Miscellanea: A Collection of True Stories and Creative Works by William Pham

*Indicates a creative piece.

Seventh-Grade Me

Seventh-grade William stares at me through the mirror of memory lane. He's confused, possibly disappointed. He is unaware of the obstacles and stepbacks that drove his future self to the plateau of melancholy. His dreams were a byproduct of his immature preconceptions of life. The storms of his endless pondering and provoking emotions have simmered to reflect his one genuine desire: Love for the arts. Young William desired to be an actor and a singer—a revelation that sparked in the middle of class. Ironically, he wasn't always highly passionate about his vocalist potential until after he finished a year in choir. As for becoming an actor, he simply believed portraying different people would be a pleasurable experience. Despite his lengthy time in choir, he has not made any valiant efforts to achieve his childhood dream. On the other hand, his current self is typing his blog on the computer while everyone else is asleep; he formulates his daily thoughts and emotions into words.

Heartfelt Conversations at a Korean Restaurant

Serena and I conversed while eating lunch at a Korean tofu house. I share with her my recent conflicts—a multitude of hardships. She questions my intent to remain at the Encore Bass Singers. I don't want to give up on them, I sighed. I feared that every effort I made to bond with the people, every step I made to be firmly rooted in this community, would've all been in vain if I chose to leave. I was already fond of the members; they mentored me with their bountiful wisdom. The one fear holding me back was that I lacked the boldness to admit a truth. My friend, Serena, would then tell me a valuable statement. "William, no one is forcing you to be there. If you freely choose to attend this group, you cannot allow every statement to crawl under your skin," she said sternly. It was true: I chose to be a part of the EBS out of my free will. Having an active presence would be unbearable if I were quickly offended by contrasting opinions. I am sometimes afraid to voice my ideologies, which oppose the majority.

*Motherhood

Inspired by "A Mother's Faith Through Adversity" by Alice Pham and Joey Wong.

The mother resides in a tiny abode. She greets her children every morning before departing to work. She roams the streets starting from dusk—collecting every visible piece of debris and piling them up in her utility cart. The miscellany of knick-knacks includes a water bottle, bits of cardboard, and various plastics. Although exhausted as the hours' pass, the mother continues her work while retaining a smile. She works day and night in the same perpetual cycle, not with indifference but with an incentive: the resolve to earn income from limited resources. Finally, it is dawn: The shimmering sun sets as the flock of birds flies through the golden horizon. The day ends, and a new one soon begins. The spirit of endurance helped the mother persevere in times of adversity, the spirit that highlights each precious moment in time. We learn to be versatile through intimacy and vulnerability, exchange wisdom through personal stories, and embrace each other's eccentrics.