Category: Uncategorized

Of flowers and its meaning…

 
Jasmine, considered to be the “Queen of all flowers,” is used for different purposes in different cultures. When used as a symbol of love and romance, it’s best to turn to the Filipino jasmine: the sampaguita. The Filipino name comes from the Filipino words “sumpa kita,” meaning: “I promise you.”  

Of Having a Female Mentor

At the end of last quarter, I signed myself up to join a mentoring program that my friend, Maddy, set up. I was paired up with the VP of Enrollment and Marketing here at school. Before our first meet up, I was honestly intimidated. I mean, I’m about to meet one of the VP’s of my school!

Now, I need to share with you that I do have mentors. Two are in my department and one who travels around wherever the music goes. And they are all men. When I met my appointed mentor, one of the first things I shared with her about what I wanted out of this relationship, was that I needed that female perspective that my male mentors lack. So our conversations can range from anything to everything.

Meeting her for the first time was intimidating, but as we continued to talk, she’s a very energetic lady, who wants to have as much impact on the student’s life here on campus as much as our professors. The only thing that has kept her from truly doing that was that she rarely has that interaction that professors have. So when Maddy introduced this mentorship program, she was more than ready to grab onto this opportunity. On top of that, she loves Filipino food and culture. One of the few Caucasian individuals I know who appreciate Filipino food…

But back to our first meeting; we were talked about her career and how certain moments have lead her to our school. I’ve shared with her my worry of finishing school and life after college. Before we ended our meeting, she left me with the following insights:

  • What new skill do you want to learn? How can you use it to support yourself?
  • When you’re in a new environment (like a job), give yourself three years. It is allow you to understand the environment, culture, and the job, so when it comes to the third year, you are set!
  • When you’re speaking with your friends, don’t be afraid to share that you’re looking for a job – and tell them exactly what you’re looking for.

After speaking with her, I’ve taken up sewing (also because I’m a fashion designer for a charity event here at school – but story time at a another time…) and I’ve refreshed my Instagram to give it a new purpose. Those were the two things that have inspired me to do something new and different. Otherwise, I’m still working on the rest of her insights.

But keep posted! I’ll be sharing more of what she and I will talk about in all our hangouts. Hopefully you’ll learn something along with me – as I dig through her wisdom.

Before the graduation bell rings… 

bell tower puc

Formerly posted on an old blog, I repost it here. 

It’s funny to look back on these past years of my undergraduate school years. Just when I thought I would learn the answers to everything through these classroom walls, I couldn’t be more wrong.

There’s a bigger world out there, and I’ve barely scratched its surface.

 

Yes, the internet has allowed me to have a sneak peak on that world, but it’s not the same if I’ve never stepped into it.

 

Growing in an Adventist bubble, many who’ve been in this same boat as I am in, understand this weird culture: be good, no drugs, no alcohol, dress appropriately – especially when you’re at church, be respectful… (goes on with the Pathfinder pledge and law – another Adventist thing). I’m not saying that growing in all that is bad. I think it’s great, but it sucks to be shocked and naive in a lot of issues in which a lot of other kids have already experienced that I haven’t even seen until I entered public school in my high school years. (I actually miss that life I knew back when I was younger – it was very simple).

 

I’m not saying that I know a lot of things. I really don’t. Life after college is scaring me actually. The fact that I haven’t gotten the life skill of saving and budgeting down is scary. And no promises of having a job AFTER I graduate is even scarier. That fear of heading back to live with my parents is kind of embarrassing.. so for now search continues.

 

By this time of year, I thought I would get a lot of things down, but I still haven’t. Last year, I was in a student leadership position and learning a lot of things I promised myself not to repeat. However, as I am placed in another leadership position, life throws its curveball at me and I’m back in square one.

 

What I’m trying to say is: everything sometimes won’t work out the way you would initially plan it out to be. If that happens, ok, have a tear or two (or a rant or two), then carry on.

One Last Time: Spring 2015

Days til graduation: 77.  

I am back on campus for my last quarter. Excited about what my last classes for my undergraduate life has to offer as I’ll be learning how to fence and fly a plane. How cool is that?

Continuing my search for a job up north, it’s becoming prevalent that I’m very unsure of what my end goal is. I have this very vague and confusing picture of what I want, but it overall isn’t clear. Imagine a petite asian girl doing everything. That’s someone who has a lot of hats and things to hold onto. The good thing about that is: cool, I want to learn how to do everything. The bad thing is: I don’t know exactly what I want as a life career. 
As I’m trying to figure things out, like how to write the perfect cover letter for a potential job to understanding what my relevance and contribution to this world would be, all I know that every day, I want to be a bit wiser and have made at least one person feel loved.