It's honestly been a very long time since I've posted on this website. I'd like to think that things have been okay since the pandemic started. But it hasn't really been the case in many instances. Matter of fact, it took a while for me to get things back to normal and on track. Since my last update around two years ago, I stood up and recovered myself not only physically, but also, in the mental and financial aspects of life.
In April of 2022, I gave up my retail job to pursue my musical career and take the first steps of being a well-rounded artist and adult overall. Since then, the opportunities given to me have been absolutely endless... to the point they have been never-ending. Here's some of those moments that I would like to share:
Spring Dance Production 2022: Spectramotion
This experience for me was very interesting, as the year before I was a performer during the time of COVID-19. I was a choreographer AND performer for this production -- doing the job of the double entendre. That also happened to be my first AND last show in two years, first being since the pandemic started and the last dance show before I transferred to SJSU.
At the time, "Rigamarole" by ROZET was on my mind when choosing a piece for a dance. Compared to the theme I portrayed in Omar's dance, I wanted to tell a story about immersing out from the depths of the pandemic: finding my emo and "goth-like" era. As a creative, I wanted to create a dance that demonstrated fearlessness, audacity, and bravery. The ferocity of revealing your inner bad bitch was never easy for me, until that year.
As a choreographer, I have had the privilege of creating and shaping beautiful dance routines that come to life on stage. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to see my vision come together through the movements and expressions of talented dancers. However, there are also many challenges and obstacles that come with being a choreographer. From dealing with limited resources and budgets to managing different personalities and egos within a dance group, it can be a daunting task to bring everyone together towards a common goal. Additionally, the pressure to constantly innovate and create unique choreography can sometimes feel overwhelming. Despite these ups and downs, the joy and satisfaction that comes from witnessing the final product make all the hard work worth it in the end.
Job Transition: From Retail to Teaching Life
Q1 of 2022 honestly started off rough at Target; they cut my hours, and I was stuck doing so many things that left me hopeless. When I was invited into the office, I was told that I got a raise. However, that rais wasn't even a raise - it was a 70 cent raise from the $17.50 an hour I was already making, to the $18.20 an hour I was about to make. From that, I knew deep in my heart that it was my time.
I put in not even my two-week notice, but my five-day notice that I was leaving the corporation. I even got my vacation hours paid as well. Since that moment, I started finding for a new job, and that's when I found.... a teaching job that I had been wanting for a while now. While my time at Target was valuable in terms of gaining customer service skills and learning how to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, I always knew that my true passion lay in music and education. Teaching music allows me to combine my love for music with my desire to make a positive impact on not only others, but giving back to the immediate upper Alameda County community as a whole.
(Picture #1: Spring Dance Production 2022, Picture #2: Generation Music & Arts Academy Fall Recital 2022, Picture #3: KIPP End of Summer Celebration 2022)
From the Screen to the Stage: Children's Choir and Family Camp
To shed light on both experiences, it surely doesn't come easy. For the past two years, I have had the incredible opportunity to be coordinator and conductor for my children's choir at my church. This experience has been nothing short of amazing, as I got to witness the growth and talent of these young singers. We rehearsed for hours and dedicated ourselves to creating beautiful harmonies and captivating performances. It was truly heartwarming to see their excitement and passion for music shine through during our rehearsals and on stage. The children were always eager to learn new songs and techniques, and it was a joy to be able to guide them in their musical journey. The highlight of my experience was seeing the smiles on their faces as they performed in front of their families and friends, knowing that all their hard work had paid off.
In addition to conducting children's choir at church, I also took the lead in organizing and choreographing the youth dance for both CFFC 2022 and 2023 (Chinese Families for Christ). This role allowed me to combine my never-ending love for dance with my leadership skills. While spending countless hours practicing intricate routines, we also perfected our timing and coordination. As crowd's enthusiastic response filled me with gratefulness not only for myself but also for every dancer who put in so much effort into making our performances memorable.
(Picture #4: 8finities KPop Dance, CFFC 2023 At Mount Hermon; Picture #5: Ark Baptist Church Christmas Celebration 2022)
What were my reflections behind the past two years?
This experience thus far has been quite a whirlwind for me as I embarked on my first two years at SJSU, while juggling two (or three!) jobs and the responsibility of paying bills. Balancing academics, work, and financial obligations has not been easy, but it has undoubtedly been a character-building experience that has taught me valuable life skills.
Attending SJSU the past two years has been both exciting and challenging. The workload has significantly increased in comparison to community college, pushing me to manage my time efficiently and prioritize tasks effectively. However, being able to delve deeper into my major and take more specialized courses has made the journey all the more rewarding. I have also had the opportunity to connect with fellow students who share similar interests, making the overall college experience fulfilling and enjoyable.
Managing two jobs alongside my studies has required immense amounts of dedication and discipline not only to my studies, but also, to my work as well. Working part-time not only helps sustain myself financially, but it also provided me with real-world experience that complemented my academic learning. Although it can be exhausting at times, mastering the art of multitasking and time management has allowed me to excel in both areas.
Here in the Bay Area, there is no doubt that paying bills is an essential privilege and responsibility that comes with adulthood, and this year I had to learn how to handle them independently while attending university. From groceries and other expenses, budgeting became crucial in order to meet all financial obligations. This newfound responsibility forced me to make smart financial decisions and find creative ways to save money. While initially daunting, successfully managing bills throughout the year gave me a sense of accomplishment and provided valuable insights into personal finance.
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