UC APPLICATIONS DONE

WOOHOO!!!! Personal goal of finishing before Nov. 30th, complete.

Now we gotta worry about privates, <.<

shiokenstar: woot finished my uc apps!
pierre: damn. didnt crash
shiokenstar: lol you’re such an ass
shiokenstar: haha
pierre: x]

Timestamp – 11:18 PM

Personal Statement 2

Prompt 2

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?

When I had heard that my friend Nahida had never tasted pumpkin pie, I vowed to bring her the experience next Thanksgiving, no matter where our college aspirations took us. Similarly, I promised my friend Bryan a surprise birthday party for his 2009 November celebration. Jokingly, I declared my plan of sneaking onto UCLA’s campus and setting up the surprise in his dorm room. Although said in good humor, I truly do want to accomplish these feats, no matter the difficulties.

I feel there are certain experiences that every person should encounter at least once in their life. Additionally, I believe that spontaneity should be occasionally embraced. After reading “Lord of the Flies,” I came to the conclusion that everyone should read the book; not only for its powerful meaning, but to arm civilians with the knowledge of what not to do in a desert island scenario. Albeit strange, this is what I believe. In 2005, upon learning of a friend’s inability to swim, I took the initiative to teach my friend Pierre, despite being a poor swimmer myself. Before the school year ended, I succeeded.

My spontaneity coupled with my drive has led to a number of interesting projects and designs. Usually my ideas are born with the intent of making my friends laugh at my ridiculous proposals. However, as I flesh out the ideas to create more laughter, a part of me screams, “Why don’t we bring this into reality?” While several never reach completion, every idea serves to strengthen my belief in “why not?”

Not long ago I discovered an open-source fighting video game engine, complete with vague instructions to create one’s own character. Relying solely on basic tutorials and experimentation, I am in the process of creating a character. I plan on filming myself performing moves, rotoscoping the actions into 2D pixel sprites, and coding the properties for every frame of animation personally. What started with an impulsive desire to create grew into the most challenging and enlightening project of my life.

I am proud of my madness to which there is little to no method. I hope my creativity never runs dry and my fire never burns out. I fear the day when I no longer care if my friend has tasted pumpkin pie

379 words. I know it’s not as good as the first, but eh, I didn’t know that both statements combined count to 1,000.

Timestamp – 2:12 PM

Eat You Up Thanksgiving dinner

I LOVE this song. The lyrics are just awesome. When she says, “Like I’ve become some kind of demon in the night, you look so tasty I could eat you up alive,” I can’t describe the reaction haha. I guess I just have a weakness for \predacious girls. “I can’t stop thinking about the things I wanna to do to you, If you move any closer, you’d be asking for it too.” I know I’d be asking for it. Girls that dominate are just awesome: Toph, Motoko Kusanagi, and Ivy Valentine are just some examples. Don’t judge me ><.

Also, the dancing is incredible. The popping and the movements in general are just so incredible. I can see some Michael Jackson in some of her moves, and I like his dancing/music too haha.

On to Thanksgiving dinner. This year my brother decided that he was going to order a Thanksgiving dinner from Boston Market instead of doing the cooking at home. Considering the situation, it was a pretty considerae move. There was just the youngest sister, my brother, and me at home the days before to help with the cooking. Elaine, the sister that helps out the most with special events, was coming back from Vietnam on Thanksgiving day, so she couldn’t help. Additionally, there’s a lot of house fixing up that needs to be done in preparation for Julie’s wedding in December, so the whole family and been stressed lately. My on gripes about the dinner are that the turkey wasn’t as good as homemade turkeys and that there were cranberries. We’ve never had cranberries at any previous Thanksgiving. My parents and I were confused as to how to eat the cranberries. Apparently, you put them on the turkey? MADNESS I SAY! The mashed potatoes were awesome though. I loved mashed potatoes. They’re delicious and that’s not madness!

I’ll describe Bryan’s party soon enough haha.

Timestamp – 10:30 PM

Personal Statement 1 draft 1

Prompt 1

Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Between the language barrier, the cultural differences, the generation gap, and the unsynchronized schedules, my parents and I never really connected. My mother and father came from Vietnam and settled down in California in 1980. Born in 1991, I am the youngest of six children. My mom worked as a hairdresser from 8:00 AM and came home at 7:30 PM six days a week while my unemployed father cared for the house, cooked dinner every day, and watched over my siblings. Although I could interact with my father the most, his broken English and my broken Vietnamese prevented humor and general comments from achieving the desired effect. Even today I hear accusatory tones in their innocent reminders to wash the dishes. Simply put, I can not say I know my parents very well.

However, through their actions, I know they care. Whenever I needed help with a school project, my mother, despite the long workday, would help without hesitation. My father would take me to and from school whenever rain poured or I risked being late. When I enrolled at De Anza College for summer classes, my dad drove the seventeen mile commute four times a day: twice to drop me off and return home and then again to pick me up. I could play with friends or play video games so long as my homework and chores were done in the end. While my parents encouraged me to do well academically, they never forced me into excellence. Never was Vietnamese school, music lessons, or sports thrust upon me; I was free to do as I pleased. The chores and homework that were expected me could be done at my own pace. I could spend my time the way I wanted. I was free.

Ever since late elementary school I felt like an independent child. My values, ethics, and habits came from me alone. I felt as though my parents played no part in the person I was. Only now do I see the greater picture. If I was a lone figure on an open field of possibility, then my parents were the landscapers. They fenced off negative influences until I became wise enough to avoid them myself. They paved roads that led to the most fertile prospects, but I was free to step off the path. Most importantly, they placed no signs dictating where I had to go. I was free to explore and create myself using the choicest materials that my parents laid down without my knowledge.

I may be making erroneous judgment about my parents again, but their indirect influence is their greatest gift to me. I am driven and confident. I maintain high standards for myself in regards to academic achievement. I have a powerful love for literature, music, and graphic design. I have exceptional leadership skills and a gift for public speaking. I enjoy competition and exercise. However, I have been known as selfish and arrogant at times. I do have my bouts with laziness and indecision. Additionally, my freedom has given rise to some unfavorable habits; one I am trying to break. Nevertheless, I like who I am, and I owe it all to my parents who never said, “You have to do this,” or “You have to be that.”

When the epiphany struck, I knew a career in education was suited to me. I want to pass this indirect influence onto others. I want to inspire children to create themselves the way my parents did for me. I would cater to their needs without directing their lives. Like my parents, I would pave the way, but not fence my students in. They could come to me for advice and help, but I would never force it upon them. If I could nudge just one child towards a similar experience of independence, then my time will have been well spent.

Wordcount: 646

So what do you guys think?

Timestamp – 2:48 AM

Added a new page: Bucket List

See the top bar underneath my quote to get to it. Just a quick announcement.

Timestamp – 12:30 AM