SMASH Recognition Event

The End of the Road



This event was so great that I could not simply stuff it into my first post about SMASH. At the end of the summer there is always this big program where students are recognized for their hard work. This year it was held at Scot's Seafood in Jack London Square in Oakland California. There were so many people there! Myself and Xiomara Cortez were the masters of ceremony. Xiomara did the translating. Because it was my last ring and also because I thought taht it would be entertaining, I executed four wardrobe changes! I started out with a West African outfit and transitioned into traditional European formal wear- wearing black slacks and changing into different colored shirts as we progressed through the program. I was honored when the first year cohort present ed us with Smash medallions that read SMASH class of 2008. I also performed Ombra Mai Fu from Handel during the entertainment period of the event while select students waltzed to the song as I sung. People really enjoyed it. I was a little upset that I did not get any food because I was so busy moving the program but everyone said that It was really good. My mom, grandmother, cousin and instructor for the program Alesandra, my aunt Pat, and uncle William were all present to support me. The director Ms. St. Roseman is really a great person! She is easy to talk to and works very hard to make sure things run smoothly. I am very happy to know a person like her. She has approved for the SMASH program to sponsor me to go to Stanford for Leadership camp from August ninth to August twelth. I can barely contain my excitement. Words cannot express my gratitude. She has a good sense of humor too!

Vincent Receives the Peninsula Teen Opera Scholarship!

I could not possibly cram my entire five week session into one post. I started vocal training with Ruthanne before my summer program began where she made me aware of an available scholarship to this cool program. I have been into classical music for a while, especially opera and love to sing and it was right up my ally. I conspired with the treasurer of the program via e-mail and was scheduled in on the ninth of July for my audition and interview.

My mother was really busy at the house and my Uncle volunteered to take me to Foster City at the Jewish Community Center.

I sang three pieces and performed well in my interview.

I am very thankful for my uncle who transported me there and answered some questions in the interview. I am also grateful for Alanah and Radhika, scholars new to the SMASH program that volunteered their time to help me rehearse for my interview on piano. Thanks to Bravo, Miles, Jann, and Noel for letting me use the keyboard.

Endless Pleasure (Handel)

Endless Pleasure

Hello everyone. I cannot believe that I have not written to my blog in five weeks. I thought about it every day but just did not get around to doing it. I have been at SMASH- the Summer Math and Science Honors Academy at the University of California at Berkeley! An intensive academic program. It was much more challenging this year but I made it through. My dorm room was quite comfortable and my roommate was wonderful. His name was Jason. As the founder and administrator of the student government program, I had to do a lot of extra work and correspond more frequently with others via e-mail. --- I really mised my friends while I was gone but conversed Michael and my Uncle William via webcam. I met a lot of new people this summer and the new class of incomming sophomores was really great! They were so considerate and positive. My mom came to visit me every weekend and my uncle came sometimes too. He came to the annual picnic as well with some of my other family members. Myself and the student council facilitated the activities at the picnic. At the first annual mens day, we did capereria (Brazilian dance) and it was very fun. My math class was very engaging and my teacher extensively used grand technological instruments to facilitate her instruction. I really loved her class. I also had Physics, Public Speaking, and College Admissions. I had the UC Application done until they changed the questions on us. That was not pleasant. Even though most students did not enjoy the residential food, I thought that it was fair and not that bad. Meal time and sleep time was probably my favorite time of day. A close family friend named Rex came to support me on Men's Day and it was great. I never knew that I was good at footbal until this summer. Maybe I will consider playing for my school when it begins if I havent already missed sign ups. While at SMASH my iPod got stolen from my room, most likely during tutorial period in the evening. I was sad for a little while. Good thing I had the data on the device backed up. This year I grew closer to so many people, especially the incoming class. I cannot say how much I loved each of them.