Justin's Blog Another Day; Another Adventure

Another Day Older; Another Year Older

Some of my birthday cakes

Today I'm 19. I can hardly believe it. Over this year I've grown immensely as a person done things that I never thought about doing and started on some great new adventures, but I'd be nowhere without my friends new and old. So I'd like to take my time to thank each and every one of you for being in my life. Even when you tell me to stop posting my twitter on my Facebook because it fills up your feed (you know who you are!) And I've missed the dinner parties that we have or the random 3am walks or donut runs and drives. This year I've also made a lot of new and amazing friends who have been there for me, taught me about being an adult about entrepreneurship, and sharing in my struggles. The ones that I randomly run into at concerts and those of you that call me to tell me that you're coming home. The ones that let me crash on their couches when visiting and introducing me to all their friends. Those of you that work thanklessly to make our team better. You have always been supportive and accepting of my faults, guided me to the right path. I don't believe in God, but from what I've seen in my life so far you are all looking out for me. I am forever indebted to all of you and if there is ever anything that I can do. I'd be glad to.

Thank you! I know I don't say that enough and hope to do that more often.

In case we haven't been keeping in touch I'll just do a recap of what I've been up to for the last year or so.

In January of 2009 I graduated a semester early from School of the Arts in San Francisco, during that same time while working at UCSF, I became involved with Dr. Laura Koth and began to do scientific research with her in her lab. I started on my own project looking into the cellular mediators of alveolar macrophage fusion, I learned about scientific technique, designed an experiment, and I'm no in the process of publishing my results. I applied for a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the NIH and received it to continue my research for two summers. In May I hope to be presenting my research at the American Thoracic Society Meeting in New Orleans.

Here are some of the great people who I've had the opportunity to work with over the past year.

Outside of work, I've gotten involved with a few projects in tech. I have joined the Teens in Tech blogging network and hope to help other teens get involved with the startup and tech community. This Saturday I will be going to their yearly Teens in Tech Conference; my teens in tech blog is here Through one of my new best friends, Adam, I have started blogging more and shaped my social persona. I have worked on a few small projects as a tester and collaborator brainstorming ideas and giving suggestions on improvements. I've joined the team of Eutopia Airlines as COO and will be writing more about this later.

Aside from my intellectual pursuits, I've continued to stay fit. I sailed competitively as part of the Golden Gate Yacht Club High Youth Sailing Team and also participated in Friday night races at South Beach Yacht Club on my friend, Chris' boat.

My friday night sailing buddies

Along with Adam, I have embarked on a six month journey of raising $4k each towards the training of youth outreach workers and teachers to give inner city kids the opportunity to experience the great outdoors. Once we raise the money, we will climbing Mt. Shasta. You can donate and read about our journey here.

Adam and I on our first training hike. Photo courtesey of Adam Jackson http://adam-jackson.net

On the subject of College, I'm not quite there yet. I chose to take a year off and just went through the process of of re-applying to about eighteen of them. I've looked at all of them very closely and will be happy at any one of them. I hope to start a podcast on this topic to help others through that very stressful process. I hope to of help to anyone who needs help with this and welcome any questions.

Finally here are some things that are important to me in the coming year:

1. Studying - believe it or not, I actually want to be studying and doing homework. This past year not being in school has really shown me what I still have yet to live and learn and a big part of that might actually be in the classroom. I've gotten really good at learning from the world as my classroom, but I think I need to get back in the classroom and learn to write again, to do math, to over analyze history, and learn about economic and political models.
2. Writing - One of the major reasons I started this blog and some others. I feel like the quality of my written work has been going down since my sophomore year, the last time that I took an intense writing course.
3. Friends - I want to keep in touch with more friends, this is always one of my goals - I feel like I'm nothing with the amazing people that help me be the best I can be. I know a lot of you have gone off to school and are doing your own thing, but I hope you find time to stay in touch and I will do the same. I'm sure I will meet a lot more of you this year and I'm looking forward to that as well.
4. Health - This is something that can be overlooked easily. I hope to cook more, eat out less, and stay fit and healthy.

That's about it folks. I could probably go on, but I thought that it was important to let everyone know how much I care about you. I could not have made it this far if not for you all. It doesn't just take a "village to raise a child" it takes the entire world and you guys are my world.

Thank you all for being here and reading I hope to see more of everyone this year,

Justin Chi Hung Leung