2012 ASCC Resignation Letter
This was not an easy thing to do let alone an easy decision to make. I am grateful for the rewarding involvement I have had with the student government. It is with regret that I must concede that my studies are what now need utter most focus and attention due in part to my current student status as a transfer student and athlete.
This decision has been a long and awaited one. I have spent many hours deliberating on this decision and recently reached my final answer. My position as the ICC chair has had many trying times, but I had never lost sight of my goal which were three fold: one; to increase camaraderie throughout meetings and within clubs, two; increase on-campus club involvement in order to work as a collective and third; to create a continuous unifying body that seeks to uphold the welfare of the students.
As a campus composed of faculty, administration, staff, students, and many more people with dedicated service for this school and community we are faced with many challenges. These challenges are not what define us, let me tell you, but rather shape our future. Time and time again, the faculty on this campus sacrifice their own time and energy for our own dreams and because of that this year is a call for our own action and to ‘Step Up.’ Stepping up is not a new concept to us here today, a simple concept that basically means to do a little more, to commit to action and do the extraordinary. I admit, it will not be easy, for there is still work to be done.
Work that must be done—to increase communication on campus that keeps our students aware and involved in campus events and news to clubs, organizations, and even faculty.
Work that must be done—to welcome our ever increasing freshman to a friendly campus with a lively student life. To promote the active student with pride in our campus with an increasing of new clubs and club involvement.
Work that must be done to tackle these budget cuts as we sacrifice our education to meet the demands of fees, shortened classes, and the decreasing library hours.
This is our task and we are Chabot’s Keepers and its our legacy. And I am still up for this challenge, the challenge to re-awaken and re-affirm our enduring values and most importantly our indomitable spirit, an indomitable spirit to never quit.
Please acknowledge this letter of resignation and I will do my utmost to finish the outstanding projects and for a smooth transition. My last day of work will be effective immediately.
Sincerely,
Student Opportunities
Summer Institute on International Affairs
(Summer)
The Summer Institute is an eight week program for high school and community college students who want to deepen their knowledge of international affairs in a small group environment. Students attend Council programs, meet privately with speakers, engage in dialogue with their peers and are responsible for weekly reading and written assignments. Applications for the 2011 Summer Institute are due on June 3, 2011. Information and application materials for the 2011 Summer Institute are available here.
2011 ASCC Meet The Candidate Speech
Vince Lombardi once said, “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
I am running for ICC-Chair and the reasons for this are three-fold: one; to increase camaraderie throughout meetings and within clubs, two; increase on-campus club involvement in order to work as a collective and third; to create a continuous unifying body that seeks to uphold the welfare of the students. To unite all registered clubs and organizations for the purpose of collaboration and the advancement of club activities and events. To act as a single voice to Chabot College representing all registered clubs and organizations.
Now, I have held various leadership roles in different sporting activities and have participated in different clubs, sports and programs. Yet, my passion and conviction for this council stems from its affects and benefits that it has on this campus. Where the desire of its members strive to promote young students engaging in the process and society as a result.
As a campus composed of faculty, administration, staff, students, and many more people with dedicated service for this school and community we are faced with many challenges. These challenges are not what define us, let me tell you, but rather shape our future. Time and time again, the faculty on this campus sacrifice their own time and energy for our own dreams and because of that this year is a call for our own action and to ‘Step Up.’ Stepping up is not a new concept to us here today, a simple concept that basically means to do a little more, to commit to action and do the extraordinary. I admit, it will not be easy, for there is still work to be done.
Work that must be done—to increase communication on campus that keeps our students aware and involved in campus events and news to clubs, organizations, and even faculty.
Work that must be done—to welcome our ever increasing freshman to a friendly campus with a lively student life. To promote the active student with pride in our campus with an increasing of new clubs and club involvement.
Work that must be done to tackle these budget cuts as we sacrifice our education to meet the demands of fees, shortened classes, and the decreasing library hours.
This is our task and we are Chabot’s Keepers and its our legacy. And I am up for this challenge, the challenge to re-awaken and re-affirm our enduring values and most importantly our indomitable spirit, an indomitable spirit to never quit. For this ASCC election, there remains only one campaign party, us, the Grand Young Party!
Thank you, and please vote next Monday & Tuesday in the cafeteria lobby for your Chabot College Student Government next year and actively be part of the process that most affects you.
“In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man’s proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.” — Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Black Belt Mindset: An Ode to WCWMA
“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” – Vince Lombardi
This has honestly been a rough couple of months, almost two to be exact and this roller coaster has left me struggling to find a place and an identity. People varying from parents, to affiliates and even students of Ernie Reyes’ West Coast World Martial Arts have asked me why exactly it is that I left West Coast Newark, and ultimately the Association. There I had been a Student as well as am employee under position and or ‘Front Desk’. It has been surprising for all the inquiry regarding my departure since I was no one in the Association, newly on the scene of events the last two years and simlpy one of the million in the pack that have come and gone. So I was astounded by all the concern having come specifically from folks of my own school.
My journey with (ERWCWMA) began when I believe I was in or around the 1st grade and my family all joined but didn’t last due to the time and financial constraints. Over time with a friend in the 2nd grade who later joined and got his 1st degree black belt, and eventually talking about West Coast with my friend Marshall Lyons regarding it all I knew I wanted to go back. Marshall Lyons was 2nd Degree Black Belt who during high school trained and worked at Newark and during our bus rides home I would constantly describe my feelings and desire to be a part of West Coast once again ultimately earning my own Black Belt through the esteemed experiential teachings of KJN Ernie Reyes. I found myself walking in Newark here and there just watching and visiting Marshall always saying, “One day I’m coming back for me.”
And I did. It was the Summer of 2008 I had made plans to do so and stopped by with questions for how to do just that having spoken to Jojo and BSBN Jason Prestosa, whom I would later meet and enjoy taking class with. I eventually began taking more classes then permitted let alone in one day, starting with belt class then the adult class. Over time with increasing interest turning into passion I wanted to learn more being interested in XPT classes. It was at the end of 2009 that I was offered to work at Newark per KJN’s Tony Thompson and Brenda Darling. I already a job at the time, but for a kid who already spent most of her time staying at the studio watching, learning from other students being a fly on the wall wanting to learn more, it only made sense to get paid to work at setting you loved to be at 24/6.
During the first month I began to SWAT more than work Administration and train as a Front Desk, yet, it was then I had a better understanding and desire to ‘Give Value’ and discovered my own interest in teaching through SWATing and helping out the instructors by any means. From then on I began my time as many of you do as both a worker and student of West Coast.
Under the tutelage KJN Brenda Darling I learned a cornucopia of knowledge far beyond martial arts. It wasn’t until later this year did I recognize her acceptance and her experience had to offer, especially when it came to training and did I take advantage of it. My growing relationship with KJN Brenda surrounded me with new people, new insights and a dedicated service to the Association as a result. It being a new world I had entered in unaware of what I was getting myself into especially this year, I didn’t know who to trust or who not to trust all I knew was that I sought to be myself and enjoyed the ideals of such a community and servicing it in any way shape or form.
I still remember April’s Black Belt test, themed “Do The Impossible,” where I had only gone originally to hang out and if needed help out KJN Brenda at the event. Sure I ended up working at the event and ran around like many at the helms of the KJN’s and KJN Tony himself but that was not nearly as memorable as the laughs that were shared meeting new people and engaging in ‘Good Times’ with individuals who shared the same passions. I still laugh recalling a moment where I had ran on the field at Santa Clara for KJN Tony and as I left I engaged in added conversation with BSBN Malia, there we did the ‘Stanky Leg’ and I showed off my impeccable dance moves. (Moves I speak sarcastiacally about)
This years events are firsts not only for the experience but for a rebuilding and a reaffirming in the goodness in people. Honestly, nothing will compare to that of this years Boot Camp where I had attended for mostly Administration seminars like most and training sessions at night. Three days of endless Fun! I didn’t know many and many didn’t know me then but I knew that allowing myself to open up to the setting and all it had to offer they were sure to find out about me by the end. I quickly grew enamored by the individuals whom I had met regardless of any preconieved notions of them or myself. Instantly I noticed I was being myself enjoying my time free of judgement and open to the endless possibilites. I laugh as aI remember the going back to Campbell for training on night during that weekend and during a training break having Destiny ask KJN Brenda what school I was from. I saw my playful inner child be resurrected from much exile for the last for years in one weekend. It was so funny running around hiding from Boo and scaring her from playing hide and go seek. By the end of the night I smile at the blurry pictures taken with my old phone with Mathea and Boo Friday night. However, I am taken aback by the disapproval by people of my own home school for who I spent my time hanging out with that weekend referring to me as a “trader” amongst other words of dissent for having hung out with who they deemed as “them” and as the “demo team.”
The rest of the weekend I never ceased to show my true colors, my authentic self having met new people, made new friends and ultimately family. Including my ‘Best Friends’ (Mathea & Boo), the Cowboy (Ki) and later whom would be creatively deemed as ‘D-Money’ (Destiny)–Let me not forget ‘Lil Deezy’/Lil’ Dave (Dave). It wasn’t simply the meeting of new people, or being myself in a setting completly new to myself but even the patience and teaching from KJN Jason Cole that brought a weekend of ‘Boot Camp’ to be glorified with pure appreciation and love.
I was excited going back to train andwork at my home school. But to my own chagrin I knew the feeling would inevitably not last. The next event for me would be September’s Tournament and lastly October’s Black Belt Test. My last day of work at West Coast Newark was on October 21st, what I realize now to be exactly 2 months ago. The test was then my last time with the Association. Two days of what was supposed to be work turned out to be so surreal in the end. Especially Saturday, having met so many people and in awe the entire weekend for the display of such hospitality and astounding heart.
Nothing will be as surpising and warming as the moment Boo, Destiny and Ki came back with their niece and as they pointed to me with her she immidiately came to me and we embraced as I picked her up. Oh the fuzzy energy and warmth of children. (This was cute, I guess you had to be there, although I met you briefly you are surrounded by love kid.) Might I add the awesomeness that came with the world famous KJN Donna Bernardi asking who I was and after mid conversation and moment KJN Margie exclaiming, “Isn’t she funny?!” KJN Donna replied with “You’re pretty cool!” (Let me note the lack of communication with KJN Donna and I other than that of Events and Seminars or even giving value during Boot Camp, so you get the randomness of it all). Oh Donel Rogers & Annie Shear, I will leave my constant appreciation for a moment in time and the kindness you two have given me with a quote from such a night that has been publicized even on fb, “Campbell is good to me.”
A lot of people see a title, rank, uniform, and even reputation of individuals within the Association. However, none of that has ever crossed my mind, sure I respect it as a martial artist, but I do not attach myself to it. I find myself attached to the soul and charater of a people and all that it brings. Not bound by cliques’, inner circles, or groups but rather a mutual connection.
That Saturday night and ultimately the weekend, I believe will be one to never forget and will go down in the books. Why? Simply put for how refreshing it was to have been welcomed by everybody whom I came across and let in even if for that weekend. I notice now that as I kept repeating how much I appreciated the love and although I knew then that it wouldn’t last and found it so surreal. I was so jaded slightly resistent and dumbfounded by the kindness that was shown. It was quite a synchronicity for a moment I needed never leaving a love consciousness and almost entering a cosmic consciousness from all the smiles and laughter. Sigh. For most of that weekend, what happened there will stay there nut will forever be in my heart and in my memory.
So why travel memory lane in my brief stint with West Coast? So you can catch a quick glimpse at what I left behind and still desire to back to. For I still am I firm believer in the passion and message that is conveyed through the ideals of KJN Ernie and most importantly martial arts.
Others might disagree, noting the depature of KJN Brenda Darling prior to my leaving as reason on my part. Sure given the timeline it would make all the sense in the world from the outside but that was not the reason at all, and far from it as much as it was hard to grasp. I left Newark because I had to, knowing it was a place that I could no longer grow to my fullest potential as both a martial artist and an invidiual. I wrote out my formal letter of resignation and left a week later.
Since then I have had time to focus on other areas of my life. It is during this time I realize how much I still long for Martial Arts and all it has to offer. I realize that the ideals conceptualized through the ’Life Skills’ are not only to be applied within West Coast but necessary for daily life. Life Skills aye? As I notice this bittersweet emptiness and learning having left I stand better working on myself hoping to one day come back to this outlet, this sport and this Association.
The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender. Through the work I put in made it harder to surrender to the notion of ‘Quitting’ and failure having ended my tenure at Newark and ultimately the association. Knowing that I did take the test I was due prior to leaving. Knowing that leaving merely as a Red Belt reinforced the notion that I was incomplete of getting my Black Belt, and aspiring to have my name on my belt, korean on my belt, etc. I’m not much of a quitter, especially when it comes to Sports as an athlete. And as much as I have questioned the footprints and impact I left, I am grateful for the constant reminder of just that from parents and students who I run into and who contact me.
I have questioned who to trust, who not to trust, etc. within the context of thid community and in general. But through the people I have met, I have learned that the authenticity of an individual and all that it has to offer is far more rewarding. “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” (Marianne Williamson)
This reflection is meant to serve not as an explanation for why I left or what it was I was leaving but rather a promise. I have observed my own lack of a mindset let alone a Black Belt mindset held by an Idomitable Spirit, to never quit. Yet, when it has come to things unrelated to martial arts I am without such a mindset.
“Mastery in one’s career and consciousnes growth simply requires that we constantly produce results beyond and out of the ordinary. Mastery is a product of consistently going beyond our limits.–You must be able to correct yourself without invalidating or condeming, accept results and then improve upon them. Correct, don’t protect. Correction is essential to power and mastery.” (Life Skill Week #4, Stewart Emery)
As I work on the evolution of my self and recognize my need to work on the latter of that statement above I do not negate my own pursuit of mastery within martial arts and my own life. We hear about ‘Mastery’ as martial artists quite a bit even during events illustrating the constrast between a black belt degree and that of education. What I will and can say is that this is not the end. My education has not stopped and neither has my learning and ambition for it.
Why exactly I left is irrevlevant. Because i will be back. Back on the ‘Sacred’ martial arts floor and back to the self as I continue to learn and relearn many things. This is merely a break. I am what is known in football as a ‘Free Agent’ having left one team to come back stronger. To simply put it, ‘Train To Be Great!’ It sounds funny especially if you’re from West Coast reading this but I am an idealist as much as I pose as a cynic claiming to be a realest. There is a key word in that mantra, “Never ending improvement.” When I am ready, hopefully soon, in 2011 the school that is willing to embrace me with patience and desire, I will bow to you with an open heart and mind asking you to teach me.
Here I stand struggling; with what I can control and what I cannot and knowing the difference, living in the present, and most importantly accepting not only my autonomy but myself.
I close with a concept once praised and lectured to many of my students that I now must apply myself in my own life, ‘Sharpen the Blade.’ Why you ask? Because it is my formal duty to Sharpen my OWN blade. As hard as may be to accept in times of strife, reason above all else is where it must lie. And as much as it starts with you, it starts with me as well.
Word from the wise.
Thich Nhat Hanh—
(Taken from an interview with Oprah for O Magazine).
“Deep listening is the kind of listening that can help relieve the suffering of another person. You can call it compassionate listening. You listen with only one purpose: to help him or her to empty his heart. Even if he says things that are full of wrong perceptions, full of bitterness, you are still capable of continuing to listen with compassion. Because you know that listening like that, you give that person a chance to suffer less. If you want to help him to correct his perception, you wait for another time. For now, you don’t interrupt. You don’t argue. If you do, he loses his chance. You just listen with compassion and help him to suffer less. One hour like that can bring transformation and healing.
Deep listening helps us to recognize the existence of wrong perceptions in the other person and wrong perceptions in us. The other person has wrong perceptions about himself and about us. And we have wrong perceptions about ourselves and the other person. And that is the foundation for violence and conflict and war. The terrorists, they have the wrong perception. They believe that the other group is trying to destroy them as a religion, as a civilization. So they want to abolish us, to kill us before we can kill them. And the antiterrorist may think very much the same way—that these are terrorists and they are trying to eliminate us, so we have to eliminate them first. Both sides are motivated by fear, by anger, and by wrong perception. But wrong perceptions cannot be removed by guns and bombs. They should be removed by deep listening, compassionate listening, and loving space.
There is a time for everything. There is a time when I sit down, I concentrate myself on the problem of my bills, but I would not worry before that. One thing at a time. We practice mindful walking in order to heal ourselves, because walking like that really relieves our worries, the pressure, the tension in our body and in our mind.
People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now.
We should be able to say this: “Dear friends, dear people, I know that you suffer. I have not understood enough of your difficulties and suffering. It’s not our intention to make you suffer more. It is the opposite. We don’t want you to suffer. But we don’t know what to do and we might do the wrong thing if you don’t help us to understand. So please tell us about your difficulties. I’m eager to learn, to understand.” We have to have loving speech. And if we are honest, if we are true, they will open their hearts. Then we practice compassionate listening, and we can learn so much about our own perception and their perception. Only after that can we help remove wrong perception. That is the best way, the only way, to remove terrorism.
And peace negotiations should be conducted in that manner. When we come to the table, we shouldn’t negotiate right away. We should spend time walking together, eating together, making acquaintance, telling each other about our own suffering, without blame or condemnation. It takes maybe one, two, three weeks to do that. And if communication and understanding are possible, negotiation will be easier. So if I am to organize a peace negotiation, I will organize it in that way.
nger is the energy that people use in order to act. But when you are angry, you are not lucid, and you might do wrong things. That is why compassion is a better energy. And the energy of compassion is very strong. We suffer. That is real. But we have learned not to get angry and not to allow ourselves to be carried by anger. We realize right away that that is fear. That is corruption.
So you recognize that fear. You embrace it tenderly and look deeply into it. And as you embrace your pain, you get relief and you find out how to handle that emotion. And if you know how to handle the fear, then you have enough insight in order to solve the problem. The problem is to not allow that anxiety to take over. When these feelings arise, you have to practice in order to use the energy of mindfulness to recognize them, embrace them, look deeply into them. It’s like a mother when the baby is crying. Your anxiety is your baby. You have to take care of it. You have to go back to yourself, recognize the suffering in you, embrace the suffering, and you get relief. And if you continue with your practice of mindfulness, you understand the roots, the nature of the suffering, and you know the way to transform it.
I mean the fear, the anger, the despair, the anxiety in us. If you know how to deal with that, then you’ll be able to handle problems of war and poverty and conflicts. If we have fear and despair in us, we cannot remove the suffering in society.
Well, happiness and suffering support each other. To be is to inter-be. It’s like the left and the right. If the left is not there, the right cannot be there. The same is true with suffering and happiness, good and evil. In every one of us there are good seeds and bad. We have the seed of brotherhood, love, compassion, insight. But we have also the seed of anger, hate, dissent.
Yes. You can only recognize your happiness against the background of suffering. If you have not suffered hunger, you do not appreciate having something to eat. If you have not gone through a war, you don’t know the value of peace. That is why we should not try to run away from one thing after another thing. Holding our suffering, looking deeply into it, we find a way to happiness.
You need the practice of mindfulness to bring your mind back to the body and establish yourself in the moment. If you are fully present, you need only make a step or take a breath in order to enter the kingdom of God. And once you have the kingdom, you don’t need to run after objects of your craving, like power, fame, sensual pleasure, and so on. Peace is possible. Happiness is possible. And this practice is simple enough for everyone to do.
Suppose you are drinking a cup of tea. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, and you become fully present. And when you are truly there, something else is also there—life, represented by the cup of tea. In that moment you are real, and the cup of tea is real. You are not lost in the past, in the future, in your projects, in your worries. You are free from all of these afflictions. And in that state of being free, you enjoy your tea. That is the moment of happiness, and of peace. When you brush your teeth, you may have just two minutes, but according to this practice, it is possible to produce freedom and joy during that time, because you are established in the here and now. If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower, cook your breakfast, sip your tea.
Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.
I am real, and the tea is real. I am in the present. I don’t think of the past. I don’t think of the future. There is a real encounter between me and the tea, and peace, happiness and joy are possible during the time I drink.
Yes, the collective energy is very helpful. I’d like to talk about the mantras you just mentioned. The first one is “Darling, I’m here for you.” When you love someone, the best you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?
You look into their eyes and you say, “Darling, you know something? I’m here for you.” You offer him or her your presence. You are not preoccupied with the past or the future; you are there for your beloved. The second mantra is, “Darling, I know you are there and I am so happy.” Because you are fully there, you recognize the presence of your beloved as something very precious. You embrace your beloved with mindfulness. And he or she will bloom like a flower. To be loved means to be recognized as existing. And these two mantras can bring happiness right away, even if your beloved one is not there. You can use your telephone and practice the mantra.
And I’m very happy. The third mantra is what you practice when your beloved one is suffering. “Darling, I know you’re suffering. That is why I am here for you.” Before you do something to help, your presence already can bring some relief.
Yes. And the fourth mantra is a little bit more difficult. It is when you suffer and you believe that your suffering has been caused by your beloved. If someone else had done the same wrong to you, you would have suffered less. But this is the person you love the most, so you suffer deeply. You prefer to go to your room and close the door and suffer alone.
You are hurt. And you want to punish him or her for having made you suffer. The mantra is to overcome that: “Darling, I suffer. I am trying my best to practice. Please help me.” You go to him, you go to her, and practice that. And if you can bring yourself to say that mantra, you suffer less right away. Because you do not have that obstacle standing between you and the other person.
First of all, when you love someone, you want to share everything with him or her. So it is your duty to say, “I suffer and I want you to know”—and he will, she will, appreciate it.
“And when I have been trying my best to look deeply, to see whether this suffering comes from my wrong perception and I might be able to transform it, but in this case I cannot transform it, you should help me, darling. You should tell me why you have done such a thing to me, said such a thing to me.” In that way, you have expressed your trust, your confidence. You don’t want to punish anymore. And that is why you suffer less right away.
Yes. When you call me European, I say yes. When you call me Arab, I say yes. When you call me black, I say yes. When you call me white, I say yes. Because I am in you and you are in me. We have to inter-be with everything in the cosmos.
[Reading from the poem] “I am a mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of the river. And I am the bird that swoops down to swallow the mayfly…. I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones, my legs as thin as bamboo sticks. And I am the arms merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda. I am the 12-year-old girl, refugee on a small boat, who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea pirate. And I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving…. Please call me by my true names, so I can hear all my cries and laughter at once, so I can see that my joy and pain are one. Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up and the door of my heart could be left open, the door of compassion.” What does that poem mean?
It means compassion is our most important practice. Understanding brings compassion. Understanding the suffering that living beings undergo helps liberate the energy of compassion. And with that energy you know what to do.
I know that we do not know enough. We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality. When you climb a ladder and arrive on the sixth step and you think that is the highest, then you cannot come to the seventh. So the technique is to abandon the sixth in order for the seventh step to be possible. And this is our practice, to release our views. The practice of nonattachment to views is at the heart of the Buddhist practice of meditation. People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free and we don’t suffer anymore.
Yes. To be free, first of all, is to be free from wrong views that are the foundation of all kinds of suffering and fear and violence.”
