🌷The ASA Newsletter: Issue 10🌷

Spring has sprung and we hope you’ve had a great April so far! Here in Chicagoland, the tulips have started to bloom and bring back color to the city.

We had a busy month here at ASA so buckle up for a recap of some events we attended and some upcoming speaking engagements. We also are excited to announce two exciting campaigns/partnerships to you all that are coming up in the month of May!

ASA Staff Corner

How do you stay motivated and hopeful during a hard internship/job search for the summer?

Ji Won (Operations Manager): My advice is to dedicated some time for yourself daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Daily I would do my skincare, nails, etc. Weekly, I’ll have date night. Monthly, I will go to a concert or some big fun event with friends and family. and yearly I might go on vacation.

Emily Mun (Operations Manager): Earnestly, it’s so hard especially now to stay motivated when the job market is this tough. This job market is competitive and tough especially when layoffs are happening. I think for me, I would say to slow down. It’s hard to apply to 50+ jobs, hear nothing, and feel like you’re not doing enough or that you don’t have the right skillset for any job. But I honestly really want to say that sometimes it’s okay to take a break. I know folks come from different places financially and sometimes it’s not feasible or seems impossible to find time slow down but trying to give yourself a break and taking time to recharge is key especially when “grind culture” and always getting ahead is so prioritized. In my own job search, I felt like I wasn’t enough or had the right skill set but after some time and patience, I was actually moving forward with interviews! I finally found my groove! It really took time and it came to the point where I was getting offers I had to turn down (humble bragging here.). Timing is key – don’t be too hard on yourself and sometimes it just takes one right move or one right job. It’s not a “no” forever, just a no for now.

ASA x Sugar Bliss Cakes Partnership: May 1-18

Asian Student Achievement is so excited to partner with Sugar Bliss for Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Starting today, with any purchase of the Cupcakes or Macarons package or the Sweets package 10% of proceeds from these packages will be donated to Asian Student Achievement! All products will be available for pickup or delivery/shipping from May 1-18. Grab a box as the perfect gift for graduates, coworkers, supervisors, and friends!

Again, a huge thank you to Teresa Ging, CEO & Founder of Sugar Bliss, for this exciting partnership!

NOTE: Cupcakes/Macarons package is for pickup and local Chicago/suburb delivery and the Sweets package is for pickup, local Chicago/suburb delivery, and delivery nationwide!

How do you prepare for finals?

April is heading into finals season. To help prepare, we asked our interns any tips and strategies they use to study for finals!

Anna: To prepare for finals, I usually start by looking through my notes from past lectures and I will either rewrite or verbally recall them to make sure I still understand the material. Something that helps me stay focused and away from looking at my phone is keeping it far away from me while studying. Instead, I will play music while studying to create a calm environment and keep me focused on my work. During this time, I also prioritize self-care! Getting enough sleep and staying hydrated/full is very important, considering I am overworking my brain at that time!!

Asad: My preparation strategy for finals season involves using both engaging and traditional approaches in order to fully grasp all material covered. Here’s what works best for me:

Watching Videos: When studying for finals exams, I begin watching videos related to the topics covered. These help me better grasp complex ideas visually and auditorily, so it becomes easier for me to absorb and remember information.

Writing it Down: While watching videos and reviewing class materials, I take notes so I can organize information systematically while quickly recalling key points. This approach ensures a smooth learning experience.

Quizlet for Memorization: I use Quizlet, an online flashcard maker, to strengthen my memory by creating digital flashcards of definitions, formulas, and processes. I can then test myself with quizzes designed to measure retention as well as identify areas needing extra focus.

Liana: I typically start preparing way a head of time because I do not work well under a time crunch or pressure. For classes that have final papers, I will usually begin brainstorming topics and conducting preliminary research on these topics often before receiving formal/more in-depth instructions and only working off whatever information about the final there was in the syllabus given at the beginning of the year. I find that coming up with a topic/idea/thesis can be the hardest part when writing a paper, and by “topic/idea-vomiting,” I have at least some potential thoughts I could work with/change/or expand on when I am then handed the formal rubric and instructions. If it is a test exam as opposed to a paper, I will usually start by re-reading and re-writing all of my notes, making flashcards, redoing practice problems, and setting up multiple study sessions with friends who are working on preparing for the same exam so we can keep each other accountable and be there for the other when we need help!

Rehman: To prepare for finals, I usually study in a quiet place outside my room to avoid distractions like the library or a cafe. During my study sessions, I review my notes, watch related videos, and do practice problems. If there’s anything I don’t understand, I reach out to my friends for help and will usually meet up for a review session before the exam.

MAASU Spring Conference

Thank you for those of you who joined us at the MAASU spring conference! We had such an amazing time meeting and connecting with you all! Huge thank you to the folks at the University of Michigan for hosting us and bringing us to campus!

Did you see us at MAASU and want to know how to bring us to your campus? Check out our Speaking Engagement page and/or reach out to us at asa@learnasa.org!

UK Alumni Ambassadors & ASA Intern Visit

Thank you to everyone who met with ASA’s President/CEO, Shane Carlin, at the University of Kentucky! Shane was also able to speak with the UK Alumni Ambassadors about networking in his presentation, “Network Like You Want Dinner!” Our Data Analytics and Graphic Design intern Anna Luu even got to meet with Shane! 🫶🏼

Upcoming Speaking Engagement: Siemens Healthineers

Upcoming Speaking Engagement: Navigating Two Worlds: The Experiences of Asian American Transracial

📅 May 23, 2024 at 7 PM EST

📍Virtual via Zoom

ASA is excited to announce that President/CEO Shane Carlin will be moderating an adoptee panel, Navigating Two Worlds: The Experiences of Asian American Transracial, sponsored by the National Association of Asian American Professionals on May 23rd! This event is free and open to the public so please join us in learning about the Asian American adoptee experience.

More details coming soon!

Chinese Mutual Aid Association Gala

Donor Spotlight

Each month, ASA highlights one of the many donors who choose to give to ASA as a thank you. This month, we are delighted to highlight Frank Roque and Mary Lynn Eubanks:

“We support ASA because it is consistent with our desire to facilitate equality of opportunity for all people. Although our culture has made strides in the area of civil rights, many opportunities are not available to all individuals because of prejudice, stereotypes, and ignorance. AAPI offers a constructive approach and environment for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to pursue leadership opportunities.”

– Frank Roque and Mary Lynn Eubanks

Thank you to the Roque family for supporting ASA and all the work you do within our organization! If you are interested in supporting us, click the button below to give to ASA today!

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