How I Met Ted Koppel

Today I met Ted Koppel from ABC Nightly News. This man is a very famous news anchor who has worked for ABC Nightline and won several awards (including a Peabody Award) for his superb journalism. This is the story of how I just so happen to run in to him.

I was going to National Government class and it was raining really hard outside. I wrapped up all my notebooks in a plastic bag and ran to my class. In the lobby of the building where my class is, I wipe the rain off my face and I here someone say "Hey!" It was my International Relations professor and he invites me to an event with a news anchor as the main speaker. Unfortunately, the event was going on at the same time as my National Government class. I decided to go to class and was fortunate enough to be released early. I started to exit down a staircase that would force me to go around the building for re-entrance and I paused for a second. I verbally asked myself " Do I want tot go to the library or the event? The event? Ya, let's go to the thing". I make my way downstairs and slide into the lecture hall into a seat next to a very elderly man. I plug in my iPod and look up to see Ted Koppel sitting in the front of the room engaging in a room discussion led by my International Relations professor. He discussed the media and how its changed since he first started. When the event was over, he was talking to my professor and some others who were trying to push everyone out the room. I quickly walked up to him and asked to take a picture with him. He was very nice and  a stranger to take our photo.  A woman trying to push everyone out the room became annoyed with me and made a blanket statement that "we don't have time for individual pictures", but I don't care. I got to meet a man that has been reliably reporting historical moments for the majority of his life. A history reporter meets a history maker-- that's a priceless memory that I'll never forget.

Rice University Vision Program

Rice is my 3rd fly out Program and one of the most impressive. They are very clean, organized, and  foster a strong bonded community. Everyone here is genuinely nice and the food is good. The campus is beautiful and full of cool pieces of art. I'm so happy I came to visit because the pictures can never do this place justice! There's so many different places varying in architectural style and textures; it's a photographers dream. The most important--the people--have been amazing from the start to the very last minute. As soon as I got of the plane, there were Rice representatives waiting with other prospective students. I immediately connected with the guy who was into film and cinematography. I get to campus and walk through an entrance that looks like it was taken from a castle. There's t-shirts and food awaiting me at check in as well as my host and my prospee roommate. My host is so sweet and she made me a welcome bag with Rice paraphernalia and candy. My roommate and I wandered around campus climbing art pieces with friends we made along the way.

My welcome gift :)

Monday morning my roommate and I went to classes. I went to Second Year Chinese II and Intro to International Relations. Chinese class was fun, challenging, and understandable. Intro to International Relations was having a test so some interested prospeees and I got to sit down with the professor in a more relaxed setting and discuss international relations. It was very interesting and really emphasized that feeling of community. Later on, all participants were invited to a dinner with faculty and staff members. Every table was arranged by academic interest and professors that taught in those fields. The food was delicious and the people I sat with were amazing and friendly.



I love visiting these universities just to get the feel for the general environment and the people and the flow of life in their respective areas. Meeting all these amazing people really gives me hope for the future and restores my faith in my generation.

Coping with Rejection

Hi everyone!

This year has been full of scholarship and college applications; and whenever you take a risk, you risk rejection. I have been rejected from fly-in programs and scholarship committees; I've even been rejected by other people. It's hard and it can be very discouraging, but what I've found (especially this year) is that with every rejection, I earn another form of acceptance. Like I was recently rejected from the Elks Most Valuable Scholarship, but the next day I received an email telling me I was a Jack Kent Cooke Finalist. Rejection hurts, but it shouldn't stop you from achieving your dreams. La fois peur deplacers de montagnes. Faith can move mountains and nothing (not even rejection) can change that.

Acceptances and a Formal Adress

Hi everyone!
I just returned to school after a month long break to a new list of goals for the week. 1) Write a short story to enter in the Literary Fair within 36 hours. 2) Write, memorize, and recite a speech in front of a hall filled to the rafters with perspective students and eager parents. 3) Meet all my new proffessors and get started on the work that I need to do to earn straight As this final semester. Surprisingly, I actually managed to accomplish all these tasks and I did them all well.

Tonight was the night I spoke in front of a two story auditorium overflowing with people and the rush of being able to articulate what I actually believed in front of all those eyes after a long day at school is just so exhilarating. I'm so proud of myself for my performance! It was just so professional and genuine. The best part is a Chinese girl came up to me afterwards and we had a full blown conversation in Chinese about my school and how I know Chinese and about how college works; I'm super proud of my multilingual skills right now. I'm also really proud that I received my first college acceptance from Hofstra University following my speech. What a great start to the new year!   

2017

Hi everyone!

2017 is a year like no other. It's the year that I graduate from high school and college; it's the year that I am granted the freedom of an under 21 aged adult; it's the year I decide where I will continue my journey and I find out how many scholarships I will be awarded; it's the year that I will officially be handling things (mostly) on my own. This is the year.

2016 was full of emotional excitement and definitely had it's sadder moments, but I'm still grateful for it. 2016 taught me to take care of myself and to value myself more. I'm constantly having to relearn that I can't make everybody happy all the time. I need to do things that make me happy first and go from there. I learned that making other people happy can sometimes inconvenience me --which in turn, makes me unhappy--so I should focus on me and help others when I can.

I'm ready for 2017! Are you?

                                         

Christmas and 7,000 Views!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I've had a wonderful holiday season between applying for colleges and various scholarships and spending time with my friends and family. I've been fortunate enough to experience the warm feeling of giving as well as the burst of energy that comes with receiving a gifts I didn't know I wanted. I'm so grateful for this time off to just relax and enjoy the people that love me.

In other news, my wonderful viewers have gave me the gift of over 7,000 views! Thank you all soooooo much!!! 7,000 views is amazing!! What a priceless gift from people around the globe who read my posts. Thank you so much.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone ^_^ <3 

Countdown to Christmas: CA Christmas

Personalized mugs ^_^

Hi everyone!

Today is CA Christmas -- a day where I get together with my fellow seniors and we exchange gifts with each other. There are about 10-12 people in our squad and I made everyone a personalized gift on about $22. The key to my gifts is memories. I think about a memory the recipient and I share together and that inspires me to sketch a blueprint of that reminds me of them. I then do my best to produce a card, mug, box, or something that encompasses the memory. For instance, one of my friends really likes Disney, so I made her a Disney logo with Christmas themed bottom and on the back I placed some pictures of us together and a personal message. It's classy, personal, and affordable  ^_^

My friends were really thoughtful and generous in the gifts they gave me. I screamed every time I unwrapped something because I loved every single present I received; everything was a reflection of how my friends view me and I can see that they know I'm going to do something amazing. They made me feel so appreciated! I'm so grateful to have a group of friends that loves me like family. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas <3

Me opening all my gifts d ^_^b