May

30

Elections Are About Change

Filed Under Barack Obama, California, Election 2008 | Leave a Comment

Elections are about change.

Change in leadership, change in individual and collective sentiments, change in views of our self, each other and our world, and ultimately change in trajectory for the nation.

The 2008 US Presidential Election may seem a long time coming, but it is not. The election is here; the election is now.

In this election I adamantly support Senator Barack Obama because he represents a truly new generation of politics, he symbolizes the notion of hope, and understands that change does not come from the top-down, but the bottom-up.

My hope is that people get more involved in the election which will define the course of our country, our people for generations to come.

To learn more and get involved in Senator Obama’s campaign, visit http://www.barackobama.com/.

May

22

The Real World

Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment

I graduated on Friday, May 18. The ceremony was a mere hour or so. I enjoyed the day with friends and family. There are a number of pictures posted on Facebook.

The night before I realized that I was about to enter the so-called “real world.” I think they call it the real world because our education system is a world unto itself. Being in school for 16 years is a long time. During the 16 years, you get used to waking up early, doing homework, talking with your teachers, studying for and taking exams, and being involved in extracurricular and cocurricular activities. And after 16 years, it becomes normal, something to be comfortable with.

And now, those days are over. No matter how hard one tries, when you graduate from college, you enter and will forever be in the real world.

I realized this the night before graduation. My return to Merced from San Francisco. I had not 15 minutes of rest until my family members arrived. The house was filled with the family and friends of my roommates who were also graduating. I was exhausted, but I managed to tap into my reserve and pick up for a few more hours.

Before going to sleep, I talked with my parents, my younger brother and cousin about how things were going and the future. It was a good discussion. During our talks, I felt like I was growing up. I really don’t know how to describe it, but I just felt different.

I was restless. In retrospect, I felt like a snake shedding its old skin. I guess that’s what leaving one world and entering another world is like, shedding your old self into your new self.

May

11

Coming Full Circle

Filed Under Personal, UC Merced | Leave a Comment

Life is interesting.

Today, I went to the Great Valley Center’s 10th Annual Conference. The theme for this year conference was “Our Place in the World 10.”

Last year at the conference, I was nearing the end of my first year at UC Merced, recently elected the first student body president, approaching my last day in the Institute for the Development of Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL) program, and realizing that life was a great long journey to be experienced and enjoyed to the fullest.

Today, I am coming full circle. Instead of a “Volunteer” I was a “Speaker” this year. Instead of walking into a giant room with rarely recognizing a face, I was greeted by familiar faces. Instead of just learning the ropes, I was guiding someone else through them. And instead of being dazed and confused, I was focused.

Rodney and I spoke on the topic “Engaging Students Today for a Better Tomorrow” and we had a great time.

About 10 people decided to listen to our presentation, which we deeply appreciate being that we had rescheduled from Wednesday at 10:45AM to Thursday at 3:45PM.

Our sponsor, Tejon Ranch, commented near the beginning of the presentation about the fact that there was only one other person in the room. But the room was filled with two more hand fulls of people within a matter of minutes.

Following our presentations, we had some great questions and comments from the audience. One piece of advice struck me: “Keep going.”

“Keep going.” A simple phrase, but incredibly powerful.

For some reason I feel older, as if a new chapter in my life is set to open and another is set to close. This may due in part that I am going to walk for graduation next Friday, but I believe it is something more. The idea of obtaining a university education, a University of California, Merced education has changed my life. I look at the world differently. I see both its complexity and its simplicity and value it much more than I did just a year ago.

Much has changed and much will change. The future is something I look forward to.

PS: Thanks to those who came to the Iliad on Tuesday night. I had an awesome time!