(Don’t count the days, make the days count) Dear high school senior,
It’s going to be one of the fastest, yet seemingly longest years of your life. Before you know it, you’ll be walking across that stage in a cap and gown, saying goodbye to friends, and caught up in the end-of-year frenzy that gradually melts into summer. I know you’re probably dying to get out of high school, but enjoy this year. I can’t stress this enough. Although there are a lot of tiring things you will have to grind through: college apps, high school drama, standardized testing, trying to pull up those last semester grades… There are also so many things to look forward to: Prom, college acceptances, senior events, watching High School Musical and laughing at how accurate yet inaccurate the movie is. The point is, it’s going to be a unique year in your life. Here are some things I wish I’d known before embarking on my senior year. A Couple Words About Senioritis Though scientists have still not been able to provide statistical evidence for my claims, let me tell you something: SENIORTIS IS REAL. Be aware of it and be prepared to deal with it. When you have 20 things to do by tomorrow, choose to go watch a movie, and then have a mini panic attack at 1AM… Do what you can, get some sleep, and take a sigh of relief because, guess what, you’re a normal human being. However, you can do some things to lessen the symptoms: know what helps you with avoiding procrastination, make a to do list daily, put up post-it notes of deadlines you can't afford to miss. If you struggle with wasting time on the Internet (ahem Facebook), get a website lock, which locks you out of certain websites for a set amount of time. I recommend the app SelfControl available on the app store for Macs. (Which has been a real life saver for a routine procrastinator like me.) Pace Yourself To Prevent Burn out Senior year is a really exciting time, but things can get a little crazy pretty fast. Sometimes, you simply run out of fuel. Between preparing to leave home, finishing those last minute assignments, and making sure things are in place for graduation, you can get really really exhausted. So keep your physical and mental health in mind. Whether that means letting yourself unwind after a long day, or ranting to your best friend, take care of yourself. It’s okay to not be okay Don’t worry if you have moments where you are convinced your entire life is a mess. Maybe you didn’t get into the college you wanted to, or maybe you winning team lost the most important game of the season. There’s bound to be some days when nothing makes sense anymore. It happens to the best of us and we can either let it destroy us or teach us. Things will fall into place when the time comes. Time Flies There’s going to be a lot of lasts. Your last football game, your last band concert, your last Monday morning chemistry class. And with each one of those lasts, the fact that your high school days are drawing to a close will start to hit you. It’s a weird feeling. One day, you may be in class, look around, and be struck with the sudden realization that you probably won’t see the majority of these people in a couple months. You’ve been waiting to get out of high school since freshman year, but now you’re wistfully remembering all the great times you’ve had. And suddenly you’ll want to go back in time to relive some of those cherished memories. But we all know that change is a part of life and sometimes a new chapter is inevitable. We all have different ways of dealing with change. Some people just get really sentimental and cry all the time, others start acting moodier and claim that they’re really not that sad. As graduation nears, a lot of tears will be shed, your parents will start acting weird (they’re really just trying to cover for the fact that they’ll miss you), and those sudden realizations may scare you a bit. You might doubt the solidity of your post high school plans, or have anxiety about living on your own when you don’t even know how to do laundry yet. Just remember to approach this new beginning with excitement (Hello, freedom), but don’t be afraid to let yourself get a little sentimental in the process. Say Thank You We all have people who have made a difference in our lives: Parents, teachers, friends, etc. Especially during your last year of high school, there will be a lot of people who will support and help you through everything from financial aid applications to finding that perfect prom dress. Take time to thank them. Thank your parents, even when they drive you up the wall. Thank your teachers for putting up with your senioritis. Thank your guidance counselor for helping you apply to college, and thank your friends for being there for you when you needed it the most. You might not see these people you love much in a couple months, and a little thank you goes a long way. Graduation! And when graduation day finally comes, enjoy it for yourself because you deserve it. Forget about the high school drama and let go of any regrets you have. Don’t categorize your experiences through other people's experiences. Those 2+ hours spent at graduation are your 2+ hours, because you are the only person who knows exactly what you went through to get to graduation: The challenges overcome, the friendships mended, the impossible decisions, the heartbreak you never really got over, the personal achievements, and the small but significant steps you took every day to become the person you are. Whatever your experience may be, cherish the good, let go of the bad, and smile proudly for all the pictures of you and your diploma. You made it. Senior year can be a drag, or the best year of your life; it’s really what you make it. Make it a year that you can look back and say, “The tassel was worth the hassle.”
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(A find from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows)I love airports. I’m actually fascinated by them. Every time I see people scurrying to their gates, or see the tired faces in the mass security lines, I can’t help but wonder where all these people are from, where they’re headed, what they’re doing, and who they’re meeting. It’s a place where people from all different countries, backgrounds, and ages converge—unlikely paths intertwining, only briefly—and then part ways, maybe forever.
The slumped man sleeping in a corner, the couple hugging before tearfully saying goodbye, the millennial running to catch their flight—iPhone and neck pillow in hand; Every one of them with a unique story, destination, and goal. And each time I’m at an airport, the word sonder comes to mind. Sonder, (though not actually recognized by official dictionaries) is the realization that strangers have a life as vivid and complex as your own. I’d always had this thought, especially when in airports or while looking out along a twinkling city skyline, but I didn’t have a word to describe it until recently. Coined by John Koenig and originaly published in the Dicitonary of Obscure Sorrows, the extended definition of the word is one of my absolute favorites. I couldn’t have said it better myself, so here is the word for word version: SONDER—Noun The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. Isn’t it just perfect? I’ve read it 20 times over and it still doesn’t loose its charm. I guess the reason I love this word is because it puts the world into perspective. I get a glimpse of how vast and diverse our world is—how complex and beautiful our unique experiences are. How many of those people will we be able to meet in our lives? Or perhaps never meet? How many times will we enter the lives of others briefly? As a Good Samaritan on the street or a silent stranger in a crowd? And how many times will we actually become part of someone’s life story? As a supporting actor in their life’s show, or the best friend that only appears in act 1? And although this sheds light on our differences as individuals, it also reminds me that we are more similar than different. We’re all just people trying to make our way in the world, sometimes united briefly when with a destination at an airport. (The Final Chapter: Sushi, Goodbyes, and Departure)In the 3 weeks I’ve been here, I’ve had A LOT of raw fish. It’s an expensive delicacy so whenever we meet up with family/friends who haven’t seen us in a while, they want to treat us to something nice. I used to absolutely hate raw fish—deeming it almost unpalatable until about 4 years ago. But now, I actually enjoy eating sushi…albeit there are still certain types I struggle to eat. I’d say it’s definitely an acquired taste.
Goodbyes It’s already time to leave, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet. In the last couple weeks, I’ve said a lot of hellos and a lot of goodbyes—often to the same people in the same day. Since I only get to visit once every year or two, the goodbyes I say here are usually the longer kind. It’s weird to think that the next time I see my cousins, grandparents, aunt, uncles, and other friends, so much will have changed. Last year when I visited, it felt weird to think that I’d be returning as a high school graduate and soon-to-be college student. Though it’s crazy and bittersweet all at once, I’m excited to see all the adventures this next year will bring. Airport At the moment, I’m at the Incheon airport sitting next to a Gongcha and, of course, surrounded by duty free shops. I’ve got about an hour until my flight starts boarding, so I’ve entertained myself by writing some blog posts and treating myself to a White Pearl Apple Green Tea Lemonade. (Yes its delicious and yeah Koreans go hardcore with their combinations). A Couple Minutes Later Alright, my flight is about to board so I’ll catch you on the flip side. Sayonara South Korea—Megan signing off from Incheon. (Okay sayonara is definitely Japanese, but it has a good ring to it, don’t you think??) UPDATE I arrived home a couple hours ago and the jet lag is real. Anyways, earlier I went through the security and customs check in San Francisco, which low key terrifies me even though I have nothing to hide and I’m a legal U.S citizen. Basically you get your picture taken, Passport scanned, and then wait in a line to talk to security workers who ask you what you were doing in the country, how long you were there, etc. The guy I had looked 110% done with his job and asked me a bunch of questions about what I was doing in Korea and such. He then asked if I was a student. I told him I’d recently graduated and will be heading to college soon. When he asked what college, I told him I'd be attending UCLA. To which he smiled and said, “I went there too.” He suddenly became super chatty and asked me about which dorm I was in, talked about signing up for classes, and proceeded to tell me about his experience there. It was awesome and very sweet. I’m pretty sure the people in line behind me were super confused on why I was suddenly laughing and striking up a light-hearted conversation with this guy. He stamped my passport telling me I’d have such a great time there and wished me good luck. Thank you, I hope so. (Friends, Shopping, and Indoor Amusement Parks)Shopping I recently went shopping with a couple friends from high school who also happened to be in Seoul. Shopping in Korea is quite the experience. We opted for 2 of the most crowded, hectic, and popular shopping districts: Gangnam and Hongdae. (Yes, that’s the Gangnam from Psy’s Gangnam Style music video). These two areas are stocked to the brim with street vendors, closet-sized clothing stores, bargain deals, and, of course, materialistic, hungry consumers. There’s a lot to see, a lot to buy, and at the end of an action-packed day, I ended up with a bag full of goodies, a significantly lighter wallet, and calloused feet—It was definitely all worth it. Sulbing Ohmygosh the food. (Insert heart emoji) Where do I start? From street food, to traditional Korean restaurants, and the endless desserts, it’s a dieter’s worst nightmare. I could go on and on about the deliciousness, but one of my favorites is a café called sulbing. If you are ever in Korea, this should be at the top of your to-try list! Sulbing specializes in a traditional Korean dessert called patbingsoo—ice shavings topped with condensed milk, fruit, sweet red beans, rice cakes, and ice cream. Sulbing takes this classic to the next level. It uses a new technique to create “snowflakes” from ice and tops it with a variety of toppings. This creates a melt-in-your-mouth sweet, creamy goodness that is to die for. Public Transportation
The public transportation in Seoul is gold. From busses and subways, to trains and taxis, it’s safe to say you won’t ever need a car to survive there. Actually, the whole country is so conveniently interconnected because of its size, which is something hard to dream of in the US. All modes of public transportation in Seoul use a unified card scanning system, which means you can just keep a loaded card in your wallet and use it to ride just about anything. The fare is cheap, and the facilities are really nice as well. Subways, busses, and trains are always very clean and air-conditioned. Cosmetics Korean cosmetics are top-notch. And there’s a lot of it. There are beauty stores on every corner, filled with schoolgirls and twenty-somethings trying on makeup and skin products. From personal experience, I’d say Korean cosmetics are reasonably priced, good quality, and reliable. I highly recommend it! There’s been a recent international demand for Korean beauty brands and there’s even a separate category called “Korean Beauty Products” on Amazon, so I’d say it’s pretty good. (And accessible!) Indoor Amusement parks?! I got to go to Lotte World a couple days ago, which is the largest indoor amusement park in the world. Located in Jamsil, the park is composed of an indoor and outdoor park that you can go back and forth from. The indoor is great in the summer when it gets super hot and humid, which allows you to wait in line while avoiding those ultraviolet rays. Like seriously, we need more indoor amusement parks. I went with one of my friends also on summer break, and since most Korean students are in school (their semesters run from March to July), the park was pretty vacant. This meant speedy short lines, so we were able to ride every major ride in the park—twice. It was a good day. It’s been a couple days since I arrived in Seoul. I’ve enjoyed the rare luxury of not keeping track of time. The weather has been surprisingly mild for a humid peninsula like Korea, but it seems like the worst is yet to come.
The flight over was mostly uneventful. I spent most of my time watching movies, trying (and failing) to sleep, and attempting to read a little of John Greene’s Looking For Alaska. A lot of times, I have very good intentions for long flights, which are shattered as soon as I board, cozy into my uncomfortable economy-class seat, and turn on the screen. (I really think there should be an equation proving that motivation decreases as altitude increases). As soon as I got off the plane, the distinct ‘city smell’ hit me—A mixture of humid, sour-sweet air that engulfs you. I watched the luminous city sprawl out before me as we drove from Incheon to Seoul. The moment we got to our apartment, I felt the jet lag kicking in and fell asleep within a fraction of a second. In the first couple days here, I’ve had a lot of down time. It’s the first summer in a while when I haven’t had any summer reading, or some sort of pressing obligation. It’s been nice to relax, watch TV, read for pleasure, and spend my entire morning on the computer because I can. I think I can actually feel my brain loosening up a little, and without any stressors, I’ve been flowing with creative juices and an increased appreciation for life. My family and I took a walk in a nearby trail this morning, which is something hard to come by in such a metropolitan city. Walking along and admiring the elegance of nature around me, I realized how much I’ve been caught up in the mundane business of everyday life. So often we blindly run towards some sort of goal as we grind through obligation after obligation, wearily checking off our to-do list; School, work, social life, etc. We do the things we know we should, and wait for the weekend to roll around. But sometimes, we simply need a break. Of course, I know it’s not always an option to suddenly leave on a month-long Caribbean cruise (something my friends and I have always joked about if college doesn’t work out). But when the opportunity strikes, even just for a day, we should try to get away from the everyday grind and let ourselves explore a little. And when you do have those pockets of time with truly no urgent commitments, you should let yourself do something solely for you: Read, surf the web, knit, take a walk, or buy yourself a fancy dessert. Take yourself on a date and let yourself unwind. It’s something that we all need, and I’m sure many of us need to work on. But all this Megan-trying-to-sound-eloquent aside, Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from Parks and Rec summed it up best when they said, “TREAT YO’ SELF.” Yes, that's what we all need. ![]() As I pondered over the possible titles for this blog page, I thought a lot about words and phrases that were of significance to me. The inspiration for this title came from a poem introduced to me through my AP Literature class this past year. A class that truly made me rethink my views on writing, analysis, and humanity. (Shout out to my amazing AP Lit teacher!) The poem, written by Arthur Sze, is called “The Opal”. Through my interpretation, the author is referring to the meticulous process of building an adobe mud house. The specific and complex steps, which the authors fluidly describes, are “various stages of a house” that combine to be something greater than each individual part. The finished product of the house represents “the opal”, while the steps “are facets of a cut opal”. Because of their unique structure, opals have an iridescent quality, meaning that they show luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles. Similar to an opal’s iridescent surface, our life experiences can often be seen differently depending on the light or perspective. Through this blog, I hope to share my experiences, recollections, opinions, and adventures with the world—my “facets” of the opal. Life is a beautiful, ephemeral collage of colors—diverse adventures, new experiences, ambitions, failures, fleeting memories, joys, and setbacks—and I hope to capture a glimmer of that through my words. |
About MeThanks for visiting my blog! My name is Megan, I work in Marketing and I graduated as part of Minerva's class of 2021. Enjoy a collage of reflections, poetry, and late-night thoughts. Archives
October 2023
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