Some supplements to the law school story that I found interesting:
Shortcut to being a lawyer? Don't go to law school.
AND
The sameness of legal life
The first is about a man's lawsuit to trying to be able to take the bar without law school, and if Planet Law School is legit at all, then there's some truth to the fact that we aren't allowed to take the bar without law school because it's possible that people would pass it without law school (thereby rendering law school potentially useless...or at least less useful than supposed).
The second tells the story of the always-talked-about dilemma law school can and does present - that is, keeping your originality and values intact whilst chasing the legal "dream." It almost exactly articulates all the things I've been afraid of.
Other than that, been thinking a lot about where my life is going to go in the next couple of years. Namely, how I'm going to stay progressive.
There are so many questions about what it means to be "Progressive," as in there are a lot of people who identify themselves as such, but these people can differ from each other in significant ways. I used to have a very narrowly defined version of the ideological concept in college and spurn those "faux" progressives who tried to get in on the action, but have found my definition has expanded considerably, and is now a lot more inclusive these days.
Can I still be a progressive if I work for a company, nonprofit, organization, group etc. that doesn't necessarily follow those ideals?
What if I have friends or social circles that are not progressive?
Can I still carry those values with me, subtly practice them in some way everyday and still be considered a progressive?
Am I even effecting change if I am doing things this way, and if I feel like I am not effecting change, how does that influence my progressivism?
Are there some minimum hours required to be dedicated to activism or advocacy or organizing to qualify as a progressive? What about minimum levels of education or knowledge on these matters? (i.e. to be a progressive, you need to understand/know how to direct action organize)
Of course I don't think that all of these have to be answered a particular way to be right or wrong, and I would never now try and dictate how someone identifies (who am I, the empress of progressivism??), but I guess there's a level of dissatisfaction internally with the way things are right now because I don't necessarily consider them ideal (for myself). And yet, even with that dissatisfaction, for the time being I have come to terms with the situation because I don't have a whole lot of options at the moment.
Content dissatisfaction? Does that even make sense?
Anyway, something along those lines. A lot of times I miss the fervor and the enthusiasm with which campus organizing often is executed, but having moved forward in a particular way since then, I don't think that exact environment is for me anymore. Something like it, maybe, but with some real life adjustments.
I guess as long as I continue to make the effort to surround myself with the right people and involve myself in the right spaces, I'll never lose it, at least not completely. It all will be what I make of it, I realize that...I just am very aware of the constant push and pull that happens between my internal idealistic needs, and my real time, real life situations.
It's a big part of why, humbly, I want to make the skeleton of Malcolm X's story my own. If that makes any sense to you, you win.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Overload.
Geezus. It's like I conquered the world when I get 3 logical reasoning questions in a row CORRECT...except that now I have like 57 more to go. What the hell.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Madness Begins
The lack of relaxing this past July 4th weekend is a glaring indication that my fun time is over...at least for the next four months.
LSAT prep began on Saturday with our first practice test, and it was an intense four hours, to say the least. (It had also been a super long morning because I had a waxing appointment at 7 am. Nothing like a bikini wax early in the morning to get you going for the rest of your day.)
Logic games were a killer, like everyone says they are. Reading comprehension I think saved me. I didn't score my test til Monday, but I found out I did alright...better than I'd originally thought. If I can improve my score 20 points by October, I'm in the gold. But 20 points!! It's really time to hit the books.
Sunday, the magical day of fireworks...was chill during the day, only I had to go to taiko at night. As brand new trainees all we did was sit and watch...and I didn't get to watch fireworks, but I'm not complaining too much. It's always good to watch and learn...or try and learn, and I think just being there helps earn credibility. You know, that whole put in the time and effort thing. Plus, I got to see a few fireworks going on around the city when I went to see my mom at her office later that night. Good to know there are still fireworks going on at 11 pm.
Then Monday! Woke up super early to drive to the airport and do a drop off...then came back home and slept in for a bit. Then 6-10 pm, LSAT class. Our first formal class. All in all, the class was just okay. I think Blueprint prides itself a little too much on the novelty of what I'm going to call...modern humor. Like, college humor I guess. Our teacher is cool and all, but he tries a little too hard to be funny I think...and he's not even really the greatest teacher or anything. Not even close. Although he has a great success story of his own (180 on the LSAT, Harvard Law, now in LA trying to be a writer), I'm not sure he's going to give me any great moments of enlightenment or anything over the course of this class. Plus it made me think of all the things Aya talks about with the way these prep courses teach standardized testing methods.
Anyway, it's a bearable thing overall and I think if I really apply myself I can learn a lot. No doubt. Plus if they keep hammering us with homework like this, I think I may get used to this logic games stuff. I'm serio gonna need the work!
I would've liked to lounge around and do nothing all weekend...but I think I've done enough of that now. It's back to work today for the week...plus more class and even more homework.
This is def going to take some getting used to.
I have though, in the bigger picture, decided to take ONE MORE year off. Yes, so law school is postponed another year, for a total of 3 years between undergrad and LS. Initially the idea was hard to deal with, but I think I'm beginning to see that it might be the best choice for me.
The reason is, taiko. Big surprise, right?
I've been wanting to play with TP for so long that I think it would be an injustice to bar myself from really getting the full experience of playing with the group...and although the group isn't quite the same anymore, I still think there's so much that I can learn from my time with them. Just one more year so that I can play with them for two...then it's off to law school for sure.
FOR SURE!
All the time I put into the LSAT this summer will make sure of that. No doubts. My mind is set and it will be done!
LSAT prep began on Saturday with our first practice test, and it was an intense four hours, to say the least. (It had also been a super long morning because I had a waxing appointment at 7 am. Nothing like a bikini wax early in the morning to get you going for the rest of your day.)
Logic games were a killer, like everyone says they are. Reading comprehension I think saved me. I didn't score my test til Monday, but I found out I did alright...better than I'd originally thought. If I can improve my score 20 points by October, I'm in the gold. But 20 points!! It's really time to hit the books.
Sunday, the magical day of fireworks...was chill during the day, only I had to go to taiko at night. As brand new trainees all we did was sit and watch...and I didn't get to watch fireworks, but I'm not complaining too much. It's always good to watch and learn...or try and learn, and I think just being there helps earn credibility. You know, that whole put in the time and effort thing. Plus, I got to see a few fireworks going on around the city when I went to see my mom at her office later that night. Good to know there are still fireworks going on at 11 pm.
Then Monday! Woke up super early to drive to the airport and do a drop off...then came back home and slept in for a bit. Then 6-10 pm, LSAT class. Our first formal class. All in all, the class was just okay. I think Blueprint prides itself a little too much on the novelty of what I'm going to call...modern humor. Like, college humor I guess. Our teacher is cool and all, but he tries a little too hard to be funny I think...and he's not even really the greatest teacher or anything. Not even close. Although he has a great success story of his own (180 on the LSAT, Harvard Law, now in LA trying to be a writer), I'm not sure he's going to give me any great moments of enlightenment or anything over the course of this class. Plus it made me think of all the things Aya talks about with the way these prep courses teach standardized testing methods.
Anyway, it's a bearable thing overall and I think if I really apply myself I can learn a lot. No doubt. Plus if they keep hammering us with homework like this, I think I may get used to this logic games stuff. I'm serio gonna need the work!
I would've liked to lounge around and do nothing all weekend...but I think I've done enough of that now. It's back to work today for the week...plus more class and even more homework.
This is def going to take some getting used to.
I have though, in the bigger picture, decided to take ONE MORE year off. Yes, so law school is postponed another year, for a total of 3 years between undergrad and LS. Initially the idea was hard to deal with, but I think I'm beginning to see that it might be the best choice for me.
The reason is, taiko. Big surprise, right?
I've been wanting to play with TP for so long that I think it would be an injustice to bar myself from really getting the full experience of playing with the group...and although the group isn't quite the same anymore, I still think there's so much that I can learn from my time with them. Just one more year so that I can play with them for two...then it's off to law school for sure.
FOR SURE!
All the time I put into the LSAT this summer will make sure of that. No doubts. My mind is set and it will be done!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Being in this Japanese American community
I have come to grips with my new job, in so many ways, and am even appreciating it for a lot of what it is. On some levels, sure, I have to get used to and/or come to terms with many parts, but in my effort to challenge myself and genuinely be invested in this cause, I am making some strides in understanding this organization.
It is a personal challenge, for sure, because when I hear the term "Japanese businesses" or listen to a majority of men give their input on the JA-Japanese effort, I tend to jump at the chance to criticize.
Admittedly, this organization has a lot of work on. Without making a laundry list of excuses, simply, the organization is still growing and operating at a very young 10 years. In such a short amount of time, under the guidance of its President, the organization has garnered the support of a number of high-level, influential Japanese Americans and Japanese, making the number of resources available to Boards and members and staff very great. In the way of gender and things like SES, the organization has to work on its equity, since the folks represented are disproportionately on the male, upper middle to upper class category, and mostly work in the governmental or business, for-profit sectors. (There are, however, a good number of women in these sectors that are very active in this org. I just think in a lot of ways they can be more at the forefront on the whole, not including our President, who is a woman and the guiding force behind all of this work. We can, for example, explicitly talk about women's issues, since as JAs and Js, our set of issues can be unique to our experiences. Such discussions, I feel, are only just starting.)
But I do have a lot to learn in the way of Japanese American community and its relation to Japan. Which can sound like a rationalization, but maybe that's how real learning and understanding starts. I also have a lot to learn about myself, and I think this job can teach me that and so much more.
In its membership and participants, this organization is representative of Japanese Americans from all over the country. They come from various backgrounds and work in a number of types of jobs, from nonprofit to government to business to entertainment/media. Granted, I don't necessarily get to be a part of the activities or programs they participate in, but as a staffer I do get to perpetuate these experiences for these people. That in itself can be a personal achievement.
Anyway. Without going into much detail right now, I can say that I feel like it has been an intense 4 weeks, but in a positive way. I am maybe already starting to grow and see what parts of this org are good, and what can be improved, and with more experience, hopefully I can help in this whole effort to connect JA and J communities. It is of course complex in so many ways, with so many types of people involved, but little by little I am starting to feel personally connected to the efforts, albeit very slowly.
Meanwhile, am looking forward to a weekend of fun and (hopefully) relaxation. Congrats to this year's UCLA grads! It's the last class of undergrads I think I really was close to and got to know. Looking forward to dropping by at APIG on Sunday, and looking to LSAT courses in July. Lots to anticipate in the coming months. Right now, that feels like a good thing.
It is a personal challenge, for sure, because when I hear the term "Japanese businesses" or listen to a majority of men give their input on the JA-Japanese effort, I tend to jump at the chance to criticize.
Admittedly, this organization has a lot of work on. Without making a laundry list of excuses, simply, the organization is still growing and operating at a very young 10 years. In such a short amount of time, under the guidance of its President, the organization has garnered the support of a number of high-level, influential Japanese Americans and Japanese, making the number of resources available to Boards and members and staff very great. In the way of gender and things like SES, the organization has to work on its equity, since the folks represented are disproportionately on the male, upper middle to upper class category, and mostly work in the governmental or business, for-profit sectors. (There are, however, a good number of women in these sectors that are very active in this org. I just think in a lot of ways they can be more at the forefront on the whole, not including our President, who is a woman and the guiding force behind all of this work. We can, for example, explicitly talk about women's issues, since as JAs and Js, our set of issues can be unique to our experiences. Such discussions, I feel, are only just starting.)
But I do have a lot to learn in the way of Japanese American community and its relation to Japan. Which can sound like a rationalization, but maybe that's how real learning and understanding starts. I also have a lot to learn about myself, and I think this job can teach me that and so much more.
In its membership and participants, this organization is representative of Japanese Americans from all over the country. They come from various backgrounds and work in a number of types of jobs, from nonprofit to government to business to entertainment/media. Granted, I don't necessarily get to be a part of the activities or programs they participate in, but as a staffer I do get to perpetuate these experiences for these people. That in itself can be a personal achievement.
Anyway. Without going into much detail right now, I can say that I feel like it has been an intense 4 weeks, but in a positive way. I am maybe already starting to grow and see what parts of this org are good, and what can be improved, and with more experience, hopefully I can help in this whole effort to connect JA and J communities. It is of course complex in so many ways, with so many types of people involved, but little by little I am starting to feel personally connected to the efforts, albeit very slowly.
Meanwhile, am looking forward to a weekend of fun and (hopefully) relaxation. Congrats to this year's UCLA grads! It's the last class of undergrads I think I really was close to and got to know. Looking forward to dropping by at APIG on Sunday, and looking to LSAT courses in July. Lots to anticipate in the coming months. Right now, that feels like a good thing.
Friday, May 28, 2010
GOOD MORNING
Damn, I am looking forward to my 4 day weekend big time. Thank you Memorial Day for the extra day off.
Ah, the perks of working part-time.
I'm not gonna lie, it's been a rough and tough 2 weeks, trying to figure out the name of this Council game and really grappling with my mixed feelings about my new-found employment. I kind of feel like everything I had envisioned myself doing in this time just didn't pan out because of my own decisions.
CHOICES. That's what life's all about, isn't it? Those, and then those things that come after them. Yeah, that. Consequences.
When it came down to it I chose convenience and instant gratification over the waiting game, because I'm sure that is how it would have been otherwise...or at least so I think I would LIKE to think.
But the latter half of this week has proven to be pretty fruitful. I know now that I can do this job well, and considering this is still a small and budding organization, there is still hope.
Kind of ironic, isn't it, how I wrote and gabbed all that stuff about the JA community, and suddenly I find myself thrown into the midst of everything I complained about? Maybe it's karma for my college-aged arrogance and audacity.
Maybe this'll teach me exactly what I need to learn to really know what I want the rest of my life...or at least for the next few years or so.
Little by little it's coming together, but I guess it always tends to work that way.
Then talking to supportive friendsies like Aya, Dok and Scott always is good for lifting spirits. YAY for friends, foreal.
Meanwhile, home life is dumb. Not in the "I hate my parents" kind of way at all...but more like, they're cutting open the walls to replace our pipes and the family decides to STAY HOME while this is all happening!
Dumb = from 7 am - 4 pm, everyday for 2 weeks, we have no use of any water in the house, so even on my day off, when I just want to stay home and SLEEP...I have to get out and find a place to use the damn bathroom. Not to mention brush my teeth and then otherwise just chill. Anyone want to volunteer their place?
K thanks.
Life just never stops with all of the things to ponder and figure out. It's a good thing most of the time, but sometimes, like now, it's pretty baffling. I feel like I'm sort of in this mess trying to figure out the direction of my life.
One big transition. From the time I left Hawai'i, that fateful April 13, until who knows when, I'm sort of just doodling blind. Hands over the eyes, pen to the paper, and draw. Except those pictures end up being all the things I'm doing in my life. Then when it's all over, look at the picture and see where I went, what I did, and I can only hope it'll all make sense.
That magical end product.
It'd better be magical.
Speaking of magic, hoping for that Disneyland trip on June 12th! Crossing my fingers.
----
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Ah, the perks of working part-time.
I'm not gonna lie, it's been a rough and tough 2 weeks, trying to figure out the name of this Council game and really grappling with my mixed feelings about my new-found employment. I kind of feel like everything I had envisioned myself doing in this time just didn't pan out because of my own decisions.
CHOICES. That's what life's all about, isn't it? Those, and then those things that come after them. Yeah, that. Consequences.
When it came down to it I chose convenience and instant gratification over the waiting game, because I'm sure that is how it would have been otherwise...or at least so I think I would LIKE to think.
But the latter half of this week has proven to be pretty fruitful. I know now that I can do this job well, and considering this is still a small and budding organization, there is still hope.
Kind of ironic, isn't it, how I wrote and gabbed all that stuff about the JA community, and suddenly I find myself thrown into the midst of everything I complained about? Maybe it's karma for my college-aged arrogance and audacity.
Maybe this'll teach me exactly what I need to learn to really know what I want the rest of my life...or at least for the next few years or so.
Little by little it's coming together, but I guess it always tends to work that way.
Then talking to supportive friendsies like Aya, Dok and Scott always is good for lifting spirits. YAY for friends, foreal.
Meanwhile, home life is dumb. Not in the "I hate my parents" kind of way at all...but more like, they're cutting open the walls to replace our pipes and the family decides to STAY HOME while this is all happening!
Dumb = from 7 am - 4 pm, everyday for 2 weeks, we have no use of any water in the house, so even on my day off, when I just want to stay home and SLEEP...I have to get out and find a place to use the damn bathroom. Not to mention brush my teeth and then otherwise just chill. Anyone want to volunteer their place?
K thanks.
Life just never stops with all of the things to ponder and figure out. It's a good thing most of the time, but sometimes, like now, it's pretty baffling. I feel like I'm sort of in this mess trying to figure out the direction of my life.
One big transition. From the time I left Hawai'i, that fateful April 13, until who knows when, I'm sort of just doodling blind. Hands over the eyes, pen to the paper, and draw. Except those pictures end up being all the things I'm doing in my life. Then when it's all over, look at the picture and see where I went, what I did, and I can only hope it'll all make sense.
That magical end product.
It'd better be magical.
Speaking of magic, hoping for that Disneyland trip on June 12th! Crossing my fingers.
----
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Catty
I want a lot for myself.
There's so much I can do if only given the chance, and I want to know that I can challenge myself instead of always taking the easy road out, and do whatEVER I focus my energy on and decide to do. Not only will I do it, but I'll own the shit out of it.
Leave a trail of fire in my wake.
It feels like my life is taking a bit of a detour from the road I had really hoped for, but everything happens for a reason and I am determined to make this all meld together beautifully. (i.e. more than "make it work.")
It's too early to feel the way I do, but I think it's only because I've been spoiled by 2 fun but somewhat complacent, years in Hawai'i.
I'll show them what I can do, if it's the last thing I ever do. And take my word for it, it won't be the last thing.
There's so much I can do if only given the chance, and I want to know that I can challenge myself instead of always taking the easy road out, and do whatEVER I focus my energy on and decide to do. Not only will I do it, but I'll own the shit out of it.
Leave a trail of fire in my wake.
It feels like my life is taking a bit of a detour from the road I had really hoped for, but everything happens for a reason and I am determined to make this all meld together beautifully. (i.e. more than "make it work.")
It's too early to feel the way I do, but I think it's only because I've been spoiled by 2 fun but somewhat complacent, years in Hawai'i.
I'll show them what I can do, if it's the last thing I ever do. And take my word for it, it won't be the last thing.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
From the other side
Two? Three? weeks later, and I've been home for quite a while now.
Reconnecting with folks, getting readjusted, trying to stay productive, seeking out a new job and niche in my new (old) city....it's definitely been a task of no easy measure, but I would say I'm slowly getting used to it all.
I always get the inevitable "Do you miss Hawaii?" question and of course the answer is yes. I miss my home, my friends, taiko, my sig other. And home feels so different now, presumably because I'm (a little) different now, it's almost like my third city of residence.
But, home IS still home, and I think the best part has been having close access to friends and family again. It's very comforting in a lot of ways, and in the time that I've been back in some ways I have a new appreciation for things.
And anyway, knowing I'll be back to visit (and work) for a few days is comforting. Seeing those most important to me will be so amazing, I can't even express my excitement.
Lots of things to figure out, in the way of, well, LIFE, but I guess that's just how it always goes. It'll be interesting to find out the answers to all of my questions.
Reconnecting with folks, getting readjusted, trying to stay productive, seeking out a new job and niche in my new (old) city....it's definitely been a task of no easy measure, but I would say I'm slowly getting used to it all.
I always get the inevitable "Do you miss Hawaii?" question and of course the answer is yes. I miss my home, my friends, taiko, my sig other. And home feels so different now, presumably because I'm (a little) different now, it's almost like my third city of residence.
But, home IS still home, and I think the best part has been having close access to friends and family again. It's very comforting in a lot of ways, and in the time that I've been back in some ways I have a new appreciation for things.
And anyway, knowing I'll be back to visit (and work) for a few days is comforting. Seeing those most important to me will be so amazing, I can't even express my excitement.
Lots of things to figure out, in the way of, well, LIFE, but I guess that's just how it always goes. It'll be interesting to find out the answers to all of my questions.
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