Day Eighteen: A Time I Felt Passionate and Alive

When was a time that I felt passionate and alive?

Division IV MSTCA State Relays 2009

As you may know, I used to be a track athlete, and although I wasn't very good at what I ran, I had a lot of determination and love for the sport. I loved the team bonding and constant encouragement from my teammates. Throughout my track career, I always asked myself why I decided to put myself through the pain -- i.e. running in a hailstorm, stairs workout on the bleachers at the football field, hill workouts, SIX 400ms circuits, ladders (2x500m, 2x100m, 200m, 300m, 400m and back down again -- the absolute worst!), etc. -- but on this day, I knew exactly why I ran track and why I kept coming back year after year.

Last year, my high school had the honor of hosting the Div. IV State Relays at our beautiful track. This was always my favorite meet, as over 45 schools in Massachusetts came to compete. This was my first (and unfortunately last) year running the open 400m and the 4x400m, and my coach had put together a 4x400m relay to run at this specific meet. I think there were over 1,000 people present at the meet and my parents even decided to show up (they never liked going to meets because they were always three to four hours long) to cheer me on. I was the first leg of the race and was first place for half of the race (which is only 200m -- not a big distance at all). That day, my 4x400m team ran a 4:38:84, which was only ONE second off of qualifying for the Div.IV States meet. I was so jacked up after hearing this and felt as though I could run another 400m.

We never actually qualified for States, but the fact that we were so close to qualifying was enough for me. It
was such a memorable day for me and I celebrated by going out for ice cream with my closest teammates afterwards... perfect end to the perfect day!

Day Seventeen: An Art Piece

What is an art piece that I like?

This was drawn by my friend L for her Drawing II final at MassArt. I love the blues and purples, the strokes, and the white lines crossing back and forth throughout the drawing.

"Mapping Eyes"

Day Sixteen: A Song That Makes Me Cry

What is a song that makes me cry?

John Mayer's "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"

I would marry this song if I could, that's how serious I am about it. This is my favorite version of this song of all-time. I have about four versions on my iTunes, but this one trumps all. The first three chords that John plays at 0:53 are enough to tug at my heartstrings. The guitar riffs, the rawness in his voice, and the meaning behind the lyrics... *sigh*. "Slow Dancing" has gotten me through the toughest of tough times and I'm able to listen to this on repeat for hours upon hours.


Seeing John perform this very song is definitely on my bucket list. Once this happens, I will cry like a baby until my tear ducts are all dried up... and then die a happy camper.

It's not a silly little moment,
It's not the storm before the calm.
This is the deep and dying breath of
This love that we've been working on.

Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.

We're going down, and you can see it too.
We're going down, and you know that we're doomed.
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room.

I was the one you always dreamed of,
You were the one I tried to draw.
How dare you say it's nothing to me?
Baby, you're the only light I ever saw.

I'll make the most of all the sadness,
You'll be a bitch because you can.
You try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Because you can't understand.

We're going down, and you can see it too.
We're going down, and you know that we're doomed.
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room.

Go cry about it - why don't you?

My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room,

Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow?

Wordless Wednesday

Day Fifteen: A Person I Admire

Who is someone that I admire?

My auntie Tima.

I met my auntie Tima when she married my uncle (really my mom's uncle) Dean in 1999-2000. She is one of the most caring and friendliest people I have ever met. Whenever I visit her in D.C., she treats me as though I was her own daughter and always makes sure that my family and I are comfortable in her home. Her Korean nationality in our Vietnamese family only makes our annual visits more interesting as she teaches us different traditions and introduces us to different dishes. She owns two smoothie/bakery shops in Tysons Corner (the sixth biggest shopping center in the country) and raises two busy children, and yet, always maintaining poise and class. Auntie Tima is humble, classy, genuine, and fierce all at the same time. I admire her for her strength, her ability to put others before herself, and her high spirits. She's my favorite relative and although we only get to see each other once a year, I enjoy every moment spent with her.