If I am ever blessed with a child, I hope to pass on some of the things that I have learned through the precarious experience of living. I have patient and loving parents to thank, as well as caring teachers, wise pastors, and good friends who have all contributed to the shaping of my life and character. If nothing else, I hope my precious future young ones will come away with these few gems that they can hold close to their heart.

Be yourself. I have never been one who has wanted to blend in with the crowd and have my identity molded by the fads of the day. It is always a million times more satisfying to be true to yourself and to find your own unique personality and style. Don't be afraid to stand out, simply be yourself and be confident knowing that you are unique and special.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Find friends who will accept you for who you are. This goes along with the "Be Yourself" gem. If your friends are not willing to accept you for who you are, they are not true friends. If they pressure you to do things that you don't believe in or don't feel comfortable doing, they are not true friends. If you feel that you have to put on a facade or go with what the group is doing in order to be accepted, they are not true friends. Find friends who will love you for who are you are. You are worth it. 

"Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm."
-- Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)

Hang out with people smarter than you. Who you associate with truly determines the person you become. Look for friends who will be a good influence on your life.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."  -Mahatma Gandhi 

Seize the day. Make the most of every day that you are blessed with. Never take anything for granted. Be thankful for all things and all the people in your life. You never know what tomorrow may bring, but you can make the most of today.

Never stop learning. Even though you graduate from high school, college or graduate school, you should never stop learning. Every day offers a new opportunity to learn something new. Whether it's a new programming language or basket weaving, you should always keep your mind active.

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror."  -Ken Keys

Have a positive attitude. Although you don't necessarily have to wear rose-colored glasses, you don't have to see the glass as "half empty" all the time either. If you choose to see the world in a positive light, you will find that your burdens are lighter and you don't have to adopt the "I am a victim" mentality. Focus on the rose, not the thorns.

Learn to say "I love you" to your family. Growing up in an Asian household, the words "I love you" rarely, if ever, fell from the lips of my parents -- to each other or even to me as their only child. However, I always knew (and know) that I was loved. Although I always had this knowledge, it would have been nice to hear it as well. It would have undoubtedly blessed my socks off. Don't be stingy with these 3 little words.

A break-up isn't the end of the world. The old adage, "there's other fish in the sea" is so very true. Don't believe that simply because your boy/girlfriend has dumped you that your world has ended.  Chances are, you're too young to be worried about having hooked (and lost) the very last fish in the sea anyway.

Always say "thank you." Be considerate of others at all times. Be polite and always say "thank you". Be aware of how your actions affect others.

"Men give advice. God gives guidance."  -Leonard Ravenhill

Seek God's guidance. Read the Bible. There's a lot of wisdom there. While it is my hope and prayer that you will develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, I realize that I can't force this decision on you. Each person has to make their own choice about whether they will walk with God or not. It is my hope that you will.

There's so much more that I'd like to discuss with you. We have a whole lifetime ahead of us, God willing. We'll continue this dialog when you get here.

With all my love,