tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2010:/ninjadenji//53 2010-02-07T08:10:54Z A Ninja of Many skills. Movable Type 3.31 tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2010:/ninjadenji//53.17071 2010-02-07T07:16:43Z 2010-02-07T08:10:54Z

No this is not a pre-Valentine's melancholic post about being single and the loathing of couples. - However, certain things have gotten no love from me the last couple months. My piano, my books, my passion for writing, composition, and...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ The Official "Introduce Yourself" Thread from 2006: Thanks to Kass, I get to remember what it was like to be an immature 8th grader. As much as I remember being pretty smart in the head, that does not give me the right to be proud of not liking punctuation and grammar. Gosh, I'm mad at myself for typing in all lowercase and using "u" instead of "you" outside of IMs/Text/MAPLESTORY!.... ashamed. Kim Yu-Na: My sister ice skates but I haven't been at all following who's good and who isn't. Heard things about this girl and decided to look her up. I don't turn fanboy in most situations but I can't help but just adore her. What makes me resent this persona of mine is because she is Korean - nothing personal against Koreans though. It's just that with the wave of KPop fandom going around, I can't believe that I'm being a fanboy for another Korean. What make's them so follow-able? Just watch her skate. Choirs: For a while I wanted to go and sing in a choir/chorale/chorus of some kind, but I never had the time. Hoorah for being a second semester senior! Now I have plenty of time to enjoy singing in a group, where the harmonies are pleasant and the people are agreeable. Pride and Predjudice: Now that I have stopped reading it as a love story and started reading it as a book that talks about society, I kind of enjoy it - the book makes a lot more sense anyways...]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16982 2009-11-30T04:06:31Z 2009-11-30T04:08:24Z

UC Apps Submitted. USC App to be submitted. Other private schools to be started. Waiting for Stanford decision. Even after hitting that submit button, there's so much to worry about, but its all stuff that's out of my control....

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ UC Apps Submitted. USC App to be submitted. Other private schools to be started. Waiting for Stanford decision. Even after hitting that submit button, there's so much to worry about, but its all stuff that's out of my control. tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16950 2009-11-01T07:59:11Z 2009-11-01T08:50:02Z

I was having a conversation with a friend and the topic of the assault and rape at Richmond High School came up; it's been all over the news and its gone national too. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html There's something so wrong about it...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html There's something so wrong about it that extends way beyond the fact that a 15-year old girl was raped and assaulted. I realize that I'm not as old or as experienced with the workings of the world as some others are, and I can't really put a finger on what the central cause is, but there are so many things that don't seem to make sense. First off, she was peer pressured into drinking alcohol. Ok, maybe she agreed to drink, but my issue is this, why is it socially acceptable teenage behavior to drink and get wasted? From what I can tell from watching my friends while their inebriated, there are no significant advantages to being piss-drunk; they just act like dumbasses and do stupid crap. There's something wrong when teenagers can get away with messing up each others lives by saying "Oh I was drunk." As mature as we think we may be, I don't believe that drinking to get drunk is very responsible, especially at our age. Secondly, why didn't anyone do anything? My economics teacher brought up this psychological phenomenon as the "bystander effect." The more people there are around during an emergency situation, the less likely someone is to do something about it. I feel like its true, but seriously? Ok, the more people there are, the more likely you're going to think that someone else is going to call 911, but why not just do it yourself? If someone there thought that it was wrong, then why didn't they call for help? I really would hope that someone there thought it was wrong, because if everyone there was enjoying it then that would be even worse. Snitchers. No one likes a snitcher, "snitches get stitches." as most people I know say. I would have to say that I don't like snitchers either, but during a lot of the discussions in class about the event, everyone always brought up the topic about snitching. "No one wanted to be deemed a snitcher." That is the most bullshit argument, even if it may have been the case, along with a lot of the other scenarios. But really? Since when was telling the truth wrong? Morally, what happened to that girl was in negative infinity territory on the morality scale, but it would seem that reputation and self-protection trump morals. My friend told me the story about a party where alcohol (of course) was involved. A guy asks another young man to drink a drink with a pill in it. The young man dies. What happens next? The party continues, the basic attitude of the people there: "Oh shit a guy died? That sucks....party on!" My friend heard about who offered the young man the drink and who wanted him to experiment using the pill in the drink. She heard the name of who killed the dude, so obviously people who were there knew. But was it reported? Nope, people were too busy getting shitfaced that they couldn't acknowledge that someone there had killed another person in their attempt to see what could get them more shitfaced. I know I'm a hypocrite. I speak critically of those people who watched a crime being committed and failed to act while I am one of those people who go to parties and watch people underage drink, smoke illegal drugs- and then do nothing about it. What then allows me to look at them and not call them out on it. I think its because I see it as a part of high school culture now. As apathetic as it seems, its true. I've become so accustomed to it that seeing people get drunk doesn't evoke that feeling of "this is a crime." However, I still get that feeling that something is wrong but I can't seem to put my finger on what it is exactly. There's something wrong with the generation I'm a part of. We're so "go with the flow" when it comes to so many things. A lot of the activities people participate in, both legal and illegal are because "it's fun" or "it would be hella funny" or something that is on the line of hedonism. I hate to admit it, but we are a "me" generation. What matters most is what satisfies ourselves rather than what is right or proper or better for everyone. At this point, I question where this is going. I have this inner feeling of disappointment in what my generation is, but I'm having trouble verbalizing it. It simply comes out as a stream of feelings, ideas and sentiments about a world where it takes the rape and assault of 15 year old girl to bring to light the issues that are hidden in the shadows of peoples' lives.]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16924 2009-10-14T23:29:15Z 2009-10-14T23:30:40Z

I'm starting to get frustrated with all the work I have to do. Essay here, essay there, one for school, one for college. The more and more I go into the college process, the more I doubt whether or not...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ I'm starting to get frustrated with all the work I have to do. Essay here, essay there, one for school, one for college. The more and more I go into the college process, the more I doubt whether or not I'm a good candidate for schools; schools I once thought were close at hand are now at the far reaches of the academic universe. I feel like I'm working hard and reaching for a goal that may be too high. Do I need to submit an arts supplement? Would it really help me? Does it matter how much I write for this prompt? I read on a blog put on by my school district that debate and forensics are two things admissions officers like to see because public speaking and critical thinking are the two main characteristics that are important to success in college and in life. However, I don't have either one, and right now, I believe that its the little boosts that may make or break my application. Its like, it doesn't matter that I'm a good friend, I've helped friends through personal issues, family divorces, homework, college applications, sports; College applications have made me hypercritcal of myself. It's like, unless I can make myself look this way to a college, than I won't go any further in life. I had told myself that I wasn't gonna really care anymore about trying to fit a certain look for a college. But the deeper I go, the more I see how other people around me have better this or better that and because I'm not sure how to make my particular gifts stand out in my application, I'm stuck. I need a jumpstart.....like now. tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16917 2009-10-08T16:37:30Z 2009-10-08T16:52:33Z

(In Response to Lloyd's post about "Pink Out Night" Recently, our volleyball coach found out his mom had breast cancer, and so since then the team has been wearing pink ribbons in their hair, especially because it's breast cancer awareness...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ "Pink Out Night" Recently, our volleyball coach found out his mom had breast cancer, and so since then the team has been wearing pink ribbons in their hair, especially because it's breast cancer awareness month. This is really my first experience knowing anyone who is actively dealing with breast cancer. It changes the way I think about the disease. It never seems as serious until it hits someone close. They tried putting a ribbon in my hair; thankfully my hair wasn't long enough. Instead, I tied one on my wrist. We're gonna wear ribbons the rest of the season :) ]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16895 2009-09-30T06:26:29Z 2009-09-30T06:30:22Z

Holy crap, so many people at school are school right now. It's hard to believe how quickly the cold/the flu just gets everybody. I've been super conscious about who's stuff I touch and I'm sanitizing every opportunity I get. This...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ Holy crap, so many people at school are school right now. It's hard to believe how quickly the cold/the flu just gets everybody. I've been super conscious about who's stuff I touch and I'm sanitizing every opportunity I get. This would so the most inopportune moment to come down with something. All cause of college apps. Gotten a start, filling out basic info and what not. Still need to start writing the essays. Especially cause Stanford Early Action is in November. All this pressure is starting to build now; I don't know how much longer I can go before I burn out or something. Lame.... tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16886 2009-09-22T22:57:31Z 2009-09-22T23:30:54Z

This is another one of those "I don't write enough anymore" posts; I'll admit, writing takes more time for me than I'd like out of the day. In the past month, I've gotten bolder - I think that's the best...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ This is another one of those "I don't write enough anymore" posts; I'll admit, writing takes more time for me than I'd like out of the day. In the past month, I've gotten bolder - I think that's the best way to put it. School has never been a problem for me. I've admitted to many friends that its what takes place outside of class that causes me to have gray hairs popping out of my head. I'm bored or I'm busy or I don't know what to do or I'm keeping my time open - I've been pretty lax about how I take control of the things I have to do. And this year, it has finally hit me that I need to take action and seriously plan out my priorities with my time. College applications is probably the most imposing item on that list, but so many FUN things want to take precedent over it. A few friends and I started a club at school named "PBinJ" otherwise known as "People Believing in Jesus." It started as an idea for a few of us to have a support group and accountability partners that would keep us on track in our faith. Now, after a few meetings with pastors and other people, we decided that it really was important to open it up and help the Christians at our school find those friends that have the same beliefs that they do and build them up in Christ. That's where we are today and that's what we hope to accomplish. So what I mean by bolder was to start sticking up for my faith and start taking action to tell others about it. It's hard to believe that such an integral part to me growing up hasn't been as important to me as it is now becoming. And look, the time I used doing this rather than doing homework. Ah :\ tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16852 2009-08-30T06:19:28Z 2009-08-30T06:32:23Z

I don't feel like a Senior yet. Or well, that savory satisfaction of being the big man on campus. I still feel trapped by academic and social bounds. Still working hard with 3 AP classes this semester. Still stuck at...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ I don't feel like a Senior yet. Or well, that savory satisfaction of being the big man on campus. I still feel trapped by academic and social bounds. Still working hard with 3 AP classes this semester. Still stuck at home on a beautiful Saturday doing homework. But honestly, I didn't do any of my homework. Instead, I sat around downloading music and listening to songs that I should have discovered months, years earlier. But that's me. Stuck in the past and unable to move forward. I'm a habitual being, who enjoys predictability and the security that comes with it. Afraid to explore "what could be" but rather, dwell on "how it is." So I guess this is how it's gonna go then. I'll wake up early in the morning unmotivated to go to school. I'll spend afternoons playing volleyball and late nights doing homework. Wishing, dreaming that I could go to sleep. While others have well-established networks of friends that always do things together, I struggle to find that complete belonging that someone in their 4th year of high school should have. As this year progresses, I'm praying that something changes that will open new horizons for myself. Someone to break the bonds that I am imprisoned by. It's another damn school year. tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16795 2009-07-14T05:20:53Z 2009-07-14T05:45:11Z

I had a blast at Brown. 3 weeks of semi-hard studying and countless hours of fun fun fun. I kind of wish I was back there because there were a lot of things I wish I could have managed to...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ Kinda like this guy Bah, gotta work with what I got I guess.]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16771 2009-06-29T15:58:07Z 2009-06-29T16:04:01Z

Taken from the program blog: http://ilcbrown09.blogspot.com/ Today was spent visiting colleges around the Boston area, namely Tufts, MIT, and Harvard. I first want to say that all the constructive feedback we've been receiving on our blog posts have been taken...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ http://ilcbrown09.blogspot.com/ Today was spent visiting colleges around the Boston area, namely Tufts, MIT, and Harvard. I first want to say that all the constructive feedback we've been receiving on our blog posts have been taken with an open mind, and as a contingent, we've figured out for the most part what we can do to improve on our blogs. It was just overwhelming at first to have to cover such a wide range of topics each blog post but now I believe that we will be able to give insight to what we each feel about our experiences. So our first stop was Tufts. Wow what a beautiful campus it was. I was so shocked to see how empty it was too. Almost all the buildings were closed for the weekend, and not very many students were seen on campus. However, the weather today was absolutely perfect in the morning, and I think it definitely helped give us a "perfect" picture of the beauty of the campus. After Mr. Ramsey was able to find a student to talk to us for a bit, the thing that stuck out to me was still just the beauty of the campus. Next was MIT. We had a great tour guide named Eric who was a Hercules High graduate. He shared so many personal stories and his vast knowledge about the MIT culture. He really helped me capture the idea that MIT is a rigorous, intense, and very difficult academic environment. But after inquiring about social life, I was able to find out that it's not completely out-of-reach to have one. A lot of the culture at MIT centers around traditions and quirks that I found really interesting. Each building has its own history and even though I'm not an intended math or science major, I really wish I could go to MIT. The ways that the students keep the school fun and exciting really fits with how I feel that school should be. Our last stop was Harvard. Our guide was another Hercules High grad named Peter who had his own kind of twist on the campus life. It was more of an "it's there" type of attitude which really conveyed the kind of humor that can still be found on even the most "serious" of college campuses. I really liked it because well, it's Harvard. Stepping into Harvard Yard and onto the streets around it, I felt like this was what I was looking for in a college, it was a good fit. I've been talking a lot about fit. And I think I realized that fit was more important than the scores universities require or the prestige early in my college search. I also think it's because that the latter two were easy for me to grasp. I knew I was able to get good grades and good scores early, and I also knew what a prestigious school was. So when figuring out what college I would want to go to, all I really had to think about was fit - right from the get go. So what do I mean by fit. I'm talking about the location of the school, the people who attend it, what there is to do when you're not in class, accessibility to the city or teachers or jobs, traditions and things they don't tell you in college tours. Which is why I was so glad to have tours not given by the admissions office staff; we were able to get a more personal and reflective look at schools rather than the scripted highlight reel given to the masses. At both MIT and Harvard, when there was something interesting, we were able to actually stop and talk about it, rather than get moved along from place to place. We could ask more personal questions about how they dealt with the pressures and could receive more personal answers that sometimes talked about the school in a darker light. I've had the good fortune, because of the Ivy League Connection, to be on two different campuses over the summers, Columbia and Brown. They're extremely different. Columbia is in the urban metropolis New York City, and Brown is in the small city of Providence. Two very contrasting schools that have very many things to offer. By being on both I've been able to see how each one may or may not fit me. I like the accessibility, closeness, and busyness of New York, but I also disliked the claustrophobic nature of Columbia's campus. On the other hand, I love the open and free nature of the Brown campus and curriculum, but I loathe the fact that Providence isn't the most exciting city or the fact that the beach is an hour away. So as you can see, this may be why I like Harvard so much; The college reminds me a lot of Berkeley. Cambridge is like to Boston, what Berkeley is to San Francisco. A college town that's like a suburb to the larger city, but on its own is self-sustaining and has a plethora of things to do. Walking around Harvard Square, I was reminded of the environment that surrounded Columbia and UC Berkeley. A subway station right next to campus and a whole area of shops and cafe's that keeps the area active. Boston is between Providence and New York in size, which gives me that balance I'm looking for; A school where work meets play. Where when you're not busy doing problem sets, you can go hang out downtown. Where if you don't want to study in your room, you can study at the cafe across the street. Where if you don't want to outright work at all one day, you can go to the main quad and find something to do that day or join a pick-up game with some people. It would have been a lot harder for me to discover this fit for me if I hadn't been fortunate enough to be a part of the program and be able to visit these colleges that are all nearby. If not for this program, I wouldn't have been able to understand how hard people have to work to get into these schools nor would I have realized that certain schools click better with my personality than others. Wow, I write a lot more colloquially on my blog compared to the other.]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16756 2009-06-25T18:09:43Z 2009-06-25T18:20:54Z

I've been at Brown for 4 school days, and well, I think I've run out of things to do already. I've already been to the mall, the street that's right next to the campus, the activities on campus, the activities...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ I've been at Brown for 4 school days, and well, I think I've run out of things to do already. I've already been to the mall, the street that's right next to the campus, the activities on campus, the activities taking place on my floor - I don't know how I'm going to be able to kill 3 weeks of time. Oh I know! I'll just introduce myself and get to know as many people as possible. Which is exactly what I've been doing. I'm rooming with a guy from Turkey named Enis. It's pronounced like my name, and so we're famous as being "Dennis and Enis". That's actually my claim to fame and why I'm "popular" with a lot of people on my floor and the rest of the building actually. It's come to the point where I introduce myself as Dennis, and someone will reply "Like "Dennis and Enis" Dennis?" And I'll tell them yes and we all get a laugh. But the downside is that I barely remember anyone's name because the introductions fly by in a blur. Hmmm..... The one thing I've been so surprised at is how friendly everyone is. It's so easy to just go and say hi and introduce yourself to someone here. People leave their doors open, and people don't mind talking about themselves. It's so much different than last summer at Columbia, where groups formed more quickly and it was more difficult to find new friends to get to know. I'm enjoying it quite a lot. I like Brown a fairly good amount. Only problem I have with it is that there aren't very many places to go or things to do outside of the campus. I'd like to be able to go to a big city regularly that has plenty of activities and sights to fill up time between class and homework. I'm still surprised that my class is only 9-11:50 every day. I should be more busy. tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16730 2009-06-15T08:34:14Z 2009-06-15T08:35:25Z

I think I'm falling for this girl.......

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ I think I'm falling for this girl.... tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16723 2009-06-12T20:00:55Z 2009-06-12T22:41:52Z

So I never actually continued that last post, and as a matter of fact, I haven't posted at all during the last two months. Blogging used to be important, something I did everyday (or as often as possible). But as...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ So I never actually continued that last post, and as a matter of fact, I haven't posted at all during the last two months. Blogging used to be important, something I did everyday (or as often as possible). But as school just consumed my life, I didn't have a solid motivation to blog anymore; Blogging became an afterthought. But now school is over! I have more time to blog right? Well... yeah, I do. However, I'm gonna be hard-pressed for time this summer. I'm going to Brown University to take a summer course in Macroeconomics for 3 weeks; I leave on the 20th and come back July 11th. After that I'm home for 1 or 2 weeks, and then leaving for China with my church to teach some teens English; Coming back August 18th - There goes my whole summer. I'm excited for all of it and bummed at the same time. While at Brown I'll be missing too many birthday's, Transformers with people I know, another ATDP session, girls I could be dating - well, that last one is speculation. In any case, I'm going to be missing faces and places that I'm familiar with and exchanging them for new faces and new places to see. I'm telling myself that I have to blog more often so I don't seem like I disappeared over the summer. So what has D-Shem been doing the last two months? Relatively nothing. * 800 on the US History Subject Test, * mom made me take SAT classes for the June test. * Took that test, and probably benefited from taking the class. * Had some papers and projects, * Took the APUSH test in May. * Went to Disneyland with the band and then came back to go to a church retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains over Memorial Day weekend. * A couple Senior balls here and there * Been really flirty with girls - for fun! :) On that last thing: I like flirting with girls. If it was an acceptable activity for colleges, I'd probably put it at the top of the list; it's something I just do kind of naturally. I'm extremely affable and humorous and sometimes I don't know why I do it in the first place. I've never gotten myself in trouble doing it....until yesterday. Bah I started this 2 hours ago and I kinda just stopped. Well yeah, stuff happened, not fun. tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16598 2009-04-15T16:57:43Z 2009-04-15T17:26:54Z

I'm currently sitting in the lecture hall where they're gonna hold the USC admissions talk with about around 40 other people, parents and students. I was supposed to meet someone from the Public Policy and Development department, but the counselor...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ to be continued...]]> tag:atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu,2009:/ninjadenji//53.16588 2009-04-13T05:00:18Z 2009-04-13T05:03:20Z

Happy Easter! and thank goodness spring break is here. The relaxation and time away from school is much needed. I'm currently in LA trying to check out some colleges. I think this is a pretty good way to spend spring...

Dennis http://atdpweb.berkeley.edu/ninjadenji/ Happy Easter! and thank goodness spring break is here. The relaxation and time away from school is much needed. I'm currently in LA trying to check out some colleges. I think this is a pretty good way to spend spring break. But anyways, the plan looks something like this: Monday: Occidental and Claremont McKenna Tuesday: UCLA Wednesday: USC and Irvine Thursday: UCSD Friday: UCSB