Perspective
It's easy to become jaded with life. It's easy to settle into routine, attend classes every day, and lose passion for that which we were at some point most passionate about. It's easy to become worldly and slowly fall away from the naiveté that makes little children so impressionable and unguarded. Usually, it's not so easy to gain it all back.
For me, it took a series of extraordinary, eye-opening events extended over the course of several days in order for me to realize how much I truly have to appreciate. I attempt to describe them in the following paragraphs, but I honestly wish there were a method of recording feelings and emotions in their truest and most unadulterated form--straight from the mind and heart.
1) The first real snowfall here at Yale was beautiful. It had snowed once previously, but not enough to accumulate; for the most part, the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground and proceeded to turn into ice. Though I can't deny that sliding around on that ice was a lot of fun, it pales in comparison to the transforming power of real snow. Old Campus turned into a scene from a curious but nevertheless delightful fairy tale: every surface glittered with soft powder, colors were contrasted and intensified, and students pranced about, acting like grade-school kids as huge snowflakes flurried onto their hair and clothes. It was particularly striking that this happened just as reading week was beginning; despite the prospect of upcoming finals and papers, nobody seemed to have a worry in the world. We simply united in celebrating a gift that nature had given us just when we needed it most.
2) Adopted Friends turned out to be a blessing in disguise. For those of you who don't know, Adopted Friends is a program which KASY (Korean American Students of Yale) runs twice a year. We basically bring in Korean adoptees from around the area and introduce them to fun and interesting aspects of Korean culture and tradition. The set-up was grueling, as the other board members can corroborate; we had to meet up half an hour earlier than my earliest normal class (on a Saturday, mind you) and move furniture and supplies two blocks from the Asian American Cultural Center to Street Hall. Even more exhaustingly, each of us had to serve as a "big sib" for one to three adoptees and take care of them all day. My kid, Paul, was the rowdiest of them all. Not only did he make me run up and down the stairs yelling "Higher! Lower! Higher! Lower!" but he also forced me to pick him up and run away from the "monster" (aka Yoo Jin). On top of that, he was just recovering from a stomach flu, and every once in a while he would have a coughing fit that left him drooling and disoriented. Yet, at the end of the day, I was already looking forward to the next Adopted Friends. Paul attitude was so uplifting; everything was an adventure for him, and even when he accidentally hit his head, he decided that enjoying his playtime was more important than crying about the pain. He "helped" play tug-o-war, and when his team won, he was simply glowing with joy. At the end, when each adoptee received a goodie bag containing some trinkets and candy, he gave me a lollipop and told me, "You can take this home. It's from me!" It was quite possibly the most delicious lollipop I have ever eaten.
Aww.
3) Although Gospel Choir and church are pretty much unrelated, I associate them in my mind, and therefore I will write about them together here. The Gospel Choir concert last night and the sermon from church today reminded me that there are more important things in life than schoolwork and such. I've always found it interesting that I've been able to push through every obstacle in my life, no matter how hopeless the situation appeared at the time. Even just a year ago, I would have attributed this to my own ability to overcome, but I see now that I can't trust myself to handle every detail of every aspect of my life. Rather, I trust in God and believe that whatever happens happens for a reason. This not only takes a huge burden off my shoulders but also gives me hope and joy that my life is under control. It's a great way to live.
So here I am, at the start of reading week, with a twenty-page paper due on Friday and two finals coming up next week. And I've never been happier. Yale is awesome.
For me, it took a series of extraordinary, eye-opening events extended over the course of several days in order for me to realize how much I truly have to appreciate. I attempt to describe them in the following paragraphs, but I honestly wish there were a method of recording feelings and emotions in their truest and most unadulterated form--straight from the mind and heart.
1) The first real snowfall here at Yale was beautiful. It had snowed once previously, but not enough to accumulate; for the most part, the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground and proceeded to turn into ice. Though I can't deny that sliding around on that ice was a lot of fun, it pales in comparison to the transforming power of real snow. Old Campus turned into a scene from a curious but nevertheless delightful fairy tale: every surface glittered with soft powder, colors were contrasted and intensified, and students pranced about, acting like grade-school kids as huge snowflakes flurried onto their hair and clothes. It was particularly striking that this happened just as reading week was beginning; despite the prospect of upcoming finals and papers, nobody seemed to have a worry in the world. We simply united in celebrating a gift that nature had given us just when we needed it most.
2) Adopted Friends turned out to be a blessing in disguise. For those of you who don't know, Adopted Friends is a program which KASY (Korean American Students of Yale) runs twice a year. We basically bring in Korean adoptees from around the area and introduce them to fun and interesting aspects of Korean culture and tradition. The set-up was grueling, as the other board members can corroborate; we had to meet up half an hour earlier than my earliest normal class (on a Saturday, mind you) and move furniture and supplies two blocks from the Asian American Cultural Center to Street Hall. Even more exhaustingly, each of us had to serve as a "big sib" for one to three adoptees and take care of them all day. My kid, Paul, was the rowdiest of them all. Not only did he make me run up and down the stairs yelling "Higher! Lower! Higher! Lower!" but he also forced me to pick him up and run away from the "monster" (aka Yoo Jin). On top of that, he was just recovering from a stomach flu, and every once in a while he would have a coughing fit that left him drooling and disoriented. Yet, at the end of the day, I was already looking forward to the next Adopted Friends. Paul attitude was so uplifting; everything was an adventure for him, and even when he accidentally hit his head, he decided that enjoying his playtime was more important than crying about the pain. He "helped" play tug-o-war, and when his team won, he was simply glowing with joy. At the end, when each adoptee received a goodie bag containing some trinkets and candy, he gave me a lollipop and told me, "You can take this home. It's from me!" It was quite possibly the most delicious lollipop I have ever eaten.
Aww.
3) Although Gospel Choir and church are pretty much unrelated, I associate them in my mind, and therefore I will write about them together here. The Gospel Choir concert last night and the sermon from church today reminded me that there are more important things in life than schoolwork and such. I've always found it interesting that I've been able to push through every obstacle in my life, no matter how hopeless the situation appeared at the time. Even just a year ago, I would have attributed this to my own ability to overcome, but I see now that I can't trust myself to handle every detail of every aspect of my life. Rather, I trust in God and believe that whatever happens happens for a reason. This not only takes a huge burden off my shoulders but also gives me hope and joy that my life is under control. It's a great way to live.
So here I am, at the start of reading week, with a twenty-page paper due on Friday and two finals coming up next week. And I've never been happier. Yale is awesome.