30 Things about ME

30 Things about ME

1. H₂O

Inscribed into my brain there lies an embarrassing moment where I ferociously moved my legs swimming against the water to get that gold medal and raising my head towards the scoreboard just to find out that I came in last of all the contenders of 800m fin swimming. But still, it’s one of my greatest passions in high school life. Every Tuesday, scintillated at the thought of riding that bus to the local swimming pool, I get my fins on. Whenever I see my record shorten by a second or even one-third of a second, an automatic smile appears on my face. So, until now I stand still, on the 45 centimeter diving board with my hands tightly grasping the front part of the board, and my eyes focused only at the still water waiting to be dived.

2. Football (or soccer as they say in America)

The futsal field is evil. Once you let your foot inside it never lets you go. Although I’m not in the school football club, I’m pretty sure my affection for soccer is slightly more, never less than those of the club members. I started playing football in high school and I wish I had the innate tendency to smell goals but it’s actually better when you’re bad. It gives way for improvement (But ironically even if you are good, you still have room for improvement. That’s what I love about football). Just come by the futsal field and occasionally you’ll see me practicing the signature moves of Eden Hazard or Oscar (my favorite Chelsea players).

3. Model UN

I started my MUN career as the delegate of Mexico, promoting disarmament of nuclear warheads for every nation, global wide. It got me into politics and debating (Always a handy tool). Pretty surprised at the fact that this school had a debate club, a mock trial club but no model UN club, I founded KMLA MUN. I acquired the nickname from my peers of being the snake oil salesman as I persuade powerful nations into helping weaker ones.

My favorite committee happens to be the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council).

4. Philosophy

I first encountered philosophy when I broke my leg playing football. It was June and I was kicking the ball with all my might having one objective of putting this spherical object covered in hexagons inside the net. Swift turns and fakes were all I needed to get pass the alert defenders when I finally was one on one with the keeper. It was then when I heard the loud thump rather than the whoosh sound of the net trembling. I had unfortunately kicked the ground not the ball. At first, I thought it was a simple bruise. But the doctor had concluded that it was a serious contusion and I had to go around in crutches.

For a whole month I had to spend my life sitting on a chair, wondering how I should spend my time. Looking around, a book came into my sight. "50 philosophy ideas you really need to know" by Ben Dupré. I really had nothing to do so all I did was open the first page of that book. "The Brain in a Vat" These few combination of words were the first thing that came into my sight and have captivated my mind ever since. It read "Imagine that a human being has been subjected to an operation by an evil scientist. The person's brain has been removed from the body and placed in a vat of nutrients which keeps the brain alive. The nerve endings have been connected to a super-scientific computer which causes the person to have the illusion that everything is perfectly normal. There seem to be people, objects, the sky, etc.; but really all the person is experiencing is the result of electronic impulses travelling from the computer to the nerve endings." How have I wondered after reading these lines. It created the sense of doubt in my simple mind and troubled me ever since. The mere possibility of doubting or perhaps questioning the certainty of our existence seemed novel. I mean if it were true all I have perceived or known must have been a fantasy. The mere possibility appears to undermine our claims to knowledge about the external world.

5. Badminton

Challenging the teacher, even though you know you’ll lose, is full of ineffable gaiety. I like challenges, how hard they may be.

6. Stepped on by girls

This is a regular thing. Wednesday night, burdened by the weight of heavy girls, enduring the same excuse that they’re all in a diet but never seem to lose weight; I throw them, catch, and land them for the fun of it. It’s actually pretty demanding as one little mistake might cause a fatal injury for the one being thrown. Responsibility and caution, these are always essential when cheerleading.

7. Literature

I love literature. It’s one of the most efficient ways to speak directly towards the heart. My favorite writers are Alice Walker, Shakespeare, and John Steinbeck. (Oh, Hemingway and Fitzgerald too, of course). There’s one axiom that I always remember said by my current literature teacher. “The message implied by the author is of no importance. Personal interpretation of the message conveyed is what really matters.”

8. Writing

You may call it an obsession but I’ve always had this secret craving to be the best writer in the world. I’ve read pretty much all the guidebooks available and googled “how to become a good writer” countless times. Unfortunately, every time I write I am swarmed by dissatisfaction and discontent as I never really loved my writing. Great writers, they say, tend to be drunk while producing their best pieces of work. Hemingway did it. Fitzgerald did it. Even Edgar Allen Poe did it. Why not me? Maybe in the near future you might see me drunk embraced inside my own little world.

9. History

Starting from world history, I listen to Mr. Ganse to pull out his intellect and share a small proportion of it, always laughing at my stupidity. I explored how American textbooks depicted East Asia without any significance, tried to compare original Buddhism and Jainism, and finally compared football culture of S. Korea with that of Germany. Precious memories I have to say.

10. Trip with my father

London, Rome, and Vatican City scorched my permanent memories by inscribing themselves with grace. It was the first time I’ve ever been to Europe. Unforgettable memories reside inside my brain with my father always pictured beside me. It was one of those memories that you would want to cling on to. It has always been the subject of multiple essays I have written.

11. Football talks with Mr. Tweedie (my English Literature Teacher)

It was September 21^st, 2014 when Leister City beat Manchester United 5:3, even though United was leading 3:1 until the 62^nd minute, that I almost got an F in my AP English Literature paper. I was an idiot to have teased my AP English Literature teacher (a United fan) of the humiliating loss when I should have empathized with his sorrow. His remarks “I am going to find your paper and give you an F” is still a sharp reminder that football can be dangerous. To compensate for my mistake I enclosed myself with a big Manchester United blanket and printed the “Keep Calm and Love Manchester United” poster just in case. Now before every lit class we discuss football trends, the latest transfer market, and comment on players who played awful on yesterday’s football match. It is one of the best moments that I always enjoy before class. You should know that my secret ambition is to slowly change him, step-by-step into a Chelsea fan… (Go Blues!)

12. Organic Chemistry

Without pain there is no gain. Spent multiple nights studying this subject and I hope it was worth it. I’m still counting the number of benzene rings I’ve drawn. It’s about 3000 up until now.

13. René Descartes

Simply, a genius. No need for explanation. Maybe a quote.

"But what pleased me most about this method was that, through it, I was certain in all cases to employ my reason, if not perfectly, then at least to the best of my ability; moreover, I believed that, in practicing it, my mind was gradually getting used to conceiving of its objects more clearly and distinctly, and that not having set it to work on any particular matter, I was able to set myself the task of applying it just as usefully to the problems of other branches of knowledge as I had done to those of algebra."

"A Discourse on the Method, René Descartes, Oxford World Classics, p.19"

It is because of him we know how we exist, though nobody really cares;; He was the king of all skepticism and the father of reason. A rationalist myself, he was the guide that introduced me to the world of crazy also known as philosophy.

14. Passion for the winning flag

Everyone has it, don’t they?

15. “When in Doubt leave it out.”

- From "The Elements of Journalism" by Bill Kovach & Tom Rosenstiel on Originality -

I love this phrase on two levels.

1. It tells us that originality is the bulwark of better journalism.
2. It rhymes. (My secret fetish for rhymes)

16. Always loved being the minority…

Why? Because the Truth always rests with the minority. The minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion, while the strength of a majority is illusory, formed by the gangs who have no opinion. Dangerous, but I like the feeling of it. That’s why while MUNing, I always purposefully choose to represent the minor countries like Mexico or even perhaps Equatorial Guinea (no hard feelings) and win.

17. Charlie Wilson's War (2007, dir. Mike Nichols)

Solid Proof of how one man changed the course of history.

"You mean to tell me that the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is to have the Afghans keep walking into machine gun fire 'til the Russians run out of bullets?"
-Texas congressman Charlie Wilson-

One day, I want to be just like him. Persuading ill-minded politicians, listening to refugees, saving lives.

18. Confidence

I’m not full of myself. But I am accused sometimes for my overflowing confidence. This conviction, more personal and serious in nature than you think, is definitely a motivation for every step I take. It gives me not only courage but also obstinate determination. But still I should be careful to draw the line between haughtiness and confidence.

19. Religion

Honestly, I’m an atheist. Religion in my perspective is mostly concerned with belief. I respect one’s belief as the same logic applies to the fact that I don’t trust in the existence of god.

20. Love

One of man’s greatest desires. Explain one’s maxim I shall if life be full of love. “Love not with the eyes but with the mind; therefore the winged cupid should be painted blind.” (feeling renaissancy…courtesy of Shakespeare)

21. My father in Singapore

He designed buildings for a living. My house in Incheon was actually designed and constructed by my father. He specializes in super-skyscrapers and was scouted to Singapore for his skills. My heart is full of respect of my father. He’s also my best friend and adviser. Although I get to meet him only four times a year, every moment I cherish and hope to remember.

22. Dozing

I never dozed in my life until I began my life in KMLA. I don’t know why, but focusing in class (keeping my eyelids open) is an arduous task. Full with the indomitable love of academics I shall try my best to concentrate with all my might in classes.

23. Sleep

We are simply “Devoid” of sleep…

24. Boredom

I have always had the tendency to be bored. To that end, you can quite often find me wandering around, embraced in my own thoughts.

25. Eccentric Thoughts

Speaking of thoughts, my thoughts are usually eccentric. The subjects vary all the time but I remember one time pondering upon how I would feel if I had my brain transplanted into another human being. Would that still be me? Or more likely do I even exist?

26. Room 103

My first roommates when I came to KMLA. Tons of things to say about them… which I will elucidate in further essays that will be written in the near future.

27. Alice Walker “The Color Purple”

Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, the book is rich with passion, pain, and inspiration. Vivid in its description of how women and race are burdened by the tools of oppression, it has been one of those books that influenced the way I perceive the world. This book is a true retaliation against male domination and female subjugation so characteristic of the traditional world in 19 century. The explicit language used in the epistolary novel adds to the wonder it creates.

28. Procrastinating

Not a habit that I should continue.

29. Cleaning

I love cleaning only if my clothes are already cleaned. Why wouldn’t I? Cleaned clothes are what I like the best.

30. Dancing

I know it sounds weird even bizarre, but I have acquired a special set of skills in KMLA (Especially how to dance like a girl). My abhorrence for dancing still remains although inevitable situations do force me to show myself.