Ra Ra Spirit!

In the three years that I went to CSUSB I wasn't big on attending school events. Other than theater work I just couldn't be bothered to find the time for school related activities. But that was mostly because at a commuter school like CSUSB, unless you're in the club or really really active in ASI it doesn't seem like there is a lot of participation. Not to mention the fact that with a school of over 10,000 it's hard to truly achieve any kind of mass involvement. At a UC maybe it's a little different. Most are on campus, after all. But at CSUSB where the majority of students are either working a job in addition to school or supporting a family in addition to school, it just didn't happen.

But in ESSU-Maydolong? In the Philippines in general? School spirit and involvement is one of the things that keeps students in school. You add the natural camaraderie of a small town with the strength of a batchmate's bond and it's easy to see why events like Founder's Day and the Intramurals are fun events for the school.

The Founding Anniversary

  

I had no idea about the Founding Anniversary was even coming. When I saw it on my Academic Calendar I figured it was one of those things that was acknowledged and that maybe there would be some free things at school to celebrate. But otherwise classes would resume as normal. Boy, was I wrong. 

There were no classes. Instead there were special presentations by different groups of students as well as teachers, mostly dances which is fun for all students as they support not only their peers...

but their teachers too.

 

I, personally, got excited when I would see students of mine participating. Strangely proud of them in a way that I couldn't explain. It reminded me of all the times I would go see the Youth at their schools performing and I had this urge to do my Mama Aarika cheer, but I refrained. We had only known each other for two weeks.

But anyway, then there was the much awaited "Gay Marathon"

No. I didn't stutter. "Gay Marathon".

"What's a Gay Marathon?" You ask, well...I asked as well and I don't think I really grasped what it was until I saw it for myself, but basically it is when a male representative from each department: BSIT, BSED, BEED, and BS Criminology,  is chosen to dress in their best gown and heels. They parade in front of the entire school from one end of the campus to the other and then RACE each other back. They actually run, in their heels and dress and whoever wins...well...wins. Haha.

It was probably the most bizarre, hilarious, and exciting races I had ever witnessed in my life and I wish I had been more prepared for it, but all in all it's one of those things that I will remember for the rest of my life. I'm dying to post more pictures and a few choice videos, because I have so many. But internet is so choppy right now that it would take me an entire day to try. The hard thing about trying to be a consistent blogger is that, in spite of the fact that I have internet, the internet is not very reliable. It takes me hours to upload three to four pictures so I've turned to leaving my computer on at night to let it load properly.


But I will try again. So try not to be too disappointed.


Until next time.
-Aarika

In a nutshell?

I've started teaching:

Effective Writing for 2nd year BS-ED majors & Study 

and Thinking Skills for 1st year BS-IT majors

I sing in church choir

...and usually whenever my cousins need an alto harmony

I've been bonding

with my family

with my students

with God

And I've been trying to figure out what else to say.

There seems to be so much and yet nothing comes out.

Hopefully, in the morning I'll be able to push through and articulate myself better.

But for the moment, that's all I got.

See you later! 

Eye on the prize

Sarah Dessen is such an inspiration. Just like JK Rowling, she's one of the authors that reminded me and continues to remind me, the power of stories. I hope one day I can do what she does.

spinning into perspective

"i got into a car accident."

Saying it out loud feels shocking and so I can't really be surprised by the reactions I get when I say it, but still, I find it unfathomable.

but here the facts:

I was driving down the 57 south, on my way to go pick up Alanna and Eric and possibly EJ for Cassie and Garrett's Cabaret show. I had just merged from the 10 west and was about 1/2 mile away from Sunset Crossing when I realized the lady in my left lane was preparing to merge into me. I don't even think she saw me or saw the fact that she sandwiched me between her car and another, but she just kept going. She was going to hit me. And so my initial instinct was to pull away.

I swerved right and then realized there was another car there and then swerved left again in my lane only to find her still coming. So I broke (out of instinct) and then the car fishtailed.

I lost control of the wheel and just felt the car drift; turning within the lane to face the wrong way and it kept going.

I remember thinking, "Please just don't hit anything. Please just don't hit anything. Please everyone just get out of the way." And my overactive imagination was running 6 million miles a second picturing collisions and overturned cars etc. etc. Finally, it was over. When my head stopped spinning I found myself facing the Northbound 57 and cars coming up on my left.

A few cars went around me, but most stopped and waited while I got my bearings and pulled out. It was there at the side of the road that I began hyperventilating.

After that it was a blur of tears and conversations in broken English between me, my parents (who came to my rescue) and the Asian couple who's driver's door was smashed in. I was set to believe that it had all been my fault, that I must have hit them and would have to suffer the consequences of that, but...they said it wasn't me. They said it was someone else that hit them and drove off.

Honestly? I don't think I'll ever be sure.

It all happened so fast. All I do remember was that, I forgot to think about myself in the situation. Throughout the entire ordeal I just kept thinking, "Please everyone stop. Don't come any closer. It's not safe. It's not safe." I was afraid of someone not seeing me and crashing into me and getting hurt.

I never realized what could have happened to me until my dad pointed it out later. He said, "Aarika do you realize that the way your car was spinning you could have tipped over?"

Honestly? No. I didn't know that. I didn't think about it. But I dreamt about it that night. I dreamt about it and daydreamed about it and when I close my eyes I can still relive it.

When you look at it my car, you wouldn't think any of this happened to me. My jeep is beast that will not be killed. But it happened. And regardless of the nearly invisible outward injuries, I've still got a few internal ones. Cause I can't seem to forget them.

I still remember spinning and praying and not being able to breathe and telling everyone I was okay when I felt horrible inside. I still remember pushing everything aside and pretending I was fine and breaking down whenever anyone hugged me.

I still remember and I don't want to forget.

Because to forget it all would be to forget that God saved me. That God rescued me in my time of need and protected me. That, even after it, He reminded me of all the people in my life that care and worry about me. God reminded me of how He has blessed me with my family and church family and just a plethora of people who are willing and able to comfort me in times like this.

But God also showed me, that I'm not afraid of death or to die, because He's on the other side. Granted, that doesn't mean I WANT to die. But, at least I know that, if ever the time comes, I won't be fearful of it because to live is Christ and to die is gain.

And lastly, God showed me that I still have a lot of work to do. There are people here that I am meant to affect and work here that I meant to do for Him. And there are things that I want people to remember me by, so I better get to it.

"I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done."

Pslam 118:17

Exodus 31:3

"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in ALL kinds of crafts-"

I have been inspired this week, to do more than what I have been doing.
To create art--
in all sense of the word.

William Drake once wrote:

"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create."

And lately I've been thinking about that a lot. Thinking about how I don't want to be limited to just one form of expression. If this quarter has taught me anything, it's that I have a love and a appreciation for all forms of art: visual AND performing and all fields must be explored in some way or another.

all expression is healthy.
all expression is needed.
all expression is soothing.
and all expression is under-appreciated.

tonight, under the influence of many of the kids in the youth group + the added incentive of my family performing, I went to watch, for the first time, The Young Americans perform. Now, I've heard about this group for YEARS. It's a standard topic among the Rowland High School show choirs, but...man. Who knew the dream that I've been having for the past two years was already one that came true?

The Young Americans are doing EXACTLY what I hope to be doing one day. Using music to, not only raise awareness of it's healing power, but to make a difference in the lives of the youth of today. Furthermore, for me, I want to use it for God's glory. To spread the Gospel. To tell people about Jesus. And to unite more than just youth to youth, but Christian to Christian.

I think this is exactly what I needed to put things into perspective. To push me to push harder for what I know God is calling me to do. For the first time, after watching a show like this, I realized how much I wanted to be a part of something like this. To do something like this.

And no, I didn't have the urge to get up and perform. I wanted to lead and direct. I wanted to spearhead shows like this...because I think I can do it. God has been pointing me in this direction. I'm going to do it.

I'm going to do it.

Yeah. I'm going to do it. CHECK IT OUT

-aarika

self-reminder:

1st Chroincles 22:19

"Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

Lord. I proclaim, in front of all who will listen, that my happiness lies in you and only you. And that my life is devoted to serving you.
Whether it be through music. through theater. through writing. or through bagels. I will devote it all to you with a happy and loving heart.

heavenly reminders.

today i watched Julie & Julia. An amazing movie that I saw with my family detailing the somewhat parallel stories of two real women who found joy and purpose in cooking.

Now while I am a huge fan of Amy Adams I have to say I was more interested in the Meryl Streep's character; the illustrious Julia Child because she was a woman who I found to be...admirable. Beyond admirable really.

Just an inspiring personality of empowerment and hope.

Why you may ask? Well it's simple.

Julia Child, a who started off as a government secretary and later a housewife, took the time that she had and desired to do something with her life that would make her happy. She wanted to pass the time and be happy while doing it so she learned to cook.

She learned to cook and loved it so much that she wrote a cookbook in order to tell the world of what she loved and to hopefully change it so that the world loved it too.

“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

That's what Julia Child did and it was in the moments that I spent re-watching this movie today that I gained a somewhat refreshed perspective on life and my own ambitoins. Especially in the aspects of the movie that portrayed when it came to her book.

(pepping up his wife, Julia, as she is despondant over not being able to get her book published)
"Someone is going to publish your book. Someone is going to read your book and realize what you've done because your book is amazing. Your book is a work of genius. Your book is going to change the world."

- Paul Child, Julie & Julia

I can only hope for that vote of confidence when the time comes for me but...I was reminded of what I've always wanted and truly want in all the world. To be happy in what I'm doing. To spend my life doing what I love. To write. To breathe and bleed in ink and to spill words not only paper but into people's hearts.

Find something you're passionate about....and keep tremendously interested in it.

lessons from this past week:

^{Matthew 28:18-20}

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

2nd Timothy 4:2
²Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Deuteronomy 31:6
⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

i think i know what God wants me to do. Now the only challenge is getting it done and to not lose sight of the finish line.

In Need of Refuge

So, I think I have found a second job.

It's all so overwhelming, but I believe it is necessary.

God showed me an opportunity and I just could not let it pass.

He's proven to be sustaining, so I have to trust that He will always be as such.

I'm tired just thinking about it, but...I'm excited. This could turn out to be a really big blessing in the end.

my prayer request for this week is: to be sustained in strength.

-aarika