Reflection on 1st Quarter

It's astounding and mind-shocking when you realize that the tests we take tomorrow can ultimately change our life. Think about it. If we test poorly, we ruin our chances of receiving an A in the quarter. Consequently, that quarter grade, which is worth 40% or 42.5%, takes away your chance to achieve an A in the overall semester. It will be mathematically impossible to achieve it, let alone emotionally. You work your butt off and finish with a 93 at the end of semester. Not bad right? I mean... its a 93!! You think to yourself, "Good work! You broke even! Do good on your midterm and you're good to go!" Now, if you calculate the test score needed to finish with an A overall, you need a 93.. a NINETY-THREE on the midterm exam that encompasses everything from the start of the school year to the finish of the 1st semester. If your GPA significantly decreases, say goodbye to Yale. Say goodbye to Stanford. Say goodbye to Michigan.  Every test that we take can decide whether we go into a prestigious school like Michigan or a trashy school like Michigan State (in honor of Saturday's exciting game between Michigan and Michigan State!!!). Once your GPA drops, you might as well say goodbye to  the college of your dreams. 

As I think about this current major problem in my life, one clear solution is the need for the clutch factor. Yes, I said it. The clutch factor. The clutch factor is the ability to perform under pressure in situations that have the most impact. For example, if you take an exam worth 500 points and you get a high grade in this type of stressful and impacting situation, that is CLUTCH. You came into the test and simply beat the odds. 

Some things I found relatively humorous were the complete contrasts in the definition of clutch. One connotation of cluth is performing under pressure. However, another connotation of clutch is becoming nervous and panicked, in other words, choking. Choking is the INABILITY to perform at a crucial point. In sports, failing to perform in crucial points or contests due to failure of nerve is choking; it is simply unacceptable to lose that huge opportunity because of such little things like nerves. In school, it's just not worth it to sacrifice your grade because of silly mistakes or completely terrible test-taking strategies. In this perspective, it's not a matter of how much you practice or study; it's all comes down to the game or test or whatever it may be. You can be a genius, but if you can't take a test, you are doomed to fail. You must succeed in the tests, head-on and with no doubts. It's ironic that one definition of clutch means to successfully impact in the most important moments, whereas another definition of clutch is the "inability to perform" and become indecisive. It's almost like a 50/50 scale. You tip over to one side and you have the positive clutch connotation; tip over to the other side and you might as well cry yourself to sleep. In the end, it's up to the individual to find methods to follow the path of "clutching," the ability to perform under pressure whether in the classroom or on the court.

Don't Give Up!

This week, we briefly discussed our personal values and mottoes. Mottoes express our true goals, ideals, and beliefs; however, I believe that one motto is not enough. One single, concise sentence cannot possibly describe everything that we stand for as well as all of the values that we truly revere and strive to follow. The first motto that I came up with is, "Don't give up on your dreams and your dreams will never give up on you." Just when you think you are ready to give up, you must always think on the time when you finally succeed and fulfill your aspirations. As long as you keep trying, there is no way you can fail. Your mistakes do not lead to your failure; rather, it leads to your success as you build from it and bounce back. This motto will always remind me to keep going and never quit on my dreams. However, I will always remember many other inspiring quotes that I have come across over the years. Here are just some of them.

Vince Lombardi: "Winners never quit and quitters never win. It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
He tells us that only winners have the will to win, the will to come back, and the will to continue on.

Ronald Reagan: "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
I admire this quote because it relates to my strong belief in giving back to the community. One person cannot do everything by himself/herself, but if everyone contributes a little part here and there, the world would not only be a better place for current society, but also for the generations to come.

I thought about John Kennedy's chiasmus, "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." I broke it down to a simpler chiasmus, "Ask not what society can do for you -- ask what you can do for your society. They're both nearly identical, but I feel that helping society is much more important than helping your country. You live to attempt to make a difference, an impact in this world. You live to be successful, a way of success that only you can define for yourself. You live to die on your own terms, to die when you know that you have accomplished everything that you have ever wanted to accomplish.

America The Brave

As time progresses, one would expect that life becomes easier with less conflicts. However, that is not the case with political events. The world keeps changing, and governments morph in order to accommodate those changes. Early colonists worked to create the country that we live in today: the great United States of America. Now, our chosen representatives are setting the whole country into disarray by shutting the very government that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and many other colonists, worked and died to create. In 2009, we had to deal with the recession. Not too long ago, we experienced the fiscal cliff. Now, we see ourselves digging into a deeper hole by averting the true problem of the debt ceiling.

The government shutdown was a selfish act by the government. It "took $24 billion out of the economy" according to Standard & Poor’s, a financial services company. From the federal workers to the small businesses surviving through government contracts to the tourism industry from national monuments and historic sites, hundreds of thousands of Americans have had to bear the burden of this unneeded complication.

United States should be the country "upon a hill" that all countries model. America used to have a great role in world affairs; America's very own Declaration of Independence inspired many other declarations of independence in the world to revolutionize their government. Yet, with all these internal conflicts, America is losing its powerful voice on the global stage. The U.S. must unite together to work out its differences, whether Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. After all, the government is all working in the common goal to in "to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." Although the government has agreed to extend the deadline and temporarily avert this problem, this problem will arise once again. President Obama said these events had inflicted "completely unnecessary" damage on the U.S. economy. Since the government itself understands the effects of their actions, they must act swiftly and efficiently for the sake of compromise and prevention of similar problems.

If government continues to do so, the United States of America will no longer have an important role in the world. Crisis after crisis, the government will lose its credibility with its partners and competitors, which will ultimately lead to the broken fragments of a once-omnipotent force of the world.

A Day Never to Forget

Saturday was an unforgettable day. For the first Homecoming that I've ever went to, it was a great experience. Not only did I have a fun night with my friends, but I also found myself on the headline of the sports section in the Troy Times newspaper. When I saw the picture of myself, I was astonished and exuberant. I felt over-prideful and swaggering. After all, it's not every day that you see yourself in a newspaper that is circulating in a city of 83 000 people! I shared it on Facebook and Twitter, and received many likes and heartwarming comments. Yes, it was a great personal accomplishment, but I found it much more enjoyable when I shared my achievements with my friends and family. They share their enjoyment in my success, and I am very thankful that they are a part of my life. My uncle commented, "Take it all the way to the top Vincent!!!!" My mom's friends were calling her, and everyone was congratulating me! It's important to get that kind of confidence boost, especially with the States tournament coming up in a few days! Ego may have a negative connotation, but it undoubtedly plays a great role in anyone's confidence and spirit.

 Reputation is part of a person, although intangible. It is a person's name, identity, prestige, and standing in society. A person's reputation is built on his/her actions, words, and thoughts. However, a person’s reputation only exists due to other people’s judgments and opinions. Without society, reputation ceases to exist. In my personal example, I felt that my reputation rose only because others gave acknowledgement to my success. In "The Crucible," John Proctor and Reverend Parris fear for their reputation in society when they refuse to allow the society to know their dark secrets. However, they don't realize that a part of their life and reputation lives with society; they are and always will be forever intertwined.

The Thin Threads of Sanity

During class this week, I wondered how events like the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare can cause such shocking consequences. In a few days, society can flip upside-down and the ones you know to be honorable and robust are shipped to jail and sentenced to death. Not because of murder and robbery, but because of accused charges with no evidence to prove. What is it about human nature that makes such hysteria possible?

It is in human nature to feel insecure about themselves. The actions and influence of one's surroundings cause him/her to become anxious and troubled about himself/herself. Whether you are Albert Einstein or President Barack Obama, everyone has the universal fear of the unknown. Sometimes, the unknown may be a benefit to humanity; however, the possibility that the unknown may be malefic terrifies many.

Some people find that the only way to make them feel better about themselves is by making other people feel inferior in order to inflate themselves to superior beings in society. In “The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail is a 17-year old orphan, automatically placing her in the lowest rung on the social ladder. At her current rate, she will be going nowhere in life and will be a maid for the rest of her life. She has no power and importance to the society and has no one to care for her. Obviously, she feels a need to change her position, and she takes her opportunity when the community swirls with rumors of witchcraft. She diverts the attention of her witchcraft in the woods to acts of witchcraft by social outcasts and later, respectable people in society like John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Giles Corey. 

The world is fragile. Everyday life is fragile. The only thing holding these thin threads together is common sense and sagacity. However, hysteria removes the clear sense of mind and logic and replaces it with the flaming fires of uncertainty and irrationality. 

Why Can't We Be Friends?

Since the beginning of time, religion has played a great role in global affairs as well as in every individual. From Christianity to Mormonism, Buddhism to Hinduism, and Islam to Sikhism, they're all religions trying to make the world a better place with better people that live in it. I've never really understood why some people make religion their absolute priority. Everybody has their own beliefs and ideals, so why do these people have the urge to self-impose their own religion on others?

Who's right and who's wrong? Does it even matter at all? It's the hypocrisy in religion and real life that strayed me away from the whole subject itself. According to the dictionary, religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Yet, religions have caused many conflicts in the world. From the Crusades to the War on Terror, religion has caused the world to break apart and separate. According to Religion and International Relations Theory by Jack Snyder, religious civil wars are longer and bloodier than other types of clashes. They are also twice as likely to recur and twice as deadly to noncombatants such as innocent citizens. So why would anyone want to inflict all this pain and damage? Why can't we all just be friends and get along?

Most religions teach their disciples to be moral and scrupulous; however, history has shown that many people go against their religion and act in a shocking and embarrassing manner to their religion. For example, the Westboro Baptist Church members call themselves Baptists, yet they are inhumane and sickening, refusing to accept other people's religions, race, and nationalities. They've disrespectfully picketed at soldiers' funerals and recently plan to picket Blake Shelton's concerts simply because he divorced his first wife and married Miranda Lambert. They don't accept the fact that both men and women have a choice in their marriage. If this is what religion comes down to, then please, things seriously need to be changed.

Religion is definitely a murky subject with many different views and beliefs. In my opinion, I believe that there is a god somewhere up there; I don't know what type of God he/she is, but I do think he/she is there. Ultimately, the greatest advantage to religion is the ethics and morals that it teaches. Whether you move onto some kind of afterlife or not, life is all about for the living -- being a good, virtuous person and contributing positively to society.

Dealing with Stereotypes: A Memoir

The name of my blog is "Life of the 11th Grade Canadian"; however, it should really be named "Life of the 11th Grade Canadian/American/Chinese/12.5% Vietnamese Student*." Hey small-eyed Asian, why you no get no A's? Hey hoser*, you're Canadian eh? Send me some maple syrup with the bacon, will you? Dude, you're American. Let's go to McDonald's and get fat and lazy!

In Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, the reader experiences the racism and prejudice as a Native American living in a land of the whites. Alexie shows us how important it is to remember who you are, yet also remembering that you are a separate being and only you have the ability to live out your life .

The first time I experienced personal racism was in 10th grade during lacrosse season. I've experienced stereotypes that were meant to be playful or teasing, but this time, someone acted maliciously towards me simply due to my natural race (as an Asian). This year, my friend and I were the only Asians on the Troy High Lacrosse team. It was my first year playing lacrosse, but I picked up the game and improved as I played. I was a starter on the team and scored numerous times that season, but when we played the Birmingham Seaholms, I was in for a treat. One player was especially hostile towards me and played very roughly simply because I was an Asian playing in a white-dominated sport. However, that didn't stop me from playing my own game; I went on to run past him and score a goal in that crucial game. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." That game taught me not to back down to anyone, especially to someone who tries to degrade you for who you are. 

I've lived in Canada from my birth until the end of 8th grade. I moved from Canada to Troy before the start of 9th grade as a result of of my dad's promotion in GM. While I was in Canada, I lived in a white-dominated town called Ajax, in the suburbs around 25 miles away from the well-known city of Toronto. I attended a local school, but moved to a gifted school after Third Grade. Once I moved, I didn't necessarily stand out to the rest of the students; however, I learned to work hard and earn those A's. I turned out to be one of the top in my class, excelling in math with perfect 100's in my classes. I didn't earn that 100 because of a hidden Asian gene in the 22nd chromosome that gives me all the answers to every test. No, no, definitely not. I earned my A's from hard work and perseverance. As a child, my parents enrolled me to Kumon, an educational program specializing in math and English. Sacrificing 30 minutes of my day to Kumon's everyday homework brought me ahead of the pack. I was learning 8th grade math concepts when I was only in 5th grade! It felt great to be learning ahead of everyone and helping others when they didn't understand a concept. I graduated my school with honors and top of the grade in math. However, reality kicked in when I moved to Michigan.

It all started when I was taking a pre-test in Ms Quilliam's office on the first day of school; I was trying to test out of Algebra 1 and Geometry. I had received 100's in my math classes, yet I was struggling to answer these questions for a supposedly easy math class. I realized that the U.S. is on a completely different level to Canada when it comes to education. Whereas Canada focuses the learning in high school, the American high school program almost starts in the elementary school level, in which kids enroll in the Advanced Placement program in 3rd grade (that's what my sister is currently doing!). I thought I was the best, but in reality, I was just another student going into Troy High School. As Asian as I was, I was not ready for the American high school life. 

On the first full day of school, I walked into my English class and had no clue what to do, or where to go. I sat in a desk, only to be moved because it was Hannah Ma's seat! I sat behind her and became friends with a dear friend of mine, Ben Mansky. He's the one who recognized me as a Canadian with my "accent" and constant use of "eh." Obviously, he recognized me since I was so kind like a true Canadian (just kidding, it was because I asked to go to the WASHROOM)! We've always joked about it, but we know that I'm just a mix of everything. Contrary to popular belief, Canada is not very different from America! They're both first world countries with similar technologies and interests. The weather is the same; Windsor, Canada is actually more southern than most parts of Michigan! The people are the same. In fact, the people in Troy seem to be nicer than the people in Canada! However, it's hard to understand this when you can't experience both the Canadian and American life. To my Canadian relatives, I'm apparently Americanizing; to my friends, I will always be part Canadian, and to the rest of the world, I'm the smart Asian who doesn't need to even try in school to get an A because all I do is study.

Contrary to Asian stereotypes, I play many sports and was actually one of the best athletes in my school; however, it was always tennis and volleyball that I enjoyed playing the most. I played competitive volleyball and even won a national title in Eighth Grade! Yes, yes, even sports enjoy the fun in stereotypes. Volleyball has always been viewed upon as a girl sport, but it's a sport of power and explosiveness. Imagine hitting a ball as hard as you possibly can, maybe to the empty spot on the court or maybe at an opponent's face! Imagine coming face to face with a ball coming 50+ mph towards you and having the nerve to hit it back! In the hotter states like California or Florida, that's almost all they play. Volleyball is a great team sport that involves skill and teamwork. Yes, the girls wear spandex shorts and it shows off their assets, but no, boys do not wear spandex. I seriously don't understand why there isn't a boys volleyball program in Michigan. Many other states have it, so why doesn't Michigan?!

It's always been a struggle for me to become fully Asian. I've gone to Chinese school for 8 years in my life on every Saturday and still cannot master the Chinese language. I have 31 cousins and 24 uncles and aunts. The majority of them speak fluent Chinese, except for those who immigrated to the United States from Vietnam during the Vietnam War (but that story is for another time!). My parents speak two different dialects of Chinese, yet they can speak each other's dialect with ease. However, my sister and I have been whitewashed to the extent that we can only listen fluently, but speak limited Chinese. I love being Asian and all the cultures and traditions. It's just those moments when you feel like you don't belong anywhere. You don't belong in the white society because you're not white. You don't belong in the Chinese community because you're a disgrace since you can't even speak the language. However, being Asian is part of who I am! It's hard for me to imagine myself being a white person growing up in a white family. I'd be eating sandwiches day after day instead of rice with all sorts of meats and flavors. My mother is an amazing cook, and I don't know what I would do without her food when I'm in college; her specialty is pho, a delicious Vietnamese soup. My father works hard every day as an engineer at GM to give us a home and food to eat every day. He enjoys me with amusing stories and helps me with his knowledge. Without my parents, I would be a nobody, so shout-out to my parents! <3 They understand that it's not always easy to get high grades, especially in my AP classes this year; all they ask for is that I try my best and achieve the best I can possibly achieve. A's are amazing, but B's are okay too if you can learn from your mistakes and errors. 

It's difficult living with so many names. Stereotypes are commonly judged assumptions/judgments about a group of people. The word "stereotype" has a negative connotation, resembling discrimination. However, stereotypes play a great role in society. It is in human's nature to judge others by their looks, behavior, and abilities to be able to understand the world better. Through stereotyping, we know what's right and what's wrong. It is always important to confront those stereotypes and be who you truly are. Don't let others tell you what to do. Don't let others tell you who you are. Because only you can decide for yourself, what you want to do and who you want to be.

* Why 12.5%?? My paternal grandmother was 50% Vietnamese, making my father 25% Vietnamese, thus making me 12.5% Vietnamese!

*Hoser is a slang term primarily used by those imitating Canadians.