One World, One Dream

INCIDENT:
It is Blog Action Day and the theme this year is poverty. If you are not familiar with Blog Action Day, it is a day when bloggers are encouraged to write on one specific topic on a specified day of the year. Last year bloggers were challenged to write about the environment in order to focus our everyday conversations on a topic of importance instead of the trivial chit-chat normally found in our daily interactions. I wrote about the unsustainable lifestyle that our society has grown accustomed to and the need to question that lifestyle in a post called "Global Problem."

This year's topic of poverty is universally felt by everyone around the world. Besides the more obvious definition of poverty as a lack of the human necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, poverty also refers to lack of opportunity -- for example, opportunities to learn, to prosper, or to succeed. Given my Olympic fever back in August, I feel that it is my responsibility to address the other side of the China Olympic story... well at least one aspect of the controversy that I think is poignantly illustrated in this image (whether or not this is real or Photoshopped):

Beijing Olympics, One World, One Dream [SOURCE]

MORAL:
The result of the juxtaposition of the Olympics with the reality of living conditions for so many in China was direct conflict. Yet it was almost too easy to resolve that conflict as the Olympics played out in all of its glory as we are distracted by the pomp and circumstance as well as the accomplishments of the athletes. However it was unfair to everyone involved to have to come to a resolution in the first place. Isn't the Olympics about strengthening infrastructure not only physically but also mentally? Did the people of China reap this ultimate benefit of having the Olympics in Beijing? Perhaps some did and will but one could argue that most did not and that is an even greater tragedy. What happens to these people? And why have we stopped talking about them since the Olympic closing ceremonies?

In Memoriam: Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch giving a speech at the 2008 Commencement exercises at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh PA.

INCIDENT:
Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch died today of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was only 47 years old and is survived by his wife, Jai and their three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe. Pausch gained national and international fame recently for his "last lecture" delivered at Carnegie Mellon in September of 2007. The video of the lecture made its rounds on YouTube and resulted in a book that further expounded on the themes of the original lecture -- live out your childhood dreams. I wrote about his lecture in a post called "I want to be a Tigger!" back in October and since then I have been searching for more of his great wisdom on life. Luckily, Pausch had many great friends and had touched the lives of a countless number of students. His legacy will live on in each and every person that encountered him in person and through the blessing of technology. One of Pausch's friends and colleagues at University of Virginia, Dr. Gabriel Robins, has a great website with videos, PowerPoint slides, and PDFs of Pausch's recent and not-to-recent lectures for the public to enjoy. If you haven't yet, take a moment and be moved by the strength and courage of this man. Afterwards, I am certain you will be believe that you can move mountains... and you will want to.

MORAL:
My deepest sympathies to Randy Pausch's family and to all those who were close to him. I hope and pray that his children will know what an amazing man their father was and how his life inspired millions. As a wonderful professor at UVA and CMU, he encouraged his students to push the limits of creativity and technology. Those of us that did not get the chance to take Dr. Pausch's Building Virtual Worlds class (there was always a very long wait list!) were still moved by his presence on campus. You can not say that about many professors outside of your own discipline. His "last lecture" and his time management lecture gave him the chance to inspire the world.

For sharing his message and his struggle, I will always be grateful.

Stop-Loss

INCIDENT:
My friend's son just got back from his third tour in Iraq. Following two tours in Iraq his initial end of term of service date drew near and he was suppose to get out of the military; however, he was stop-lossed. If you are unfamiliar with the stop-loss policy in the United States military, it is the involuntary extension of a service member's active duty service (Thanks Wikipedia!). It has also been referred to as the back door draft. Thousands of soldiers have been stop-lossed in this current war. Depending on the timing of the stop-loss, the soldier could be forced to serve another tour of duty. My friend's son went on to serve another 18 month tour in Iraq. His stories of Iraq are unbelievable and surreal. And every moment speaking to him you feel proud of all of our military personnel serving our country and at the same time outraged at how they have been treated.

Recently a movie directed by Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry) and starring Ryan Phillippe (Igby Goes Down), Channing Tatum (Step Up), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) has tackled this issue. Stop-loss is about the lives of a soldier and his platoon buddies as they return from their tour of duty in Iraq. Life was not as they expected it to be upon their return.



MORAL:
It is important to see this film and other films about the war in Iraq so that we can gain some perspective about the reality of war. We seem so isolated in the United States from everything that is going on in the Middle East and I wonder if an accurate image of the day-to-day in Iraq is what our country needs as we head to the voting booth in November.

If we will not get the truth from this administration, the very least we can do is to search for the truth ourselves. We owe it to our country and to our service members in the military.

Proposal: An Airline Passenger License

INCIDENT:
I just got back from a quick weekend trip to San Diego for a friend's wedding. As you may know I have a pet peeve about how people store their luggage in the overhead compartment. So this time as I was waiting for people to board, I started thinking about all of the things that I don't like about flying. Before I leave for any trip I feel pretty anxious. It is not until I get to my destination do I begin to feel really excited. The combination of an incomplete to-do list at home, the hassle and frustration of airports, the long security lines, delayed flights, and the coordination of airport pick-ups and drop-offs can make anyone anxious.

MORAL:
Considering I fly rather often, I put some thought into how to resolve my anxieties about flying. So I came up with a proposal. My idea is that people need to get an airline passenger license. There are plenty of activities that require training before you can partake in them... why not flying? Seriously think about it... if something happened on the plane, would you like everyones first experience with opening the exit hatch or operating the emergency slide the moment when it was most needed? I don't think so.

So what would this airline passenger license involve? Well to start, a review of TSA guidelines would be good. Aren't you curious about how the guidelines were determined? Really what is the difference between 3.4 oz. and 3.5 oz. of liquid to homeland security? Follow that with training on the dos and don'ts of going through the airport security line. This is key in helping with speed of getting through the security line. Then we can round off the licensing procedure with first hand training in operating the exit doors, using oxygen masks, dealing with unruly passengers, putting on life vests while getting to the emergency exits, and of course, storing luggage properly in the overhead compartment.

This airline passenger license will take the Clear card to the next level. And if it is required for everyone, then flying will be a much better experience for all. Think about it... and while we are at it, I have some other ideas for things that should require licenses as well...

What now?

INCIDENT:
I haven't posted in awhile cause I have been a bit busy with a momentous occasion in my life and it seriously took all of my focus and energies for the past couple of weeks (or rather months depending on how you count...). But now, that it is over I am left wondering, what next?

MORAL:
Have you ever worked towards a major goal? Where you are almost blinded by everything else that is going on around you and particularly by the goal itself that you can't see past it (or perhaps you just haven't thought about what happens after you accomplish it...). It's a strange place to be... somewhere in goal purgatory. It's a bit of an uneasy feeling not knowing what to focus on next, but it can also be a really wonderful place to be.

How often to you get to say that anything is possible at this moment? - A moment when in an instant you all of a sudden have more free time (well, at least perceived free time, since all those other obligations that you had before are probably still there)... A moment when you can start working on something that you have wanted to do for a long time... A moment to re-evaluate what is most important in your life. So it's really the perfect time to tackle one of those personally important things on your to-do list that doesn't have a due date. You know all of those dreams and thoughts that you have in any given day - to take up a new sport, to learn something new, or to start volunteering for a worthy cause. Do you ever wonder, when do people have time for all of these things? Well, the answer to that question is right now.

Postcards from Yo Momma

INCIDENT:
In honor of mother's day, I thought I would do a little tribute to moms. And when I came across this great website where people post hilarious emails from their moms, I thought it was pretty entertaining. It is also reassuring that we all have really awesome moms. And really awesome moms combined with all the high jinks related to learning how to use the internet machine equals a good time.

Postcards from Yo Momma

One of my favorite posts is this one:

April 30, 2008
the fun never ends

Just wanted to say hi. I know you’re probably busy getting caught up at work after last week. I hope you enjoyed the plays. Did you get the movie I sent you? Today is our 31st anniversary. We are eating leftovers for dinner, and I was bit by a dog this morning. I’m not foaming at the mouth, so far. The fun never ends. Love, Mom

MORAL:
Do you ever think that only you have crazy interactions with your mom? Well apparently you are not alone. I have to admit that while it is sometimes frustrating, it is also incredibly endearing. The little quirks about our relationships with our moms are what also make that relationship very special.

So on mother's day, I would like to thank my mom for everything she has given to my life. Despite some tense moments lately, you have filled my life with joy.

Stuff White People Like

INCIDENT:
Sometimes stereotypes can be funny when framed in a certain context. I have been really enjoying this blog called Stuff White People Like. And I have found that there are other blogs that have copied a similar framework like Stuff Asian People Like.

Now I can identify with the stereotypes of two races/ethnic groups. Awesome.

MORAL:
We have to laugh at ourselves once in awhile if we are going to make it through this life. I don't think that these blogs are mean spirited but rather take ownership of the little quirks that help define who we are... As I mentioned above, even though I am not white I identify with many of the things on the list. What does this mean? Who knows. I don't really read too much into that other than I have been blessed with many different types of friends who have influenced my life. But it also goes to show you that so many things transcend race or ethnicity. And if we see past it all, we really are very similar.

Garfield minus Garfield

INCIDENT:
Growing up I use to read the comics every Sunday at the kitchen table. I usually started out with Peanuts (my favorite!), then Calvin and Hobbes, a quick glance at Family Circus, and then of course finishing with Garfield. But who knew that Garfield (the comic) without Garfield (the character) holds an even more interesting commentary about modern life and mental illness.

MORAL:
I guess comics were meant to be funny and not somewhat tragic observations about life... well at least not the comics in the Sunday newspaper. It is really interesting to see how the exclusion of one element can completely change how we perceive a situation. By removing Garfield we go from an amusing comment on relationships to a sad portrayal of life for a lonely person. This one change... isn't this the real difference in our everyday situations? The difference between happiness and sadness is our perception of the situation. And this perception is based on how the situation is viewed... what elements we include and exclude in our evaluation... perhaps it could make all the difference. Have you wondered... What are we not seeing?

Surviving

INCIDENT:
PostSecret is one of my favorite community-based art projects (Your Art Here is another favorite). There has been a lot of press, books, and even an All-American Rejects video on this art project. What is so great about PostSecret is that it makes art accessible. Some people do not think that they can be creative or artistic, but projects like PostSecret redefine the publics conception of what art can be. I have always believed that one’s perspective is crucial to the appreciation of art. And in the simplicity of the concept for this project, we find a complex outcome - life, death, happiness, and great sadness, but also humanity, hope, and faith.

Frank Warren, who is the founder of PostSecret, said at a recent lecture that "the children the world almost break become the adults who save it." I think you need to let that marinate a bit.

MORAL:
The inherent nature of our society with its freedom of choice as individuals leads to a spectrum of emotion and experience. And while children perhaps have somewhat less control over their lives they certainly are not immune to the highs and lows that the world holds for them. Those that do make it through life's experiences have a different perspective on life. Perhaps it is an urgency... maybe it is a clearer purpose... I am not sure what it is. But if you ever met anyone who has gone through anything major in their life, you have seen it. And it is inspiring.

UPDATE (02/08/08): Be inspired.

I Want to Be Natascha Badmann

INCIDENT:
Natasha Badmann is amazing. She is a six time Ironman World Champion. She has a great passion for the sport and she has the most positive attitude... not to mention her incredible sportsmanship.

At talk given by Desiree Ficker, another Ironman triathlete, Desiree talked about the 2006 Ironman World Championships. It was her first World Championship and somehow she found herself passing Natasha Badmann. This is a moment dreams are made of... and what do you think was Natasha's reaction? She encouraged Desiree. She kept telling her "Good job." Now that's the reaction of a real champion.

So you can imagine that this year's Ironman World Championship would be no different. For some reason the 2007 World Championships were extra crazy with a couple of the former champions coming down with stomach viruses... and then there was this strange circumstance with Natasha. So a couple of miles into the bike Natasha was in an accident. She was pretty badly hurt and bleeding. Her bike was totaled. Natasha shook it off after about 30 minutes of trying to recover. With her arm in a sling, they helped her onto a new bike and she was off. After about 30 miles, the pain was so excruciating that her coach and partner advised her to quit. She put up a fight but in the end decided that her coach knew what he was talking about... and it turns out he did, because Natasha had a broken rib and a broken collar bone as well as tendon damage in her shoulders and severe skin injuries. She has undergone two surgeries since the race to repair the damage from the accident especially the heavy damage to the tendons in her shoulders.

MORAL:
I want to be her. When you see the determination and courage of certain individuals in times of great adversity, you have to be inspired. Just to know that people like this exist in the world gives me hope. Whenever I feel like I cannot give any more, I think of people like Natasha... people who dig deep and find great strength. Because the moment that you give up is also the moment that you never realize how strong you really are.

11 Pep Talks

INCIDENT:
I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with some of my close friends and lots and lots of really good food. It was nice to spend Thanksgiving among people that I love and respect. Not only can they all cook ridiculously well, but they are also very smart. They're an inspiration.

And as I am at the very beginning of what will be a lifetime of research, I could use all the inspiration and advice I can get... so my trip west resulted in a full stomach and a shifted perspective.

MORAL:
It is amazing what some experience can do to your confidence and productivity. I have to remember that in time I will get there myself. But it is wonderful in the meantime to have the advice and good words from those who are a bit further in the process than I.

To my dear friends, I take this time to express my thanks.

Online Harassment, Morality, and Accountability

INCIDENT:
There is a story circulating in the popular media right now about a young teenager named Megan Meier who committed suicide last year over hurtful comments from a friend, Josh Evans, on MySpace. But it turns out that her MySpace friend was not the 16 year old boy she thought she befriended, but rather it was the curious mother of her former friend. This mother wanted to know what Megan was saying about her daughter.

It is an unbelievable story that calls to question the role of online social networks, the faulty judgment of some parents, accountability, and the sad reality of life in the twenty first century.

St. Charles Journal - POKIN AROUND: A real person, a real death

The Associated Press - Web Hoax Victim's Family Seeks Reforms

USA Today - Town may criminalize online harassment

MORAL:
This is a heart breaking story. I especially feel for Megan Meier as she was the true victim in this tragedy. When you are suffering from depression, you need a supportive environment to deal with it in a healthy manner. Reports say that when she first befriended "Josh" her disposition was happier. And you can imagine that the positive attention she was receiving from this "boy" contributed to a better outlook on life. But then to suddenly receive incredibly hurtful comments from someone that she thought was a friend... it was unbearable. My sympathies to the Meier family. I hope Megan has found peace.

What sickens me the most is that it was a cruel hoax perpetrated by an adult... a parent no less. This is more than an error of judgment. It was deliberate, calculated, and absolutely heartless. This mother knew Megan. Megan went on vacation with their family. She knew of Megan's psychological illnesses. And yet, she found this to be an appropriate and justifiable response? In what moral world, is this remotely appropriate?

It makes you wonder... what other new problems will we face as technology advances? What new ethical issues? What new reflections of humanity?

The Millennials

INCIDENT:
On "60 Minutes" last Sunday, Morley Safer reported on the new generation of "millennials." These are the people who were born from 1980 until the mid 1990s during a time when people thought it was bad to have kids experience failure and instead championed mediocrity. Well, now they are joining the work force and it is changing the face of corporate America... for bad or for good.

CBS News - The "Millennials" Are Coming

MORAL:
If you have had the pleasure of teaching in recent years you probably have encountered students that feel entitled to better grades despite their performance in class. I never understood why someone would think they deserve a better grade just because they ask for one. What happened to working hard? Is that not valued anymore?

I failed many times in my life. And as difficult as those situations were for me, it inspired me to be better. If there was no incentive to working hard then what's the point? What's the point to a life without failure? You might was well veg out and stop caring. Without failure we don't know when we have actually succeeded.

Trial by Fire

INCIDENT:
In a way I think of graduate school as trial by fire. The student is placed in a situation where in most cases they need to learn a new body of literature, attend graduate classes that they may or not have background in, and design and perform research. There are expectations on the part of the department, the advisor, and the student. And I suspect that those expectations don't always align.

"No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed." - Christabel LaMotte (Possession: A Romance; A.S. Byatt)

MORAL:
When you begin graduate school you don't want to appear stupid, but ironically that is probably the time that you are going to ask ignorant and naive questions. There are opposing forces at work. You want to impress and live up to your advisor's expectations, but at the same time there is a reason you are in graduate school in the first place (If you could easily go out and do research without guidance and instruction, then you don't really need to be in grad school now do you?). But recognizing this ultimate irony is not enough to overcome the feelings of inadequacy. It is hard to ignore the mounting pieces of evidence and even harder to recognize any contradictory information.

US Men's Olympic Marathon Trials

INCIDENT:
The US Men's Olympic Marathon Trials were held in New York City on Saturday November 02 2007. Most of the American elite marathoners were there. It was quite a field. The race started at 7:30A near the cathedral and then looped through Central Park several times. It was a very spectator-friendly course. Spectators were able to see the runners about 10 times during the race. And there definitely was a great turn out of spectators including a group of crazy bare chested guys with letters painted on their chests to spell "SELL" (Brian Sell was one of the crowd favorites). Yeah. We were at a road race and there were guys jumping up and down in 40 degree weather with their shirts off as if we were at a football game. It was crazy. But this is the nature of the running community. They are just as passionate about supporting the sport as they are about participating in it.

Brian Sell with fans before the start of the race (Photo credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

It was a great race. There were two main lead packs and the runners changed places often within and between the packs. For such an intense race and distance, it was a nail biter until the end. In this amazing field of runners, emerged a new group of Olympic hopefuls.

2008 US Olympic Marathon Team -- Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell (Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

It was a day of great triumphs but also of great tragedy. As we walked from the start of the race to about East 79th Street, there was a runner down on the course. We stopped for a second to see what was going on thinking that someone might have sprained an ankle or something... but there were the medics administering CPR. It was not a good sign. We could not see who it was but we did not want to stick around. We were worried but knew that the runner was in good hands. It was only later that we found out that the runner was Ryan Shay (he was the 2003 US Marathon Champion) and that he passed away after he was brought to the hospital. It is a huge loss to the running community. My deepest sympathies to his wife and family.

Ryan Shay leads during the 10,000m at the 2002 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Photo credit: Alison Wade, New York Road Runners)

MORAL:

There is a simple message here. Live and love life to its fullest. There will be great highs and lows, but never take life for granted.

What I can't be when I grow up

INCIDENT:
I was on a transcontinental flight recently. It was a completely full flight. I felt like cattle. Anyhow, these days it seems like every single person avoids checking in luggage. So you can imagine that with a full flight there was a lot of luggage. And as I was watching people put their baggage in the overhead compartment, I realized that I could never be a flight attendant. I don't know how they deal with the public all the time and in such a stressful situation. But also how do they deal with all of these people that are so spatially challenged? It is painful to watch. People manage to place their luggage in the most inefficient ways.

MORAL:
I never noticed that the measure of the general population's spatial ability is incredibly evident in the mundane task of storing baggage on an airline flight. But what I find funny is that it bothers me... a lot. And I'm not sure why.

Rewired

INCIDENT:
So today I learned to rewire a light fixture. Nice. Who knew that I would be learning to do electrical while pursuing a degree in psychology? Then I realized that this must be right. When all of your paths come together and it makes sense, then its a special moment. Seemingly divergent paths, which always made theoretical sense, find a point of intersection.

MORAL:
This is the first time that I consciously realized that not only does my background have practical applications in my current pursuits but I also have an opportunity to provide a different but relevant perspective. And in that light, everyone has a unique perspective as a result of life experiences. We should celebrate the beauty of these differences. It is in the differences that we define yourselves perhaps more then our similarities. For example, I have always considered myself an architect and when people ask me what I do, I pause... I don't know what to say. I identify as an architect first before a psychologist or even a scientist. Why wouldn't I? I've spent a lot of time in the architecture world. But I think the bigger factor is that I still feel like an outsider or rather an impostor in science. And since these days I find myself among more scientists than architects, I default to my difference but perhaps only cause I am not secure enough to do otherwise.

But when I am among other architects, they consider me the scientist. And while I should relish in the fact that I have sought an alternate path in architecture, I feel insulted not to still be considered an architect to other architects. Some people presume that I have chosen not to pursue a career in architecture simply based on my choice not to engage in traditional architectural practice. Let's be clear. First, this choice is not a standing decision about my future career pursuits. I do want to participate in the design process and I do want to get licensed. Second, alternative roles in architecture are just as important as traditional roles. We all have a common goal - to advance the art and science of the field of architecture. Finally, we all have the right to make the choice about what we think is the best way to accomplish our personal goals. And in exercising this right, we should respect the decision of others.

So what's the point of this rant? While rewiring the light fixture today, I realized that I do belong in science. I have something to contribute and that contribution is directly related to my background. While I feel insecure among scientists about my abilities and knowledge, I felt the same way when I first started out in architecture. In time, the abilities and knowledge will come. But in the meantime, I should feel proud to be both an architect and a psychologist. I am engaged in both fields, right?

It's Official!

INCIDENT:
So the other day I finally transferred my driver's license, title and registration. After three months of living here, I finally went down the DMV and the Driver's License Office to fill out the paperwork. I was really dreading the trip because I had to go to two different offices on two different sides of the city. So I decided I would just try to tackle one job at a time.

I first went to the registration office because my California registration was already expired. Whoops. And in the end it only took about 30 minutes including waiting to transfer my title and registration. And to boot, the woman who helped me was really great. Looking down on my watch, I saw that I might be able to make it over to the driver's license place as well. So I jumped in my car and sped off. Once again a really nice person helped process the paperwork and then I had to take the written test. Boo. But wait, it's open book! Yay! I handed in my completed test and waited for the results. I still managed to get a couple wrong. What? I smell something fishy. But I passed, so I didn't inquire any further about the missed questions.

So it is official. I'm a resident of the Beehive State.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah; Photo credit: MRT

MORAL:
Why did it take me so long to transfer my license? I don't think I had come to terms with the idea of Utah being my home. And when I first moved to California, it also took me several months to transfer my license. I have come to realize that it's a symbol of moving on mentally. I loved California and I love the many friends that I made there. While I was there, I grew up a lot personally, intellectually, and professionally. I learned about the strength of relationships and the support of friends. I questioned my role as a teacher and as a student. I found new abilities and acknowledged weaknesses. And I definitely have a new awareness of the importance of the weather.

And while I still hold on tight to the memories, I have to accept and be open to the possibilities that this new place holds. I can't compare the two places. Each holds unique traits. And more opportunities to grow.

I want to be a Tigger!

INCIDENT:
Randy Pausch is a Computer Science professor at my Alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He was well known for his interdisciplinary classes and work, particularly the "Building Virtual Worlds" course. Pausch has been fighting pancreatic cancer and recently found out that there was nothing more that they could do, he has 6 months to live. As part of a lecture series at CMU, Pausch presented his "Last Lecture." It has gained momentum online and now it has more than one million views. Recently, Pausch presented a condensed version of his talk on Oprah.

Complete Video - Randy Pausch's Lecture - "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"

10-minute Condensed Oprah version - "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture"

Randy Pausch Lecture Website (includes transcript and links)

I recommend watching at least the 10 minute version of his talk, though you'll probably want to watch the full version after you see the condensed version.

MORAL:
This gets back to the idea of perseverance and attitude. And if you are not inspired by this lecture then I am guessing you might be an Eeyore. But don't fret... there is still hope.

Many of the themes in Randy's lecture echo the ideals that I try to live by. And while it is difficult at times to maintain high energy and a positive attitude, I do believe it goes a long way. Good karma does come if you recognize it. It's also true that you should never give up on your childhood dreams and even more so... you should always encourage the dreams of others.

Toast to Change

INCIDENT:
For the past three years I have been putting on the back burner an important project. I don't know why I didn't finish it sooner because in the end it only took one intense week to finish up. Well, I take that back. It has been an evolving product in the making over the past three years with seven renditions. And without those other sixth renditions, I don't think that the final draft would have come so easily. The point being is that it is no longer hanging over my head and that it is an amazing relief.

MORAL:
Why do I get myself in these ridiculous situations? I know I should be doing certain things but I become paralyzed, which not only hurts myself but those relying on me. So with this huge project out of the way, I have a chance to start over. I need to make a change in my life. No more excuses. With this new pledge, I hope that I can meet my own expectations for myself, that I can rise to the occasion, and that I can be all that I am and should be.

I am looking to you to please hold me to this standard.