Kobe Bryant wasn’t just a basketball star to me;  he was someone who showed what real dedication looks like.  One of his quotes that always sticks with me is, “Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.” That line explains exactly who he was.  Every time people talked about […]

Did you too follow its gaze as it glided across the darkened river at dusk? Did you see it at dawn, soaring into the dazed waft of air— A pearl, radiant in its delicate shell, A unique blend of chiffon and satin as it magically fades below its resting wings; a bouquet of daisies, a […]

Tuesday November 23rd—a day I had been anticipating for months.  Eek!  Finding the opportunity was extremely difficult. So I swore to myself I wouldn’t ruin it. It was my one shot to prove I was worthy of breathing the same air as someone who quite literally changes lives.  I walked in catching that clean scent, […]

Did you glance at it, wandering all nighttide on the charcoal stream?Did you gaze at it in the dayblush, upsurging into the nebulous atmosphere—A cluster of angel-wings,An eye-catching pandemonium of jasmines curved into its astonishing wings,Leaning deep into the vassalage of its ailerons;A drifting snowstorm, a mound of lilies,Biting at the air with its shadow-black […]

-on’t build without me” he called back, shutting the garage door. Clearly groceries were a more pressing matter.  So I waited . . . for thirty minutes before digging through the kitchen junk drawer to find a beginner friendly screwdriver and a rusted two-ton hammer. I maneuvered the oversized box up the stairs, its heaviness […]

If you’ve been wronged, know someone who’s been wronged, or want to fight against being wronged, the thing that you need is justice.  Throughout my life I’ve witnessed how many people are treated unfairly. This happens because of looks, skills, grades, financial situations and other factors.  Injustice isn’t just just a small problem that a […]

Did you watch it gather, slow and steady, along the edge of the gloomy hills? Did you see the clouds, heavy as silent thoughts, interlacing themselves in the sky? DId you feel the first breath of the wind slip past your sleeves, cool and fast– A messenger carrying the scent of rain? Did you hear […]

Have you ever been to the stream? Have you been there in the early morning, when it is at its best, to see each bead of water flow perfectly around the smallest of rocks? Have you walked alongside it, weaving through the geography, flowing down the descents, effortlessly changing directions? Did you hear it, millions […]

Look, did you too see it, swaying, all through the stormy night? Look, did you see it the next evening, leaning into the harsh wind – Its leafless fingers reaching out for help, Its shadows of anger, its rods of night striking the air, Whispering with the wind like a warning, alarming, Puncturing the sight […]

Backstage, palms sweating, legs shaking—my mind trying to play back each step. I’m paying such close attention as if I’m watching something that my life depends on.   Going on stage, I realize the audience detects every wrong move. Each mess up, my smile fades, losing grasp of the small bit of confidence I came out […]

Overthinking can be caused by traumatic experiences or can grow gradually over time. Experiencing a problem of low self-esteem due to how people view me, hoping these thoughts would help me become a better version of myself. However, I kept downgrading and discriminating myself to other people. Overthinking lowers your self-esteem  I’ve spent countless hours […]

Writing and roughening a diamond are similar in many ways. Both require turning something raw into something valuable, a diamond from the ground and ideas from the mind. First, a jeweler must examine the diamond to find its strengths and weaknesses, just as an author looks closely at their idea to understand the direction of […]