Monday, October 27, 2008

My Future Career

Esther Yang
10/27/08
Period 3: English
7:13 PM

My parents have always told me to "prepare for my future." I never took the time to understand what they said, but instead I'd just nodd away and push aside something so important. Now that I'm in high school, this is something I really regret doing. I should've listened to my parents, and planned this out before. Although I don't have an exact career of what I want to be, I have a basic idea of what I want to do.

I'm still discovering new things as I grow, but for now, I believe my main passions revolve around liberal arts, music, and helping other people/making differences. Ever since I was a young child, I loved to write. During my free time, I would write, write, and write. It was just something I loved to do. I also loved to learn about literature [such as Shakespeare], human behavior, philosophy, changes that have formed history, world news, politics, and etc. In addition, growing up, I was surrounded by music constantly. My parents and their past family members were strongly involved in music, being capable to play several instruments. It's been about 6-7 years I've played the violin, and 3-4 years I've played the piano. I can play other instruments as well such as the saxaphone, clarinet, and the electric guitar, but those 2 are my main. And, I don't know if I'm exactly "talented" in this area, but I love to sing. Whenever I sing, I feel so happy and filled with warmth. Lastly, I've always loved to help people and make differences in peoples lives. Whether it was giving simple advice, or saving a single life in Africa, I've enjoyed every single moment to help people around this world. Soup kitchens, volunteer service, donating money to homeless people in downtown seattle, or whatever.... passing on kindness and giving a hand to others is something I believe will make the world a better place.

Who knows exactly what I'll be when I grow up. I'm thinking of becoming some kind of teacher/professor that specializes in liberal arts. I don't care about the salary or money you earn. I just want to see myself in 10 years, living "rich" in happiness and enjoying what I'm doing. Honestly, I don't know if my parents would want me to be a teacher out of all the other high-paying professions there are. But I always thought it'd be great to meet different students from different types of backgrounds, life styles, personalities, and etc. I would want to learn about them, and bond with them, then at the same time giving them a hand in education, their future, their life, and passing on my knowledge to them. I want to be a teacher that can help kids succeed in life, and remember me as someone that helped them out in hard times, understood them, and made a difference in their lives. I can see myself as a teacher, telling funny stories, encouraging my students to make the world a better place whether it's inside a school building, community, or the world.

I believe every individual was brought here for a special purpose. Everyone is different, and has their own unique passion/talent in which they can help make a difference. I believe this is why I'm here.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Time passes by so quickly

Esther Yang
10/20/08
Period 3: English
10:15 PM

School seemed to end so quickly today. For some reason, I felt like I was only at school for 2 periods. It was pretty strange, and as I was thinking about this, all of a sudden my middle school memories just crashed down on me. As I reflected upon all the good memories and fun times I had, I realized that time flies by unbelievably fast! It just felt like yesterday I was entering the doors of Mill Creek ready to be an 8th grader. But the truth is, I'm already a freshman in high school!

I just wanted to write down all the good times I had in middle school. Those were the golden days. It was the start of growing up, and getting the feel of what reality was, but so many good things followed along with it. If I could choose my best year of school, I would definitely say 7th grade.

I remember me pushing past the heavy doors of Mill Creek, scared, looking like a scrawny little sevie, being pushed by the 8th graders as they strolled the hallways confidently. I remember I was the only kid from my elementary school to make it into the KTA, so I was really nervous about meeting new people.

Although I was really scared at first, I realized that I could've never been to any school greater than this. The KTA was an amazing experience for me and everyone. It was a small learning community, the teachers were so supporting and inspirational. Everyone was there for one another, and we basically knew what was going on each other's lives.

It was hard trying to adjust from elementary to middle school. We had a bigger work load than the average middle school student, but the bond we had with our teachers made up for it. Words cannot describe how close my 3 KTA teachers and I were. Mr. Romine, Ms. Gordon, and Mr. Riddell all changed my life in a huge way. They gave me the confidence and determination to fight after what I wanted, and to never give up. And I remember how my parents basically planned out a "korean banquet" for the KTA teachers, my friends, and I during lunch. My mom cooked all the food, and there was barbecue, noodles, vegetables, kimchi, rice, dumplings, and many other side-dishes. It was like a tradition that we expected every year.

Mr. Romine & Ms. Gordon were the main ones that always picked on me during class and joked around with me. It was just a first for me to be close with school teachers. In elementary school, I usually just talked with my friends like everyone else, but I was never really close to the teachers. I also remember the times where I would talk on msn with Ms. Gordon or Mr. Romine about random things and school after I finished my homework. I always told them how much they meant to me, and how they were the best teachers I ever had! I remember Ms. Gordon always telling me to stop, because she was crying and felt so touched! Hahaha. Basically, my middle school teachers were like my 2nd parents. Believe me, I love my parents to death and they give me a lot of support and encouragement. They're my role-models and inspiration in life. But it just felt good to have people other than my family to care for me outside of home.

What's funny is that my parents and my 7th grade teachers were pretty close. My parents were really touched to see how much teachers could do for their students. They saw the passion to make a difference in one's life in all of my teachers.

I'm so glad to have met such wonderful people, and to make unforgettable memories. I believe it is the people that are a huge part of my life, and the good times that are remembered that keeps me strong.

I'm so thankful from the bottom of my heart to have gone to KTA for my middle school years!
I hope every school year will be better and better, and I hope to not only bond with my teachers & friends, but to gain a lot of lessons and values that'll help me tremendously later on in life.

Monday, October 13, 2008

What Family means

Esther Yang
10/13/08
Period 3: English
8:43 PM


Today, during the whole day my mind was continally in a "deep-thinking mode." As I pondered through the subjects I wanted to talk about for my blog, I decided to talk about how you can always trust your family. So go ahead and read, and comment on what you think! Also, don't take my words too closely to the heart, since again.... I was in very "deep-thinking" mode today.

One lesson I learned is that, you can't trust anyone in this world except your family. Not your friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, or anyone else regardless of the fact that you've known them "all your life." I learned this the hard way.

People will come and go, and eventually forget about your existence. They have their own life, and paths to step into. They have their own future to worry about, and they're not going to take the effort to make you part of their lives 20 years from now. But, they can remember you in the depths of their heart as they live their lives. As part of growing up, over time, as I experienced hardships and lessons... I realized the only place you can turn to all the time is your family. I know that line right there sounded corny, and stupid, but it's truth.

Ever wonder why everyone always say family comes first, but never treat their parents and siblings with the same respect as they give to their friends? I just don't get it. Isn't what's first your best resource? Isn't what's first your most trustful resource? The word family has a special meaning to it, and it's so valuable. Nowadays, everyone just throws the word "family" around like it's nothing. Except, it's just so much more than that. You see, no one will care about what you did in your life. No one will care about the time in 5th grade when you got 1st place in a Spelling bee. And no one's going to remember when you graduated college, what year, what day, and what time. And no one's going to take the effort to describe all the details of how happy you were in that special moment. Only your family can do that. Whether your family seems like a hassle to deal with, I don't think people will ever know the amount of love a family is willing to provide.

So I learned that outside in this world, you just got to put a smile on your face, and live your life because people won't give a care. Your friends may comfort you and say they will, but they aren't you. They don't know the amount of pain or happiness you've dealt, at a certain minute, time, or year. It may seem different now, but once you step into reality… it's a different place.

Although these last 4 paragraphs sound so cold and straight-forward, it's the truth. You can't trust anyone, even if the words from your best friend have reminded you that you can always trust them. To some individuals, it may sound like the whole population of the world is filled with fakes, and liars. But that is not the truth. That is not my point. My point is… you can still maintain your truth, and live your life but you shouldn't trust anyone else sincerely before your family… because it is only guaranteed they will be the first to be there in times of depression and heavy moments.

People have many sides of them, but the main you can find in anyone is how they are like inside their homes, and how they're like out in the public. It won't benefit you in any way if you're a happy, positive person to your friends, teachers, and loved ones outside, when at home you're ignorant and selfish to the people that have you loved before you were even born. Although I, myself have not always formed my actions based on these beliefs… I know the common knowledge of "family first" and then friends. And I'm willing to make the effort to turn these actions into habits.

Overall, I have learned that everywhere you turn, there will always be people that are warm, nice, and willing to be your friend when you're new to a certain area. But You got to keep in mind, no matter how nice, no matter how hospitable the sincere seem…. Wherever you turn and whatever path you choose…. Your family will always be the first support you.

Definition of family: All the members of a household under one roof.

Definition of trust: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

Source: Dictionary.com

Monday, October 6, 2008

What's better, effort or achievement?

Esther Yang
10/6/08
Period 3: English
9:00 PM

I was reading a sample SAT essay question, and it asked if teachers should grade students based on their high achievements or effort. Both seem reasonable to be graded on, but as I started to think deeply, I believed that teachers should grade students on their effort.

I believe when students get a letter grade such as an "A," "+B," it does make themselves and their families happy and proud, but if you think farther into that, people CAN get top grades without even trying, or even cheating. Everyone is different, and some people are just born with sharp minds, understanding everything quickly and getting the job done simple. Others take a long time to understand, and are slow, painstaking workers. For me, I'd rather give an A to a slow worker that manages to try their best in their school work, rather than to give an A to an intelligent student that does not try their best.

When you see people in this world that have made a difference, or have succeeded in their career paths, they have all had to try their best and at one point, expand their limits. I don't believe your grades mean anything if you didn't earn your way up, or didn't try. I think the way to truly succeed is by working for it and being driven to try your best. The world will always appreciate and favor people that have the ability to do ingenius works, but what's the use if you don't put all the potential to work? People want to see the rare individuals that are willing to put in their full effort and time until they think they have done their utmost best.

Isn't that why Eleanor Roosevelt believes life should be lived to the fullest? Isn't that how the people that have changed history positively did the incredible things they did?

Effort is what determines how far people can go in life. A single letter does not prove your intelligence, or your ability.