I've always wondered how a leader becomes a leader. When I was younger I used to always be the follower. I never even wanted to be a leader. I just went with the flow and did what all the other kids did. I followed. I would have friends that always got to pick teams. It was like they were always the captain and we were just there for them to choose from. I thought about wanting to be in that position one day, well one day far far from that particular day. I never was able reach it in grade school. No one saw me as a leader. No one respected me as a leader and no one cared what I had to say. So I didn't say anything at all. I kept to myself and I kept all my ideas inside my head. When were the ideas going to be let out? I didn't know at time. I wasn't a leader and I knew it.
It wasn't until I started middle school that I really wanted to become a leader. To be honest I just wanted to be the leader so I could impress girls and get them to notice me. It's kind of stupid but that was one of the reasons I wanted to become a leader. Not entirely did I want to just impress the ladies. My brother has always been a leader and I looked up to him. When he spoke, people listened. My father is also a leader. The President of the Yang Clan to be exact. He was the most fearless leader I know. I looked up to him and wanted to be like him. More importantly I wanted him to know that his son was a leader and not just a follower.
My leadership started when I got into HmoobTeen Magazine. Believe it or not the magaazine has developed me into a leader. I would not be where I am today if it was not for HmoobTeen. They molded me and built me to be a leader and I am grateful for that.....To Be Continued.
Searching for Answers
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
We
I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot. ---Kobe Bryant
We can sit here and tell ourselves that this is the best we will get. We can talk about the game and how we'll change. We can blame each other for why everything is going wrong. We can rumor about quitting, giving up, not willing to try anymore. We can walk away from the game and just be homiez. Yeah, we can do all of these things. Better yet, we've already done most of these things.
We can stop playing as individuals and start playing as a team. There comes a time in a person's life when he doesn't want to be second best or just another person anymore. Achieving first can't be done alone. It can't be done with selfishness, stubborness, or a lack of confidence. We're not in a movie, we all can't be heroes. But ironically we all can be the villian. Either we come together as a unit, or this is as far as we will go. In the words of Al Picino. "Either we heal now, as a team, or we will die, as individuals." On a final note, I'll leave you all with some wise words from The Rock, "Know Your Role."
- Meng Yang
We can sit here and tell ourselves that this is the best we will get. We can talk about the game and how we'll change. We can blame each other for why everything is going wrong. We can rumor about quitting, giving up, not willing to try anymore. We can walk away from the game and just be homiez. Yeah, we can do all of these things. Better yet, we've already done most of these things.
We can stop playing as individuals and start playing as a team. There comes a time in a person's life when he doesn't want to be second best or just another person anymore. Achieving first can't be done alone. It can't be done with selfishness, stubborness, or a lack of confidence. We're not in a movie, we all can't be heroes. But ironically we all can be the villian. Either we come together as a unit, or this is as far as we will go. In the words of Al Picino. "Either we heal now, as a team, or we will die, as individuals." On a final note, I'll leave you all with some wise words from The Rock, "Know Your Role."
- Meng Yang
Friday, October 15, 2010
Join The Movement
If you haven't joined the movement, you better hop on. Far East Movement, the first Asian-American group to hit it big in America, has hit it real BIG. I am overjoyed with enthusiasm and excitement for these guys. I had a chance to meet them all about two years ago at the Hmong New Year when they came to Minnesota and performed. They were all super cool, down to Earth, and real. They joked, laughed, and interacted with all their fans. At the time I heard a few of their songs, mostly the ones with Jin but I would never imagine that they would be an overnight sensation.
Just like how America elected President Barack Obama, race was not an issue anymore. FM, an all Asian group has made it big in the music industry which is predominately Caucasian and Black. With their success flying sky high like a G6, they are the foundation for Asian-American artists. I knew FM would be successful, but I did not expect them to blow up so fast. With the likes of Jin failing to top the charts, I thought they would too suffer the same fate, but I was wrong. FM has gone Platinum and words cannot explain how happy I am for these guys. It's a historic week for Asian-Americans everywhere and I'm glad I was a part of it. Three Fingers Up!
Just like how America elected President Barack Obama, race was not an issue anymore. FM, an all Asian group has made it big in the music industry which is predominately Caucasian and Black. With their success flying sky high like a G6, they are the foundation for Asian-American artists. I knew FM would be successful, but I did not expect them to blow up so fast. With the likes of Jin failing to top the charts, I thought they would too suffer the same fate, but I was wrong. FM has gone Platinum and words cannot explain how happy I am for these guys. It's a historic week for Asian-Americans everywhere and I'm glad I was a part of it. Three Fingers Up!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I Refuse
I refuse to talk to you, get to know you, or take you on a date. I refuse to text you, Facebook you, or telegraph you. It's not that I'm not into you, because most likely I am. I'm just a good human being. I refuse to let you in my life. Why? Because I refuse to use you. I don't want to use you. If I let you walk into my life, it would feel like I am using you. I refuse to be the people who use innocent people as rebounds. I refuse to be the heartless, inconsiderate, evil, manipulating, pathetic human beings that some people are. I cannot allow you to go through what so many others have gone through and I cannot allow myself to move on when I know I am not ready. I hope you understand why I refuse to see you, talk to you, or be with you. I'm just being a good human being.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Old
Sometimes I wish my interests would never change. I wish I was still into cartoons, graphic t-shirts with my favorite wrestlers on them, velcro shoes, shopping with my mom, and many other things. As we grow up and find new interests, we lose the ones that have given us the best memories. I can only speak for myself, but damn I miss the old times. The times that staying in on a Friday or Saturday night was the plan. The times when alarm clocks were your favorite cartoon shows in the morning. The times when bikes and your legs were the only source of transportation. The times when a 20 dollar bill made me feel rich and when money wasn't everything. I didn't even see my interests change in front of my eyes and now I miss them like crazy.
What happened to the old? It didn't seem like much back then, but now it means the world to me. Having fun used to be so effortless and easy. Now everyone needs a drink, a blunt or pills to have a good time. Not the old though, the old didn't need any of that. The old was innocent, pure, and obnoxious. But it's called "The Old" for a reason and all I can do is simply reminisce about it. So I raise my glass to The Old, and bid you a fine farewell. To the old moments and to the new old.
- Meng Yang
What happened to the old? It didn't seem like much back then, but now it means the world to me. Having fun used to be so effortless and easy. Now everyone needs a drink, a blunt or pills to have a good time. Not the old though, the old didn't need any of that. The old was innocent, pure, and obnoxious. But it's called "The Old" for a reason and all I can do is simply reminisce about it. So I raise my glass to The Old, and bid you a fine farewell. To the old moments and to the new old.
- Meng Yang
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Into the Future
My alarm clock sounds. It's 8AM and time for work. I wake up, alone in my two bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. I check my phone; a couple messages from my girlfriend. It's the middle of November and I'm freezing. With no shirt on, I snatch up my blanket and wrap it around me like a robe. I walk towards the bathroom with the blanket dragging behind me. Do my morning routine and get dressed for work. Today's going to be the grey suit and black tie. Plain and simple. I walk into the kitchen and take a moment to look at my spectacular view of New York City from the 21st floor. Sometimes I glance forever because the view is so Magnificent. It's lightly snowing today and the Christmas spirit seems to be in the air. Still staring out into the city, I snap back into focus; have a quick bowl of Fruit Loops and out the door I go.
I work about six blocks away so I just walk to work. Hundreds of people fill the streets of New York City and that's just the way I like it. The temperature is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and I love it. The snow, the cool blustery wind that slaps your face, the ugly slush on the side of the roads, and all the Christmas decorations. This is my kind of city. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to work. I work on the intensely busy street of 8th Ave. The building is massive and I didn't get used to it for quite a while. I get to my office and it's hectic, like it always is, but today it seems a bit more chaotic. Some thing big must have happened last night or earlier this morning. I head over to my desk and try to begin work, but Whitney, a long time friend of mine from college starts telling me about her relationship problems. I listen, nod my head, and give her some advice. I'm no love doctor but it seems like they all come to me for advice. I don't mind it though, as a matter of fact, I enjoy it.
Anyway, I turn my computer on and start my assignment from the previous day. I'm writing an article about dreams. It's about a kid from Minnesota who dreamed of becoming a journalist for a national newspaper. Everyone laughed at him, thought his writing would never take him anywhere, and thought his dream was impossible. I'm working on the ending as of right now and I think know exactly what to write.
"The ending of his story is answered above." (Scroll up to the beginning.)
- Meng Yang
I work about six blocks away so I just walk to work. Hundreds of people fill the streets of New York City and that's just the way I like it. The temperature is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and I love it. The snow, the cool blustery wind that slaps your face, the ugly slush on the side of the roads, and all the Christmas decorations. This is my kind of city. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to work. I work on the intensely busy street of 8th Ave. The building is massive and I didn't get used to it for quite a while. I get to my office and it's hectic, like it always is, but today it seems a bit more chaotic. Some thing big must have happened last night or earlier this morning. I head over to my desk and try to begin work, but Whitney, a long time friend of mine from college starts telling me about her relationship problems. I listen, nod my head, and give her some advice. I'm no love doctor but it seems like they all come to me for advice. I don't mind it though, as a matter of fact, I enjoy it.
Anyway, I turn my computer on and start my assignment from the previous day. I'm writing an article about dreams. It's about a kid from Minnesota who dreamed of becoming a journalist for a national newspaper. Everyone laughed at him, thought his writing would never take him anywhere, and thought his dream was impossible. I'm working on the ending as of right now and I think know exactly what to write.
"The ending of his story is answered above." (Scroll up to the beginning.)
- Meng Yang
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