Scary?

I know, I know, it's been 8 months since I've updated this blog. During that time, I have had some positive life changing experiences. I spent a good 3 weeks traveling all over India, experienced one week of an east coast winter, "snowpocalypse", been accepted to my first choice grad school program, and have had plenty of time to reflect and relax.

I saw this picture today and my first initial thought was not how cool these contraptions are, but empty nest syndrome...

My family will now be spread out on both coasts, LA, San Francisco, and now New York. I always wonder what my parents are going to do without us (me and my brother) at home. My mom gave me a hug the other day because I told her that my brother has a little over two weeks left and I have around 3.5 weeks left at home. Time is seriously going to FLY, it's going to be like when you want water to stay in your hands but it inevitably slips out between your fingers with no struggle.

I'm a whole bunch of nerves - excited, nervous, anxious, and scared all at once, but this move will without a doubt be a good change that will significantly impact my future. I'm so that He had this all planned for me and my brother. It maybe a challenge for both my brother and me to be in completely different environments and communities, but I always think stepping out of your comfort zone can only make you stronger. I just hope I don't come back from NY a jaded cold hearted beezy.

Let's do this.
I'm brining it, NY!
Y'all better be ready.

Which one is it?

Now more than ever, I have been trying to figure out what my passion or true calling in life really is...so now the real question, what is it?  I haven't been too sure for the past 6 months or so, and when I thought I knew what it was I wasn't sure if that was going to satisfy what I wanted to do with my life.  The time I have here left in this world is so valuable that I need to somehow strategically accept all my wants and I guess so of my needs mixing in with the different spontaneous actions and unexpected occurrences - oh wait... that's called LIFE.

So here are my options: 

Option 1: Travel 

Whether I like it or not, I am going to need an occupation/career that will either allow me to travel by giving me plenty of vacation time or is willing to pay me to travel for my expertise.  OR Travel while I'm young, not get paid, become broke, and experience amazing cultures before global warming destroys the world.  I like the second choice please.  Thanks!

Photo courtesy of my friend Taz, who is interning in freaking Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Organization!  This my friends is a picture of Switzerland, is this country awesome or what?!  Not only is this country neutral but it has an amazing countryside with great weather.  When I was looking through Taz's pictures I feel like she experienced everything from the hills from Sound of Music to the sea to the snowy mountains!  I need to travel period, done deal.

Option 2: Photography?

Photography is more of a hobby, I love capturing all the different moments in my life and literally freezing present time.  I carry a camera around with me at all time, and when I forget my memory card in my laptop is when I get most upset. GAH. haha  This option reminds me that I need to take some specific pictures of places/things that remind me of UCI before I leave. 

Option 3: Wedding Planning

I don't think this dream is completely out of this picture just yet.  Although planning events is not my favorite things to do, I'm good at doing it and I'm pretty organized to plan huge beautiful this is my once in a lifetime event for other people.  Don't you think?  I would love to work with young couples, especially those who love to make cute quirky wedding invitations like the one above (courtesy of greenweddingshoes).  Also, I predict within the next 10 years a majority of my friends will be getting married, so I should have a major clientele base.  Sounds good so far yeah?  The icing on the cake is that this option incorporates both of my previously stated options.  Umm.. Awesome!

 Leadership is not an option, instead it is always something that will be incorporated into me - something systematically wired within me now, especially after my experiences at UCI.

Where do my options leave me?  I'm still in the process of answering that questions, but until then I have figured out the most legitimate and easiest way for me to leave the "bird's nest" and fly away to the east coast.  Go to grad school in the east!  So, my next plan is to stick with doing something productive that will guide me to what I want to do with my life and then bon voyage I am eastward bound!  I hope this doesn't mean that I automatically get a government job or some other office job that does not let me express my creativity of have color in my life.

I now leave you with this video.
I checked out some of her other videos and they are all equally cool.  While I was watching some of her videos, I also realized that the reason she would never end up on the radio is because her music doesn't necessarily fit into the crappy, club-popping shit they blast on the top radio stations.  Enjoy.

Adieu darlings. 

REALization

One word sums up my entire winter break thus far -- lounging.

As I got older, I have become more accustomed to staying at home for longer periods. I can definitely assert that I am a homebody and I thoroughly enjoy spending my days at home, some may call this vegetating at home. Unfortunately, I still do feel the pressures of how I am not maximizing my life by spending my time at home all day and seeing each day go, hour by hour.

My blog is a record of some of my most crucial thought that I think are important to share with me, some of my readers - if I have any, and with the world in general. I feel that my past few posts have all dealt with the issues of my future, and you can expect this post to be about my future once again. I went back and read one of my more critical posts pertaining to my future decisions because I recently thought I was straying away from my actual intent and vision - lucky for me, I wasn't. I really despise this period of life, I have never felt so uncertain about anything in my life, but I suppose that is what life is truly all about- not really knowing what is going to happen next. I really enjoy thinking about my future with my friends because we all know that we are all in the same boat of having an unknown future.

Recently, I have been stressing myself out, and have been really thinking methodically about what I am going to do with my future. I think what stresses me out is the expectations I have of myself and what expectations my parents have of me. I really do value what my parents think because not only does their blood run through my veins, but for most decisions that require their opinion, they have never lead me to choose the wrong answer. Realization has finally hit me in the head that I will not get my dream job right out of college, and I am going to work my way up the change of command till I land the position I want. Start from ground zero. My mission is public service.

So, I thought I'd end with showing some l-o-v-e and to having HOPE&faith. Until next time, adieu.

Focus

For the past few months, I kept searching for the answer of what I want to do after I graduate (as stated in my previous posts), and WHY I wanted to partake in particular programs.

I think I FINALLY figured it out! Hurrah!
I need to really focus back on to the vision I have for myself - wanting to really empower other people. Focusing on my personal leadership, I need to do this for myself as well - I need to really empower myself and have faith that I can do what others have done i.e. apply to a prestigious law school, get accepted into fellowship programs, go participate in AmeriCorps.

Through the different positions I have partaken in on campus during college, have for some reason had a common theme of helping others especially freshmen. Many of the positions I have had obtained deal with mentoring and seeing other people succeed. My focus is to continue helping others who may need to overcome situational difficulties. I am a first-generation college student who understands the challenges my parents have overcome in order to succeed within the U.S. I understand the different needs that students have and really want them to succeed. My goal is to help people who do not have the advantage of that others have and make an impact within the fields of international or immigration law.