Working too Hard?

(c) Evan Do

One of the cons about always being busy is that you sometimes forget to leave time for yourself. I’ve had this problem quite often in high school since I felt the need to participate in so many different activities, but I managed to have a lot of fun and get through everything. Lately, I’ve been feeling that same stressful feeling but for some reason, I have always enjoy it… I have yet to have a "boring" day during my whole first semester of college . I never had a day yet where I literally had nothing to do and no one to hit up; I always found myself up and productive.

But the problem is that I’m tired. I’m physically fatigued from long days and long nights almost every day. Especially in recent times because I’m trying my best to tackle and manage so many different projects that I working on.  I spent most of my first semester grinding my ass off to network, keep up my grades, perfect my resume, and now I finally have a great job. Now that I have a great job, I spend 20 hours a week to this job, to build my resume, to gain experience, develop my skills for another job. And it’s this continuing cycle of me always thriving for more. This is just an example but I’m always trying to get better, to achieve something greater and I ask myself “What’s the point?” Why am I trying to do so many things? It’s not like I have anything to prove to anyone. None of my friends in my class are trying to be at my level. Their lives are so much more laid back with their schedules and for me? Well, I consider myself lucky if I make it back home for dinner on time. I guess everything that I’m doing is what I’m passionate about and despite my fatigue, I do the things I do because I always want to improve myself. There’s no real point to this post or anything too exciting, just a random rant. 

No days off. 

Chicago: The Windy City

Something about traveling just really excites me.

To be placed in a new environment, surrounded by strangers, mystery, and unexplored adventures. Wandering the streets of foreign territory in negative degree weather in search for a comedy show, or walking half a mile to see a giant bean in the middle of a park, or simply understanding the city’s public transportation system.

Today, I write about my experience in Chicago. I attended AIESEC’s United States Winter National Conference for 6 days and spent the next couple of days exploring the beautiful city.

If my mom had to ask me what I did, I would say something like,

“For the first 6 days, we as AIESECers were evaluated on our current ranking compared to other countries. We were tested on our currents skills we acquired and went through multiple tracks to improve our own special committee. In the process, we built personal relationships to people across the nation and developed our leadership skills.”

 

In which is true. But in the process, the conference was greatly entertaining and informative. The details are very technical and hard to explain to someone who isn’t in AIESEC, but we learned practical skills on how to continue exceling at everything we have been doing. The days were long as it went from 9am sometimes all the way to 11pm and let’s not forget the “late night hangouts.” But overall, it was a great learning experience and I’m glad AIESEC offers opportunities like these to be a part of something greater and work together to change the world. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to ask me about AIESEC and why we do what we do, I’ll be more than happy to share.

After the conference, the study tour the organizing committee had planned out was unfortunately cancelled because of a huge blizzard that hit our region (which ultimately delayed our flights…) but this gave us a chance to hang out with whomever, whenever, and wherever we went while still renting the hotel rooms at a discounted price. Together with a small group of friends, we bonded closely over great food, great view and cherished everything we could at Chicago. As I cannot explain my experience in great detail, I hope these pictures and a quick video I have created can help share my experiences with you guys. 

More Photos

"Instragram Dat Joint!"

I decided to test myself. As an avid Social Media user, I often was sucked into using technology to kill time throughout my days. Although not nearly as bad as other teenagers, the fact that I even had the thought to use my phone when all the opportunities life offers is right in front of me just boggles my mind on how addicted I have become.

Last August, I shut myself from all social media feeds except Facebook (but only for message purposes, no scrolling). On my phone, I deleted my Instagram app, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vine, and whatever else I had downloaded. I wanted to see how far I could really go without the constant use of my phone and if I could even last with this long of a stretch.

For 30 days, it was truly a great experience. Usually I would test myself for a day, a few days and at most a week without social media but this month long absence was new to me, but definitely challenging. Without the constant use of my phone, you realize how much greater the world can be. I spent that month reading, bonding with friends, spending more time with my family and getting pumped up for college. I accomplished fitness goals, writing goals, and spent a lot more time alone thinking about my life and what I really wanted to accomplish.

The reason I'm writing about this now is that a few months has passed and I was slowly going back into the habit of using social media whenever I was bored when I could really be more productive. Over this past week, I was actively occupied with AIESEC's Winter National Conference that I really did not have time to scroll through social feeds. Every day was intensely eventful that kept me busy and active which was the lifestyle I enjoyed. This absence of social media reminded me how much more life I lived without social media and how it played such a huge impact on my life. 

For the record, I do not believe social media is bad but I have to admit, it really gets annoying when you have dinner with your friends and I can't talk to anyone because everyone is worried about other people's tweets and photos they could potentially miss out on. 

First Semester of College Recap

In one word, my first semester of college has been very unpredictable to say the least.

Leaving high school, I had to leave all of the organizations and groups I was proudly apart of. I had to leave my closest friends, my beloved teachers, and start everything fresh in college. Going into San Jose State, I figured that I was probably not going enjoy it since I was living from home and just because, well, it was “San Jose State”. Little did I know what all of the amazing first experiences and friendships this first semester alone has brought upon to me. I had a chance to venture out of the state twice with my new loved organization AIESEC. I had a chance to network with a countless amount of people from a variety of different places.  I had a chance to learn what I actually found to be interesting and succeed in those classes.

These new experiences made me really reflect on my life and what I want to do with it. To those who read my blog and are still in high school, I strongly believe that no matter where you decide to go, you will have fun if you make the most out of it. Strangers won't come to your dorm and ask to be your friend so this means that you really have to put yourself out there. Join clubs, go to parties, and don’t be afraid to meet other people because you really never know what your future would look like if you haven't met someone :)

What Not To Do Before A Job Interview

 

Notable Feature - SJSU

For those who don't know me that well, I am an extremely punctual person. Or at least I try to be. I used to always be late to everything: Boy Scout meetings, school, hangouts, badminton practices, events... I'll always walk into the room late with my head down, usually with a bag of tacos in my hand, and try to avoid eye contact with everyone. It wasn't until these last few years, I've made, being on time, one of my biggest priorities. But on the day of my recent job interview, disaster was ready to be unleashed.

A key component of being on time is preparation. Before I sleep and when I wake up every morning, I spend ten minutes planning out my whole day or recapping on my whole day. So the night before, I hung my suit's hanger on my door handle, placed my wallet, keys, watch, and chapstick on the table ready to be picked up the next morning. I set multiple alarms on my charging phone and even set up a back up alarm to wake me up at 8:00am. I planned that I would leave the house at 8:45am to go to Jamba Juice for breakfast and depart from Jamba Juice at 9:00am to arrive in Palo Alto at 10:00am and spend the remaining time before 10:30am to review my notes and interview questions. Sounds clear and simple, how hard can that be?

Everything was going according to plan until I hit freeway traffic. On my Google maps, it calculated that it'll take 52 minutes to get from Jamba Juice to EPRI so I thought since it was only 9:00am, that'll be perfect! Once I entered the freeway, I was hitting bumper to bumper traffic for at least an hour... As time went on, the more nervous I became. The time struck 10:00am and I still had 10 more miles to exit the freeway. So I'm thinking to myself, calm down, everything will be okay. 

I exit the freeway at 10:20 and I'm fumbling though my phone so I can memorize the directions ahead of time. At this point, I hit one of the worse feelings in my life, the feeling of being rushed. I park all the way in the back of 3240 Hillview Avenue, put on my coat that I left hanging in the back seat and scurry inside the building. 10:29am. I'm thinking to myself, things could be worse. And it was. It turns out, I was in the wrong building, the wrong address actually. The location was actually 3420 Hillview Avenue instead of 3240 Hillview Avenue... 

I email the HR coordinator on my way to the car saying I was going to be a tad late (calling would have been more effective). I start up my engine and speed a half mile across the traffic light to arrive at the entrance to the parking lot. The HR coordinator told me how EPRI and SAP shared some sort of sign so I assumed by pulling into SAP's parking lot would make me secure. To my luck, visitor parking was full and at this point, I called Denise to tell her about my situation. She told me I could park anywhere I could find so I scurried in and out of the parking garages but it was absolutely packed... Zoomed in and out twice and of both garages and could not find an empty space until I spotted an employee walking out to her car. I think I could have seriously killed somebody by how reckless I was driving. I rushed to where she parked and sprinted inside SAP. 10:38am. not bad, this could be worse right? 

Me: "Hi, I'm here to talk to Denise" 

Receptionist: "Who?" 

Me: "Denise, the HR Coordinator from EPRI?"

Other Receptionist: "You mean EPRI? That's next door buddy you got the wrong place.." 

Just imagine me in a suit with the wind blowing across my face sprinting next door for this interview. Luckily, the distance wasn't that far from both buildings except the fact that I had to sprint uphill. I slow down to catch my breath before I walk in the door because at this point, I was completely out of breath. 10:45am? At least I showed up, I thought to myself.

Me: "Hi, (gasps for air) I'm here to see Denise!!!"

Receptionist: "Oh okay, and your name?"

Me: "Pham, Tam Pham." (Imagine the most slick way to say this line, and that's how I said it.) (Not really, I just said my name) 

Denise came in to the front and escorted me to the meeting room. 

Me: "I'm so sorry, asjdfklajsdk;fjasdjfjlk" 

I begin to explain my situation and Denise cut me off and explained, 

"It's okay, a lot of our employees get lost the first time they come up here. Do you need any water or anything?"

 I was touched about how caring she was despite the fact that I wasted her time.

After an hour of interviewing with three different people including Denise, I got a call a week later telling me that they want to offer me a job. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

Even if I didn't receive the job, a lot can be learned from this experience. 

Take 101N in the morning instead of 280N.

Get the right address down. 

Keep the HR Coordinator's phone number handy in your contacts list.

Always look at the bright side of things. 

If the worse can happen, it definitely will happen. 

Make the best out of every situation. 

Thanksgiving Rant

Thanksgiving is the time of year to reflect on the year and be thankful for all of our blessings. It's the time of year when kids from college come home, when parents don't need to work, and everyone comes together to bond over a traditional dinner filled with different types of food to grub on. 

What bugs me is that why can't this feeling of appreciation and gratitude be constant throughout our whole lives? Why must this time of thankfulness come once a year and everyone finally realizes how lucky they really are?

It's evident that even the very next day, the same loving and caring people you saw at the dinner table are fighting over the last Ipad at Walmart with another family. People are literally killing each other and dropping all of their gratitude and kindness for cheap bargains. Now I feel like Thanksgiving is just a holiday that companies can capitalize on with their marketing strategy. Now there are Pre-Black Friday sales, constant online bargains, and stores are even opening on Thanksgiving night! They are now luring in customers to line up hours before 8pm on Thanksgiving night to be the first ones in line to enter the stores. Well, the more hours the store is open, the more revenue they'll earn... What company wouldn't take advantage of that? 

It just grinds my gears how employees and customers have to sacrifice their Thanksgiving dinner, that ultimate bonding time, for deals they cannot find elsewhere or work they cannot miss. 

I don't have any right to tell anyone how to live their life, but I just wanted to share my own perspective on this ancient day of giving. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone :-)

Picture Source 

School or New York? Definitely New York

To start off, let's just say it is an absolutely miracle for me to venture to New York in the most random time of the school year.

AIESEC US (Find out what AIESEC is here) was hosting "Train the Trainers" event, which was an intense 3 day training seminar where participants learn about themselves, learning theory, and training techniques. On a personal and professional level, participants enhance their personal development, learning, and skills and become certified trainers in the AIESEC network.

With more research, I'm thinking to myself, this is an awesome opportunity. Even though this was only my first year in AIESEC, I applied on a whim. I thought, why not? For the TtT in New York specifically, only 10 delegates got chosen out of all of AIESEC United States so my hopes were certainly not high for this. At first, I was rejected and the email explained how I lacked experience, lacked conference attendances, and I was already at a disadvantage because I lived on the West Coast (their goal at that moment was to strengthen the clubs in that region). But a week before TtT, the National Trainers Team Coordinator sent me an email that someone dropped out last second and asked if I was still interested. I was like, hell yes! I booked my flight that same day and the rest was history.

So my plan was to depart San Jose on a Thursday morning and arrive in New York City in the evening. From NYC the next day, I would take a bus to Ithaca where Cornell University was located, and spend 3 days and 2 nights on campus. On Sunday night, I would take a bus back to NYC and spend all of Veteran's Day (Monday) exploring the beautiful city.

Everything was quite an adventure and I also had the chance to practice some photography as well. If you are interested, my adventures are separated in the three links below.

Day 1: The Flight

Day 2-4:Cornell University - TtT

Day 5:24 Hours in New York

Photos