After coming back from Long Beach, I have never felt more ready and empowered to continue my journey through leadership development and civic engagement. Since orientation week was over, I realized there would be a drastic change in the time spent with my CLA cohort, but that just made me more excited to see everyone at the end of the week and catch up. Between the four CLA sessions during weeks 2 and 3, I took as many opportunities as I could to see them outside work hours. From playing volleyball and strolling around Santa Monica with Emma, Sam, and Jianhao, getting dinner in Koreatown with Grant, and having fireside chats with Gaby, Eliana and the CAUSE staff at Heyri Cafe (we stayed until 11pm), I cherished each moment with everyone, as I saw lifelong relationships being made while it was happening. More plans are already being made for the future with more of our cohort friends and I’m so excited for that!
CLA interns work on their mock campaign
I am really glad that our week started off with a visit to Assemblymember Mike Fong’s office in Alhambra because not only did it gave me a chance to reconnect with the 626 Chinese/Hong Kong community, but it gave me a chance to see what the office culture was like working for an elected official (which I got to experience the next day in my host office). The speakers, District Director Jennifer Tang and Sole Yu both gave great and meaningful presentations that sparked my interest on a physical and spiritual level on what it meant to represent your community, and how to perceive the space we occupy as Asian Americans. The other places and speakers we visited during these two weeks also helped me explore all the possibilities in what a future career could hold, whether it be along the lines of non-profit AAPI advocacy work, which I am very inspired by from the visits to Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California and South Asian Network, or in policy and lawmaking from the visits to Monterey Park City Council and Assemblymember Fong’s office.
Intern Nathan Yeung speaks with his peers after a heartwarming talk with PFLAG staff
I have been in this new environment for a couple of weeks now, but in this vast ocean, there is still so much to explore. Yet through my struggles of trying to navigate my own ocean, I am comforted and inspired by the stories of Polynesian seafarers who sailed across the Pacific in boats like the Hōkūleʻa by just following the stars in the sky. On my own sailboat traversing the vast seas of opportunity, the stars that are there for me to follow are the incredible speakers we have had so far and my role models who have pioneered their way for future generations of Asian Americans in this society.
2024 CLA interns take a photo with Chapter Treasurer Barney Cheng and Board Member Marsha Aizumi of PFLAG
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 Nathan Yeung, Leadership Academy 2024 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.