Don't follow; Lead.

The Road Not Taken


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

Robert Frost


I guess I wanted to post this poem because this is probably one of my most favorite classic poems. I am not really into reading and analyzing poems but when I read this one, I loved it so much. The message is clear but so meaningful.

My interpretation of this poem is basically being unique and creating footsteps, not following them.

Nowadays, mainstream and popularity of subjects are just everywhere and I very much dislike it. I create my own interests and follow what I choose. Sure, some, if any, of my decisions may match up to one or two mainstream subjects but that doesn't necessarily mean that I like it because others like it.

Anyway, I love to follow my own opinion. I don't let others form it. Hate what I love? I don't care.

I'm not insecure of what I like and don't like.

I would name off things that I find completely stupid and people only like it because it's totally "in" but I don't think that's right. So. Whatever. I'll keep it to myself.

I guess all I can say is that this poem is probably the first poem that captured my attention and brought forth an actual meaning to me.

"The greatness of art is not to find what is common but what is unique"
-- Isaac Bashevis Singer

College.

CSULB: Accepted
CSUF: Accepted
UCR: Accepted
UCLA: Rejected
UCI: Rejected
UCSB: Rejected
UCSD: Rejected

The dreading of college letters are finally over. For now?

Appreciation.

Yes. I have blogged about appreciation but this is different.

Today, I got rejected from UCI. I already knew before I saw the actual rejection. My stomach was churning because I knew that I wasn't good enough for their school.

I'm not as intelligent as a lot of my friends in academics. I only get grades and classes that pass by. I'm just an "Average Joe" in academics; I always will be. So obviously I'm not going to get into those semi-prestigious schools.

Anyway, so University of California, Irvine has been my mom's dream for me ever since I was a freshman because of convenience from there to home and name. I never knew what colleges were all about so I strived for that school.

Senior year, I have realized that colleges. . .the higher the college, the higher the. . .what? Name? Reputation? Pride? Academics? What does this all mean to someone's goal for their life?

So at this time, I have been rejected by three schools, and accepted by three. One more and I'm finally finished. The most recent one, from UCI, was the most difficult to tell my parents. I don't know why but it was. I guess because they kept asking about only UCI. After I told them, I thought they would be in silence for a while from disappointment. But after I asked them if they're okay, they told me things that I never would expect to hear.

They told me that they don't care what the name of the college is that I go to. They would have loved it if I went to UCI but it wasn't necessary. I can go to CalState Fullerton and then transfer. My mom joked that I don't have to tell people I got rejected from UCI but just say I wanted to transferred. I laughed with a bit of tears forming.

They then told me that as long as I work on a major that I LOVE to learn about and succeed in the end, they'll be happy.

Happy. Even though I didn't get directly into UCI, they'll happy.

My parents are not the typical asian parents that scold me for not "trying" for what they want. My parents accept B's (as long as they're not C's). My parents allow me to hang out with whomever, whenever, as long as I get my priorities done. My parents will do so many things for me and get so many things for me, just to see me happy.

This is not bragging. This is not "Look, my parents are so much more lenient than yours." I don't even know how to show my appreciation for my parents. This is the best I can do for now. Just, definitely, for now.

I can never, even in my next lifetime, give back to my parents. No matter how much I try, it will never equal up to how much they have done for me. They have raised me into who I am today and they still continue to shape me.

I appreciate my parents for the way they have taught me and treated me and, most of all, loved me.

This post is all over the place but these are the thoughts that run through my head right now.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
-- Frederick Keonig

"I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck."






--Michael Bublé's Haven't Met You Yet