I hope this letter finds you safe.
My life motto is “Things happen, life happens,” but even I couldn’t have imagined living through a pandemic.
It’s times like these that make you contemplate life.
Tag: college
It’s Been Quite Interesting Being a Conservative in a Liberal Bubble (Part II of II)
My college friend was always a liberal, but most people become one in college.
I was wired in politics from middle school, but most of my pre-college friends weren't. Yet two months into college, when we got together for the first time since high school graduation, they'd
It’s Been Quite Interesting Being a Conservative in a Liberal Bubble (Part I of II)
I am a conservative living in an overwhelmingly liberal bubble. This has led me to live quite an interesting life.
Take law school. At the end of my first week there, a random person walked up to me and said, "So I heard that you're the new conservative
To Curious Eagles: Take My Interdisciplinary Course on Airplane Accidents (Part II of II)
Topic 10: Fire in flight (Natural Sciences)
A fire on an airplane can be deadly. It can be caused by bad wiring (Swissair Flight 111), under-inflated tires (Nigeria Airways Flight 2120) or combustible cargo (ValuJet Flight 592, UPS Airlines Flight 6). Fire
To Curious Eagles: Take My Interdisciplinary Course on Airplane Accidents (Part I of II)
Dear Curious Eagles,
Liberal arts is at the heart of the education you are receiving at Boston College, and nothing epitomizes liberal arts better than interdisciplinary studies like a major in International Studies or the Perspectives Program.
There is, though, no single class that satisfies all
To Tristan, My Newly-Married Friend: Thanks for the Friendship Defined by Differences
Tristan,
As I attended the ceremony celebrating your matrimony with Becca, I thought about our friendship--about how it all began, how it deepened over the years and how it's thrived on our many differences.
I remember your joking once that I'm the first Republican you'd ever met, and it probably won't surprise you that you're the first
As I attended the ceremony celebrating your matrimony with Becca, I thought about our friendship--about how it all began, how it deepened over the years and how it's thrived on our many differences.
I remember your joking once that I'm the first Republican you'd ever met, and it probably won't surprise you that you're the first
To Tom, My Newly-Married Friend: May You and Kris-Stella Together Contribute to the Betterment of the World
Dear Tom,
You and I will forever be bound by the bond we formed during our days at Boston College, so it's hardly a surprise that, as I attended your celebration of matrimony with Kris-Stella last month, I looked back on our time together at BC.
In particular, I thought about what it means to be a BC
You and I will forever be bound by the bond we formed during our days at Boston College, so it's hardly a surprise that, as I attended your celebration of matrimony with Kris-Stella last month, I looked back on our time together at BC.
In particular, I thought about what it means to be a BC
What I Had to Go Through in College as a Conservative, Liberals Should Experience, Too
I have had enough of reading about liberal college students on liberal college campuses complaining about their liberal sensitivities being offended.
These people are not entitled not to be offended.
The reason I know this is because if they have such an entitlement, so do I, and if I were to have such entitlement, the very people who
These people are not entitled not to be offended.
The reason I know this is because if they have such an entitlement, so do I, and if I were to have such entitlement, the very people who
To Entitled Eagles: You’re Not Special
Dear Entitled Eagles,
Despite attending a prestigious university called Boston College, there are certain things that you are not entitled to.
First, you’re not entitled to any particular grade. Certainly not an A or a B, or even a C+.
Grades measure your knowledge and abilities, however imperfectly. If you exhibit superior capabilities, you get high marks. If you exhibit deficiencies,
Despite attending a prestigious university called Boston College, there are certain things that you are not entitled to.
First, you’re not entitled to any particular grade. Certainly not an A or a B, or even a C+.
Grades measure your knowledge and abilities, however imperfectly. If you exhibit superior capabilities, you get high marks. If you exhibit deficiencies,
I Hate Wednesdays
I recently had a revelation. The day of the week that I hate the most is not the widely-detested Monday, but rather is, far and away, Wednesday.
The best day of the week is, of course, Saturdays because they're right in middle of the weekend, as defined the American way as lasting from Friday through Sunday. On Saturdays, I get to sleep
The best day of the week is, of course, Saturdays because they're right in middle of the weekend, as defined the American way as lasting from Friday through Sunday. On Saturdays, I get to sleep
A Modest Suggestion for the Politically Inclined
I have a suggestion for those who are politically interested: surround yourself with people who are disagreeable. Surround yourself with a lot of them.
That means that if you’re in college, odds are you should be seeking people who go to meetings of College Republicans (yes, those people exist, in surprisingly large number). If you’re a working
That means that if you’re in college, odds are you should be seeking people who go to meetings of College Republicans (yes, those people exist, in surprisingly large number). If you’re a working
Things I Discovered by Googling My Name
Have you ever Googled yourself?
I have, but that probably doesn’t come as a surprise to many of you who know how much of a narcissistic egomaniac I am.
Even if it’s in your nature to be more humble and reserved than I, I still recommend that you occasionally run a search of yourself at www.google.com, if only
I have, but that probably doesn’t come as a surprise to many of you who know how much of a narcissistic egomaniac I am.
Even if it’s in your nature to be more humble and reserved than I, I still recommend that you occasionally run a search of yourself at www.google.com, if only
We All Owe LeBron James an Apology
I may have been wrong about LeBron James for the past four years. In fact, I'm pretty certain that most of us owe him an apology.
As I read his reasons on why he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers as told to Sports Illustrated, the word "redemption" came to mind. By returning to Cleveland, I thought he's redeeming
As I read his reasons on why he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers as told to Sports Illustrated, the word "redemption" came to mind. By returning to Cleveland, I thought he's redeeming
The Nature of Being Judgmental
I am a very critical and judgmental person.
I recently realized how serious my critical nature has become when the first words out of my mouth to a person who had just completed making a perfectly thoughtful remark was, "But isn't it...?" Being critical has become so second nature to me that I have developed a pattern of "disagree first, think later."
It
I recently realized how serious my critical nature has become when the first words out of my mouth to a person who had just completed making a perfectly thoughtful remark was, "But isn't it...?" Being critical has become so second nature to me that I have developed a pattern of "disagree first, think later."
It
To Underclassmen Eagles: Make Not Just Friends, But Friends Who Are Different
Dear Underclassman Eagles,
After you graduate from Boston College, you'll realize that your years at Chestnut Hill shaped many aspects of your life. The liberal arts education that instilled a sense of public service is one. The life-long friendships that you formed is another.
As an underclassman, you're likely still building your circle of friends, and to those who
After you graduate from Boston College, you'll realize that your years at Chestnut Hill shaped many aspects of your life. The liberal arts education that instilled a sense of public service is one. The life-long friendships that you formed is another.
As an underclassman, you're likely still building your circle of friends, and to those who
No, I’m Not Changing the Title of This Blog
As my friends can probably tell from my desperate pleas to read new posts every other Monday on Facebook, this blog does not get a lot of readers. I concede that the daily readership averages below one, and recently, the hits often don't reach double digits even on the Mondays that I put up a
Democracy in Action II: Gregory Watson’s One-Man Campaign to Amend the Constitution
The 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution all started with a C paper.
It was 1982, and the constitutional debate du jour was the Equal Rights Amendment, which was intended to guarantee equal rights for men and women. The amendment passed both houses of Congress in 1972 and was given to the states to ratify
It was 1982, and the constitutional debate du jour was the Equal Rights Amendment, which was intended to guarantee equal rights for men and women. The amendment passed both houses of Congress in 1972 and was given to the states to ratify
Living Life Without Regrets
I don't have a lot of regrets in my life. If forced to name them, I have a list of three to choose from, but people laughed at me the one time I talked about how I forever regret choosing to study for my constitutional law exam instead of attending my very first Brad Paisley concert,
Sleep: Oh How I Love Thee, Oh How I Miss Thee
This post is about sleep because every waking moment during the last week when I wasn't thinking about food, I was thinking about sleep. It may have something to do with the fact that I haven't gotten a decent amount of sleep on a weeknight for over a month.
I can count on one hand the
I can count on one hand the
To Eagles Preparing for Senior Year: Commit to Writing a Senior Thesis
Dear Eagles Preparing for Senior Year,
After three years of hard work, I know it's tempting to look at your final year in college as the last hurrah before you have to face the realities of the real world. Workdays, bills and taxes await you after graduation, and I don't blame you for wanting to make
After three years of hard work, I know it's tempting to look at your final year in college as the last hurrah before you have to face the realities of the real world. Workdays, bills and taxes await you after graduation, and I don't blame you for wanting to make
Two Life Lessons From Failure of Johannes Kepler
I had one of the most deeply reflective moments about life in college in, of all places, math class, from a professor who shared a story about a failure of Johannes Kepler before he discovered that the planets orbit the sun in an elliptical curve.
Back in Kepler's days, scientists were aware of only six planets. Kepler
Back in Kepler's days, scientists were aware of only six planets. Kepler
To Overachieving Eagles: How to Inflate Your GPA
Dear Overachieving Eagles,
Being a natural overachiever, many of you will seek to become the cream of the crop of American society by obtaining a degree that's even higher than the Bachelor of Arts, like M.A., M.D., J.D., M.B.A. or Ph.D.
As an overeducated double Eagle myself, I have some experience with knowing what it takes to
Being a natural overachiever, many of you will seek to become the cream of the crop of American society by obtaining a degree that's even higher than the Bachelor of Arts, like M.A., M.D., J.D., M.B.A. or Ph.D.
As an overeducated double Eagle myself, I have some experience with knowing what it takes to
In Memory of John Ezzard (1984-2012)
John was a couple years behind me at Boston College. I don't exactly recall how we initially met, but we quickly became close friends because I was Japanese and he was interested in Japan.
John had a great laugh. He and I come from a different political mold, he of the moderate left and I of
John had a great laugh. He and I come from a different political mold, he of the moderate left and I of
Dreams Becoming Reality (Or Is It Reality Becoming a Dream?)
It's unusual enough to recall a dream you had the night prior, but it's truly rare to have a dream with more or less the same story which I always recall because it's literally dé ja vu.
It goes something like this. It is the last week of classes and I am panicking because it dawns
It goes something like this. It is the last week of classes and I am panicking because it dawns
Reading Isn’t What It Used to Be, and That’s a Good Thing
For the longest time, I had no interest in reading.
I swear it started in high school, when novels like "The Grapes of Wrath," "Walden Pond" and "The Old Man and the Sea" sent me into temporary comas. I think my experience proves that just because a book is a "classic" doesn't mean kids in
I swear it started in high school, when novels like "The Grapes of Wrath," "Walden Pond" and "The Old Man and the Sea" sent me into temporary comas. I think my experience proves that just because a book is a "classic" doesn't mean kids in
Music Tied to My Life Moments
My life consists of obsessions and it's no different with music. When I buy new music, I listen to it over and over (and over and over) again until it is playing in my head and driving me insane. I then find the next music to obsess about. Because of this, many of the songs
Make Your Personal Statement Personal
It's that time of the year when people are applying to law schools.
Because I've gone through the process myself, and based on the opportunity to be on the other side of reviewing applications, I've developed certain views on what makes a good personal statement, not just for law school applications but for applications in general.
In a
Because I've gone through the process myself, and based on the opportunity to be on the other side of reviewing applications, I've developed certain views on what makes a good personal statement, not just for law school applications but for applications in general.
In a
Let’s Stay in Touch
I am starting my new life in Tokyo, where new challenges await. I'm really excited, but the move still feels quite surreal. I don't think reality has quite sunk in.
Twenty-one years, 3 months and 10 days passed between my residency in Japan. That's a long time. I haven't felt nostalgic yet, but I've started to
Twenty-one years, 3 months and 10 days passed between my residency in Japan. That's a long time. I haven't felt nostalgic yet, but I've started to
Growing Up White And Dealing With an Identity Crises*
I grew up in a quintessential, middle class New Jersey suburb. My parents, who went to college in America, were not typical Japanese expatriates. They cared little for socializing with Japanese people or Japanese pop culture and thus, I grew up with very little Japanese around me. Except for insisting that I attend Japanese school
What I Learned About Writing
I'll never forget the professor in my Legal Writing class in my first year of law school who said that English majors struggle mightily in the class. It was a moment I realized that lawyers are one of the worst writers out of professionals whose job primarily revolves around writing. Lawyers use "effect" as a
The Entitlement Generation Needs a Reality Check
I've been hearing the phrase "The Entitlement Generation" a lot lately. It's a phrase I first heard from a boss when I started working and I'm starting to understand what he meant.
I don't know what's causing the sense of entitlement among far too many in the society. The boss thought it was because our generation grew up
I don't know what's causing the sense of entitlement among far too many in the society. The boss thought it was because our generation grew up
Friends Come in Many Forms and Are Meaningful in Different Ways
All friends are different.
Some friends you grew up with. These friends know the you before you matured, became educated and got a job. They are the people you may not become friends with if you met them now because you have grown to have different interests and walk in different circles, but the childhood innocence
Some friends you grew up with. These friends know the you before you matured, became educated and got a job. They are the people you may not become friends with if you met them now because you have grown to have different interests and walk in different circles, but the childhood innocence
In Defense of My Education…
A couple months ago, I defended lawyers. To show that I can make myself even more lovable, today I defend my educational background, which I thought spoke for itself. For this show of narcissism that's paralleled, y'all can thank my office neighbor, who, upon hearing the details of my academic history, questioned whether I slipped through the
How I Became a Yankee Dixie
During my high school senior year college application process, a teacher advised me not to go to school in the South. "You're Asian and you're Catholic," he warned, inferring neither is particularly welcome down in the land of the Dixie. I dutifully complied, with my most southern application going to Washington D.C., rest to the
From Baseball Cap to Handgun: Story of Joe’s Rebellion
My parents are typical Asian parents. They are controlling and overbearing. That I was their oldest--and only--son probably didn't help much.
I think it's psychologically healthy for every child to go through a rebellious period against his or her parents (within means, of course), but I fear I missed out on that experience when I had
I think it's psychologically healthy for every child to go through a rebellious period against his or her parents (within means, of course), but I fear I missed out on that experience when I had
My Relationship With Math: It Was Good, Until It Got Complicated
Last week, I bought a TI-89 calculator. It's like the calculator you used to get by calculus in high school, only this one is better.
I've wanted one for a long time. My freshman year at Boston College, I got a TI-89 because I was well on my way to majoring in math. This union lasted
I've wanted one for a long time. My freshman year at Boston College, I got a TI-89 because I was well on my way to majoring in math. This union lasted
Why I Don’t Talk Politics
A couple weeks ago, my high school buddies came over to my apartment, one of them kindly pointed out that he can see my office from my window, then tried to persuade me for hours on end that I should write about politics in my blog. His point, as I understood it, was that no
Straddling Individualism and Communalism: Which Am I?
I have a great story that explains how societal norms greatly differs between Asians and Westerners.
The summer after I graduated from college, I went to China on a two week trip composed of college students mostly studying or interested in government. The student composition was geographically diverse, with students from colleges all over the United
The summer after I graduated from college, I went to China on a two week trip composed of college students mostly studying or interested in government. The student composition was geographically diverse, with students from colleges all over the United
I Could be Wrong, But I Doubt It
I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
I have gone through five years of grammar school, three years of middle school, four years of high school, four years of college, three years of law school and nearly two years of work experience. I have stayed consistently in one side of the political spectrum. I studied
I have gone through five years of grammar school, three years of middle school, four years of high school, four years of college, three years of law school and nearly two years of work experience. I have stayed consistently in one side of the political spectrum. I studied
I Try to Kid, But I (Sometimes) Have a Point
For better or for worse, I seem to leave a distinct impression on people, although I can't tell whether the impression I leave is good or bad. One week into my foray into law school at the particularly liberal Rutgers of Newark, people started coming up to me and saying, "So you're the new conservative,
The Evil SAT Verbal
The happiest moment of my life was when I got a 600 on SAT verbal. You may say it doesn't take much to make me happy, but you'd be missing my point. The statement is a reflection on my life-long struggle to achieve competence in verbalism, be it in English or Japanese.
I somehow managed to
I somehow managed to
To Future Eagles: It Does Indeed Suck to B.U.
To a Future Eagle,
Congratulations on your acceptance to Boston College!
The odds are that in the past year and a half, you carefully researched BC's academic program, spoke with the students already attending, and toured the school to get a feel for the campus so your choice to attend the school is a result of thoughtful
Congratulations on your acceptance to Boston College!
The odds are that in the past year and a half, you carefully researched BC's academic program, spoke with the students already attending, and toured the school to get a feel for the campus so your choice to attend the school is a result of thoughtful
Where Juku Took Me, Despite Myself
My college professor once sarcastically remarked that I'm a collector. That I am. I don't just collect the popular, and the more common sensical, baseball cards or foreign money. No, no. I collect crap like movie stubs and hotel card keys (which I eventually stopped because I realized that's not crap, it's trash).
Then there is
Then there is
How Should I Tell NYU to Go Screw Itself?
It's been about three months since I moved to an apartment in New York City, but I haven't shared my NYC address with too many people. Bank statements and bills related to my NYC life comes to my apartment, but I haven't changed my mailing address save for Sports Illustrated, my reading during commute. (I
On Being 18 – Again and Forever
I was called "Sir" again.
I ordered a sandwich at the firm's cafeteria and the guy gave me my order by saying, "Here you go, Sir." It was deja vu. Three years ago, when I was in law school, I ordered a sub at the dining hall on main campus (where undergrads eat) and I was
I ordered a sandwich at the firm's cafeteria and the guy gave me my order by saying, "Here you go, Sir." It was deja vu. Three years ago, when I was in law school, I ordered a sub at the dining hall on main campus (where undergrads eat) and I was