24

“It’s the length of one day, one half, one shot clock. This number is my promise to dominate every moment.”
— Kobe Bryant on changing his jersey number to 24 (2006)

I'm not one to really draw inspiration from public figures very much (or at least admittedly, anyway) -- mostly because I think there's so much inspiration already around me with the people I know. However, growing up, I was always drawn to Kobe Bryant. Sure, anyone can complain about his cockiness or his brutally crafted way with words at times. But I admire him (although I'd honestly probably be intimidated if I were to ever meet him). He is bold, fearless, relentless, determined, hard-working, intelligent, quick on his feet (figuratively and literally), wise (there is a difference of that and intelligence), clever, confident, honest, and passionate about his craft and about life. And yes, he has his demons, but don't we all? We are humans, not fictitious superheroes. Kobe changed his jersey number from 8 to 24, and had those words above to explain why. And with that, didn't we all just change our favorite numbers to 24? It's a perfect reminder to us all that we should make the most out of every moment. 

So with that, I begin my first post of this journey of a journal, on my 24th birthday. Welcome!

Birthdays are great for reflecting. Here are my 24 most notable moments of my 23rd year:

1. 23rd birthday at the Maroon 5 concert in Houston, TX.
2. After a day checking out Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA, Scott and I left early to go to Fry's Electronics to fix a blown fuse, went to Brodard's to pick up a nem nuong cuon dinner, and spent the evening in Downtown Disney, watching the fireworks (for free!) in the Esplanade.
3. Dental school. Just. everything.
4. Getting my first DSLR for Christmas from Scott. A whole new rabbit hole of an adventure.
5. Spending quality time with my parents while living in Houston. Strawberry picking at Froberg Farms, crawfish eating (and for a helluva much better price than in CA!), and just getting to know my parents in their older years. 
6. Was introduced to the goddess of hair styling, Alex Martinez, who I completely entrust with every strand of my hair.
7. Attended my first SF Giants game!
8. Rode a mechanical bull
9. Tried archery for the first time
10. Kirsten was promoted from elementary school and entered the middle school waters. CJ started school at SFSU. Scott started his first major job. I started dental school.
11. Got my first patient! As a first year dental student. Amazing.
12. Checked out the Pasadena Chalk Festival for the first time!
13. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure with my roommates. More butterbeer, please!
14. Lived 10 minutes away from my parents in my first few months of dental school. 
15. Learned to walk on stilts
16. Became one with the Floridians in state residency, and in courage in living close to gators.
17. Dressed up as the Purple Parrots with Krystal and Scott -- being a great cross-country team. Featuring Terence as the Pendant of Life, and a [spray-painted] shrine of the silver monkey pinata!
18. Getting my first Annual Pass for the Walt Disney World Resort. Florida residency ftw!
19. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Rocks my socks off. 
20. The passing of my dear Ah Ma. She was 105 and lived an amazing life. And got a eulogy from my cousin who certainly gave a performance to remember...
21. The moments at the PHX airport trying to beat Scott in a game of who'll find who first. I snuck around the baggage claim finding ways around the main routes so that I could find him first. I took the elevator instead of the escalator, and walked all the way around on the edges instead of towards the middle. It paid off, as I won. The great excitement I had when I first found him - and he didn't know. And calling him while he was clueless of where to find me although I was right around the corner. And then, after some more chasing around the baggage claim, finally meeting eye to eye. Nothing short of pure joy in my heart. I teared up with happiness because it was real. It was happening. He was there. We were together. In this moment, we actually locked eyes when we were still separated by this weird partitioned area of the baggage claim. I remember welling up with tears of joy and running around the partition to finally get to him and hug him. It was an emotional moment six months in the making.
22. Our many trips to WDW within the limited days Scott has been in FL in January and March.
23. Scott got me beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day. :)
24. Winning the first ever LECOM Interdisciplinary Sports Competition! Go Team DMD! Had a blast cheering people on (with Scott too!) and participating in all but one of the rounds of Tug of War (the last, winning round, hah). There was stiff competition with the med school, but we valiantly prevailed regardless! It was a sweet victory worthy of the blister, bloodshed, and bruising I got. 

23 was a good year to me. May 24 be ever sweet even more! 

When putting this all out there, I realize now just how much I have experienced, how much I have learned, and how much I have grown since I turned 23. When reflecting on the past year, what have been some of your most notable moments?