"Remembrance and Resolutions"

12/31/01 5:52am The New Years Eve is definitely a time to recollect on the changes and challenges that shaped the year 2001, as well as some of the most memorable times of my life. A year ago, I was a completely different person. Through the 365 days since the ball dropped for 2001, I have become considerably wiser and much more mature. My grades still suck; but hopefully, through the Remembrance and Resolutions that I have provided, I can prove otherwise.

Remembrance of the Year 2001:
1) The formation of the Reefer Rangers, as we have jokingly come to call ourselves, definitely tops my memory of 2K1. I realize that it won't last forever, and that's why I've made great efforts to enjoy our times together this year. I refuse to believe that it was the weed that brought us together; but rather our common interests (other than bud, of course) and the wide variety of humor that each of us brought to WP 509 every night.
2) I love playing basketball. In previous years, I was a good 3-point shooter at best. Over the past 12 months, I've worked on other aspects of my game, such as the mid-range jumpers and my defense. I've had great games with YMB as well as the former Clubhouse crew. I didn't do exceptionally well in the Trinity tournament or 5-on-5 Intramurals, but it was the experience that counted.
3) My first girlfriend in 4 years was disappointingly short-lived. But living life with regrets is never a good thing. The break-up took a hard shot at my self-esteem, but like Britney Spears, I am "Stronger than yesterday." (And yes - I know that was really gay). Looking back, in fact, it was a very memorable few weeks. For once, I felt accepted by the dominant female sorority known as the Sigmas.
4) The rise and fall of YMB was a disappointment for me. We were at the height of our dominance in the beginning of the year, attracting all kinds of people to YMB Central. But the fall was inevitable, now that Chris, Hwanger, James Lee, Big Tae, and Johnny are happily involved in healthy relationships. Whatever happened to bros before hoes?
5) 2001 was full of experimentation with drugs. None affected me more than ecstasy. I admit I had a lot of fun with the drug. But as summer came around, and I saw one of my good friends taken to the E.R. because of the drug, I began to think twice before I popped a pill. In the end, I came to the conclusion that ecstasy was a drug I could live without.
6) During the summer of 2001, I got the opportunity to visit Japan. I spent a very short 8 days with my old crew from Houston, the JP (Japanese Posse). These were the group of guys I grew up with, and seeing them amidst the turmoil from the summer in Waco was a great spirit-lifter. I even purchased a valuable Digital Camera, which serves to capture the rest of the memories I will make in College.
7) The events on September 11, 2001 shocked the world. What happened on that day will be forever etched in my mind, as one of those events that changed the history of this great country. It has also spurred my interest in current events as news and magazines continually cover every aspect of this war. No doubt, keeping up with current events makes me sound smarter too.
8) Chris and I said "bye bye" to YMB central, and said "hello" to the friendly neighborhood of Waco Park. An unprecedented amount of people moved into Waco Park for the Fall Semester of 2001. Surely, my presence had much to do with this. The newfound community was great; everyone lived just a few steps away from each other.
9) The new friendships I have formed over the course of 2K1 are definitely something to recollect on. Most of these new friends were an integral part of subsidizing the boredom that comes with living in Waco, TX. Friends come and go, but several of my 2001 friends would definitely be with me for an extensive period of time.
10) It seems that with each passing year, my appreciation for my parents grow even more. This became most evident just this past week when I was dealing with a crisis concerning my family. They won't be here forever, so that sense of urgency to maximize our quality times together was at an all-time high. Sometimes, I have to tell myself to slow down. As long as I hold on to the values and morals instilled in me by my parents, they will be a part of me forever.

Resolutions for the Year 2002:
1) Quit Smoking (Until February) - Accomplishing this new years resolution can have multiple repercussions. I'll live healthier, save some money, and regain some of that energy I had for playing sports. After February, I will probably revert to smoking a cig a day, but hopefully by then, the cravings will be non-existent.
2) Play Ball - My mentor always says, a measure of a great athlete is how they perform in the clutch. With Intramurals coming up, I must commit myself to playing the best basketball that I am capable of. Hopefully, it'll be a fun and exciting time for the basketball freak that is I.
3) Eat healthy/eat lots - Near the end of the semester, I was resorting to meals of Whataburger, Taco Cabana, and Wendy's. This year, I hope to eat more vegetables as well as pack on a few pounds, in terms of muscles.
4) Stay up with Current Events - In my field of business, keeping up with current events will be vital. I have also begun to realize that it serves as a great common ground with my father, discussing our views about what's going on in our world.
5) Write more, draw more, play sax more - Few of you realize the time and effort I put into working on these three things. Each of these 'creative outputs' acts as separate ways to express myself. These are the things I grew up doing, and I love to do.
6) Be real to everyone - I have a way of acting differently to my real friends, and shying away or holding back when it comes to others. This year, I want to be myself around everyone. I'm sure people will like me better that way. Unless, of course, I am wrong and I end up with no friends?
7) Make a legitimate attempt to get good grades - Notice how I put the word 'legitimate.' In the past, I've made resolutions to make A's and B's, but really didn't make that much more of an effort. This year will be different, because I will study a lot more. That's right, I am throwing away my 'classic underachiever' label, and replacing it with 'nerd.'
8) Cut down on smoking weed - As much as I love feeling high, I can't do this shiet forever. It might as well be now, correlating with resolutions #1, #2, #5, #7, #9, and #10. I really can't afford it either. There are other things that I should be spending my money on. Please note that I said 'cut down' and not 'quit.' If you ever see me high, please don't go recalling resolutions #8, because I'm trying to be realistic here.
9) Look for a real job - With less then half my college career left, I must really focus on looking for a real job. I already have an idea what line of work I want to be involved in. It's just that initial process of getting my @ss up and start contacting companies that I have problems with.
10) Family - I've already been blessed with a wonderful family. Just don't disappoint them by screwing up my life.

Notice how I left off anything relating to "find the right girl, get a girlfriend, etc." If I've learned anything in the year 2001, it's to just let these things come to you. A girl that I'm crazy about that feels the same way about me happens so rarely. When the time comes, I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. Until then, I have resolutions 1 thru 10 to concentrate on. Happy New Years everyone!