Sentence Fixes

here ya go

Short Form Annotated Bib

Topic: Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy

Sources:

Snyders, Matt. "Electroconvulsive Therapy May Not Be Helpful." Mental Illness. Ed. Roman Espejo. 

Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Minnesota Mental Health Patient 

Ray Sandford Forced into Electro-Shock Therapy." City Pages 20 May 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints 

In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.

-This article breaks down the reasons why ECT would not benefit the patient in a very articulate way, outlining a very clear cause and effects. It is also well written and coherent and fluid in its logic that even I understand it despite limited exposure to medical terminology.

Flint, Val. "Electroconvulsive Therapy Can Be Effective." Mental Illness. Mary E. Williams. Detroit: 

Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Place of ECT in Mental Health Care." 

Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand 11.9 (Oct. 2005): 18-19. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 

Nov. 2012.

-This is the opposing viewpoint from above, written in a very similar manner and rebutts effectively. 

"Magnetic therapy shows promise for depression." Age [Melbourne, Australia] 24 Oct. 2012: 8. Gale 

Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.

-This article shows how ECT is breaking out to the public and becoming common knowledge and its potential usage.

"How To Help Anxious Minds." Newsweek 22 Sept. 2008: 69. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. 

Web. 9 Nov. 2012.

-This lists ECT as an alternative method and its reccomendations

Bethune, Brian. "A shocking truth: once thought barbaric, electroshock therapy is making a comeback." Maclean's 15 Oct. 2007: 68. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.

-This is exposing the renewed interest in ECT

Girl, Interrupted (Complaint)

Cut off. Interrupted. I turn my face away from the person that cut me off and make a make to no one in particular. I was not done talking. I'm never really done talking (my rants continue silently) but I'd like to spit out one entire thought before giving you a chance to speak. It's only common courtesy, one should never just butt in a debate or discussion without giving the floor to whoever has the turn to talk. Why do we let this slide sometimes though? If we as members of society where arguments are so tied to our socializations, why do we let people interrupt us?

Because not everyone is rude and the majority of those who have spent a majority of their lives with civilization have a filter or some polite manner within them. It is commonly said that two wrongs won't make a right (but two lefts will!) so if I'm interrupted I usually don't interrupt them right back and say, "Excuse me, I was not finished." I only interfere if the topic we are discussing is something I am truly passionate about or whether this person has interrupted me before. If it is the first time, honest mistake. We all act rude sometimes. But if this is the norm within our conversations: no. I wait until they are finished because I am not inconsiderate like them and say, "I was not finished...[insert what I was going to say here]..."

One reasons as to why this might irk me considerably is because I know I have an inflated sense of self. I am aware that I can come off somewhat snobbish or elitist because in certain areas I am. I do not like when people interrupt me because for a split second I think, "What I am saying is more important than what you just interrupted me with." Usually it's true but I'm biased.

We live in an impatient society, ready to pounce on any opportunity to show off specific skill sets to impress, to gain a one-up on the rest of the people. But nothing can be accomplished if someone is blatantly cutting off someone's ideas or thoughts, leaving one person rude without correction and the one interrupted feeling resentment.

So shut up and let me talk.

Definition

Here

Senior Project Update

I have gathered some print materials for both my paper and project. These books are on natural medicine, herbs and their benefits and side effects. I also had myself cleared for over 18 classes offered at Kaiser through Health Education since I am working on a project. While I have yet to find a mentor I do have a couple in mind but I am concerned on approaching them. I have not started my paper but I do need more research before I begin to grasp the approach I want to take.

Drugs

While I do believe that man has a right to do what he wants as long as he does not interfere, I don't believe legalizing drugs falls into that category. Because I do believe that people with access to drugs are a threat to neighbors. I personally would not be comfortable knowing that the next door neighbors bought cocaine occasionally, especially if I had kids. Now some people might counter this with alcohol and as Vidal used, Prohibition, but I will again disagree. There are laws against underage drinking and many other substances have alcohol (wine jelly). A little alcohol will not affect a person, but a little cocaine would. A little heroin would. And back to the recipes, no one uses 'add a dash of strawberry cocaine for a little crunch'.

Now alcohol is addictive. There are Alcoholics Anonymous. But even with the illegal status of heroin, speed, cocaine Anonymous groups are just as rampant (Cocaine, Marijuana). Furthermore, the legalization of drugs essentially gives an 'okay' for kids to try it. As long as they are old enough, responsible enough they can buy heroin. No. I am not okay with that. I have seen people's lives ruined by just a little taste of such substances. Alcohol not as much (by that I mean with just a little taste). I would not be comfortable having my children say, "I snort some speed when I'm stressed." I understand these are extremes but in some cases these could be realities.

Banneker to Jefferson Essay

shlavery!?

Politics and the English Language

Orwell discusses the use of language with the precision his examples did not possess. Since it is an election year and we as young adults who are on the cusp of being of age to take part in our country's political system, I find that what Orwell says is extremely relevant (despite some of the dated examples). We are victims of constant bombardment of information/news. Despite this and the easy access we possess as a society, we tend to...how do I say this? Exactly that. What I just did. We use euphemisms, expressions, metaphors (as Orwell discusses) and intentionally avoid saying what we truly want to say. We live and communicate through implying.

When it comes to politics, it's all about language. The way we say it and the words we use. Politicians need to win elections, get votes. We see this in the election this year between Obama and Romney. During the conventions, the candidates' speeches are torn apart. And while their delivery is flowery and sounds good, we fact check because we no longer trust the words that they said.

A Shocking Research

1. I want research the use of electroconvulsive therapy and whether or not it should be used as opposed to therapy and medication
2. Many people are not aware of this type of treatment and others campaign against it since ECT causes seizures. Others support it because there is some health value.
3. Resources are medical journals, medical textbooks, my mother who worked with ECT before
4. I am very drawn to the medical field but have never explored psychiatry. This will be a personal exploration as well. The paper itself will help me understand whether or not if I can look at a medical treatment at both sides, pick a side and still be professional
5. I don't believe this has been done before, even if it has I will be approaching it from my point of view so it will be different because I do not have a formed opinion yet. I am unbiased as possible coming into this.
6. What other resources could I use or access?

Women of the Bible Pt. 2

Throughout the Bible, women play a vital role due to their influence on men. In those times for the Jewish nation, society was incredibly patriarchal, women playing a secondary role. The number of male prophets to female prophets are overwhelming, the men always having a bigger part in the course of history. But the men of the Bible usually have a woman by their side, their wife or wives. In the Bible, men who take more than one wife always face trouble in their own household and the tension between sharing a husband becomes more than just a problem. In a society where producing sons was key to security, women have fought over their husbands and children. Here are women of the Bible who have made their mark, especially over sharing husbands.

1. Hagar and Sarah (link to King James Version of the story told)

Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. Alongside Abraham was his beautiful but barren wife Sarah (name meaning queen). God had promised Abraham that his descendents would outnumber the stars but Sarah could not have children. On a trip to Egypt Abraham lied to the pharaoh, presenting Sarah as his sister. This was for protection because men would have killed Abraham to marry Sarah for her great beauty. Eventually the truth was revealed and the pharaoh sent Abraham away. He did not let them go empty handed. The pharaoh had liked Abraham and sent food and luxuries to him. Among these 'items' was Hagar (name meaning stranger) who became Sarah's handmaid.

Because Abraham and Sarah did not trust God to give them children naturally, plans to have children another way were made. Hagar was to become a secondary wife and give birth on Sarah's knees, effectively giving up her child to Sarah. Abraham's first born Ishmael was the result.

(Hagar and Ishmael)

Ishmael was treated like a prince and Hagar's mentality from Egypt (believing whoever produced a son was better than the other wife) rose and affected her relationship with Sarah despite the fact that she was still her handmaid. Sarah was still first wife and Ishmael was her 'son'. But then, one day three men came to Abraham and told him that Sarah would have a child. Overhearing the three strangers say this, Sarah laughs. "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" one of the men asks, cuasing Sarah to deny her laughter.

Sarah gave birth to Issac (meaning laughter in Hebrew) a year later. Now that she had her own son, Sarah believed Issac to be the rightful heir of Abraham and demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham consented and sent Hagar and his firstborn from their camp. Hagar and Ishmael survived and tradition holds it that Ishmael is the ancestor of the Arabs. Issac grows to be a faithful patriarch, fathering Jacob and becoming the grandfather to the twelve sons of Jacob. Out of these sons are the twelve tribes of Israel and the entire Jewish nation.

2. Bathsheba (link to King James Version of the story told)

Bathsheba, the subject of Rembrandt's Bethsheba at Her Bath (warning: nude painting), is known throughout history as the woman of captured King David's heart by bathing on a rooftop.

(David watching Bethsheba)

Bathsheba was the daughter Eliam/Ammiel, one of King David's elite thirty soldiers, and wife of Uriah the Hittite, also a soldier. As most women in these situations Bethsheba was very beautiful and many men desired her, including King David. King David had her brought to the palace where he and Bathsheba spent the night. Her husband Uriah was away on military duties, fighting a war. As a result, Bathsheba concieves and in an attempt to protect her honor King David sends Uriah back home to sleep with Bathsheba so the child will be thought of as Uriah's.

But Uriah was true to his role as a soldier and it was common practice to abstain from sexual intercourse during duty. Uriah did not go home to his wife, insisting to be sent back into battle. King David then sends Uriah back-with a letter. This letter was to be given to Joab, a general in the army. It ordered for Joab to place Uriah at the front of the battle so that Uriah would die. The plan worked and Bathsheba became a widow. When the time of mourning passed King David sent for her and married her.

Bathsheba gave birth to a son but King David was not right with the Lord. Committing adultery and killing a man to marry his wife caused the prophet Nathan to appear to King David. Nathan told David a story about a rich man killing a poor man's sheep to feed his (rich man) own guest. Exciting a response from David, commanding the man die. "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man." 2 Samuel 12:7

(Nathan admonishing King David)

Nathan declares that King David and Bathsheba's lives would be spared, but not the life of the child. David fasts and lays on the ground for days pleading with God but on the seventh day the child died.

After recovering and mourning, King David and Bathsheba have another son: Solomon, who later becomes king, the wisest king.

(King Solomon)

3. Leah and Rachel (link to King James Version of the story told)

The story of the two sisters who married the same man was a precursor to the story of Joseph and the conflict with his halfbrothers (who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel). But the conflict started with their mothers, Leah and Rachel.

Leah was the older of the two and is described as "tender eyed" (Genesis 29:17). Rachel on the other hand is "beautiful and well favoured" (Genesis 29:17). Jacob, the son of Issac, goes to visit his Uncle Laban (Leah and Rachel's father) and falls in love with Rachel. He asks for her hand in marriage and in exchange he must work for Laban for seven years. During those seven years, Laban's flocks and fortunes increased because Jacob was a faithful servant to God and God blessed him with such wealth. In an effort to make Jacob stay, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah due to the 'oldest marries first' custom in their land. Jacob demands for Rachel's hand and Laban agrees to marry her to Jacob for another seven years.

(Jacob and Rachel)

Leah and Rachel do not have equal footing with Jacob. Jacob loves Rachel but even wth her great beauty, Rachel cannot concieve. "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (Genesis 29:31). Leah gives birth to four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah). Rachel becomes jealous and gives Jacob her maid Bilhah (much like Sarah and Hagar's situation) who has two sons Rachel raises, Dan and Naphtali. Leah follows suit, giving Jacob her maid Zilpah who gives birth to Gad and Asher.

At this point Rachel has not given birth to a child of her own. Leah, however, has more sons of her own: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. God opens Rachel's womb and it is then that Rachel has Joseph. Joseph becomes a favorite of Jacob and is treated as the first born (even over Reuben) because he is Rachel's child. 

The women, the wives of the Bible faced pressure to have children. That was their success in life. And in a patriarch world and a male dominated sacred text, it is refreshing to see how the women earn their place in the Bible.  These women are strong, they are fighters and whether or not they were right in their actions is irrelevant because they have made an impact. It is their beauty, their importance to the men of the Bible that can make or break a situation. They deserve such recognition.

Anak (Girl)

Do this do that

I Want a Husband

In a society where finding a partner is viewed as an accomplishment and fulfillment in life I am one of millions of females who are currently in a search for a husband. But upon looking for a husband, one must know what type of husband to look for.

In terms of background I want a husband who is an orphan or at least an only child. My husband must integrate himself in my large family. I have no interest to join another large family and therefore require my husband free of attachments. Because of this I want a husband who wants a big family and will happily join mine with no reservations. My husband must be enthusiastic about learning my culture while maintaining respect for his own. I want a husband who is unafraid of learning my parents' native language, who is not embarrassed of his own mistakes and who will encourage our children to learn.

My husband must be educated and I expect him to be smarter than me. He will keep work separate from home and have a dreadfully ugly older secretary. I want a husband who will make so much money it will not be needed for me to work. But I will still work and my husband will respect that. I want my husband to take care of the bills, the paperwork and who will only tell me about such things if I am needed. He will not touch my personal bank account unless it is to add to its balance. I want a husband with wanderlust and with the means to do so. He will share my tastes, preferring Finland to Costa Rica. On these trips he will take care of the tickets, accommodations, sight seeing. I will gladly take care of packing and the children but I want a husband who will offer to help.

I want a husband who is healthy. He must be fit, not overly large, but never skinnier than me. I want a husband who is a vegetarian or at least will respect my vegetarian diet. My husband will never chastise me whenever I stuff junk food in my mouth and who will listen as I rant about incompetent coworkers. He will cook (or hire a cook) so I will have no such burdens. He will allow the kitchen to be my domain but by no means ever try to keep me there. My husband will love my sandwiches and ask for them lovingly. I want a husband who will be sensitive to my femininity, who loves that I am a lady. He will be masculine. My husband will be a Yankees fan (it will never work if he is a Red Sox fan) and root for Germany's football team in international games.

In the end I want a husband who loves me but who will only declare such sentiments on the rarest occasions. He will share my passions, challenge me, and encourage my ambitions because he has such ambitions of his own.

But Anderson Cooper is gay so....

P.S. heres the link to my tumblr of all things i tagged husbands, as you can see i've been mulling this over for ages.

Turning Teens into Swingers

Follower or Leader?

Compare and Contrast

Link-y

Books

Poke me

Illiterate Society Response

What struck me about the structure of Kozol's essay (or except from a book) was the parallel of examples and testimonies and these particular scenarios he uses are ones that us literate people would have not been able to comprehend on our own. And because Kozol has brought these every day situations that we can relate to the impact of being illiterate is very apparent and recognizably serious. The examples the author gives us are: not being able to read the directions on prescription medicine, not being able to read the warning labels of cancer on cigarette packs, not being able to read the different products and only relying on logos. These things to us might seem ordinary, trivial and basic but to the illiterates, it is a huge deal.

But before throwing these examples at the reader, the author first tells about a dream of his. This dream consists of panic over being in a foreign place, not knowing the language, not being able to look for help. Most readers could relate to such a circumstance or at least imagine the terrifying experience. Because the author set the dream up first before the examples, the reader is better able to understand the daily struggle of those who cannot read.

After going through all the horrendous things an illiterate person has to endure, Kozol advances towards a theme: not knowing. This is the arc/climax of the selection or at least the main idea he was trying to convey. It is the misinformed that suffer. And while the reader might have picked up on this certain theme along the way, the author spells it out very obviously. It is then here that the scenarios stop and the real testimonies begin.

Having the testimonies last packs a punch into Kozol's point. These are real people who really don't know how to function in a society that is based on the written word. And the selection finally ends with a serious situation that involved a person's inadequacy in terms of being illiterate.

The structure of Kozol's essay is designed to place drama and emphasis on a serious subject.

Narrative Imitation

Link-y

Women of the Bible

I'm a Christian as many of those around me know. I'm not the shove-the-Bible-down-your-throat-because-I-am-convinced-you-will-burn-in-hell type. So you can all breathe a sigh of relief. I do however want to explore something I haven't done before: studying Women of the Bible. No, this is not a sermon. I just noticed that there are loads of men of course, but the number of women mentioned doesn't compare. 

Esther

(2006 version, Tiffany Dupont)

Are you surprised it isn't Eve? I'm not going in chronological order. I just find people don't pay the story of Esther much attention or don't look for the lessons it teaches us as human beings. The Book of Esther consists of a mere 10 chapters and takes place during Persian rule under King Ahasuerus (who Esther later marries). 

For those not well versed in Biblical/Jewish history, the Israelites were brought into captivity of the Persian empire (Daniel ring a bell?). King Cyrus eventually came to the throne and realized God was great and he had to let the Jews go back to rebuild Jerusalem. Now since the Jews were now free, many went back to rebuild the temple and city. But a number of Jews stayed behind. Ezra, Nehemiah, etc. all cover the journey of Jews to Jerusalem. But Esther is the descendant of one of the Jews that stay in Persia.

Even if King Cyrus liked the Jews and their God, many Persians did not. After King Cyrus passed, kings came and went until Ahsuerus/Xeres comes to the throne. The Book of Esther begins with a feast. Xeres and his chamberlains/advisors are drunk, completely smashed. In his drunken state he orders for his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti, to wear the royal crown and appear before the men. Knowing that he was not in his right mind she doesn't obey. Angry and embarrassed she did not obey, Xeres becomes angry and his advisors tell him that word will get out that Vashti refused to obey him and now women all over the empire would start disobeying their husbands. Mind you, this was more than just a couple hundred years ago so don't get your feminist panties in a bunch. It's cultural. 

So Vashti is no longer queen and they try to find another, selecting young beautiful virgins to live in the palace and hope the king likes on of them enough. Trying to protect her, Mordecai (Esther's relative) tells her not to tell anyone she is Jewish since they aren't liked. Esther is not a Jewish name, it's Persian or what they called back then 'pagan'. Her original name was Haddassh which means Myrtle in English. But she goes by the name Esther once she enters the palace.

Whether it was a love story or not, the king finds favor with Esther. She is crowned queen and everyone is happy. Until Haman, the king's right hand man, who has an incredible hatred toward Jews (I can explain why if people would like to know) tricks the king into signing a decree allowing people to kill Jews and take their possessions. Mordecai finds out and notifies Esther (no one knows she is Jewish) and comes the famous verse.

"Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Again comes the faith, believing that God put Esther there to save the Jewish people. Whether you believe it or not it was a pretty good position to be in. So Esther tells Mordecai to tell the Jews to fast and pray for three days and she will go to the king UN-SUMMONED (punishable by death) and "If I perish, I perish."

And here comes the fascination with Esther. She's an ordinary girl but gets whisked away to live with the king and eventually becomes queen. But what breaks my heart is that she doesn't go to the king right away when hearing the news, she prays and fasts. Esther's human. Even back then, they had the same emotions, same fears and Esther needed to gather her courage.

It's her bravery and her courage that capture my heart and renews my faith not just in God but in people. 

Spoilers: The king lets her come in the court, she admits that she is a Jew, Haman the evil man is hanged and now all the Jews celebrate Purim to commemorate the bravery of Esther. A woman.

MOVIES THAT DO THE BOOK JUSTICE:

One Night with the King (2006): Beautiful soundtrack, great casting, more Hollywood though in terms of drama but sticks with the written work

Esther (1999): It is much more accurate than the 2006 version, I definitely find this much more appropriate to watch on Sabbath or during youth group.

Greasy Lake Response

"Greasy Lake" by T.C. Boyle starts off with an amusing opening, but the story itself is in no way amusing or hilarious at all. It is a coming-of-age story, the moment where Boyle departs from his naivety and adolescence and begins to realizes the consequences of real life.

The scene that stood out was a short one. It was where Boyle, Digby, and Jeff attempt to rape the girl they found in Bobby's car, the 'fox'. The fact that they call her a 'fox' dehumanizes her, makes her an object to be captured, to be preyed upon. As a female, this frightens me. It frightens me that they hardly acknowledge her as something more than flesh. But I believe that the boys’ reaction to force themselves on her is caused, driven by their incessant need to be ‘bad’. Before assaulting the girl, Boyle brings down a tire iron on Bobby, knocking him out. The boys believe they have murdered him. Previously they had only been drinking cheap alcohol, running around the suburbs, trying so hard to look like they didn’t care at all. They were rebelling against their parents, the safe society they had grown up in. They weren’t truly bad. But this incident, nearly killing a real man, is a wakeup call. They aren’t bad, they had not meant it. But by trying, by looking for something to do, by trying to prove their ‘bad’-ness, they had found it and are not prepared to deal with the results.

And upon finding the girl, they have already stepped out of line, already gone beyond what they thought they would never near. Driven by their primal instinct, they approach her, treating her like a piece of meat. Like a fox.

I believe it is the irony of the opening that strikes me hard. The opening is so funny, so reflective, so deceiving that when they force themselves on her I felt shocked, knew in my gut that this was unlike them. And I think that that might have been a technique of the author. The reader and Boyle both start off with a good life, humor and youth on his side. But by the time they have struck down a man with a tire iron and attempt to rape a girl, that youth, that humor is gone. It is real life at its worse, human instinct at its worse.

I believe that they would have raped her if they were not stopped. Out of fear they ran because they know they had been trying to do a serious crime. Their consciences died with the humor and youth they previously retained. In that moment they were truly bad.

Description Essay

Macarons anyone?

Bike Rack Description

Link-y

"Box Man" Debrief

1. I learned that the paragraphs increase in size as the essay went on, short and choppy in the beginning and then larger at the end, adding to the structure of the essay.

2. I wished we had discussed the lonely women more. I think that the type of loneliness that they have should've been contrasted/compared at length with the homeless man.

3. I wished I had said that I don't believe the The Boxcar Children was a proper comparison and that the homeless man could possibly be very selfish or proud in the sense he did not want to accept help or get out of the way.

I am a ____

Here

Long Form "The Elegant Universe"

Link-y

Senior Project

The first thing that came to mind when asked about senior project was medicine. I wanted to do something that would enhance my understanding of the medical field. But my interest in medicine is not confined to the drugs one purchases at the pharmacy. I had always wanted to explore the world of naturopathic/homeopathic medicine and healing. I then realized it was an incredibly broad field to tackle. I decided that my paper would focus on the influences of eastern, traditional medicine on the western medicine and that for my project I would host a seminar in March aimed at students who are approaching AP testing. This seminar would include natural, safe, and easy ways to relieve stress and pain. For this I would be showing my fellow peers self acupressure/massage on certain points of the body, scents to calm anxiety, stretches, etc. I know firsthand how stressful the month of April is for AP students. It's the last stretch and students are likely to take more than one. When I had my first test my sophomore year, I made sure to relax my body, rub my temples, and to concentrate my breathing. Having trained in massage and reiki, I knew enough about the human body to know the areas where I could touch or press to relieve stress. In an environment like the testing rooms in the district building, it is very easy to roll your shoulders or give yourself a quick massage. I noticed my friends did not do similar things and they remained stressed and in pain. I want to help students at Napa High know how to avoid or decrease such discomfort.

C'est Moi!

Salut! My name is Glorianne Besana. Nicknames include but are not limited to: Glo, Dee, Amy, Gondor, Adam Smith, Capitalist Pig. I’m Filipino American, First Generation and have a huge family. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York City, New York and am a proud East Coast girl. After living in Brooklyn I moved to a suburb in New Jersey before finally settling here in Napa, California. When I first arrived in Napa, I was hit with culture shock. I was raised in an incredibly diverse environment and while we all proud of our heritage, there was too many cultures to make a defining line.

In my free time I usually read. My favorite books are The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. My favorite poets are John Keats and W.B. Yeats. If I am not getting lost in a fictional world I’m usually eating and avoiding my phone. When I read, I prefer the gloomier days with a cup of tea (earl grey). These days also give me a chance to wear my collection of argyle sweaters. My tumblr photoset of some argyle items of mine. Yes, this is my personal tumblr site. It's completely appropriate just full of strange stuff. Like my head.

I travel a lot. My mother likes to say our family has “a bad case of wanderlust”. Over the next two years I will be travelling without them. Instead of a sweet sixteen/ elegant eighteen/debut/graduation present (all popular with Filipino girls), I asked my parents to send me to Nepal instead. I will be going with Mr. Hatton and other Napa High students for a whole month, hiking in the Himalayas, caring for orphans, visiting Buddhist temples, riding elephants, and relaxing in Kathmandu.

Because of my love for travel, I love to learn new languages. I’m currently in the middle of learning French and Tagalog (the national Filipino language) and beginning Nepalese. My biggest regret in life is not learning Tagalog when I was younger because when I speak it now, I can sound painfully American compared to my cousins. The only reason why I can muster up an accent at all is because I enjoy acting and I love doing different accents.

I aspire to be a doctor (I know, Asian cliché), specifically an interventional cardiologist. I have always been fascinated by the heart and by blood (take that any way you want). I have bought numerous books on the human anatomy, even built a figure, and I find myself drawn to cardiology. I plan to serve with Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian-aid organization that sends doctors to give health care to war-torn countries and developing countries, for about two years. Here is a video by Napa County when I was nominated best in ROP Medical Science. And yes, I learned how to give a proper injection and everything else in the video. Injecting is my favorite.

At Napa High I am an active member of the Sierra Club and French Club, Mock Trial, and Cross Country. Here is a photo of me dying in the heat because I thought it would be smart to take on varsity and here's another one of me and my friend messing around before Mock Trial State Competition at Sacramento 2012. I work as an assistant grader at a Japanese Learning Center called Kumon where I work with children in both mathematics and reading comprehension. I do not belong to any physical church but I do keep the Sabbath, similar to Seventh Day Adventists. I’m also a vegetarian (vegan for 5 days a month).