UNBELIEVABLY BLESSED WEEKEND

           This past weekend was one of the most memorable ones of my life. While it was an exhausting 48 hours from Friday to Saturday, I wouldn't have changed a thing. It all started Friday when I had to catch a flight at 8 AM with my mom and Ashley to New Hampshire for my hooding ceremony. After arriving to Manchester, NH, we stopped by the school so I could show my mom around the building. After a quick tour we grabbed some food and drove an hour to Rindge, NH to the main campus where the ceremony was being held. It was great to see all my classmates again after not seeing most of them for nine months. The ceremony was short and sweet and it was even more memorable to have my mom, Ashley, Uncle Kevin and Auntie Karen there to support me. Although I already had my diploma it felt even more official to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy after the ceremony. After pictures we took a quick stop to a house Caleb and his family rented for some food. We didn't stay too long because we still had a flight to catch so I could make it back for Eugene and Grace's wedding pre-wedding festivities.

           After arriving at BWI, I went straight to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the wedding party. This was only my second time being in a wedding and the first time with friends. I was really looking forward to the wedding because I'm not only close with the groom, Eugene, but also the bride, Grace. I was also good friends with most of the bridal party. Friday night we watch the NBA playoff game that night, ate Chinese food, played Heads Up with Stacy the clapper and went to Maryland Live for a bit.

           We woke up around 10:30 to get ready because the photographer and videographer were arriving around 11. We left for Stacy's house to meet up with the girls to go to the first look spot. I was one of the three drivers and had some precious cargo in my car, mainly Eugene, I guess Cristina and Jane are precious cargo too. We got to the first look spot and the photographers took some pictures of Eugene first before Grace arrived. It was so amazing to be able to witness the first look, and just to see the genuine love that they both have for one another. We took more photos of the wedding parties and then proceeded to the wedding venue. The entire day we were tracking the weather because there was a 50% chance of rain. While it did rain, the rain was as perfect as it could have been. Nothing short of God's grace, the rain held out perfectly til the end of the ceremony and rained during the cocktail hour which was supposed to be indoors anyway. After the rain stopped we proceeded to reception for the festivities.

            It was an amazingly perfect wedding, everything more or less went smoothly. It was a privilege to be a part of the wedding and even teared up when Grace and Eugene honored their parents during the ceremony.

           Eugene and Grace, I wish you nothing but happiness in your marriage. I will continue to pray for the both of you and am truly blessed to call you both my good friends. I know not much will change except Grace's last name, and I'm looking forward to continuing to spend time with both of you. Thank you again for letting me be a part of your special day.

           Lastly, on Sunday at 5:52 AM, my cousin, Anna had her first baby and I am now considered an uncle! (I know it's not my sister's baby but Anna is like another big sister to me). They gave her the name Maya Lin Reilly, and it's time to spoil this kid with Redskins gear. What an amazing 72 hours.

Graduation pictures:

Majority of my class plus faculty

Wedding Pictures

Eugene writing his personal vow for Grace

The essentials

Sock game strong

Brotherly love

Dennis says we're number 1

This ALMOST made me cry

                                

Precious cargo in the car

She's pretty cool I guess

What's taking her so long?

THE FIRST LOOK!

Heart melting

Cute, they used to do this to try and get John and I to leave them alone, didn't work, ever

Don't see you enough Donna Ryu

Gyuj always got my back

Beautiful bridal party

UP!

The drivers

Mr. and Mrs. Yi!

My gorgeous date

CRC Squad

Love you two

DANCE PARTYYYY

 Last but not least, introducing Maya Lin Reilly!

I'm A Doctor? The Realities Of My Experience At PT School

          It's still sinking in that I have completed PT school and am now qualified as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I'd first like to thank all of you who showed me love through Facebook, texts, phone calls and anything else. Thank you to my amazing classmates who shared this journey with me. Thank you to Ashley who supported and encouraged me so much throughout this whole process. Thank you to my mom for being so supportive and making so many sacrifices for me to go to school. Above all, thank you God for being with me every step of the way. 

          I honestly still can't believe that I survived PT school and I really do mean survive. I debated whether to share this, but I believe the struggles I went through helped shape me into who I am today and makes me appreciate the journey that much more. My transition into PT school did not go as smoothly as planned. The passing score for my program was an 83% and I remember the first score I got on my anatomy exam was an 89%. I thought I had transitioned successfully to grad school. However, as the work started to pile up, my grades began to suffer and by the end of the term I finished with below an 83% in anatomy. I was placed on probation for the next term which shook my confidence. Overall the second term went better but this time I finished with an 81.75% in a class which again was considered failing. I thought I was done with the program and started thinking about whether I should try again next year or just quit all together. I went home for break after the second term expecting a phone call or e-mail telling me that I would be removed from the program. Nothing short of a miracle and by God's grace, I received a phone call the day I was flying back to New Hampshire, from the program director. She told me that the faculty got together and determined they would give me one final shot to stay in the program. However, she distinctly stated that if I got any grade below an 83% I would definitely be removed from the program. 

          I was completely in shock and prepared myself for the hardest term to date with zero room for error. Long story short, God got me through and I was able to survive the term with all passing grades. Throughout school I got close with some classmates and many of them knew how much I was struggling and always offered me support for which I am extremely grateful. I had never been challenged more mentally, spiritually, and physically in my entire life. Our finals ended with five finals in three days and I somehow survived. The rest of school went smoothly and I was so blessed throughout the entire experience. I had all good clinical instructors at all my full time rotations and was able to save the best for last. I honestly could not have asked for a better last clinical, I had the freedom to treat on my own and was able to learn a lot while there. Furthermore, I now have a much better idea of what I want in a working environment. I enjoyed going to work (minus the waking up at 6 AM) because of my coworkers, both the therapists and techs there made work enjoyable. We all got along and enjoyed each others company and no amount of money can ever replace that. 

        I have finally completed all my school work and the final step is studying for the boards. It is going to take a lot of discipline and I know i'll be anxious/nervous but I know God has gotten me this far for a reason. The best I can do is to prepare to the best of my ability and ultimately allow Him to guide me. Again, I want to thank all of you who supported me through this journey and am so blessed to have you in my life. 

James 1:2-6 - 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the seat, blown and tossed by the wind. 

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

First Day Orientation Sign

3.2 Club studying on a Friday

Matt's Birthday

PY1 Ugly Sweater Party

5% Doctors!

1st Rec League Champs

2nd Rec League Champs

3rd Rec League Champs

End Of 1st Term Celebration

PT Formal

My Evidenced Base Project group 

We all got torticollis

Blessed to Coach

This is a little late but better late than never right?

I was fortunate enough to be one of the coaches for the REM Women's flag football team. There were several reasons why I decided to coach this year, coaching gave me an opportunity to build relationships with those I wouldn't otherwise get a chance to, it gave me an opportunity to spend more time with Ashley and it also simply just the enjoyment of coaching. I wasn't able to watch football much this year but I probably spared myself some frustration with the way the skins played this year. I got to know to meet many of you for the first time this season and all of you are amazing people with big hearts.

I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this team and the bond this team had was truly special. Each person cared for one another and even the new comers, including myself, felt right at home. I'm thankful that all of you accepted me into the family and trusted me to come in and coach. I am so blessed to have gotten a chance to get to know all of you which is a big reason I decided to coach in the first place. All of you have big hearts and a willingness to come in, work hard and play with the right attitude.While winning the championship was great, I believe what was even better was the team as a whole playing the tournament with the right attitude and sportsmanship. Regardless of the outcome, I could not have been more proud of this team. To the offense, thank you for trusting me, thank you for trusting my plays and for taking the time to learn them. I can not express how thankful I am to coach all of you. I truly hope that all of you are able to come back and play next year! 

pc: Tim Ho

Blessed In Chicago

          Last weekend I had the privilege of going to Chicago for my cousins wedding. In all honesty I didn't know what to expect, all I knew was that all four families on my mom's side would be together for the first time in over a decade. It would be the first time all nine cousins got to all be together which was something I was extremely excited about. It was just such a blessing to be able to spend time with my family and also to have Ashley with me only made it that much better. Words can not express how much it meant to me that my family was so welcoming to Ashley. Overall it was one of the best trips I've had in a long time and hopefully we won't go another ten years before a reunion happens.

On Friday, Ashley and I went on a boat cruise with my cousin and cousin in law. It was something I didn't get a chance to do my last couple times in Chicago so this was a priority for me. We ended up going on the architectural tour, it was really nice to see all the buildings from the Chicago river and learning about the different buildings in Chicago. I took a bunch of photos but here a few of them.

Later that day we had a dinner where I got to see all of my family for the first time this trip. We're missing my cousin Joni and my sister who took a late flight that day. 

On Saturday, the wedding day, the family walked to Millennium park to check out the fountains and bean.

I had to head back to the hotel early to get ready for the wedding. It was my first time being in a wedding so I didn't know what to expect. I rented my tux from Men's Wearhouse on Rockville Pike which is where I tried on tux and shoes to make sure everything fit. After I left the changing room, the sales associate said she would pack everything for me and of course I didn't bother checking the bag prior to the wedding. Fast forward to two hours before the wedding, I open my bag and sure enough, no vest and no shoes. I luckily brought black shoes with me and my cousin had to tell the other two groomsman to take their vests off so we would match. Men's Wearhouse ended up refunding 100 dollars so I guess it ended up being ok. 

The wedding itself was really fun, it was a blessing to be a part of my cousins wedding and just having all the family there was the best part. I'm so happy to have Julie officially be a part of our family and am so happy for them both. 

Overall the trip was amazing and would not have changed anything, ok well maybe the whole tux ordeal. I'm blessed with an amazing family and am so thankful to have spent time with all of them.