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It's hard to believe it's been 7 years since the events of September 11.  That day truly changed the way I look at the world.

I'm sure for some people it feels like ancient history, but to me, it's still fresh in my memory.  It still stuns me that 9/11 happened two weeks into my freshman year of High School.  So much has changed in my life since then.  But I don't really want to recount my experiences from that day -- instead, I'd like to share what today means to me.

To me, 9/11 is a day to remember the innocence of those who lost their lives in that devastating attack and the heroism of those who gave their lives in service to their community and country.  They were our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, and loved ones, and their memory and the memory of that day should never be forgotten.

Moreover, 9/11 is a day to remember and honor other heroes in our lives.  There were those who fought and survived the attacks.  There were also our families and friends and neighbors who comforted each other through the trauma that we experienced.  It was difficult, but heroic, for each of us to move on from that day, but I'm proud of the way we came together to love and support one another, and I've never been prouder to be an American.

I'd like to send a message to the men and women in military: thank you for your service.  You brave men and women make our lives possible, and every day you show us the kind of courage and selflessness that the rest of us aspire to.  You deserve all the support and respect we can muster.  Today, as last year, my thoughts are with you.  You are all true American heroes.

We must all remember the lessons of 9/11.  From them, and the memories and presence of our personal heroes, we can find strength and goodness in the world.

Finally, to those whose lives were taken 7 years ago today: rest in peace.

Labels: family, friends, Opinion, Personal

Hey, everyone. Long time no blog, eh? Sorry it's been so long -- I've been very busy :).

In May, I had my graduation, which was an amazing experience. I actually wasn't expecting to be as affected as I was, but it ended up being really meaningful. My grandparents flew in from Israel, and it was really wonderful to see them, especially with my grandmother's recent recovery from cancer and the difficulty of such a distance to travel. I was so happy that they were able to be there to share in the excitement of my graduation. In addition, my parents and sister came up to Berkeley to celebrate, which was also very meaningful. We had a beautiful drive down the coast, back to Laguna, and shared lots of fun memories along the way. A highlight for me: I actually managed to (mostly) keep up with my Dad and Grandpa at chess!

Speaking of chess and graduations, I have to say a big thanks to Lucyann and Jerry, as well as to my parents, for the beautiful chess set they got me for my graduation. It's beautiful, and I know I'm going to enjoy using it for a very long time.

Not long after finishing my graduation, I made the long trek up to Washington state once again to start working full-time for Microsoft! So far, I've had a great time, and I feel only excitement for what's to come. Easily the strangest part of being a full-time employee of any company for the first time in my life -- I have a 401k. Talk about a slice of reality! I'm not really sure what that means to me, but it really hit me that "this is the real world" when cash first started being poured into that account. Nothing wrong or bad about it (quite the contrary), but it's definitely a different feeling.

I should also mention that a recent project of my sister's, Free Style, came to fruition this month with its presentation at the Ford Amphitheater in L.A. She spent innumerable hours working with high school students in depressed areas, teaching lyric writing and pouring her heart and soul into making a difference. I wasn't able to be there for the presentation, but I heard (and was not surprised) that it went magnificently, and that it was clear that her work really had an impact on these kids' lives. I just wanted to say how much I admire my sister for what she's been doing, and I'm so happy that she's been able to find so much meaning in her work.

Anyway, sorry again it's been so long since I posted. Hopefully I'll get to it again soon :)

Labels: Berkeley, career, family, Home, Microsoft, Personal, school, summer

You know, it's strange... The notion of graduation still feels very foreign and far-off to me. The bizarre part is that... technically, I graduated last semester. For some reason, I'm struggling to reconcile the fact that I've graduated with my perception that I'm just a "naive, young, new college student". And yet, here I am, picking up my cap and gown, and getting ready for a commencement ceremony in May.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm extremely proud of what I've accomplished here and excited about what's to come, I just think it hasn't hit me that I'm going to be putting school behind me (at least for a while) soon. Sure, I'm sticking around for one more semester, but this commencement really, truly marks the end of my undergraduate experience, and underscores the imminence of the "real world". Cool, but scary ;)

I don't really have anything prophetic to say; I just thought I'd share. Fun times are ahead, and I can look back on lots of good times. But the "looking back" part is what's so new and strange!

Labels: Berkeley, career, Master's, Personal, school

It's been a while since my last post. I think, in part, I've been avoiding posting because of the meaning that Mr. Wittry's passing had to me. But, alas, life goes on, and I know Dave would have been excited to hear the latest from me in spite of any other news. He was always interested in hearing about what was going on in other peoples' lives, even when he had his own things to be concerned about.

For me, things are generally going well. I've been struggling with some back problems which has kept me out of the gym for... too long, but I've otherwise been doing great.

My spring break was wonderful. I spent a week at home, enjoying the sun and visiting with friends. I got a chance to spend a little time with Peter and Frank (who had just returned from a road trip that sounded like a lot of fun), watched a few movies (Horton Hears a Who with my sister, Bank Job with Peter, and Vantage Point with Frank), all of which were at least mildly entertaining and at best a lot of fun ;). I enjoyed seeing my parents and sister (it had been nearly 2 months... far too long), and played a bunch of chess with my dad. And, get this: I won! :) Sorry, dad! It's the first time I've ever come out ahead overall with my dad when it comes to chess. Granted, he let me be white most of the time, and I've still got plenty to learn, but it was a first for me ;) I'll take the victories I can get (and promptly rub them in my dad's face!). The other main thing I did over the break was attend Mr. Wittry's memorial at Troy High, which was a wonderful tribute and very moving. I'm so glad people were able to come together in Southern California to share memories of him, and I thought the "Wit-tree" that was planted in his honor was a very nice gesture. He won't be forgotten.

School's been going well, and I've been making good progress on my new degree. It's hard to believe I'm already nearing the half-way mark. And it's even weirder that I'll be attending my commencement for my B.A. in just over a month. I'm excited that my family will be able to be here (health permitting), and am looking forward to it, but there's a surreal quality to the notion that I'm essentially done with school. Soon I'll be headed back up to Microsoft to start working full-time. Crazy, huh?

Sadly, I was recently informed that Jon, my roommate, will be seeking housing elsewhere for next semester. He's been a great roommate, and it'll be strange not having him and his girlfriend, Kim around. I know we'll still see plenty of each other, though, as long as we've got TV shows to obsessively watch ;)

Which reminds me: LOST is awesome. Don't tell me what happens! Over the last month or two, we've been working our way through all three seasons of LOST, and we're just about to finish the third. When I had heard about it before, it didn't sound very interesting to me. But now I'm hooked. What am I to do? I'm totally, completely, and utterly addicted to it. This is what happens when the writers go on strike: I get addicted to shows on DVD.

In the meantime, I'm looking for housing for next semester. It's a little complicated, since I'll only be around from August through December, so I'm primarily looking for a studio apartment that I could rent just for that time span. Wish me luck!

Anyway, sorry for the information overload. That's what happens when I go 2 months without an update. Hopefully, I'll be more inclined to keep y'all updated more often now that I've started back up. There will be fun things happening in the coming months. I'm looking forward to it!

Labels: Berkeley, career, family, friends, Home, Microsoft, Personal, school, summer, vacation

Today, I'm extremely saddened to report that my mentor, role-model, inspiration, teacher, and friend Dave Wittry passed away Yesterday in Taiwan while swim-training.

Dave (or, Mr. Wittry, as I was so used to calling him for so long) was a great man who meant a lot to me and made a significant impact on my life. I have no doubt that were it not for Mr. Wittry, I would not be where I am, doing what I'm doing today.

Up until my sophomore year of high school, I had no idea that Computer Science would be the field in which I would end up. That year, I took AP Computer Science with Mr. Wittry, which began a series of events that would change the course of my education, and ultimately my life. He saw some interest and talent in me, and encouraged me to push myself in the CS world. First, he had me help teach some workshops and seminars about AP Computer Science. When I was progressing quickly through my second year of classes with him, he and I embarked on a project that would become one of the most rewarding endeavors I've taken part in to date. Dave pushed me and encouraged me. We traveled, giving workshops. What high school student gets to do that? In my senior year, he led me and a group of students on another software project, and I know that his guidance had an impact on the lives of all of us.

Mr. Wittry was blunt and rational, but always had the best interests of his students in mind. He was happy to volunteer his time for the benefit of others, especially his students. And he never stopped caring. His door was always open for past students, and he was always happy to hear from and communicate with us. For many, Mr. Wittry, was a great teacher. By the time I had graduated, he was a mentor, teacher, and friend, and I owe so much to him.

My deepest condolences to Dave's family: his wife and two young children, whom he cared for deeply. My thoughts are with you.

To a good man who touched many peoples' lives: we will never forget you.

RIP, Mr. W.

P.S. I will try to update this post with more information if/when I get it.

Update: 2/6 12:51 PM, I've just launched a page where people who knew Dave can post their memories.  You can find that here: http://wittry.depoll.com

Labels: friends, Personal

And the leaves that are green turn to brown. :) Sorry, Simon and Garfunkel on the brain.

It's been a little while since my last post, so I probably have more than usual to report. First, some catching up:

• Happy Hanukkah!
• Merry Christmas!
• Happy New Year!
• Happy Valenti -- oh, wait, we're not quite there yet.

Well, astonishingly, I made it through last semester. It certainly was a draining one, but I was very happy to make it through. The nutty part: that was my last semester as an undergrad. Wow. It still hasn't fully sunken in (on the eve of my first day of classes as a CS grad student). Crazy. So... I now have a B.A. In Computer Science. After 2.5 years. Cool. :) Ok, that's a little understated, but you get the idea. It's an exciting time for me (and I think many more will come), and now I get to embark on a new adventure. Before I do that, though, I think I'll reflect on my undergraduate experience a little:

It all started "Fall of aught five." I was a young lad, full of hopes, and dreams. Ok, so I was an 18 year old getting ready for another school year, but doesn't that sound so much better? Anyhow, I had a great time that year. I also had a reality check. At the beginning of the year, I had the crazy idea that I should go for a triple-major: Business, Political Science, and Computer Science. Uh, yeah, that wasn't happening. I don't think it took me more than a month to figure out that this was not a great idea, and I dropped my political science aspirations. Within a few more months (and after realizing the energy-hog that my Econ class ended up being), Business was off the table, and it hit me that by doing this, I could finish my CS degree within 3 years. So, that became the plan, and I started setting that in motion that first year.

Actually, looking back, a lot of cool stuff happened that year. Taking CS61C my first semester, I met Dan Garcia, who really helped me come into my own throughout my undergraduate career. In addition, not expecting anything to come of it, I applied for an internship at Microsoft (who gets an internship at a big software company their freshman year? I didn't think I had a chance), which, as you probably know, has been very fruitful for me, to say the least. I also had the dorm experience that year, and while that wasn't wonderful, I wouldn't change anything if I had to do it again. That year, in my suite, I met my good friend Jon, who has turned out to be the best I could've hoped for in a roommate. Hey, he's been willing to put up with my puns; what more could I ask for? I made some great friends in the dorms, and they've helped make the Berkeley experience a great one for me.

Microsoft was great for me. Both internships left me with much more confidence and excitement about my field, which I was able to carry over into my school life. I took on some leadership roles, explored new opportunities, and pushed on in my quest for a bachelor's degree. Not only did I finish quickly, I also managed to get into the "5th year" master's program, thanks in no small part to all of these experiences I've mentioned. Can I complain?

All in all, it's been quite a ride, and a very rewarding one at that. I need to thank some people for their support at various points throughout this process:

• Mom, Dad, and Sari, where would I be without your support?
• Jon, for being a great friend and roommate.
• Dave Wittry, for piquing my interest in computer science and starting down this road.
• Dr. Dan Garcia, for helping me get involved on the Berkeley campus and being such a helpful advisor throughout my undergraduate experience.
• David Hill and Kathy Carper, for being amazing mentors at Microsoft and really giving me a chance to see what I can do.
• Everyone else. Yeah, it's a cop out, but there were so many people that helped make this great for me, and I don't mean to miss anyone important.

Thanks so much for everything, everyone. It's been a great ride. Now, on to grad school!

So, those are my undergrad reflections, but lots of other stuff has been going on. I had a great winter break at home in SoCal. I spent a few days (over Christmas) in Vegas with my family, which was incredibly fun. We saw Love, Spamalot, and Penn and Teller, and had a great time playing poker and just enjoying being together as a family. While we were there, we got some great news about my grandmother's cancer: she's basically cured! That made for a great, upbeat time on the trip. The rest of the break was a lot of fun, too. My parents had some time off of work, so we got to spend a lot of time together. New Year's eve at Peter's place was a ton of fun and a nostalgic trip back to high school days with so many old friends there. I spent time with old friends, saw lots of movies, and just had a great time in general.

And now, I'm back in Berkeley for the first semester of my Grad program. I'm really excited, and I'll be doing some great work. My research advisor will be Koushik Sen, and I'll be working on some projects regarding verification of parallel software. Can you blame me for being jazzed?

To sum up, I would have to say all is well, and things are looking up going forward as well. Until next time!

Labels: Berkeley, career, family, friends, internship, Master's, Microsoft, Personal, school, vacation

To all those whose lives were lost or changed 6 years ago today:

9/11/2001 is a day that will live on forever.  I will never forget where I was when I found out: walking by my parents' room on my way out the door to my first few weeks of high school.  I caught a glimpse of the television and found out what was happening just in time to see the second plane hit the towers.  A thousand thoughts went through my head at that moment.  Foremost among them was whether my sister was alright.  I didn't find out until much later that day that she was fine, but she had an unbelievable story to tell.

That day, we lost family, friends, heroes, and neighbors, but above all, innocents, and we owe it to them never to forget, and to honor their memories.  9/11 simultaneously showed us the best and the worst that humanity has to offer.  Everyday people reached out to one another for support, and the nation and the world came together to help one another.  In the name of doing right by one another, we should strive to keep that brotherhood and neighborliness in our minds, and work together to make the world a better place.

To our soldiers abroad: thank you for your service.  Without brave men and women like you, we wouldn't have a land to defend, or freedoms worth defending.  You demonstrate every day the kind of courage and selflessness that we saw from the world on that day, and you deserve every ounce of support and respect that we can muster.  My thoughts are with you and all the other American heroes out there today.

I will not say anything tongue-in-cheek in my post today.  This is too important to make light of: remember the lessons of 9/11, and to all those whose lives were taken on that day, rest in peace.

Labels: Personal