Thousands of Books

I don’t have many regrets. I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention. One thing that I do wish was a little tweaked was my reading capabilities as a child. I didn’t read a lot as a child. I would go to the library and check out books but only because they looked pretty and it was nice to carry them home. But the books just laid scattered around my house, untouched and unopened. I’m lucky though because despite having parents who do not like to read at all, I grew up a bookworm. The albeit few (not that few though, but not a lot) books that I’ve read, I’ve retained in memory–absorbing the characters and the stories, carrying them with me through life.


Recently, I’ve met someone who has read thousands of books, and it shows. They’re geniuses. It makes me wonder – would I be a genius right now if I had read a lot as a child? I’ll be honest, sometimes I feel like an airhead. Despite doing “well” in school, I do wish that I was smarter, retained information quickly, and understood things.


However, one should not dwell so hard on regret. There’s nothing you can do about the past – but the present is here for you to change. That’s why, one of my resolutions for 2015 is to read 100 books. I hope to read a wide range of books, but mostly I want to read more of the classics. I haven’t read Jane Eyre or Moby Dick but now that I’m willing to read these things, it might be better than having read them when I was younger and not really interested. I have this cooky goal of having my “read” pile to be in the thousands. Right now, it’s around 200. Goodreads is a great site to keep me motivated and document the books I’ve read, so that’s cool.


I guess the point of this post is, whatever you’re regretting of the past, there’s always always always time to fix it NOW. To improve. To broaden your mind.


Wish me luck!

Things To Write About In Your Journal

If you've seen my journal video on Youtube (link in the sidebar), then you know how much I love to journal. It was my first hobby since I was around seven years old and I haven't stopped since. But I'll leave my history of journaling for a different post. You're reading this because you want to start keeping a journal but have no idea what to write, or where to start. We're in the fresh beginning of 2k15, and your resolution is to "keep a journal" - and let me tell you: you couldn't have picked a more worthwhile resolution to keep! I mean, who ACTUALLY goes to the gym? Am I right?

Here are some ideas on how to get started. I hope it inspires you...

What's up. This is probably the most obvious thing to start with when writing in your journal. Simply put: what happened in your day? Who did you meet? What did you do? What did you eat? If you're like me, a normal day would be absolutely, overwhelmingly boring. That's ok. There will be plenty of moments that are going to happen in your life that you would want to keep in store somehow because if you're like me, you have terrible memory. I'm 21 years old, and high school is a complete blur to me, but I'm so happy that I documented what I learned in my English class, who pissed me off, and every detail of my senior prom. Trust me, you'll thank your past self too.

Instead of venting on Facebook, vent to your journal. Don't be that person who posts melancholy song lyrics as a passive way to let everyone know you're feeling down. Sorry to break this to you: but no one cares. But your journal cares -- your journal cares deeply. Vent out all of your feelings and frustrations on paper. Believe me, the tension will release from your chest and you won't get that embarrassed feeling you get when you check your Facebook hours later and see that you've whined to all your friends and friendly strangers through a long string of sad statuses.  

Catalogue your dreams. If you're like me, you get crazy dreams that people on LSD envy. Keep your journal by your bed stand and once you wake up from your dream about having a love letter business with Matthew McConaughey, jot down every detail you can remember before the adventure slips away. You won't regret it once you read it over later. You automatically have one up against your friends who claim they "don't even have any dreams." 

Write book reviews. Journals are a great way to document how you REALLY felt about that book you just finished without fear of the author or any die-hard fan finding out (of course, you could have loved the book too). Often times, when I'm writing a book review to post online, I hold back, because I don't want to actually share any of my personal stories that made me really connect with the book. But your journal is the place to write all of your raw, honest thoughts on anything. Be it book, film - anything.

"Quotes" Keep your favorite song lyrics, quotes, that funny thing your dad said, all in one place! I also jot down the song I have on repeat so as to give an extra detail as to the type of atmosphere I'm having as I'm writing my day's entry.

News Journals are a great way to look back to see how life was like three, five, seven years ago. Write down what's happening in the world and your reactions to them. You're adding more value to your journals by adding some history.

Keep people in their place. Remember that Friends episode where Phoebe writes down everything Monica and Chandler say, and when they have a misunderstanding, she can refer to her journal to settle the score? That's exactly what you can do! When people tell you "that's not what happened," you tell them "It's right here in black and white!" Again, it's all about having the upper hand amongst your friends ;)

Be generous. Document your family and friend's lives as well, if you want to. It'll be cool to tell them, "Hey remember March 15, 2001 when you had diarrhea? Good times, good times." I reminisced with my best friend reading back on the crazy things we did together and said, and we had the best time laughing at our past, stupid selves. 

Say thank you. If you have nothing to write about, it's always healthy to mention what you're grateful for, even if it's the small things like "getting a seat on the subway during rush hour after a long day of telling people that men's underwear is on the one and half floor and then having to explain how to get to the 1 1/2 floor." 

Keep track of your 'selves' Let's face it: we're constantly evolving. How we were two years ago was a completely different person - with different interests, values, world views - than the person you are right now. It's nice to sometimes look back on how you were and reflect on how far you've come. Because essentially, everything is temporary. It's nice to hold on to things just in case you need some past inspiration. I can't tell you how helpful it was for me as a 19 year old depressed college student to read the uplifting, hopeful words from my 17 year old self. It re-ignited something in me - something that I had forgotten. Journaling can save you.

On that note, don't be discouraged if you can't write in a journal every day. I certainly don't. Sometimes I can go for weeks without ever finding the time to write an update. But keep at it - eventually the entries will pile up and you'll have something to look back on, should you choose to (sometimes it helps to just dump all of your words onto the page and lock it up and never look at it again. I've done that as well). Your future self will thank you. 

Happy journaling! xx

It's On Again.

Like many, I had created a list of things that I wanted to accomplish for the new year. Here's the list that I had saved on my laptop:

2014

No. 1: Read THE BIBLE more. Study it, and pray that God will open your heart to whatever He has planned for you in the upcoming year. SERVE The Lord through your thoughts & actions. Fill your heart with God's love.

No. 2: Exercise often. It is important to exercise to improve your mood and get your body going. This is also important in order to lose that weight! IT WILL HAPPEN. Only through hard work & perseverance.

No. 3: Become 100% vegetarian. This will not be easy. Only until you learn how to cook, make your own money, and be dedicated to your beliefs, will this happen. Ease into it!

No. 4: Get back to ballet.

No. 5: VOLUNTEER with Project Sunshine.

No. 6: Get a job. Any part-time job. Preferably at Build-a-bear; Starbucks; The Body Shop....just get some experiences somewhere!

No. 7: PUBLISH book. This is very important. Go find yourself an agent, and sell the book!!!!

LET YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.

No. 8: Read lots of books. Lets set the goal of reading 50 books. All new, not including the ones you're re-reading for pleasure. No matter what the number is though, give yourself a fruitful year of reading.

No. 9: Do well in school. Invest some interest in it.

No. 10: Learn a language. And actually be fluent in it. Preferably SPANISH.

So...some of these things have been accomplished. Let me say right off the bat that I did not do number 7 even though it was written in the biggest font possible. I did, however, work on the manuscript, but I wasn't satisfied with what I came up with. As a result, I needed a break from it, and decided to start a whole new manuscript. I am close to completing the first draft, and I'm really liking it. It's fantasy, which is a genre that I've never written in before, but I'm really enjoying it.

No. 9 was accomplished -- my grades for this semester was really good. No. 10 was nada. Must transfer that to next year's resolutions. No. 8 - I did read a lot of interesting books. Not 50, but a great set of books nonetheless. No. 6 was surprisingly accomplished - and made me swear off retail for life. No. 5 was sad and I did not do much volunteering (just one event). MUST MUST MUST transfer and accomplish that in the upcoming year. No.4 was interesting because I DID go back to ballet but not in the way that I intended. I had an awesome internship at my favorite ballet company and I got full ballet-ed out. I still love ballet though and I do hope I can take some classes again next year. No.3 is in the bag woohoo! No. 2 was ehhhh. No. 1 was accomplished but in a twisted way, sort of, because I did take a bible class this semester...and I didn't really enjoy it.

So, overall, I accomplished some pretty rad things in 2014. It was definitely an awesome year -- full of blessings not only for me but for my family. 2015 is going to be something: for one thing, I'm graduating college which means the rest of my life is going to start. I need to find a job - some way of supporting myself. My goal is to finish my manuscript, find an agent, and get it published which is both daunting and exciting of a process in and of itself. That's my main goal of 2015. I may not create a list like I did for 2014, but I might create one privately in my journal or something. I'm sort of superstitious in that way that I don't want to reveal too much of myself in fear of jinxing myself.

But whatever 2015 brings, I hope I'll be ready. And up for the challenge. And I hope that it'll be a happy and healthy year for my family and for YOU, dear dear reader. 

Books I Loved As A Tween/Teen

My zest for reading really came when I was a tween. As an eleven year old in middle school, I never felt more alone. I didn't fit in with the rest of the class and I was achingly socially awkward. Naturally, books became my best friends. I escaped to other worlds, adventures (more often than not I pretended the hot guys were my boyfriends), other people. Young Adult books were the first books to actually interest me, and I'm not ashamed of saying that. Most people cower when they hear of young adult books, but I don't see what's the big deal. Books are books no matter what your "tastes" are. True, not all young adult books appeal to me, but a lot of them did at a time when I needed the escape the most. So here are my favorite books as a tween. Note, that these do not include the young adult books that I enjoyed recently. I've narrowed it down to the books that saved me as a lonely middle schooler trying to get by.

The Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank was my BFF. I was thirteen when I first read her honest words--and (even though I was not a Jewish girl living in Nazi Germany) I felt, for the first time, that I could relate. Her passages about not being able to have a decent conversation with anyone because they wouldn't take her seriously took me head on. Everything she spoke about, I was feeling. It was an amazing experience.

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney This book was awesome. It's about a boy who contracts small pox. Need I say more?

Avalon High by Meg Cabot This book was the first (and quite honestly the only) book I fangirled about. Seriously. I wrote fan fiction about it. I made a playlist on my iTunes compiling all the songs that reminded me of the novel. I met Meg Cabot and she signed my hardcopy. I don't know what it was about the book (probably the plot? About a group of teenagers who may or may not be reincarnations of King Arthur and his court) but I gushed over it in seventh grade. This also started the love story between me and Meg Cabot books. I can't wait to read her new Princess Diaries novel for adults coming out next year.

Mates, Dates series by Cathy Hopkins I loved this series as a middle schooler with no life. The way these British girls lived (by the way, I reallllyyy wanted to be British in middle school), inspired me in a way that I thought, one day I'll be like them. They shopped with their own money, had boyfriends, were able to hang out--all luxuries that I was denied (haha).

Missing Persons by m.e. rabb I'm surprised that this series is not that popular, and even out of print (I feel old), but I loved this  mystery series. Hopefully I can find them in their original covers that I loved.

Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning I remember writing a book in middle school about a band, and it was highly inspired by this book. I remember reading it in one sitting on my couch. Sigh. Good times.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris Loved it because I got to imagine the guy as Hayden Christensen. I was obsessed with Hayden Christensen as a tween.

Queen Amidala Journal Gurrrlll, I was OBSESSED with Star Wars in middle school, when I first discovered the films (refer to obsession with Hayden Christensen). I really wanted to be Padme Amidala, and I remember loving this journal because I learned a lot about government (I think).

Fear Street series by R.L. Stine I remember spending one summer obsessively reading dozens of books in this series. I don't remember half of them, but it kept me interested.

Turning 21.

In America, as far as I know, turning 21 just equates to finally being able to drink alcohol (legally). But other than that, 21 is just 21. So why am I so freaking terrified of the fact that midnight tonight I will officially be 21?


I don’t care much about alcohol (frankly, I don’t like the taste), but turning 21 for me means that in a couple of months I will be graduating from college. Turning 21 means that I have to find a job that will sustain me enough that I could live alone–be independent. Turning 21 means that this is the start of my LIFE, basically. When you’re in school, you’re sort of protected. I don’t dorm, I still live with my parents, and I don’t think I will be moving out when I turn 21. But, “protection” in the sense where it’s (kinda) okay if you don’t have it all figured out yet, because all that is expected of you is to just go to school, study, get some life experiences here and there, maybe a part-time job, and that’s it.


But once you graduate, or are reaching graduation, all eyes are on your next move. Preparing for graduation means having to face that dreaded question: “What are your plans for the future?” Lady, I don’t even know who I am–how am I suppose to know the future?!?!


I know what they mean though. How are you going to support yourself? You have a Bachelor’s degree–what are you going to do with it? (Such scary questions). In my case, I’m getting a BA in Psychology, and I do plan on using that in some shape or form. Maybe. My main goal is to write. Get published. That is all the pressure I’m putting on myself because I’ve done that in the past (putting multiple pressures on myself) and it didn’t work out for the best.


So, that’s what turning 21 means to me. Getting everything sorted out so I can jump start my life in the best way possible. I do hope that in the future I can do some acting, film-making, and traveling. But I think that the pressure should stop, at least the pressure in your head. If you’re scared like me, don’t worry. You’re obviously not alone. It’s normal not to know exactly what you’re going to do after graduation. Figure it out by easing into adulthood. Listen to your true passions, and go after them.


Happy Birthday to me! :)


P.S. Today I saw Interstellar and whoaaaa what a film. I wish I knew more about astrophysics. Learning science in a classroom setting never worked out for me, so maybe after graduation I can start reading books on the topic and educate myself. See, I have plans after all!

Books I Enjoyed as a Kid/I Wish I Read More as a Kid

I was trying to remember what books I loved as a child, until I realized...I didn't read as much as I wish I did as a kid. My zest for reading didn't come until middle school (I'll do a different blog post dedicated to books I loved as a young teen). But during elementary school I was busy just being a kid, writing stories in my notebook, watching movies...basically doing nothing but enjoying life (seriously I don't know what I did as a kid). But, there were books that I remember loving. I loved going to the library and checking out books (didn't mean I read them all, I just loved having them)--and here are the books that stood out to me that even now as a 20-going-on-21-year-old can remember.




Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. I read this in 4th grade, and I remember not paying attention to the teacher and just coming back to read some parts and my teacher totally called me out for it (but she was happy that I was enjoying the book). I don't know, but I loved Fudge and his antics and I loved the whole Fudge series. Judy Blume is boss!!!








The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I love mysteries - I don't really remember what this one is about though, but I read it a lot as a kid.

Where the Sidewalk Ends & The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. If you didn't grow up with Shel Silverstein's rhymes, then I'm sorry but you've been deprived. The Giving Tree especially got me thinking hard as an 8 year old.

The New Adventures of Mary Kate & Ashley. I'll admit. I was a hugggeeeee fan of the Olsen twins growing up. Full House was my life. I remember reading a lot of books from this series, and I even have some of the books in my current collection.

Holes by Louis Sachar. Like most kids, I watched the movie first before diving into the book, but I remember reading this and actually feeling proud that I read a book with long chapters.

Bunnicula. I love animals, but I don't necessarily love reading about them for some reason. But this series I enjoyed a lot because it was funny, had a dash of scary-ness to it, and mystery.

 

Forever by Judy Blume. If you read this book, you're probably wondering why this is included in books I read as a child in elementary school. Well, because I DID read this in fifth grade and this book was in high circulation amongst everyone in my class (secretly) and we all giggled and gasped at the mere mention of the s-e-x word. Eventually, the teachers found out exactly why we were all of a sudden so interested in reading, and reading this book in particular, so I think they took it out of the library. But yeah, that book...

  

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes. I only read these three books of this series but I liked it because I loved how she was sort of doing the things I wish I was doing. Like chores (but getting allowance for chores). As a kid, I loved reading books of what it was going to be like being a young adult. Little did I know, it's not all that it's perked up to be.

Amelia's Notebook. I love keeping journals, as you might already know, so I loovveed this series. I aimed to keep my journals like this, but thus--I don't know how to draw nor am I as witty as Amelia.







So, there you have it. The books that I enjoyed as a kid (that I can remember). To this day, I still try to keep tabs on children's literature b/c 1) I want to write books for children one day and 2) As a way to compensate for the lack of reading that I did as a kid. But, I'm glad that I read books for pleasure and looking back I realize that I love books with elements of mystery and humor. Books are awesome, and I don't want to limit myself off to just "adult" books because I'm an "adult" (term used very, very loosely) I don't care what people think when I still check out some children's books from time to time.

NaNoWriMo, Acting, &Mockingjay!

Nov 21st-Nov 25th

Fridays are my favorite days because I have two of my favorite courses this semester: Great American Novel and Acting1. For our "finals" in acting class we have to prepare a scene from a play with our partners, line memorized and all. This past couple of weeks we've been rehearsing so Friday my partner and I rehearsed our scene for the class. It's from "Proof" by David Auburn; I'm playing Claire, and my amazing friend is playing Catherine. So far, I feel like I'm the weakest link in the play b/c I don't really understand my character. I'm struggling with really believing in her ideas while also being hungover (believe it or not, I have never been hungover so I did my best to imagine having the biggest headache ever (I also don't get really bad headaches haha)). But this time, my prof said I had a lot of improvement & my entrance was beautiful, so that really made me feel better. My scene partner is really good & she got the character down flat. Next step is just to keep rehearsing, keep believing in "my" ideas, and memorize the lines!

I really love my acting class, and my class is a bunch of funny, kind people! I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I really want to pursue acting b/c I realized how much I love it, and I've always loved films. When I was a kid I would love watching the behind-the-scenes specials b/c I loved hearing the actors talk about their craft. Because there aren't that many notable Asian American actresses (or actors), I never really thought it was possible. But after watching Lupita Nyong'o win an Oscar, her speech really motivated me to at least be brave, and just try. So I hope to turn this blog into a place where I can record my journey on this impossible road! 

Friday night, I passed the 25,000 words mark in NaNoWriMo! Halfway there! I've been struggling with this manuscript b/c it's the first time I'm writing fantasy & I need to remind myself to just let my imagination go! Also, the dialogue is different from what I'm used to writing, and so it's kind of hard to develop the romance organically. We'll see how it goes. I just need to keep writing, writing, writing!

On Nov 25th, my family and I went to see Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1! We went all the way to Broadway Mall in Long Island b/c I really love the theatre there, and we got to eat at the Ikea Restaurant. I love eating there b/c they have some great vegetarian options including these broccoli-potato medallion. Getting tickets was hard b/c everything was sold out. I went to buy tickets for Interstellar but my brother mentioned (after I bought them) that he saw Interstellar already so I went to exchange them for Hunger Games, and we managed to snag some seats but they were all the way in the front row! At least the chairs were reclining, but still, I had to slouch way down in order to be comfortable. It was my first time sitting in the front row--but the movie was great! I do feel like they could have compressed it into one movie, b/c a lot of the scenes seemed unnecessary & repetitive. I love Jennifer Lawrence's acting, but I wished Peeta was featured more (but I'll stop talking b/c I don't want to spoil it). But yeah--can't wait until the last movie! I think I'm gonna have to just read the books b/c I really want to find out what happens. 

Also, I loved this song that came up at the end credits. You can tell how far behind from the times I am, b/c I was like, who's singing? and my Mom of all people was like, "It's Lorde!" and for a second I was like, "Who's Lorde?" And then I was like, ohhh. Ok.