It was the day before my internship with the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment. I looked at my mom as I began to leave for my new home in Los Angeles, California. Her face was in despair, yet she was delighted to see her last daughter moving out and working. I hugged her as I entered my car. I was nervous, but also excited to see what the future is bringing to me. As someone who was raised in the Central Valley their whole life with no travel experiences, it was definitely a struggle moving to and living in an area you have never even seen before. The idea of leaving everything behind and making a new lifestyle has led me to become stronger and empowered by trying and learning new things.
The day of my internship finally was here, I was feeling anxious knowing that I had to meet new people and make new connections. When I approached the room, a feeling of excitement struck me as all of the cohort members entered. They all had a smile on their face. They were like the motivations for me to be here.
Intern Pa Houa Lee sharing her Life Map.
After our first day of orientation, we all went for a three-day and two-night retreat at California State University, Long Beach in order to bond and learn more about each other. One activity that we all were introduced to was the Life Map, where everyone was given a piece of paper and tasked to draw all the significant life stages they went through to be where they are at today. In my Life Map, I drew all the significant life stages I felt gave the most growth. This includes my birthplace, which high school and college I attended, and all the involvement I was involved in. Despite the fact that everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences, this activity has definitely helped everyone be more aware of each other. We all felt a sense of belonging because we all had some form of similar experience at some point in our lives. It also taught me so much about other Asian Pacific Islander communities that I was never aware of. This activity has not only allowed me and my fellow cohort members to get closer together and learn more about each other, but it has also made me more conscious of the things I have accomplished so far in my life.
To sum it all up, this trip has made a significant impact on my life and growth. The person who used to be shy and worried about what life will be like when moving away from home learned to find a place to live and was capable enough to meet new people in a new town.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Pa Houa Lee, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.