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It wasn’t my 2mins speech and I don’t know why I have written so much. Maybe that’s how I can described myself.

So on Friday I went ahead and play with my Windows Web Server 2008, but I don’t really know how to use IIS7, so I turned back to Windows XP and instead I used Xampp to set up my FTP Server. It worked and I was glad because in the future, my members can access into my FTP server and download movies.

Well, it happened that I ended up sleep late, around 3 am again.

This morning was funny. I woke up and went to check the clock. Since I didn’t wear my glasses, I read it as “4:30″. When I finished my “lunch”, I went back to sleep again. When I woke up again, I went to check the time, and it was “1:40pm”. I was confused and went to look at my cell phone, it said “1:42pm”. And I know I made a mistake the first time I looked at the clock.

Well… i guess it’s funny….

Yeukhon, Wong

Dr. Cooper and Mrs. Shumsey. Kevin Jhun and the Arista Board of 2008. The invited teachers and staff. All the candidates and my fellow Junior Arista of 2009. Good afternoon! I honored my promise, by addressing myself as a presidential candidate for the Arista of 2009. It is a promise, not only for me, but also for you, for my family, for the communities and for the unity and friendship that I have always honored. I dedicated this election and this speech to my family and God. There are so many things I want to share with you guys but since the time is limited, I could only address my passion and feeling about being a Presidential candidate. My friend had once said to me, “be yourself”. Yes, indeed, one of the purposes of Arista is “character”. If one cannot present oneself with honesty, there is no character for others to look upon.

“Be yourself” is difficult for me to present. I was listening to my music at the Q59 bus stop and I was thinking about the speech. I always have the passion about music. I play violin and I love the free-style by playing random notes without thinking ahead. Music brings me imagination: the happiness and sadness. It can be a wishful story between me and the girl that I like for two years, or a time when I become the “Star of the Year” and is honored to address a speech at my graduation. And so I am the emotional type person. So the music brought me the emotional need and creativity that allow my mind to speak. The “mind-speech” was so powerful but I was regret that I didn’t have a chance to write it down. That movement the music had granted me all the confidence back and I found “myself” to “be myself”.

Officers had told us not to vote for popularity or friendship, but respect the candidates and then vote for inspiration and ability. I have no popularity and most of you do not know me well. I stand here not just for presidency, but for the experience and the promise that I have since my childhood. I have a dream, a dream that I love, a dream that we all want to treasure, a dream that all of us have the desire to reach. I am here to protest and to revolute the reality. I am here for changes and for revolutions. There is only “one world, one dream and one unity” and so throughout this election I want to preserve the unity and friendship that I love. There is no opponent, but the biggest one is myself. You are the only one that can inspire yourself. Not even your parents, your teachers, your friends or your love one. The only one can inspire you is yourself. You have to become openness to the entire physical and spiritual world. Music does not inspire you, but it eases the resistance from the outside world so it allows you to look into your mind. You are the one that make the decisions, and so you are the only one that can really sketch your own future. Close your eyes and think about your past, your dreams and yourself. Make a scale and sketch out all the gain and lost since you became sensible.

I am not here to inspire you, but to help you, to assist you, and to find the inspiration and dreams together. This is not my promise because I am not you. Instead, it’s my dream. A dream that sounds too idealistic, but everything we learn comes from the idealistic world. The measure of leadership is not the quality of the head, but the tone of the body. Leadership is not a right, but privilege. Leadership is not about controlling others, but to serve and to love. Leadership is not about maintenance, but becoming popular and satisfied. And so this is one of the dreams that I wish to reach. I have so many things and plans want to suggest for the Arista. I even have a memorial blog for this election, I once wrote, “what if I lose the election? How can I suggest all my revolutionary plans and suggestions if I am not involve in the administration?” This is my fear and disappointment, but all I can do is giving my best shot, to bring my “Old Dreams, Old Arista and New Dreams, New Arista” to all of you: “to serve, to suffer and to earn”.

I have so many things want to do for our Arista of 2009. Bringing technologies and communicational works into Arista. We can even setup our own Arista Podcast in the future. I would like to have our Arista member to become “student-teachers” to assist the ESL students and younger children in the communities as the homework-helpers. We will begin to participate in politics and let the politicians to hear our young voices. We are the future leaders and we should start to focus and analyze the social issues. Arista is not only an organization in my opinion, but a turning point for every member, because our New Dreams and New Arista is to bring the reality into “reality”.

At this movement of our lives, we have granted a taste toward the colorful future by becoming an Arista member. It is the scholarship that we have earned. It is the reputation that will guide us to touch the reality. We have proved our efforts with our higher academic performance and community works. Arista is not only an academic organization that grants the national recognition, but it is like a nation, or a political party. We need to grow with our voices and we need to understand the future by touching the reality. We are no longer the “teenagers”, because Arista has qualified us to become the “one” that we have dreamed for many years. We are the role models, and we need to take more responsibilities because we have a dream to benefit our futures.

So by becoming an Arista member, we are not being treat like a regular high school student, but the school, community and our families must have anticipate us with a higher expectation. This reputation has become a “money-check” for your parents to honor their hard mentoring. This expectation is not only academically, but also communistically. The quality of Arista members are expecting to volunteer and make contribution to the communities. The New Arista and New Dream is “to serve, to suffer, and to earn” enthusiastically. It is a cycle and it’s always the way of life. Without putting effort and giving off the time to “serve and suffer”, we cannot “earn” the experiences. Since Arista is about serving the communities for self-fulfillment, which this organization should always maintain its unity. We need to respects different perspectives and voices. We need to work as a group. We need to honor disagreement because in democracy it demonstrates mature participation and responsibility.

We do not really know each other well, even when I have known you for ten years. Not even I would understand myself well enough to write an autobiography, but at least I try to discover “myself” to “be myself”. For sixteen years, since I became sensible, I was always looking upon my family. I used to be one of the top student in the class of 2009, but I fell to continue this junior year. Everyone has a downfall at least once in their lives. But as long as we discover the problem and try to work out, we should not be regret at all. For five years since I came to United States, I had very little contact with friends from Hong Kong. For five years I have to tolerate and try my best to become “myself”. For five years, I have hurt my family, my mother, my father, my sister, my relatives, my loves, my friends, myself and my Lord and I am still wondering around to seek for solution. And I do not remember how many times I have cried for the past five years.

In reality, this written speech cannot finish within two minutes. But I am trying to “be myself” to express my passions.. There is this one Chinese song, “十年”(Ten Years), by Andy Lui, said “我每一個十年, 許多難忘的片段, 當轉眼回頭望一遍, 已經很遠.” meaning “For all these years, there are many unforgettable scenes and memories. Once you turn back to look, they are already far away from you.” And it is valid that why people love to write dairy and take photographs everywhere they go because they stored the memories forever. I don’t know how far I can go with my life, but at this movement when I am standing in-front of you, I have already realized that I am going to become seventeen soon, and I am no longer the “mama-boy” that I use to be. All these years I was holding my mother’s hand and she carried my school bags to walk to school with me. All these years she had never been working and has to tolerate my yelling and screaming. All these years my father yelled at me to be a good boy. All these years my sister had taught me to become a good student. All these years my friends I have love and all these years that God have protected me are unforgettable. When I am writing my speech, I cried along these words and the music. I cried not only because I am emotional, but also for the dreams that I have wish since I was a boy. All these years that were gone, all I can do is to turn my back around, and walk toward the future, and face the present.

What if I lose this election? What if I fail to become the president? I will be proud of being both Robotics Club (team)’s president and the future Arista president. But I shall not grant too much if that’s my fate. I have to face my fate by standing in-front of all of you to prove my dream. I have already made my approach by becoming a candidate. We share the commons, the commons lead the superiors, the superiors make the changes. Take a bite if you find it easy; take a stick and beat it up before you meet the dangerous. Take my word and go ahead for yourself”. I have tried my best, the best of all the best, without regret, a regret that I wish to regret. It is because, I know I have “be myself, not to be afraid” to preserve the unity and friendship.

And I am here, your Presidential candidate, Yeukhon, Wong.

Thank you very much.

I met Tiffany today and yes, I really wanted to see her so that I can ask her for a little help.

I knew that she wasn’t that popular when she ran for Vice-President. I wanted to ask her for suggestion, or anything that she could help me.

Well, she told me to be myself, through the conversation with her, I had been convinced that she was a powerful speaker. When she talked to the Secretary, she informed her talk flowly, without a pause, no confussion.

She talked to me but I kept looking away from her eyes. She told me it would be a mistake if I didn’t start to look at people’s eyes directly. I meant, when I am giving my speech, I will look at the audience’s eyes. But, when I talk to a girl, or someone is much powerful than I am, I will look away. And, I don’t comfortable to look at a superior woman like Tiffany was.

Well, I took her words and after school I was listening to music and I caught the ideas about the speech. It came to my mind that I need to mention a few things.

Let me write this down so I don’t forget.

1. How to start?

2. You are the only one that can inspire yourself.

3. Unity and Friendship

Well, I gussed I need to listen to those two songs over and over tomorrow.

I was lazy again… oh boy…

I picked this cartoon randomly, but the night news reported that the oil price would have increase to US$4 this summer.

Well, it isn’t a surprise thing. For the past two years, the gas price, or the oil price had increased for at least US$1.5  and today the average price is arund US$3.33. Some areas the price is even higher, in NYC we are lucky enough to meet the average price since there are many consumers so each gas station would set the price at average to compete for more customers.

There are many rumors and “factors” been said about the gas price. Many believed it was the unstabilitiy in Middle East and the China, and India’s consuming too much oil. The Market responses and wants to make more profits, so it increases the gas price. But I think it’s only a one side story, at least economic studies show that every economy matter has “infinitive” factors lead to changes.

By breaking down each “factor”, we have many others “sub-factors”, and each “sub-factors” may also goes down into many many other “sub-sub factor”.

For example, inflation isn’t always causes by “reduction in curreny”, but there are so many other factors could have lead to inflation, such as “over consuming”, “lack of consuming”, “reduction in production”, stock market crisis, and ect.

So it makes sense that the price is going up, but the salaries that we earn are going away from our pocket. Only the big stick monopoly makes the money. But my point is, what if the economy gets worse? The value of the currency will reduce, and worth less. US$1 today may become US$0.001 tomorrow.

If the value continue to drop, the Chinese $ will not able to stand too long. It will drop after its “honey-moon”, enjoying the US currency dropping. Then trillions of dollars will lost in one day if 1% of the value is drop.

It is so dangerous that economy needs a damn long term of study and requires so much time to analzy. A single false prediction, often becomes a cause, or a factor that makes up the economic crisis.

Only if the oil companies are nice enough, and allows the price to drop without any regulation from the government, then there may be a chance: yes, just maybe a chance, that we will have no inflation, or another “BLACK FRIDAY”. But most likely, if the oil price drops in a larger range, the overall economy will suffer even more.

My AP US teacher, Mrs. Ali was absent today and Mr. Nobel came in to moderate our class. He gave out the worksheet that Mrs. Ali had left with, and the topic was “Nixon and Watergate”.

The aim was “Is Nixon’s Self-Justification convincing?”

From what I had read from the worksheet, he did not directly confess that he was directly involved in the Watergate. Instead he praised President Ford’s pardon and described his regrets to the Americans.

So, here is the story line. Nixon as a President, the only thing I think people remembered beside the Watergate, was his visit of China.

It was the first American President had ever visited China and the first world-power leader visited China after it fell under the control of the communist and the first time since the Cold War and Isolation broke out.

It was a dramatic change and turning point of the history. Since the visiting, China and many other isolated countries began to look forward in openess. Not necessarily in full openness, but in a progress.

But the remark about Nixon with Watergate had a greater impact with the world-leadership and its administration. Government was now appeared to be “self-interest” and “corrupted”, proved by the Watergate. Nixon’s direct invovlment made the America power looked corrupted and weaker.

In Nixon’s “regret” statment, he said he had mistaken himself so much that he could not face the reality. The Americans felt betrayed because Nixon had committed a crime as a President, who operate and control the government with law and justice. That the Watergate had proven that politics was never that pure. Everyone has a self-interest.

It is so clear that Nixon’s action had led to another “Progressive Movement”. Later when President Bill Clinton committed affair, he had lost so many supporters, and granted the a remarkable scratch on his ” life time transcript”.

So politic is never pure and people are never pure either. We need to moderate ourselves all the time, remember what is right and wrong. Like the student who had set up a small fire in the bathroom on April Fool in FLHS, remember that. He was arrested and had lost his entrance into college. His life is now “mess-up”.

Do not promise unless you know what you doing and think carefully before you ever move your feet apart. Set a time and make some changes, make sure you know yourself, and the court.

I think Monday and Friday should have a shorter schedule for everyone, we all need some pardons and I really need one.

Anyway, I was quite early today but stopped at Eric’s office to tell him about the Robotics Field Trip.

The school day was fine but when I went home I became so lazy again…

OH MY GOD…

All right, so tomorrow I have my Math test and I still have some questions and problems did not know how to solve. Hope I could get some help from my friends tomorrow.

I don’t know if I could make my speech well. I really do not know. I was so worried these days about the Presidency. I have so many things want to do for Arista, our members, our school, our students and our communities. I wish there is no election and I am the elected President so I could tell our members, to suggest them what we can do….

I mean, look, I don’t really like those “old work” that Arista offers. I want something new for my members. I have so many plans and platforms in my head now, but if I fail to become a President, whatelse can I do? Suggest these ideas every single meeting? We meet like every once a month?? And what can I do?

I am so worry about the speech and the result. I want not just the votes, but becoming the real elected President of 2009 Arista. Not because I want to become President, but to become one that can lead my dreams, and able to expan my dreams with the Arista memebers. I have so many plans and platforms want to share with the school administration.

People say I am too serious and I am too into Arista. Look, folks, I am not there and here for game, but for work. I wish I could become something so that I could look ahead and see what I can do.

Monday is always the worse day to start. I wish there is no Monday, but only Friday, so I can go home and sleep, and relax for one day at least.

Hope I will get 100 on my math test tomorrow. I am now in dangerous because I finally found something not sure in math. Oh damn it….

Well, I asked my friend about this blog. She took a look and said,

“John, is your real name, Yeukon or Yeukhon?”

I replied, “Yeukhon” and then I took a look at my old logo, and my face expression was like

hahaha, it happened to me a couple time, especially today, I kept messing up the colleges newsletter at the Field Trip. The truth isn’t I was retarded, but I was a bit nervous, at rush, or my mind was at a faster speed than my body did.

So it happened, and hopefully it wouldn’t happen on my real college applications.

What a little story for today????

Okay, but I told them, it’s okay, since everyone has a different way to express and speak. I told them I weren’t going to yell at the beginning. I will project my voice in pace.

I told them I knew what I was doing and I know excatly what I should do.

Anyway, I told them it was hard to write a speech, since I only give a speech from my head, not from the paper. It’s very difficult to animate the written word…

We spent like 20 mintues to wait for him. But 20 mins passed, we decided to leave and take the E train with Ryan, Sherman and Bob. We were lated to meet the Mouse Squad, but they were also waiting for someone else. Anyway, we went in and started taking pictures.

Once I stepped into it, I could see the FIRST Robotics Competetion. The FIRST Robotics Tech Chanaglle was at the side, and it has a smaller platform, and pretty cold there. I guessed we were all right about the FRC. We went around the whole damn thing and we took so many pictures of FRC Teams and their robotics. We were able to talk to some advisers and voltueere from some of the teams.

We even met the Stuversant and Brooklyn Tech Team. Hahahahaa…. Well afterward we were all tired so we went around the workshops and to get their gifts. Most of the workshops gave out some gifts. There were about 15 - 20 colleges, including Columbia and Princeton.

Bob and I went and signed up, though we weren’t going for anything in technologies. Anyway, the Mouse Squad brought us to lunch and we ate hell lots of pizza. Bob, Ryan and Brian were so busy with their “bloomberger” Rubic Cube. We got them from a workshop.

So we went back and continued to watch the damn competetion. At the last workshop, before we left the competetion, we went to look at the rafiy, Guess what? I won the biggest prize of the day. So lucky…. well, it’s going to use for our FLHS Robotics Team.

All right, I am pretty tired, so let me take a couple days to finish upload pictures and videos