Well, I was going to think of a creative title for this, but I wont: Year 2007 in Review

Well, another year has passed, so quickly by us. Amazing. So many things in 2007. So many milestones. Events. Moments. Memories.

In this year, I have grown academically. From getting a B in January, to learning all about the human condition and philosophy in Humanities and AP European History. From getting a passion in thermodynamics, acid-base musings, and other chemistry stuff, to taking my first AP, SAT II, and SAT I tests. It was a year of growing. It was a year of setbacks. It was a year of overcoming what was deemed "impossible". Perhaps, more than anything this year, the theme is "learning". Not just about the Bronstead Lowry definition of acid/base, or just how to take the second derivative, but basically, learning that it CAN be done. How I survived the gruesome AP Calc exam FRQs, and mock exam MC. How I, after basically knowing nothing after my AP Chem teacher's lectures, turned out an A on the midterm. How I muddled through the reaction quizzes and somehow got a satisfactory score. How I did an AP Physics problem the wrong way, and then after checking, realized that it was wrong, and subsequently did it the right way. How, even though things seemed impossible, it was done. How I got 5's. Finishing the almost 1000-page Western Civilizations book for AP Euro. How, even with only 1 week left to spare till SAT II's, I studied mad and ended up with two scores above 750. How, even with 2 weeks 3 weeks left to spare till SAT I's, I studied mad and ended up with a score above 2100. But alas, heartbreak. Didn't reach my goal of 2200. Didn't reach my goal of the A. Faltering on the sophomore thesis paper.

But just as it was growth and learning academically, it was also social growth. I have always been an introvert. This year though was a year of growth and learning, as I broke out of my isolationist bubble. I signed up on the College Confidential forums in preparation for the AP exam, and immediately was exposed to the nation of high-achieving, Harvard bound kids. So, I get panicky about college apps since then. Learning how to interact. Watching movies with friends right before school starts - for only the second time (note: group, not individual friends). Watching, with horror, as someone I knew well was arrested. Watching, my crush, nonstop during AP Bio. Talking, to people about it. Going up to her, and asking if she needed help, only to be disappointed by a resounding "no". Looking, for her dreamy eyes, glistening smile, unmistakable figure. Listening, as someone told me she thought "I was weird". Crushed. And I learned, I should've done something different. Perhaps not follow her wherever she went, or perhaps not screamed and laughed like crazy when she was around and I was talking to classmates. Another breakthrough: opening up Gmail, and my friend begins chatting with me. Beginning an era. Doing something, that I had not done before, and feeling, good about it. For once I was "in". But learning, the folly of nonmoderation. Then being introduced to Facebook right before Thanksgiving break. But again learning, the folly of nonmoderation.

Finally, where would anyone be without hobbies? Spent a good amount of time in August reworking my website (not ready for public view yet, lol). Learning. CSS and Javascript, although only the bare minimums. Getting a new account of 50Webs and starting from there. Learning how to work a timelapse, and literally, work. Learned A LOT about photography, though I'm still not that good. After my old spot closed off around Christmas, finding a new site. (the first photography experience there was not until 1/1/08, though). And, rejoining Orchestra. Even though it was a year of firsts, it was also a year of seconds. Another trip to Disneyland with fellow stringists (is that even a word?).

Weatherwise, it was also a year of big events. Drought was a big theme in the South and West. Tornado was a big theme in the wiped out town of Greensburg, KS (hit on May 4), and in the heavily damaged town Enterprise, AL (hit on Mar 1). Tropical cyclones were the theme internationally. Sidr, killing ~5,000 people in October; Felix, killing ~100 in Nicaragua, being examples. Two Atlantic category 5 hurricanes making landfall at that top rating, Dean and Felix. The year of polar extremes. The warmest January in some time in the East, followed by the coldest winter in decades, in the South... Hemisphere. Although the flip to super cold in February, along with the Valentine's Day Blizzard, won't soon be forgotten. Historic flooding the the Mexican province of Tabasco in late Oct/early Nov.

As it was a year of firsts for myself, so it was a year of firsts for my school. As racial tensions stirred in Jena, AR, two racial incidents also occurred in my school. A person, dressing up similarly to a Ku Klux Klan member on Halloween (though certainly not intended). More ominously, a swastika painted in fecal matter one December morning. Gun threats. Bomb threats, following the Virginia Tech Massacre. The lines to get into restrooms. But on a better side, a record number of Class of '07ers to get into UC's. A record number of students taking AP Calculus. A new APEL class. Well, enough of firsts. How about seconds? Or, let's take a larger number. Yet ANOTHER first place finish from our school newspaper, The Nexus.

Personal "Milestones" (and setbacks) [i.e. list of firsts] This is NOT in chronological order, lol. Rather, in the order which I recollect them.
-First time chatting with people online (started on Gmail). Chat logs say September 4, while working on an AP Physics lab. Proceeded to get an AIM SN and chatting there, in December.
-Got a Facebook, November 16.
-Took SAT first time, December 1. Got a 2160, unfortunately, and plan on retaking it in '08.
-Actually started talking about girls while chatting. I had always kept crushes to myself. September 20. Ack. Not the best decision, lol.
-Tried out my new website format on 50Webs in August. Learned a little Javascript and CSS to make it happen. (Not a lot though, will be working on that.)
-Started actually doing extracurricular activities at school! Tutor for AP Educational Services (APES), and volunteer through Interact Club.
-Started panicking about college after discovering the hoards of amazing people with amazing stats at College Confidential forums. Found the forums in May as I was googling forums to study for AP tests.
-Rejoined school orchestra (not a first, but hey).
-Started reading Bible. Should've done this earlier. Some fellow Christians at school gave me a good prep talk after I got obsessed over a girl and stuff.
-Took my first AP exams in May. Calc: insanely hard FRQ's, insanely easy MC. Euro: nothing interesting, was easy. Chem: easy, but oh my gosh! SUPER SUPER Cold. I'll always remember that cloudy morning we took the AP Chem test, they had the air conditioning in the gym full blast, brrrrrr. After AP exams played cards with friends XD.
-First time evacuating. October 2007 Fires. See below.
-Started archiving hemispheric WV/IR imagery and 500mb height contours/anomalies.
-Started doing Timelapse photography. Failed, but worth the attempts.
-Foreign exchange student moved in to live with us. Helped her on her first day through the Freshman orientation. Was, interesting.
-Getting a B in Honors Humanities second quarter of 07-08. Boy, that was devastating. Had to take a deep introspection afterwards about what school was about and stuff.

Prep Talk

So today, I was at our church fellowship, where our adviser gave me a one on one prep talk. It starts out with me pwning him in Connect Five, but it develops into something meaningful. I thought it was pretty cool, so I'd thought I'd paraphrase it here to the best of my ability.

My adviser starts out as always with: "Where are you in your spiritual walk?" This is always a tough question for me; personal questions are always tough cause they are always loaded with semantic traps, lol (you'll see later what I mean). But, I answer, "I could do better". Fair enough. But, obviously, this is a rather generic answer, and he sees that right away, and then proceeds to ask the question, "Are you really a Christian...Do you really trust in Jesus?"

This is where the fun part starts. He starts off with a figure. A rectangle. A foundation, rooted in God. Then, later, alongside this, he adds a different foundation. A generic church answer is well, "the world". But no. My adviser puts it blatantly: Satan. Now I get pretty surprised here. He goes on to say that materialism, worldly idolatry, greed, etc. are all products of this Satanic foundation, which contrasts with the joy, love, peace, fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)., products of God. So he asks me, "where's your foundation?" Many people become Christians, but still have Satan as their foundation. He made an example of a disciple, who once worked with Sony, who basically gave had to move himself away, piece by piece, from this Satanic foundation.

But how to know what is the foundation? He says: look at their checkbooks. Look at how they use their time. Actions reveal character, which is rooted in either a God or Satan foundation. Does the person just use the money on him/herself or save it? Donate it to charities? And so comes the topic of decision making. He brings up this Student Leadership thing he's starting come January/February. Can't be one half Satan foundation and one half God foundation. Do or not do, it is a commitment to make. Well, I think, hmmm, this is pretty strong stuff now.

It continues. He brings up stats... and these stats are appalling. From his experience, only 50% of strong Christian junior highers remain strong in High school. Out of those who remain strong, only 25% will remain strong through college. And out of those who remain strong through college, only 10-15% will remain strong as they begin their careers. Again, the decision making process. He brings up an example of a strong Christian who, after having a baby, decided to take a break from serving God, but after a couple of years, his faith had weakened drastically. It's hard to go back up after going down. He subsequently talks about himself: his faith was wishy washy until the end of high school, but then, "by the grace of God", he changed at the end of his HS years. He remained a strong Christian, choosing his wife over other, prettier girls who were chasing him, because his wife had a strong faith.

Then he talks about the big picture. Who has the big picture? The "world" talks about planning for the future. The Christian faith looks to eternity. It's easy to make money; no need for a college education to become a millionaire. But in the end, it's all temporary. He used to watch movies every week; no longer. The pretty girls who were chasing after him; developing wrinkles and losing their figure after giving birth. The only thing that is eternal: is God. So, he asks again, who has the big picture in mind?

As always, he brings it back to how that applies to me. First thing: God created everything, so why worry about little things? Why not ask people to come to Friday night Fellowship? Second thing: what decisions am I to make? Will I be in the very large percentage of people who drop out of their faith after high school, or will I remain steadfast in what I believe in? What will be my foundation? Will I be committed to my faith? Will my faith become a Non-negotiable part of my life (i.e. regardless of how I feel or what happens, will I keep strong in my faith)? He was talking about student leaders, who say they are committed, but can't come during some weeks because "they are busy". But he himself, has all the work he does for church (talks and caring for two/three campuses of our church, CBCSD [Chinese Bible Church of San Diego]), his children, and his work, adding on to his commitment in the Student Leadership program. Who, in fact, is the busy one?

He asks again, am I really a Christian? Do I really trust in Jesus? Obviously, I couldn't answer. Those who have reached the actualization of being committed to Christ, would be able to. Three parables in the book of Matthew exist. The one he explained to me: a man goes through this piece of land, and finds a pearl. He subsequently sells all that he has to get this piece of land with the Pearl in it. Likewise, we have to give up everything we have (not literally, but more specifically our worshiping of the World), and we must trust in Jesus. [This relates to the paradigm shift found in Ephesians 4:22-24.]

Food for thought. This was a talk I believe that I needed. I've been depressed this week and all this stuff - and I've been stressing out on tests and girls too much. I need to go back down to the basics - my foundation, and go from there. This is one talk I'll need to remember in my heart, and I hope this post can serve to remind me from time to time.