Welcoming the New Year (T-5)
A break from your regularly scheduled bird ramblings.
Bird ramblings will resume tomorrow. Today’s post is about the new year.
As the new year approaches, I think back on the whirlwind of a year that 2024 was. It was a year of firsts: a year of courage; a year of leadership; a year of discipline; a year of reflection. Some days were harder than others, but I feel proud of myself for making it past those moments, for challenging myself to keep going and for fighting against the current of life whenever things felt hopeless.
I feel so far from who I was a year ago. There are still things that I need to work through, parts of myself that I need to work on, and aspects of the future that remain unknown. I find solace in the idea that there is still so much I can improve and discover, and I know that I will continue to grow into myself every day. I have planted seeds of dreams all over my flowerbed. I’m prepared to live and learn. I’m prepared to wring myself out and soak up the world again and again. Life is steady. I love my friends. I’m learning to treat myself with care and to see myself as capable. I’m not afraid of change anymore; when the tides shift I will be ready.
This year I want to do something a little different from regular goals for 2025. I’ve tried to write about some of the standout moments from each month, some good, some bad. Read if you wish! Or spend time writing your own monthly standouts instead.
In any case, regular bird updates will resume tomorrow.
January, 24
Led my first tour with the Dins
February, 24
Joined 2 AADT dances! I learned to be confident in my body doing dance again.
Began taking 2 classes with professor Kuriyama, my favourite professor at Harvard.
March, 24
Kicked into high gear preparing for the Dins’ 45th anniversary.
Joined the Signet Society.
April, 24
Dins 45th Anniversary Jam complete!!
AADT performances complete!
Performance of The Last 5 Years (a sing-through) complete!
Phew, what a month.
May, 24
Recorded and mixed the Dins 18th studio album! It was a monster to do but very worth it.
Performed a solo during commencement.
June, 24
I got to see my sister get MARRIED!!!
Wrote a song for her father-daughter dance. I cried multiple times.
Completed the first half of the Dins world tour (7 countries).
July, 24
Completed the second half of the Dins world tour (7 countries).
60 days of Music Directing, travelling and singing around the world, complete! 14 countries!
August, 24
Travelled to Shenzhen, China, to teach a class on birds (bird evolution, birdsong, migrational patterns) to Chinese high school students.
Decided that I wanted to study birds post-college.
Went through a breakup.
Started keeping a consistent journal.
FAP proctored for the second time (now retired).
September, 24
Joined Uchoir Fellows.
Decided to produce my own short film about a restaurant owner and his story as a Chinese immigrant (through the lens of fish).
Started going to the gym once a week.
Made it through Pippin & Dins auditions.
The Dins performed at a Red Sox game!
Retired from being Dins MD.
Joined another AADT dance!
Started DJ-ing for WHRB’s Jazz department (5am shifts).
Oh, and, I turned 20!
October, 24
Auditioned for Berklee’s Fleetwood Mac showcase (to take place this spring), and became a lead vocalist.
November, 24
Performed for an OFA sound meditation event.
AADT performance complete!
Performed my first ever classical aria at Uchoir’s Bach Cantatas concert.
Performed as a vocalist in my first ever organ recital at Adolphus Busch Hall.
Travelled home for a weekend to perform at Fairchild again (nostalgic).
Watched the Dins semesterly jam from the audience for the first time (even more nostalgic).
December, 24
Pippin went up in the Agassiz Theater!!!
Performed Fair Harvard at Alan Garber’s secret Installment (so scary and such an honor).
Recorded a children’s album composed for a professor’s project.
Received 2 grants that are allowing me to take my upcoming trip to Yancheng.
Some scattered thoughts for the upcoming year:
This year I will laugh until my belly hurts. Often. I will write shitty poetry and I will show all of my friends. I will look at my side profile for ages and I will laugh because I love my nose. I will correct my posture. I will appreciate my body. I will look at my wardrobe and I will love every piece. I will embrace the people I love and I will write them little letters. I will not be late to fellows! I will have tea every morning and I will spend less $ on lattes. I will love everything I possibly can and I won’t care whether other people think I'm strange for it. I will write new music and I will release unrefined demos of my voice and the piano and I won’t seek perfection. I will continue to protect my peace.
I promise you bird content tomorrow. If you ended up reading all of that, thank you for engaging in my self-indulgent post today!
End of Log.