Jordan

Summer is about to come to an end and school is on the horizon. One of my highlights of this summer is hiking at Manoa Falls. Manoa Falls is a place where you can appreciate the landscape, the atmosphere, and the ecosystems that make Hawaii beautiful. Experiencing all of this is not easy physically – hiking to the top can be very dangerous, so those wanting to explore this area may need some good shoes and some experience  hiking. However, it is very rewarding to explore the lush rainforest.

Since Fall 2012 is fast approaching, I hope everyone has had a great summer and is looking forward to the upcoming school year.

After months of staying up late at night, creating a new home at the library, and making new friends along the way, my first year as a college student at Chaminade University comes to a close. Just to think of how much time has passed throughout this transitional year is mind-boggling. There is no doubt that I have learned a lot from this first year and I really look forward to next school year as I continue my path to becoming a registered nurse. College has been everything I expected it to be and more. So what will next school year be like? Again, that will be something I’m looking forward to. For now, its time to have some well-deserved R&R. Hope everyone has a wonderful summer and see you next fall!

Here, this is a photo of me and my friends having a little study session before our last final of the school year. The hard work is well worth it.

…you’re about to study your heart out. Yup, I cannot believe that the school year is almost over…After weeks of studying it all comes down to finals week. Finals week might be pretty intimidating for some and as for others, it may be a sigh of relief as after these finals, its summer time! Its time to step it up and give it the best I’ve got to prepare for what could be a tough last week of school.

As for you potential nursing students, here is a little preview of what you’re about to encounter in your first year. Hope everyone studies hard and good luck!

Spring break was very much needed with all the work and study. For some, its a time to let loose and party their hearts out (though maybe not too much) and for others, its a time to recharge and prepare for the final push heading into finals week and summer break. For me, its mostly the latter. For my spring break, I got a chance to relax with family at Turtle Bay Resort in the North Shore. It has a lot of family activities that families can look forward to from horseback riding to hanging at the beach to having a spa treatment.  If you get a chance to explore Hawaii, Turtle Bay is a beautiful place to see for the beaches alone.

Hope everyone had a great spring break and wish everyone the best of luck for the rest of the school year!

It’s that time of year again! This is a time where upsets are probable and sports magic are abundant. That’s right, it’s NCAA March Madness for Men’s (and Women’s) College Basketball. The intensity, athleticism, and, of course, the madness increase at this point and almost anything can happen. It’s one of my favorite sports events of the year and March Madness continues to get better every year. One of the things that makes it exciting is the fact that fans go as far as filling in brackets to predict the NCAA champion. Brackets allow fans to get together and have fun while get bragging rights on right predictions, especially on big upsets. Hope you guys participate in filling in your own brackets for this year’s tournament. (Note: This will be posted a few days after the start of the tournament…And I’m a little disappointed with how my bracket has gone so far…)

…Well, you could possibly play a video game! No seriously…I know studying can take a lot out of you, but once in while, having a little fun does not hurt. Yes midterms are coming up and it is time to cram the books…though if you think you’re burned out with all this studying, some time with video games can do wonders. Video games can be fun and entertaining…as long as you can avoid being addicted by them, which isn’t hard right? I’m sure you know that there are games for everyone like Just Dance, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Halo, Mario, etc. Video games can be good for social events and as a personal hobby. Just remember that school goes first.

For those with a need to explore, a need for sci-fi action, and a need for an intriguing story, you should try the latest installment of the Mass Effect franchise–Mass Effect 3, which was just released today! You get to play as a Commander who you can mold as the character you want him/her to be and save the galaxy from ancient beings that are powerful beyond measure. Hope to see you on the battlefield and take care!

Tonight is an intriguing matchup as the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, led by All-Stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, face off against the surging New York Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and the phenom Jeremy Lin. Speaking of Jeremy Lin, for the past two and half weeks, the world of sports has been engulfed by the rise of Linsanity. Jeremy Lin, a Harvard grad and Asian American, literally came out of nowhere to somehow save the Knicks’ season. To reflect on this incredible and improbable run, we need to take a step back on how this journey to stardom began.

Lin was born in Los Angeles, California by Tawainese immigrant parents. In Palo Alto High School, he stood out as he became All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year. However, despite his success, he did not receive any scholarship offers, even from his dream schools, Stanford and UCLA. Therefore, he went to Harvard and became an Ivy League sensation. Unfortunately, his success at Harvard (in which one of his highlights was a 30 point game against number 12 UConn in his senior year) did not translate into being in the NBA Draft. He was given small offers from teams after his impressive summer league experience, such as the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he eventually signed with the Golden State Warriors and played off the bench for a year. He did turn heads despite his limited playing time.

After the season, he was waived by the Warriors. He then signed with the Houston Rockets, who would eventually waive him before the 2011-2012 NBA season. Then, the New York Knicks claimed him off waivers. On February 4, after months of frustration, the Knicks gave Lin a chance to play against the New Jersey Nets. He outplayed All-Star Deron Williams, scoring 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in a huge victory. Before that, he was almost waived, again. After the game, he was promoted to the starting role and eventually got a guaranteed contract. He is now leading the revitalized New York Knicks to a 9-2 record since he came off the bench against the Nets.

Personally, this is an incredible story of heart, determination, and overcoming the odds. As an Asian American, myself, it’s good to hear that a minority is succeeding in professional sports, especially in a sport where skill makes or breaks a professional athlete. I hope there are other minorities that will follow Jeremy Lin’s example.

With all the hassle college can give, it is tough to settle down and think about the beauty of Hawaii. Sure, there are issues in pollution, government, economics, etc., but its good to look at the bright side of life. Walking at Waikiki Beach was relieving as I let go of my worries for a while. When I look at the sunset, I realize that life is good and there is a lot to look forward to, especially in college. If you’re in doubt or feel like a lot of weight is on your shoulders, take a step back and appreciate the life you have, we all have one life to live so we might as well make the most of what we have in this world.

Have a safe and fun Presidents’ Day weekend!! 

With a week before Super Bowl XLVI, a selected group of the top players in pro football were gathered here in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, the All-Star game for the National Football League. What a way to kick-off the special game with a “Sunset at the Beach” event at Queen’s Beach in Waikiki. Hundreds of fans gathered for the kick-off to celebrate the game of football with a live band, special activities, Pro Bowl cheerleaders, mascots, and watching the movie, “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington. I personally enjoyed the event and, although I, unfortunately, did not make it to the game today, I was feeling the spirit of the Pro Bowl celebration. Hope that Hawaii can host the Pro Bowl next year!! I now look forward to Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots!! Catch ya later!

Live band at the beach

Viktor the Minnesota Vikings Mascot

Hey guys! It’s been a while! Hope everyone is having a good winter break and enjoyed Christmas! We are heading into a new year very soon! This is just one of the few gifts I got for Christmas (and I am very pleased for it). Anyway, take care and God bless!