As this year comes to an end, I always re-evaluate my accomplishments for the year and see if any promises that I have made to myself were actually carried out.   Usually, none or only a few of them would, as I would see the year as another disappointing one.   Most of the time, I judge the year based on many different aspects: relationship with friends and family, my academics, my love life and my health.   Since the early years in high school, it would always seem that the bad things that has happened that year would always outnumber the number of good things that has happened for the year.   In the past, it would mostly involve bad grades, fights with the family, a bad relationship, physical health as the main priorities in which would outweigh the rest of the little things.    But, although it is hard to safely say this because the year still dawns another 3 more weeks, I feel that this year has turned out to be a pretty good one.    Although I do not spend as much time these days with my family as much as I would like, the times when I spend it with them have been well, especially reconnecting with my parents.    While there is a huge obstacle ahead of me when it comes to graduating and going into grad. school, I feel more confident about my academic road ahead of me than I was two years ago when I had just transferred from Pitt.    I had an awesome summer, despite being in Philadelphia due to research done at the university.    I was able to visit folks back in Hong Kong, while celebrating my 21st with good friends, family and traveling.    My love life has definitely been bumpy, but I guess that's something that you can never expect to be a smooth ride all the way.    Despite the fact that I was never able to do much in improving my physical stature, the fact that I am healthy is all that matters.    It could be the fact that I have been trying to be more optimistic along the way, or the fact that these past weeks have been clicking for me (which I really hope it doesnt end because it's been what's keeping me going), that I actually feel pretty good about myself, despite the long list of little things that is still intact in the back of my mind.    I'm just hoping that the rest of this year will end on a high note, so that I can start the new year with my head held high.