Be Somebody.

Esther Yang
11/12/08
Period 3: English
7:10 PM


To be at the top, to be the most successful, and to be the best of what you can... you can't just leave everything to your minimum potential.
-You can't afford to call it done, when you can spend hours on it until you know you've tried your absolute best. Who cares if you lose sleep. Do your best anyways.
-You have to pour in all your effort, all your hard work, and focus. Be it the simplest of all things, or the most complex things you've ever dealt with. But one thing that'll always be true is that you have to be SOMEBODY to be the best.

To get accepted into a top college, let's say Stanford or Harvard, you can't lay around the couch all day and finish your homework. You can't hang out with your friends everyday and go catch a movie to kill some time. That won't even lead you to UW. Your application will only be ignored out of all the other thousands of applications from all across the world. Your path leads to a community college, so dream on. Getting straight A's is not enough to cover you for a university. You have to excel and be recognized in many things, with exceptional talent. And you can't excel in these things around your just in school. You have to think in a national scale, comparing the student in New York to you in Washington. Getting top grades and rewards are only the standards.

There is also a clear line between excelling in many things, and joining many things. To excel in many things, it means the person is exceptionally talented in those areas and are most likely passionate about it. Joining numerous clubs and other activities just to write it on your high school transcript is another useless strategy college admissioners know. Sorry folks, but that old trick doesn't make a difference or benefit you on your transcript.

Attack yourself with this question: Why do you want to go to Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, or Princeton. Why do you have to go there when there are thousands of other great colleges? Is it just the name & reputation? Is it the greed you have inside? Or is it really because you know they provide an excellent area of your major/interest? You see, people say that they want to go to an Ivy League college, when they don't know what every college is recognized for. Being accepted into an Ivy League college doesn't prove how far you go in life. It doesn't prove a man's worth. Chasing after an Ivy League college, but not knowing if they provide an excellent education for your major, is just the same as stripping away all your years of hard work and putting it in the dump, going after a blind dream.

Anyways, back on track. To excel in something, such as a sport, or musical ability, it takes practice.practice.practice. & patience. It doesn't take just a few months to excel in track, volleyball, the piano, violin, or whatever. It doesn't just take a couple practices.

An example of patience could be this: To find the "perfect" man/woman and to form a family, it takes time. You can't afford to marry the person that you have dated for only a few months. To spend the rest of your life with them, you have to evaluate and know them carefully in and out.


You see, it takes years, patience, willingness, and passion to be really good at something, and excel in it. It's all based on effort, and how you work your way up.

This is a lot to demand, from one single person, but it's all up to you, whether or not you will be that somebody. The usual slackers will give up now and the believers will either finish strong 'till the end or get tired & lose hope in the middle of this competition. But the head-strong group of people will never be willing to give up under any circumstance, and eventually beat everyone at the end. Which will you be?...

Everyone will try their best. Everyone will have the same greed, and willingness to do better than the person next to you. But are you willing to do even more than that person next to you? Are you willing to sacrifice more for what you want? The competition is on. But even though you're doing great right now... well you still have the same strength to thrive next year, the year after that.....?

There is no easy way out in life. There will always be obstacles, tough trials, and tests you have to experience to see if you're truly willing to go through all that to achieve what you want.

Although your 4 years of high school and college are the busiest times of your life and are very important, they do not prove whether or not you will be somebody in life.
But, it's based on how you apply these beliefs throughout your whole life, be it anywhere and anytime, because that's how life should be lived.


FYI:
This advice/Info. comes from parents, past middle school teachers, and cram school instructors. Thank you to those who have taught me so much. You have truly made a difference in my life, lifting me up in heavy, hopeless situations.

What to do on a 4 Day Weekend

Esther Yang
11/10/08
Period 3: English
5:12 PM


Well, I almost I forgot I had to blog once a week for Mr. Hartley's class, because we have a 4 day weekend! This blog is going to sound more like a diary, with my thoughts and the things that happened this weekend.

On friday, I was so excited for our 4-day weekend since we didn't have to go to school until wednesday. Look now, it's ALREADY monday! I swear, 2 days seem more like 10 hours to me! I think I'm just getting old...... or, I don't know. Hahaha.

Well, I planned out a lot of things to do on my 4-day weekend. First of all, I had to practice at least 2-3 hours of piano & violin everday to get ready for my competition. It's hard getting used to practicing for hours daily because your body gets all stiff, and your back starts hurting like crazy. But I know practice makes perfect, so I didn't complain. I also planned to finish all my homework by Sunday so I could practice piano & violin even more on monday & tuesday, but things haven't worked out that way! Gosh, I really need to get on top of things. Then on Sunday, I went to Church like I do every week. Church is something that I consider already a part of my life, not another place I have to drag/force myself to go to. I love going to Church, because it helps me grow my faith and have fellowship with other Christians.

Well, other than homework, practicing instruments, and Church... on Sunday after church, Marianne & I went to my friend, Helen's place to get a hair cut! Helen's mom is a salonist, and at her place my friends and I are able to get discounts because I'm close friends with Helen. (: Marianne and I also hung out at the Super Mall, and we both had a cinnamon sugared pretzel. Hahaha. It was blast, because I haven't hung out with my friends like this in a long time.

And now I cannot believe it's already monday. I know I should my time more wisely and finish all my homework by TODAY! I've been so lazy this weekend. Also, today I couldn't sleep in because I had to get up early to practice piano in order to get my hands warmed up before my piano teacher arrived at my house for a 2-hour lesson at 10 AM. I was really tired, and cranky after the lesson.


Then on wednesday.... great it's SCHOOL. =(

Haha. But I can't for wait Winter break! (=

Busy/Fast Life.

Esther Yang
11/3/08
Period 3: English
5:55 PM

I decided to write about how people can keep up with such busy schedules from reading Joanna and Tyler's blogs. Well, high school is a busy time for everyone. Although last year in the Tech. academy, I had a lot more homework then right now, there are a lot of other things to focus on. For instance, I've joined several clubs, sports, and other after school activities.

I've never really had time to hang out with my friends, and it's been that way ever since I was a young kid. I always had violin or piano lesson, a competition to go to, church gathering, or some kind of extracurricular activity I had to attend. I missed out on some fun that a lot of kids got to do at a younge age, when I couldn't. But I don't regret that, because I believe that has been a huge part of bringing me where I am today. I know how to deal with a stressful, hectic environment confidently because I was trained to do this at a young start, and now I realize it makes things easier for me in the long run. People ask me why I have to do "everything" and some of my friends constantly tell me, "Esther, you're insane!" or "Esther, you have too much on your plate."

I know I have a lot of things going on, but I enjoy the things I do, and I want challenge myself so I can expand my limits. I want to be a well rounded student, and at the same time know how to manage my time wisely. I still live my life everyday normally and know how to have fun. It's my schedule and routines that help me get through each day. Just like Joanna said in her blog, she has a routine she follows daily. Like her, I know what's going to happen after school and I know where I'm headed, and what I need to prepare for. It not only makes things less stressful for me, but makes me feel more organized.

I have a lot of things going on but the important thing is, I love what I'm doing so nothing else matters. I am joining a few clubs: debate club which I totally love, Key Club, Young Life, and zero hour Chamber Orchestra. These are all clubs that I have an interest for, because they're related to things I enjoy. A friend of mine and I are also planning to join the Royal Herald since we both love to write, but I don't know if it's an open possibility yet.

I have several other after school activities but it would be a lot to write down here. Some of them would be violin & piano lesson, Church orchestra, Bellevue Youth Symphony, cram school for SAT prep/study sessions, competitions, and the remainder activities. Then I'm expecting to have a few young piano students later on. All of these things fall in categories of mainly church, music, and education. In addition, I'm the vice president of a business website and I'm working on a KM Video Production with a small group of high school students, that'll take us about a few months or a year. It seems really overwhelming to list all the things I take part of everyday, but my life is still enjoyable and healthy because I've learned to be more organized. High school isn't that much harder compared to middle school. I mean, I was basically as busy back then as I am now.

I don't want to stop myself here from what I have. Although I can be lazy at times, I'm excited to learn and be productive in life. As each high school year passes, I want to grow even more and expand my limits. I want to try new things, and stay commited to new discoveries & passions. Although high school is a fast life, it's also a fun experience. It's basically the time of your life, and changes you dramatically so I want to make the best of it.

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.

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.

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

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.