update on life; happy things

So many good things are happening in my life right now, but I'm afraid the euphoria I feel will soon fade. If something good happens, I always think that something bad will follow it. Most of the time, I find my prediction is true. One day, I'll have a perfect day; I'll get up in time for class, go to the gym and eat healthy. The next day, I'll be running late, I'll get a bad grade in class, and I get into an argument with a friend. I don't know how I've gotten that type of notion in my head, but it really needs to stop. The pattern needs to stop.

As indicated by my previous post, I've recently been promoted to the role of Executive Editor on Fairfield University's The Mirror. It's a daunting task, to know that I will have to oversee the whole newspaper rather than a seven-paged section in the paper. However, I know that I can do it. I've worked my way from assistant editor to director in freshman year. I'm a hard worker. I'm enthusiastic. I'm confident in my skills. My section has really improved since last year, and people are noticing, thankfully. As the Executive Editor, I won't be required to work too much with layout, like I have in the past. I'll be reviewing the finished product, and I'll be giving my comments to the editors before the paper goes to print. I'll be working alongside the Editor-in-Chief Martin O'Sullivan, who also happens to be a close friend of mine. I know that next year's The Mirror will be really successful because Martin and I are a good team now, so give us a few more months and we'll be top notched. I'll be sad to leave the paper in January of 2013 when I go abroad, but I still hope to contribute in small ways.

Also, I received a call from Simon & Schuster about an interview. I applied for an editorial internship in the summer, and I sent in my cover letter and resume, and they answered right away. I will be going into the city next Wednesday. I'm extremely nervous, of course, because this interview will determine my fate for the summer. I asked one of my professors to help with a mock interview, so I'll be doing that on Sunday. Now, what should I wear? ;)

I feel like school has become second priority to me now. It's not like I'm not doing well in classes, or I'm skiving on my academic responsibilities...it's more like the newspaper now consumes much of my time! Instead of waking up in the morning and thinking about homework I have to do, I think about the paper and what needs to be done for that.

I've been writing constantly; because of my major I do it every day. I've written some short fiction and nonfiction. They need to be revised, so I'll post them when I'm ready. I love how writing has become something like second nature to me. I don't know what I'd do without it.

With my Memoir Writing class especially, I'm learning how to write honestly. I was so used to fiction that I found myself lying in the first draft of my memoir. Maybe I felt like I needed to impress my classmates. Maybe I didn't want to confront the Truth at first, as I reviewed my memory. Maybe I just didn't know.

But I took some time. I thought about it long and hard, and came to one conclusion: What's so bad about telling the truth? I assumed everyone in class was doing the same thing, and so, it was okay to be vulnerable. Writing was a battle at first, because I found myself constantly using the backspace key to erase my lies. In the end, the Truth ended up writing itself.

What more can I say? I'm just really thankful to be alive right now.

It's a Start.

So, usually when my mom, dad, and I drive to Fairfield University to drop me off, I listen to my Ipod. This time I forgot to bring mine home so I thought I'd have to sit through the whole ride with my mom talking my ear off about stocks and business and stuff, but I was wrong.

We were talking about our plans for Vietnam, what we're going to do and what we'll see. I'm so excited because we're gonna be there for a whole month! I'm actually hoping to pick up some more Vietnamese language. I think if I'm surrounded by the language, I'll become a better speaker.

I feel like every time I tried to start learning again, I stop and then have to start all over again and again and again. I have no clue why I can't remember anything I learned as a child. My mom said she sat my brother, sister, and I down every Saturday and taught us Vietnamese. There must be some mental block there or something because nothing comes to mind.

I need to speak more Vietnamese.

Mom then talked about Vietnamese literature, which oddly, I've never heard about. Vietnam apparently has a national epic poem called Đoạn Trường Tân Thanh, or simply Truyện Kiều. It's supposedly famous and all true Viets should know it. When I found out about this, I felt a bit ashamed because aside from my parents' childhood stories, I know nothing about Vietnam and how it came to be. I learn about America and I know some stuff to get me by, but I have no clue about the history of Vietnam.

So, after I said goodbye to my parents,  I went online and bought a copy of Truyện Kiều and also a 800page history book on Vietnam. They're coming Tuesday.

I'm excited! I feel like I'm really going to get it this time. I can't stand it, knowing that I am Vietnamese yet know nothing about my family's background. Now I feel like I will :)