my year: 2009 in pictures.

my UCI circle k family 09. service, leadership and fellowship. who knew how much i would learn from every single one of these wonderful, intelligent hardworking students.

part of the circle k board 08-09. everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it was not before possessed. 

magic kingdom represent.

learning to adjust to changes. my beautiful summer roomies who have an unusual liking for stardust, captain crunch and other various things.

midnight birthday surprises is what i live for and caking the birthday girl.

cherishing good times that don't come around everyday. the element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days and fill our eyes with light. :)

the loves of my life forever. my naples family. they understand me when my family doesn't.

relationships and breakups. learning from everything. no good things come easy.

growing as a leader, mentor and student.

harvest crusade, with relient k and some lovely people. the one man in my life is up there :)

celebrating good times. herumi's 21st birthday :) girls picture. walk without fear, full of hope and courage and strength.

the friends who have seen me at my best, my worst and certainly all the in the betweens in life.

this bright new day complete with twenty four hours of opportunities, choices and attitudes comes with a perfectly matched set of 1,440 minutes. this unique gift, this one day, cannot be exchanged, replaced or refunded. handle with care. make the most of it.

hello 2010. i'm ready for you.

have a little faith.

One word frees us of all the pain and weight of life:
That word is Love.

You'll come across so many people in your life. Ones you who you think will stay in your life, stay with you forever. You come across people you love, very much. Sometimes love isn't enough to tackle all the obstacles in life and you will have to deal with the heartbreak of knowing that that person you love is gone. 

And you're left to try your hardest to fall out of love. To do something you never though you'd have to do.

Just keep your head held high and don't fall apart. Clear your heart and let it go. And when it comes around again, let love in. Because you never know, it's all about having faith.

Only You Can Satisfy

I'm currently listening to this Rock Harbor Church mix CD that my roommate made for me. When I listen to music, it's so therapeutic. It's like having a little conversation with that person even if they aren't there physically.

The new year always makes me anxious about the events that are to follow.

I'd like to be less selfish.

I will make that happen.

The one person I miss so entirely much is in a better place.

There's a little piece of my world.

-jaime

Here (in your arms)

If you only you knew...

This Saturday one year ago is when my grandmother passed away.

This Christmas one year ago is when angels guided her to watch over us in the heavens.

One year ago I was a different person.

Apparently asking to spend time with you one day is too much to ask,

I'll grow up, but I can't wait forever for you.

Merry Christmas.

let it snow baby, let it reindeer!

hola!

The weekend after finals is always rewarding. After a quarter of studying hard and interning it was well spent with Antonio...enjoying his company, accompanied with crepes @ la creperie, movies (pixar shorts, stardust, finding nemo!), disneyland, american apparel outlet and of course delicious food.

Today was a nice day of lazying around; by that I looked around for a couple more internship opportunities. Two came up that I am interested in and would want to devote my time to. I realized after talking to Crystal that they are utilizing your time and effort, so I've really narrowed my choices down to companies that I think I would truly enjoy working for.

1. Children's Hospital of OC for the primary care and patient care department. WOOOT.

2. Drake's Institute of Behavioral Medicine

The marketing coordinator at Dynamic Healthcare Systems emailed me back and let me know that they were conducting interviews while I will be driving back from AZ. This is a bummer, but I emailed them seeing if I could reschedule interviews.

*downtown scottsdale, arizona last december. isn't it beautiful?

Extremely excited for:

-We the Kings and A Rocket to the Moon @ HoB Anaheim with my roomie 2/20/10 :)

-SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA to spend time with Patrick!

-Balboa Park photoshoot with Naples

that's all. time to watch stardust again. haha

ciao, jaime!

could've been lovers <3

"how the stars seemed to shimmer"

priceless: the moments that take your breath away :)

uncertainty and opportunities.

This Thanksgiving break was a nice break from school. It also gave me some time to think about what I want to do after I graduate. Especially when all my aunts and uncles are grillin' me about grad school. SDSU has a Master's in Public Health Program that I'm looking into. 

I plan on applying to 2 different companies for an internship during winter and spring quarter. One is a treatment center for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The other is a pharmaceutical company, but specifically their Environmental Health and Safety Office. It's exciting to know that the scope of health ranges through so many possibilities where everyone can find a job that truly fuels their ambitions. It would be such an amazing opportunity to intern for either of the two companies. 

*a couple of years back from when we visited my cousin Mike in SF.

On another note, a couple of highlights that I truly cherished this break:

-TWO thanksgiving dinners. My mom's side of the family and my father's side.

-Carlsbad Outlet Black Friday Shopping with my cousins and felice

-Watched Fantastic Mr. Fox with my cousins, nepo, willett, and ruby.

-Dinner with my entire family, which is now a rarity when everyone is in a different city. I miss my brother everyday, which if you asked me when I was in high-school I would have said you were crazy. I really enjoyed that and some home cooked food :)

-December 17-21, I am going to visit my little brother in Arizona for his grand opening party of Bronze Boutique!!!!!! I'm so proud of him. 

ciao miei amici,

jaime

the moments that take my breath away

despite the 32% fee increase

despite the fact that students may be unable to get the education they deserve

despite the fact that professors aren't the only ones losing as well

despite things not going the way I planned, I think this is only a small battle which we have lost, but there is something much greater that we are capable of WINNING.

I'm so incredibly at peace right now, it's a bit weird.

recommended watching: the invention of lying <---it's worth your time I promise.

currently want: hot chocolate and warm gingerbread cookies

currently need: to study and find a new paying part-time job.

currently doing: blogging.

ciao,

jaime.

untouchable, burning brighter than the sun.

This weekend made me nostalgic of San Diego and all the family that I have there. It was so nice to spend the Sunday with my mom, aunts, uncles, and cousins. SO MUCH CONTENTMENT :)

"In the middle of the night, when I'm in this dream

It's like a million little stars spelling out your name

You gotta come on, come on

Say that we'll be together

Come on, come on

little taste of heaven"

The moon and the stars declare who You are

Currently listening to:

"It's falling from the clouds
A strange and lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder and rain
It's ringing in the skies
Like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays

You are holy great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are"

-Phil Wickham

New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth.

"The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become"

Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

So what do I want to do?

Someone jokingly told me, "Find a cure for cancer, because no one has done it yet and it needs to be done," That discovery would render me speechless. How great would it to be able to say that no family, friend, mother, daughter, father, or son would have to suffer the hardships of cancer ever again. It would simply be MIND-BOGGLING.

Whenever someone asks me what I do as an intern at the American Heart Association, I'm still unsure what to say because the organization does so much more than I could ever describe and my description would insufficient to what I do as an intern. I mostly help with fundraising in the Youth Market Department and educating younger teens and children about what they can do to keep healthy. AHA is committed to fighting heart disease and stroke, but at the end of the day heart disease and stroke still exist in this world. However, I'm so grateful to be able to be a part of something bigger than myself. It truly is more rewarding than any class could teach me. 

Dinner table talk? Yep, that's my life.

Rethinking

Dear Friend,

I would like to take this time to thank all the beautiful, strong-willed, dedicated, hard-working people on this earth.

I really do learn something everyday :)

I need to learn patience and how to control my temper. Seriously.

BE CONSIDERATE OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING regardless of how they have treated you. It really is a small world when you think about it, how everything is connected in one form or another.

I have a new italian teacher. He is hilarious. My cell bio teacher has quite a sense of humor as well. I'm glad, it keeps me awake in class.

Recommended Reading:

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker.

Firsts!

Today was the first day of my junior year in college. Wow, it's strange to say that and even weirder introducing myself as a third year while correcting others saying "No I am not in fact a freshman." There's nothing wrong with that, but it's funny I suppose.

The classes that I'm taking seem to be really interesting especially my Civic and Community Engagement class!

For the first time in my college schedule, I don't have a Friday morning class, which means I have more time to intern at AHA or hopefully with the Orange County Rescue Mission! How freaking awesome is that? Words can't express how excited I am for this school year. I don't want to spread myself too thin, but I already want to do so many things.

Some things I am thinking about: The Edge, SoPi, Interning, Volunteering, AMP, school... oh yeah and HAVE A LIFE.

I also don't want to use time as an excuse because when I talk to other people about the things that they have accomplished or feel most proud of, they had the same 24 hours in the same day to do so.

Another random note,

I absolutely adore my roommates so much, but I also miss my old ones!

ciao,

-jta

& today was a good day...

Ciao!

It'd be more appropiate to say that this summer was definitely a good summer with its topsy turvy twists and turns. 2009, most certaintly memorable

I've been fortunate enough to go travel the east coast with my family, take some summer school classes, intern at the American Heart Association and have one of the most amazing summers thus far with some wonderful roommates. Hanging out with guino has also been tremendously fun even if there were some not so fun times :) Camping, eating, laughing, and watching a lot a lot of movies. <3

So I guess I look like I'm in highschool still. I hope I don't act like it. I can't wait for school to start, but at the same time this summer glow is going to last for awhile. I want to paint my apartment. No idea what color.

Oh yeah, this month has also been birthday month extravaganza! Random ramblings while I'm interning. hehe

-Jta

my parents.

A few things I know because of my Dad:

That ordering pizza is as good as cooking

That being smart and being quiet are often the same thing.

That naps can happen almost anywhere.

That respect is something you earn.

That money is, too.

That the most important of all the senses is a sense of humor.

That love is a verb.

That life is a journey.

And no, we're not there yet. 

My Mom,

There are times when i forget to say thanks or I love you...and there aretimes when it seems like I don't appreciate everything you've done, but there's never a time that I don't feel proud and grateful to have such a wonderful person to call my Mom.

-jta

gimme sympathy

we're so close, to something better left unknown.

recycled air

a person is never as quiet or unrestrained as they seem,

as bad or as good,

as vulnerable or as strong,

as sweet or as feisty.

we are thickly layered, page lying upon page behind simple covers.

and love- it is not the book itself, but the binding...

it can rip us apart or hold us together.

spring <3

you poor blogger, how I've neglected you.

this spring break has been quite relaxing and enjoyable :) i love it. i love it. i love it.

nothing beats spending time with family and friends.

I watched I Love You Man. Srsly, I was laughing til my stomach hurt. 

BEACH TODAY! yes!

boba, froyo at yowo, mmm SD.

Man, I can't believe half of my break is already gone. I think spring break needs to be for another 3 weeks. Minimum.

ciao,

jta :)

sigh...

I feel like I only write in here when I don't want to be doing the things that I really should be doing aka homework, reading, etc. 

It's a lovely continuous cycle of school, eat, homework, breathe, volunteer, and sleep.

What happened to just being able to relax?

I suppose that isn't plausible in this world that we live in.

Ah thank you to the people who keep me sane :)

buona notte,

jta

je t'aime

The real trouble with my sarcasm is that half of the time when people think I'm being sarcastic, I'm being genuinely sincere.

There's a story behind everything.

How a picture got on a wall, how a scar got on our face.

Sometimes the stories are simple,

& sometimes, they are hard & heartbreaking.

ciao,

jta

one evening...

Some

claim they are just words,

meaningless fragments

of nothing 

scattered 

about my paper.

Some

claim they are used carelessly,

shattering plates of clear

colorful glass.

But

to me

they are passionate stars,

magically absorbed

So each one I give to you

please hold tightly.

My words have wings.

-Martha Reinhardt

:)

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”

Changing the world is good for those who want their names in books.

But being happy, that is for those who write their names in the lives of others, and hold the hearts of others as the treasure most dear.

I know an angel, she doesn't wear any wings.

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter"

-e.e cummings

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009.

oh, I am ready for you.

It's always really interesting to go back and reread old blog posts & you know what, this past year has definitely had its ups & downs. A roller-coaster ride of emotions would be one way to poorly describe it.

I've learned alot about myself this past year: what pushes me to the edge, what makes me smile (family & friends), what I care about, what I don't care about, what I like, what I dislike. It's not like I didn't know some of this stuff beforehand, but I surely learned a few new things or so.

Anyways, I'll keep it short & sweet. I've got my new year's resolutions and will I share them with you? Maybe.

Today I am thankful for my momma. She has unconditional love, whether I'm a good daughter or not & I should show her that I appreciate it. That's an understatement.