Activities

Life outside of work! It exists!

Martial Arts

I have studied Shaolin Kempo, an art integrating aspects of Kung Fu and Karate, for 19 years under the direction of Don Soke Jack Turner. I earned the rank of shodan (black belt) in March 2013 and the rank of nidan (second degree black belt) in November 2017. I trained continuously from January 2005 until leaving for college in September 2018 and still come back to train whenever I am in town. My current involvement with the dojo includes five sessions per week including two general group sessions, a black belt exclusive class, an individualized lesson, and a dedicated sparring class.

Studying martial arts has been an incredibly productive outlet for me which has instilled a sense of discipline to which I attribute much of my work ethic, focus, and confidence. Serving as an assistant instructor through high school was my first teaching experience, and I grew tremendously as a communicator during that time. It is also my main source of exercise as workouts generally include elements of rigorous strength and cardio conditioning. Most importantly, having grown up in the dojo, it is like a second home to me; I feel incredibly welcome any time I train in this community that I know and love.

Martial arts is for people of all ages, all genders, and all levels of fitness, and I wholeheartedly recommend finding a good instructor to everyone! 

Music

When I started music in my fifth grade after school program, I had no idea where it would take me. I am a percussionist, meaning that I play (or attempt to play) pretty much anything that you hit along with other instruments that composers did not know what to do with. I am primarily involved with concert and marching percussion, and some of my favorite instruments to play include the marimba, marching tenor drums, handbells, marching crash cymbal, chimes, timpani, drum kit, tam-tam, snare, vibraslap, whip crack, and water gong.

My involvement has included membership with the Tustin afterschool music program, the concert band and jazz ensemble at Orchard Hills School, the marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, drumline, winter drumline, and Tustin Honors Wind Ensemble at Beckman High School, and the Yale Precision Marching Band, Yale Handbell Ensemble, Yale Concert Band, and Yale Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, I have performed as a guest with the Beckman Chamber and String Orchestras, Beckman Jazz Ensemble, Beckman Teacher's Talent Show, Orchestra Collective of Orange County, Symphony Irvine, Berkeley College Orchestra, Silliringers, and Yale Guild of Carillonneurs, and I performed as a featured guest with the Orchard Hills Chamber Orchestra and Davenport Pops. 

A number of leadership positions in music have helped me to grow tremendously including percussion section leader positions with the Orchard Hills Concert Band, Beckman Wind Ensemble, and the Yale Precision Marching Band, principal of Beckman Wind Ensemble percussion, drum captain of the Beckman Marching Band, pit leader and captain of the Beckman Winter Drumline, halftime show advisor and equipment manager for the Yale Precision Marching Band, organizer for the Silliringers annual holiday performance, and two-year co-president of the Yale Handbell Ensemble.

 Music has gifted me with innumerable opportunities and memories to last a lifetime. Some highlights include performances at the California State Capitol, Fenway Park, Madison Square Garden, Golden Gate Park, The Game 2019, Segerstrom and Meng Hall, and in Beckman's swimming pool, marching in LA's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and SF's St. Patrick's Day Parade, recording for an exhibit by Hito Steyerl and a movie scene with Dick van Dyke, playing the Yale Memorial Carillon in Harkness Tower, being gifted with an arrangement bearing my name by the YPMB, my 171st and final high school performance, and performing my handbell arrangements of "Valse Di Fantastica" and "Tocatta in D Minor for Solo Ringer" in my final concert to this point.

Since moving away from Yale in May 2023, I have not been affiliated with any ensembles, but I still enjoy practicing marimba pieces on my electric keyboard.