Now here's a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down.

Four letters that conveniently combined to make one pronounceable murmur...


SPOP.


This story will eventually explain what I have to say about SPOP, so continue. I remember exactly where I was on this sunny day in 4th grade. Sitting on a bench by myself at a new elementary school with no friends. I remember distinctly I was eating a ziploc bag of chexmix that my parents bought. It was one of those large bags from Costco and I begged them not to buy it for me because I didn't wanna waste their money. I truly understood the value of my parent's hard-earned money. What I didn't need, I didn't want. I was sitting there by myself in the shade eating what seemed to be undeserved chexmix....CRYING. My excuse is that I was thirsty from the saltiness so I needed to hydrate myself. But we all know the real story now...I was lonely. I went from being such a stud in the third grade, to having no friends at all. I honestly believe that loneliness is what drives so many people crazy. But that feeling fortunately disappeared as I eventually opened up to a few people. I then became a stud again as I became Vice President of that elementary school. And I continued my studly ways in middle school and high school. Then that loneliness came back when I entered college.

My first year and two quarters consisted of going to class, and coming home. I made a genuine effort to get to know people, but as a commuter it was so hard to make a real friend. Those two years turned me into a monster. I really did not like anyone or anything at Irvine. I had no motivation to do anything on campus. I gave up on igniting that stud-liness fire that I had inside of me. I wanted to transfer and go to a community college or a cal state because I felt like a university wasn't for me.

Then came the day that SPOP applications came out during my second year. The only fond memory I had at Irvine was the 3 days that I spent as a pop-lockin, puente policeman. Running around mesa court telling random people that they have "been arrested...FOR BEING SO GODDAMN SEXY." So I applied to become a staffer; knowing that I was up against some really amazing people. Let's take this time to thank the coords for choosing me. Thank you.

I still remember the first day of training when I came into the room...early. I met a few people and then a herd of others came rushing into the room. I immediately started to look for my nametag on the floor, only to wave hello and introduce myself, my year, and my major to a selected few. I found my nametag. Then I continued to pretend that I was still looking for it. One of the most uncomfortable feelings I've ever experienced. But a few months pass by and now I can do practically anything in front of any of them. Oh, the beauty of blossoming. The emotions I've felt these past months have truly been mind-blowing. I've gained so much from this experience and all I really want to do is to get people to experience their own experience so they can ignite their own passions to be equipped with the tools to change lives. To spark an entire generation of passionate, hard-working, open-hearted freshmen. To broaden people's perspectives so the campus could have a more accepting aura so lonely, but studly, people can maximize their time at UCI. PAYING IT FORWARD is ultimately what I'm trying to do.

A few words to describe SPOP:
incredible, knowledge, support system, real, fortunate, laughs, bonds, heart to hearts, tears, joys, lessons, adventures, appreciative, friends, learning, inside jokes, tired, passion, genuine, ROYAL.

I can write essays on each of those words. But my favorite one is appreciative, because I truly appreciate everything I have, everything I've had, and everything I'm going to have. And SPOP helped show that to me.

So how do you explain something that's indescribable? You don't. You just hope that one day you can only pass on the happiness that you've achieved from the amazing people that you've learned from. Some say that SPOP has changed them. SPOP doesn't change you. SPOP is a catalyst that lets the attributes that you already have flourish into what you can truly become.