Category: potpourri

the endless circle the endless circle the endless…

yrreskrap1 Comment

It’s funny. I didn’t think that I’d find such depth and meaning in my summer reading.

 

A Confederacy of Dunces
Image via Wikipedia

 

I was assigned four books over this past summer, one of them being Toole’s The Confederacy of Dunces. In reading this book, it opened up my eyes of the vicious circle that has been plaguing our society since the birth of mankind and undoubtedly will do so for eternity (or, in my mind, the Rapture).

People want to be viewed by others a certain way. They portray themselves accordingly depending on who their audience is. As shown through the main character of Ignatius J. Reilly, one might strive for acknowledgment but receive nothing but judgement in return.

Prejudice is a instantaneous reaction, an almost inbred behavior. It may take your brain a few seconds to scan a stranger before you feel like you already have a grasp of the kind of a person he or she is.

People, whether conscious of the fact or no, put on a guise in order to recreate themselves. Most people describe going off to college as a time to “start with a clean slate.” This is essentially people putting on a new persona. You are given the opportunity to leave your past behind. So you used to be the girl who was too shy to approach anybody? Well now that same girl is the first to introduce herself at her new college. You are allowed to break the binding chains of the stereotypes that you had been associated with during these chance times. And in this vicious cycle, there are many opportunities to change.

We are afraid to be judged (on different levels of course) yet, we judge almost all we see. The circle feeds on insecurities, on fears, on secrets and it generates even more. Just as Van Gogh‘s potentials were never realized (at least not until after his death) and Ignatius’ motives were misinterpreted, humanity will always reject what is not the norm. And, in one way or the other, people will always strive to live up to the standards of their peers.

Jobs for America

therightliberalLeave a comment

How do we as a country lower the jobless levels. There is no doubt that it is a problem, the only question is how we fix it.

Obama‘s massive “Jobs for America” bill could potentially do a lot of good. Despite being a huge fan of Obama, I do see a couple of issues.

First is that I’m not so sure it will get through the house. Obama seems to be fairly confident and I know he has a bit more information than I, but with the general consensus of Republicans not supporting the bill, I don’t see how this is going to pass.

Secondly is the effectiveness. Just like with the health care bill, compromises could kill the effectiveness. We don’t know if the healthcare program will work but hopefully it does, but with compromise comes less progress. Obviously there is no way around compromise with the American system but I just don’t see how such a small redistribution of wealth will make such a large difference.

Employing teachers, emergency workers and other public helpers is a huge step in the right direction but will the boost from that be worth the $447 Billion put in to it. Are people going to save or spend with more money?

Hopefully if they have learned anything they will save, but for the sake of the US economy, we hope that they spend.

As I see it, this is a progressive move, despite my doubts. But ideally we could go after business and try to encourage them to hire through incentive. Tax the corperations that are switching technology with real people and see if there is a change.

It may seem immoral to go after those corperations but if you look at the amounts of money they are taking in that are not being taxed due to loopholes and interesting accounting, many would find the morals to be lacking heavily.

We are trillions, yes trillions, of dollars in debt. We can not act like the banks once did and pretend that our debts will go away given time. We are facing a financial crisis so large that it is scary as well as difficult to imagine. As painful as paying taxes may be, we need to suck it up and increase tax rates. The luxuries we have from the government are only in place due to taxes.

Jobs are the key to having a good economy and Obama is working to create jobs. Whether or not you support the bill, admitting the economy is in trouble and that jobs are the answer is a necessity. Support the bill and see where it goes, because in the end, we need help now.

Paradise Pier

kirbyfullyloadedLeave a comment

“Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.” 

There is something consuming about the sea, something so compelling and wild it cannot be expressed.  Catalina Island is a magical place, surrounded by miles of clean, open ocean.  Toyon Bay is a small hidden cove, near Avalon, on Catalina and in the summertime, the sunset is visible from the beach.  And at dusk, the most enchanting place in the world is the pier.

“But when I climb up to my island peak, Escape awhile the madding world of strife, I envy not an earthly thing, this life, Which sometimes galls, is swept clean of its cares, By friendly winds, and once again I smile, Ay, truly, life seems sweet– A thing worthwhile.” –Captain Eddie Harrison

Toyon Bay pier is very old.  The wood, bleached by the sun, is stained by all manner of sea-filth.  Strings of clear fishing line are pulled taut across the weather-beaten rails to prevent birds from landing on them.  A battered wooden storage box rests tiredly against the right side of the pier, accompanied by a digital thermometer attached to the very end of the railing on the left.  There is a lifeguard chair next to the thermometer.  Covered in cracking white paint, it is wooden and overlooks the bay, facing right off the pier toward the Point; a green fabric umbrella with a faded nut-brown stand, somewhat crooked, shades the chair.  A long steel ramp slants downwards onto the float, where the boats land and cast off.

There are little holes in the planks that make up the floor; you can see down into the clear blue water and observe the myriad of fish and small sharks that swim below.  Waves churn around the stanchions that jut out of the water, resisting the thrashing, pulsing currents.  Seaweed writhes and dances around the supports in a lovely, hypnotic rhythm.

“How the sea took me, swept me back…The only sound was the roaring sea, the freezing waves…and yet my heart wanders away, my soul roams with the sea…”

The water in the bay is pure, crystalline aqua near the shore.  It deepens to a vibrant, striking turquoise as the sandy bottom falls away.  All around the pier, the water is dotted with bright orange spots, friendly garibaldi swish happily in the gently swaying amber forests that grow around the bay.  The marriage of oceanic and autumn colors is magnificent.  Leopard sharks dart in and out of view, their splotches of grayish-black color camouflages them in the shadowy surf zone.

“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.”-Jacques Cousteau

Palm tress move gently to and fro, above the stone amphitheater.  They are quite large, even for palm trees.  Their startlingly green leaves are pointy and hang down around the trunk like a peel hangs from a banana.  Clusters of blaringly orange dates hug the trunk, high up by the leaves.  The trunk is made of rough coco-power colored bark.  Deep zig-zagging lacerations create an intricate pattern in the trees that make your eyes fuzzy if you stare too long.Read More »

The Last Blog

yrreskrapLeave a comment

This is my last blog of the year-the last blog as a junior.

So should I write about?

Well, I can write about almost anything. About how my friends are leaving in a eight days, or how maybe I found out that I became president. I could write about how I will be going to Chicago this summer for a medicine forum. Or I could talk about unicorns and how much I ABHOR butterflies. Ick.


But, I feel like my last blog should be more substantial than my usual potpourri. My final blog should be more.

This blog (my last blog) is a tribute to a very special person. A teacher to be more specific.

I have had him teach me in a subject every single year that I have been here at Ojai Valley School Upper Campus.

The greatest thing about this man is that he knows when and how to push me to my greatest potential. I don’t think I have learned more about my own limits than I have when I was learning from this teacher.

He has an interesting way of teaching. History, which is the subject he teaches, happens to be the subject I hate the most. But, when I learned it from him, it was my favorite subject. It was because of his humorous way of teaching that engaged all of his students and made everybody love taking his class. But this teacher is not just jokes but he knows when to be serious and knows motivate his students to do their best.

Mr. Alvarez, you are not only my favorite teacher, but you are my coach and one of the people I look up to. You are great and I am happy that I was fortunate enough to take your classes every year. Thank you for being such an excellent teacher and for motivating me to always do my best. I can’t wait for journalism next year, during my senior year. Haha hopefully, you will be able to put up with my major college stress and senioritis.

I Won

shredicusmaximusLeave a comment

I went home yesterday. The limo driver by the name of Steve Mazalin told me “sometimes you have to do something truly awesome and incredible to get people to notice just how talented you are.”

After being stuck in the wrong stories and getting denied good ones or having prize stories taken away, I finally proved my at times vastly overlooked worth when it came to writing stories that I truly cared about or stories that gathered some interest.

Waking up at 630 in the morning is something few look forward to let alone someone who sees journalism as work and as a class, maybe a hobby at best. I was on the sports writing roster with a classmate, the esteemed and regarded sports writer. We pulled up at Cal Lutheran University for the Tri County Journalist Write-off and I thought “oh joy, let the day begin.”

15 schools, 3 counties, Ojai’s first private boarding school invitation, way to represent right? Time to prove my worth.

While the speaker, an 18 year old world record holder, was giving his piece to us, his press conference, I thought his story was gold for me to work with.

I worked until the 10 minute to go mark to meet the 90 minute deadline, I signed my sport writing piece A8 (my id number) and walked out feeling that I had really written my finest journalism work of the whole year. Better than any blog or assignment I had ever done.

I sat in the auditorium watching the other schools win in every other category. I watched their joyous and appreciative expressions and thought, “my moment’s coming.”

“For second place, Ojai Valley School‘s Ryland Steve…..”

I didn’t even hear my last name being said, I was too excited. I was already walking towards the stage to accept the trophy. It was surprisingly light. (:

I held it and felt so much pride. All my frustrations over the past year, I was finally being recognized, or at least that’s how I felt. Everyone from the other schools clapping for me. I don’t mean to sound arrogant or cocky here but I was just so happy I won that award. Being the only one from school to walk away with a trophy just added to the joy. I guess I’ll never have to write anything about bandwidth ever again. Hooray.

I’m not trying to sound curt, I’m just so excited. It’s still sinking in.

Justice Against Me

vabenissimoLeave a comment

I want to take my behind-the-wheel driving test.

But, my visa expires on my graduation date, June 3, 2011. And, DMV requires the test takers to possess visa that guarantees the next sixty days of entrance to America. So, here goes the conflict. As I will be entering my college located in California in fall 2011. I will be released with a new visa that covers the days after June 3, 2011. Because my sister is having an annual grand performance in South Korea, I fly back on June 3, 2011 immediately after the graduation. So, I must take the driving test before I leave.

Currently, I am scheduled for an appointment for next week.

By the way, why would DMV allow people to make an appointment without checking these major qualifications in the first place? What if I went to DMV after getting a permission from my high school with much difficulty and be notified that I cannot take the test? Are you kidding me?

So, I made exactly eleven calls to the DMV office, Sacramento, and NIF (nonimmigration Information Form) Office of my college for a solution.

At some times, I was put on hold for exactly 26 minutes 23 seconds. Thankfully, I was well-trained for such incidents when I applied for “Sogiorno” or residence in Italy, where everything is just “relax, and take it easy. Things will happen some day at some time. But, no one knows when.”

My college recommends me to bring my letters of acceptance along with a completed form of NIF which should pretty much prove the delivery of my visa soon, very soon. DMV, finding this problem out of their hands, gave me a number for the main office in Sacramento. When I called several times to Sacramento, my calls were, okay, I do not even go there. To simply put, the experience was horrid.

No matter how many times I explained how I am a high school senior graduating on June 3, 2011 and transitioning into my college in fall 2011, they suggested me to fill out Optional Practical Training (OPT). Well, I called my college to request the completion of this form. Then, they spoke that I ought to have complete some kind of program and practically completing the form as an entering freshman is an impossibility. Suprise!

Now, I am going to enter the DMV office with my letter of acceptance and completion of my visa request in my hand just like the NIF office of my college suggested. And, if the DMV office refuse me to grant such opportunity,

Something is wrong. I mean,

Something is VERY wrong in the system.

Just because I am a young adult gradually experiencing the “practical” reality, I will not let my complaints for such ridiculous system slip away. If California set up to ensure the legitimacy of the test takers, then am I suppose to forgive this insanity and let myself kneel down to the law set for the benefits on only one population and not for the other? Should I be submissive to these laws with ironical respect, or not? Maybe I need an answer to this question more than to provide a solution to my visa problem.

Surely, my future looks bright with this justice by my side.

I Can’t Believe It.

yrreskrapLeave a comment

I can’t believe it.

In a matter of days, the seniors will be on that stage, giving their speeches and receiving their hard-earned diplomas. They will be wrapping up their four years of high school and go onto college as freshmen.

And I will become a senior.

God, it’s just so hard to wrap my head around.

It feels like just yesterday when I was 14, braces-clad, and had just come out of eighth grade. High school was so new to me. These three years escaped me.

It’s funny how four years make the perfect stretch of time to help students learn, grow, and move onto the next stage of their life. Freshman year I felt totally unprepared-I was still shocked that I was actually in high school.  Sophomore year, I felt like I was still a freshman and I didn’t (or couldn’t) realize that I was growing up and that I was more mature than I was the year before. This year, I still can’t believe that two years of my high school has past and gone and that I am already almost three quarters of the way done. I will be a senior and write college essays in my sleep until!

That means:

I will be heading tables at dress dinner.

I will be making announcements at milk & crackers.

I will be writing college essays.

I will be taking the SAT‘s again.

I will probably lose hair.

I will be graduating.

I will be in college.

I still can’t believe it. I don’t suppose I will until I am on that stage next year.

Relay For Life 2011

yrreskrapLeave a comment

“Just one more year.”

May 14, 2011, Ventura, California, Relay for Life.

It is approximately 9:00 am in the cold parking lot of Buena High School in Ventura. The yellow bus unloads its passengers, yielding the start of the day. Slowly, students crawl out, it was too early for them. But the grey, salty breeze shifts cool between their sleeves and awaken the tired students. The day had begun.

A loud voice could be heard on the loud speakers, announcing highlights of the event. Schools were commended for their outstanding fundraising. First, the honorable mentions, soon followed by the bronze teams. Then came the silver teams. My school, our school, Ojai Valley School, had been recognized as a silver team for raising so much money. In our school of just under 100 students, we managed to raise  $3,060. It was a great start to our day.

The empty track was broken by a mass of survivors, clad in the same purple shirts. Among the many survivors was OVS AP psychology teacher, John Valenzuela. He made his way around the track while our school gathered at one corner and shouted words of encouragement to him, our screams choked with tears, because we had all seen him battle through this scary disease and we had won this battle together. He put his hand over his heart and we all knew what he felt.

Throughout the day, students walked around the track, bought food, and even partook in a wedding between a survivor and the love of his life.

That night, some of our students stayed overnight and endured heavy rains, cold, and hunger but came back with smiles. And at the end of the day, all I could think to myself was “just one more year.”

Just Another Poem.

yrreskrapLeave a comment

It’s strange, it’s different.

It’s not the same.

Yesterday, I was holding the key to my heart.

Today, I am letting the empty memories slip through my fingers.

One big mistake, buried under silence. One mistake. That’s all it took to pull that loose string, and unravel the monster within.

Lies, lies, and broken ties. Trust is gone, trust is gone.

But still, beneath it all, I don’t want to move on. It doesn’t feel right.

Moving along, following his steps, mixed feelings, uncertainty, rest.

Until.

AP Week and My Mom

yrreskrapLeave a comment

Sometimes, I think my mom should’ve been born my little sister. I love her to death but sometimes she can be very dogmatic.

This weekend is Mother’s Day and my mom has been meaning to come up and take me away for Saturday and bring me back on Sunday. However, the thing is the weekend that she wants to come is the weekend between the two AP weeks.

Furthermore, that weekend is a packed weekend for me. Friday, I would have just finished my APUSH exam. Saturday, I would have taken three SAT II tests. That Sunday afternoon, I would be taking a AP Biology final just to take a AP Biology exam the following day.

My mom wants to take me out to dinner and stay at a hotel with me during this hectic week, only to make it more hectic and taking time away from studying. The funny thing is, this is the first time that my mom has wanted to take me out for Mothers’s Day while I was away at boarding school. The one time that she wants to take me out is the busiest time of my academic career.

I told her I cannot do this weekend. However, she refuses to understand the pressure that is mounted on my shoulders.

Sigh.