Purple Day 2019: My Story and Why I Wear Purple

In my family (and by family, I mean immediate family ― mom, dad, brother, sister ― because my actual family counting all my living relatives is huge), I feel like I've always generally been the least healthy one. It's not like I grew up with a serious illness or got sick all the time or anything. I was just always the one who seemed to have the most little health issues.

When I was around 4 or 5, my ankle would often feel weird and painful so much that I wouldn't want to walk. (I don't know what was wrong with me then because I haven't been able to look at my medical history, but it did stop.) I got nosebleeds a lot as a kid. The nurse and my teachers at my small Catholic school were never surprised whenever I got one. My vision is the worst and always has been of my family. I have pretty thick lenses in my frames. I had braces longer than both of my siblings. I had to get gum surgery two or three times.

But none of those health issues really compare to this: I've had two seizures ― technically three if you count the time I had tingling in my left arm and foot which the epileptologist said was a seizure that never spread to my entire body.

Not many people know my story, but as a writer, it just makes sense to at least try to share my own story in a gesture of support to those who can relate and to raise awareness.

One Year Post-Grad Reflections of a Patient Alumna

So it's officially been a year (and a few days) since I've graduated from college, and it's still hard to believe it's already been that long. A lot's happened in the last 12 months.

I met my favorite gymnast, Nastia Liukin. I went to New York for the first time. I saw my first show on Broadway. I watched a lot of TV shows and movies for the first time. I saw the yearbook that I helped make and lead the creation of come to life and held it in my hands, experiencing the most rewarding feeling. I reunited with my best friend since sixth grade for the first time in four years. I traveled to San Francisco and met relatives I've never met before. I met Chloe Lukasiak from Dance Moms. I went to a club gymnastics meet for the first time. I saw Leslie Odom, Jr. sing live. I went to my first job interview. I got my first job offer. I declined my first job offer.

Like I said, a lot's happened in a year. But notice the absence of "I started my first adult job." That's definitely not what I expected or planned.

Ending Break on a High Note: Meeting Doug McDermott

This past winter break was the longest I've ever had. I was at home for five weeks, thanks to only having one final. which was on the first day of finals. Even though I had over a month to go out and do fun things, it wasn't as fun as I hoped. It did, however, end on a high note ― better than I hoped: I met NBA player Doug McDermott, a sophomore forward for the Chicago Bulls.

About two weeks ago, my sister found out she could meet McDermott at a sports memorabilia store called Sideline Sports Memorabilia at The Arboretum of South Barrington, a mall about an hour away from our house. She instantly knew she wanted to go and told me about it. I was all for it. Why not meet an NBA player who happens to be one of my favorites?

My Best Friends' Birthdays: Celebrating Life and Love

It's finally November, and that means many things to me. It means Thanksgiving is near, the semester's almost over, and winter's almost here. But this first week is special in its own right and means something to me. November 5th and 6th are the birthdays of two of my best friends, Leslie and Carly.

Having Faith in an Abundance of Sorrow

It may only be Wednesday, but, honestly, these last few days have felt like a month. These past few days have been rather heavy emotionally, so it hasn't been the happiest week.

This past weekend, a fellow University of Illinois journalism student passed away. Even though the College of Media is rather small, and it's easy to know a lot of the other students in the college and major of journalism, I didn't know him personally. But my sister did, so it affected her. And my sister is my best friend, so it affected me. They weren't close, but it still hurt to see my sister and other people I know saddened by his passing.

Later in the weekend, the news of Flip Saunders' death was all over the internet. Saunders was the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He passed away after a battle with cancer. Obviously, I didn't personally know the late basketball coach and Minnesota basketball star, but I do follow basketball a bit, so it was sad to hear that news, especially since it seemed liked upsetting news was piling on. Plus, my sister is a huge basketball fan, so she just seemed even more sad than she already was, and I hated seeing that, knowing that.

But the news I got today hurt the most. A few minutes after I got back from class, my mom called. It wasn't peculiar that she seemed to randomly be calling. She's my mom; moms worry about their children and call them, and that seems to be more true when the kid is away at college, away from home.

Summer 2015: Fun in Florida Part One - Disney World

This summer for vacation, my family and I went to Florida, specifically Orlando/Lake Buena Vista.The main reason Orlando was our vacation destination was so my siblings and I could finally go to Disney World. Like a lot of people, I've wanted to go since I was a kid, and this summer, I finally got to. We were there for 10 days, and it was a great and fun vacation, probably one of the best vacations I've ever been on.

Although the main reason we went to Florida was to go to Disney World, we also went to Universal Studios Orlando, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, and spent a lot of time at our hotel. My family and I stayed at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, which is a resort, so they have a pool, a spa, two restaurants, and a bunch more there. I really like it there. They have a lot of fun things to do as well as a bunch of convenient things, like shuttles to take you to the mall or any of the nearby theme parks.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort

There was lots to do every day I was there, even when it was raining or pouring. So to make it easier, I'm going to separate this post into two parts by theme parks/places and mention the highlights, pros, cons, tips, and whatever else I may have to say.

Lessons of June 11, 2007

Eight years ago today, I lost the only grandparent I've ever known. My lola (grandma in Tagalog) helped take care of and raise me for the first few years of my life, so I spent a lot of time with her as a kid. I don't remember much of it though. Then, when my twin sister and I got older and started going to school, she went back home to the Philippines.

Several years later, she returned, but I didn't take advantage of her being here again; I didn't really spend time with her. She joined us on some road trips, and my family and I visited her in my aunt's apartment, but I didn't really spend any time with her. I didn't talk to her or share any moments with her. My memories of her from that part of my life mainly include her being in the hospital. There are no memories of us just sitting together, sharing a meal together, or having a conversation.

She began to get really sick and visited the hospital a few times before staying there for a few days, ending with her eventually passing away. I remember the one time my sister and I visited her in the hospital one of the days before she died. My mom and aunts were in the hospital room with my lola, cherishing what they knew would be some of their last moments with her. My mom stopped going to work and stayed in the hospital room with her. I didn't see my mom for a few days until I visited my lola in the hospital.

The day I visited her in the hospital, I wasn't in her room very long. I couldn't be. I ended up crying so hard that I was hyperventilating and could hardly breathe. It was the only time I cried like that, sobbed like that.

June 11, 2007 then came, and I was informed that my lola passed away. I don't remember how I found out. I don't remember who told me. I just remember that's when I lost her, the only grandparent of mine that I've ever known.

What I Learned After Two Years of College

I recently completed my sophomore year of college. That means I am halfway done with my undergraduate education, which I find very hard to believe. It hasn't hit me yet, and it probably won't until I'm halfway done with my junior year.
But since I've experienced two years in college, I've learned quite a few things outside of the lecture hall. Some of these things may apply to you. Some may not. Some of these things may sound a little negative or pessimistic, but that's definitely not my intention. I just want to share what I've learned and experienced to help others, and since everyone's college experience is different, you might not need what I've learned. But reading what others have learned never hurts!

Hallene Gateway at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

It's not always easy to maintain friendships.

Sure, you may have met someone at the beginning of the year who you think is going to be a pretty good friend, but just like how you drift apart from people you considered friends in high school, you're probably going to drift apart from some of the friends you make in college. 

I think this applies most to people you meet at the beginning of the school year before classes and everything else have began. Making friends at that time gives you time to hang out with that person and get to know them before the chaos of the semester begins. 

But as the semester goes on, you both get busy and involved. If you don't get to see each other often, then it's even harder. It's not like high school where you get to see the same people everyday in class or at lunch. Even if it is easier to go out on weekdays in college, it's not always easy to hang out with the people you want. You both meet new people along the way, possibly people that you connect and mesh more with than each other. 

I'm not trying to be pessimistic. I'm just being realistic. You meet a lot of people in college, but it's not easy to actually maintain friendships with everyone you start to form friendships with. But it never hurts to add these people on Facebook. Follow them on Twitter. Get their phone numbers. Even if you do drift apart after initially becoming friends, you can always go back and contact them if you want to try to become better friends or just need someone else to talk to. They might be able to help you out in the future with connections or a class. You might not be so close to them now, but maybe you'll be able to form a better friendship later on in the year, when classes and everything dies down, or in your collegiate career. But it'll be a lot harder to do that if you don't know how to reach them!

Learning About Faith and Trust

Even though I got to watch a lot of gymnastics this weekend (including attending two meets), which always makes me feel better, I had a not-so-good weekend.

An assignment for one of my classes was stressing me out all week. I tried to not worry and stress over it, but I just couldn't help it. I felt like nothing was working out. That seemed to be true and reached its peak when I woke up on Saturday morning.

I woke up around 8 AM to my alarm and immediately checked my phone as I was expecting an email due to the problem that I encountered on Friday. The email I was expecting was there. As soon as I finished reading it, I panicked. I felt like everything that could go wrong was, and even though it wasn't, I felt like all of the blame was on me. The worst part of it was that this wasn't only affecting me. It impacted others too.