~:[CH14 - Day 120]:~ In the Spotlight

 
~:[CH14 - Day 120]:~ In the Spotlight

Premios is always a great night. Celebrating students who have excelled in some way is definitely worth the time, even after an exhausting day at the track the previous day. To hear my current and former students get called up is fabulous and to recognize a few of my students is also truly a blessing. This year, I had a mixed bag as I gave one for excellence at conferences, hard work in XC, most improved in MUN, hardest worker in MUN, and the most diligent and engaged student. Each one of the awards I gave were for a different reason. I definitely was torn with a few decisions this year, but in the end, I am pretty happy with the choices I made. All these students work so hard and they definitely deserve this moment in the spotlight. We don't all get to be celebrities, but it doesn't mean we don't deserve a few moments in our lives when we are celebrated. These students should definitely feel proud of themselves, as they've earned their place in that spotlight for whatever reason they were chosen. In some way, they inspired a teacher and helped motivate us through their efforts. Next year and the year after will be the same. I am blessed with so many amazing and talented students and I look forward for when they get their opportunity to step into the spotlight that they truly deserve. 

~:[CH14 - Day 119]:~ A Scorcher

 
~:[CH14 - Day 119]:~ A Scorcher

It ended up being a little warmer than we had expected. With the temperatures heating up, many left with slightly red skin from the sun. Of course, many of the performances on the track were just as hot. We had a few strong performances from our athletes, including those who were closing out their season for the year. It was definitely nice to get the last hurrah for many of the seniors, as they had their celebration in the stands after the meet. They should be proud of their efforts throughout their career, no matter if they PRed today or not. It's not easy to last through your final year, but a large group of them did. It's a little sad that we don't have a home meet to properly do this celebration, but still yet, I was happy that the underclassmen took charge and coordinate this celebration. I'm hoping that the momentum carries over to Friday, as we had solid performances securing a number of spots into finals. With the season wrapping up, I'm definitely exhausted, but it also is a little sad to think that we are closing in on our final goodbyes. For now, we aim at prolonging the season and we'll see just how long we can get it to go. 

~:[CH14 - Day 118]:~ The Miles of Files

 
~:[CH14 - Day 118]:~ The Miles of Files

When the date comes closer, I'm sure my printer gets worried. With the league championships, I take out my trusted folder and begin printing, page after page. From heat sheets to programs, my printer carries me through the process and helps me get everything in order. It definitely is not the most tree friendly process, but it is a process that I have down and it gets easier each year. It's always a bittersweet moment as once I have this folder complete, I know it's almost time to say goodbye to the seniors and this year's team. After tomorrow, we will not have the full team practicing like regular, as for many, their season will end tomorrow. After miles of running over the past four years, these years will leave with tired legs, but a memory full of many great moments. They will also have left an impression in my life and the lives of so many. This folder many only be a list of names and data, but it signifies so much more in a way that can never be quantified. I'll be glad when this is all over and I can put this folder back in its place, but still yet, part of me will be sad to shelve it, as it means that another chapter has ended. When I finally put that folder away for the last time and hang up my keys to the classroom, I wonder what these files will contain. I look forward to looking back on these memories in a few decades, but for now, I'm excited for the performances my athletes will have tomorrow. 

~:[CH14 - Day 117]:~ Octopus

 
~:[CH14 - Day 117]:~ Octopus

One of my favorite seafoods is octopus. I am not sure what got me hooked on it, but I've enjoyed it ever since I was little. In life, sometimes I wish I was an octopus, as I would have eight hands to do everything I needed to do. Today was one of those days that I needed them. Although Spectacular was last night, the process of processing the photos began. It was quite tedious as I sorted the photos by groups and began tackling it, one folder at a time. Later that day, the window for our league finals closed and I began seeding the meet. With the prep for the week, progress reports, and the Premio slideshow, I was kind of perplexed on where to start, wishing I had an extra hand. Of course, in life, our greatest skill is our mind. Instead of wishing, I laid out my schedule and figured out how to best use my time. Through experience, I knew how to best process my photos to save time, how to quickly seed the meet, and of course, how to organize the photos for the slideshow. By night's end, I had done everything I wanted to do and left a few things for tomorrow. Sometimes in life wish, but in reality, sometimes we are capable of doing what we wish for if we just figure out a plan. If we rush into things too quickly, we may not always see the best way to approach something, but when we take a short pause to look at the layout of the land, we may often find ourselves able to plot a route to allow us to do more than we could have ever imagined.

~:[CH14 - Day 116]:~ Sunshine & Downpours

 
~:[CH14 - Day 116]:~ Sunshine & Downpours

For many, today ended their MUN season on a bright note. I was impressed with the number of awards that we took home and also impressed by the ones who showed significant improvement since day one. Of course, the weather definitely summed up the ups and downs of the day. The rain came down in the middle of the day. It was strange to look up to the sky and see the blue skies followed closely by the ominous rain clouds. I thought it all was good, as most of the rain came before and after lunch, but of course, the good morning was followed by some dark clouds. After a good conference, I went home to catch the Clippers game and it didn't look good. Going down big, the Clippers clawed back into the game, only to lose at the last millisecond. It was that close. The downpours began again. Closing off the night at Spectacular may have been a blessing, as my deflated emotions were uplifted by the positive energy in the gym. It was great to see a community support performer after performer. I loved it. In life, we will face these sunshine and downpours, but if we have a community that cheers on us no matter what, we will be okay. To hear the cheers of the crowd, even if they weren't directly at me, filled me with just what I needed after and exhausting day, but also one with a little disappointment. The ups and downs of life are inevitable, but when we find something that can give us an umbrella when that storm hits, we'll be just fine and ready for when that sunshine appears. 

~:[CH14 - Day 115]:~ Together, We Eat

 
~:[CH14 - Day 115]:~ Together, We Eat

After practice, we headed to go eat. It was nice to be able to not worry about time, as spring break came to a close. While we didn't get everyone to join us, it was still great to get together for the last time during the regular season, as soon league finals will be approaching. I think eating together is one of the things that has truly connected our ohana. While it's something simple, it definitely is a binding force that allows the team to get to know each other beyond just the competitive field. While cross country and track allow that more often since we are at the meets for some time, it still is different. When alumni come back to visit, they reminisce about the times that we went out to eat. Even with my friends, our discussions often circle back to our meals that we had together. I guess the same goes for any organization, friends, and family. When I was in college, our outings centered around going out to eat. When you are planning to hang out with family and friends, it's the same. Is food the binding force that brings people together? Whether it is or not, make an effort to spend time together, get to know each other, and celebrate the moments you have together. 

~:[CH14 - Day 114]:~ Unfinished

 
~:[CH14 - Day 114]:~ Unfinished

I woke up early in the morning. My body was sore, so I lied around for a bit before rolling out of bed to head to practice. Yes, it is spring break, but we have league finals soon. I rolled out of bed and wrapped up practice, before heading back home for an interview for MUN. I had purchased a tri-tip from the Costco in AZ and I decided to cook it up. It was delicious! I haven't seen it at our Costco, but I can't say I was looking either. If it's there, I am picking it up next time. After solving a few registration issues for league finals, my main focus for the day was getting ready for the game tonight. I was excited and hoped that we could lock down a lead heading into game four. It was more exciting since today's game was the first playoff game at Intuit. It did not disappoint. With the Wall, I didn't have to deal with any opposing fans (it is a rule not to have other team apparel) and it was super loud. While we got off to a slow start, we took off and never looked back. The fans were ecstatic, but it was important to pause for a moment. Enjoy the celebrations, but always remember to make sure you stay focused on your goals. When your work is unfinished, you cannot lose sight of your progress, rather, you must use the momentum to carry you to your next point. Today was a great victory, but it must be put behind us, as we have two more games to win before we can celebrate and focus on the next. Similarly, in life, we may accomplish one of our stepping stones, but we can't get too excited too soon, as often, that can lead us off track and ultimately derail our progress. It was a great start to the playoff experience at Intuit and I only hope that it won't be my last. 

~:[CH14 - Day 113]:~ Chillin' Out

 
~:[CH14 - Day 113]:~ Chillin' Out

I slept late working on wrapping up content from an event and went to bed without setting an alarm. I ended up waking up early, but just laid there for awhile. With no plan, we just lounged around as we ended up doing a photoshoot with the cat. I'm more of a dog person than a cat person, however, I quite enjoyed spending time with this cat. She was fairly quiet, relaxed, and cute. Our day felt the same as we lounged around and just planned as we went. Instead of spending money at a restaurant, we hit up Costco and grabbed some pizza and wandered around. I ended up picking up a tri-tip, hoping it would make it home fine. It did. We invented a mini ice box that kept it cool and surprisingly enough, the ice lasted the entire drive home. The best part of my day other than the photoshoot was getting gas at just over $3 before crossing state lines. In the end, it was a fairly tight schedule, but still, I enjoyed the short trip, before I had to come back to get back to work. It's nice to chill out every once in awhile and better when you don't have to worry about getting anywhere fast. I don't have many of these days, but when I do, I soak it all up. 

~:[CH14 - Day 112]:~ Shaded from the Sun

 
~:[CH14 - Day 112]:~ Shaded from the Sun

I was on a pretty tight schedule, but I made time to head over to make a visit to AZ from Vegas. I didn't plan much as it was a quick stop, but we ended up making things workout. With a nice lunch and a little bit of exploring, we made the most of the single day I had before I had to head back to Cali. As expected, we hit up Top Golf, as we typically golf, bowl, or get boba when we reconnected. It was a bit warm out, but still, the bays of Top Golf were a good shelter from the sun and a fun way to pass the time. We closed out the night cooking dinner, as I went back to working on editing some photos. While we kept it fairly simple, it was just enough to enjoy and make it a memorable one. Even if you were to spend the day at home, make sure to surround yourself with those who provide the shelter in your life to keep you shaded from the harsh conditions, so you can focus on enjoying the time you have together. 

~:[CH14 - Day 111]:~ Something Fresh

 
~:[CH14 - Day 111]:~ Something Fresh

I've actually never stayed at the Bellagio. With our shoot plans, it was the best option to use considering our free night offers and it worked out nicely, although there was a bit of a walk. I followed the signs to the hotel tower only to realize that I was in the other hotel tower, on the other side of the hotel. Regardless, I got some exercise in after eating lunch with an alum. We ventured around the casino floor until it was time for me to watch the Clippers game. With a W, my day was complete, but it was enhanced by the beautiful conservatory area that housed a beautiful display of fresh flowers. You could smell the flowers in the air and made it a nice getaway from the chaos that is Las Vegas. In the end, it will be a short stay in Vegas, however, while I've been to the hotel before, it was nice to try out something new and fresh and explore what else is out there. I guess it's a good lesson for life. Even if what we are doing seems to work, we can always consider doing something new and seeing if it will work out. It won't always work out, but when it does, it will bring something new and fresh into your life. 

~:[CH14 - Day 110]:~ He is Risen

 
~:[CH14 - Day 110]:~ He is Risen

It's tough to stay on track when things around you are chaotic. That is the test. Can you not be swayed from your path, even when everyone is trying to mislead you? Can you stay focused on the goal? In times where we have been surrounded by lies and hate, we have to stay grounded. It's easy to offer retaliatory words of hate, but doesn't that just mean we're doing the exact same thing? For one, surrounding yourself with people who are going to lead a similar path makes it easy, but there is no avoiding all that is trying to bring you down. Stay the course. We are like reeds in the wind, swaying back and forth and if we are able to stay rooted, we will survive, grow, and thrive. God has given us the chance. We make mistakes, we can find a way to make up for them, but we still need to be willing to change and ask for forgiveness. The same goes with people, when we make a mistake, we must ask for forgiveness before anything can change. I hope today is a day we can look back on our actions and ask for the forgiveness that we seek. It's natural for us to be imperfect, but still yet, it's not an excuse for our actions. We cannot say and do anything and assume it's okay. In a world full of hate, let's show compassion. In a world full of those who are disadvantaged, let's treat others less fortunate than us with respect. In a world full of lies, let the truth set us free. As I spent time with my family today, I appreciated that I have grown up in an environment that has allowed to thrive and I only hope that we can all pass along what we have to allow others to find the same comforts. It's not easy to stay on track, but it is easier if we focus on living the way we know we should, focusing on one step at a time. 

~:[CH14 - Day 109]:~ Shining Bright

 

~:[CH14 - Day 109]:~ Shining Bright

It was an early morning as I rolled in just a little past 6am. Part of me wanted to sleep, but I was excited to capture some great moments.  The outdoor area was a little challenging due to the unbalanced light, but it also created a beautiful moment when the light reflected. There were so many great performer, cosplayers, and even VTubers from around the world. I didn't get to roam around the grounds too much as I ended up MCing the indoor stage, which was fun, but I did have to watch the time to make sure I didn't miss my role. In the end, I made a lot of connections and enjoyed a lot of performances, as I smiled looking back at all the moments that I captured. We quickly cleaned up and then headed out to dinner, all of us exhausted. It was quite the challenging day physically and mentally, but the many joys the day brought were well worth it, as so many people shined so bright today. Whether you are on stage or behind the scenes, be sure to do your best to shine bright in your role as it takes everyone to make things work, especially something as complex as this. 

~:[CH14 - Day 108]:~ Rewarding Work

 

~:[CH14 - Day 108]:~ Rewarding Work

It was our first day off. I woke up early. I scheduled a class, then interviews on this day. Of course, despite the fact that it was work, it felt refreshing to make progress instead of having a lazy day. It's nice to rest, but often, I actually feel worse when I do nothing. After, I went shopping and cooked up a recipe I created in December, a seafood noodles. I headed out to Torrance as we were setting up for AniFest. There wasn't much for me to do, but It was great to watch them soundcheck the VTubers, which is definitely an interesting concept. It was cool that they could get talent from around the world including Japan, UK, and Australia. I went home and was tired, but I felt accomplished as I knew that I got a lot done and what I did benefitted those around me, as well as myself. Life is full of a lot of work, but also be sure to make some time to do some work that is rewarding, especially when you have time to spare. I took a deep breath at the end of the day and it reminded me of the beautiful wisteria blooming at the festival site. When you do work like this, it allows you to bloom even more as you become something that can help others to follow your lead.

~:[CH14 - Day 107]:~ Whatever It Takes

~:[CH14 - Day 107]:~ Whatever It Takes

While many were already off on their spring break, I had a solid group of athletes ready to work. It takes discipline to stay focused when your mind wants nothing more than to be on vacation, but when you do, you are often rewarded. I hope that karma treats them well and rewards them for their hard work as they deserve it. In life, sometimes we wonder why things don't work out, before we do that, we should ask if we did everything we could to make it work. If not, we can look at little closer at where we can improve and what more we can do so that next time, we give ourselves the best opportunity. I've always took on the mentality that there is nothing we should be simply be given, but when we do the work, the universe will somehow reward you. This group deserves those blessings and I hope we all can live a life where we know we done all we could to succeed. Let's do whatever it takes to reach our goals, even if it means putting our vacations in life on hold just a bit longer.

~:[CH14 - Day 106]:~ Never the Same

 
~:[CH14 - Day 106]:~ Never the Same

I was happy to see Day6 perform in LA again. I was a little sad that there were only four on stage. It's life. Sometimes, you want something so bad, but they just don't seem to work out. For whatever reason, even when you think things should work out, they don't. It happens in all facets of life and it's something we should get used to. I enjoyed the performance, especially being surrounded by the energetic crowd, but it didn't feel the same. Just like how we can't expect everything to work out, even more so, we can never expect that things will be the same. Rarely are things the same. Each experience in life, even if it's that same routine, has a variance. Things change, situations change, and we change. We try something new, we mix things up, or external factors throw us off our "normal" course and nothing is wrong with it. Things will never be the same and I hope we can just learn to accept it and go with the flow. We can figure out new ways to do things, we can expect things to differ from the past, and we can move forward on our own path, even if it means separating from those who we hold dear. Don't be afraid of change, as it's inevitable. While at times, we wish that we can have that perfect moment such as a first day, a wedding day, and more, however, instead of hoping to relieve a moment such as this, why don't we focus on making our experiences ahead original, challenging, and simply, different. As in life, two moments will never be exactly the same and thus, let's prepare ourselves for the many different experiences that lie on the road ahead, as one of the great truths in life is, that things will never really be the same. 

~:[CH14 - Day 105]:~ Just Running Around

 
~:[CH14 - Day 105]:~ Just Running Around

It wasn't an easy to run today, but we are starting to taper down our workouts, as we get our athletes ready for league finals. It's a challenge for them to get through these workouts even when they are easier than the week before, as many of them hope to attain goals that will be challenging. After practice, they were able to find a little joy by running around with this little one, who sometimes swings by our practices. Our athletes cooled down with him and enjoy his company. Life can't always be about seriousness and focus. Even for the top level athletes, there needs to be a little fun mixed in to keep it light. I was watching a clip online when Ohtani walked to his car, opened, the door, and out came out playground balls, which filled his car. His coach had pranked him back from a previous incident. It's things like these that keep things fun during a time when being too serious can often throw you off. While you want to be diligent and focused, don't forget to enjoy life and just run around every once in awhile.

~:[CH14 - Day 104]:~ Timing

 
~:[CH14 - Day 104]:~ Timing

My lens was showing signs of wear. I was a little worried as there are a number of upcoming shoots that will be using it. However, just as it was breaking down, I found an opportunity to replace it. A student at USC was selling a number of things (including this lens) as she was going home soon. She hadn't used it, but based on everything (including the price), I was a bit suspicious. When arriving, I checked it out and everything actually checked out. I tested it, we completed the deal despite a few delays, and we both were happy. Sometimes, things fall into place. You need something and just at that moment, the right person or thing drops in. It typically doesn't work out that way, but every once in awhile it does. Never be too trusting, but at the same time, have faith that at times, things can work out. I was cautious today, but also open minded to the fact that things could actually work out, which they did. While I won't be using this lens in the states (at least for now), I am prepared for the number of shoots I have lined up this summer and now, I am not hesitant to commit to a few more shoots that would require this lens. Today, someone was looking down on me and help me find just what I was looking for. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

~:[CH14 - Day 103]:~ Also ...

 
~:[CH14 - Day 103]:~ Also ...

Did I mention that this weekend was also UCIMUN? I fielded a lot of requests on Saturday to leave early for prom. As much as I want to grant them as much time to prepare as I can, there also needs to be a balance for them to earn their credit and also make sure they do well at the conference. I went back and forth, but settled on a time. It did make it hard for those who left early to keep their standing on Sunday, but a few were able to, impressively. It always is nice to be on my home turf as I revisit and reminisce about my days on the campus. It looks a lot different now, but it still feels the same. I walked through the committees and at times disappointed by the unrealistic crisis that went on even in UN committees. We avoided all of the non-MUN committees, which I despise when conferences have them (mostly college), but still yet, we ended up with a Gundam invasion. Still yet, despite these crisis, the conference itself ran smoothly. In the end, we actually did pretty well at the conference as we earned three best delegates (we were only in six committees) and the students also received the best class delegation award! With so much going on, I was impressed that they were able to do so well despite the consolidated timeframe. There seemed to be a fairly light mood on the way home as it seemed to end on a good note. On the way home, I was a bit sad to think that the weekend had already dissolved before my eyes, as just when I finished something, I also had ... this and that. Although I worked the entire weekend, everything I did was quite worthwhile. The track athletes found medals and PRs, the prom students had a blast, and the MUN students excelled. As much as I would have loved to sit at home and rest, looking back, I would have changed a thing, as everything was worth the time and effort. I hope that in your lives, you find that the time and energy you spend is worthwhile and if it's not, I hope you a way to ensure that it is. 

~:[CH14 - Day 102]:~ Tuning Up

 
~:[CH14 - Day 102]:~ Tuning Up

I woke up early and headed out the door before 6am. We had a track meet and I didn't realize how early that meant I would have to wake up on this very busy day. This meet was our final tune up for league finals, so it was nice to get a few athletes out there for one last go. I originally was suppose to head to LA to pick something up before prom, but my better reasoning self realized it would be too much of a crunch, so I rescheduled the meeting and relaxed a bit before prom. As I arrived at prom, I got the same feeling that I always do, it's a bittersweet moment. This event is the beginning of the end for the school year. As prom arrives, it also means that the awards season is upcoming, our final conferences, and of course the final banquets. Prom is our tune up for the final stretch. It's always great to see how great everyone looks. They are always dressed to impressed and you can see that they are all eager to make the night memorable. What was cool about this site was that there were two areas where they could relax, one was the typically dance area with tables, but outside, they had a jazz band that was playing. It was fun to see a small group of students dancing around, while the others lounged around and soaked in the music. At the end of the night, I rushed home so I could quickly upload the photos for them to collect so they could remember the wonderful evening, an evening that will be the first of many lasts as we head into the final stretch.

~:[CH14 - Day 101]:~ Picture Perfect ... Sometimes

 

~:[CH14 - Day 101]:~ Picture Perfect ... Sometimes

Every once in awhile, it's picture perfect. The moment they give each other a hug, they say they love you, or they are thoughtful. Of course, in the other moments, they may be running around, screaming, or running amok. Just seeing them for a few hours is exhausting so I can only imagine having to watch over them all day, which is why parents deserve so much respect. However, I'm sure that despite all the chaos, it's these types of moments that truly make parenting worth it. Those precious moments where civility and tranquility reigns and you can just pause for a minute and smile. In the most challenging of times, remember these moments as they will those moments you look back upon. On his birthday, he drew this for his little sister and gave it to her before giving her a gentle hug. The moment tugged at my heart as I realized that these are the type of moments that truly are ones to be treasured. Happy Belated Birthday Jordan!

~:[CH14 - Day 100]:~ The Perfect Role

~:[CH14 - Day 100]:~ The Perfect Role

I think in life, we sometimes try to fit in a circle when we are a square. No matter how we angle ourselves, it just doesn't fit right. When watching the musical, I couldn't help but think how each of these people seemed to fit in the correct role. They were in sync, they seemed to harmonize well together, and it felt like their strengths were highlighted. I've seen many musicals where I felt this was not the case, even on Broadway or touring casts. In our own lives, I hope we find the role that best suits us. Often times, we don't have the option, but when you do, I hope that you can find the slot that just fits perfectly so that your skills can be highlighted and your productivity, magnified. I left my second performance of All Shook Up over two days with an extra skip in my step as I hummed the various songs I was familiar with, having to listen to them when I was little. It left me happy, especially as I sorted through the photos thinking how perfectly each person fit in their role. 

~:[CH14 - Day 99]:~ The Precious Snapshots

 ~:[CH14 - Day 99]:~ The Precious Snapshots

Most people know, I don't particularly like picture day. It's quite the challenge getting everything organized, especially with over 100 people in the picture. To ensure everyone has their jersey on top of simply getting them to line up tallest to shortest, I always wish for the day to be over. Strangely, today went fairly smoothly.  The one thing I do like about picture day is that at the end of the day, I have an album I can look back on and remember all the athletes that came through. Similarly, the athletes have their own precious snapshots that they can remember and tell stories to their children and grandchildren about their running days, as I'm sure that when their knees and back are aching, without the pictures, they may never believe they once ran. As a photographer, I keep this in mind. These pictures are not simply a file, but they are something precious that will have more value than any of the possessions one may have. There are so many things that people can buy in life, but one thing you can't are these precious memories that can be captured through these precious snapshots.

 

~:[CH14 - Day 98]:~ Grinding

 
~:[CH14 - Day 98]:~ Grinding

Why do people take the time and effort to grind down coffee? Sometimes people will question your efforts, like when we hit our highest number of reps during intervals, however, only you know the satisfaction of putting in that work. For each of us, we have something we are willing to put in the extra work for and in the end, often times, that work pays off. It may not always be so obvious at first and even less obvious to those on the outside, but don't let the naysayers deter you from doing what makes you happy. Keep grinding and doing the work that will help you reach your goal, as in the end, the freshness of that grinding will bring a scent that will bring you the satisfaction you are seeking.

~:[CH14 - Day 97]:~ Catching Up

 

~:[CH14 - Day 97]:~ Catching Up

I have been trying to catch up on things I've needed to do, but everytime I try, something new is piled on. With another busy week ahead, I sometimes wonder if where I will find the time to complete all the things I need and want to do. At least today, with the testing schedule, I was able to catch up on grading and then came back home and finished up one of the tasks I've been meaning to get to. Instead of looking at all that I want to catch up on, I focus on the bits and pieces to make it less overwhelming. Take life in little bites, as it will make it much easier to digest and most likely will help yout stay motivated to keep pushing ahead. Have a wonderful week ya'll!

~:[CH14 - Day 96]:~ Extended Hours

 
~:[CH14 - Day 96]:~ Extended Hours

As I've taken on more shoots, I've slowly found myself staying in more. I think the one thing that you have to realize with anything that you do is, when you decide to do something, there are extended hours attached to it. Whether it's the driving time, prep time, or the time spent wrapping things up, there's a lot more to thing than meets the eye. Every time I cover an event, I have to organize my equipment, head to an event, cover the event, then go home and work on post-production. What does that entail? Transferring the photos, sorting through them, basic touch ups, and then uploading. Connected to that is, the design of the social media post, and of course the posts and stories themselves. When I am doing a reel, it adds to the time that it takes. Of course, the satisfaction of the end product tends to be worth it in the end, however, like with anything, there are extended hours you don't always anticipate. For all of us, we must decide if those extended hours are worth it to us. Does that extra time bring us joy or is it simply hard labor? Is there a way to cut back on the work or the time it takes to do something? One of the things that has helped is that I've improved my workflow so that the time it takes is much faster. I enjoy the end product just the same without spending as much time and I avoid wasting energy I can save up for something else. I hope we can all look at our lives and see where we can make things more efficient so that we can save that time for ourselves and the loved ones around us. Exhausted, I sent out and responded to my final messages and finally made my way to bed, a few hours after I had anticipated. Still yet, looking back, I was impressed and how much I was able to do and it was much to do with my improved efficiency. As while extended hours are commonplace when taking on any task, always look at ways you can reduce those extended hours.

~:[CH14 - Day 95]:~ Lighting Up The Night

 
~:[CH14 - Day 95]:~ Lighting Up The Night

I missed the night I wanted to be at the OC Japan Fair, however, it worked out that at least I could be there to cover the Freedom LA concert. With a number of notable artists, I thought it would be fun to catch them in action. In Japan, on a number of occasions, I saw the King & Prince ads rolling down the street. While Genki Iwahashi is no longer a member, it's still cool to realize that he was once part of that group. The headliner was Minmi who is known for her anime connections, while SSSClub had an energetic performance on stage. The night ended with lanterns flying up on the air in the hangar, creating a cool vibe as the artists closed out the evening. I was glad that at the end of my debate of whether to cover the event, I ended up going, because it introduced me to a few new artists and I got to connect with a few of them. Often times, we pass of things for good reason, but when you get a chance and the timing works, jump on board and check it out. Most of the time that I've done just that, I ended up with an experience I was glad I had the opportunity to have. 

~:[CH14 - Day 94]:~ Passing the Torch

 
~:[CH14 - Day 94]:~ Passing the Torch

When I look at parents, teachers, coaches, and even alumni, I see the efforts that are put in to give back to the next generation. The time spent by many to volunteer, support, and give advice is one of the most valuable things they can do to pass the torch to this next generation. Today, I had one of my alumni come back and share her experiences as she ventured into the music industry. As she discussed her journey through music, it was cool to see the seniors exposed to the paths that they can take as they venture forward. I think hearing about how this alumni took a detour to her current route sent an impactful message to them, knowing that they have the ability to veer from their path if they feel it's right. It was great to catch up, as while we chat from time to time, it was nostalgic to do it in a setting where we first cross paths. As we said our goodbyes, I was uplifted thinking about the time she gave up to pass the torch to these seniors, which also made me think about how much others have given up to make the programs I work with such a success. In the end, I get a lot of credit for these types of experiences and the other experiences that our students have, but none of them would be possible without the support of so many who take the time to volunteer or help in any way they can. The effort of everyone allows us to pass the torch the next generation, as they experience something that hopefully will want to make them help the generation that follows them. In a world with so many problems, it's those who give, who show compassion, and who give love, even to those who are strangers, who keep this world intact and allow it to keep moving forward. I hope that my future allows me to continue marching with such good, selfless people, as up to this point, I have been truly blessed with so many. As the music of this alumni flowed through my head as I listened to a few tracks, I hope that this same music reached out to one of my students and motivates them as they take their next steps in life. 

~:[CH14 - Day 93]:~ Amidst the Chaos

 
~:[CH14 - Day 93]:~ Amidst the Chaos

We live in chaotic times with a little bit of uncertainty. While it may not have all hit us yet, I think many are bracing for the tidal wave ahead. Even at our track meet, we couldn't avoid the chaotic nature that echoes outside these walls. One thing after a another needed to be attended to and the running back and forth was exhausting. However, we need to find a way to try to keep our calm and peace during the chaos. To stay focused and undeterred, we can survive the chaos when we set out on our plan and focus on trying to tackle each one at a time. We will lose our focus from time to time, but once we regain it, we can find a way to survive. In the end, we had a good day and survived all that was going on today and I just hope that in life, we all have a similar outcome. Prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, but I hope we all can be steadfast as we drive ahead into the unknown. 

~:[CH14 - Day 92]:~ Failing to Secure the Bag

 
~:[CH14 - Day 92]:~ Failing to Secure the Bag

My friend messaged me from Japan. After we worked on figuring out how to go about applying for the sale of this item in Japan, we failed. He applied for the lottery for me and each of his applications came back as failed. We didn't put a lot of work into it, but still yet, we did put some time and effort into figuring everything out since we both had not done anything similar. On top of it, translating our conversation to make sure we were on the same page was a challenge in itself. I read a post from someone that talked about how she got into college. She wasn't expecting it, despite the fact that she had a resume that seemed nearly perfect. Her post stemmed from the expectations of many applicants (specifically college applications) who feel they were cheated because who could reject someone with such great credentials. She came back with the data of how many people are accepted and how glorious those applications are. In talking to someone who reviews applications, the number of amazing resumes and applications they see are plentiful, thus, it's a situation where your application needs to stand out with the right person. Does your application or essay resonate with the person who is reviewing your application? Sure, there are many cases of bias and privilege that go along with the process, however, I hope that we all see, whether in school admissions, job applications, or promotions, that sometimes it's a bit of luck that plays a role, but more importantly, that being rejected, doesn't mean we weren't qualified. We shouldn't think anything less of ourselves because we weren't chosen or we didn't win. We're going to fail in life, but what we do when we fail is up to us. My friend responded to me, "I'm going to find a way for us to get this." We ended up discovering that there was a second lottery. His mentality inspired me even if it's just for a lottery, because he is trying to figure out another way. For all of us, we have that same opportunity. It may not be what we had in mind, but we can find a way to get where we want to go. I hope that as a society, we can teach our youth that they need to accept failure and use it as motivation and even inspiration, rather than to be discouraged by it. As this post talked about, the generations coming up, don't always deal with this "failure" so well and I think that's one of the things that we need to focus on. Life is difficult and the road ahead looks like it will be quite challenging, which is even more of a reason that we need to prepare this next generation that if they "fail to secure the bag" the first time around, they need to try to dig in their heels and find another way to get where they want to be. They are capable, but they also need to learn how to use the tools that they carry with them.

~:[CH14 - Day 91]:~ Ain't No Fool

 
~:[CH14 - Day 91]:~ Ain't No Fool

It was April Fool's Day. I had too be extra cautious as with friends in Asia, the day started early. However, for the most part, I avoided the pranks. In class, it was interesting that we were doing propaganda posters. Historically, when you look back on all the pieces of propaganda, some of them were true and relevant, while others were definitely trying to sway you one way or another. In our times, we face the challenge of figuring out what to believe. The propaganda that exists out there from all parts of the world are incredible and I'm not just talking about politics. It's difficult to decipher what to believe and thus, it takes time to dig into the issues and figure out what you believe. I implore you all to take the time to dig into the issues that come up before you pick a side. In a world where we are surrounded by propaganda, just like considering when others are trying to prank you on April Fools day, be vigilant on figuring out what to believe or not. As while on April 1st, it may just be a prank, if you fall for propaganda, the consequences can be quite severe.