After taking 18.440 this semester, though, I was able to easily look back at my entire 6.02 exam and understand the minute details of each question. It’s amazing how much 18.440 has taught me. I then realized that – even though it never felt like I had learned much these past two years, I actually have grown a lot, both intellectually and as a person. At the end of each semester, I always look back at my 8.012 problem sets with tears in my eyes. Every semester, they seem to get easier and easier… and those good old times of group p-setting and struggles seem farther and farther away.

So what have we learned this semester?

• 欲擒故縱 (To catch something, first let it go)
• The ones who care most about you will accept you for who you are.
• So long as you are happy, everything else will fall into place.
• Sometimes you find friends in places you least expect. Sometimes the ones you considered enemies, losers, and jerks… end up being your closest friends.
• Even if it’s last-minute, even if it’s the day before a large event and you have no participants, even if it seems impossible… with enough resourcefulness and willpower, you can make anything happen.
• It’s just as much (if not more) who you know as what you know.
• Stick up for those you care about; they will do the same for you when the time comes.
• There is such a thing as being over-ambitious. The difference between an ambitious person’s success and failure is their ability to understand their priorities.
• If a student group or activity makes you dread attending events, hate their guts, and stress yourself out, it’s probably not for you. Leave now while you still can.
• Don’t fight the emotions – embrace them, set them free into the open sky, and face tomorrow with a clean slate.
• Finally… there is no such thing as impossible.

Introducing my newest [revived] hobby: translating songs!

While I have a difficult time expressing my deep emotions in concrete words, there is fortunately a medium of expression that can explain fairly well my general views in every day life: music. The combination of lyrical beats, intricately-written lyrics, and ornamental piano riffs are somehow always able to characterize my thoughts to a T.

On Portrait of a Lady in Melodic Sequence (yes, it’s named after the novel by Henry James), I will share various lyrics with you all that describe my innermost thoughts, principles, and values. If you have the time, definitely check out the songs themselves, since the music is every bit as much a part of the experience as the gorgeous lyrics (provided in both the original and usually very mangled translations). Please enjoy =)

Click to visit Portrait of a Lady in Melodic Sequence!

Someday – when this domain expires, or if/when my external hard drive crashes with my blog backups, or if I lose interest in blogging – all my thoughts written here will disappear. All it takes is a single click of the mouse to delete all of these thoughts and memories. But a journal is something else: it’s concrete. It’s physical. Unless I lose or damage it, it will never disappear on accident or as a result of a technological disaster. In addition, someday when I’m older, I would love to give it to my daughter or grand-daughter, so that she may also experience my hopes and dreams.

It’s been a while since I’ve journaled, though, and I want to make my writings somewhat more profound than, “Today I went to class. I think I’m doing well in 14.05, but not so much in 15.401. I need to study harder.” That seems so petty; it’s the kind of “journaling” you do in elementary school, when you took your mother’s advice to “document your life” a little too literally. I want to use my journal as a method of reflection and inner discovery.

Thus, to start out, I’m going to use the quotes from Quote-a-Day to prompt my reflections. It is my goal to journal at least once a week =) Wish me luck!

For example, Alpha Phi‘s recent event, King of Hearts, drew quite a large crowd. The event is essentially a male beauty pageant, in which fraternity brothers compete in areas such as musical talent and swimsuit modeling. I am fairly confident that more than half of the attendees didn’t even know that the event was to raise money to support cardiac care; they only came to see their friends perform or to get a few laughs. I have no problem with people coming to an event to have fun; it’s even better that APhi can make a philanthropic event so entertaining and exciting. However, I also don’t like the idea that people are blindly supporting a philanthropy when they don’t know much about it. I remember when I asked about the philanthropies during sorority recruitment, and certain sororities definitely did not know as much about their respective charity as I hoped.

The past few weeks I’ve begun to give this a bit more thought, especially when I was trying to figure out why I joined AXO in the first place. Our philanthropy is domestic violence awareness; even though I have tried my best to associate with the philanthropy, it’s still hard at times when it hasn’t quite struck close to you. I’ve definitely read up on the philanthropy (so that I’m not being a hypocrite and “blindly supporting” as well). However, I still don’t think I feel the appropriate connection to it.

One of my favourite philanthropies of all time has been Warm Up America, which knits/crochets blankets and other winter items for poor families. Not only does it remind me of the knitting bees of the 1940′s (an idea that seems super fun), but I can really associate. After I traveled from the sunny South back up to snow-covered Boston last year, I definitely spent a few weeks sick in bed with the flu; it was absolutely miserable to experience chills all the time without a proper blanket. And to think – that was inside a building, with the heater, and while drinking a bowl of warm soup. Imagine individuals who are living in non-heated buildings (or no building at all); people who are sick or malnourished, trying to brave the cold.

My goal is to donate 100 squares to Warm Up America by Christmastime next year. I’ve always loved the Christmas season because it makes everyone so much more festive, happy, and caring. Unfortunately, I feel as if many people miss out on this “spirit of the season” because of their unfortunate situations. If nothing else, at least I hope they can have a warm blanket and winter clothing during the chilly season. Until I have more money, greater goals, or can find a philanthropy that rings truer to me, I think this is the main one I will be supporting =)

1. What is the end goal of all our troubles?
2. What defines success? Who is the most successful person I know thus far?
3. What defines happiness? In that definition, who is the happiest person I know?
4. Where can I make a difference in the world?
5. What is the meaning to living? Of what simple pleasures am I not fully taking advantage?
6. What defines love? Friendship? Family?

This is a pretty unsubstantial blog post; I don’t really have the answers to many of these questions at the moment, but I felt the need to share what I’m trying to focus on. I’ve asked my closest friends variations of the above questions, and it’s really interesting to see each of their responses. My friends possess such a wide range of values and principles, but for some reason they’re all linked in the fact that they’re my friends. Isn’t that kind of amazing?

We are here to bring to your attention these following crimes you have committed against the well-being of your academic standing and career development. Below are the grievances of which you have been accused:

• You have overslept three lectures of 15.401. Now, we know 15.401 is not an extremely taxing class, but it’s always best to go to class and absorb. I mean, if you don’t want to pay full attention, then bring the pset to class and work on it. Anything but sleeping through it.
• You have missed two lectures of 18.06. This is not a good thing. You are falling behind (have you even started your second p-set, which is due tomorrow?!) and the first test is in a week and a half! You definitely need to catch up ASAP if you want an A on the first test. Which you do, I assume.
• You are being very wishy-washy about your minor. Seriously, you were a French minor for like, half a month and then switched yet again. Can’t you just make up your mind about it?! If you switch out of being a Mathematics major, all hell will break loose.
• You’re spending too much money on food, which in turns means you eat too much and too unhealthily.
• You’re sleeping way too little. Seriously, just because your body can handle only sleeping for 4 hours doesn’t mean you should constantly do it night after night.
• You’re losing focus when you’re working. That explains why you have to work so late into the night to get things done. Stop browsing the Internet or putting things off and get them done as soon as you can. You have catch-up to do, and we can’t be slacking off!

You started the semester out on such a high note, going to all your meetings and making sure you kept up with everything. What’s happening, and how do we fix it?

• 4pm – meet with Julia in student center for 24.900
• 7pm – Panhel cabinet meeting
• 8pm – SEBC Marketing meeting
• 9pm – ADT rehearsal
• 10pm – meeting with Jason for lighting design

Tuesday

• 4pm – meeting with Elizabeth for AXO parents newsletter
• 6pm – meeting with David to discuss ADT performance
• 9pm – meeting at AXO house with Lizzy and the others

Wednesday

• 12pm – meeting with Tobin School
• 1pm – meeting with Prof. Suarez
• 5pm – meeting with Clarence @ HBS
• 6pm – Boston Ballet cocktail party

Thursday

• 9am – coffee meeting with Patrick Coleman
• 5pm – meeting with Ashdown singers

Friday

• 3pm – meeting with Shion at student center
• 8pm – Sloan C-Function ADT performance

…

Seriously, guys? Did you all have to schedule meetings for this week?

今天今天星閃閃
(Today, today, the stars sparkle)
剩下我北風中漆黑中帶著淚
(Leaving me in the frigid north wind, in the dark, with my tears.)
– “夢伴”, by 梅艷芳 (Anita Mui)

First off, before I begin the actual entry, I’d like to say that Anita Mui is awesome, and no one can do her songs justice by just reading the lyrics, so you should listen to it as well while you read! (Excuse the very 80′s music video..)

So this song is actually a breakup song (leave it to the 80′s to make a pop song out of a depressing story), but instead of talking about sorrow and depression, it takes a rather realistic and simplistic approach. It’s not inspiring or defiant, per se, but it is very resolute and certain. And that’s definitely the feeling that characterizes the beginning of the new semester for me.

Most of my classes will not be that difficult if I can keep up with the coursework, I believe. In addition, I have at least a few contacts in each of my classes, so we can compare p-set answers and study together for tests. The professors are excellent, the material is interesting, and my entire day is actually pretty evenly distributed between classes, p-setting, rest/relaxation time, and extracurriculars.

Can it be that I’ve finally found that elusive thing called “balance” that everyone holds in such high esteem? I believe I have. When I sit here at my desk (which has been newly cleaned and reorganized), I actually feel a compelling desire to work and get things done. This week I have been very good about completing most of my assignments on time (though I’ve fallen a little behind on the Finance Theory readings), and I plan to start the first 18.06 problem set as soon as I can.

Finally, I think I can successfully say goodbye to the foolish child that I used to be, and – though it may be different and difficult at times, I definitely want to be someone who is more resolute, more motivated, and ultimately more successful. Here’s to an amazing semester…!

Even though I grew up surrounded by Christianity at a K-12 private school – in Texas, no less – I cannot honestly confess to be a follower of the religion itself. However, I have always found the allure of Christian music very powerful and beautiful. I have very fond memories of belting out the lyrics to traditional children’s hymns and chapel tunes (like Jesus Loves the Little Children and Down in My Heart and pretty much every Sunday School song for children that ever existed). I remember performing Christian musicals with the entire elementary chorus (it was a Christmas tradition). In fact, come to think of it, Christmas was a lot more special when I used to be in private school, since we actually actively sung Christmas hymns, full-out decorated the halls and classrooms, and participated in fun events (from arts and crafts to gift exchanges). But I digress.

Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more how amazing Christian music sounds. It’s always somehow a lot more pure and melodic than our typical secular pop/rock. Even with Christian hiphop, the overall sound is simply a lot more pleasing to the ears. Because of this, I’ve recently taken on the challenge of expanding my horizons by finding some nice Christian groups/bands to experiment with.

I think it all started last semester, when I sang through many religious texts with the MIT Concert Choir – Randall Thompson’s The Peaceable Kingdom, Haydn’s Te Deum, and – my personal favourite – Beethoven’s Mass in C Major.

The beauty of this movement (Mass in C Major mvt. III – Credo) reminded me of the strength and power in Catholic music, especially the ancient Gregorian chants. This spiralled off into reminiscing about a predominantly Christian choir in which I had sung just two summers earlier, my childhood experiences in chapel, and various other brushes with Christian music through friends. After rewatching Dreamworks’s animated film The Prince of Egypt on an impulse earlier today, I became inspired once again to dig up some Christian music. After all, I must admit that some of the best music in the world comes from the church (hymns and Christmas songs, for example).

After downloading the theme song for the movie in 28 different languages (above video) and digging up some old hymns that I had sung in my summer choir, I decided to search for popular Christian music. It’s a nice compromise between the dance-techno trends of today and the lilting quality of traditional hymns. I managed to stumble upon a newly established girl group from China called Eternity Girls, who not only have an adorable image but gorgeous voices to boot. They’ll soon be climbing their way into my Top Artists list for this week! I also did some Googling around and found ChristianMusic.com, where I was surprised to find out that some of my favourite old-school artists – Plus One, Stacie Orrico, and Jump5 – were actually Christian singers!

In addition to the gorgeous choral works we performed in MITCC, there are also plenty of other religious and cultural groups on MIT’s campus that perform lesser-appreciated works (check out Cross Products, Syncopasian, and Techiya!) I find that too often are we caught up in the hype of popular music (not that I have anything against Lady Gaga or Britney Spears), to the point where we don’t think to step back and sample some of the other genres present in the world.

The lesson today is simple: Expand your horizons! Just because you don’t happen to be Asian doesn’t mean you can’t participate in Asian dance; just because you aren’t Jewish doesn’t mean you can’t listen to Jewish music; just because you aren’t African doesn’t mean you can’t participate in African drumming. Likewise, just because you aren’t a member of a specific religious affiliation doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate their music – I certainly did, and I feel much enriched because of it =)