swipe me in

Besides the occasional swipes into b-wine, another perk of being a spop staffer is the opportunity to somewhat relive that splendid first year experience through your spoppers. I’ve enjoyed several lunch dates/mini-spop reunions in the past couple of weeks. The conversation is typically initiated by the question “so how’s your first year going?” Their responses involving 12 units, dorm life, frequent naps, hum. core, etc. immediately set me into nostalgia mode. My usual response is something like, “oh man, I remember my first year…”. Most of the time I have to stop myself in fear of sounding like some old lady about to reminisce about the good ol' days…because as wild and crazy of a kid I was in my earlier college years, I’d have to say my personal growth in this last year has launched me into an unbelievable high.

When I staffed purple year, I was only a year older than my spoppers. I was fresh off the fun-filled first year boat, barely able to offer advice. I can only hope I can be a more reliable source of mentorship to this lively bunch of kids now that I've established myself in the last three years here. I want to tell them so much…that college goes by way too fast…that stress is temporary and often unnecessary… to take your time…that it’s okay to extend your stay at uci past the usual four years…to explore… to get involved…to take chances…to push yourself…to stand alone… that change is okay...to laugh at yourself…to acknowledge your blessings…to soak up what is being taught in class…to soak up what is being taught through friends and strangers…to take that opportunity to inspire…to pay it forward...to preserve your personal values, but also leave some wiggle room…to find what you’re passionate about…to reach out…to not compromise yourself for the sake of conformity… to love what you do… to understand that you’re exactly where you should be.

But I bite my tongue...at least until another time. I believe they all have potential to do amazingly magnificent things whether or not I drop knowledge. I’m just so proud of all of my spoppers and fellow staffers from purple to gold. You all really have impacted my life.

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On a rather ironic note, I did not apply for spop coord.
I have my reasons. If you’re still curious, just ask me.

Who knows...maybe there's another route
to giving back to the program in store for me...

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i love MCIA.
fourth year on the team and it just keeps getting sweeter.

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happy birthday ninong ezer. we love you!
please continue to watch over our family.

thank you God for always being present...
even on my drive to work #2.

pumpkin pie with whipped cream

He tests my endurance. Every day is a constant race through a lengthy list of activities, [class, meetings, job #1, job #2, practice…eating and hangouts when possible]. The rapid flow of obligations leaves me exhausted by the early morning hours where I can finally rest my head. He provides me with just enough strength to push through it all with the right amount of patience and resilience, which I am so grateful for. He blesses me with the ability to acknowledge that these opportunities should not be taken for granted. I keep reminding myself that I love everything that I am involved in and the people I do them with.

Even with the not-so-goods always lingering in the back of my mind,
I know I have reasons to smile each day.
Here are just a few:

the fam-bamily
the cowsins

198 & co.

MCIA
GOLD
cfbc friendsies
these girls

this guy.

I've been waiting for some snazzy topic to blog about, but my overwhelmed mind always ends up with posts about giving thanks. Thank you God for granting me with days to share with these lovely people.

I hope you all acknowledge how absolutely good you have it. Give thanks.
You don't need a Thursday in November to do so.
Love love love love you all.

more than ever.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
-Proverbs 3:5-6