A Lot Can Happened in Three Days

"Hey guys!"-Ryan Higa

If you don't understand the reference, I suggested checking out his Youtube channel called nigahiga.

I honestly thought of that because he noticed that most of his vlogs started with him greeting everyone, "Hey guys!"

Anyway...

If you looked back to my previous blog post on Valentine's Day, I mentioned about my physics project, which took my friend and I three consecutive days.

        Before we presented our project in class, I walked to my friend's home at 7 am to help prepare the project and do a small test run. However, we did not because we did not have enough lemon juice for the test run, and we both were tired beyond belief and took an half  a hour nap before we arrived at school around 8 am. Since our high school has a Wednesday 9 am start day, we hung out in the library where we stored our project and set up an essential component of our project nervously.

We agreed to come back as soon as first period was over, since our physic class was second period. Before our physics class started, we can carried our project outside the classroom and set it up as students passed by. There were a few kinks we ran into: the motor did not move and the tissue full of baking soda was dangling precariously in the wind.

Eventually within the next five minutes, everything was set up the way we wanted it to be (Thank you so much God!). My friend and I displayed our project as my teacher went over the inspections. I flicked the lighter and lit the string hanging the baking soda.
In less than a minute, our project completed its job with flying colors (and lemon juice foam). My friend and I were a bit dazed to realize what happened but felt relieved to see our hard work had paid off. We watched our classmates' energy machines, and we were amazed that only two groups out of thirteen done very well.

Hmmm. I want to include a picture of it, but the picture quality is not what I hope for.
So I include a picture of the prototype. (we removed the oranges and replaced them with a battery pack. :p)

So why did I wrote about it? Because it is nice to celebrate the little accomplishments along the way. Senior year is not going to last long, so I better enjoy my time here.

Happy Valentines Day!

"It should be called 'Singles' Awareness Day'."-my Government Economics teacher.

Today is Valentines' Day. To me, it's a day when I get free candy, someone's birthday, and my dad buys my mom roses and take us all out to dinner. It is also a holiday where I hope the Valentine cards I made are given away! I made around fifteen cards and sold most of them. Yippee!

Butterflies

Pusheen 

Winnie the Pooh

But this year, it is a day when I spend time alone with my friend as we race to the end of finishing our Physics project!

Yes...Physics. A wonderful subject that explains the incredible phenomena this universe has and a subject in which my friend and I look to each other with apprehension and a sigh. However the class is pretty fun when we both work together even though it does drive us crazy.

For the past three days, we have been working nonstop on our energy machine. Our original plan set a fire to a string holding a tissue with baking soda. The string would break and the baking soda would fall into a cup of lemon juice that would soon bubbled out into a straw. The straw would then direct the liquid to a turbine that would rotate and power a motor to hit a tiny box.

Our plan in theory would worked, but in reality it was greatly modified as we experimented numerous methods of generating and utilizing electricity using a water turbine, a motor/generator and lemon juice. We tested the idea last Friday, and that idea quickly fizzled out when we realized the water turbine could not produce enough electricity. The next day, we then switched to test how much electricity lemons produce. Enough to power a LED light bulb but not a motor. After five hours of experimentation, we took a break and a quick ice cream break with a side nap.After our break, my friend suggested to use a battery to give a boost of energy and lemon juice to complete the circuit. Not a bad idea.

Today we used copper, galvanized steel, lemon juice, baking soda and batteries to power the motor. Our current plan was that the as the baking soda-lemon juice foam flow out of the cup, the liquid would flow down the cup into a bowl and fill it up. When the bowl is full, the copper and steel would have a connection and be able to complete the circuit. The circuit has two batteries and a motor with a stick attached. Once the circuit is complete, the motor would move and complete its job. Again, our plan would work in theory but not somehow not in reality.

After a few trial and errors for about two hours, we ran out of ideas and decided to take a little nap break. I could not nap well, so I returned back the project and had an idea. I got some Styrofoam and shaped some pennies and wires into it and then attached it to the circuit. After my friend woke up, I suggested that when the foam flows in the cup, the Styrofoam with the copper attached would float up and be able to connect with the steel hovering about it, thus completing the circuit. We then tested the idea four times, but we had to stop because the fire we initially set burned a bit out of control and I inhaled the smoke as I was frantically blowing it out. Note to self: doing that may trigger a slight asthma reaction. I gradually recovered with a little fresh air and my friend's inhaler, but we need to finish the project quickly since I have to be home within an hour. We set up one more time, and ....it worked fine. We then decided to celebrate with ice cream and a nap!

So why did I share this story with you guys? First take breaks and nap because ideas seem to flow once your head is rested with some ice cream. :D
Okay, the reason is that I want to show that Valentine's Day could be a special or a regular day, depending on you do on that day. And the same message goes with any other day.Yes, Valetine's Day is a day of love and Lent (I recently went to my first mass with my Physics buddy). However to me, today's Valentines Day is day I spent time with my family and friends with the knowledge that spring is right around the corner.

Enjoy the pictures.

I'm not sure what they are called. Almond flowers?

Winter Break memories

Hey guys!

I know I have not written in my blog ever since my senior year came. A lot has happened and I guess I did not have the time to share out my pictures with you guys. Previously, I ended my last blog post with a note I wrote to a friend. Now I want to slowly return to the cycle of regularly writing and posting pictures online. So let's see if I am able to accomplish this little goal of mine. But first, here are some significant memories I want to share from Winter Break 2015.

December 22, 2015 Tuesday

I woke up around 7 am and decided to hike up a hill to touch the 16 on the hill. I am not a morning person, so I knew I must take advantage of this serendipity. I guess after my friend dared me to hike the 16, I have been secretly waiting for the day when I can. I must admit the view of my hometown is breathtaking as my shoes were completely soaked with water from the dew on the grass. But it was worth it.

My hometown

My home from the hill

December 29, 2015 Tuesday

If you remembered my friend Stanley from my previous blog posts, then you should know that he and my other old high school friends came back home during Winter Break. He invited me to go hiking with them to Sunol, and I agreed. Even though I was the only girl there, it was pretty fun to hike five hours with these cool guys and see the fantastic view of Sunol. I even believe the hike is much more better than Mission Peak's. You'll see what I mean. After we were done hiking, we grabbed a few milk teas and mosey our way home.

My hiking buddies

Our shadows

A few trees on the way

Grassy hills and mountains

View from Flagstaff

Into the Woods

Standing on the Verge

Second Semester Senior...almost there

Hey guys!

I know I have not written a blog post since Senior year whacked me hard with work and commitments. But it has been an interesting ride with my family, friends, teachers and my cat Gracie.

Recently, I had going through a lot of interrogations with myself, not just because I have to for college applications but mainly to realize what I have been missing this whole time. And I think I'm gaining a sense of what I had taken for granted.

Life can be short, long, difficult, easy,--in short anything. It honestly depends on one's perspective and attitude towards the situations. The situations can change to whatever extent, but how we react either needs to be change or kept. 

A positive outlook? Keeper! A complaining mood? Tried to realize what you already have is priceless.

I guess what I want to say is tied in this one letter I wrote to a dear friend of mine back in August 23, 2015.

Hello ( I shall never reveal the name! :D )

     I want to write this out before the pressure of senior year hits us hard. Keep in touch...do not forget that you are not alone. I always used to think we have our own emotions that no one has ever felt, but it turns out we all do [share them together]. That is why we need each other, family, friends, and God. Remember to set aside some time for Him (referring to God). And I have been praying for you, so please do not feel discouraged. I believe in you, dude. And I remembered to keep my joy as you have told me. Thank you for helping realize that. Good luck!

Sincerely

Deborah Chen

Now it's time for me to follow my advice and others too.

Enjoy!

My cat Gracie in a Happy Birthday bag!

Hens in Sunol Agpark farm

University of California Berkeley 

Rainy day at home 12-13-15

Thanksgiving Break indeed

As a quick snappy recap, Senior year is still tiring but enjoyable. Well it honestly depends on your perspective. Since the UC and other colleges' deadlines are mainly November 30 or December 1, many of my friends are acting one of these two ways:

1. Freaking out and working on them as if there's no tomorrow. ( cough cough procrastinating cough)

2. Chilling out with friends and enjoy Thanksgiving break.

3. Both 1 and 2

Ding ,ding, ding I'm number 3 especially the last three days when I have working everyday on my UC application.

And now all I have left is my first UC prompt and the Optional information section that I did not know it existed after I entered my perfected second U prompt. Way to go Deborah...( face palm). But I had been visiting my friends and helping them with their applications. Well, if you count stuffing yourself with food and then talk with one another for hours as their applications. I would confidently say that Sundays are my weirdest days. Should I talk about my day or just post pictures so you can go "Oooh, Ahhh."? How about both? When I have the time... (Now go "Oohhh, Ahhh, Pwetty."

Sunday November 22, 2015

I biked over to my friend's house for her birthday party, carrying her birthday present, which is puppy-shaped necklace, and Othello to annotate. Ten minutes, I'm at her door a little out of breath, since I had not biked in a while. Her little sister who I previously met at Link Crew opened the door and let me inside. The birthday girl Asta came down stairs to hug me and I gave her present, which was wrapped up and neatly tucked in a bag. She then showed me the trays of food placed all around the room, and I was amazed that she baked them herself. And the food was definitely amazing. How could she baked them?
As I was grabbing some lasagna sprinkled with bread crumbs, one of my friends Clarence came downstairs and chatted with a bit. I told him that one of our best friends, Rafael was not able to come ( we soon found out why.) and thus established Clarence being the guy at the party. He later helped me prepare for my MIT interview, asking me questions about myself and listening me ramble on and getting caught up in details and such. I often do that when I was, as shown here. But the practice really did help me prepare and discover what I should research more on.

Since I'm running out of time, long story short.

I went to a birthday party and stuff myself with food. Clarence and I visited Rafael to work on his UC essays. After Clarence walked home, I later persistently ask Rafael questions on his life until he had a breakthrough. Then I biked to Clarence's house to return him his jacket that he left at Rafael's house. His family let me stay inside and I played Cantan with his little sister and him. Later I worked on my UC app and biked home around 9:00pm. Thank God I live three minutes away from his house.

Art Supplement

Hey guys! I'm back after a long hiatus from September up to the day before Halloween.

Well even though I do enjoy being a senior, I must embark on the daunting journal of COLLEGE APPLICATIONS!
And I decided to submit an art supplement to showcase my photography ( up to 10 pics) and give the admission officers a little taste of who is Deborah Chen. Plus I guess I want to see if I should submit my photographs and make sure they are the best I have so far.

Because I have not yet edit my newly taken pictures on Camera Raw, there would be some pictures I already posted in this blog shown in this post.
Please comment below which pictures should i considered?  I know I definitely put in the GPA state one after I retouched it a bit.

The picture my teacher talked about a lot throughout the year. In fact, he mentioned it during my Student of the Year Reward Ceremony.

New Pictures ( not edited yet)

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Nature Pictures

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These were from the ATPI contest post

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Back to School-SENIOR YEAR!

Hi guys!

I know I have not posted on my blog for a while, since the demands of schoolwork along with college prep (ugh those essays) piled on top of each other. And I have not been taking and editing my pictures lately. But this is an update and heads-up. So I am hoping to at least have a post up by the end of September.

And whoever is looking at my photography blog. 

Thank you. I genuinely appreciate your guys' time to look at my stuff.

As for now enjoy this picture of this Echeveria Peacockii  

Senior year in a nutshell is crazy. Who can imagine the hectic things we people must do. This calls for a nap.............

(shush, I'm sleeping in my dreams of secret agents performing physics-defying stunts on a quest to save the world!!! [Slams head into my textbooks..must annotate the Iliad...100 pages by next Monday...])