Archrivals

I can go conflict-free with most people and resolve problems quickly... However, in the context of social interactions, I've noticed that...

..there are people who you just don't mesh well with. You're extremely hydrophilic and they're extremely hydrophilic... and, well, that's just the way it goes. You're driven to natural repulsion due to a heterogeneous combination of background, culture, ideal, preference, etc. You just don't like each other and you couldn't change yourself even if you wanted to compromise.

Oddly enough, this type of relationship does not have to be the bane of our social lives. People "who you just don't get along with" don't necessarily have to be considered enemies. Nor do you need to avoid interaction altogether. These people are blessings in disguise. If you have the right perspective, they teach you how to embrace true respect for others. Sort of like an arch-rival-type situation. They're rivals, yet you respect them. And it helps you grow.

I like the idea of real life archrivalries. Usually not as epic as fictional ones but drawing analogies is always fun. :D

In other news... UROP official enrollment! Cosmetic hydrogel characterization. Habitat for Humanity trip in rural China after finals. Phuket, Thailand trip in June. Yeah!

Good things round the bend but finals are still in the way.

Stay hungry. Stay humble.

Navigation: Summer Plans

What a day today! So you know those days where you feel like everything's going right for you? This was one of those days (except for an annoying group project but eh, let's not dwell on that, shall we?).

I'm excited to finalize my plans for the summer to do a research project on hyrogels in my professor's lab. I will be learning how to characterize crosslinking densities and other skills related to hydrogels.

Before finalizing the plans, I had gotten into a slump, wondering what I've been doing with my life, thinking I'm going nowhere and believing my dreams are further than I think. I was having one of those weeks where I felt like nothing was going right for me. But that just shows that emotional slumps are just matters of emotions and that they are not always a reflection of reality. Even if I was feeling really positive, I must absolutely be wary of complacency.

No matter what, I've got to keep dreaming. I've got to keep forging my own path. And stop fearing the future and keep trusting in God.

“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.” -- Win Borden

Today, I also found out that the high school I attended (Oxford Academy) is ranked the number 1 public school in California as well as number 7 in the nation. That was a nice throwback moment when I found out. It made me proud of where I came from. But at the same time I have to remember: where you come from isn't necessarily an indicator of where you are and where you will be going. Only you are in control of that based on the decisions you make now and your attitude.

“More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.” -- Anthony Robbins

I also FINALLY bought tickets to go back home in August! Granted I'll only be in the US for 3 weeks, but I don't mind, seeing as I nabbed a USD$635 round trip ticket. I've marked the calendars for August 28th - September 16th! I'll probably be giving a recruitment talk for HKUST to one or two high schools, too. :D

Plenty of other stuff happened today but I'll just end it there. Time to get back to work!

I'm high on inspiration right now. >__<

Yes I can see it! Can just about make it:It's the light across the ocean.It must be a lighthouse calling my ship home.It's there to show me where I'm going.
Take me to home~

Solutions

You know you're a science nerd when you're in an argument and you use "rate-limiting step" "reactants" and "overall reaction" to describe the problem...