biography
the story of a {beginning}
I wanted to be a bunny when I grew up.
That's what I recently learned as I sorted through bags of preschool papers in my basement.
Of course through the years, I had some better sense.
I soon wanted to be a police officer and begged my parents to buy every cop kit available.
Then I wanted to be a writer as I stapled stacks of paper together and published books that only my stuffed animals would read.
Then I wanted to be a geography teacher when I was fascinated with the idea of teaching--the idea that every day I came home from school, I was a smarter and more developed person. I was obsessed with the idea that a teacher--one person in a world of billions--could guide me through a huge web of knowledge and help me discover not only myself but also the world.
I, too, wanted to have such an influence. Every night, I would teach world capitals to my students: my stuffed animals seated in perfectly aligned empty tissue boxes. Sometimes I wouldn't even allow them to use the bathroom until they answered a question correctly.
Of course, in my imagination, the bunny was the smartest--and he never seemed to need the bathroom anyway. (The bears got very jealous.)
chapter 2: the story of a {writer}
Maybe it's because of my naturally introspective and quiet demeanor, but as the years unfolded, I developed an interest in expressing myself in writing and through media arts.
Although I was highly talented in math (surprise: I'm Asian) and enjoyed the challenge of a good math problem, I knew my passion for communications and the arts could not be denied. To me, they were more than a personal way of understanding and expressing myself. They were my special way of reaching out to a world that rarely listens.
But one thing stood in my way: this stereotype, this stigma, of my being "just" a Chinese boy who had potential in math and science but who would never be destined to do well in the language arts. I was placed in ESL and Speech Therapy classes for half a decade, and while all my teachers were glad to help me succeed, I always had a feeling that no one ever expected me to make English one of my strengths.
Resolving to never let anyone decide who I am or what I could do, I still chose to pursue communications and writing on my own. After years of trying to erase the stigma, the risk finally paid off.
By the end of high school, I had won nearly half of all the English awards a student could possibly accumulate at my school. I also enjoyed great success in my introductory Video Production class when I won my school's very first Best Scriptwriting Award.
My high school teachers were the first to really believe in me, and I sincerely thank them for it. This change and series of achievements not only fueled my confidence in being able to do anything I wanted, but it also rekindled my faith in the power of teachers--the belief that one teacher, one counselor, one person can make all the difference in my life.
And again: I, too, wanted to have such an influence.
chapter 3: the story of a {student}
After high school, I chose to attend Boston University's renowned College of Communication (COM), one of the best in the country.
I moved from my suburban town in New Jersey to the "Hub of the Universe," from my relatively poor, crime-ridden, and underprivileged public high school to a private and mostly affluent university.
Things were very different at BU, but it turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more. I quickly grew accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city-life and somehow still managed to keep my calm and slow-paced lifestyle.
Academically, I had formal training in filmmaking, pursued a minor in psychology, and took a considerable amount of courses in both philosophy and education. Living up to its reputation in creating great writers, COM helped me hone and polish my writing style.
Courses in filmmaking inspired me to reveal life as it is and emotions as they are. Psychology taught me why people behave the way they do and what I could do about it to improve the human condition. Philosophy pushed me to question the world and pinpoint what really matters in our short time on earth. And courses in education taught me the importance of sharing knowledge and wisdom, as well as the urgency of playing a vital role in the development of the new youth.
But while I learned a lot in the classroom, I learned infinitely more outside of it. BU provided me with enough opportunities to develop my leadership skills in student activities, to interact with some of the most amazing people I've met in my life, and to care more about the world at-large.
Whereas my high school taught me about hard work, my college taught me about social work. To me, BU was less about learning information and more about experiencing transformation.
chapter 4: the story of a {career}
Over the course of my life, I've wanted to be a bunny, a police officer, a geography teacher, a writer, a counselor, a therapist, a consultant, a film director, and even a juggler.
With an unusual range of interests, I've always wondered what my career path would look like.
I've settled on using teaching, counseling, and consulting--whether in the classroom, in a human resources department, or in one-on-one coaching--as ways to understand and improve the human condition. I believe these are the best outlets for developing everyone's full human potential.
As for art, I've settled on using films, media, and writing to get a mass audience--whether I ever meet them--to relate to the most realistic, emotionally raw experiences. I seek to provide a means with which people can understand an emotion, connect to one another, feel empowered, and be inspired.
And in everything I do, whether in my careers, my gigs, or everyday responsibilities, I aim to shape a more loving, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving world--because life is too short for anything that even remotely resembles the ugly opposites. I will teach this as the most important lesson, I will show the importance of this in all my art, and I will live by this every moment of my life.
In a special, personal way, these are my gifts to the world. They are not only what I do best but also what I believe the world needs most from me.
These are my goals. These are my missions. This is my life.
chapter 5: the story of a {bunny}
I've since learned that perhaps I've always been a police officer: someone who acts as a safe-haven, someone who protects people from danger--the danger of steering into destruction, distraught, and failure.
And perhaps I've always been a geography teacher as well: someone who teaches about the world, someone who believes in humanity and gives lessons on the universal themes of life.
And maybe, just maybe, I've even been a bunny all along.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, I'm a rabbit, a sign known for its creativity, compassion, sensitivity, peacefulness, and the stubborn belief that it's always easy for people to get along with each other and to be better individuals.
I think I reached my childhood dream long ago.
I already am a bunny. I am, always was, and always will be.