Today I had my law class from 1:30 to 3:30, and the focus was on discrimination. We went over a particular case involving Mexican Americans. To provide some context, the focus was on the Chicano East LA-13 during the time of the walkouts, which took place in the aftermath of segregation’s official end just four years earlier.
These walkouts were a powerful form of protest against ongoing discrimination, with Mexican Americans specifically fighting for better treatment. The class was also about categorization, where we often use race and other categories like age, sexual orientation, gender, religion, and education.
Also, during class, I couldn’t help but look at certain companies and see what’s going on in the market. Everything’s been a bit of an economic mess lately with the current administration. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ve got what I call my “defense portfolio”, classic blue-chip stocks, and at times, it’s actually done better than the S&P 500.
Then I’ve got my growth portfolio, which is more or less in line with the S&P 500. It’s just interesting, to say the least, to think about how the next four years will play out. That’s been on my mind too.
What People Get Wrong About Investing
During class break, there was a brief interaction with my law professor, and once more, he said, “You’re going to have to tell me what to invest in.” Like I told him last time, I can’t tell him what to invest in. I’m not a financial advisor. But something I’ve always noticed about people wanting to invest is that they always want stock tips.
They don’t really want to know how to invest; they just want stock tips. They’re not looking to build wealth or long-term investments. It’s really hard to accept that, because I want to turn it into, “Think long-term. Think of a business, not just a stock.” But when I say that, they don’t really understand.
Financial Background Is Its Own Privilege
Even people who are in great positions, like him, being a Harvard Law graduate now University of Washington professor, just because someone comes from a certain background or position, doesn’t mean they understand the financial field. I guess that’s a privilege for me. Because no matter what field I go into, I’ll always have this background.
After class was over, I spoke with a friend and neighbor for like an hour and a half. She goes to the same campus as me, so we spent time talking and walking home.
A Wake-Up Call on Fitness
A couple of nights ago, it hit me how far I’ve fallen from my fitness. I couldn’t fully understand how I got here. I kind of understand some of the events that led me here, but it’s crazy to go from being in shape, fit for real, to being flabby and hurting again. I’m not saying I lost it totally, but I’ve gone backward. Now I’ve got to work my way back to where I was. And that’s a lot.
However, today and yesterday, I’ve been going to the gym and spending like two hours just having fun. Before my mentor passed, I would go to the gym almost daily and spend 30 minutes to an hour there, just on the treadmill or on the track. But now there’s this almost carefree feeling of giving myself one to two hours of just playground fun.
YMCA Workouts and Racquetball with My Kid
When I go to the gym, which is the YMCA, it’s not like you’re just at a gym with only weight equipment and some exercise machines, you’re at the YMCA. So you can run around a little bit. I can go play racquetball, which I did today for the first time in a long time.
I did it with my kid; it was our first time at the gym playing racquetball together, and it was fun. We did some weights, some incline treadmill walking, and hit the track, got some running in. It’s been nice to get back into shape after falling off.
Gym Motivation from Weak Hero Class 1
At the beginning of April, I got into this show called Weak Hero Class 1 on Netflix. I listen to the soundtrack from it when I go to the gym. There’s something about Korean films that always resonates with me. Maybe it’s because my background is a melting pot. I was a foster child who was then adopted by the same foster parents.
Long story short, there was this old lady down the street who was Chinese, and she became like a grandmother to me because she used to babysit me. So I had a Chinese grandmother. My foster sisters are from Thailand. Having that melting pot background is probably why I love Korean film so much. It’s not the exact race or culture I grew up with, but it still connects.
A Few More Things On My Mind
Lately, I’ve been feeling closer to this fictional character who meant a lot to me growing up. She was the one character who pretty much saved my life at one point. It’s also the character I wrote about in my personal statement to get into University.
I’ll probably add that personal statement here one day, publish it on the blog, because it means a lot to me, and it makes sense to have it eventually. This is my personal blog, after all.
Husky Market Temptations
Speaking of campus once more, my school has a place called Husky Market. It’s basically its own mini-mart or grocery store. They’ve got hot soup, coffee, a smoothie machine, drinks, snacks, salads, protein bars, shakes, candy, puzzles, knick-knacks, headphones, and Bluetooth speakers. But they also have donuts. I always get a maple bar every day.
I didn’t get one today or yesterday, although I might get one tomorrow, because Wednesdays are chili days; they usually have Fritos, chili, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and cheese. It’s $6.99 for a little basket. You fill it up like you would a fry basket at a restaurant. It sounds good, but I try not to eat too much when I’m in between classes. I might just get a cup of chili instead. That’s $3.99 by itself, and I could grab a small bag of Fritos and take it home. Cheaper that way.
Still, that maple bar sounds good. I think I’m going to grab one tomorrow, they are right near the soup, so it is always a temptation to get one. This is why I have been skipping the soups as well, well, that, and because last Saturday the soup I got tasted like barf, and that ruined the experience of the maple bar I ate after, I couldn’t stomach anything after that.
Other than that, I think that’s the update on my life.
Until next time.
The Broke College Student 
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