Here are some photos I took with my phone.

The beginning of the hike

Halfway mark

A squirrel ;3

The wind generator at the top of Grouse Mountain

And finally the gondola we took on the way back down.

It was quite a workout. Did you ever try the Grouse Mountain Grind? Leave a comment x3

080110|1307

The reason behind my sudden epiphany probably is the fact that I have been lying around lazily for the past few days. Although I wished to find the motivation to work on my Calculus revision, I was delayed by the constant thought of simply relaxing this summer and let myself loose. I almost did succumb to sloth, but I thought about my goals for the future and deemed a summer of relaxation was not an option for me.

What are my goals? Now that I will be heading to McGill in September for Science, I must first plan my courses to include prerequisites for Immunology Major, prerequisites for UBC Medical School, prerequisites for McGill Medical School, and also prerequisites for UT Medical School plus McMaster Medical School. Other than that, I also must find methods of contacting places of interest that I wish to volunteer for next year in Montreal. Some of these places include Canadian Blood Service (Societe du Sang Canadienne) clinics, local food bank, McGill University Health Centre, and other miscellaneous organizations such as senior homes.

Now that the goal of going to McGill has been fulfilled, I will work on my next goal of Medical School Admission.

GoGoGo

071610|2153

Perhaps one of the few things that really changed how I viewed this world was the sudden shock dealt to me by my fellow graduating class. This particular shock I will dub the “OMG I”M GRADUATING ??!?!” syndrome. I still find it hard to believe that I’m actually moving on from high school to a new place. 新しい場所.  (Attarashi basho)

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First, I must ask Mr. Smith about how to send a final transcript to McGill since they required it. I must find out if I could get an official transcript from the school in July that includes the final mark for my English 12 course. Second, I must ask Ms. Murray nicely for a BD slip to show to Mr. Fung for an omission on a homework check. Third, I have 5 exams coming up and 2 assignments. This includes a Chemistry 12 Redox Exam, Biology 12 Nervous System Exam, Chemistry 12 Final Exam, Biology 12 Final Exam, English 12 Final Exam, English 12 In-Class Essay, and English 12 Propaganda Assignment. Not to mention that I still have a English 12 Provincial Exam to prepare for.

Although it is very tempting for me to stop working hard now, I must now think clearly about my future. Will I let a whole year’s work go to waste here at the very last moment? Will I slack off now and receive equivalent punishments for it? I will not. I will work. I will fight. I will achieve my goals!

Go Perry!

053010|2230

In the morning I volunteered at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre with my fellow forum members. I was assigned gardening duties and was taken by a women called Sherry into the courtyard garden.

I was overwhelmed by the nature of the garden. It was definitely a garden well-cared for. I spent three hours there cutting weeds, trimming bushes, and just basically nurturing the garden. It was really satisfying to see an even better version of the garden when I left. We even took out a tree!

After leaving G.F. Strong, Mr. Kidd drove me to Strathcona Park next to the food bank and I ate lunch there. I chatted a lot with Mr. Kidd and I also discovered that he was actually a bio-geo-chemistry major in undergrad. He is 38 this year. His kid is just 2 years old. His advice to me about going to postsecondary next year was “stay motivated”. I agree and I seriously believe that was exactly what I will do next year.

At the end of the day, I discovered the following. I liked the way the food bank was operating; therefore, I really want to volunteer there. There are also other place where I could get a more clinical volunteer experience aside from the Canadian Blood Service clinic. I should search for physiotherapy centres in Montreal.

I’m glad that I participated in May Day.

052010|1439

There are many things people would pursue. It may well be something simple as a better meal like a bowl of authentic ramen bought from a restaurant in downtown Osaka. Or it could be something obscure like world peace; which, in my opinion is unachievable unless all the governments in the world merge into one mega-state. At times, people may also look for more psychologically and emotionally enriching factors to improve their lives. In short, people will search for friendship, love, and a general sense of belonging in many stages of their life. Even I am on a quest to find where my emotions belong.

The best way to illustrate the mentality behind this phenomenon called “the pursuit of happiness” is by recounting the history of the western world. Ever since European settlers settled on the continent of North America 300 to 400 years ago, the concept of pursuing a better life always existed. In more forms than one could possibly imagine, that belief is passed on to each generation. One example being that in the 1920s people “pursued” a better life in the wild west.

Even to this day I still see the effects of that very influential ideology. When I look down the hallways of the graduating class, I see couples everywhere. The number of couples are not static as the number is growing exponentially before my eyes. Everyone is definitely pursuing better lives.

So isn’t this world wonderful? Simply marvelous in every single aspect. Everyone is free to pursue what they wanted here, and it is suffice to say that everyone is pursuing dreams here.

051810|2236

I know that I am now heading to McGill. The one place that I had always dreamed of learning at. After reaching that decision, I promptly accepted my offer of admission and paid the $300 deposit. I started researching about the residences that I was interested in living at and other exciting activities. I almost lost track of what is important at the moment. Looking at the calender, I realized to my horror that I only have four short weeks left until in-class finals exams for Chemistry, Biology, and French. Not to mention the fact that I also have an English Provincial Exam to prepare for. I must do well on all of them in order to maintain my average, or else I would not be able to go to McGill.

Thinking about academics always made me somehow pessimistic. Oh well, Unit L Respiration exam first thing tomorrow morning for Biology. Hope I do well and ace it.

Go go go!

051610|2214

I suddenly realized what I have been pursuing this whole time. I wasn’t solely focused on entering BHSc, I wanted to go to McGill more than anywhere for university. The answer was always there for me, but I got blinded by the glimmer of hope. I got lured by the enticing promises (or more like myths) surrounding McMaster Health Sciences. The myth that 50% of its graduates enter medical schools; which, is true statistically speaking, but is ONLY true because the population of BHSc was already filled with highly-motivated individuals who ONLY strive to enter medical schools. I am not like that. I realized that I only ever wanted from the start to go to McGill for my undergraduate education. Preferably living in the dormitory of my choice, studying what I loved, and in general living a great life as a student. Medical schooling is an option for me, but it is not all of the options for me. I actually want to pursue graduate studies and eventually obtain a PhD. As for what, all I can say at the moment is that it would be more science based. Psychiatry sounds like a good option for me, since I am a person who constantly struggles with my own emotional conflicts as I resolve the conflicts of others.

Voila! My blog entry has entered a new stage. My blog entries have now progressed into the paragraph format. I changed and so have my artistic outlets. The compositions made during my stage of emotional unrest back when I still was concerned with McMaster Health Sciences were (dare I say it) brilliant. My best works up until now. Today was the day spent to reorganize my mind, tomorrow I will seize the day and do all I can to land myself in Montreal. I will succeed.

I will… also phone McMaster tomorrow morning and ask them to tell me my application status. If I am rejected I’ll probably come out more relieved than if I were accepted. At this point in time, I think a rejection may be better for me. I wonder what the holy deity thinks of this? I still doubt whether or not him/her/it existed.

Chingstah, you should also find what you wish to pursue in the future. It will give you all the motivation and energy to act swiftly everyday. I’m going to hope that the graduation dinner/dance comes soon and I’ll be truly relaxed then. I hope you would be too. Oh well, I’ve written way too much for one night. Good night everyone.. and take care.

A Composed Perry

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