Philippines: Tagaytay

Tagaytay has some beautiful volcanoes, and a small amusement park where you can ride this (air-conditioned) ferris wheel and see all the beautiful sights.

Philippines: Antipolo

As soon as I landed in Manila, my aunt & uncle took me to the cathedral where my parents got married. It's located on a hill & is really beautiful.

Antipolo Cathedral

Antipolo is located right outside of Manila, and it's where I'll be staying for my six week trip.

The atmosphere is chill, hot, and busy. Everyone is working, everyone is hanging around. Even the animals are chill and unafraid of people.

The jeepneys deserve their own post. No two truck is the same, and everyone uses it to get around. Sometimes you'll see people hanging outside at the end of the truck if inside is full. I never rode one, mostly because it's too hot and crowded, and I could already guess what the experience will be like just watching, haha .

More soon!

Here's to new beginnings.

I'm about ten days late, but HAPPY 2016! 2015 has been awesome, and I hope yours was too.

In 2015 I:

-acted a lot, & learned a lot about the craft (I love referring to acting as The Craft).
-filmed in a couple of student films, one of which I had a lead role & the other required me to dance (bad) ballet moves in the middle of a subway station.
-graduated college with a BA in Psychology & my scholarship still in tact.
-Worked, worked, worked (in a vegan restaurant owned by my favorite & most nicest chef) and saved up enough money in order to travel 10,000 miles by myself across the globe to...
-THE PHILIPPINES! Finally visited my family members (including my adorable grandmother) which has been a dream of mine for so long.
-Went helmet diving & parasailing in Boracay
-finished a couple of drafts of my manuscript & have come a long way in making it something query-able.

I am so grateful and feel blessed for all that happened in 2015. Did I accomplish everything that I wanted to in 2015? Maybe not, but that's what's going to make 2016 awesome. Every year we should strive to step it up and live without fear. I think fear is the most crippling thing to let overtake us. Fear of failure, fear of being criticized, fear of embarrassment, fear of being rejected, fear of so on and so forth. We create plans in our heads, then worry about those plans - how will we execute them, how will it all work out. Why worry about these things when it's up to God. We shouldn't worry about our plans, but instead look to what God has in store for us, and whatever that may be - pray for acceptance of it.

There are many things that I *hope* will come to fruition in this upcoming year. One of which is getting in shape and losing my Freshman 15, Sophomore 15, Junior 15, and Senior 15. My go to strategy plan for this is following a healthy vegan diet, and exercising, and portion control. Wish me luck!

2015 has been wonderful mainly because I strived to reach out of my comfort zone one step at a time. This year, I hope to do work in more acting projects, possibly get my SAG card, and just get back in the swing of learning and auditioning. I also want to try my hand in modeling and working in front of the camera and learn how to be confident in front of it.

But if you know me very well, you can probably already guess that my number one dream is to become a published author. I am currently in the middle of the fourth draft of this fantasy manuscript & since I don't have school, I hope that I can have time to finish it and finally beginning the process of querying agents. I'm going to work hard to make 2016 THE. YEAR.

Even if I don't accomplish any of this however, I want to look back at 2016 and know that I've done my best to serve. I have to be reminded of how lucky I am, even in times of despair, and the only way to express that gratitude is to give back. My new years resolution is to volunteer more and find a job that gives back to the community in some way.

But like I said earlier-- it's all up to God. Whatever plans He has for us, know that it is made out of love. I hope you have a healthy, happy new year!!! 2016 will be the best year yet.

Catskills Animal Sanctuary, & New Headshots!

For my graduation present, my parents took me to Catskills Animal Sanctuary! It took 2 hours to get there, but I love road trips. My mom and I were the only ones in our group for the tour, and our tour guide was so nice and so knowledgable! It was a relief to finally be amongst people who loved animals just as much as I did, and knew even more about the sufferings these animals go through for the expense of human taste.

I wish I took more photos, but I was too "in the moment" with nature, haha.

I also read this amazing book "The Sense of an Ending" by Julian Barnes. Amazing book on nostalgia, memory, and reflection.

On June 6th, I went to take my first headshots! I've been wanting to get into acting more, so getting a headshot is essential! The photographer was really nice, and I plan on going back to get new ones.

Not gonna lie - I am not a fan of my face. haha!

Graduation!!!

May 26th

I decided to spend the early days of my vacation watching the Harry Potter movies that I haven't seen yet. As a child, I watched the first three films but then they changed the director and I just didn't like it anymore. Three years ago, I read all the books and I loovvvvveeeedddd it (plus Snape<3). I didn't think I would like the films, but I did! It helps when you read the books first because for me, I lost interest at certain parts and wasn't paying attention. But I knew the story already so I wasn't lost.

May 27th 

Watched the last HP movie - cried!

Hedwig<3

I also went to the eye doctor to order some new contact lenses. It's been a while since I've last worn contacts, and I figured I needed them if I'm going to pursue acting and eventually go back to taking ballet class.

I went shopping for some make-up and if you know me, you've already heard my struggles of my incapabilities of applying make-up. Since the next day was my graduation, I decided to make the effort and learn how to apply eyeliner and eyeshadow. I got it down eventually, and I didn't want to "waste my face" so I filmed an All About my Journals TAG on Youtube. If you haven't already, and if you love journals, please subscribe to my channel! youtube.com/scrumtrulescence1210 [I don't know why I also choose long-ass names for my links]

May 28th

College graduation! This is the first graduation where I actually made an effort in my appearance.

But because I'm Asian, the curls that I spent the majority of my prep time on melted away in the humidity. I met up with my friend and we baked in the sun as we waited for the ceremony to start. 

As we walked with the other psych majors, the graduation march played, and it got me a little emotional. I can't believe that I made it to graduation. I had always been a good student, even earning a full-tuition scholarship (which I am so grateful for. Seriously. To graduate college without any debts is a blessing and an accomplishment in and of itself), college had been a difficult and long journey. There were many times when I thought of dropping out and doing other things, but my parents told me to stick it through. And it was so worth it. I discovered acting. I made new friends. I took courses with professors I admired and didn't resent. I earned my BA in Psychology, and although I'm not sure how I'll be using it directly, it's the most valuable thing I've earned thus far.

Our keynote speaker was Gen. Colin Powell and he gave such an inspiring speech. He too didn't do particularly well in college grades-wise, but he found a passion and pursued it with humility. He said, "other people's opinions of you is none of your business." He broke barriers and now has an entire department named after him in a school where he received mostly C's. It was honor to go up to get my diploma and shake his hand.

After the ceremony, I went to a buffet with my parents and my brother. I'm so grateful to God for my family and for the guidance He's given me this past 4 years. I honestly feel like through the struggles my faith in Him grew, and it was a much needed experience.

That night, I laid in bed thinking, What Next?

ABT, Film Festival, & Last Day of School!

May 16th
It felt like I spent the entire morning on the train, because on Saturdays the trains delay like there's all the time in the world. But it was worth it because I got student rush tickets to go see ABT!!!!

It's ABT's 75th Anniversary so they were showing a program called Classic ABT. I got to see Isabella Boylston in Theme & Variations, Hee Seo in Jardin aux Lilacs, and Misty Copeland in Rodeo. Love, love, love ABT. It would be a dream come true to dance for them one day, but in whatever capacity, be it student, dancer, or patron/audience member, ABT will always have a special place in my heart.

May 17th - May 19th
These days were spent mostly working on final scenes/ monologues. I've been trying to complete the transition from vegetarianism to veganism, but it's been hard, especially under the stress. But I made myself a simple meal of penne and tomato sauce with kale!

May 20th
Went to my school's BFA Film Festival, because I acted in one of the thesis films.

It was so nice seeing everyone dressed up, and all of their hard work finally coming to fruition. I only stayed for the first batch of films, and everyone did an amazing job. It was pretty daunting seeing my big face on the big screen, and when I saw the opening shot of a close up of my face, I almost gagged. That is the natural response of seeing myself. But overall, I thought the film was pretty good, although I hate my voice!!!

May 21st - May 22nd
Final day of classes! It's sooo hard saying good bye to professors and people in your class. Granted, you might see them again in the future, but it's not going to be the same, especially in my acting classes. We're all a group, and it sucks that we won't all be together again, performing and commenting on each other's scenes. Everyone in that class is talented, so I'm sure I'll be hearing about them in the future!

For my last final, I had to prepare a commercial monologue and a film monologue. I did a Garnier Fructis one and one from the film Rachel Getting Married. I've never seen that film which is why I chose to do it from there b/c I don't want to be copying Anne Hathaway's performance. The monologue didn't go as planned, and of course I was pretty disappointed with myself, but whatever because SCHOOL IS OVER!!

I literally flew out of school yelling "I'm freeee!" and I knew I freaked out the security guard, but I don't care because I'm done with school foreveerrrrrr. It still hasn't sunk in yet, but when it does, I'm sure the feeling will be pretty daunting.

May 23rd
Went to Long Island with parents & a family friend. Had lots of fun and got to see Avengers: Age of Ultron! To be honest, there were many parts where it was boring but the fighting sequences were cool. I don't really fangirl over the Avengers movies like other people, but I enjoy them a lot. I love Elizabeth Olsen though, and I was looking forward to her scenes (and James Spader's).

May 24th - May 25th

I am a huge Jessica Chastain fan, so I saw A Most Violent Year - and to be honest it was pretty disappointing. It wasn't violent at all - in fact, I thought everyone was pretty nice. But I loved the acting!!

Final Papers Stress

May 5th - May 6th
Watched this documentary called Gardeners of Eden, and cried my eyes out! It's about orphaned elephants who are abandoned because poachers killed their mothers to make ivory out of their tusks. It makes me so mad and upset all at once. I want to do everything I can to support the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust because they do so much to take care of the elephants and reintroduce them back to wildlife. They also help other animals affected by the attack on elephants. The whole ivory trade makes me sick and I hope they'll catch the poachers and business people involved. More should be done to protect these majestic animals. Once I get some money (get a job ahem ahem) I'm going to be a foster parent to one or more of the elephants.

May 7th - May 9th
Presented my final scene in acting 2. I really didn't like the scene in general and felt disappointed in myself (the theme of the following posts will be being disappointed in myself, haha). Worked on other final scenes and final papers for psychology!

May 10th
Happy Mother's Day! I made my mom pancakes & gave her her gift. I love her a lot and she does so much - working to show my appreciation for her more!

May 11th - May 15th
These days were filled with writing papers, rehearsing scenes, and saying good bye to professors!