CandyMag.com

About three months ago, my aunt sent me a link to YouTube that featured a video of “The Last Lecture” of a computer engineering professor from Carnegie Mellon University in the US. It was aptly called The Last Lecture because he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had only a few months left to live.

His name was Randy Pausch and he was only 47 years old.  A few days ago he passed away, leaving a loving wife and three small children. It struck me to hear about such an amazing man, whose words reached the corners of the world, inspiring millions. (The 75-minute lecture put on YouTube was viewed by more than five million people online.)

In the video, Randy talked about his simple dreams as a child, adolescent and adult.  Of the five main dreams, he fulfilled all except the one of playing for the US’ National Football League. He said, however, that that one unfulfilled dream perhaps taught him the most about life than those he accomplished.

The brick walls are there for a reason.

Every obstacle, every barrier one encounters is necessary for one to succeed. Even if the human mind cannot comprehend these walls, there is a rationale for everything. I cry, I ask “why,” I get upset when things don’t come my way.  I forget that God won’t give me anything I can’t handle; that any obstacle is only there to train me like an athlete to try better next time.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Reflections | No Comments »

In our school, it is a yearly tradition for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen to “SURPRISE” the seniors with a farewell-good luck party. It happens early in the year, just before the UP College Admissions Test. Since it such a small school (around 300 citizens in the high school) we are very close. So it really is touching to see your fellow schoolmates pour their hearts out in wishing you the best in college life.

I must admit I was quite the party-pooper. I had a hunch that the “surprise” was going to happen and I told my friends about it. I was right, of course! And when we came back from our Physics class, we found the whole student body crammed into our classroom.

The freshmen gave us cards filled with notes and wishes. The sophomores presented us with a cake, cookies (which were personalized according to our name), candies and other goodies to tuck away. While the juniors began with:

Juniors: You know that ghosts are truly scary, right?
Seniors: Yes. . .
Juniors: You want to know what’s even scarier?
Seniors: What?
Juniors: Losing YOU in our lives.
*insert laughter, “aww’s” and “corny!’s” here*
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Red-Letter Days | 3 Comments »

It’s funny how a “nobody” can bore you to death with words which you are oblivious to see inspiring. But when a “somebody” (i.e. someone popular) talks, you listen, no matter how stupid or worthless it may be. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m NOT stereotyping somebody’s as people with loud mouths. It’s just that there are occasions when those in the power to speak, don’t say what they ought to.

( Enter Peter Parker’s Uncle: “With great power comes great responsibility.” )

That isn’t always the case though. It’s absolutely wonderful to hear somebody’s using their voice for the greater good. I especially love hearing them say something inspirational.

This is why I adore Natalie Portman so much. She is awesome in so many ways and doesn’t even believe herself to be. She’s a true artist and she’s brilliant. I can relate to her in many ways I thought I couldn’t. She is a “somebody” who speaks words that inspire me and I want to share with you a list of her quotes I compiled.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Etcetera | No Comments »

Last New Year, I never really got to make a list of my resolutions. So I thought maybe I should write down a few things I want to accomplish for this school year. But then I ended up making a bucket list of the 60 things I hope to accomplish in my lifetime.

60 Random Things I Hope to Accomplish

1.    Travel around so much that I have enough frequent flier miles to go to the moon and back.
2.    Create an art masterpiece worthy of praise and an art exhibit.
3.    Write a best-selling novel.
4.    Play an instrument in a concert.
5.    Look at the stars and be able to identify at least ten constellations, fall asleep under a star-studded sky.
6.    Write a news article or editorial which is worthy of a major publication.
7.    Travel around Europe (England, France, Greece…).
8.    Be happy and smile despite all obstacles.
9.    Be in the presence of someone sensationally inspirational.
10.    Be interviewed by some prestigious host (Oprah, Ellen if you are reading this…). Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Etcetera, Lists | 3 Comments »

Do you know how it feels when you just need to drop everything you’re holding and write? When thoughts and inspiration overwhelm you and there is no other way to let it out.

I found this (unedited) draft of scribbled thoughts I wrote down a few months ago. I never even recalled writing it at first. I thought I should share a little of what goes on in my hectic mind:

“i feel awfully inclined & inspired to write {and read} tonight though it’s soon to be 3 in the morning. & despite my very important student council meeting at 3 in the afternoon i’m determined to clear my mind.

time controls life. we are governed by it. the wise have used it well. the ignorant have yet to see its power. some despise it, others try to change it, while the weak fear it.

at the moment, i am very conscious of time. though there is no actual sound of a clock, i can feel a ticking within my body.

no deeper.

within my soul. as if it is a warning that i must be cautious of how i spend it. it’s abstract. though it has never felt so concrete. it is the most valuable and fragile thing we may hold. it is the greatest power we may ever possess. as the ol’ saying goes it comes with the greatest responsibility as well.

regrets and choices.

there’s no turning back. we could stay in the same place for an indefinite amount of time attempting to turn back. but in the end the only way to move is forward.

though here i am. at a crossroad. Not sure of what direction to turn.

i cannot blame time for moving too fast or going to slow. unfortunately, it’s flawless. i’m the flawed. it would be useless to wish to be at one point in time forever. no that would be very stupid. so my desire/purpose is unclear. maybe i only hope to come to understand the cryptic mystery behind each clock. to understand myself and what i am to do with time.

how to spend it, how to savor it. how to make it last. each moment. each breath. thought. each word worth a second in time.

i wanted to be a prodigy because i thought if i was smarter and more brilliant earlier than i would been a greater person. But that doesn’t fix anything.

time is fleeting. i try to chase it. but my feet can only carry me so far.

it spreads to my eyes and i begin to see the days that have passed and the days i dream of in the future. from the edges of my fingertips to the end of my toes there is that ticking.

i don’t want to turn sixteen. i want to fly away to never never land with peter pan so i can figure out why Wendy wanted to return.

at least i’m strong enough to admit i’m weak.“

Posted in Etcetera | No Comments »