the ability to do so much more, as you'll be able to persevere as you face up to the challenges of life.

~:[CH14 - Day 78]:~ Cooling Off

 
~:[CH14 - Day 78]:~ Cooling Off

I had a few issues in the morning, which got me off to a slow start, but things settled down and I quickly got into the groove. It was strangely hot today, as I had to remove my jacket right away. It was the perfect day to go on a food run and that we did. We headed over to the TC and I enjoyed a nice refreshing drink. In life, things will catch you off guard. Life is just like the weather sometimes - unpredictable. You may dress for a cold day, but get a hot one instead or you may be in a place that is normally cold and find yourself burning up instead. However, you can always find a way to solve those problems you face. Don't get discourage if you didn't prepare correctly, as you can always find a way to adjust and adapt and in the end, kick up your feet and enjoy something refreshing. Today was one of those days that didn't go perfectly, yet in the end, I felt perfectly fine. 

~:[CH14 - Day 77]:~ Learning to Train

 
~:[CH14 - Day 77]:~ Learning to Train

When people come out to run, they think that they just have to run fast every day to get faster. It doesn't quite work like that. I like coaching because of the science that lies behind training. The structure to properly pace and balance an array of training to fuse into one, trying to find that perfect formula. Interval day is one of those days where we work on those skills. Learning to pace and feel how to approach each lap is a key component of finding success. Many of my novice athletes sprint out on the first few intervals trying to show off, only to find themselves not finishing the workout. My veterans typically don't do that, as they've learned overtime that in order to get the most out of the workout, they need to run it correctly. By day's end, there was a group of exhausted athletes and I was quite satisfied on how the workout turned out. Learning to do something in your life is important. You'll find a hundred ways to do something wrong, but once you learn how to do it right, it becomes a lot easier. Sometimes, there is no perfect answer, but often, there is a route that will help guide you to the best possible outcome, which often comes after you learn how to prepare yourself. 

~:[CH14 - Day 76]:~ Luck On Our Side?

 
~:[CH14 - Day 76]:~ Luck On Our Side?

It wasn't as hard to wake up today as I thought it would be. I got home late and worked a bit on media from the concert before heading to sleep. I had planned that it would be a rough start to the week and thus I planned an easy transition into the week. I was glad I did. I didn't get a lot of work done since my computer was used to play a movie, however, it was nice to watch Allegiance with the class and see their reactions to one of my favorite musicals. Afterwards, I wrapped up what I was working on from yesterday and headed to practice. It was already cold and windy when I arrived and towards the end of the run, it started to rain. We had originally planned on heading to weight room, but everyone called it a day, which meant I could go home a bit earlier and get some work done. I caught up on what I needed to do and was able to relax a bit as I ate corned beef cabbage to celebrate this lucky day. I jumped onto a stream and joined in on a little contest and shared some of the luck of my day. While I am not sure if luck will be on my side on the end, for the time being, the day itself was pretty lucky and I was glad that it wasn't too challenging of a day returning back to the classroom. Hope you all had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day :)

~:[CH14 - Day 75]:~ Energized

 
~:[CH14 - Day 75]:~ Energized

I was supposed to attend an online class in the morning, but our flight was delayed and I knew I wouldn't be waking up and so I canceled. I got home at 2:30am and did a little work before heading to bed. I actually work up at my normal time and got some work done and cleaned up from my trip. I finally was home to clean and organize, which strangely made me happy. Being on the road so much lately for work, the temporary comforts of home become even more valuable. On a lazy day, it was easy to keep it even keeled, but I went to capture the amazing moments of Matsuri '25. I was debating whether to go since it was right after Nationals, but I committed and I have no regrets. Despite the fatigue, I never felt tired as Yoasobi energized the crowd, followed by Atarashii Gakko who showed off their amazing choreography and showmanship. Those who didn't know who they were instantly became fans and I am not surprised at all. Ado closed out the night as the Peacock Theater was rocking, but it definitely was a little too intense of my liking. We closed out the evening together at Yard House as we reminisced on our past adventured and discussed what's ahead for us all. Who knows where we will be, but as we closed out the night, we were filled with the energy passed onto us from all the performances and left with great memories we can cherish forever. 

~:[CH14 - Day 74]:~ Following Footsteps

 
~:[CH14 - Day 74]:~ Following Footsteps

It's difficult when you have to follow in the footsteps of those who came before you, especially when they have a long track record of success. We've done pretty well year after year at Nationals. We could limit the size of our delegation and only take our top delegates, however, we trust that we can take more delegates and that they'll do the work to rise up to the level we are expecting. We had a handful of delegates who didn't qualify for the team and I placed them in the Nationals Training Academy, which assigned them extra work to help improve their skills. It was great to see them do the work to improve despite facing numerous struggles. Although it's difficult to follow in the footsteps of those who succeeded before, it also means it will push you to rise up to their level. One of those students who went to the academy progressed slowly, but in the end, he also stood on this very stage and also gave a speech after receiving the awards of distinction and the honor of speaking at plenary. While we had delegates, like the two pictured, who excelled from the start, sometimes, when you push yourself, instead of following in the footsteps of others, you gain the skills and confidence to guide yourself and make your own footprints for others to follow. I was proud of my delegates who put in so much work to carry on the tradition of our program. They maintained their composure and they represented our program the way we always hope, with substance and diplomacy. As while it may feel impossible to follow int he footsteps of some, never count yourself out and find it in yourself to forge your own path to create footprints for others to follow. 

~:[CH14 - Day 73]:~ With Tears and Fears, Hope Appears

 
~:[CH14 - Day 73]:~ With Tears and Fears, Hope Appears

It's always a difficult day. The hard work that these students have put into November was all for these few days of conference. They put themselves to the test. Sometimes things work out, while at others, the pain and frustration of the conference can be overwhelming. Many fear that they will not be able to do as well as they had hoped and tears flow for others who are disappointed on how things turned out. My response is often, you can only do what you can do. There are too many things you can't control in life and MUN is a great way for these students to learn that lesson. For a variety of reasons, there were fears and at the end there are tears, but through that process, there is also hope. These students will learn how to deal with the adversity of life. They'll see that even when they outperform, sometimes, they'll be overlooked and at other times, when they work hard, they'll face someone who still rises above them. In all situations, I hope that they can see that they can only do their best. Forcing them to learn how to "figure it out" is one of the things in MUN that I think helps these students become the most successful. It doesn't always work out, but they learn to handle these difficult and sometimes disappointing situations and use it to help them learn and grow for the future. In the end, we ended up with six delegates who earned distinction (best delegate) and another six who won awards (top three in committee), but they all were rewarded with life lessons that could never be replaced. Life teaches us that even when we do everything right, things may not work out and I know that MUN helps prepare them for these life situations so they can navigate the challenges that life prepares for them. Life can be disappointing and bring fears and tears, however, that's exactly the moment they learn that all hope is not lost and they have the ability to overcome all the obstacles in their way.

~:[CH14 - Day 72]:~ Presidential

 ~:[CH14 - Day 72]:~ Presidential

With the conference starting up, we were made aware of a cool opportunity last week. We found out that the former President Biden would be speaking at the conference. He addressed the thousands of delegates in attendance and while doing so, he was so comfortable and genuine. Many remarked, it feels like you're talking to a grandpa with so many different stories. Many of them were relatable to the students and he helped encouraged them to get engaged and involved. It wasn't a partisan speech and the only negativity was when he poked fun of himself due to his age. Having the secret service watch my every move was a bit nerve-wracking, however, Biden speaking made all of us comfortable. Whether or not I agree with his policies is a mute point, I appreciate the compassion and humanity in his message. As he encourage the students to take on issues important to them, he reminded them to follow what they believed in and not the political road that may get them ahead. As I shook his hand and walked off after our picture, I was encouraged that our young leaders would hear his message that they have the opportunity to change this world, to bring good into the world, to work with others to fix what is broken, so we can find a path where we can work together and get along. I think the students themselves were also in awe at the opportunity they had. I feel like it inspired them as they debated in committee. It was a long day, but I'm sure that students didn't mind the extra time they spent in the meeting, as the time was well spent. I know that former President Biden has been constantly attacked with numerous falsehoods surrounding him, but it didn't take long to realize how many mistruths exist in this world. I hope that we can all approach life in a way where we welcome compassion and humanity and reject the negativity that has engulfed society. I am not sure what happened in such a short amount of time, but I know that even I have the power to impact those around me to help rebuilding a world filled with a positive energy that can overcome the negativity of our world. 

~:[CH14 - Day 71]:~ Change in Policy

~:[CH14 - Day 71]:~ Change in Policy

The UN wasn't giving tours on our normal day so we went on the same day as opening ceremonies. When checking in, they changed their policies and we almost were not allowed in to the tour. Luckily, they worked with us. The tour went well and the student jumped into committee full on. As they debate, they will hold true to their policies much like we hold to our own principles in life. However, every once in awhile, we look at our own life and decide that there could be a better way or approach. It's okay to make that change if it better fits the person you've become. As we learn, grow, and change, our policies will adapt as well. While we are creatures of habit, be welcome to change as it better suits who you've become. You'll definitely be better because of it.

~:[CH14 - Day 70]:~ While You Were Sleeping

 
~:[CH14 - Day 70]:~ While You Were Sleeping

We started a tradition of having an optional stop at Brooklyn Bridge for the early risers. It allows those who feel well to go and the others to rest. Of course, it made me think that often times, while others are sleeping, you can enjoy so much more. We all need our rest, but if you can find a way to make efficient use of your time, you can truly enjoy so much more. While others were sleeping, we soaked in the sun and enjoyed a stroll along the bridge. Luckily for me, I am someone who doesn't require a lot of sleep to function and thus, when I traveled, I maximize my days. Even if you're not, take every opportunity you can to explore. We ventured through Central Park and the MET after before enjoying another spectacular performance of Wicked all in a single day, as we maximized our time, enjoying every opportunity given to us. I hope that you do as well!

~:[CH14 - Day 69]:~ A Maze-ing

 

~:[CH14 - Day 69]:~ A Maze-ing

Walking around New York can sometimes be a challenge. There is something much to see packed in that small area of Manhattan. As we wandered around, we enjoyed the beautiful weather and prepped for committee outdoors at little islands for the first time ever. It worked out nicely. From there were enjoyed the staircase maze of the Vessel which just reopened after they added some safety netting. It was a little sad to see it, but a necessary step to keep everyone safe. Museums in New York can also feel like a maze at times and the Natural History Museum is one of them. I like how wandering can land you in a few spots you never knew existed or that they added since you last came. Sadly, the butterfly exhibit was closed, but we still were able to enjoy a number of other exhibits. It's been a great start to the trip overall with better weather back home, but wish us luck as we try to navigate the maze that is New York.

~:[CH14 - Day 68]:~ The Beauty Around Us

 

~:[CH14 - Day 68]:~ The Beauty Around Us

The glitz and glamours of New York is evident. Everywhere you turn there is something gorgeous to look at. The bright signs, the beautiful skyscrapers, and even the wonderful parks. There are a lot of eyesores in New York as well, but why would you let that distract you from the beauty that exists? As we saw some of the most iconic of these sites, we traveled from the historic Statue of Liberty and it's fairly new museum to the beautifully designed memorials and areas around the World Trade Center including the Oculus. Washington Square arch is always iconic and we ended in Central Park as the skylines lights appeared over the ice skating rink. As we walked through SoHo and other neighborhoods, there may not have been something overwhelmingly eyecatching, still yet, there were subtle things that caught my eye. From the fruit stands and even just the interactions of people and the emotion on their faces were things that can show the beauty that is around us. What is grandiose is often seen as what to look for in beauty, but sometimes the most beautiful things are hidden and are things that must be found. Keep your eyes open and soak in all the beauty around you, as I know I definitely will these next few days.

~:[CH14 - Day 67]:~ Squeezing In

 

~:[CH14 - Day 67]:~ Squeezing In

We woke up early and headed to the airport at 4am. Our flight was actually leaving an hour later than last year so it meant when we landed, we would be a little crunched for time. While boarding we learned our flight was slightly delayed, which added to our time crunch. On top of it all, when arriving to the hotel, it was under construction and it took us about 30 minutes to go up and get our stuff to our rooms. Still yet, we had time for dinner and went up to enjoy the views of New York at the Empire State Building. We found time to squeeze in everything we normally do despite the loss of time. Sometimes delays can throw us off track, but when we have the right plan and mindset, we can often figure out a way to make it all work. In the end, the students enjoyed their first night in New York, but were exhausted from the hike around the city. I was glad as they quickly went to bed, which is much needed with an early rise tomorrow.

~:[CH14 - Day 66]:~ Finding My Way Crosstown

~:[CH14 - Day 66]:~  Finding My Way Crosstown 

It was a busy day. Work, rally, meet, concert, and pack. I had a normal class day with an assembly for track. Soon thereafter, I wrapped up class, cleaned up a bit, then headed to the meet. The weather was unusually great for Irvine as we enjoyed cool weather without any rain. We had some PRs before I headed off to LA for Priscilla's concert. I shot her last set of photos as she launches a new album soon, so it was even more exciting to be there. I took off right when it ended after saying a quick goodbye, as I had to pack for tomorrow's departure. I didn't think I'd squeeze everything in, but somehow, I did. In life, things may seem impossible, but sometimes everything just falls into place to make it all work. Today was one of those days that worked out perfect and I couldn't be happier. I'll be exhausted tomorrow, however, I know when I look back, I'll be glad that I found my way across town.

 

~:[CH14 - Day 65]:~ Rain or Shine

 
~:[CH14 - Day 65]:~  Rain or Shine

It's one of those sports that plays rain or shine. As the weather app lied, it original showed rain, then no rain, then rain. We held the meet. The weather held off well for the field events, which would be the events that would be canceled. While it started to rain, it wasn't too bad. It went off and on the rest of the night as everyone was freezing. My Superdry jacket must have been excellent, because I didn't feel the cold, just the water from the rain. The athletes found any which way to stay warm as the rain fell down constantly through the night. They braved it and excelled. While we didn't receive the full official scores yet, the varsity boys dominated, doubling the score of their next competitor 208-92 and the boys frosh/soph pulled away late to take a 188-70 victory. Despite missing a number of athletes, the varsity girls took the win 179-114, while the frosh/soph girls, also missing a number of athletes came back strong from down 23, and then roared back to take a seven point win 119-113. It was miserable cleaning up as anything and everything was wet. Luckily, I placed all my bags in trash bags, still yet, other things were wet as I threw them into my van and cleanup it up and organized it a bit for our meet tomorrow. In life, we have to decide whether we seek shelter or attack life rain or shine. Sometimes it's not a choice, but when it is, what will you choose? Life's not always going to be sunshine and flowers and thus I hope we are all prepared for when the storms in our life hit. As while it seems like the storms are endless, if you keep at it, you can find a breakthrough, just like my frosh/soph girls. Luckily the forecast tomorrow still looks okay, however, if things change, we'll be sure to be ready!

~:[CH14 - Day 64]:~ Truly Impressive

 
~:[CH14 - Day 64]:~  Truly Impressive

As I sat in class, I listened to my student give her speech for the upcoming Berkeley Conference. I only understood a few words. It wasn't the first time this has happened. Every year, Berkeley holds a committee in a foreign language. Blessed to be at such a diverse school, we've been able to be in the committees such as the one in Mandarin and this time, the one in Spanish. This student flawlessly gave her speech in Spanish. It can sometimes be difficult even for native speakers as some of the terminology used is different, but I felt like she handled it all well and is prepared for this weekend's conference. Sadly, I will not be able to witness it, as I will be heading to New York, but I already know that this performance will be an impressive one. I am lucky enough to work in a program where we see this often. It's not just those who already excel, but others who don't start with the confidence and grow into something more. It's always impressive to see the transformations and see them when they step up to the podium. If you never have seen the Model UN students in action, it's something to make time for, as they can truly show you what a teenager can do and why our future is in good hands. In a time that can be challenging at times, I am glad that I am surrounded by those who are truly impressive day in and day out. I just hope that this fire within them continues to burn and eventually allows them to shine bright in the end. 

~:[CH14 - Day 63]:~ Never Overshadowed

 
~:[CH14 - Day 63]:~  Never Overshadowed

It was another busy day running around and getting stuff taken care of. On my break, I had to fill up gas, finish up my Nationals work, and then complete entries for track. I luckily was able to get it done in time. After practice, I headed home quickly, then headed down to El Cajon for the game. We arrived just as the game was about to start. We got off to a great start to the game, but things turned south as we got into foul trouble, we missed some layups and free throws, and they started to hit shots as well. Sadly, we lost the game, but still yet, it can never overshadow this incredible run this team had. From a team that entered playoffs under 500, they turned it around when it mattered most and really stepped into the spotlight. Sure, they may have wanted this victory today, but they gained a lot of victories along the way. In life, the ending may not have been what we had hoped for or imagined, but we must highlight and appreciate all the progress we made and count up those small victories. Instead of focusing on what we didn't do, look closely at all the things you did do along the way. Life is challenging enough and instead of being our own obstacle, become your most enthusiastic fan, as that is the best solution to help make sure you never overshadow all the wins you gained along the way. Congratulation lady Dons. 

~:[CH14 - Day 62]:~ Just Golden

 
~:[CH14 - Day 62]:~  Just Golden

It was the start to the busiest week of the year as everything loaded into this final stretch. After a weekend with track and photography, I headed into Monday focused on the tasks at hand. I printed the remainder of my papers for Nationals and held my last meeting, organized my track and field plans for the week, and even cooked up and dropped of food for Chibi Unity. For the latter, I am not sure what possessed me to do it, but seeing them have so many people to feed, I thought I could help out. As I looked forward to my week though, I thought that I could have used the night to get some work done with state tomorrow, Intuit on Wednesday, cluster on Thursday and Irvine on Friday before flying to NY on Saturday. Regardless, I did it and by night's end, I was happy that I did. As we start up Cash for Cancer, I think that while the workload is heavy, I feel good knowing that the work I am doing is helping others in some way shape or form. Similarly, the effort put into raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is helping those in desperate need of this research. I hope in our lives, we use the time and resources we have to make the lives of others around us, as when we do, not only do we help make their lives better, our lives become better in the process. 

~:[CH14 - Day 61]:~ Precision & Style

 

~:[CH14 - Day 61]:~  Precision & Style

I was at VIBE for Chibi Unity. After doing a photoshoot with them, I went to Sergestrom to watch their performance. I found out that their performance was the last of the evening. I was excited as it meant they would end the evening, but it also made me think, should I just show up late? Of course, the thought of dealing with parking worried me, so I left just a little later than scheduled as I wrapped up some work I needed to do. I was glad that I went early, as I got to see a number of great performances including some from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and China among other Californian teams. It helped me reminisce as I remember going to VIBE when I was in college. The build up was great as the evening ended with some amazing performances. Each group had their own style and their own plan for their performances. They created what they thought was the best performance from their group and aimed to deliver it with precious. I think I like how each group took on the task of telling their own story or showing their own style. Of course, in the end, the two loudest applauses were for Chibi Unity (noting it was their junior team performing) and the eventually winner of vibe, GRV. It was fun to hear the crowd get into each performance and I love the vibe of the community. I've always enjoyed dancing myself and being there just made me feel like getting up and dance. If you feel like dancing do it and when do you do it, don't worry about doing what others might enjoy, rather find the style that best suits you and deliver it with precious. In life, it's easy to get caught up in following the trends, but often times, you'll discover that your best performances comes, when find the VIBE that best suits you.

~:[CH14 - Day 60]:~ Something New

 
~:[CH14 - Day 60]:~  Something New

My body was sore from the meet, but it didn't matter as I had to wake up. My alarm sounded at 5:15am and I rolled out of bed and did what I needed to to prep for the meet. I arrived on time and we headed to the meet, which was the first time we've ever attended this meet. The weather was cold, which was surprising considering it was hot just a few days ago. The competition was just about right as it was challenging enough without being overwhelming. We had a small group of athletes, but they actually did pretty well with a few nice PRs early in the season. Normally, we look a little rusty come this time of year, but we actually didn't look too bad. It was a little something new and definitely something I can get used to. The meet didn't run too late into the evening, but it was dark by the time I left campus, which made it hard to get work done. I was half asleep as I sorted through photos and just decided to call it a night. Regardless, I slept well knowing that we had a very solid day, which bodes well for the future. Breaking your cycle and trying something new is sometimes just what you need to help you find progress. Every once in awhile, do something out of the ordinary and see where it ends up taking you.