"Spring Into Action"

2/20/02 4:11am For the first time in a long while, I went outside to my car, and was greeted with the familiar Houston-like humidity that I have grown up to love. The cold winter weather that I dread on an annual basis has disappeared for the time being. I can`t say I`m not excited about the arrival of Spring, my favorite season by far. If you`re a freshman at Baylor University, you have yet to experience the campus in its most aesthetic view. Summer has its scorching temperatures. Fall is when the crickets invade Waco. Even the happy holidays of Winter can`t hide from the flocks of black crows (or whatever the hell those things are¡¦) that cover your cars with bird crap. Spring, however, brings no flaws. This is my third year of occupancy at Baylor University. I have come to appreciate the one season where it makes my school look like a beautiful campus (I`m talking brochure-quality, folks).
Historically speaking, many great things occurred during the months of March thru May in the previous two years of college.
Freshman year wasn`t easy for me. Coming in as an Asian guy in a predominantly white University, I had a very difficult time meeting new people. I mostly spent my time either in the dorms chilling with Hwanger, playing basketball at the SLC, or trying to study at the library. Most people, at this point, probably wrote me off as simply a loner. Right around the time March rolled in, I had become close acquaintances with several other freshman students. These were the infant days of the YMB. The rest of the year was a blast. I vividly remember the Spring afternoons, in which we`d all congregate to engage in competitive basketball or intense games of Smash Bros. Spring brought hope to the miserable freshman year that I had been having.
Sophomore year came with similar circumstances. By this time last year, Islands #220 was already established as YMB Central. It wasn`t until Spring, however, that I got to be closer with many of the Sigma ladies and Clubhouse guys. So in an essence, there are many great things to look forward to when the new season arrives.
This Spring Break will be the first time in three years, in which my Japanese Posse will not be visiting the states. It had become tradition for me to host the former JP members as they returned to Houston, the city they once grew up in. Fortunately, I had an opportunity to spend time with the JPs lastsummer. As each day passes, I feel myself slowly losing the valuable Japanese heritage that I had once been proud of. Regardless, I`m still looking forward to what Spring brings me this year.