Taking Stock of Personal Responsibility

As I was growing up, I had a set path for going through school and college. Part of that was my parents, who brought me up in a supportive but somewhat coddled environment - study hard and the rest will take of itself. But I realize that this is not true - many aspects of growing up, such as finances, career choices, and relationships do not take care of themselves. The education system is grossly inadequate for preparing young adults for this challenging yet important part of our lives, and I felt that my family and background also did not do so. These last few years, going through two schoolings and arriving into my professional life, have given me more chances to take more responsibility for my choices and actions, and I expect myself to know more about the challenges of going through life and owning up to my choices and actions.

Personal responsibility can be politically dangerous, and is often associated with Republicans and/or Libertarians' agenda in disguise. But it should not be. It is more important than ever in these uncertain economic times, when young adults face an uncertain future for ourselves and our nation. Personal responsibility built our nation and its people from the beginning, and will continue to do so in the future. For me, it means taking more ownership for my actions, whether they be related to career, health, finances, love, and relationships. My parents, with deepest gratitude for them on this Father's Day, cannot guide me through my life henceforth - I must do so myself, for better or for worse. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BtqElO1OX4
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjA4MDU2NjQ=.html

Coming Full Circle

I was rooting for Chelsea yesterday. As an Arsenal fan, I would normally not. Even for neutrals, it was difficult supporting a team bankrolled by a Russian oil tycoon. They are not a glamour side, but in fact are the worst Chelsea team for years.

Nonetheless, it is their story that moved me. Their triumph over two of Europe's best teams in Barcelona and Bayern is a testament to human spirit and teamwork. They showed that faith indeed can move mountains. A lesser side would have capitulated a long while ago, but they stood together and with a bit of luck, defeated the odds to scale the pinnacle.

For many of the old guard, such as Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, and Frank Lampard, the final was the culmination of years of hard toil. They had gone through seven managers since Jose Mourinho, but time and time again the European Cup eluded them, often in dramatic circumstances. But they persevered and deserve the fruits of their work, especially Drogba and Cech's outstanding performances.

Yesterday, I attended the Joint minority bar judicial internship program's orientation for this year's intern class. I remember taking part just a year ago as a student intern in last year's class. At that time, I was like the others yesterday - mystified about the law but eager to learn. This year, I have come back as an alum and am glad to see the new faces who will continue to make the program strong.

My experience last summer has led me to where I am now. Through the program, I met Yang and learned about AABANY. I joined the association before the summer and have actively participated in its programs, such as helping to plan this year's program. I also met Emily, with whom I share a similar background. That led me to working with her at Success and becoming interested in education reform.

The journey remains long and there are many opportunities and challenges ahead. I will board the next train tomorrow. Where that leads me is unknown, but I must be the conductor of my own route. As I close one chapter for another, I will not forget the journey thus far - everything that I have learned and everyone whom I have met. One day, I hope to find myself like the old guard of Chelsea yesterday, holding aloft a grand prize after years of hard work. For now, I content myself with knowing that my investment last summer in the JMBJIP is coming to a full circle.

Spring Break Thoughts

Has it really been almost four months since I last posted? And almost two months since the new year (of the Dragon) and when the spring semester started? The 2L spring is going by so fast that I hardly found time to take a breath. When spring break finally arrived yesterday, I felt at a loss because for the first time in ages, I did not have pressing things to get done.

Anyway, taking some time away from the law (as much as I could) and from New York City has been salubrious. I felt the peace and energizing spirit as I stepped off the LIRR at Garden City station. I jogged, free from time and the cars whizzing by, down the broad boulevards from Garden City to Manhasset. I finally saw my family. Today, I indulged in a concert with Haydn and Beethoven - much welcomed after weeks immersed in the law.

I hope this weekend will bring me some renewal and new purpose in making this semester and year fulfilling. There is much to do and many to encounter. I hope I will arrive back refreshed and more committed to my goals and principles. For break, I am catching up on reading Steven Brill's Class Warfare, a book about education reform and featuring my organization. It's worth a read, for all of us who are concerned about and interested in the next generation of Americans.

Coming to Age after 9/11

Today is a solemn moment for all of us to remember and reflect. While I did not directly observe the events of that day, I attended high school only a few blocks from the Twin Towers. I remembered the confusion that all of us felt as Stuyvesant administrators and teachers led us walking north to 59th street, and then told us to find way back home (to Brooklyn) on our own. It was a terrifying time, and I felt I was thrust into the middle of a gigantic moment when I barely turned 14.

Ten years later, I find myself a more knowledgeable and responsive citizen. I realize that my education and life growing up would have been different had 9/11 not occurred. But in a sorts, it made me more engaged with what is going on home and abroad. I trace my current fascination with current events and geopolitics from reading and following 9/11 and the aftermath. This sense of responsiveness I carry with me as I continue my growth as a lawyer and citizen.

But 9/11 has left an almost indelible scar with me: the sense of insecurity. Since 9/11, all of us have witnessed a more guarded and cautious America, with some political freedoms curtailed and suspicions easily aroused. This sense has percolated to many of us, including me. I strive to not let 9/11 affect me, and continue to be open, tolerant, and understanding. But a part of me remains guarded and vigilant; maybe all the ups and downs of maturing and entering into an unstable economy has taken its toll. Or perhaps I have finally grown up since that fateful day ten years ago, and am ready to engage fully and honestly with myself and the world.

Lazy American Students?

A recent Boston Globe op-ed bemoans the apparent "laziness" of American college students, when compared with their international classmates. It points out two flaws among American students: a poor work ethic, and a lack of substantive knowledge. The article is highly popular among Boston.com and Globe readers, and has generated many responses. Today, the author replied to the article and some responses.

This article captures a vital issue in the college student's experience. As a recent graduate, I have experienced some of the situations the author describes. I, too, haven't been immune to some of the poor habits the author delineates, such as paying insufficient attention in class. My classmates, even at a renowned university, sometimes behave similarly in the classroom and toward their school work. Likewise, many international students whom I have befriended do work hard and put much into their studies.

Nonetheless, some of the author's arguments merit criticism. First, American students aren't wholly lazy or inattentive as the author claims. They may commit several of the distractions that the author purports, but generally, I see fellow classmates as attentive and respectful in the classroom. Second, the author seems to blame students for lacking a work ethic rather than focusing on outside causes. I believe that poor preparation in high school, especially for living and studying independently of parents, and distractions, such as partying and social life, play a large role. Third, international students aren't as studious as the author portrays. Many of them do not study or work as hard as American students, and in their home countries, many college students (such as Chinese) often put little effort into school. Finally, the author's observations are limited spatially and temporally. Her conclusions are derived from a few colleges, thus far, and more importantly, may have been before the economic downturn (or observing mostly freshmen, who are wont to slack off), which certainly imbued many college students, including me, with a stronger work ethic and drive to acquire substantive knowledge and skills.

Despite its many questions, the article deserves praise and should be read by fellow students, parents, and any concerned citizens. I hope the Globe publishes a Letters section with some of the best responses, both for and against, the article's arguments. Winter break and the turn of the year is an ideal time for current and future students (and parents) to consider and contemplate on such issues. In fact, while immodesty and excess marked the turn of the previous decade (1999-2000), lean times and the need for a positive work/study ethic properly will mark this upcoming decade. It begins not on January 1, but in freshman year.