Summer Party at the Magno Residence

So, I just got home from a summer party at the Magno residence. I had a really great time. Great food, great music, great friends... not much more you could ask for, right?

On the drive home, I was just thinking about how there are so few moments in my life anymore during which I can truly just enjoy being young and being alive. I'm not saying I never have fun, but there always seems to be something nagging at the back of my mind. Maybe it's a homework assignment that I have to get done, or perhaps it's wondering if I sent out that e-mail to the AAA Executive Board.

That's why I treasure days like today. I drove to Nicole's house, grabbed some food, and enjoyed the company of my close friends. We talked, we laughed, we played games, and not once did my mind drift elsewhere. I was totally in the moment, not worrying, not planning, not preparing, just... living.

I am truly blessed to have the friends that I have, and to be able to experience days like this every now and then. They may be few and far between, but when they do happen... well, they're just that much more special.

I'm Asian and I Hate Math (Surprise!)

What would you think if I told you that I was a Korean American student who graduated from high school 5th in his class with a 4.0 GPA, a 2290 SAT score, and a fully-paid scholarship to The College of New Jersey? What kind of career do you think I'd be aiming for?

If you guessed doctor, scientist, or businessman, you're definitely not alone. That's what my parents guessed too. Even I knew that I would likely be successful in any of those professions, and yet I did not see myself being happy in any of them either. So, what did I do? I decided to get a degree in film and television production.

Why would I "waste" a 2290 SAT score on such a pursuit? That's what my parents wanted to know, particularly my Dad. Well, the answer is simple. I am fascinated by the ability of truly great audio visual work to touch the hearts and minds of people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Do I question my choice from time to time? Sure I do. Then I go see a film like "The Dark Knight," or I watch a video montage on "So You Think You Can Dance?", or even a YouTube video that my girlfriend sent me a link for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfBlUQguvyw

Pretty awesome, right? Anyone from any country in the world could watch that and appreciate it. Why? Because the visual and aural aspects speak a universal language of their own. It is a language that I intend to master, so that someday people across the globe can see my work and be moved by it. Although, I think I'd be happy if at the very least, I could move my Dad. I guess only time will tell.

COM-270-01 Podcast Script

Oops! I forgot to include my script in the last post. Here you go!

SOUND: INSIDE TRAIN TERMINAL, ANNOUNCER’S VOICE IN BACKGROUND, LOW CROWD NOISE, OCCASIONAL TRAIN NOISES

NARRATOR: Oh no! Where’s my ticket? It has to be here somewhere… Wait, here it is. Phew! Thank goodness! Without this I wouldn’t have been able to get on the train.

SOUND: MAN YELLING “HEY!”

NARRATOR: Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to run into you, I was looking for my train. I’m going to Mystique! This year’s theme is a train ride to New York City to check out the Asian cultural festival taking place. I can’t wait! Hey, if you’re not busy, you should check it out, too.

SOUND: MAN SAYING “HUH?”

NARRATOR: What? Don’t tell me you don’t what Mystique is. It’s only The College of New Jersey’s biggest cultural event of the year! (PAUSE) Still not ringing any bells? Let me fill you in. At TCNJ, there’s an organization called the Asian American Association. The AAA consists of students of all races striving to spread awareness of Asian culture within the campus and in the community. Mystique is their big annual showcase where all of the students perform for the public, and it’s going on this weekend in Kendall Hall!

SOUND: MAN SAYING “OHHH…”

NARRATOR: I hear there’s going to be Iron Fan and Spear Dance, Taiko drumming, Lion dance, Chinese Yo-Yo, martial arts, and a lot more. It’s a fantastic chance to check out Asian performances like you’ve never seen before. You know, broaden your horizons and get a little taste of the East! Come on, you don’t seriously want to wait a whole year for Mystique to come around again, do you?

SOUND: TRAIN WHISTLE, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY TRAIN STARTING TO LEAVE

NARRATOR: Oh no! That’s my train! (FADING AWAY) Don’t forget! Mystique! This weekend!

COM-270-01 Podcast Assignment

Hey, all! So, here's the link to my audio post on Archive.org for the Podcast Assignment. I decide to do my piece on the Asian American Association's annual Mystique show. Keep in mind, I wrote this script before Mystique happened. It's over now, so don't get confused! Haha. Hope you guys like it!

http://www.archive.org/details/Com-270-01PodcastAssignment

COM 270 News Piece Project

Hey, everyone. So, here's the deal with the news piece that Dana Ricci and I worked on.

Since Dana is a commuter, we ended up deciding to write about the parking situation here at TCNJ. As some of you might know, parking for commuters can be a major pain. The main commuter lot in front of BSC fills up very quickly, and the result is a lot of traffic and sometimes accidents. We wanted to bring attention to this issue.

Now, neither Dana nor I have ever used the XL cameras or Final Cut before, so bear with us! See you all in class tomorrow, and good luck with your pieces!

First Steps

So, here it is, the first blog post I've ever made. Not that any of you really care about that, but it's a pretty cool experience for me. I'm not really sure what to say here, but uh...

Well, I'm a Korean American college student trying to figure out what he wants to do after college and where he's going to fit in in this world. Hence, my blog title, 'Life Under Construction.' I guess stepping into the Web 2.0 arena is a pretty important piece to add on to my life, seeing as the world is becoming more and more reliant on the Internet for instant and efficient communication.

Anyway, I've made my first virtual footprint, hopefully the first of many to come.