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| Dear Blog and Henry of the Future,
For the past few weeks, I've been dealing with an inconvenient left-knee injury that resulted from too much down-hill running.I've picked up swimming since, and have finally become competent in it! Yesterday, I was able to swim at Kaimana beach for an hour nonstop. That's a huge improvement from a year ago, when I didn't even know how to swim. Swimming was real fun and challenging, but still a bit lackluster. I was never able to do any thinking, because most of my thoughts would be devoted to coordinating my strokes. Also, I didn't get that euphoric runner's high feeling that I love so much.
After avoiding running for so long, I decided to try it out again today with a run to the top of St. Louis Heights via the Wa'ahila Ridge trail, my favorite place to run for the past four years. And hooray! My knee didn't have the seething pain at all. The run was absolutely wonderful, for many reasons, like it always was. Unfortunately, I usually forget about how great a run feels and how beneficial it could be for my mind and spirit. Perhaps writing about it will help me remember all of this, especially if I ever become a lazy couch potato or "too busy" to run.
When I started running up that mountain, I felt like it was easy, and made a promise to myself that I would not stop or walk. (I've run it non-stop in the past, but that was when I was in shape.) However, things became difficult real quick. The early afternoon climate, especially near the bottom of the mountain, was quite hot. The slopes got steeper as the trail progressed, sometimes even taking on ~70 degree slopes. Constantly repeating that promise to myself helped me get through the worst parts during the middle of the trail, but unfortunately that meant that I would have to tune my run down to a jog.
After getting through half of the trail, however, things surprisingly became easier. My body had adjusted to the heat and slope. At the same time, the trail became more beautiful as I kept getting higher. The trees became taller, the air became cooler, the view of Diamond Head and Honolulu became more pronounced. I began running faster, and I didn't have to keep on thinking about not quitting. My runner's high began to unfold, and this in turn got me into a contemplative mood. I began listening closely to the lyrics of the music in my MP3 player, and tying it into my life.
Kris Allen's "No Boundaries" was especially fitting to my run. "With every step, you climb another mountain. Every breath, it's harder to believe. You'll make it through the pain, weather the hurricanes, to get to that one thing. Just when you think the road is going nowhere, just when you almost gave up on your dreams, they take you by the hand and show you that you can. There are no boundaries. There are no boundaries." Having a song like this in my head while I was absolutely struggling with getting up that mountain was really good motivation. But it also made me feel so fortunate for how far I've come with my hopes and dreams, and really helped motivate me for the future.
OneRepublic's "Say (All I Need)" was quite a powerful song. OneRepublic started off with "Do you know where your heart is? Do you think you can find it? Or did you trade it for something, somewhere better just to have it? Do you know where your love is? Do you think that you lost it? You felt it so strong, but nothing's turned out how you wanted," and repeated the line "All I need, is the air I breathe, and a place to rest my head" many times throughout. This really helped me put my minor depression in perspective, making me think about where my heart is, and helping me realize that even if I don't have what I want, I already have all that I need in life.
Yellowcard's "How I Go" brought out a lot of emotion in me. Throughout my life, I've always had issues with my father, and found it hard to love him sometimes. Especially having gotten through a very emotional conflict together in the last few months, I love him more than ever now. Hearing a song, sung by a fictional dying father to his son, was really sad. "I'm drying out, crying out, this isn't how I go. Hurry now, lay me down, and let these waters flow...Son I am not everything you thought that I would be. But every story I have told is part of me." As this song played, I couldn't help to think about the incredible stories my father told me. He was from the slums in Vietnam, and had a very difficult family. As a kid, he joined gangs and did a lot of bad things. Yet, this didn't prevent him from getting serious about school, joining the Vietnamese Navy, and fulfilling his American dream. I also thought about the expectations I had of him as a father, and realized that like any other father, he was not perfect and made many mistakes. But still, he was a wonderful father that loved and sacrificed so much for me.
The All American Reject's "Move Along" absolutely helps me get through my emotional issues. There was very few words in the song besides "When all you got to keep is strong, move along, move along like I know ya do. And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through. Move along. Move along," but that's all I needed to realize that I should never stop when challenges are presented before me. Also, this is perhaps the best song to keep me running even with the worst conditions out there.
Finally, Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" has been inspirational to me for many years. There are so many inspirational aphorisms interspersed throughout the song, like "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance...I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, never settle for the path of least resistance..Loving might be a mistake but it's worth making. Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter. When you come close to selling out, reconsider. Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance...Time is a real and constant motion always rolling us along. Tell me who wants to look back on their youth and wonder where those years have gone." Of course, the most important one was "And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance." This was more than just motivation to keep on chasing my dreams. It was a reminder to never be afraid of love, always cherish life, keep on studying Buddhism, and really, to always take advantage of all the opportunities I have in life.
These songs are so meaningful to me, and being on that euphoria of a runner's high is one of the best ways for me to understand and relate to these meanings. Having this period of contemplation was really the best part of my run.
As I got closer to the top of the mountain, the trees were so tall that I could barely see the sun. I was able to run so much faster, and by the time I got to the finish line, I was sprinting. I would have never thought I could ever have the energy to sprint during the steep and hot middle portions of the trail. The view from the top was mesmerizing, and really gave me a sense of accomplishment.
I started thinking symbolically about the run, comparing it to the challenges that one faces. From afar, the mountain seems daunting. But when you start climbing it, it starts off relatively easily. The middle of a mountain is always the worst part. It's usually steepest and the most exhausting. At this point, it's absolutely important to keep on remind yourself to never give up. Even if you have to take a slower pace, it's much better than giving up. As you continue, you get acclimated to the mountain, and the mountain becomes much more cooler and beautiful with thicker foliage and a view, and you begin to run faster again. By the time you get to the end, you'll be sprinting. Knowing that you had the energy to sprint at the end is proof that you are capable of attacking an even taller mountain in the future.
Of all the places of Hawaii, the place I'll miss most is my favorite mountain.
Cheers,
Henry
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| My friends at the University of Hawaii at Manoa never cease to amaze me with incredible accomplishments and future opportunities. Right now, I'd like to take the time to give some props to the following amazing folks:
- Megan Chock, an '10 Biology graduate who will attend medical school at Mayo Clinic!
- Kimberly Heu, an '10 Mathematics graduate who will commit two years to teaching Mathematics at a disadvantaged high school in Gallup, New Mexico with Teach For America!
- Blanka Malisevich Mooney, a senior Business and Political Economy student from Serbia who recently gained her US citizenship and will intern with the US Ambassador to the United Nations in New York City for the Fall semester!
- Andrew Itsuno, a senior Biology and Political Science student, and Anna Koethe, junior Political Science student, respectively, who have won the ASUH Elections for President and Vice President, respectively, against a football player and softball player who both got major press coverage from Hawaii sports reporters!
- Brandy Love, an '10 Food Science & Human Nutrition graduate who will do her Nutrition internship at the Mayo Clinic!
- Angelique Cercilliheux, an '09 Chemistry graduate who will move onto a PhD program in Biology at UCLA with full funding!
- Mari Takemoto-Chock, an '10 Political Science graduate who recently spent her Spring semester interning with Representative Mazie Hirono and will continue to work in her office over the summer, stepping up with a fellowship position as a Legislative Aide!
- Ting Cheng-Wen and Andrew Chan, '10 Civil Engineering graduates who will move onto MS programs in Civil Engineering at Stanford University!
- Kendra Hanagami, an '10 Civil Engineering graduate who gained the distinction of being the College of Engienering's best Civil Engineering student and will move onto a yearlong internship with an architectural firm in Malaysia!
- Nel Venzon, an '05 Biology graduate who just received his Masters of Education degree and gained the distinction of being Hawaii Department of Education's best science teacher!
- Grace Kwan, an '10 Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering MS graduate who will move onto a top-three PhD program in Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin with full funding!
- Gabe El-Swaify, a senior Civil Engineering student, who is starting his summer research program in Germany!
- Christina Soo-Hoo, a Religion, Anthropology, and Dance senior who will take lead of the Help Us Bridge Team of Sustainability UH!
- Adam Miyamoto, Jennifer Fukagawa, and Nadine Kawabata, three '10 Biological Engineering graduates who will move onto University of Hawaii at Manoa MS programs in Ocean Resources Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, respectively!
- Thanh Vu, a senior Electrical Engineering student who is spending his second summer researching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology!
- Dayna Kitsuwa, a junior Mathematics student, Janelle Takesono, a senior History student, Eve Millett, a junior French and Ethnic Studies student, and Reid Kiyabu, a junior Biology student, who were all selected to for Manoa Peer Advisor fellowships!
- Amanda Timmerman, an '10 Global Environmental Science graduate who was awarded a three-year NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (valued at over $100,000) and will move onto an MS program with the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science Technologies!
- Grace Asperin, an '08 Plant Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences graduate, who will soon start work at the University of Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens Arboretum!
- Neal Akatsuka, an '10 Anthropology graduate, who will move onto Harvard University's Anthropology PhD program!
- Reef Ozaki-Train, a Civil Engineering MS student, who was a part of a team that placed second (out of 46 teams) at the National Steel Bridge Competition!
- Brandon Lee, an '10 MBA graduate, who just started work as an Investment Analyst at the Ulupono Initiative, a firm that funds many Hawaii sustainability initiatives.
- Ryo Kubota, an '10 Molecular Bioscineces & Bioengineering graduate, who recently won the University of Hawaii at Manoa Business Plan competition for his research on an ultra-fast low-cost gene-based pathogen detection kit and will soon start his own business!
Of course, there are far more folks that I should have mentioned in this list. If I have made a mistake, or if you would like to make an addition, please do tell me! I will constantly be updating this list as I find out more accomplishments!
To all of you guys, congratulations on all of your hard work that has resulted in your incredible accomplishments and opportunities. I am so proud of and happy for all of you! While so many people can talk negatively about our university, you are all great examples of how the Manoa experience can transform lives and make a student's dreams come true. You really have represented our university and community in an extremely positive light. Good luck in your future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Henry | | |
| Concerned about legislators continuing to cut UHM's budget and threatening to raise tuition? Vote Andrew Itsuno | ASUH President. I know him well and believe he's the best man for the job. He is not only committed to saving our university by uniting students voices toward the Hawaii legislature, but also has a lot of experience working with them as Campus Center Board president, as well as the leadership and down-to-earth character to motivate a group of ASUH Senators to work together toward it. He's the only presidential candidate to gain the support of current ASUH Senators to run with his slate, and to me that says a lot. PLEASE VOTE FOR HIM. Last year's election was decided by only 40 votes, so you can really help save our university by taking 1 minute to vote at MyUH. | | |
| As Hardy and I stood outside the Vietnamese noodle house in the San Francisco Chinatown last week, I recalled the bad experience Cielo, her friends, and I had just a couple days ago. The restaurant was packed full of guests, but only a handful of waiters were there to help. As a consequence, it was near impossible to ask for anything. The waiters did not check to see if our table needed anything, and did not even most of our numerous calls and raised hands. We asked the waiter three times for a refill on our waters, but no one came back to fill our empty glasses. One of our bowls of soup had a curly hair in it. We walked out upset, not even giving a dollar for tip.
Even after I told Hardy this story, he still insisted we go inside. He had eaten there once before a couple years ago, and really enjoyed the large bowl of pho he got for just $5. Again, the restaurant was packed. We sat with our menus closed for fifteen minutes waiting to order our food. It was just as difficult to get a waiter's attention. I complain about the poor service. Hardy just carried on with satisfaction. Still, when we were about to leave, Hardy left $5 for our $20 meal. I told Hardy he was leaving way too much tip for them. Hardy said it was fine, but later gave in and took $2 back.
As we walked toward the train, Hardy asked me if I ever worked in retail. I responded with a no. I've worked a lot, but all of my jobs left me stuck in a laboratory. Next month, I'll start working at my mother's souvenier store in Waikiki, I added. Hardy told me about his jobs as a barista at a Starbucks. It was quite a demanding and difficult job, especially when the store was busy. But what made him miserable were the snobby, inpatient businessmen who would complain or grunt if they could not get a perfect cup of coffee right after they walk into the store. Hardy simply wished that they understood how hard it was to work in retail.
And at that point, I sincerely thanked Hardy for his insight. I learned a lot that day, and realized I still have a lot more to learn. | | |
| As Hardy and I stood outside the Vietnamese noodle house in the San Francisco Chinatown last week, I recalled the bad experience Cielo, her friends, and I had just a couple days ago. The restaurant was packed full of guests, but only a handful of waiters were there to help. As a consequence, it was near impossible to ask for anything. The waiters did not check to see if our table needed anything, and did not even most of our numerous calls and raised hands. We asked the waiter three times for a refill on our waters, but no one came back to fill our empty glasses. One of our bowls of soup had a curly hair in it. We walked out upset, not even giving a dollar for tip.
Even after I told Hardy this story, he still insisted we go inside. He had eaten there once before a couple years ago, and really enjoyed the large bowl of pho he got for just $5. Again, the restaurant was packed. We sat with our menus closed for fifteen minutes waiting to order our food. It was just as difficult to get a waiter's attention. I complain about the poor service. Hardy just carried on with satisfaction. Still, when we were about to leave, Hardy left $5 for our $20 meal. I told Hardy he was leaving way too much tip for them. Hardy said it was fine, but later gave in and took $2 back.
As we walked toward the train, Hardy asked me if I ever worked in retail. I responded with a no. I've worked a lot, but all of my jobs left me stuck in a laboratory. Next month, I'll start working at my mother's souvenier store in Waikiki, I added. Hardy told me about his jobs as a barista at a Starbucks. It was quite a demanding and difficult job, especially when the store was busy. But what made him miserable were the snobby, inpatient businessmen who would complain or grunt if they could not get a perfect cup of coffee right after they walk into the store. Hardy simply wished that they understood how hard it was to work in retail.
And at that point, I sincerely thanked Hardy for his insight. I learned a lot that day, and realized I still have a lot more to learn. | | |
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