Birthday

Welcome to Montrose

Cho loves his ice cream trash bins.

Waiting...

For dinner.

Tri-tip roast.

I forgot what this was called.

Dinner...forgot to include our waiter, my elementary school friend.

In the streets of Montrose.

MIT crew with the Dane Cook-like comedian.

We love the Laugh Factory.

Laugh Factory in Hollywood...PK was an awesome host!

Hey oldie. How do you feel now that you're 22? Marriage soon, eh?

These are a few of the common things I've heard said to me on my birthday, or days around the date. O yes, and happy birthday.

As a summer baby, I used to be jealous in elementary school of the other children who had their birthday during the school year and had the class sing for them during a coveted school day. However, I soon realized being a summer baby was a blessing in disguise, as it complemented my realized image of my birthday. The truth is that I don't like putting much attention on my birthday, and desire to make it a casual celebration to appease my friends, family, and my own desire of something out of the ordinary. Don't get me wrong, I encourage celebration of birthdays. We need occasions that facilitate the process of celebration, and celebrating the day of someone's birth is worthy and justified.

So, I'm 22 now. Except now, it is no longer marking a year of progression in school; instead, it marks the beginning of my professional life post-college. So, does it feel different to be 22? It is because of the circumstances. If I was 22 yet still had a year left in college, I do not imagine it to feel much different than 21. However, my 22 is experienced and seen differently because it marks a different era in my life. As enjoyable, disciplining, and exposing my past years have been, I sincerely believe that the best years are ahead of me. Starting this year and beyond, it is time to make a tangible impact on my community, local and global.