Echoes of Success

        Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone started on a good note in 2017! This year Rose Parade was on the second of January since the first of January falls on a Sunday this year. No matter what day Rose Parade falls on, my dad and I will still go. It was way more crowded this year than last year. It was harder to take good pictures, and we had to keep going down the street to find a good spot to take pictures and record the parade. Below are some pictures that I took from the parade. Enjoy! Ragu's float wasn't able to collapse before going under the bridge so it was parked to the side. After the parade was over, my dad and I took a few more shots of the float close up.
        This year's theme is Echoes of Success. May all of you have a successful year in everything that you do.

Reflection

Taken on Nov. 26

Taken on Dec. 10

        The year of 2016 was filled with changes and new experiences. From high school to college, I had to adjust to a new academic environment. In between the transition, I was able to go to Hong Kong as a graduating celebration. Adventuring in Hong Kong was icing on the cake before heading off to college. I got to learn new things and see how other people live in a different country. It was a whole new experience living in a different country and adjusting to the humidity. It was definitely a crazy, wonderful experience to go on before a new academic adventure takes off.
        Being in college, I learned to be more independent on my own in a different atmosphere without my family with me physically. I was scared about going to college at first, worrying how I will survive college and adjust to the college life on my own. It was not as scary once I got to CSUF. I met such nice and friendly people who made my first semester in college a wonderful college experience already. I even met some people who I feel will be my friends for life. The friends I made definitely helped me through the semester by giving me great support. My family gave me great support as well along this new chapter of my life.
        Being home from college during the holiday times was different. Things at home change. New construction everywhere I go seems like. It is definitely a different feeling being home after being in college. I appreciate having family time a lot more and seeing their faces in person. I learn to appreciate the things my family does a lot more. Coming home, everyone seems to tell me that I am a happier person. I guess now I manage my stress better and live life a little more than before.
        With new changes, I know one thing is for sure. I learned what I really want to do with my life in the future. I discovered I need to do what I love and pursue it. With passion and perseverance, anything is possible.
        Keep pursuing what you love and doing things that make you happy. Someday is not an option. Here is to a great 2017 everyone!

New Year's Eve

        Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I hope everyone is having a great day before the new year starts! I was lucky enough to reunite with my tech friends: Vivian, Matthew, Jordan, and Amber. It has been a year and two days since we all got together as a group. It was nice to catch up one last time before the year ends. We went to Fosselman's to get ice cream because I never been there. I got black sesame in a waffle cone, and it was really good. Here's to many more memories with them in the years coming, starting with 2017.

Float Decorating

        December calls for float decorating time! I went with my friend Sandy again this year for two days of volunteering. It was great to catch up with her and do some good all at the same time. We have not seen each other since May. It was nice to share college stories and just to see her again.
        On Thursday, our first day on the job was not the prettiest. Lots of tedious work. We worked on Ming moss by getting all the moss off from the branches, so the end result the moss can be blended to make what will be placed onto the mouse of the float, "Books Bring Us Together," by the UPS Store. We also cut Christmas trees for the float, "Teammates in Life," by Donate Life. Cutting the trees was actually fun. It smelled really good as well.
        On Friday, the first job of the day was picking out all the stuff not lentils in the lentil boxes. This was not fun. Fortunately, we got a new job after we helped put the flowers inside the tent and were able to put carnations onto the float itself. The best part of the day. I absolutely adore putting the carnations onto floats. It is the best job ever of float decorating. We got to put carnations onto the Ragu's float, "Simmered in Tradition."
       Definitely going to try to do float decorating every year. Until next year for float decorating.