a simple cute project

My friend Brooke asked me if I could take few pictures for her. The whole project was her idea. Her three years old daughter Lucy has a best friend named Franny. Franny and her family are moving to Mid-West so Brooke wants to give this family a farewell gift. She printed this picture in 10 X 8 size and framed it. I thought it was a great idea. Twenty months old Porter couldn't do "I love you" sign yet so he held Lucy's arm. Adorable!

fanwood here I come!

I know I told few of you that I am planning to do the VLOG on my decision. I didn’t like it very much because I am not myself in the video. Haha. Many of you know that I got job offered from New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood). This week I decided to accept the offer. I will be a guidance counselor.

It was a huge decision for me. East coast is too far for me to move. I talked with Dr. Wu & Dr. Beach (my former professors) and my former counselor Julie on if I should take the offer. Fortunately, I was able to talk with few people who work at Fanwood. My family told me to grab the chance. I also wrote the pros and cons about this school and town. I couldn’t sleep well for the past week.

Finally, I chose to accept the offer from Fanwood because I am looking for a personal growth. I need to step out of my comfortable zone. I am very satisfied with the salary and benefit. People from Fanwood told me that this town is good place for young people just like me. As a guidance counselor for this school I will focus on career and academic counseling. It will be new experience for me. It will make my resume look good.

I didn’t get guidance counselor position at California School for the Deaf, Fremont. I took it hard at first but I know God is telling me that I belong to somewhere else. I also didn’t get a job in Colorado. I haven’t do interview with two more schools. I am not going to take a risk and decline the offer from Fanwood. I am afraid if I decline and I end up didn’t get job from one of schools. I don’t want to be jobless for another year. Yes, I love Arizona School for the Deaf and Tucson because of my comfortable zone is there. I always can visit Tucson someday.

How do I feel right now? Scared, excited, and unsure. It is the same feelings when I first went to Gallaudet University and started my internship in Arizona last year. Deep in my heart… I know that I will be okay. If I am not happy with this school or my position I always can look for a new job next year.

I want to thank you for your amazing support.

Here’s a video of Fanwood:

http://ideafnews.com/2010/06/13/visiting-new-york-school-for-the-deaf-fanwood/

my learning disability

November 2008

“I started to realize that I had a hard time to spell when I was in Junior High School. My interpreter once told me that I took a learning disability test to find out whether I have one but I never finished it. As I entered at California School for the Deaf, Fremont, I noticed that my spelling had become worsen, but I always found a way to get away from it. As an undergraduate student, I started to realize I couldn’t get away from it, so I had to work harder to pull up my school grades. Some people and teachers believed that I have dyslexia. In my senior year, I realized that I needed to find out what was wrong with me. Recently, last summer I took the exam to check if I actually have it. I was diagnosed Learning Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Even though, I knew there was something wrong with me but the results hit me hard. I lost my confidence a little bit and I wasn’t happy about this. I was disappointed that a guy, who gave me the exam was not sure what kind of specific learning disability I have and I would still need to take more exams to find out. I actually don’t like the fact that I would have to ask people for help. I always become nervous every time I ask someone to help me spell the word out or correct my paper. Today, I still struggle with my learning disability. I think I’m still struggling because I feel uncomfortable to ask people for some help when I need. There are some times where I feel I wouldn’t become successful because of my learning disability. I will definitely need to be more optimistic to be successful in future but I will need to learn how to find resources for help.”

I always have a hard time to write an entry in my journal and/or update my blog. Sometime I shut myself out and didn’t finish an entry. Sometime I find myself become jealous of some people because they could write very beautiful. I just want to be like them. I know that I think very beautiful like them but I cannot express them into beautiful words.

It has been three years since I was diagnosed as Learning Disorder NOS. I still haven’t 100% accept this yet. I hope I will someday. I never took more tests to find out what kind of learning disability I have. I know my grammar structure is not perfect too so I believe I have writing disorder or dyslexia. I believe that growing with lack of deaf education also affected me. I am very thankful that I am able to read. I love to read books.

My 16 years old sister, my father, and my aunt Eileen (my mom’s side) are also poor speller. Eileen's grammar is worse than me. I wonder if it is genetic thing.

I know that I am able to learn more about grammar rules. Soon… I am planning to buy a CD program (lesson, practices, and games) that focus on grammar rules so I could improve. If you know a CD program, please do share!

i'm a survivor.

I'm a survivor... TWICE. Yes, twice.

oh lala

I am reading my old journal and I found one entry:

June 19, 2000: “Last week… Brooke, Priya, Robert, and Byron visited me. I was so excited to see him. He looks cute with his dyed hair- BLUE!!! Oh lala. He seems shy but I like his personality. We talked on TTY almost everyday. When Byron had to leave, I gave him a big hug and a kiss on his cheek. Two days later, he visited me again with Robert and Brooke. I think I fell in love with Byron. Right now he is at Disneyland. I miss him and talking with him. I hope he is thinking about me and will buy me something. I hope someday I will kiss him for the first time”

This entry made me laugh. At 15 years old, I thought I knew what is love is all about. Oh boy, I was wrong. It is always fun to watch myself grow.

spring is here, well almost!

Winter never will be my favorite season. I love Holidays, drinking hot coffee, and studying the snowflakes falling. I hate the coldness, how my back hurts because of shivering , and how I have spend a lot of time indoor. Finally, spring has arrived, well almost. I started to walk both of my dogs often. I’m excited about this. I am looking forward to spend more time outdoor!

Priya, friend of mine, since I was three years old and I decided to do our small photography project together. The orchards are everywhere here in my home area so I always want to take pictures here. First, we stopped by an orchard that looks like they are covered with snow! Bee was everywhere so they could make some honey! Yummy! I admired them. After this we went to another orchard and the trees’ branches were so green! We both should do another photography project again someday. It was a lot of fun!

the draft horse

Draft horse is the animal that represents me well, because I have the same traits as they do: hard worker, have a good strength, caring, free-spirited, and patience. I have gone through so many different trauma experiences when I was a young girl. People have always admired me because I’m one of most perseverant person they have ever known. It doesn’t matter if I am through a difficult time. I will always be a very stable person because I know things will get better one day. I have a very positive attitude to life so I seek for success and recognition. With my high patience, I understand that material rewards are the result of hard worker. I’m very creative with the need for self-expression. It may be drawn to scrapbooking, sewing, knitting and other few kind of hand on crafts. I’m well known as a loyal friend and I’m a person, who must be allowed for freedom and independence. I also know that I’m a natural leader, who has a talent for inspiring and teaching others. I always display fairness, honesty and integrity. Sometime, I am not a fan of new challenges but I know I can face new challenges with some risks. I am learning to enjoy the new challenges slowly. Happiness has gained through my willingness to serve good causes.

What animal that represents you? Please do share with me! :-)

picture of the week

I'm not gifted like Tate Tullier but I love to take pictures with my Canon Rebel Xti. Taking pictures of children and babies is what I enjoy the most. Children's world always amaze me. Here is one of my favorites! :-)

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million."

~Walt Streightiff

i need a motivation

I know, I know…it has been a while since I last updated my blog. I swear to God that I do have a lot great ideas for me to post on my blog! Most of them will be my personal stories/experiences. Hopefully, after I become comfortable with updating my blogs, I will also include my photography/crafts works and fun scrapbooking tips. I really need to find my motivation! Any tips? :-)

a reason, a season, or a lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life,
whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

-Unknown Author

PS- Thanks Megan for sharing this poem with me. :-)