No Rules

What if you wake up one day and there are no rules? No restriction, no legal containment, no police, no government. First of all, without a doubt, looting will occur.  There is no police to take charge so it opens the opportunity to the realm of robbery and stealing.  Buildings and businesses will be broken into and entered by unknown individuals with the desire to take anything and especially the valuables and the cash in the proximity.   Strangers enter houses through cracked windows and doors and their main focus is the cash and on the way in and out, family will get hurt physically by the mass of unashamed humans who are taking advantage of the occasion.  Speaking of humans, people will use drugs as if they are food and smoking, causing pollution in the air and the smell of second hand smoking to loom over the city's lights.  Last but not least, this may mark the end of the world. where corruption is the ruler and completed its conquest.  Violence, check. Theft, check. Corruption, check.  

The Right Age to Begin Dating

I believe the right age to begin dating is eighteen years and older. First of all, eighteen year olds are physically ready. In today's world, many young individuals decide to have sex before marriage.  It provides physical intimacy and allows the couple to be closer, not just emotionally but physically as well.  The body by then has enough time to mature and prepare for the intimacy and pregnancy, if it  happens. Secondly, the couple has more emotional maturity. They are more ready to handle and tackle the dramas, bickering, and arguments that dating entails.  The strain of daily life may result in constant bickering about small matters and having the legal title of an adult gives the young 18 year olds the confidence to get through it.  Last but not least, it is the age where the couple is more educated. They may have finished high school and is preparing for or attending college.  They have more knowledge and can decide on their own.  They are able to think for themselves and not have to depend on an older individuals to make decisions for them.  Not to mention, their maturity stems from the act of deciding on what college to attend to where they want to live after high school.  All of the listed reason above  prepares the couple for the dating world and will help them to grow and nourish a relationship so it may last.  Patience pays off and the reward will be all-worth it. 

The Animals

Animals are no doubt valuable to medicine. They help humans understand other humans and solve mysteries for many scientific research. For instance, rats and mice are used to test certain drugs before they are put on the shelves of drug stores.  The concept of using animals for research helps us to advance scientific understanding, to develop treatment for diseases, and to protect the safety of humans.  Animals are great scientific models for humans since the animals share hundreds of illnesses.  In fact, rabbits suffer from atherosclerosis, emphysema, and birth defects such as spina bifida.  Dogs gets cancer, diabetes, cataracts, ulcers, and bleeding disorders such as haemophilia.  Cats experience visual impairments as humans.  Knowing how drugs react to the diseases in the animals helps us to understand how the human body will respond to the drugs.

However, one may ask to what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable. Though animals provide extensive knowledge about disease, many pet advocates argue that the use of animals for scientific research is equivalent to cruelty. If the animals did not do anything to us then why are we putting them in pain? We can always use other living things to do the research right?.  Like all controversial  and debatable arguments, we need to look at the negatives and positives and analyze the logic behind both sides.  I believe the use of animals for scientific research should be tolerated, however, if the use of extinct animals should not be permitted at any level of research. We need to preserve every trace of the earth and extinct animals fall under this category; we need to protect them and their lineage. We have no other alternatives to learn so the best way is to sacrifice something. Of course, we will not go all out and take in any animal and study it. There has to be a plan and a good reason on why the animals are being used.  We have no other alternatives besides animals. Sometimes, we have to sacrifice something in order to gain.  

Leave it to the Waves

I take it all in a box and make my way down to the shore,
Throw it in and begin to leave it to the waves

~The Fray, "Oceans"

The lyrics remind me of what is best to do to the past, especially the regretful ones.  I need to put it in a box, walk down the shore, throw it in and leave it to the waves. I cannot change the past and reliving it only leaves me in a embattled and torturing mindset.  Easy said than done of course.  I want to leave it to the waves and move along with life.  

Boys & Girls

I believe boys and girls should be in the same class.  First of all, schools will save thousands of dollars. They do not have to hire more teachers and build more rooms to accommodate the extra space that is needed.  Every year, schools' budgets are being deducted due to the government's cut-back and this hurt not only the administration sector of the school but most importantly, the students are being deprived of the opportunities that the extra finance would bring in.  Rather than spending on the painting and new buildings, investing in the students will be the biggest and wisest investment a school can make.  Students are the future leaders and investing on the material things will only prevent these bright minds from accomplishing other endeavors that a school may provide.  School should focus on the quality of the teaching rather than the separation of the gender. The quality of an education will give wings to young individuals to do great things later on.

Not to mention, students will be expose to diverse ideas. Girls and boys think differently; if you ask a boy what he thinks about a certain subject, he would have something different to contribute and the girls will have something else to give.  There is no such thing as one gender is better than another gender. The physiology of both genders are different. Men's testosterone and the estrogen of the women mold each gender differently.  Being expose to the opposite gender will provide a greater intensity to the learning process because it provides different perspective.  It becomes an interdisciplinary study and that is worth investing on.

Nuclear Weapons

I believe nuclear weapons are global peacemakers.  Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction, from fission or fusion.  The word destructive is, and has every connotation of, the opposite of the term peacemaker, however, it is necessary to use nuclear weapons when many lives are at stake and when the necessity out weighs the cost. For instance, during World War II, the United States and United Kingdom decided to drop the a nuclear bomb in Hiroshema in order for Japan to surrender and surely the strategy worked: Japan surrendered and peace was awarded to the countries that were involved in the deathly war that killed thousands of lives.  Sure, thousands of lives were lost but the event also saved thousands of lives.   Japan would have hurt and ended many more lives if they did not decide to surrender.  We have to always zoom in the cons and pros and think about the consequences of the nuclear weapons, but when there are more pros, why not give it try? If it can save millions of lives, end a war, or prevent another world war, then go straight ahead. 

The Future

The Future. It is such a simple six letter words but it can take over our mind and keeps many insomniacs awake at night. The word future is not scary in itself, it's the fear that goes along side with it that shakes people up and drive people insane at times.  What career should I choose? Who should I marry? Will I ever get marry? What if I marry the wrong person and choose the wrong career path? What if I don't like him or her later on?  Will I ever be happy? Ever? These what-if scenario questions go hand in hand with the term future and as a person in my 20s, I have no doubt people in their 20s feel the same way.  They waver and are in a constant battle with their ego on what action to take, or what action not to take  The hard decision are not called hard for no reason, they are meant to test the decision maker's belief and it will shake the person's foundation.

In the recent TED video, philosopher Ruth Chang challenges the concept of hard decision.  She stated the reason to why people have a hard time making decision is because there is no best option.  We may choose the career banking in finance over art because it pays more; it's not because banking is the best option, it's because it's better in term of getting the higher paycheck and the fact it will provide a better life style. The key term here is "better" not "best." Banking is better because it provides the financial stability and art doesn't.  The future is full of choice but what happen if we make the  big decisions just like the small decision, as Miss Chang mentioned. What if we keep in mind these so-called "big decisions" are just like any other little decisions such as choosing what to eat for lunch, where to go on the next vacation, what shirt to buy at the mall, etc.  Life will be much simple and the worriers of the future will have good night of rest.  A little shift in the mind makes a large difference in how we see the world. So my challenge for the next few weeks is to keep these big decision of the future as the small decision. Challenge accepted.

TED video- speaker Ruth Chang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GQZuzIdeQQ

Uniforms for Teachers

Teachers should not be required to wear uniform.  First of all, many teachers do not make a lot of money and this will help them save money so they may spend on the more essentials such as paying bills and rent.  In addition, they may spend on experiences such as traveling and visiting museums to enhance their knowledge and their teaching.  Second, there is no use to wearing a uniform.  It won't cease and prevent any destructive behaviors from the students and won't help the teachers become better teachers. Being a good teacher comes from within and outward appearance will not make any improvement in their teaching style or help build their relationships with the students.

As a matter of fact, the act of putting on a uniform may hinder teachers from forming relationships with their students. The teachers become the authoritarian figure that students are intimidated by and afraid to reach out. Good relationship with the students is the key foundation to help build long lasting learner and provide mentorship for the students. The aura of power creates a solid wall between the teachers and the students.  Lastly, students will feel relax since they know that teachers are just normal people who walk the earth. Teachers are just like the parents, aunts, and other relatives in their immediate family.  All in all, uniform has its own benefits no doubt but not wearing them allows students and teachers to be more at ease with each other.

Actor and Athletic Professionals

Actors and professionals athletes are getting paid too much.  How do actors and professional athletics get paid so much? They play and act for big name teams and movies, they get promotion and be speakers for companies such as sport goods, athletic clothing, clothing line, make-up line, etc.  Though they may not earn a lot in the work they do (hey, not all movies bring in big bucks), they participate and work on the sides for other companies.

Still, these professionals get paid too much for what they do.  Their jobs do not require rigorous training such as what physicians, medical students, engineers, etc have to go through.  They may just be lucky for being at the right spot at the right time.  For instance, they may be working at a restaurant and an agent caught an eye on them and sign them up for a contract.  Life is full of surprises and one may never know when they come and these individuals were at the right time and place.

Secondly many amateur and regular people have their skills. The only difference is these amateur individuals do not have the opportunity. They may not be born in a family with Hollywood or professional athletic stars to promote and open ways for them.  For instance, actress Julia Roberts opened doors for her niece Emma Roberts so she may get in the Hollywood scenes.  As for professional athletics, having a family member who is a coach or is an athletic star allow the individuals to connect with people in the same industry whom they may not see on a regular daily basis. In today's world, success requires networking and if one has that, things will fall into place at a faster pace than if one attempts on his own.  No doubt a person's ability is the key to lead to success but at this day and age, networking is the key to welcome in success.

The Subject

If I were to have my professor teaches me one subject in school, that would be any course in the science.  Biological science, physics, physical science, neuroscience, chemistry, etc are subjects that will aid students to be a better learner. They sharpens student's brains by allowing them to recall different terms on exams.  Science allows students to see things and life from a different angle and zoom in what is important and interesting.Second, students will be more aware of the surrounding instead of being passive about their whereabouts. They will pay attention to details on objects and will give more attention to things that deemed as uninteresting before. If they walk into a room, they will see more details and their mind will be sharper as they continue with their study. Last but not least, students will have a better understanding of the world. They will be able to connect different concepts to each other and will enjoy life for it really is. 

Those Animals

In today's age, we do not have to travel to the wilderness to see the exotic an animals that we admire as a child. We have the option to visit the zoo and see those rare animals that do not live in the land where humans inhabit.  Of course, when something exists, there are always arguments on its existence.  Will locking the animals up benefit or hurt them? 

One of the benefits of keeping the animals in a guarded area is that they will remain safe and protected. If it wasn't for zoo keepers, some animals would be extinct now.  Tigers and pandas, for instance, would be endangered if they did not come under the rescue of zoo keepers. These great organisms helped humans understand the ecosystem and the world and without t hem, humans would have little knowledge of what it's out there in the wild.  

Secondly, civilians have the opportunity to enjoy the animals and study them.  Today, if we go to the wild, it is rare and almost never to see the black bears and the koala. When we go to the zoos, we can see how these animals live and carry out their days.  The view gives us perspective about life from the angle of the animals. Though humans are different physically than animals, both organisms have the same goal: to survive.  Animals are driven by the survival of the fittest mindset just like humans and having the understanding will give humans an understanding on how to improve their survival mode.

A negative aspect of keeping the animals in the zoo is that the animals may feel  lonely due to the separation from their clan in the wild. They may not cooperate with the zoo keepers and may even rebel and hurt other animals and even their trainers.  For instance, the documentary Blackfish, the killer whale Tilikum attacked and killed the trainers. Now, there are many hypothesis on why the killer whales attack the trainers.  We do not know what is in the mind of these organisms and probably have no way ever but the idea that they miss their habitat and clans is  legitimate logic on why they attack and rebel in the human made ecosystem.  

All in all, I am for keeping animals in the zoo. They provide countless of opportunities for humans to improve themselves and appreciate life. We cannot disregard the cons but there are more pros in keeping them and sometimes it's better to just zoom in the positives.  

The Dangerous World

If I woke up one day and there were no rules, the world would be untamed and corruption would spread like a wild fire.  The answer may be similar to a typical the end of the world movie where zombies slay other humans and humans become violent and start to hurt other people.  In reality, the chance of seeing a zombie is slim since the ficticious character is nonexistent.  Humans would commit crime and take no responsibility on their action and bloodshed.  The time is an opportunity for humans to release their reign and be wild.  I hope it won't come to this point, but if the end of the world comes, we cannot avoid it. 

The little Me

Today is cool and relaxing Monday so my sister and I decided to drive up to the hill and enjoy the skyline of Orange County.  We drove to the restaurant Orange Hill and sat on the balcony, which was adjacent to the pitched-black parking lot.  Looking toward the streets, you can see the miniature lights and the stores surrounding the hill.  We entered the hill from Chapman Street and the outline was visible as we looked toward the lights. The shadow of the hill loomed over the curvature of the street lines. We seated ourselves on the dark metal chairs and breathe in the fresh air as we overlook the road.  The tiny yellow lights became smaller as it's souloutte disappears into oblivion from afar.

An epiphany hits me as I take in the scenery in front of me. I am just like those tiny yellow lights. There are thousands and thousands of them and one light is no special than another one.  Likewise I am no special than another person. Working in the real world has taught me I am unique but not special so I shouldn't expect to treat like the birthday girl every day.

the inconvenience

The most important things in life are having a shelter and food to eat and any other things are secondary.  If I have a home and food, then my life is is complete. It's easier said than done, however, since as humans we always desire more and our feeling of incompleteness stems from this attitude.  Why do we feel like we are not enough? Everyday we are constantly bombarded with proposals and propaganda telling us we need material things to make us whole. For instance, fashion magazines recommend readers to buy the latest Louis Vuitton bag and the rose metal Marc Jacob; other sources such as financial magazines advise its readers to buy the dream home because investment is the way to live. But is it the way to live? These are opinions from writers whose writings are tainted and influenced by massive companies whose hope is to have the readers regurgitate money to them after they see the recommendations.  These are inconveniences that divert readers' attention from what is necessary in life.

Lately, I notice another inconvenience in life that puts a threat to a person's well-being and the self. It's called humans.  We are surrounded by people everyday: at work, school, your favorite restaurants, organizations we are active in, and etc.  People, for the most part, add a light to our lives when it's dark  (remember those break-ups you have and your friend gave her/his shoulder for you to cry on) and it enhances our professional and personal life.  There are times where people can be demeaning and harsh for the sake of a better word.  Yesterday, I hung out with some old friends and in the group, one person made it obvious he did not like to be around me and had no interest in what I had to say.  I felt bad but at one point in the night, I reminded myself he is just another inconvenience that prevents me from enjoying life.  I was hurt by these type of people in the past and at that point I decided to not have them hurt me anymore.  Pain is unavoidable but suffering is optional. When we put things in perspective and are cognitively aware of what is going on outside of us and connect our thoughts to it, we become superhuman and have the ability to solve problems.  In this situation, my problem is this mean and harsh human being and I was able to recognize and get over quickly.  The world is harsh out there but being able to separate yourself from it will require strength that comes from overcoming obstacles.  The harshness is just another inconvenience and recognizing it is the first step to help anyone get pass it.

Slater 50/50 Burger

I went to the burger joint Slater 50/50 for the first time today. The restaurant is  typical plaee for Americans to enjoy their burgers and other Americans specialties. TV were turned onto a game of hockey, there was a bar circling the restaurant and most of the goers where Caucasians.  There was the ketchup, mustard, and the hot sauce at my table.

My sister and I shared the 2/3 Slater 50/50 burger and the sides of onion rings and sweet potato fries.  The patty consists of 50% beef and 50% bacon, and it was huge. I could taste juiceness and the meat at every bite. Though the burger was cut it in half, I was full after eating it.  Avacado was in it as well and the melted cheese will make you want to drool and want more.  Go to this chain for the burger and you will never forget!

Trying New Things

Growing up, I was always sheltered from the reality. My parents were first generation Vietnamese immigrants and speak little to no English so they did not expose me to many things compared to well-off Vietnamese families who have been living in the state for long time.  My family could not afford the dancing classes, the swimming lessons, and etc, basically we could not afford the many recreational activities that many American families enjoy.  When I entered high school and college, I was again sheltered by my family and the church. What makes it worst is I didn't make friends easily. plus I had to move to a different high school and lost in touch with the friends I made at the hold high school.  All in all, I did not try a lot of things and it stumped my growth in areas such as my interpersonal skill, my professional development, and etc.

Today, I see the importance of trying new things. It opens your mind and create new neuron connectivity which helps you to learn new skills later on.  Everything is interconnected and related in life and exposing myself to new activities allows me to learn things quicker and more comfortable with myself.  My goal for the rest of the year is to expose myself to as many things as possible.

Brave

Sometimes all it takes is one person to give all the strength you need.  In the latest Grey's Anatomy episode, Dr. Christina Yang was about to leave for Switzerland to practice medicine but she continued to waver during the last minute of her stay at the hospital.  She was not certain if her decision was the right path or not.  Dr. Merideth Grey, who is a close friend of Yang, had to push and persuade Yang to leave  and she finally did. However, Yang returned to the hospital to meet Grey because she was  fearful of what the future holds in Switzerland, a strange and new land.  During their last meeting, Grey tuned up a favorite song of hers and she and Yang danced like they were younger.  Yang looked into Grey's eyes and commented Grey makes her want to be brave. Grey has always been there for Yang throughout the residency training as surgeons, they have been through tough patch and good times together.  Being brave requires a great deal of motivation and faith.  We do not know what the future is but being brave allows us to go beyond the borders of our limitations.  Sometimes, we need one person to push us to be brave; this person believes in you and know you can do great things.  It only takes one person to make a difference.

Making Sense of Life

Life is a difficult to concept to understand.  I used to believe I knew everything about life but many of my hypothesis have been debunked. I was disappointed with life when I entered the real world and questioned by education and my ability to live the right way.  I spend most of my time at work for the past two years and learned so much what's out there.  People are only looking out for themselves and give not a care about me; I used to believe getting along with everyone but I don't anymore. It is not humanly possible and am only paving the way for disappointment and anger if I continue to have that mindset.

One of the biggest lesson I learned for the past two years is reading about life is not enough, you have to actually experience it. You have to close the book and get out there. The world only makes sense if you get out there. You will make mistakes but the ride will be worth it because in the end you will find yourself and uncover the hidden self inside. The hidden self is ready for you if you continue to go about with life and put your footprint and get dirty.  It's easy as taking the first step and get out of your comfort zone.  I have for the past two years and I am not going to look back.

Family

I am trying to understand what connects a family together. A family is a group of people connects by blood, we can choose friends but we cannot choose who our family is and we have no control over what happens in the family.  I was born in a family with four girls including myself and as sisters, we get a long most of the time but there are times where we want to strangle each other to death and get rid of each other--these fights are not only on the big problems but small bickering like who clean the kitchen and who drives can grow into a montrous argument that leads to other horrible paths.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my family. They have been my biggest support during nursing school and undergraduate years, without them I would not know what to do with myself.  My dad has not always been there for me, but he always makes sure I have food and shelter since we immigrated to the USA. He is quiet-- you know like the typical Asian dad-- and mellow but he can recollect funny stories that brings the gigglish side of me out. My mom is a blessing that I take for granted at times; she wakes up early and prepares lunch for me every single day for work and I would be nothing without her. She is the person who cleans the restroom in the middle of the night without complaining and holding grudges.  She is a big comfort if I come to her for any advice. My oldest sister Jenny is the most successful in the family. She has a house and a family of her own, she is graduating from a BSN program this year and I could not have been more proud of her.  On top of her work and school, she takes care two children and they turned out quite normal for their age. These two little brats gave me hope for the future, they have so much potential in them that it inspires me to be the best of myself so they can have role models.  My twin Elaine is timid and awkward but she made a great decision when she dated her current boyfriend of five years Thomas.  He is such a street smart and logical person, he knows the in-and-out of stuff that I am clueless most of the time. She seems clueless about a lot of things but deep down, she knows a lot. Come to her room and mountain of books are on the floor. These are not celebrity magazines and books and pictures; they are books on how to form a business, how to get smarter, how to serve the clients better, and family friendly magazines which have useful advice. 

I want to leave my youngest sister Kim for a paragraph of its own because she is special. She is definitely not a person who I want to be around all the time. She has put me in so much trouble for the past years and she puts herself in situation where I have to scratch my head.  At times I want to strangle her especially when she does things that increases my blood pressure.  I have to deal with difficult people at work all the time and it doesn't help me to feel any better to know I have to babysit and be around with another person just like some of my clients.  However, she has taught her so much about life. She showed me what's like to suffer and be in pain and how to empathize those who are.  She taught me how to find directions on the freeway. She showed me what's like to accept yourself and your body. She showed me the importance of a family. She taught me how to forgive and move on.  She taught me how to live life one day at a time and not to worry about the future.  Best of all, she taught me what it's like to love someone unconditionally.  She is the telescope that allows me to see life from a different view and without her, I would not be able to do it.

Britney Spears once said, “It’s weird like, you can see the cruelest part of the world. The cruelest part. But then on the other side you see the most beautiful part, do you know? And it’s like you go from one extreme to the next and they’re both worth it, because you wouldn’t see one without the other. But that cruel part, is damn cruel and you’ll never forget it. But that heaven…is heaven.”  The family is the heaven part of my world. I have seen the cruel part of the world for the past two years and the heaven...is heaven.  I would not be able to see the heaven without seeing the cruel part.  

Meeting New People

Meeting new people is a scary task.  I grew up having a difficult time making friends and it prevented me from meeting new people.   I went to a camping over the weekend and I freaked out at times when I talked to people.  I didn't get positive reactions at first and my body freaked out.  I was almost in tears at some point because I was not able to connect to the people there. They were my sister boyfriend's childhood friends and other new strangers.  I was able to concentrate on what they were talking on Sunday compared to the first full day that I met them.  I recovered from my scared of being alone feeling much quicker than before. Here are a few things I learned how to conquer it:

1.  Change the way I think. No one cares for me. Period.

2. Always think of ways on how to make a different when you are in a situation similar to it.

3.  Learn to be comfortable with yourself.

4.  You cannot change people so stop trying.

5. It takes time to build trust.

6. Sometimes it's best to not be your old self if you want to grow.

7.   Learn from your mistakes.

What Are they thinking

Recently, the topics of shooting have been all over the news. Seattle residents just experienced a shooting at Seattle Pacific University. The perpetrator is a 26-year-old man who has a history of mental illness, the gunman killed the student Brian Lee in the science and engineer building and the perpetrator  was stopped by a volunteer, who is also a student at the university, who pepper sprayed the him and the other students came and jumped on the gunman.  

A few weeks ago, a 22-year -old man stabbed three roommates and went on a rampage in Santa Barbara, killing three other people, two being a senority member and a UCSB student in front of a deli.  The gunman also suffered a mental illness since childhood and his parents were active in helping him and letting him to meet with health care professionals.  Before the killing rampage, he wrote a manifesto telling his killing plan and the reason behind his act. He hated the fact girls, he emphasized "blonde" girls, fall in love with other men and not him, his anger is plain and obvious in the writing and he makes no intention to hide it.  

The common theme between the two gunmen is their commonality of having a mental illness.  Their physical illness blinds them from seeing the reality and created an invincible attitude where they believe they have the right to kill anyone.  During my undergraduate years, my study of mental illnesses has given me more empathy toward those who are afflicted with the condition. Sometimes, it is not the person's fault for having it, the condition may results from traumatic events such as depression, parents' divorce, molestation, raping, etc. The key to stopping a mentally illed person from committing another killing rampage is to implement a strict law on getting medical help for them. Instead of giving the patients the option to see a therapist, they should be enforced by law to see a therapist; the professionals have to do a check-up to see if their clients are endangered to the community or not.  Treating mental illness like treating a person  with a criminal conviction should be sufficient.  We do not need to lock up the mentally illed, but we need to make sure they are safe to the community. In addition, the mentally illed should be monitored if they choose to buy guns.  Everyone has the right to bear arms but the mentlally illed should be an exception. We do not know what they are capable of when the weapons are in the hands.  Being extra careful will never hurt anyone.  

Work in the Real World

Working is completely different than school. School requires more discipline in term of study habits and time management, work is a different beast.  Work requires discipline, time management skills, people skills, social skills, dealing-with-the-boss and coworker skills, fake-it-till-you-make-it skills, etc. Too many skills school fails to teach and emphasize and learning them on my own has been a rocky road with full of frustration and regrets. I have been working full-time for the past two years and everyday I meet new faces and encounter numerous situations that test my temper and my problem solving skills.  There are days where it's hard to get out of bed because of all the stress that work entails but what keeps me going is knowing this experience is pruning and shaping me into a better person; I am a stronger woman and much more disciplined before, I can meet deadlines and follow directions and deal with people in a professional manner.  Fear engrosses me when it comes to dealing with supervisors and difficult clients but my ability to handle problems in a calm and logical manner is improving every day.  My emotions do not get in the way as much as it used to.  Logic dominates my thinking as I learn to solve problems.

One biggest lesson I learned from my current job is how to deal with people. In school, most people are ,for the most part, friendly and easy to get along, it never occurs to me that there exists people who would take advantage of my innocence. In the working world, you will never know who you will run into.  Your coworkers and supervisors are not the only people you deal with, you have to deal with people who work in the same building and, this I will never forget, the clients. My clients come in all shape and form, some are easy going, some are strict, some are plain brutal beyond words, some are just a pain to talk to.  Professionalism and problem solving skills are the two skills I learned from my interaction with my coworkers, it wasn't simple to learn at first but it became easier as I keep holding onto it.

All in all, work is better than school because I am earning an income and best of all, I am actually applying what I learned in lectures and the skills that I accumulated so far will only bring me further in my future career choice.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and my current job is a time to prune me into a grown adult.

Anger

I used to think anger only does more harm than not. However, I am beginning to see the benefits of it.  First of all, being angry is a way for the body to signal there is something wrong. There is something wrong with my mental state and maybe even my surrounding.  It's not just a feeling but an alarm telling the body to do something, to run away, to avoid certain things, to hide, to be cautious.  I used to despise every part of it, it's only a sign something is wrong with me and brings no good since I only blow up and throw tantrum like a five year old and feel horrible after the occurance.  As a grown adult, I experience the feeling countless times (hey, I am not perfect) and it has helped me to resolve problems. When I get angry, I have a tendency to solve problems and even get motivated to come up with strategies to solve the predicaments since the feeling is very sour and bittered in me and the best option is to do something with it so I can let it go.   Anger is not just a feeling, it's a way for the body to help a person to take action.

What is your favorite apps?

As an undergraduate student, I was never into gadgets let alone apps.  My friends use them to navigate and aid them in their daily tasks and study  but since I didn't have a smart it never occurs to me to give much of my attention to them.  I knew deep down smart phones are useful but since being a student with no money (I had government grant which was used to cover gas and textbooks and phone bills), it never hold my attention and enthusiasm.  Today almost every popular online link has an app and they are available free as well, for instance, big online giants such as Youtube, CNN, MeetUp, Facebook, and etc use apps to gain viewers and increase the number of users.  Millions of American have smart phone now so downloading apps is no longer a problem or a mystery.  Phone companies even provide affordable cell phone plans where a family can pay as much as a little more than $100 for four or five phones.  So no wonder Americans use apps today since smart phones are prevalent through out the nation and it is easy as a touch of a button to download the apps, it takes only seconds and the easy access to them is worth all the mention.

My favorite apps is GoogleMap. I have been driving a lot lately and traveling around Southern California to areas that are unfamiliar and the apps has helped me get to my destination and relieved occasional stress.  It's not a perfect apps (it has given me a wrong direction) but having it is like having another sense that guides me.  Human senses are sharp and can take me to many places but the apps helped me to see and prepare for the unknown.  It is a friend I can depend and put my trust on.  I do not know all the curves and blocks in South California and knowing a gadget will direct me the right place is comforting.  The only complain I have is the apps uses my battery quickly so having a charger handy is always a plus.  GoogleMap shows all the streets and even reroute if the driver gets lost; the voice of the navigator is clear and to the point and it offers specific directions to the destination.  On the bottom of the map, it shows what streets to go and turn onto.  Talking about convenience! 

I am very satisfy with the GoogleMap, it is my to-go apps and as a part of the online giant Google known for their invention, the apps will only get better.  

I am inspired to write something new each day.  The article "10 Reasons You Should Write Somethign Each Day" provided ten logical reason on why we should write each day.

Here is the link to the website: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-reasons-you-should-write-something-each-day.html

1. Remove stress form the mind, place on paper
2. Sweep your mind
3. Keep your writing skills sharp
4. Make some pocket money
5. Turn the Noise off
6. Enhance your communication skills
7. Know what you want
8. Develop your analytical skills
9. Get away form technology
10. Meet yourself all over again

My main reasons to write are to improve my communication skills, develop my analytical sills, and to keep my writing skills sharp. Yay to having purposes!



More links on why we should write:
http://www.scilearn.com/blog/5-reasons-students-should-write-every-day.php

1. Writing improves communication skills.
2.  Writing helps students review and remember recently learned material.
3. Writer helps educations assess student learning
4. Writing encourages creativity and exploration.

On this day in 1896 the radio was patented. This new technological development meant that people could communicate in a new way. What forms of communication do you think we may use some day in the future?

This is the year 2014 and many technological developments have occurred and revolutionized the way humans use technology.  The radio is still being used by many individuals today but it is replacing by numerous technological advances that brings in millions of dollars to the founding corporations.  The internet allows companies to invent and rev up the way humans communicate; big name companies such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google hold users' attention by coming up with social media applications that make people glue --and maybe addicted--to them. For instance, 1 billion internet users log onto Facebook and use it on a regular  basis and the company FB constantly comes up with ways to grab hold of its users.  

Recently, FB bought Whatsapp, an instant message service for $19 billion ;though Facebook has not revealed what its plans for the applications but their plan well much connects to how much revenue the company hopes to receive and they expect only profit.  All in all, the social media companies altered and paved the ways for better and convenient communication in this fast pacing world.  Other large technological companies such as Apples invented smart phones that communicate and function just like humans.  The Iphones, for one thing, contain applications that make its users life much easier.  Googlemaps, Yelps, photo applications, etc save times for millions of people whose lives are too hectic to do their own research.  

Despite the fact big name companies have came up with ways to communicate better, there is more room for more invention and improvement.  MIT, Standford University, and other research universities enrolled hundreds of students who are creative and have passion for invention and technology.  These top notched students enjoy thinking out of the box and coming up with inventions that bring in praises and money.  There are talks about robots lately at many coporations. NASA flew a robot to Mars to explore the Red Planet.  Robots are doing surgeries in hospitals, who knows may robots will be your friend and take care of you like a mother would to child.  Robots can replace all the Iphones, computers, online search engines, and etc.  Robots will hold all that is needed for people to communicate.