As I’ve started writing for The Odyssey, in a way, it’s as if I’ve been documenting my life. The subjects that I write, the tone that I write them in, it’s as if they’re benchmarks for how I’ve felt during that week. And now we’re about to head into the third month of 2017, which seems absolutely bizarre because of how quick time seems to go by, but also equally makes sense because a lot has happened.

In addition to calling The Odyssey my writing platform, I also write for a website called College Fashionista, about…well, you’ve guessed it, fashion. However, it was a piece that I wrote for the month of February that I’ve recently revisited and felt (embarrassingly) emotional towards.

*Writer's Note: I just wanted to mention that I'm a positive, pessimistic realist. I'm not quite sure if that makes sense like I usually think that a lot of bad things will happen to me, but I have a tiny sliver of hope in everything.

'The last week-end of January was Lunar New Year, and being Chinese-Korean-American, I found myself relieved at the thought of another new year celebration. It isn’t because I enjoy the jubilee. I mean, I do; when you’re surrounded by plates and plates of food, and when you’re given red envelopes of money from your relatives, life is pretty great. I think I was relieved because, for me, it’s as if the month of January was a trial run for 2017. It allowed me to get a feel of what the rest of the year would be like with my classes, with the world, with myself. And this is where my title comes in; 'not able to see the forest for the trees' is an idiom which means that one sees too many details of a situation which obscures the situation as a whole. This phrase is essentially how I live my life. I’m a detail person, and I put too much effort into that particular detail than the success of the project (or what have you) as a whole.

So that being said, if you need a second chance at the year of 2017, take it. I’m going to take this opportunity to be more vocal about the issues that are important to me, especially with the situations happening all over the world, like global warming, diversity in the entertainment industry, and politics.

Although we’re a little more than a month into the new year, I think it’s beneficial to refresh and analyze our mindset of this year. 2017 is the year to just go for it. There’s nothing to lose, only to gain through our mistakes and successes.”

To me, January was such a brutal and eye-opening transition month. I wasn’t feeling particularly energized for the new year, and I was trying to figure out what to do with my major, my life, my career. I had decided to change my mindset for February, to become more welcoming, flexible, and positive for whatever came my way, be it challenges or blessings. Now visiting this particular piece after a whole month, or 28 days to be exact, I can say that so many blessings have come into my life.

I finally obtained an internship in the public relations industry. It was an unpaid internship with an up and coming PR company ran by two women who came from New York. I went into the internship with the mindset that I would do everything and soak in what they taught my like a sponge. After three days of working for them, I was offered a paid position. They had noticed how hard working, diligent, and detail-oriented I was and honestly I was so surprised and appreciative. This gave me the ability to not have to work a part-time job in addition to going to school full time and having three dedicated to fellowship/church activities. It was a major Devil Wears Prada moment for me and sometimes I still can’t believe that this blessing came to me.

Throughout the month of February, I’ve also had many minor moments that resulted in everything...sort of going well for me. (I guess I've just been traumatized by how 2016 went, all of this seems like a dream.) I’ve just had so many interesting conversations with strangers and friends that really show me how much effort and knowledge I have pertaining to that industry, which has soothed my constant worrying of whether or not, I’m meant to go into the fashion/beauty industry. My parents have supported my decision to apply for studying abroad. I stepped out of my comfort zone in my public speaking class, did a speech on the lack of Asian representation in Hollywood, and received a 97%, the highest grade of the class. I’ve become a part of my fellowship’s worship team, a team that I had been so in awe of since I had joined the fellowship about a year ago. I’ve caught up with friends that I haven’t talked to for years, and I’ve strengthened the relationship that I already had, confirming my thought that these are the friends I will have with me for the rest of my life.

I think the most important is that I’ve strengthened my relationship with God. It used to be one-sided, which allowed me to take in all the blessings without much work. Now, it’s like a two-way conversation has opened and I understand what He is doing and has done for my life to get to me to where I am today. Thinking about it, only 28 days have passed and I already feel like I’m going somewhere. I’ve shared this positive mindset with all my friends, telling them that I feel like this year, we’re going to make it. However, even when times are rough, I want to keep this attitude and joy. No matter what challenges or situation arise, I want to always have faith that everything will be alright.

And you, the person who’s reading this, regardless of whether or not we know each other, we’re friends. I’m here for you and will be in your time of need. So I say to you, my friend, this is your year. You’re going to make it. I feel it with every word I write and with every word I say.'

Cheers.