Thursday, May 29, 2008

Going to China

I'm flying out to China from SFO 1:35 p.m. today! This is my first real experience abroad, so I'm really, really excited! Ahh! There are so many people I'm going to miss too, although I know I'm only gone for 2.5 months and I'll get to see everyone when I get back.

I'll try to update as much as I can from the homeland... with pictures too! I hope everyone has a great summer! Keep in touch!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Noncomprehensive List of Things to do in San Francisco

As many of you know, I'm going to be in San Francisco for four days!!

I'm making of list of things to do so I can keep track :), in no particular order:

  • Enjoy the Bay Area air
  • Sit on a beach
    • Watch the Waves
    • Chase some seagulls
    • Meditate
    • Read
  • Go to Ghirardhelli Square
  • Eat Inn-N-Out
  • Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Visit Fort Mason
  • Drink lots of Jamba Juice
  • Call Decker from the Ferry Building
  • Dinner with Anne and Cliff
  • See Sarah Lang
  • Try to reconcile with an old friend
  • Visit SOTA! Maybe give a talk.
    • Lots of hugs
  • Explore North Beach and Coit Tower with Lunar
  • Eat at Nation's with Taj
  • See Indiana Jones with someone
  • Ride BART
  • Ride MUNI
  • Go on a Downtown Adventure
  • Chillax at Union Square
  • Eat in Chinatown
  • Go to Naan and Curry
  • Take in the breathtaking views
  • Dip my toe into the Pacific Ocean
  • Go watch the Sea Lions
  • Fisherman's Wharf Stroll w/ my Arturo Fuente
  • Drive to Twin Peaks
  • Cheesecake Factory
  • Get plenty of Bubble Tea
  • Visit my Elementary School
  • Visit the Art Galleries
  • Go to end-of-the-year Art and Film party
I'm also starting the list of things to do when I'm back in August for two weeks and have more time!!
  • Finish list 1, if haven't done it
  • Do all of list 1 again, if possible
  • Visit the De Young
  • Visit SFMOMA
  • Check out the Asian Art Museum
  • Visit to the SFUSD building
  • Chill out with all my UC friends who I miss dearly and wasn't able to see cause you guys are lame and are still in school in MAY!
  • Elementary School Reunion (if I can make it)
  • Drive down to Monterey Bay
  • Go to Six Flags
  • Go to Great America
  • Sourdough Chowder Bowl
  • Find a meadow somewhere and lay in it

Monday, May 19, 2008

End of Sophomore Year

Wow, I cannot believe that I'm already half way through college. It's been both a frighteningly fast and yet exhilarating time. I love it here. Despite the trials and tribulations, I find school to be extremely challenging, rewarding, exciting, and special. I'm really looking forward to next semester's production of The Laramie Project. I had my last final today, and I stayed up until 4 a.m. because I couldn't go to sleep! I was going through every scene in my head, and also coming up with exciting ideas for publicity, outreach, recruitment, and what have you. If you can make it, I really think it'll be worth it, definitely! We're going to work very, very hard to make this production very, very special.

Coming to Harvard, I never thought I'd be so involved in theater. I thought initially that I couldn't go back, because high school was a very special place for me, and in college I'd just study the "practical" things. Well, I've learned that if I'm not happy with the things I'm doing, I should evaluate my activities, and if I'm not happy that means there are some drastic changes that need to be in order. I'm really glad that I've determined that this semester. Teaching and Theater, I think, are things that I expect to be very challenging and yet so rewarding in the upcoming junior year.

I can't believe sophomore year is over!! I need to pack things now, and empty out my room and all its modern art posters, and ... I'm getting pretty sad just thinking about it. Just 7 hours ago, I couldn't wait to be done with my last final. Now I really want to enjoy myself before I leave. I'm sad to go.

I've learned so much these past two years!! Except right now, I've done so much work these past three weeks, with final papers, oral presentations, interviews, organizing, etc. etc. I can think of nothing better to do right now than to waste all my evening playing computer games. I don't expect these posts to be read, but if you're interested, I've posted most of my final papers and presentations that have taken up so much of my life these past few weeks. Maybe someone will learn something that took me hours and hours to write. If any of these topics interest you, I'd love to hear what you have to say! I really do.

One complaint that I know I have is that I wish I had more time to work on these papers. I think that they're good, but I know that I can make them even better if I just had 1) fewer things to do in so short a time frame and/or 2) more time in which to do the things I had to do.

Anyways, here they are, in no particular order:

Social Studies Paper on Minorities in Today's Society using Beauvoir, Freud, and Foucault as a basis for discussion.

New York City Department of Education from 2002 to 2008 School Reform Analysis. This was a group project, so both the presentation and paper are jointly authored by Sarah Kasok, Jon Sproul, and Jason Wong.

Los Angeles Unified School District Urban Education Reform up to 2008 Analysis.

Statistical Analysis on Home Environment and Income on School Behavior.

P.S. We broke 3000 hits!

Social Studies Final Paper

Modeling Minorities: An Examination of the Causes and Effects of Majority and Minority Power Relations
by Jason Wong

Abstract:

This essay is primarily concerned with existing power relations among minorities in today’s society. We begin with Simone de Beauvoir’s analysis of the subjugation of women, and use this discussion to springboard into the idea that her ideas can be expanded to encompass not only women, but most minorities. In order to gain a better idea of the existing power relations among majorities and minorities, we attempt to look at Freud and Focault’s idea of society and civilization, and how societies and civilizations shape the individuals that comprise them. Finally we conclude with the thought that although economic conditions have allowed for greater equality than before, that is, that capitalism tends to break down discriminatory barriers, minorities will never truly be free of their subjugation unless society is made more aware of their existence, and culturally highlight the diversity of the human race rather than limit it.




Read this doc on Scribd: Minorities in Society

Statistics and Sociology Final Paper

Home, Sweet Home: An Explanation of Income and Home Environments on School Behavior
by Jason Wong

Abstract:
in this paper I explore the idea that family income and home environment are indicators of student academic behavior. My hypothesis is that both variables can predict whether or not students are likely or unlikely to turn in their homework. Ultimately, however, my findings are unable to support my hypothesis. Multiple regression shows that, contrary to what I expected from my descriptive analysis, that family income and time alone are both pretty poor indicators of homework completion. In the end, I explore other potential factors that could be greater indicators of student behavior in school.


Read this doc on Scribd: Home Sweet Home

Urban Education Policy Case Analysis: Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Unified School District School Reform to 2008 final paper: by Jason Wong

Abstract:
In this paper I try to introduce, analyze and evaluate the reform efforts of the Los Angeles Unified School District. I note that the relatively short time frame since Mayor Villaraigrosa took partial responsibility of the school district makes it hard to tell whether or not LAUSD urban school reforms are working, although I also note that district test scores have been stagnant for a while. Finally, I make the recommendation that LAUSD improve its strategy by focusing on the three c’s: clarity, comprehensiveness, and cohesion.


Read this doc on Scribd: Los Angeles Case Analysis

Urban Education Policy Case Analysis: New York City

New York City Public School Reform 2002 to 2008 presentation and paper accompaniment: by Sarah Kasok, Jon Sproul, and Jason Wong



Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Power of Theater


Today was a really significant day for our beginning acting class. It was our last day together. The first part of our class was spent reminiscing, and sharing with each other what this class meant to us. One thing in particular resounded with me, that through this class, I've met many, many other students who I would not have gotten to know otherwise, and through this class we've all formed a distinct community. People of different tastes, theatrical experiences, backgrounds, geographic locations, ages, etc. etc. all met and conglomerated in this class. It's awesome. More so than any other academic class, wherever our individual paths lead us now, whenever ours cross with each other, we'll be more than classmates.

Unlike athletics, where people compete with one another, and unlike academic classes, where you don't really get to work with other people and get to know them, theater is a place for community, personal growth, and exploration. Where else do you explore human nature? Where else do you depend on so many other people to create art? I love theater so much. I know I probably won't be able to depend on theater as a career, but I know my appreciation of theater will last a lifetime.

Also today is the horrible news from China and Myanmar. It's so sad. We should do all we can to help, if it is just helping people be aware of the human devastation that's happening there, and compelling people to donate if they can.

For all we know, sooner or later we might be one of those victims. No place is really immune from natural disasters.

Friday, May 09, 2008

The Harvard Laramie Project


We did it!! WE did IT! I just learned of this not even three days ago, and I'm still bouncing off the walls and flying high above the clouds.

We are producing the Harvard premier of The Laramie Project! The number of performances, and performance times will be announced at a later date, but we will be putting this production on at the Agassiz Theater here at Harvard on the weekend of January 8 to 11, 2009! Everyone's invited! Please come! It's going to be awesome!

In any case, we have big plans for this production, including possibly the use of cinematography and photographs in order to create an ultra-modern artistic feel. For our publicity campaign, we are hoping to utilize all the means available to us, including print ads, posters/flyers, making use of the internet, and especially utilizing a social network as a way to connect the cast, crew, and fans of the Harvard Laramie Project! I think what's going to be new about this particular web campaign is that I'm going to encourage all of the staff, cast and crew to blog about their experiences when they can. I think it's going to be great! It's kind of like mimicking the diary moments inside the play itself (if you are familiar with this play, you'll know what I'm talking about, if not, don't worry about it!) In addition, you'll be able to ask us questions, and prod our artistic vision as we lead into opening night! Furthermore, you'll get an insider's view of what it's like to put on a theatrical production. We have much to offer! Visit theharvardlaramieproject.ning.com and check it out! You should register! And stay tuned!

For the past two weeks, our staff has poured their heart and soul into organizing a group and a proposal for our show. Our proposal for The Agassiz theater is eight pages long. Including our credentials section, our proposal's almost twenty pages! This is all for a production that wasn't even guaranteed a space or funding!

The night before I expected to hear about whether or not we got a space, I had nightmares where I begged and pleaded with everyone I knew to get this project off the ground even though we were rejected. I prepared myself not to show disappointment or cry if we were refused. I woke up the next morning, tired from an exhausting repose, and was glued to my email inbox. I received this email in the late afternoon, that read:

We were impressed by your commitment to bringing this show to the Harvard campus, and the team presentation during your interview.

The NCT/Agassiz Review Committee has decided to grant The Laramie Project a two week residency at the Agassiz Theatre for the weeks of Dec. 15 to Jan. 11 (taking into account winter recess) contingent on the following items:
- There will only be one weekend of performances, starting no earlier than Wednesday, 1/7, and going no later than a matinee on Sunday, 1/11, allowing for an evening strike.
- You agree to work with the Agassiz staff and other building users to ensure all support spaces (Horner Room, scene shop, lobbies, etc.) are shared fairly and always left clean and organized for the next group.
- You abide by the rules and policies of the Agassiz Operations Manual and Tech Safety Manual.

Honestly, I teared up. I'm so excited for this show! We have such a genuinely awesome group behind this production, I can't help but be more and more excited for this production as time passes!! We still have much work to do, such as apply for funding, and get our paperwork together and create our organization behind this production, but we're doing this! It's almost like living a dream. *pinches self* Stay with us and follow our trials and tribulations as we begin our journey to our big performance dates! Welcome, all, to The Harvard Laramie Project!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

My First Class


Well, today was the final day of class for AP US Government at MIT. I've been super busy trying to get all my paperwork, finals, presentations, applications, and sanity in order, I didn't really have time to think about preparing myself for this moment.

It hit me as soon as I told the class I had to leave a little early to submit an important application for a potential production of The Laramie Project; which I hope to direct this fall on the tenth anniversary of Matthew's death. My departure felt sudden, but the class leapt to wish me goodbye. Christina and I are hoping on hosting a final get together here at Harvard next week, but we may not see many of these students for a long, long time to come.

I was waiting desolately at the bus stop for the bus to arrive to make my appointment, and I started to tear up a little bit. I remembered each of their faces from the first day of class, and since then, I've gotten to know all of them really well. I've met their families, hosted some of their visits to Harvard, talked with them about life and politics and art, and overall had a really good time this year. Sunday afternoons, from 1:30 to 5:00 became something that I really looked forward to every week, and perhaps was one of the highlights of my week.

Well, I can't describe how sad I feel to be letting go of my dear friends who I won't be able to see on a regular basis anymore and chat with. It's heartening to think about how they're all growing up and will go to college soon, and then get jobs, and run their own lives. I feel so old when I think along these lines, but in reality I know I'm growing up along with them. I hope we keep in touch, I'd be really depressed if no one from my first class contacted me again. I've learned so much from my students, more than I can ever teach them.

I sincerely recommend teaching to everyone who can, at least for a year or two. My paths have crossed with a small group of wonderful people, and I know that from now on, our paths will continue on through life's travails, together.