No Time Like Summer Time

Wow, this summer went by so fast I didn’t even realize it’s ending. I guess time really does fly when I’m having too much fun. It all started when school ended and I got to sit back and relax. I didn’t have to think about school or grades. Although I didn’t have to go to summer school, my summer was busy. I still had to wake up and go to work. We had three huge projects we had to complete this summer. We continued to produce radio shows on family communication for the California Wellness Foundation and Sing Tao Chinese Radio, we started a video project with KQED, and we had to prepare and host the API Youth Institute, a forum for Asian Pacific Islander American youth. It’s been very stressful trying to cram all these projects together. On the side, we had other community work we had to do, like volunteering at the Chinese Singing Contest and sweeping Chinatown.

(left to right): Elaine, Janny, Tenile, Queena and Lisa as NSYNC for the Youth Institute talent show. Photo courtesy of Act One

I’m so glad we had so many projects to work on, because through these projects, I got to meet and learn about others. We met a couple of other youth groups to exchange ideas and learn more about each other. I found out that they are very cool and outgoing, and every group has their own style. I’m also very happy to see so many youth groups out there that are making a difference in the community. Working with Vietnamese Youth Development Center (VYDC) was very fun; their group was so energetic.

Through the API Youth Institute, I got to meet and learn about different people and things. This year’s Youth Institute was completely different from last year’s because the conference this year was almost completely led by youth. We were the ones facilitating valuable workshops on how Asians are portrayed in the media. VYDC’s youth gave two workshops on Self-Image and Stereotypes of Asians. CES/ACT ONE’s youth gave two workshops on Media Influence and Radio. Both groups facilitated the last workshop on video. Besides the workshops, there was entertainment like dancing, singing, skits, and the best part, the talent show.

For our talent, ACT ONE decided to imitate NSYNC and dance. Tenile, Elaine, Lisa, Janny and I dressed in guy clothes and danced to the music, while Ben played Britney. He dressed up in drag, walking up the runway with two bodyguards. The crowd was so hyped up they were laughing like crazy. Many people learned something new from the conference and both agencies worked very hard.

Enough about working. This summer has also been a blast for me. I was so happy when I passed my driving test, but the bad part is that I don’t have a car. The best part of my summer was going to the NSYNC concert. I was amazed when I realized I would get see them; I even got to shake their hands. The concert was incredible!

It seemed like it was just yesterday when I just got out of my junior year and now I have to transition myself to be a senior. School starts next week and I’ll have to worry about college applications, senior projects, SAT scores, financial aid and much more. I’m also afraid to be independent and move on to college. The thing is, I can’t decide which college I want to apply to and which college would accept me.

My junior year was full of ups and downs, dealing with my family, friends, relationships and school. But I have a feeling that my senior year will be a good one — I still have to worry about prom, dances, graduation and all the fun stuff.