So first off I’ve decided I’ve procrastinated enough on writing a first draft about my mission statement. I was thinking for a while about a mission statement, how I’d assemble it, if it’d be long or short, if it would be a motto or just a sentence. I finally decided to just start off with a foundation, list the ideals I’d like to embody and the goals I want to achieve.
I acknowledge that as I grow and mature I may think differently, but these are the big ones for me right now.
Honesty/Trustworthiness – This one is an extremely important one for me because trust is the basis of relationship, of any kind. If there were no trust in the world it’d be a huge mess.
Passion – This is definitely integral, passion is your drive and motivation, without passion you cannot succeed. People who are really passionate about something and work ridiculously hard inspire me. To see how they finally succeed gives me hope that with passion and hard work, I can succeed as well.
Compassion – The connection between two human beings. To me, when I think of compassion, it’s co-passion with an m thrown in between. To be able to connect and feel for another is something I’d like to embody because I feel it would really help me to know myself and others better.
Kindness – “Kindness is a language the blind can see and the deaf can hear” – Christian Bovee. That quote pretty much sums it all up. Kindness is one of two universal languages.
Determination/Persistence – Once again, I’m picking all of my principles based on what I see in others and admire. Those who work tirelessly to finally see their dreams pay off give me hope.
Open/Optimistic – I really admire those who step out of their comfort zone, expanding it, time and time again, and those who no matter how dire the circumstances, always look sunny side up.
Reliable/Accountable – I want to be the one who’s always there for somebody else, who can be counted on to fulfill a promise, the one who gets the job done in group projects. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big deal or a small favor, I want to be the one others have complete faith in.
Goal(s)
Become a loving, appreciative, accountable child
Become a trustworthy, reliable, compassionate companion
Become a hardworking, big dreaming student
Become a classy, fierce, passionate competitor
Become a compassionate, open leader
Become a passionate musician
Become a trustworthy open peer worthy of other’s respect.
Based on my current valued principles and aspirations, I’ve come up with this first stage mission statement. It is all me, only me, and changes to me.
Mission Statement:
Care more than others think is wise
Risk more than others think is safe
Dream more than others think is practical
Expect more than others think is possible
Work more than others think is necessary
Give more than others expect of you
Friday, August 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
It's the Happiest Land on Earth
Well, it's over. The highlight of my summer, Choir camp 2009. It was the most anticipated event of the summer, then it was now, and now it's gone. And it was a thousand times better than I ever could have imagined it would be. It makes me sad to think it's over. I get a kind of deflating feeling. My heart gets hot and seems to sink a little in my chest. I'm sad for the seniors, because for them, it's the last one. People talk about how they can come back and it'll be just like old times, but they know deep down inside, it's not the same.
Enough of the sad, time for some happy. Choir camp was flat out amazing. But before I go into it, I have to give props to Anna Lin. She works ridiculously hard every year, coordinating everything about the camp as meticulously as Michelangelo to make sure that we all have the best time ever. And you know what? We always do. After camp, everybody always says 'Man oh man, choir camp was so great this year!' or 'I miss choir camp!! It was so amazing!" Nurtured by Lin lao shi's tireless work, Choir Camp could challenge Disneyland for the title of 'Happiest Place on Earth.' Besides the end of camp round of applause, Lin lao shi receives little to no recognition or appreciation. She never asks for any either. It's people like her who inspire me; should inspire us all.
Our conductors were terrific. I learned so much from Stephen Leek and David Wait. Though they had different teaching styles, they were instructing along the same lines; tall vowels. There was one thing that Stephen said during rehearsal that really stuck with me. 'Push until you're giving it 100%. And once you're there, keep pushing. Don't get comfortable.' It's so true for all aspects of life, whatever you can think of. We set goals for certain levels of quality, but once we're there, we tend to remain idle, and progress comes to a halt. The same can be said in a social environment. It's like the story of the frog in the well. If you don't step outside your comfort zone, you will never know what (or WHO) is sitting outside your well, and you miss out on opportunities to create friendships, to influence people, and most importantly, to BE influenced. You just might meet that one person who changes your life.
Speaking along the lines of friendships, that was an integral part of my camp experience. I met many amazing unique people while rekindling old friendships and strengthening current ones. Here's some honesty. In the midst of meeting so many people, I felt inclined to try and spend some time with every single one of them, stretching myself thin. In that process of trying to please everybody, I feel like I kind of disappointed everybody a little.
Now I'm getting to the point. Basically I just wanted to say thanks, to take a brief moment out of my day to express my appreciation. When I'm at choir camp, despite the slightly uncomfortable housing, average food, legions of bugs, and minefields of deer poop, I feel like I'm at home. Home is where the heart is, and your heart is with those that you love, your friends and your family. So then it would seem obvious why I feel at home. Fellow choristers are not acquaintances or even merely just friends. We're family. It's taken me 8 years for me to see this, how foolish I feel. It is only now that I realize how blessed I am, to be able to call myself a part of Crystal Children's Choir as my chest swells with pride with a warm tingling feeling spreading throughout my body. I look forward to cherishing and making the most out of the coming year, as well as making sure to appreciate my last two choir camps.
Enough of the sad, time for some happy. Choir camp was flat out amazing. But before I go into it, I have to give props to Anna Lin. She works ridiculously hard every year, coordinating everything about the camp as meticulously as Michelangelo to make sure that we all have the best time ever. And you know what? We always do. After camp, everybody always says 'Man oh man, choir camp was so great this year!' or 'I miss choir camp!! It was so amazing!" Nurtured by Lin lao shi's tireless work, Choir Camp could challenge Disneyland for the title of 'Happiest Place on Earth.' Besides the end of camp round of applause, Lin lao shi receives little to no recognition or appreciation. She never asks for any either. It's people like her who inspire me; should inspire us all.
Our conductors were terrific. I learned so much from Stephen Leek and David Wait. Though they had different teaching styles, they were instructing along the same lines; tall vowels. There was one thing that Stephen said during rehearsal that really stuck with me. 'Push until you're giving it 100%. And once you're there, keep pushing. Don't get comfortable.' It's so true for all aspects of life, whatever you can think of. We set goals for certain levels of quality, but once we're there, we tend to remain idle, and progress comes to a halt. The same can be said in a social environment. It's like the story of the frog in the well. If you don't step outside your comfort zone, you will never know what (or WHO) is sitting outside your well, and you miss out on opportunities to create friendships, to influence people, and most importantly, to BE influenced. You just might meet that one person who changes your life.
Speaking along the lines of friendships, that was an integral part of my camp experience. I met many amazing unique people while rekindling old friendships and strengthening current ones. Here's some honesty. In the midst of meeting so many people, I felt inclined to try and spend some time with every single one of them, stretching myself thin. In that process of trying to please everybody, I feel like I kind of disappointed everybody a little.
Now I'm getting to the point. Basically I just wanted to say thanks, to take a brief moment out of my day to express my appreciation. When I'm at choir camp, despite the slightly uncomfortable housing, average food, legions of bugs, and minefields of deer poop, I feel like I'm at home. Home is where the heart is, and your heart is with those that you love, your friends and your family. So then it would seem obvious why I feel at home. Fellow choristers are not acquaintances or even merely just friends. We're family. It's taken me 8 years for me to see this, how foolish I feel. It is only now that I realize how blessed I am, to be able to call myself a part of Crystal Children's Choir as my chest swells with pride with a warm tingling feeling spreading throughout my body. I look forward to cherishing and making the most out of the coming year, as well as making sure to appreciate my last two choir camps.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tensync '09 - We'll Never Really Say Goodbye
Wow. Where to start?
I guess I obviously have to start off by thanking everyone in Tensync for giving me my first chance, the opportunity to be in the group. I can honestly say that Tensync is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It opened alot of doors for me. I developed as a singer and performer. More importantly, it gave me tons more confidence, both as a singer, and as a person; empowering me with the inner strength to freely express myself and my feelings as an individual.
The year's had it's share of inside jokes - Kevin Chang's instant pizza and 'When you least expect it,'everything about Michael's wealthiness, Clare's 'dart accuracy,' Daniel's 'mountain,' and tons others that I can't recall right now.
It's not as if I don't have any regrets from my year in Tensync though. I have one solitary regret, one that irks me all of the time. I regret that I didn't go out of my way to get to know the seniors earlier, because soon they will be going away. It really struck me a week before the concert. 'Man, in a couple weeks, these guys will all be gone..' As I'd just gotten to know them better, I felt compelled to fit a whole year's worth of hangout time into a single week, a daunting task for even the most motivated people. We did indeed spend a ton of time together that week. But that's beside the point.
Last but not least, I had some individual shout outs and well wishes for my departing musical companions. You are all amazing, funny, kind, incredibly talented people, and I will miss you all when you go to college.
Clare So - I can't even begin to express my thanks to you. You were the first friend I made from Tensync, and showed kindness and later on unconditional love, without exception. Thanks so much also for arranging the music, directing rehearsals, figuring out schedules, and basically doing everything. I don't know what we have done without you. You're fun to talk to, an over cautious driver, and an amazing singer/musician/performer/pianist. Best wishes to you at Berkeley, I'm sure you'll have no problem making friends.
Kevin Chang - When you least expect it!! Hey man, you are one cool dude. You remind me of a mushroom. You are a fun-guy (yeah?) Gotta learn someday that pizza isn't instant though. We could talk cars and girls all day and all night. You got quite the appetite too. Can you match me head on? Canada was fun, 50 orders of sashimi! Plus all that other stuff. Good work. I really liked the tie you wore to all of our performances. Someday we will move up to Arkansas and start that silkworm farm. You have a good voice, I especially like your falsetto. The eyebrows are great too. Have a great time at Riverside, spittin with big buff black guys.
Emmy Fa - You are the next Ingrid Michaelson. You are really frank haha. But you are really funny too, so that evens it out. You make super good cookies. I love how you are a giants fan as well. I hope you have a great year at Indiana, I have no doubt that you will make many friends as well.
P.S. The giants will win the world series this year. If not this year, next year.
Michael Gu - You are too rich for your own good. Just kidding. Thanks for driving me around all the place this year, I know it must have been a hassle. You're a bean pole of a funny man, a good buddy. You should sleep more often, you're kind of short man. Just kidding. Hope you have a great time at Berkeley.
Joyce Shaw - Last but not least. You are so quirky and funny I can never tell when you're being for reals and when you're not. You're always Joyce no matter what anyone else says, which I really admire about you. You are a really good singer and a fun, outgoing person. Hope your time at Berkeley is fantastic!
Last of all, just want to thank everybody who's a part of Tensync. Thanks for my first chance. Thanks for being a part of the best part of my life.
I guess I obviously have to start off by thanking everyone in Tensync for giving me my first chance, the opportunity to be in the group. I can honestly say that Tensync is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It opened alot of doors for me. I developed as a singer and performer. More importantly, it gave me tons more confidence, both as a singer, and as a person; empowering me with the inner strength to freely express myself and my feelings as an individual.
The year's had it's share of inside jokes - Kevin Chang's instant pizza and 'When you least expect it,'everything about Michael's wealthiness, Clare's 'dart accuracy,' Daniel's 'mountain,' and tons others that I can't recall right now.
It's not as if I don't have any regrets from my year in Tensync though. I have one solitary regret, one that irks me all of the time. I regret that I didn't go out of my way to get to know the seniors earlier, because soon they will be going away. It really struck me a week before the concert. 'Man, in a couple weeks, these guys will all be gone..' As I'd just gotten to know them better, I felt compelled to fit a whole year's worth of hangout time into a single week, a daunting task for even the most motivated people. We did indeed spend a ton of time together that week. But that's beside the point.
Last but not least, I had some individual shout outs and well wishes for my departing musical companions. You are all amazing, funny, kind, incredibly talented people, and I will miss you all when you go to college.
Clare So - I can't even begin to express my thanks to you. You were the first friend I made from Tensync, and showed kindness and later on unconditional love, without exception. Thanks so much also for arranging the music, directing rehearsals, figuring out schedules, and basically doing everything. I don't know what we have done without you. You're fun to talk to, an over cautious driver, and an amazing singer/musician/performer/pianist. Best wishes to you at Berkeley, I'm sure you'll have no problem making friends.
Kevin Chang - When you least expect it!! Hey man, you are one cool dude. You remind me of a mushroom. You are a fun-guy (yeah?) Gotta learn someday that pizza isn't instant though. We could talk cars and girls all day and all night. You got quite the appetite too. Can you match me head on? Canada was fun, 50 orders of sashimi! Plus all that other stuff. Good work. I really liked the tie you wore to all of our performances. Someday we will move up to Arkansas and start that silkworm farm. You have a good voice, I especially like your falsetto. The eyebrows are great too. Have a great time at Riverside, spittin with big buff black guys.
Emmy Fa - You are the next Ingrid Michaelson. You are really frank haha. But you are really funny too, so that evens it out. You make super good cookies. I love how you are a giants fan as well. I hope you have a great year at Indiana, I have no doubt that you will make many friends as well.
P.S. The giants will win the world series this year. If not this year, next year.
Michael Gu - You are too rich for your own good. Just kidding. Thanks for driving me around all the place this year, I know it must have been a hassle. You're a bean pole of a funny man, a good buddy. You should sleep more often, you're kind of short man. Just kidding. Hope you have a great time at Berkeley.
Joyce Shaw - Last but not least. You are so quirky and funny I can never tell when you're being for reals and when you're not. You're always Joyce no matter what anyone else says, which I really admire about you. You are a really good singer and a fun, outgoing person. Hope your time at Berkeley is fantastic!
Last of all, just want to thank everybody who's a part of Tensync. Thanks for my first chance. Thanks for being a part of the best part of my life.
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