Top 10 Moments of 2009:
1. Having my car in Seattle
This is the one materialistic thing that made the Top 10 list. There are reasons though, don't get me wrong. Having my car here was suppose to be a short term situation that has turned into a two month endeavor which will turn to a full fledged year endeavor, per my parents. What has this mean though? It has meant I have done more things and seem more places that I have in my last three years of my college career. Late night trips to UVillage Starbucks to study and scope out the heterosexual hotness of public university boys, grocery shopping from QFC to Safeway, from Target to UVillage, random trips to South Lake Union and Alki Beach and much more. With two quarters to go I think Chuckie (the name of my car), my friends and I will have much more adventures to come.
2. ChildHaven Volunteering
What started as a Service Learning option for my Intro. to Psych class turned to much more. After a brief haitus, I started to volunteer at ChildHaven again for my Growth and Development class for Psychology and have been there ever since and have not looked back. ChildHaven is an alternative to social services. Instead of taking away neglected and abused children from their home and placing them in foster care ChildHaven works with the parents and supervises therapy and counseling session with parents, the children and both parents and children. As well as, having the children in specialized classrooms with qualified teachers and assistants for 8 hours a day for 5 days to foster a safe environment for learning healthy habits and behaviors. As a volunteer I helped re-enforce those positive habits and behaviors, such as: using your words to communicate; learning how to share; learning that hitting is not okay and re-enforces 'gentle touches' i.e. hugs, pats on the back etc.; as well as proper techniques to eat i.e using forks, spoons and not fingers, serving oneself and cleaning after oneself.
Being at ChildHaven has been a perfect fit. I have always believed that children are our greatest resources and hope for a better future. Then why not volunteer at a place that ensures that children are loved, cared for and given a chance for a good life? In a perfect world I would love to get a job there before starting graduate school but only time will tell.
3. Deciding to stay with HRL
There's a saying: To change the system it's better to be in it and on the outside looking in.
And that is the saying that I took to heart after a much lengthy debate with myself, my coworkers and my parents on whether or not I should remain with Seattle University's Housing and Residence Life after being with them for 2 years already. The department is beyond flawless, it's not even to the point of corruption Putin-era Russia which says a lot. But if you can believe it, it has gotten better. Given that my roommate and close friend are in the same position for me and that a lesser qualified person might replace me if I quit I decided to stay. But staying doesn't mean a lot of change but it might mean little changes here and there for the betterment of the department.
4. Reapplying for PHAT
The Peer Health Action Team (PHAT) out of the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion has been a group that has changed me in many ways. Not only have I gotten more involved within my university, I have made a real impact on the students, faculty and staff of the campus, made some great friendships and have had great support within the department from the director and graduate coordinator. It was a no-brainer to reapply. This year has been beyond expectations with a greater turnout for most programs and as a second-year, I have put more impact and thus more programs and ideas have come to fruition.
5. Counseling by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
"Also get an outside perspective", that's what most people will tell you. That saying is never truer when it comes to when it comes yo your mental health. As part of PHAT, I decided to take a greater initiative into my health in all faucets which includes mental health. CAPS has helped my assess many aspects of my life in a new point-of-view and come to terms with things that are out of my control. It's hard at times to talk about sensitive issues but knowing there are individuals out there to help is a most amazing feeling.
6. Obama Celebration
The 2008 Presidential Elections was my first presidential election that I could partake in as a voter and there was so much riding on this election in many aspects. It was an end of an era with the Bush-era of the United States finally coming to an end. What would be the next chapter of our great nation and democracy be though? This election would decide that. It was a historic event for our nation, in which we elected an African-American man to the Presidency of the United States. Celebration abounded throughout the nation from NYC to LA, from Detroit to Seattle and around the world new it was a day of celebration in our nation. That night came to full realization has Barack Obama took the oath on January 20, 2009. A day that I cherished in that I could with full convicted tell my future children and their children and their children's children that they could be anything when they grow up including the President of the United States.
7. Rooming with Ben
Rooming with one of you closest friends can go two different ways: 1. Absolute bliss with it strengthening the bonds already created or 2. Lead to disaster of the friendship without repair. For Ben and I we are lucky that it's the former of the two. I believe that is has only strengthen the bonds that have held us together. We are more of a team and with that comes dynamics of getting to know each other better, how the other operates, how the other lives and much more. He has become one of my best friends that knows me more than I know myself at times. For that I cherish his friendship, value his opinion and will always hold a spot in my heart always.
8. Roller Coaster Relationship with CMS
No regrets when it comes to love or like and that is the true case here. After 6 months of a turbulent up and down roller coaster ride, I look back and do not regret anything. There were fun times for sure: my first rave like concert, miles of running time together and with Max, great convos, and endless flirtation. Of course there was the bad: time conflicts, the case of the ex, the case of a new boo, unrequited affections. All in all, it was a good experience for growth in many aspects of my life. It was the first time I had let someone into my life in that level, sharing my experiences with friends and having them there for me when I needed them the most, learning to realize that balance is needed and that sometimes people won't like you the way you like them but it's all okay.
Relationships come in various shapes, forms and times. They contribute to our greater outlook of our life and no matter how bad they are they leave a little bit of themselves behind in each of us and make us stronger and better for it. Cheers to CMS for the good and the bad. If I had to choose again to go on this ride or not, I would not hesitate and say yes. Bring on the ride, the loops, the screams, the feel of panic, the fear of throwing up, the exhilaration of the height and the breathlessness of the end.
9. Double Majoring in Psychology
Call it the Asian stereotype but I had always liked Biology and thought it would be a good major. I had convinced myself that being a doctor would be a good career, that I would find a way to help people around the world and a good outlet to realize my dream of starting a free clinic in the Philippines. Yet after my first year of college I realized that spending four more years after four years or undergrad and going through the drama of medical school was not for me. Yet Bio was bringing me down, I was not feeling the love and interest that I once had in high school. I took Intro. to Psychology as my Social Science I requirement but I slowly fell for the subject and after much deliberation and paperwork I was soon a Double Major in Biology and Psychology.
10. Study Abroad in Chengdu, China
I have always struggled with my sense of self when it comes to ethnic/racial/biological aspects. I always had the fear of going to China in regards to the fact that I look Chinese yet I do not affliate myself with China or its people in any aspects. So I decided to take the chance, fear my fears and my demons and go to China. Not just anywhere in China but where I would be surrounded by the the true culutre, where little English was spoken and where I could not escape.
I had choosen Chengdu, China in the Sichuan Province. Many things factored in and were takend into consideration before I chose this program through the United Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). First off, the city was a big one but yet not too big in relation to others such as Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. The region is world reknowned and is very close to Tibet. Though it is modernizing fast like any Chinese city it is very laid back and very much still traditional Chinese. The national animal of China calls Sichuan home, the Panda Bear.
My trip was one that I would never forget: great sites, new frieds and wonderful people, a culture that is find with so much diversity and history and experiences that will last me a life time.
One phrase puts it all into perspective: Wo ai Chengdu
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