Thoughts and Insights of 2008

In retrospect, 2008 may have been the most event-filled and exciting year of my life thus far. I guess it is only befitting as it was the year that I turned 21. From teaching JC students to getting that acceptance letter, I believe these are once-in-a-lifetime experiences which I will forever be grateful for having (unless I pursue the teaching vocation). It was also a year in my life where I realized one very important thing, something my family always stressed since I was young: the importance of traveling. I believe education doesn't stop in the classroom; it extends to one's travels too. From managing the slopes of Tahoe, Nevada to walking the bustling streets of Manhattan, I learned so many things about life - about the American culture, about how my living preferences help shape my ambitions, about how different immigrant stories are in the US from those in Asia. Ditto for my KL trip, where the 5-hour luxurious bus ride gave me a chance to reflect on my 4 and a half years in Singapore, and get ready to bid farewell to the hundreds of people I have crossed paths and befriended during my stay...and in KL I was able to spend time with two of my best friends, perhaps for one last time. Coming to the United States made me appreciate some wonders of Singapore, but also opened my mind to its shortcomings and even flaws which I wouldn't have seen from the inside.

But it was also a year of questions, some even unanswered to this day. Being privileged enough to have the best possible education, does it necessitate a new obligation to one's fellowmen? And when I say fellowmen, they don't necessarily refer only to the Filipinos. I have never really seriously considered entering politics before, but coming to Harvard made me rethink my self-purpose. Can I say that this is one of the beauties of a Harvard education? Maybe, but sometimes, having that brand name associated to you can be annoying and sometimes dispiriting too. I didn't know that rat and mice are of different species, didn't know who Thomas Friedman was (don't give me crap and tell me all of you know who this guy is - it's Thomas, not Milton.)...such lack of knowledge can lead to awkward situations here in school. Even when you're somewhere else, people around you always expect you to be really good and be always on your feet..well, it can give you feel-good moments, but sometimes you just want to be yourself and chilax. Sadly, you may not always have that choice. But that being said, we are all still humans, we all have our wants, dreams, and silliness too.

On a lighter note, before coming to Harvard I attended the Last Lecture. I was fascinated by how the late Randy Pausch told us about his childhood dreams, and made me think of mine. There are two things I so badly want to do in life: be a basketball coach/player, and be a CIA secret agent. For the first one, maybe I'm a step closer as I have finally set foot on an NBA arena, an arena of the world champions. Maybe a few more years and I'll be able to be courtside and eventually be on the hardwood. I remember I would always tell Hong Quan that I am still in the process of applying for the CIA scholarship, but haven't had the chance to fill in the application yet because you have to be smart enough to find it. Watching the movie The Recruit fueled my dreams even more, although I know it is kinda out of this world.

Indeed, the experiences I had in 2008 changed the course of my life and influenced my aspirations. People grow, people change, hopefully for the better. And I'm glad to say that I did.