The semester has ended!
... and so has Christmas..
Wow, time moves by so quickly, but I guess that's because I'm either really busy or wasting time..
And when it comes time to actually do something, I just can't do it because I'm so terribly lazy..
I feel like all I ever do nowadays is complain about my life. Welps, time to whip myself into shape! Gotta make the most of my free time!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
our God's alive
Only two and a half hours until my CS188 midterm! AHHH so stressed!
... but surprisingly, amidst my frantic last-moment studying, I find myself thinking about my relationship with God, and about how He has remained so good to a sinner like me. And because of that, I can be hopeful even in times of distress, because He is bigger than my failures!
Rise with a shout,
Cry out, our God's alive!
Rise Holy Fire,
Burn bright, burn bright!
Rise with a shout,
Cry out for freedom!
Rise church arise,
Our God's alive!
He alone can save us,
He will not forsake us
He remains forever, our Savior!
See Him reign in power,
Stronger than our failures
Always and forever, our Savior!
... but surprisingly, amidst my frantic last-moment studying, I find myself thinking about my relationship with God, and about how He has remained so good to a sinner like me. And because of that, I can be hopeful even in times of distress, because He is bigger than my failures!
Rise with a shout,
Cry out, our God's alive!
Rise Holy Fire,
Burn bright, burn bright!
Rise with a shout,
Cry out for freedom!
Rise church arise,
Our God's alive!
He alone can save us,
He will not forsake us
He remains forever, our Savior!
See Him reign in power,
Stronger than our failures
Always and forever, our Savior!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
study abroad... again?
As a follow up to the previous post, I have really great news!
Sure it's a bummer to find out I can't graduate on time, but to make the most of my extra time as a student, I've decided to pursue study abroad! Yay for the revival of a long-abandoned dream!
Since I'm forced to take a upper division computer science class while I'm there, the most likely candidates are HKU and HKUST. Yeah yeah so excited! 2013 let's go!
You alone can rescue, You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
Sure it's a bummer to find out I can't graduate on time, but to make the most of my extra time as a student, I've decided to pursue study abroad! Yay for the revival of a long-abandoned dream!
Since I'm forced to take a upper division computer science class while I'm there, the most likely candidates are HKU and HKUST. Yeah yeah so excited! 2013 let's go!
You alone can rescue, You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
last year?
Can't believe it's already October! Life is moving forward at an insane pace.
My first wave of midterms came and went like a typhoon. As for how I did, you could say that I'm desperately hanging onto a broken plank of my ruined boat. Disappointing, yes. But what can I say? Life moves on...
My LSCS adviser today told me some distressing news that will very likely change the course of my final year here at Berkeley. Well, actually it just might well not be my final year here: I have an extra technical elective more to fulfill than I originally anticipated. So, unless I plan to live in misery for the entirety of my spring semester, I will probably take an extra semester. I've also been extremely lazy with the petitioning process for American Cultures; I need to get rid of that as quickly as possible. OS, security, what else?
My first wave of midterms came and went like a typhoon. As for how I did, you could say that I'm desperately hanging onto a broken plank of my ruined boat. Disappointing, yes. But what can I say? Life moves on...
My LSCS adviser today told me some distressing news that will very likely change the course of my final year here at Berkeley. Well, actually it just might well not be my final year here: I have an extra technical elective more to fulfill than I originally anticipated. So, unless I plan to live in misery for the entirety of my spring semester, I will probably take an extra semester. I've also been extremely lazy with the petitioning process for American Cultures; I need to get rid of that as quickly as possible. OS, security, what else?
Saturday, June 2, 2012
taiwan
Just got back from Taiwan.
Even though I didn't do that much there, I guess it reminded me to think about my future--the bigger picture outside the world of academics. I'm pretty certain that I won't be content with a boring office life, especially in the US. Who knows where I'll be: maybe Taiwan, China, Japan.... maybe I'll still be doing software engineering, or maybe I'll be teaching. Maybe I'll keep studying or do global health and disaster relief. Maybe I'll be crazy enough to fight sex trafficking or volunteer for peace corps. Who knows.
But there's one thing I know for sure. I can't settle down in the Bay Area and work in a cubicle for the rest of my life like the rest of my peers. There's a bigger calling for me to be out there, fulfilling all my goals and dreams as an international citizen. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't otherwise.
Even though I didn't do that much there, I guess it reminded me to think about my future--the bigger picture outside the world of academics. I'm pretty certain that I won't be content with a boring office life, especially in the US. Who knows where I'll be: maybe Taiwan, China, Japan.... maybe I'll still be doing software engineering, or maybe I'll be teaching. Maybe I'll keep studying or do global health and disaster relief. Maybe I'll be crazy enough to fight sex trafficking or volunteer for peace corps. Who knows.
But there's one thing I know for sure. I can't settle down in the Bay Area and work in a cubicle for the rest of my life like the rest of my peers. There's a bigger calling for me to be out there, fulfilling all my goals and dreams as an international citizen. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't otherwise.
Monday, May 7, 2012
twenty dollars
Walked home today from the BART station today.
Gave a stranger twenty dollars. Not sure why.
I guess that, just in that moment, I felt fortunate enough to have the money for leisure, and so that I was obligated to share. I always have a sense of doubt for when opportunity arises for me to do good will like this, but honestly, how much does twenty dollars compare to all the archery equipment I've bought throughout this semester? And how much is twenty dollars worth compared to the vast riches and glory of God's kingdom?
The more I think about it, the more I think I made the right choice, whether I made a positive impact or not. I guess I need to constantly remind myself the meaning of compassion every once in a while.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
moving on
Made a new Facebook note on Laurice today. Made me realize that life is short. So very short.
In other news, I passed the first round for GSP nomination! UC Berkeley has elected me, which probably puts my chances of getting into the program at about 60% maybe? Now I just need to hear back from Todai and FOT scholarship. I hope I get to go!
Life is moving on.
In other news, I passed the first round for GSP nomination! UC Berkeley has elected me, which probably puts my chances of getting into the program at about 60% maybe? Now I just need to hear back from Todai and FOT scholarship. I hope I get to go!
Life is moving on.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
pivotal moments
Yesterday was one of the biggest shockers of my life. Maybe even the biggest. I might even dare to say that the midterm was pivotal to my academic career.
I have never done so badly on a single midterm in my life. The last time I screwed up this badly was when I overslept and almost failed my AIDS Science and Society midterm two years ago. This time, I know I failed. Walking into that midterm and seeing how everyone had their study notes neatly diagramming every disease lectured just affirmed what I already knew: SCREWED. Now I'm just wondering what kind of F I received.
But you know what. I used up the large majority of my panic before the midterm; by the time it was over I had already come to terms with my failure. For some reason, I never seem to learn my lesson until God puts a failure in my life. I want everything, but He closes the doors and leaves me with one thing.
So what I've decided is this: I'm changing MCB C103 to P/NP. In reality, this isn't a huge setback. I could continue on with my plans for double major still. But I believe that God purposely placed this event into my life to put it back on His path. I hate MCB; I can hardly see how it would be useful to my future career. The more I'm here, the less I understand why I chose biology in the first place. The secondary degree is really an issue of pride, which I've known for a really long time. I hate to relinquish it, just like how I hate to relinquish sin. But God understands the complexity of me much more than I know, and he knows which path is right for me.
So I guess what I'm saying is that I have to always think positively. God has consistently turned my failures into victories, and I'll trust that His plans are greater than mine. He gives and takes away -- but when He gives too much, I become prideful and selfish, forgetting to remember that every day I'm here is because of His grace.
The irony is this: lose a class, gain a semester. Because I'm failing a class, I'm graduating on time.
I have never done so badly on a single midterm in my life. The last time I screwed up this badly was when I overslept and almost failed my AIDS Science and Society midterm two years ago. This time, I know I failed. Walking into that midterm and seeing how everyone had their study notes neatly diagramming every disease lectured just affirmed what I already knew: SCREWED. Now I'm just wondering what kind of F I received.
But you know what. I used up the large majority of my panic before the midterm; by the time it was over I had already come to terms with my failure. For some reason, I never seem to learn my lesson until God puts a failure in my life. I want everything, but He closes the doors and leaves me with one thing.
So what I've decided is this: I'm changing MCB C103 to P/NP. In reality, this isn't a huge setback. I could continue on with my plans for double major still. But I believe that God purposely placed this event into my life to put it back on His path. I hate MCB; I can hardly see how it would be useful to my future career. The more I'm here, the less I understand why I chose biology in the first place. The secondary degree is really an issue of pride, which I've known for a really long time. I hate to relinquish it, just like how I hate to relinquish sin. But God understands the complexity of me much more than I know, and he knows which path is right for me.
So I guess what I'm saying is that I have to always think positively. God has consistently turned my failures into victories, and I'll trust that His plans are greater than mine. He gives and takes away -- but when He gives too much, I become prideful and selfish, forgetting to remember that every day I'm here is because of His grace.
The irony is this: lose a class, gain a semester. Because I'm failing a class, I'm graduating on time.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
updates
I really need to update my blog more often.
I'm having a little breather right now, but soon work will start piling up again. At least I've accomplished something noteworthy in the last week: an above average CS61C exam (big accomplishment!) and a completed IARU Tokyo University study abroad application and scholarship. I really hope I get it!
Heh heh. And Spring break is coming up soon. And so is another archery tournament, CCC. Get to do some long distance shooting. I haven't been this happy in a while.
:D
I'm having a little breather right now, but soon work will start piling up again. At least I've accomplished something noteworthy in the last week: an above average CS61C exam (big accomplishment!) and a completed IARU Tokyo University study abroad application and scholarship. I really hope I get it!
Heh heh. And Spring break is coming up soon. And so is another archery tournament, CCC. Get to do some long distance shooting. I haven't been this happy in a while.
:D
Friday, February 10, 2012
crises
i'm beginning to go through strange stages of crises and self-doubt again. it must be that weird time of the year where i tend to think too much. whelps, i guess i might start putting more short rants up from now on.
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