The first week of CAUSE Leadership Academy has concluded, and it was one of the most enlightening and empowering weeks of my life. Coming in on the first day, there was a sense of uncertainty. Frequently in college and the workplace, although you might become close friends with some peers, there are others with whom you would prefer knowing only at the workplace. However, it was clear immediately that CAUSE was not this way. From the conversations getting to know the people at my table, it was clear the CAUSE staff meticulously selected a cohort of AAPI students with diverse interests and personalities that complemented each other.
As I got to know each cohort member better, I can confidently say that I’ve formed an individual bond with all thirteen of them which, within a five-day span, is incredibly impressive. A lot of that friendship was accumulated through the leadership development sessions, led by CAUSE staff and special guests. In these development sessions, we had discussions about our civic engagement, values, and personal brand, amongst much more. The civic engagement workshop was one of the items on the first day, and it really allowed the cohorts to share their motivations and past experiences that got them into the AAPI advocacy space, as well as their future prospective goals for their careers. Another workshop involved learning about each person's values through significant events in their life, and utilizing those values to solidify the personal brand that person wants to project toward others. As the week progressed, we completed numerous more of these workshops, each one building on the previous to give each of us skills and guidance for our futures as AAPI professionals.
CLA interns share their definitions of community
Throughout the week, the entire CAUSE staff has been extremely supportive, both to the cohort as a group and as individuals. I personally have goals in the AAPI space in Los Angeles that go beyond CAUSE, which I would like to accomplish this summer, and our Programs Coordinator, Coby Nguyen, sat down with me individually for a meeting on how CAUSE can help me accomplish those goals. The entire week, CAUSE’s Executive Director Nancy has been very personable, providing endless guidance through her years of experience during each session. As the weeks and blogs go on, I can’t wait to write about my experiences with more of the staff, and I’m eagerly awaiting the personal development I am sure to build each cohort session at CAUSE.
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 Jianhao Cui, 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.