Who are you?

I was born in Taipei, raised in Rome and Bangkok, and am currently a senior majoring in international politics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. I am the former Co-President for Georgetown University’s Taiwanese American Student Association, as well as the Manager for the Hoyas in Greater China Internship Program. I take part in these activities because I want to share my passion for Taiwan with other people. I enjoy showcasing Taiwan’s unique traditions through cultural, social, and educational activities. During my free time, I like to hike, bake Oreo cookies, grow plants from eggshells and watch pandas sleep. In the future, I want travel the world and become a professional food critic.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

Georgetown’s Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA) is a student organization that aims to promote Taiwanese culture. I became part of TASA since its founding in 2008. We started from three to five core members and developed into a forty-member and growing organization. From 2008 to 2010, I hosted a speaker event to discuss cross-strait relations, held an ITASA leadership retreat for TASAs in the Mid-Atlantic region, fundraised for Typhoon Morakot, and many more. To help advance interest in Taiwan, we also founded the Hoyas in Greater China Internship Program, which offers Georgetown students opportunities work experience in a diverse array of industries in Taipei, Beijing and Shanghai. Its industries include law, government, finance and non-profit. Last year was our pilot year, and we successfully sent eight students abroad through our program.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

I believe that change needs to originate from within. If I want to see something happen, I will have to be the one to make it happen; if students want others to be proactive, they will have to become proactive first themselves.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

TASA has, and will continue to, reach out to those in DC, the US, and across the Pacific, to Taiwan. We have participated in Mid-Atlantic regional events, attended ITASA national conferences, and sent students interested in the Taiwan abroad to the island. Taiwanese students coming to the US also reach out to TASA for guidance. I see TASA as the center for resources and support for those who care about Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans.

Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?

Taiwan is my home — not “home home” or “homeee,” but “home.” Though I lived in three different countries while growing up, whenever I long for a sense of coziness and security, I think of Taiwan. I am proud to be Taiwanese because we are those who fought relentlessly for a democratic system, underwent rapid economic growth that surprised the rest of the world, sang 手牽手 to help each other to stay close and strong in times of crises, and invented the best drink ever existed: bubble tea.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

Taiwanese Americans are ACTIVE (amazing, creative, talented, inspiring, vibrant and enthusiastic). Our strong sense of community is what will continue to drive us in the future.

Any additional information you would like to share?

I like to eat blueberry crumble ice-cream while watching animal videos.

Who are you?

I’m a Computer Science PhD student at the University of California Santa Cruz. I grew up in a Taiwanese-American Buddhist family and had a life-changing moment with God when I was 10 years old. As a young child, I loved playing video games and have grown to appreciate the expressive power in interactive technology. Jazz is my favorite type of music, as it beautifully captures the reality and rawness of our human nature. People who play jazz music are heroes to me, because of the sacrifice they make to be true to themselves. Living for something real can be a lonely road, and none has experienced this more than Jesus Christ.

For my career, I research the use of Artificial Intelligence in expanding the possibilities of storytelling in video games. I’ve presented most of my work at various academic and commercial video game conferences. More accessibly, I’m a game and culture blogger at blog.ffpaladin.com, doing other projects such as video journalism for the game industry and author for game and culture books. Currently, I’m one of the coordinators for the Christian Game Developers Conference and the Monterey Jazz Festival. I’m also a band leader for the Terminal Degree Jazz Band, a group of Science and Engineering PhD students and friends that play gigs all around Santa Cruz.

In my community, I’ve organized a number of events to help bring Christians together to inspire and help the needs of our city. In my school, I’ve created my own seminars to help educate people on the cutting edge research in new technology. In my lifetime I aim to see the world transformed and unified through faith, music, and technology.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

I’ve had the privilege to serve so many organizations all throughout my life. Currently I’m leading an initiative to organize the most well educated individuals in the bay area to steward our influence in ways that will transform the world. I’ve been constantly networking with PhD students from Berkeley, Stanford, UC Santa Cruz, and UC San Francisco. Of all my other leadership endeavors, this is at a comparably early stage; however, it’s the movement that I am most passionate about. Pictures, photos, and stories are all documented on my blog. I believe through a sincere friendship with people passionate about the same things, we can accomplish goals such as: (1) sending professors overseas to countries that need academic reinforcements, (2) bridging the education gap among social classes within the US and internationally, (3) inspiring a a generation of students that will never have to deal with apathy or lack of purpose. In regards to my own story, it’s basically, seeing the need, finding a solution, finding the resources and making the friends, and not letting go of that vision. I’ve made many friends along the way, and things definitely move slower than I’d like to see; however, the possibilities are worth the wait. This movement is called Reclaim! Currently, we’re blogging and trying to plan our next big event, scheduled for 2012.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

I am most inspired by Jazz cats, hackers, and missionaries. There would be no greater honor than to be part of these three communities.

Jazz music keeps a person sane in a world that holds strongly to a status quo. The culture and musicians inspire me to consider the possibilities and push to find my own voice and message. The reverence that Jazz music has for its history points to key individuals that did what was true to them despite what everyone else was doing. Jazz music connects you without conforming you.

In Silicon Valley, my profession, and research communities, I’ve met some of the most inspiring individuals. In the hacker culture, you don’t settle for how things are, because anything worth using is worth understanding. These people hold me accountable, that any statement worth stating should be proven first. If you can dream it, then you better be able to build it. So many people build their dreams daily, and I see it through game developers, app developers, web developers, and other engineers.

Finally, missionaries inspire and motivate me as a student leader, because the go into the darkest in the world, bringing hope. I aspire to have the love and vision that it takes to be a missionary and live through the worst in hope for the best.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

I hope to inspire a world through faith, music, and technology. I want to see a world that makes the most of the influence they’ve been given, and that the live lives worthy of the calling they have received. My organization will find answers for the most hopeless problems and bring light to the darkest places of the world. Reclaim!

Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?

I’m a second generation Taiwanese American and have spent part of my childhood in Taiwan. I’m proud to have these ties to the East in a time when so many exciting changes are happening. There’s indeed and increase and shifts in the sort of influence we are gaining in the East, and I have to privilege to in direct connection to what is going on in all of Asia, through Taiwan.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

As international and cross-cultural interactions become more prominent, Taiwanese-Americans have a big role in effecting how and at what rate the world changes. There are three interesting things that have been emerging from the Taiwanese Americans over the decades: (1) introducing and translating the aspects of Eastern culture to the West, (2) Western Culture to the East, (3) and developing our own rich and unique culture among the two.

Any additional information you would like to share?

I would be a professor in Afghanistan and North Korea if someone gave me the opportunity to, but also MIT or Stanford. I could see myself living in a mud hut, eating rice everyday or traveling first class around the world living in 7 star hotels. I’m happy as long as I can play Jazz on my tenor saxophone and love people; although, having a computer with internet now and then would be nice too.

Who are you?

I was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri with a brief two year stop at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign to get my B.S. in psychology. I am a second generation Taiwanese American and a current graduate student in developmental psychology at Saint Louis University. My research focus is on Asian Americans and ethnic identity development. I am also vice president of the Taiwanese Student Association here at Saint Louis University.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

My interest in Asian Americans and identity development is rooted in my own development as a Taiwanese American and the way I came to this identity. I was always curious to know if others came to their identity the same way I did or if they took different routes and how well that route worked for them. I hope to explain the factors that encourage ethnic identity exploration and through this I plan to help other Asian Americans develop an appreciation of their native culture and to provide them with the resources and encouragement to help develop their ethnic identity. I am currently working on three studies that will look at the effects of parenting styles on a child’s interest in exploring their ethnic identity. Another is exploring the way in which different variations of encountered racism affects one’s interest in exploring one’s ethnic identity. My last study examines the role of generational distance (first generation or fifth generation) of Asian Americans on interest in exploring ethnic identity. As vice president of the Taiwanese Student Association, I work with a great group of international students as well as American born Taiwanese students at the University. We provide a valuable resource for the international students by helping them ease their longing for home and getting them comfortable for a new life in the United States. For the Taiwanese Americans, we provide cultural events that are both informative and fun. We also provide a forum for Taiwanese Americans and international students to discuss issues and interests regarding Taiwan and the world.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

My motivation as a leader really comes from several places: the Taiwanese people at this school, the Taiwanese Americans all over the United States I could potentially help with my research, and lastly myself. I feel that a good amount of motivation to serve on board of TSA and to do research regarding Asian Americans, comes from myself and my past experiences. Growing up in a Midwestern town, I did not have a lot of resources to learn about my culture. This experience motivates me to provide the Taiwanese Americans that I encounter the best possible chance to successfully explore their ethnic identity if they choose. My advice to student leaders is to have both your own goals and aspirations and to work together on events and issues that the members of your association find entertaining and fun. I think the whole point of being a part of a Taiwanese group is to celebrate our common heritage. Your own goals and aspirations provide a direction for your association or club to go towards while listening to your club’s members allows them to feel included, giving them a sense of belonging and pride.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

I would love to once and for all figure out what promotes interest in ethnic identity. My hope is that with this information, I can help develop a new generation of proud Taiwanese Americans who are culturally knowledgeable and who are happy with their identity. I hope that my research will make me prominent within my field and that I can use my stature to promote ethnic studies even further.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

Taiwanese America to me is a place where people recognize that we as Taiwanese are unique. That what applies to China and the rest of Asia affects us differently. I also hope that we as a group can educate others on what it means to be Taiwanese and that there is so much more to Taiwan than factories that build cheap toys for McDonald’s. I hope that one day, all Taiwanese Americans are knowledgeable about their culture, heritage, and mostly their language.  I want us to be proud of where we have come from and to respect the sacrifices our family made for us to get here. I hope that we as a group can come together and give a voice where we are heard and taken seriously.

Any additional information you would like to share?

As I have stated before, I am currently conducting research about ethnic identity development in Asian Americans (not just Taiwanese).  My current research is focused on Asian Americans from 18-25 years of age, but future studies may require other age ranges. If you are interested in helping to further our knowledge of identity development in any of these studies or any future studies, please e-mail me at wling@slu.edu. I hope to develop a data base of interested Asian Americans. If you know of anyone else willing to participate please pass along the e-mail address.

Who are you?

I am a 2nd generation Taiwanese American born and raised in Arlington, Tx. When I was younger, my parents would let me watch a lot of Taiwanese dramas and Chinese historical dramas. I fell in love with my culture and language.

Currently, I am a 2nd year graduate student in UT Austin College of Pharmacy. When I’m not studying, playing, or doing something with my organizations, I am always searching for food. It’s so fun going around Austin, trying out the different hole-in-wall restaurants!

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

I’ve been historian, vice president, and president ’11-‘12 for Asian Pharmacy Students Association; social chair for APhA, and taken officer roles for many other organizations, but the organization that had the most influence on me has been the UT Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA).

When I first joined TASA my freshman year, it was a very small organization, consisting mainly of a small group of friends. I fell in love with that close-knit group because we brought together our Taiwanese identity and it was an excuse to get together and have fun. Throughout the years, I’ve been an Junior Officer, VP Internal (for 2 years), and President and I’ve loved every minute of it. My biggest accomplishment would be coordinating both the 6th and 7th Annual Night Market, which showcases the night market culture in Taiwan. After a lot of hard work and help from my team members, we were able to increase the attendance from 500 attendees to over 1000 people, triple the budget, add a photo booth station. Following that, I advised the last two night market coordinators, who have now added the green onion pancake stand/shaved ice station.

The Taiwanese American identity is still something that is new in Texas. Most people identify as only Taiwanese or even Chinese, much less as an Asian American. I wanted to create an atmosphere where they could bond, have fun events, and develop their identity. I wanted TASA to be a place where people can make lifelong friendships, especially since that is what it had done for me.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

From my involvement in TASA, the most gratifying moments for me would occur at the height of our night market events. Just standing there and seeing the crowd enjoy themselves makes me realize how many people we reached out to and introduced to Taiwanese culture. It makes me feel like I made a contribution to the lives of others by putting out such a large scale event that they enjoy. Since I stopped coordinating Night Market, I have continued to stay involved as an advisor to the event coordinators after me. I make sure to share how I felt in those moments when the event is in full swing and I’m finally able to breath that sign of relief because we once again pulled off another great event!

In addition to that, I love giving back to the organization that helped me develop myself as a leader as well as the one I met many of my close friends through. I knew from the very moment I joined TASA that I would love being part of it, so I applied for a junior officer position. Almost all of my UT friends throughout my undergraduate years have been TASA members and I’ve learned so much from each and every one of them! I wanted to do what I could for TASA and help out by being a leader. I wanted to give the younger, incoming students what I was given and provide them with as great an experience as I had.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

Although there is a significant student population that is Taiwanese at UT, many students become more involved in other organizations due to the plethora of student organizations at UT. Due to this, TASA should continue to work hard at reaching out to other organizations on campus and in the local communities in order to promote Taiwanese and Taiwanese American culture even more so! TASA is a great resource to showcase our rich culture, delicious food, and amazing people. With our large scale events like the annual TASA Night Markets, we will demonstrate our Taiwanese heritage to all the Taiwanese students at UT as well as better educate and expose the uniqueness of our culture to the UT campus. I envision TASA to be an organization where lifelong friendship is made; people connected together by memories made in TASA and the bond of being a Taiwanese American.

Any additional information you would like to share?

Currently, my friends and I are starting up an Austin branch of the Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) organization. We hope to create a community and network in Austin to connect Taiwanese Americans in their post collegiate years.

TASA website- http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/tasa/home.shtml

My friend, Peter Petrzala- TASA Co-President ’10-’11, and I started a Taiwanese food blogsite together!
http://theasianchildsproject.blogspot.com/

Who are you?

I am the only child of parents originally from Taipei, who now reside in Troy, Michigan.  Currently, I am a senior at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

At Northwestern, I’m a Political Science and English major; while heavily involved academically, I have spent a significant component of my undergraduate career outside of the academic sphere, engaged in various on-campus extracurricular activities, primarily those pertaining to student advocacy and civic engagement.  Indeed, outside of my role with the Northwestern Alumni Association, I’ve worked extensively with the Northwestern Residential College Board and the Associated Student Government.  During my sophomore year, I also founded NU Decides, a civic engagement-oriented organization that registered over 1,300 students to vote in the 2008 Presidential election.

All of these experiences have ultimately led me to develop a strong interest in the intersection between U.S. national security policy and the legal system.  As an extension of this interest, I’d like to eventually attend law school and serve as a prosecutor for the federal government.

At the same time, however, my professional aspirations are not solely limited to the legal sphere; I am extremely honored and excited to have the opportunity to work for the Boston Consulting Group, an international management strategy consulting firm in Chicago, following my graduation from Northwestern.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

As the Student Director of the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA), I sit on the university’s Alumni Board as the direct liaison between the Northwestern undergraduate student body and its representative alumni organization. As many would say, I serve as the eyes and ears on campus for the NAA Board, so as to help it meet the ever changing needs of the undergraduate population.

Outside of assisting in various university policy decisions, I have spent much of my Student Director term helping to refine the Alumni Association’s programmatic offerings to the student body. To do this, we have developed strong relationships both internally at Northwestern, reaching out to key student leaders to solicit feedback on NAA events and activities, while also connecting outwardly via research of peer institutions and their respective Alumni Association efforts. One of our efforts this year, a product of such research, centers on the celebration of Northwestern 160th birthday, for which we recreated several forgotten university traditions (with a modern twist) on campus.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

I have found that the best way to find inspiration for yourself is simply to look to the acts of others.  Leadership can often be something that is contagious. Whenever I see the courageous efforts of our American troops in the Middle East, or the selfless acts of volunteers in post-earthquake Port-au-Prince, or the tireless passion of student leaders on a college campus, I am always filled with an immense amount of pride and more importantly, a profound desire to give back – as they have – through my own actions.

I really believe that the world is filled with incredible people. To improve ourselves and to become better leaders, all we need to do is look around and learn from one another.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

There is an incredible amount of talent within the Taiwanese American community, yet so much of it is still left to be revealed to the rest of the world. I hope the future of Taiwanese America is one of new leaders that step up and break through these barriers – together, with support from one another – in all walks of life in the U.S. such as, among others, entertainment, sports, business, academia, and especially in politics.

Who are you?

I am a second generation Taiwanese American born in Monterey Park and raised in Diamond Bar, California. I am currently a third year Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting major at the University of California, Santa Barbara. My hobbies are playing basketball and DJing. My parents immigrated to the United States about thirty years ago to pursue their educational endeavors and career goals. Throughout the course of my life I was able to experience the network of connections my parents have made in becoming successful in America. Ultimately, this encouraged myself to also connect with the culture and learn about the heritage. I will be studying abroad at the National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan in the Spring of 2011 as an exchange student. I hope to eventually be able to read and write proficiently in Chinese.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce, and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

Once entering UCSB I was a lost college student in search for a path to succeed in life. There were numerous ups and downs during my first two years but I learned from the errors I encountered. Therefore, I eventually thought about my goals and aspirations in wanting to succeed in life and helping others with the same goal. Something I noticed that our university did not have to offer was a business program. Business makes things happen and is vital to every part of our society. The reason why I started a chapter of Delta Sigma Pi at UCSB was to promote students to network with employers, faculty members, and most of all other UCSB students. Friendship could possibly lead to partnership. Delta Sigma Pi offers endless opportunities because of the large network across the nation. Our first large event which brought in over 500 guests all over Southern California was where we invited “Johnny Cupcakes – America’s #1 Young Entrepreneur of 2008 by Businessweek.” He presented about his venture and shared his ideas to students about succeeding in the clothing industry. We partnered with numerous companies and also with our UCSB Career Services. We have seen our brothers succeed personally, professional, and fraternally. As President, I also lead eight other Vice Presidents in expanding our Sigma Beta Epsilon colony in becoming the Rho Sigma Chapter at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

My motivation in becoming a successful leader is from my father. I’ve watched him develop in becoming successful in life through managing his own practice in accounting and also founding the Sino-American Certified Public Accountants Association. He is well known in the Taiwanese and Chinese community as a renowned CPA. He is also the commissioner of Overseas Affairs for Taiwan in Los Angeles in which he was appointed by current Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou. Being a leader will allow other people to recognize your ability to lead an organization. In order to succeed as a leader one has to be passionate about their organization. Lead your future and be proud as a Taiwanese American.

Any additional information you would like to share?

Be proud of who you are. Represent and be heard!

Who are you?

I am Taiwanese, born in California, lived in New Zealand, and raised in China. Because of my background, I have always loved traveling and experiencing different cultures. Currently, I am a senior at California State University Long Beach, majoring in Business Marketing. As a proud Taiwanese American, I am keen to learn more about my heritage. In my opinion, the best way to learn is through a leadership role. I find myself being drawn to leadership positions all throughout my life. The Taiwanese communities in the United States and in China have always been very positive and supportive about youth initiatives. Because of this, we second generation Taiwanese Americans have an outlet to give back to the community and broadcast our culture. Working at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCALA) in my spare time, I am also passionate about volunteer work and animal welfare. When I am not sitting in a classroom or working on a new project, you can usually find me strolling down Main Street at Disneyland, or spending time with my shelter-rescue dog, Bowser, at the dog park.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

The TACL Leadership Identity and Development camp (TACL-LID) is a project that engages teenagers and young adults in leadership activities. It prompts campers to reach out to their communities and learn more about their Taiwanese American identity. As the Program Coordinator this year, my job was to make sure that the workshops and activities were as educational and interactive as they were fun. LID Camp is also a great tool for networking. Not only do campers get to meet other students that share the same interests, but the counselors and staff members are also given the opportunity to come together with other leaders that share the same passion for change. For this year’s camp, we aimed high and shot for 100 campers. Thanks to the dedication of everyone on the team, the response was beyond what anyone could have imagined. Not only did we reach our goal, but we surpassed it by a significant number of applicants. Being a counselor from last year’s LID Camp, I tried to incorporate my experience and vision into LID Summer Camp 2010. One of my main goals was to make sure that all the counselors and staff felt like one big family. Although everyone had his or her own responsibilities, it was crucial for me to enforce the idea that we were a team. Seeing the huge turnout rate at the reunion and the ongoing desire for gatherings from the campers and staff really made the whole stressful experience worthwhile!

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

TACL-LID camp is an organization that prides itself in educating youths about the Taiwanese identity. In a broader sense, it also teaches participants the social and professional skills needed to succeed in their careers. The skills that we teach are not only applicable for Taiwanese Americans, but also for the greater community. My hope for the camp is for it to expand to a larger scale and continue to educate youths in a way that allows them to become proactive members in their schools, churches, or communities. If I can have a lasting effect on just 10 kids, they will go on to educate and inspire 10 more kids. Our older generation created the Taiwanese legacy here in America and it is up to the current generation to bring awareness to the growing Taiwanese American community.

Any additional information you would like to share?

I am currently working on a nonprofit project centralized in producing elevated pet beds for local animal shelters. My dream is to ultimately improve the living conditions of shelter animals. To find out more information about my organization, Eat.Sleep.Love, please visit eatsleeploveblog.wordpress.com. ALL donations and aid will be put towards animal welfare.

Who are you?

I’m a freshman at Wellesley College, majoring in Mathematics and Biomedical Engineering at MIT (tentatively).  I’m a Taiwanese American who has a beautiful, loving relationship with science and mathematics. In high school, I was the co-president of Math Club and was the group leader of a research team that published a paper and presented at a energy conference in Japan. When I’m not being a nerd, I’m pretty active in several organizations on and off-campus. Two years ago, I co-founded the national chapter of a non-profit organization called Simply Savant, and served as the Director of Operations. I’m also one of two Freshman Reps of Wellesley’s Taiwanese Cultural Organization (TCO), and the Historian of Chinese Student Association (CSA). Other than that, I enjoy watching Taiwanese dramas, playing tennis, video editing, and watching the Disney Channel.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

Two years ago, a group of my high school friends co-founded a nonprofit organization called Simply Savant. We wanted to promote academics for less privileged children who couldn’t acquire the resources to achieve academically or appreciate learning. Through educational programs, charity projects, and fundraising, we were able to provide children with the opportunities to learn and grow academically. One of our biggest projects included building over 22 libraries in facilities (Boys and Girls Clubs). As the co-founder and Director of Operations, I planned many events, kept our group on top of their tasks, and handled many of the logistics. Before going on to college, I organized, directed, and taught at a summer camp called Camp Savant.

At Wellesley, I am pretty committed to the Taiwanese organization. TCO seeks to inform the community about Taiwanese culture, and seeks to foster a greater community of active Taiwanese Americans.  Since Wellesley is a small school, we also welcome members from other backgrounds who are interested in learning about Taiwanese culture. I’m very happy to be one of two TCO freshman reps. We organize events such as a shaved ice night, a first-year pre-party, dessert study breaks, and Taiwanese-breakfast-for-dinner. We do this with the goal of serving as a liaison between the current members and new members, and getting new students to feel welcomed.

TCO was my first step in being active in the Taiwanese community. As I’m exposing myself more to Taiwanese culture and representing myself as a Taiwanese American leader, I hope to be more involved the next couple of years.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

I was always the one to bandage things up when events weren’t going as planned, well-executed, or when disagreements would arise in organizations. I was always thinking three steps ahead, and it was the inner drive of mine to take initiative that brought me up as a leader in high school. I know that I don’t possess any particularly authoritatitve qualities. But I am practical, I am a listener, and most importantly, I am passionate. Passion is what sparks inspiration and motivation to do better for the community.

To future student leaders, some advice I’d like to give is to be passionate about what you are leading. Whether you lead seriously, optimistically, or practically doesn’t matter–what matters is leading passionately.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

I hope that I will impact TCO in ways that will inspire 1st and 2nd-generations (and others) at Wellesley to confidently promote Taiwanese culture, Taiwanese/Taiwanese American identity, and political issues more actively on campus. I would like to see myself and TCO members getting involved with other organizations, such as ITASA and TACL. I would like TCO to be a bigger, more successful organization on campus, and it will be a place for members to feel like they are a part of a family. I hope that non-Taiwanese people who attend our events will want to continue to learn, appreciate, and understand Taiwanese culture.

Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?

My mom is from mainland China and my dad is from Taipei, Taiwan, so most of the culturally significant events that happened in my life were a combination of Chinese and Taiwanese cultures. Albert, my older brother, and Jason Tsai, my close friend, have been very involved with TACL; seeing how influential they were as Taiwanese American leaders and the difference they made in the community, I was motivated and curious to learn about my own background and  identity. And even though I am only “half” Taiwanese American, I am still a proud Taiwanese American.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

I’d like to see a more informed, active Taiwanese American community–a community with a variety of leaders from the entertainment industry to the sciences. 加油!

Any additional information you would like to share?

I love chua bing, taro boba milk tea, and Wu Chun.

Favorite Taiwanese commercial (<3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmmh9U_inVk

Links of organizations:
Simply Savant: http://simplysavant.weebly.com/
Wellesley TCO’s Tumblr: http://wellesleytco.tumblr.com/
TCO’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellesley-Taiwanese-Cultural-Organization/167721603245237

Who are you?

I am a second generation Taiwanese American – a single child from Plano, Texas. I lived in Texas until I was 6 years old before I moved to Taipei, Taiwan for 6 years. While I was there I learned how to listen, speak, and write in Mandarin, skills which I still retain today. Since then I have been living in Southern California and I am currently a 3rd year at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Economics and minoring in Japanese. I plan to study abroad in Japan during fall 2011 and I hope to eventually become fluent in Japanese.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

Currently, I am involved in UC Berkeley’s Taiwanese Student Association (TSA), East Asian Union, and ITASA West Coast Conference. I was the President (and now Senior Advisor) of TSA, which is a social student group on the UC Berkeley campus that promotes Taiwanese culture throughout campus and the surrounding communities and provides a platform for students to gather and enhance relationships.

During the past semester, TSA has extended beyond its usual reach by collaborating more with not only other Asian American groups on campus but also other Bay Area colleges’ Taiwanese American groups. We have also begun to organize academic events, such as Career Night, in which we invite many successful Taiwanese Americans to discuss with students and provide resources of future job opportunities. Our biggest event this semester was Karaoke Contest, which attracted more than 200 people. While allowing amazing singers compete to win the grand prize, the event also serves to promote Taiwanese pop music and pop culture to the audience, which was represented by a diverse group of Mandarin speaking students.

As President, I planned and lead the organization of over 13 events in a semester and provided our members the greatest amount of resources. We hope that through our events students can become increasingly well connected socially and professionally with the Taiwanese American community in the Bay Area. Most importantly, we wish that through our events and friendships, our members can feel like they are at home – Taiwan.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

As bad as stress may sound to you, I feel that giving myself an appropriate amount of stress really motivates me to roll out the best events. The sources of this stress may come from: a sense of urgency, all the risks in an event, and the mentality that you are responsible for any mistake and failure during the event. With that state of mind, I was pressed to make sure that all my officers get their work done and be responsible for their actions. Of course, you must have a passion for your student organization and its cause to enjoy your leadership experience.

Who are you?

My name is Sylvia and I am currently a sophomore at UCSD. I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan in the peaceful neighborhoods of Neihu. In the winter of 2002, I moved to a city in California called Diamond Bar where I finished my middle school and high school education. While I was in high school I joined our school’s hip hop team (DB Junkies) as well as our women’s show choir group (Diamondaires&Solitaire), and that is how I found my passion for dancing and singing. Additionally, I developed an interest in photography after high school and this is what eventually led me to my involvement in the Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA) at UCSD, as well as my current major, Visual Arts Media.  During my freshman year of college, I found a sense of belonging by discovering an amazing group of friends in TASA. Because of them, I went out to every TASA event and soon after, my enthusiasm for the club got me the Historian position. This year I’m the Social Chair of TASA and my passion for it definitely remains. Being in college is about figuring out what you love to do, and helping people out, socializing with people, and promoting Taiwanese awareness are definitely things I have discovered and developed much passion for.

Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?

Currently I am the Social Chair of TASA. TASA’s main purpose is to provide a sense of community for Taiwanese Americans, as well as those who are interested in the Taiwanese culture mainly at UCSD but also among the greater community.  We have an event every week to create chances for people to socialize as well as to introduce Taiwan and its culture to people in various ways.

Planning numerous events might sound like hard work and I’m not denying it, but having a good turn out at an event, seeing people having fun and building irreplaceable friendships, and learning more about the amazing country of Taiwan make up for all the work I’ve devoted to this club.

Where do you find your inspiration and motivation as a student leader?

When I first came to the United States, I encountered times where I was made fun of because of my poor English and faced other difficulties because I had a hard time adjusting to an entirely new environment. Knowing how much it hurts to be excluded, I want to prevent that from happening to other people.

What is your vision for the organization / project and the role that it may play in the broader community?

My vision for TASA is to discover all the amazingly talented Taiwanese people around campus. Coming to college, the only regret I had was not being able to dance and sing every day like I did when I was in high school.  I believe in order for hidden talents to show up, there has to be opportunities provided for those people to utilize those talents.  Slowly, TASA is starting to provide those chances for people to do what they love to do; this year the new thing we’re doing is executing dance workshops every two weeks, and as I have predicted, a lot of new people came out.  Hopefully in a few years, we will be able to provide many other opportunities for people to demonstrate and develop their talents and hobbies.

Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?

I am EXTREMELY proud to be a first generation of Taiwanese heritage because of the amazing, friendly people and beautiful scenery of Taiwan.  And whenever I go back to Taiwan, I can never have enough of their food!!  That is also why I am so proud; Taiwanese people CAN COOK! Even though as of right now I am not that great of a cook, but I believe it’s in my blood and I will be able to master and serve great dishes like 蚵阿煎 (oyster omelette) and 糖葫蘆 (tomato candy?) one day.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

AWESOME.

Any additional information you would like to share?

As I mentioned earlier, I am an aspiring photographer who still has a lot to learn!  But it would be amazing if you guys could check out my work that I post on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvia20love) to give me some input or to admire them or to even just say hi to me!!

I absolutely LOVE making friends and chatting with people, so feel free to add me on Facebook! And if you attend UCSD, make sure to check out TASA!