And so another quarter begins...

This is gonna be one hell of a quarter.

I already feel behind in regards to my internship at the CCC, even though I haven’t officially started my hours yet. I want to do at least 3-4 programs, not including the annual pictionary tournament. I want to get as much done during this first two weeks, so I can focus on other stuff… like SPOP

mike knox really wasn’t kidding when he said we’d be hitting the ground running when we started winter quarter. There’s already A LOT of stuff to do for SPOP and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of time. Everything is happening so fast, it’s crazy. I feel that because I’m the only SPOP Coord this year who hasn’t been on staff before, that I’m very much at a disadvantage, because I have to take that extra time to catch up on what the other Coords already are familiar with because of their previous involvement with the program. I just gotta keep reminding myself that I was chosen from a pool of extremely applicant people for a reason.

In terms of NUFP, I need to get the ball rolling on that. Meeting with my mentor, the other fellows, prepping for Chicago (btw, the highest temp there right now is like 17F. WTF? This sunny socal boy is not gonna survive in Chicago). And REACH is getting a lot more time-consuming now, with all the workshops we have to do. I love REACH, and I’m excited to finally be able to facilitate, but it also takes time away from my week. At least I’m only taking two academic classes, which hopefully won’t be too bad.

It’s the first day back. So, looking at everything I have planned for this quarter, I feel a bit intimidated because it all seems like a huge to-do list. I just need to focus and prioritize, break things down into smaller tasks, and take things on step at a time… though they’ll have to be quick steps if I wanna succeed at everything.

Winter quarter, let’s do this!

Patience & Understanding

My relatives flew in from Mexico and stayed at our house for the holidays. So, we really had a full house - my parents, brother, grandmother, aunt, two cousins, and I. Everyday, it was a circus. Not gonna lie, nearly every time I woke up this last week, I’d wake up to sound of someone arguing or yelling or something along the lines. Even when they’re not arguing, they tend to talk really really loudly, interrupt each other, and disregard others’ comments. Short temper + stubbornness is not a good combination, but I see a lot of that. What’s even worse, my relatives all need some serious REACH training! And Safe Zone! And all sorts of diversity workshop because ohmygosh, I could not believe the things I’d hear coming out of their mouths! All in all, I became annoyed and irritated pretty quickly, to the point where I wasn’t even enjoying my break anymore.

It was during these last few days that I tried not to get so frustrated and think about what good I could take from this. Of course I like seeing my relatives, because I only get to see them once or twice a year, if at all. Looking back at these two weeks, what really was being tested was my patience and understanding. Learning to keep my cool when there seems to be nothing but chaos around, when people from different cultural experiences don’t see eye-to-eye with me or don’t even care about the same things I do. I guess I take comfort in knowing that, in spite all the arguments and whatnot, we’re still family, we still have each others’ backs, and there is love. They might not be understanding of the things I do or want, or my reasons for being the person I am today and who I want to be tomorrow, but I know they at least try. And it’s only fair that I try to be understanding of them as well. It’s not always an easy process, and that’s where my patience comes into play.

my bff is back from Burma!

and it feels SO good! I’ve missed our conversations. We’re on the same fucking wavelength! Ahhh! So much positivity right now! :D

2010

Taking the lessons from 2009, and really all of last decade, I welcome and look forward to this new year/decade. I’m excited for everything that’s to come, the good times to be enjoyed, and the rough times that make you stronger in the end.

A few things I told myself I’d do: stay positive, appreciate life and the people around me, look at challenges as opportunities for growth, live with arms wide open, love harder, and take each day as a new opportunity to be become a better person… and as Eric would say, “No Fears. No Regrets.”

2010, let’s do this!