...

I know no one reads this anymore.

College. A word that screams excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty for so many young people today.

I am a first generation college student in my immediate family.

On my mom's side, my uncle has his BA.

On my dad's side, I think that I am the 3rd or 4th to go to college.

First generation college students have so much expected of them. After all, our parents are expecting us to fulfill things that they themselves never had the chance to do.

There are many benefits of being a first generation college student such as becoming a role model for your family, but no one ever looks at how hard the job of a first generation college student is.

I remember I felt confusion as an FGCS. I was thinking about school rankings and prestige, not room to explore and grow, which is most important when choosing a college. I'm glad that I chose UCR because this is where I found my passion.

I remember during my 2nd year of H.S., I would tell teachers that I was interested in studying race, culture, ethnic literature... things of that nature, and most just said "I don't know if there is such a major in college." I guess my teachers didn't remember any ethnic studies or cultural anthropology classes.

After many twists and turns, I found the Ethnic Studies program at UCR and an I ever grateful to God that I did.

Now, time to apply for Grad School.

Coming into college, I didn't know what grad school was (I'm a FGCS and I had to learn these things on my own).

One advice that I gave to my cousin who is going to be a freshman @ UCSD was to take the GREs now, instead of later since all of the vocab and such is still fresh. I wish someone had told me this when I first entered college.

THAILAND

I haven't written about my "near-death" experience in Thailand have I?

No, not riding the elephants, but when I almost got "taken".

When we started witnessing, an old neighborhood man started coming out to all of our events and followed us everywhere, particularly me.

Surprisingly, he spoke English pretty well.

He always wore a white shirt with white pants and was extremely strong for his age (87) and rode a motor scooter everywhere.

He was always bringing us fruits and stuff.

I never liked the way he would look at me. It was scary.

Then one day, he pulled me aside quietly and asked me to go to his house with him because he had a large fruit that he wanted to bring us, but he couldn't bring it himself because it was too heavy.

Heavy indeed, this man could lift more than I could.

I got scared and asked my GSN and said "this man wants me to go to his house"

She quietly said "we don't know him, just say no"

I said "no" and he stopped coming around.

Scary.

24

my luggage is packed

my plane ticket is ready

in 24 hours,

I leave this place

WHAT THE?

ME?

LAW SCHOOL?

BECOME A LAWYER?

What the heck?

I HATE

I HATE people who steal.

People always say that hate is such a strong word. It means that you couldn't care any less than you do now if that person fell off a cliff, starved to death, or went to hell.

I HATE people who steal.

One thing that I DO support is police brutality towards shoplifters and thieves.

They violated the rights of the people they stole from to be left alone and not burglarized.

If someone gets beat up, kicked, and has his nads pulled out the old fashioned way, all I can say is that they chose to have that happen to them. PERIOD!

HAHA! I LAUGH!

sLOW!

Why does time have to play tricks on you and go slower than usual when you are waiting for something good to happen?

I wish this week would go by quicker.

I Feel Old

To think, at this time, I should have had a Bachelor's Degree, but God had other plans.

I guess I'll have to wait one more year.

People born in 1991 have finally graduated high school and are getting ready to be freshmen in college? WOW

There's going to be 1991's on UCR's Campus next year.

Makes me feel old considering that I am an 80's child.