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| I know a guy who had a recent scare with HIV. After receiving a viral infection indicative of a weak immune system and whose symptoms resembled that of early HIV, his doctor advised him to take a blood test to ensure he wasn't HIV positive. The four days leading up to the test results were probably the worst four days of his life. Questions and doubt consumed him and if it wasn't for his application of a positive outlook on the matter, it might have overwhelmed him.
Many people nowadays have a "do now, think later" approach to many things in life including sex. Which brings me to question, is that prudent? Is that moment of satisfaction with someone who isn't your spouse really worth those four days of pure anxiety and torture? What if the worse happened, how does a teenager live the rest of his life knowing he has HIV and how does the person he contracted it from forgive herself or himself?
Things to think about. Be careful, you just never know.
-albert
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| Weddings have always been one of my favorite things since I was little. Just the happiness and love exuded by the bride and groom is enough to light even the darkest of times. It provides a haven that shields the newlyweds from the evils and vices of this world that they will inevitably encounter.
So as I sat there yesterday listening to a best friend tell me about the
problems her parents were having, I wondered what could possibly have
happened over the years that got them to this stage.
Was it the guilt of knowing that they could not give each complete devotion and trust? Or is it jealousy of knowing that there could be someone else?
Whatever it is, it was heart-breaking to see her endure such a tough situation at home. But I couldn't help but wonder why more often than not marriages don't quite work out like everyone envisions it too. And perhaps in a more general sense, why relationships that seem to be so promising in the beginning just don't end up right.
On a happier note, I survived my first year of college. It was tough at times but here's a toast to the end of a short chapter in my life and the beginning of another hopefully even more exciting one.
-albert
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| When there's a will, there's a way. -Someone said this
Sitting in Korn Convocation Hall last Wednesday, I had the privilege of listening to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speak. As the first-ever recipient of the John Wooden Global Leadership Award, Schultz came to speak to students, faculty, and the public about his journey with Starbucks Coffee and the importance of pursuing your dream. One statement of encouragement from Schultz really hit home with me. "Don't always take the easy way. Your parents, friends and advisors might tell you to do something because it's the easy way and it's what they know. But you can't let anyone tell you your dreams can't come true. And when they do come true, dream bigger."
Since the beginning of high school, I have been wrestling with the thought of what I wanted to do for a career. And up to this point, I am still undecided. I could either follow the "conventional" business path to consulting, accounting, finance, etc or I can follow my lifelong passion and pursue a career in the sports industry. Hearing Schultz speak that day really got me thinking. What is really holding me back from pursuing a career in the sports industry? Is it my fear of failing to be successful? Or is it because I am lazy and the conventional way is so appealing because it might be easier?
Granted being successful either way requires tons of hard work, committment, and sacrifice on my part, but why not take the risk. According Schultz, if you have the drive and determination, you will succeed.
Things to think about...
Change is never easy. As I chatted with Kenneth today, I again realized how nothing is ever permanent. And their is something about time that always seems to change things despite your resistance to change. With the possibility of him transferring to Brown or UPenn next year, it is hard to imagine going through the next few years without someone who has been a big part of your first year of college. The long hours with him and the other actives pondering the future of Phi Gamma Nu will always have a fond place in my heart. It seems that God always has a way with throwing obstacles at you in life whether its through heartbreak, change, failures, etc., but in the end it always seems to work out. Maybe it is the optimist in me or my youthful naivety. Whatever it is, I hope he makes the right decision for himself.
The Lakers and Celtics will rekindle their rivalry tomorrow. This is an important juncture for the NBA as two of the most storied franchises in league history will be facing off once again. If exploited correctly, this series could be a significant marketing ploy for the NBA in their quest to expand domestically and globally. Old timers can reminisce on the days of Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell, Magic and Showtime vs. Larry Bird and the crew. However, this series has the potential to be more transcedent than any of these past encounters. Kobe and the Lakers vs. the Big Three of the Celtics. The best player in the world and perhaps the most controversial will get his chance to top arguably the three biggest superstars in the NBA never to reach the championship series before this year. It will be interesting to see how the League approaches this as ratings are sure to be at an all-time high around the world.
-albert
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| As I was reading a fascinating article in the BusinessWeek today, I came across a quote that got me thinking.
"The thing that we call living isn't gold or fame at all,
It is laughter and contentment and the struggle for a goal,
It is everything that's needful to the shaping of a soul." - Edgar A. Guest
During
a dinner conversation last night with a good friend,
she asked me a simple question, "Are you happy with everything you are
doing?" At first, I told her I was content, but as she kept prying I
finally left her with a half-hearted answer: "It depends when you ask
me."
Coming
into college, you can get caught up in the hype of preparing yourself
for a prestigious career or some awesome job where you'll make a ton of
money. When you see students around you being proactive in attending
"meet the firm" events or getting cool internships to pad their
resumes, its hard not to get sucked in. Individuals, like myself, often
find themselves wondering if being active this early on is a good
thing. Yes, company recruiters and older peers will always tell you
that it is awesome that you're starting early in college. But is it
really?
With my first year nearly over, I find myself
pondering if everything I have done this past quarter was really worth
all the things I have had to sacrifice. Starting a business fraternity,
having a part-time job, spending hours at recruiting events and
professional workshops, constantly searching for internship
opportunities- don't get me wrong all of these things have been amazing
and much more, but I do regret all the broken relationships, the
drop-off in grades, forgoing opportunities to take interesting classes,
the lost opportunities to try other non-professional and business
things. The trade-off is never easy especially when time is so scarce.
I
now understand why UCLA stubbornly emphasizes having a liberal arts
curriculum rather than being academically focused and specific like some of its
private school counterparts. It gives students the opportunity to try
other things of interest rather than forcing them to jump into
a business degree when its really of no benefit to the student.
For
me, its still hard to find a balance between everything in my life. And
after reading the article, it got me thinking, am I really happy and is
it really worth it?
Read the article for yourself: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_21/b4085042677127.htm?chan=search
-albert
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| I was interviewing for a summer internship position yesterday with AXA, a large financial services company that specializes in asset management, wealth protection, and financial planning strategies. It was interesting how different the interview with them was. I've been in my share of interviews but never one that was as informal and as casual as that, which was awesome. I walked in and he asked literally three questions about my professional work experience. The rest of the time we started talking about other stuff and how I would fit in with their company and what I would expect to do. Of course, he was pampering the position up but he seemed genuine enough and the entire process truly remarkable.
Congratulations to the UCLA women's tennis team for winning their first ever national championship. This brings the school's total to a whopping 102. Its almost surreal how successful my school's athletic program has been. That's more than one title a year.
As Barack Obama closes in the democratic nomination for the presidency, Hillary Clinton finds herself banking on the validity of the votes in Florida and Michigan. You have to admire the woman's persistence, but she has nearly exhausted all the resources she has at her disposal. Of course you never know what can happen, but I hope that in the case Hillary loses, she'd have the capacity to step down graciously and accept defeat in the hands of a better candidate. May the best person win.
Quote of the day: "I believe that with your help we will send a message to this country because right now more people have voted for me than have voted for my opponent." -Hillary Clinton (N.Y. Times)
-albert
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