Fellowship group, part 2

Last week, I attended my fellowship group. It was the day after my birthday, and I didn't expect anybody to remember. Heck, I'm not sure of anyone's birthday in there as well. So lo and behold, I was received very warmly and told, "Happy Birthday" by members! I even received cake as well, but that was just a fortunate coincidence, as the hosts had celebrated someone else's birthday. But I'm not complaining. After all, cake is cake, no?

Anyway, it was good to be back. I've missed some/many meetings due to the craziness of the grocery store, LSAT prep, house repair work, etc, etc. And I enjoyed some of the small chat, as I've been gone "some" time. Unfortunately, I even had to leave early, as the demands of the store, forced me to say, "Goodbye" around 9:30 pm. But it was just as I was leaving, which I'll remember most.

Tony: (talking to the group leader) So, as you can see. Wait Jong, are you going?

Me: Yeah, but I didn't want to interrupt. I'm just quietly going on my way.

Tony: Get outta here! No, wait. I didn't mean it like that. But, yeah, it was good to see you. Happy Birthday by the way.

Me: (now, with the whole group watching me) Well, thanks. I have to get back.

Amy: (group hostess) Happy Birthday too! Why do you have to go?

Me: My dad is always worried about thieves and robbers. And sometimes, when you're always out saving the world, you have little time for other things. (This is in reference to my work for the Dream Act too, which few of them know about. Nevertheless, the members that do know my secret, nod, knowing I'm referring to that work as well.)

(continuing on): Thanks everyone. See you guys next week! Yeah, go, get back to your discussion.

(FYI: what was odd, to me, was that another member just left quietly, and we continued talking, as he walked out. But they had stopped the discussion, just to talk to me?)

Everybody: Bye Jong!

Me: Bye! And Sherlock Holmes was a good movie, but a little bit complicated.

Then I left, thinking, "Wow, these are good people here. I'm very lucky!"

May God always bless them! :-)

My Birthday...

Today, I turned 30. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that. I guess when we all were younger, we all thought we'd be rich, and famous by the time the big "3-0" rolled around. Or have accomplished great things, such as curing cancer. ;-) Or be on "top of the world".

But what if your life didn't plan out that way? I guess that's ok. I think God has a plan for all of us. And sometimes it takes a little while longer and much more determination to accomplish your dreams. Maybe, we have to be very patient and faithful, and then wait for God's timing in our lives.

And as I look ahead towards this new year and this new chapter in my life, I hope to continue the great work from last year. I guess, I'm very excited about the future, even though I may be a little older, and a little slower than before. But there comes a trade-off, as I've become much more mature, and much more wiser than in my 20's.

So while I can reminisce about my (past) life forever, I think I'll relax a little bit today and treat myself to a movie. I want to see another great detective, Sherlock Holmes, at work. It's gotten great reviews and I'll be happy just to see it.

A big, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me! I hope and pray that this will be the beginning of great new things in my life! And I definitely believe in it too!@

On my way back...

I just sat in an (optional) workshop for the LSAT. It was 3 hours of fun! lol! Actually, no it wasn't. So, the workshop focused on the Reading Comprehension section of the exam. Call me crazy or delusional, but I needed to be there. I know I must study for this exam for the next 6-7 months in order to do well. (FYI: Most students study for 3 months max, for this exam.) So, why do I do this? Cause if I ever want to make it back, then I know I have to put ALL I've got into it, just to have a chance - if this is indeed my one last great chance - to do well.

Its been 6 years since I graduated college. I've lost a step or two of brain power. But what I've got left + maturity + wisdom = a great LSAT score (hopefully). And that's all I can count on or wish for. With all the work in front of me + Dream Act Activism + my parents store + landlord + etc, it feels overwhelming. (And it really is.) But, I can't tell you how much it would mean to me to be able to do ALL this things in the next year or so. It really is indescribable. If I could only study and succeed at everything, then I wouldn't worry. However, you're never guaranteed anything, even with the best game plan. And all these things will keep me worried late at night, as it should, for the next year. So I guess that's life. You just never know how things will turn out, even with your greatest efforts. I think you have to do the best you can, when you can. And I think that those who are determined to succeed are the ones that "we" look up to. I just hope to be that guy, one of those days. I would even say its a goal of mine to do "remarkable" stuff. To be a great person, you have to great things, I would say.

I've got much studying to do. There's something I've mentioned before called the LSAT that's just another 4 hour exam. Likewise, there goes my "freedom". Oh LSAC, (the Law School Admission Council, the ones who make potential law students lives miserable), you also know how to "control" our lives as well. And the fact that we pay you, makes it more sad. (I actually laughed at all this, but then, didn't understand why this was funny. Oh well.)

(Back to room, studying...)

The indomitable human spirit!

I just read this inspiring article about how an African teenager with no education, no money and no supporters built an electric windmill for his home and village. And through his invention, he's finally going to get his education! Wow! It makes you really think that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. That's right, believe in your abilities, no matter what the doubters say. Its that indomitable human spirit that says, "You can!"

How a Malawian teenager harnessed the power of the wind

It's just TOO much!!!

Today, I attended a Lottery training seminar with my mom. We have a grocery store and the NY State lottery requires all agents/retailers to have a new lottery terminal/machine at the end of the month. Therefore, we had attended this seminar because we were required to be "trained" for these new machines.

So, the main thing I noticed about these machines, were how they vastly upgraded the interface and structure of the lottery terminal. Gone are the bulky, heavy, and paper driven mess that all agents had to deal with. Now, its just a monitor and small printer. Even, the new paper roll is smaller and now, glossy. It seems that the Lottery people have had plenty of input from Dell and Company.

But, the thing that I was most concerned with was how the older retailers would adjust to these new machines. Frankly, most of these retailers are in their 50's and older, just like my parents, and they too never had a lot of experience with computers. How would they adjust from pressing tickets from a keyboard to a new system with a touch screen and a gajillion different options?

"It's just TOO much!", a fellow store owner would say. He continued, "For young people, like you, its ok. But for us, we've never had any real experience with computers."

"You're right," I replied. And I couldn't help but think that with all these new technological advances and gadgets, WE (me, you, society, businesses, etc.,) have somewhat created or intended to leave the older folks behind. I mean, did Apple really create the iPhone for my parents? Of course not. And as I thought about "them" - the older folks - I questioned myself, "Are we going to push them out of jobs, and into retirement, as they struggle to keep up?" Probably, I answered. And I think they too are coming to the realization that their time is limited, that they are becoming "expired" and this is just a gradual way for them to become obsolete. Very sadly, I might add this last point.

So, back to my mom, she also had trouble using the machine. And she's typed her resume, sent emails, and downloaded audio files from her mini MP3 player onto our home computer. Therefore, she's somewhat computer literate. And I have full confidence in her that she can adjust to this machine. But what about my father? I can't even imagine how my father would ever get used to a machine. He barely knows how to turn on a computer!

And I'm sure when the new lottery terminal comes to our store, I'll have to be there day and night, teaching him ALL the new features. But, I do wonder from what I observed today, if we're advancing technology (and even society through these advances), but at the same time, "pushing" these older folks out of their way of life. Not to mention, gradually erasing their self-worth, their values and their collective souls out of our own lives.

Update 10/8 - I just read this article. I thought it validated what I wrote above. But there seems to be solutions!

Technology, economy proves a barrier for older, less-educated applicants

Asian Americans Continue to Rally for Passage of a DREAM

I would like to thank the NYSYLC for asking me to be interviewed for a Dream Act article, by the Pacific Citizen newspaper. I've attached the weblink below. And I was very fortunate that my story - plus, my ideas and my thoughts! - were selected as the main plot line for this informative article. Also, I received a hard copy of the newspaper and I have to say, it looks much better than the web version. And maybe, just maybe, I'll post pictures of this newspaper article via the blog.

Pacific Citizen Dream Act Article

Thoughts...things you can't buy at a grocery store.

I recently had a lot of thoughts running through my mind. A lot of things had happened and I wanted to soak it all in. And honestly, nothing bad happened. In fact, most of the things that have happened to me have been good things.

So, the other night, at the grocery store, my father had told me of a customer who told him (my father) that he (the customer) was thankful for my help. He was a middle aged guy who needed help at the computer lab at the library this past week. I helped him log in and search web urls. Also, I helped him type his address and telephone number in a website that was sending him a security device for his house. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal and I thank God I was able to help him. But the funny thing was, when I was helping him, he actually reminded me of my computer illiterate father! lol! That's too funny, how this came full circle.

Also, I had helped another middle aged guy, who sat next to me at the computer lab on a different day. He kept leaning over to ask for advice on photoshop, spam mail, and about the Microsoft company. So I listened as he described his problems. Even when it was closing time, he kept talking and I kept listening. And finally, I advised him to get help at Brooklyn College, where they do have courses and people (ie., young students) who might help him better understand the computer know-how.

But the thing that made my week was having this great conversation at the store today (actually yesterday.) A lady who comes by regularly, and buys scratch off tickets, stood and talked with me for about 20 minutes today. So what did we talk about? The aging and caring of our parents.

The conversation began when I asked her, "How's your mom doing?" But first, here's some background - the lady/customer is 54 and takes care of her mom, who I believe is in her 80's. She's been doing that for about the last 15 years or so. She told me how difficult it was and how it eventually led her to become sick. Currently, she struggles with diabetes, and heart disease through this ordeal. And imagine, she told me, when you're parents will have to go through this. (I nodded. In fact, I wonder how I'm dealing with them right now, getting older right in front of my eyes.) She told me to look into Medicaid, Medicare and to get an attorney and an accountant to prepare for their future. Imagine, she said, if your father dies, what then would your mom do? And she told me about the options for "life insurance" mortgage, where one partner dies, then the mortgage is paid off or covered for the other. Not to mention, how she found out a lot of stuff through the disability office, where she currently is receiving some support. Also, she told me about a free air conditioner program for the elderly. Plus, on the issue of being (somewhat) financially supported by the government, she told me that they (my parents) had better be able to document or show sizable income in the previous years before retirement, to be eligible for a greater Social Security benefit, if and when they'd retire at the age of 65. And most importantly, she told me about the need to do this NOW!

Right now, my parents are 55, so in about 10 years, I would need to (or help them) figure all this out. "But God forbids, something happened tomorrow," she then asks me, "What, then would you do?" I had no answer, but she's RIGHT. I need to look into all this stuff. And honestly, all this came in like a tidal wave. Here I was looking after them and cleaning up after them. But then you forget about the nitty gritty stuff like a "power of an attorney" and live-in nursing. And what about a will?? Because some people will say that 55 is not old, but here I am telling you, it is. It really is. You never know when your health be lost, when you'll get sick or be in an accident. And don't think for a second, that you can snap your fingers and win the lottery and everything will be taken care of.

So, WOW! I need to think about all this. And not just this - my law school admission process, Dream Act, my own financial future, getting married, becoming a federal judge, maintaining a small business and a house, my relationship with the LORD, and anything else that comes my way. And to do all this in the next 10 years will be challenging. But hey, who said, "life was easy?"

So I'm off. I really need to pray. Wish me luck. And best of luck to those who take of their parents. Really, they/we desperately need it!@ And it's really nice to know that being older and wiser (like her) could lead one to imparting wisdom for those that are younger (like me.) It wasn't about all these barriers and being private with your problems. I think as we get older, we're able to discuss things more openly, honestly and with the idea that we should be helping one another. I like that. Maybe its why I've always like talking to older folks. Maybe its because they want to help you understand how life really is. And why wouldn't you want to learn from those who've experienced it the most? I think for all of those people above, we've become friends too. And that's something you can't always buy, manufacture, or sell in this day and age.

As the lady left the store, she told me, "Any questions, any problems, you let me know and we'll talk."

How about that!? That is one genuine caring person, talking to another human being. This you can't buy at a grocery store. :-)