In November 2009, I was going through a weird phase in my life. I pretty much stopped talking to one of my best friends after going through a rough patch. Before that, I let go of two other best friends who I’d known for years. So now, I was feeling really alone.
I left 909 after my second year for personal reasons, but I never really felt like I fit in with Mavyn all that well. I basically went to practice and went home, never really making any strong ties with people on the team.
I was going to Fullerton College at the time, and while there were a couple of people in multiple of my classes, I still felt like I was by myself.
I managed to get through the year, week by week, keeping to myself mostly. It wasn’t very exciting at all, but at least I learned how to evaluate my friendships and gain a different understanding on life. Friends, family, relationships, work — everybody has different views on life, and this quiet time let me observe and reflect on that.

In November 2010, I wasn’t going to school anymore. I got pneumonia earlier in the year and it messed up my academics, which carried on into the fall quarter. Trying to play catch up while trying to learn new concepts which build upon the old ones is really, really hard. I couldn’t keep up with it anymore and I ended up dropping my classes. I started to work more and more hours at Pinkberry, and I eventually got promoted. During this time, I started to miss the learning experience. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the money I made, but I felt like a chump just going to work while all my friends were in school. The year off from school made me realize that I had to go back to school and finish my education if I ever wanted to make something of myself. There was no way I was going to make it by just trying to find jobs here and there with, technically, only a high school diploma. 

So now I’m here, back in school, trying to get my bachelor’s degree. It sucks major ass, but I know I have to do it — for myself, for my parents, for my future family.
I’ve had my ups and downs the last couple of years, but I’ve gotten a little more understanding of myself and what I want. Of course, there’s still plenty to learn. I’m only 22, and I’ve still got 3/4s of my life to live. It’s only just begun!