I've learned and grown during my 16 years of being in the music and entertainment industry. I learned who are there for me, but I also learned who are not. I am grateful that God has graced me of my career peaks and valleys. It was through my career valleys I grew and matured the most. It was through my valleys that I was tested and challenged the most in life.

I've also learned that the profession as a professional beatboxer can be a field of work of high stress and demand when I do not put God first in my life. With that said, I would not trade my profession for another. I am humbled, honored and grateful that my work is bigger than who I am and what I do to impact our communities in greater ways I cannot do on my own.

As an entertainer, I've received fan mail and hate mail. Among the hate mail are not the kindest of messages anyone ought to read. I've shared just a couple of "hate mail" to a close friend. My friend was "shocked." It's not an uncommon side that entertainers will occasionally have to deal with on the receiving end, behind the scenes.

As an entertainer, I've also received threats via my voice mail on my mobile phone. For a season, I've stopped having a mobile phone altogether.

In those trying seasons, I could relate with Job of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. How the devil tormented Job day and night. Not a single friend could help Job. Not even the believers he knew could help him. Job endured through the end, and Job continued to put his trust in God. Ultimately, Job persevered.

In the gospel book of John chapter 10 verse 10, Jesus said, "the devil comes only to kill, and to steal, and to destroy, but I have come to give you life and life to the full." Those words from Jesus helped me tremendously.

For seasons, the adversary tormented me day and night in attempts only to kill, and to steal, and to destroy....
my joy,
my peace, 
my love, 
my life,
my memory,
my personhood, 
my career,
my talent,
my identity,
my faith,
my family,
my character, 
my reputation, 
my dreams,
my goals,
and my health.

The Word of God says that the adversary prowls like a lion to seek who he may devour. When the enemy comes. In like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. I am grateful that Jesus has become my rare guard and flooded the enemy on my behalf.

I am grateful that God has graced me with my peaks and valleys with his grace, mercy and unfailing love. And God is faithful. He will not allow the test to be more than we can stand.

To my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, be encouraged that Jesus is our fortress. Redeemer. Deliverer. We daily have on the whole armor of Light. We are the head, not the tail. We are above, not beneath. Thank You Jesus for becoming our rare guard, and going before us on this day that you have made. We give you praise, honor and glory.

Five months from now marks the 12th anniversary of my time at Word of Life Christian Center, a church I call home.

Had it not been for God in my life and Jesus doing a work in me I would not be free and not be alive. I am grateful and thankful to my Word of Life family, Pastors Art and Kuna Sepulveda, Pastor Wally and Patti Matanza, Rick and Nicole Abordo, John and Lexi Lum, and our men's Life Group growing together in the Word of God, and the things of God.

I am grateful God came into my life as early as He did.

Those of us in our current walk with God, let us rejoice each day that Jesus rescued...
Forgave...
Restored...
Redeemed...
Freed...
Healed...
Delivered...
Made whole.
Renewed...
Pruned...
Counseled....
Taught...
Disciplined....
Refined...
Favored....
And clothed you and I in His majesty.
This Jesus is available to you and I, our family, friends, our neighbors.

In 1998, I accepted Jesus in into my life at age 15 while I was a student at McKinley High School. Prior to that I had gotten my copy of Charlie's Victory signed by Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer with Philippians 4:13. I was a new born again Christian, but not yet a committed one.

In 2008, age 25, I sought after God. My friend Janel invited me to a Christian conference at the Sheraton Waikiki that featured the Katina's. That night, I opened up my heart to God, and I rededicated my life to Jesus.

I shared this with my music business classmate John Tussey, and he encouraged me to find a home church. To get planted there, grow in my walk with God, and get to know Jesus. I prayed to God to make a way.

Days following my prayer to God, my music business classmates Lei and Cherry Anne encouraged me to enter the Word of Life Emerge Talent Show on Friday, October 24. I answered, "yes."

Jason Tom Beatboxing at Word of Life Emerge Talent Show

Video Credit: Isaiah Viernes

That same day, my audio engineering professor James Hearon asked if I'd be interested to teach a beatbox workshop at Word of Life Academy on Monday, October 27. I answered, "yes.

I got to Word of Life Christian Center on Friday, October 24th, and I got greeted by Cherry Anne. I met Yumi, and she took care of the sign up of the contestants. She interviewed me, and I met the age cut off to enter. I was the twelfth out of twelve contestants to sign up for the Word of Life Emerge Talent Show Semi Finals. The order of the contestants was the order of our sign up.

I met 11 amazing talent including Kevin the Kwalified Emcee who I met then as "Kevin."

I asked Kevin, "what talent are you going to perform tonight?"

"I'm going to rap," Kevin responded.

Kevin asked, "what about you?"

"Beatbox," I responded.

When it was Kevin's time to go on stage, he asked the host Jarmal to beatbox while he rapped.

Then I told myself I will bring my A game beatbox mode.

When I got on stage, host Jarmal asked, "so Jason, what are you going to do for us tonight?"

I said, "I'm going to beatbox." The crowd made a thunderous roar before I began.

During my performance the crowd was so loud that it felt as though I was on a roller coaster ride.

I won first place at the Word of Life Emerge Talent Show Semi Finals, and I advanced to the Word of Life Emerge Talent Show Grand Finals.

I rededicated my life once more to my personal Lord and savior Jesus Christ that night. Jarmal equipped me with my first bible, which I still have to this day. I then began my bible reading plan with the Gospel of John. Word of Life Christian Center is a church I call home.

Math was my worst school subject. Say what? But math was still my favorite school subject to not give up on.

During my spring cleaning I found my high school and early college report cards.

I was a C, D, and F high school math student. True story.

I was far from the A math student that I would later become.

I was a late bloomer in my math success.

I had my math "kryptonite." Yes, I may be the Superman of math today, but at one point I in fact had my kryptonite.

I found a letter from a family member snail mailed to me, then 14-year-old Jason Tom. I've kept it in my "capstone" that contains important memories.

This family member acknowledged in her letter that she heard that I did not pass my 8th grade Kawananakoa middle school math class and found out that for me to advance to high school I have to make it up in summer school. She encouraged me to do my best and to not fall behind.

I made up for my 8th grade math class in summer school. I advanced to the 9th grade for high school.

Fast forward, I earned my McKinley High School diploma on time. I did not give up on math. My discipline for math required effort, encouragement, and to overcome odds. I had this "I am not going give up" attitude.

My first semester in college, I earned a D in math and poor grades for my other classes during the September 11th attacks season. My highest grade was a B for my philosophy class. Then I messed up in my elective class the following semester. Academically suspended, I took a college break to re-focus my life and soul search.

I left Honolulu.

I moved to California. I packed my luggage with my clothes, soccer gear, judo uniforms, music CD and music DVD collection.

I earned wages doing clerical work for a furniture warehouse. I focused on competitive judo and judo training.

I earned gold medals at judo tournaments hosted at San Jose State University and the City College of San Francisco.

I moved back to Honolulu to further pursue my competitive judo journey, and I won my final judo trophy before I collided with a SUV in 2004.

I judo broke my fall post impact prior to my unconsciousness.

The female driver prayed for me as she called for an ambulance to bring me to the emergency room.

I Thank God for the miracle that I had no broken bones and serious injury other than brain trauma.

The trauma affected my memory. I've recovered lost memories through meditation in the Word of God, prayer, exercise, rest, reflection, mathematics, hydration, music, and journaling.

Much healing.

I am grateful to the LORD that He has healed and delivered me of complex trauma.

Then, on the next day that family member who wrote me that letter took me to see the Passion of the Christ on the big screen.

The Passion of the Christ is my favorite film.

That same year, I left competitive judo to pursue my professional career as a beatboxer.

I re-enrolled in college to take care of unfinished business. Finishing and persevering over the odd is the character I developed through my high school years of soccer.

How I scored a soccer goal in the final 15 seconds of a game of my high school senior season.

I retook my college math class.

In judo fashion I identified my math kryptonite and I conquered it. I went to math professor Mark Alexander's office and he was helped me tackle my kryptonite. I earned an A in math and my first straight A semester.

My math mentor Mark Alexander referred me for the math supplemental instructor campus job position. I also applied to be a campus math tutor and math note taker. The math supplemental instructor position was the highest paid student position throughout the University of Hawaii system at the time.

All the while I performed beatboxing at competitions, school assemblies, after school programs, classrooms, poetry slams, open mics, events, and private parties.

I treated my academics like it were judo practices, meets, and tournaments with the soccer mentality to finish.

For me to earn a good grade is as though how I would prepare to win a judo medal.

I studied my math notes and I practiced my math daily.

I started and finished all of my math homework on the exact day it is assigned.

I prioritized.

I gave myself no way to procrastinate.

I gave myself no way to get distracted when I studied... no Internet. No television.

I transferred my judo champion work ethic into the classroom setting.

To this family member, you know who you are. I want to Thank You!

I wished you a Happy Mother's Day on Mother's Day, because I want you to know you are a very important person in my life.

I know you are not not my mother, but you are indeed a great mother for you and your husband's family.

If it weren't for your encouragement in my early years to do my best and not fall behind then I might not be where I am today.

It is because you encouraged me then, that helps me to continue to help the families and students I work with to succeed in math.

Thank You for telling me to do my best and to not fall behind.

I am grateful to you for all you've done in my life.

I cannot thank you enough.

Words alone do no justice.

But still, I Thank You from the depths of my heart.

Love and kindness,
Jason Tom

I hope you had a blessed Palm Sunday. I am thankful to God that He brought me out of chaos. I attended Word of Life's 6pm service via Facebook live.

One of Pastor Art's openers referenced Psalm 40:1-3; my blog post here is using the Amplified Holy Bible translation that captures the full meaning behind the original Greek and Hebrew:
"I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the LORD;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear [with great reverence]
And will trust confidently in the LORD."

I am thankful to God that He is of order. 
I am grateful to God that He is not of chaos.
I am humbled that God is in control.

The Holy Spirit brought out of the miry clay. He's counseled me how to guard my...
1. Ear gates
2. Mouth gate.
3. Eye gates (window to the soul).
To guard my heart.

We are...
1. Spirit
2. Soul
3. Body

Our soul is the...
1. Mind
2. Will
3. Emotion

Pastor Art's sermon confirmed my devotional on James 1:19 as how God helped me by His mercy and grace to...
1. Be quick to listen (to guard my ear gates)...
2. Slow to speak (guard my mouth gate)...
3. Slow to anger (guard my emotion.. soul.. eye gates).

Meditating on and applying James 1:19 renews my mind and transformed my character.

God pruned me. I was the reverse order of James 1:19 and the inverse of it. In my younger years I was....
1. Quick to anger (did not guard my emotion.. soul.. eye gates)...
2. Quick to speak (did not guard my mouth gate)...
3. Slow to listen (did not guard my ear gates).

That was the old me. Sown unto to me. Thankfully that old me is dead.

In the natural, I was modeled to be quick to anger, quick to speak, and slow to listen.

In the supernatural, Jesus modeled for me how to be quick to listen to the Holy Spirit, slow to speak, and slow to anger. How to guard my ear gates, mouth gate, and ear gates. How to forgive. Be merciful. He's forgiven me, forgiven us. Jesus models for the body of Christ how to forgive. I am so thankful that God delivered and healed me from years of destruction, torment and trauma.

I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. The new me is alive.

Psalm 141:3 is what I pray to God to help me be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, by putting a guard over my mouth...
"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly]."

Proverbs 13:3 reinforces guarding our mouth
"The one who guards his mouth
[thinking before he speaks] protects his life;
The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin."

and Proverbs 21:23 further reinforces guarding our mouth
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles."

When I lettered two-years in varsity soccer and judo, I had a literal mouth guard. But this guarding of our mouth is a spiritual guard.

What words are we speaking?
Are we speaking hate?
Are speaking anger?
Or are we speaking forgiveness?
Mercy?
Are we speaking love and the Word of God?

I am thankful each day how God has done a work in me.

Faith with God's finished works is alive.

White dove in full flight by Dorian Stretton.

Difficulty is a great opportunity for growth. As for me, due to the quarantine, my music performances and math tutoring sessions can be quite creative at this time. I am grateful that President Donald Trump signed the Cares Act stimulus bill. I worry not and I am not alarmed as I trust in the Lord that He provides. 

I am endeavoring to move out of my current environment. A great opportunity. 

The other day, I thought about the Cantonese, my first language, spoken to me, and I translated to English, my second language. The English equivalents the Holy Spirit helped me to discern are more than enough to be the deal breaker. Though English is my second language, it is also my dominant language to discover the Cantonese, my first language, spoken to me are destructive, ill-willed, hurtful, and derogatory. I am grateful for the goodness of God!

It’s unfortunate when we’re exasperated by someone we live with. It’s either destructive words, slander, false accusations, or complete silent treatment on a daily. Yet, it’s in my second language that it is revealed to me, that’s it, that’s more than the deal breaker. I’ve done my part to mend the relationship, but it’s time to move forward where God wants me to go, and not remain. I won’t cease from praying.

It makes perfect sense how I’ve endured.

 

I know that if it were not for the Holy Spirit and His church, the body of Christ, helping me through this, that I would not be alive today.

I am fortunate that the Holy Spirit continues to form, shape, and mold my character in Him, that I’ve not snapped into the violent monster that I am grateful to GOD the Father that His son Jesus has delivered me of.

That destruction that was sown unto me that I once was, I am no more. The old me is dead. I am a new man, a new creation in Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lives on the inside of me. I live today with the fruit of the spirit that is love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Can anyone relate to this? I was quite often told for most of my life that...

One. I've achieved nothing in my life.

Two. I've accomplished nothing in my life.

And three. I've amounted to nothing in life.

True story.

I knew not how destructive those words were.

It came from those who I am supposed to be able to count on most in my life.

I was not once told from them, "I am proud of you." Not once. And as weird as it may sound, I feel super weird today when people write me or tell me offline, "I am proud of you."

I was so conditioned to believe that whatever I did in life was not good enough that to this day, I don't understand why it feels super awkward when someone tells me, "I'm proud of you." Sometimes I think to myself, is he or she insulting or disrespecting me? It's an awkward feeling that I've wrestled with.

It caught up to me.

It was so destructive.

It tormented me.

Then it hit me, no matter what I did, it would never be good enough to even those who mattered, even though that was what hurt the most. It seems as though they do not want me healthy. They do not want me thriving. They do not want me happy.

But I later learned that GOD's words matter so much more than their words. The Holy Spirit then edified me in ways no man could. Jesus the Son healed and delivered me of torment, trauma, and pain.

If it were not for my faith in GOD, I am certain I would not be alive.

I am grateful that GOD exposed the lies, unraveled the truth.

GOD is ALMIGHTY!

As 2020 is near, that will end the most recent decade; We are about to embark into a new decade that will begin in 2021. I would like to encourage us all, including you and me, to reflect, within the last 10 years from 2009 through 2019, what were our life's experiences like?

Accomplishments?

Accolades?

Honors?

Goals?

Peaks?

Valleys?

For me 2009 through 2019, honestly, were my greatest and roughest of experiences, personally and professionally. It were my years post college graduation. I did not think I would live to be able to share that.

Before I reached 30, I went through what I call a "midlife crisis." I learned more about what my concussions, night terrors, nightmares, adverse childhood experiences, and the traumatic impact the SUV collision has destructively done to my overall personality, health, identity, and memory. The breakthrough? I've been set free from that torment.

The trauma triggered I experienced was one I wish for no one to go through. Sometimes, many times, it's inevitable. I am grateful to be alive and well, today. What helped me most? Getting planted at a church to grow in my devotional relationship with God. Prayer helped too. When I got grounded and sought for wisdom from the Word of God is when I began to overcome and grow in my character to win over trauma and torment.

Then I conscientiously surrounded myself with good people and families. I cut ties from the people that make unhealthy choices. That made the difference. My overall health benefitted. My family and friends took note of it.

I've experienced peaks and valleys in all aspects. I am grateful that within one decade, it has been a year of growth, maturity, character building, valleys, and peaks on a personal as well as on a professional level. Before my father passed on, that time and after allows me to reflect all he has instilled in me.

What I accomplished from 2009 through 2019? As a beatboxer, I was honored as Best Performer Hawaii Scene Choice Award, TEDx Presenter Award, Best Local Musician Deserving of a Wider Audience, 4x HawaiiSlam First Thursdays Top 12 Grand Slam Poet Finalist, and top 3 McDonald's of Hawaii's NextNext Music Competition and Charity Event.

My beatbox students became champions in statewide competitions and talent contests.

I probably left out some accolades. I've performed all over the island of Oahu, neighbor islands of Kauai, and Hilo of Hawaii Island. I've also gone on a business trip for Maui. I've also performed for events in New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and a corporate project overseas in Sydney, Australia. As a mom and pops beatboxer, I've been honored to perform for weddings, 1st birthday parties, graduation parties, company parties, and more.

I've presented at Creation production, Hawaii Children and Youth Day, Hawaii Music and Book Festival, TEDx Honolulu Conference, KS EdTech Conference, Windward Oahu's Early College Conference, Koko Head Elementary's Back to School Assembly, Kauluwela Elementary's Back to School Assembly, Aliiolani Elementary's Parent Night, Hawaii Baptist Academy Summer School Assembly, Music With A Message School Tour, Real And Powerful Anti Bullying School Tour, Hawaii Explorations Expo, Kapiolani Community College Scholarship Dinner, Leeward Community College, Iolani School, Kamehameha Schools, Art and Flea, Honolulu Night Market, Kroc Center Night Market, Art after Dark, Estria Graffiti Grand Final, International Human Beatbox Convention, American Beatbox Championship, and I was nominated to compete at the Beatbox Battle World Championship.

I opened for Michael Winslow, Quest Crew, JabbaWockeez, Blue Scholars, Reeps One.

I judged the Brown Bags to Stardom Statewide Grand Final.

No missing a beat. As a mathematics coach, I've worked with students to learn mathematics, pass math classes, graduate high school, enroll in college, and earn a degree from university.

As a blogger and writer, I've reached somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.7 million readers, and households. Thank You!

What's next for me for the new decade starting in 2020? My goal is to not forget where I came from. Not forget who helped me along the way. To better serve others, families, and our community. Know my roots. To not settle. Raise the bar. Set goals. Short term. Mid term. Long term.

I want to thank you and those of who that wished me a Happy Birthday before, during, and after Thursday, November 21st, 2019. On my birthday, I gave my "Flip the Script" keynote message at Aliʻiolani Elementary's Parent Night on the importance on having "grit" to not give up even through our life's greatest adversities and challenges. What would the script of your life look like today if it were to go on the big screen? Let's ask ourselves that each day. Are we living the script in our lives the way we ought to and want to today?

I have a special gift for you! Scroll down to watch my birthday keynote presentation!

Principal Joseph Passatino, Nate, Cary Miyashiro, Debbie Kim Morikawa, Jason Tom, Violet Shimoko, Lori, Gale, vice principal Tim.

Jason Tom Birthday Flip the Script Keynote

Video Credit: BloomingGale's

As an unashamed product of Hawaiʻi's Deparment of Education's public school education, I shared my greatest accomplishment in life was being able to fail early in life, because that taught me early on what I needed to do to dig deep to overcome adversities and challenges in life. How when I failed first grade at Liholiho Elementary was pivotal to me beginning my journey as an amateur beatboxer.

I was six-years-old. I knew not how to read nor did I know my ABCs then.

I transferred to Kauluwela Elementary where I began to learn my ABCs, liking toward mathematics, art, and how to read.

15 years later, I ventured into my journey as a professional beatboxer after my collision with a SUV when I judo sprawled that vehicle before being knocked unconscious.

It was then I also decided to take care of my unfinished business academically. I judo flipped my transcript from 1.0 to 4.0 grade point average. I was then rejected then accepted into the Freeman Foundation Scholarship program at Beijing Foreign Studies University. In 2006-2007, I landed on the University of Hawaiʻi at Kapiʻolani's Dean's Honorees List!

I also shared on one of my student's accounts on how she was at the brink of giving up. When I worked with her... she became an A math student and she completed her degree at University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu!

I also shared when I advocated to present my keynote at TEDx Honolulu "It's About Time" Conference with "Vocal Groove" when they originally turned me down and then selected me to present.

Jason Tom Flip the Script Keynote Presentation

Video Credit: Nate Izumi

I'm honored to have been invited to present at the 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Explorations Expo, 9am to 3pm at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi on Sunday, October 27th hosted by the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum!

Topics at this expo will include agriculture, robotics, astronomy, mathematics, science, engineering, art education, health care, automotive technology, energy production, marine biology, and more!

Come and join us!

WHAT:
Hawaiʻi Explorations Expo

HOSTED BY:
Hawaii Science and Technology Museum

DATE:
Sunday, October 27, 2019

TIME:
9:00AM to 3:00PM

LOCATION:
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

ADDRESS:
799 Piilani Street, Hilo, HI, United States, 96720

WHY:
Science, robotics, mathematics, engineering, technology, audio engineering, beatboxing, art education, and more!

WHO:
Henk Rogers
Kālepa Baybayan
Jason Tom
Keaʻau High School Cougar Techs Robotics Team
Waiākea Intermediate School Titans Ukulele Band

As a product of Hawaiʻi's STEM/STEAM education, mathematician musician, and education advocate, I am stoked!

My mathematics and music career merged as one like when the Constructicons of Transformers merges into Devastator at the right place, right time.

And I nearly did not make it to see it. My life near devastated before it was my Dad's time.

My first math mentor, my Dad, saw the math music merge before he left to be with the Big Boss Upstairs on a Father's Day.

To my Dad it was an achievement and accomplishment up to that point as a human beatbox mathematician.

Want to know about the bouts I battled through to get to be thriving today?

Scroll down to read the rest of my story....

In 2004, on a green light I collided with a SUV at the crosswalk near Pizza Hut and Liliha Bakery. That took place after I completed my training at Shobukan Judo Club. I applied judo prior to the impact and I broke my fall on wet asphalt. I then went into unconsciousness.

Split seconds prior, I heard the calm voice of the Big Boss Upstairs who told me, "stay down Jason, don't get up, and you will be okay." The driver rendered help.

I vaguely recall hearing someone, perhaps the driver, prayed for me while I was knocked out. To date, I had not met the driver.

First responders, ambulance came and took me into Queens Medical Center's Emergency Room. No broken bones. Not fatal.

I woke up at the hospital with my family members who visited me. Due to my judo training, I was strong enough to walk on my own strength, but I was too dazed to collect my thoughts of what happened.

One day later one of my family members took me to see, "The Passion of the Christ," on the big screen. That's the Big Boss Upstairs who protected me. I did not know him then, but I knew of him.

My doctor confirmed I had a concussion and head trauma from that SUV collision. It affected my memory and in later years it caught up to me bad.

I changed my career path in 2004. It was after I collided with a SUV and my recall of Elaine Chao's beatbox performance at the Showtime at the Apollo that compelled me to leave the pursuit of judo, to pursue my actual life's purpose in an ever fulfilling career as a professional beatboxer. 

To figure out a human beatbox and hip hop soloist blueprint, I studied Bobby McFerrin, Doug E. Fresh, Michael Jackson, Rahzel, Michael Winslow, and MC Jin like a hawk.

During that, I returned to community college. After one term back, my math professor Mark Alexander considered me to be one of his top performing math students, and I simultaneously began my mathematics career.

If I am not mistaken, the mathematics position I held as an undergraduate student was more than what University of Hawai'i at Mānoa graduate students earned at the time.

I began my mathematics career as an algebra 1 supplemental instructor in my early undergraduate years while I pursued my music career as a professional beatboxer.

My mathematics supervisor was LaVache Scanlan. 

I was assigned to work with math professor Dennis Perusse's algebra 1 class, and I took notes. My office hours I prepped math sessions. Though not in my job description, I'd go in on exam days to take the exams, and I scored 100% on all of them.

I asked Dennis to grade my exam with no leniency and he agreed.

I used no calculator.

I did that to challenge my math ability and skills, keep them sharp and fine tuned so that I can ensure I am more than equipped to prepare math students. 

Then I got into math tutoring and math note taking. 

My math coaching is in alignment with how I am as a math student, I do not use a calculator when I do mathematics. My academic approach is similar in fashion to how I excelled in judo to win gold medals and I applied that onto the classroom setting. It works!

Then I noticed that my health started to decline over time, but I understood not how come. I got planted at a home church to build a solid relationship with the Big Boss Upstairs to seek answers. My health got better.

Then it got bad. It was then that the Biblical verse like John 10:10 awakened me to what was going on.

I eventually got tormented by night terrors as well as nightmares that I could not shake.

It was through prayer that it was revealed to me that "trauma" continued to afflict me.

After years I warred with the affliction it was through prayer that Big Boss Upstairs uprooted trauma and restored my health completely whole today.

Galatians chapter 5 on the "fruit of the spirit" helped me as well as instructions from all of Proverbs, and the book of Job. Ecclesiastes helped me too.

When I applied those Biblical verses and chapters into my daily life, I witnessed a transformation upon my life and health.

Big Boss Upstairs then instructed me to pull from my mathematics foundation to reverse the brain degenerative process from the traumatic brain injury completely. While I continue my music career.

Then Big Boss Upstairs opened the door for my mathematics to kick up. To the point both careers merged as one.

Today, I am completely healthy and restored! No longer tormented!

I am grateful and thankful for how Big Boss Upstairs took care of me during what I considered to be the most trying period of my life.

Today, I continue to perform as a professional beatboxer.

I am grateful to have a thriving mathematics music merged monster of a career as a professional beatboxer!

My business model?

Inspired through my time going through road trips throughout the USA, the hustle bustle of South Shore O'ahu, Beijing, and the Big Apple.

All that? Sums up the making of my career today.

Today, I also math coach and math tutor many students throughout the state of Hawai'i, on O'ahu.

When I study math, I process it, dissect it, digest it, master my retention for math, to be able to teach it to students on "how to" master it.

With my math students, we don't use a calculator in plain sight.

I've observed as a math tutor in my earlier years, how a calculator exponentially stunts the growth of a student's math progress and learning.

I focus on the math knowledge, process and foundation.

I pull a lot from my math mentors, my father, and I also pull from my sports background in soccer and judo. I reflect upon how I learned from the sports, to eventually excel at them to then be able to break it down to basics to train others, and then I applied that to the world of academics and mathematics.

It works!

I want to thank Prisma Dance for having me be a part of their May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! I was the third, eighth, and eleventh act. In Hebrew numerals, the words that stand out to me for numbers 3, 8, and 11 are "resurrection," "new beginning" and "chaos." I always look forward to working with Prisma Dance! To think, rewind somewhere between 2005 and 2007, I met Joanna Lam of Prisma Dance at Kapiʻolani Community College's Holomua Center where I math tutored at. She took Calculus and was on point with it. Then I met Nicole Lam of Prisma Dance.

We all reunited in 2015 at church. Nicole and I met up when she shared with me her vision about the bi-annual Creation Production. She asked if I wanted to be on board as the specialty beatbox artist. I said, "yes!" 2016 came and I missed meetings with the Creation Production choreographers. At that time, I dealt with "complex trauma." Nicole was genuinely concerned and she interceded in prayer on my behalf. Prior to that, behind the scenes, I worked diligently to prepare for the Creation Production premiere eight shows. The daily chronic stressors that triggered the "complex trauma," not related to the Creation Production preparation, near cost my life when I got triggered to relive my 2004 car accident and other traumatic life events.

I am a living testimony that the Lord resurrected, redeemed, restored me to complete full health, and the Lord gave me the strength to out wrestle the chaos, torment and destructive seed of "complex trauma" to the end. Then the Lord declared to me that I am now completely set free from the chaos. Since then, I've completed an altogether total of sixteen shows for the Creation Production in 2016 and 2018. I love my savior and redeemer Jesus! My life now that I live is a new beginning! I work on my health daily by meditating on bible verses, prayer, cardiovascular exercise like walking, devotionals, rest, journaling offline, beatboxing, music, and mathematics. I want to thank all my pastors, mentors, families, and friends who continue to pray for and with me. I love you all dearly!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Third Act (1 of 3)

"High fives" at my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Eighth Act (2 of 3)

It's a robot!! It's a didgeridoo!! Wait a minute, it's me at my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage!!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Eleventh Act (3 of 3)

Love Hawai'i, the 1980s and Ala Moana Center? Ala Moana Center celebrates 60 years! I remember the time when Ala Moana Center was mainly two stories high and Ala Moana Centerstage faced the other side in the 1980s. Beatboxing, popping and the moonwalk grew popular in the 1980s. Here I take us and Ala Moana Center shoppers through a "Time Machine" in my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! How that mathematically possible?