The ASA Newsletter: Issue 31
Happy New Year! Asian Student Achievement has big plans for this year that we’re excited to share with you. From the Nickle Nickel party to expanding our internship program, we’ve been busy this month preparing to meet whatever challenges the year will bring.
Staff Corner: Setting Realistic Goals
Looking for success in 2026? The first step is to make meaningful, achievable goals that you have the motivation and dedication to see through. Hear from our Board of Directors on what kinds of goals they set, and how they achieve them.
Alana Zhu
Board of Directors
“Setting professional goals can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Think about the type of goal you want to set whether it’s strengthening a skill, delivering a product, or preparing for a promotion or a future role. Choose one goal at a time, and make sure that it is achievable. Push yourself a little out of your comfort zone, and celebrate the little wins! I like to keep my goal visible with a sticky note on my desk!”
“My favorite tools for setting goals is to use the SMART system! SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound – exactly what you want your goals to be. For example, one of my goals is to improve productivity on a machine line. So my SMART goal would be, ‘Increase productivity by 2%, by targeting a net spend decrease of $4.2M within 6 months through improved process controls, line speeds, yield, and operator training.’ Ultimately, people who consistently set and review meaningful goals are more likely to lead effectively, drive value, and achieve sustainable success—because progress is rarely accidental, but the result of deliberate direction.”
Michelle Ji
Board of Directors
Shane Carlin
Founder and CEO
Board of Directors
“The one question I ask young people is, ‘What position do you strive to be in when you retire?’ If you have some idea of that answer then you can start deciding your path and goal to achieve that vision. With all that said, network in and out of your profession and get involved in your professional associations as well as organizations that you are passionate about. This will help you to continue to see what’s out there, and hone in your skill sets while learning new ones through that journey.”
“It’s important to learn from others that have already achieved your goals. I looked to my colleagues in higher levels all throughout my career, which gave me a vision of what I wanted to achieve. This is a big part of networking – get to know your coworkers and they’ll usually be happy to answer questions or share their insight, even if it’s not in an official mentorship capacity.
Also, hard work is old school and never goes out of fashion. So regardless of the amount of stuff you have on your plate, always make time for yourself professionally.”
David Harbin
Board of Directors
ASA Donor Spotlight: Frantz Williams
Why do you give to Asian Student Achievement?
Frantz Williams
Boston University
Special Initiatives Director
Frantz Williams: “I proudly support Asian Student Achievement (ASA) to amplify and empower the voices of junior leaders and solution-builders. ASA is a leader in terms of providing cultural representation for the over 1.4 million college students who identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander. Such representation is a critical component for students to see themselves in leadership roles. I encourage others to join me in support of ASA.”
Save the Date: Nickel Nickel Fundraiser
Asian Student Achievement will be hosting our very first fundraiser party on Saturday, April 4th, featuring Korean cuisine from Tang Korean Restaurant. Make sure to RSVP your tickets by visiting our website or clicking the flyer below!
If you would like to sponsor the Nickel Nickel fundraising party, click the button below to buy our sponsorship packages and secure complimentary tickets and promos on our social media, website, and newsletter!
Together with Our Partners
We are deeply grateful to our partners for their ongoing collaboration and support. Together, we are creating meaningful impact.
Settle into Asian inspired scents to light up your home. Use code ASA10 to save 10% off your order.
ASA x Furever Young Co collaboration pet bandanas are the perfect accessory for your pet. Shop the ASA collection!
Start your mornings with specialty Filipino coffee. Use code ASA10 to save 10% off your order.
Welcome to the team!
We are excited to welcome Krittya Pratanchewin as our newest Business Development volunteer!
Why did you decide to volunteer with Asian Student Achievement?
Krittya: “I wanted to volunteer with Asian Student Achievement to support the community and help create more opportunities for students.”
Engage with ASA
Sign up for 1:1 Coaching
ASA is excited to launch our coaching program! We have carefully selected coaches from various industries to speak with YOU.
Intern with Us!
Asian Student Achievement is now hiring for all intern positions! Join our team and help support Asians and Asian Americans on their path to leadership in the workplace.
Let’s Meet Up!
Want to invite us to your campus or organization? Visit our speaking engagement page to learn more.
Meet the Team: Sue Feng Tan
Sue Feng Tan is volunteer Technology Lead Coordinator for Asian Student Achievement’s website, and has been invaluable in helping keep the website polished and updated. We chatted with her about how she uses her skills to contribute to ASA, as well as what ASA’s mission means to her.
What is your day job, and how do you manage your ASA work while having that job?
I work as a software engineer at Wolfram Research, a technology company. I set a clear boundary to only work on my day job work during work hours and ASA work after work. Sometimes I schedule messages in Slack to be sent earlier in the day the next day instead of at night time. I also make sure to have time for myself, family and friends. Some weeks it’s easier to do than others, but I always try finding pockets of time to fit everything in.
How does your professional experience inform your contributions to ASA?
There are many ways to implement a feature, and things to consider in the process. Maintainability, accessibility, how the content will look on different screen sizes, as well as ease of communicating a message to the viewers are some considerations. With every profession, there are people with different roles and backgrounds to work with and learn from no matter their age, and it’s great getting to work with each of them since the success of any project is the cumulative effort of several people.
Can you speak about your experiences finding a job in the U.S. as a young professional/immigrant?
My family immigrated from China when I was young. Gaining citizenship in high school helped but finding my first full-time job was still challenging. During college, I built a portfolio and blog, took on volunteer design and web design work—often with Asian American organizations—and tailored my résumé for every role, yet it still took about nine months of applications, rejections, and interviews before I landed my first job.
How would you encourage other working professionals to volunteer with nonprofits like ASA, or ASA itself?
It’s really rewarding to get to work with future generations of working professionals. It doesn’t take too much time and beats scrolling social media. Young people have such creative and fresh new ideas and are full of energy and passion for what they love to do. You can offer your working experiences to the interns and also learn from them too. If you’re interested and thinking about it, just do it!
Upcoming Events
Asian Student Achievement’s President and CEO, Shane Carlin, will be speaking at Miami University’s Social Innovation Weekend and AAA Fusion on March 6. Scan the QR code below to sign up for the event!
The Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien Internship
Asian Student Achievement (ASA) is proud to introduce its very first named position, the Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien internship, to honor and memorialize this young woman who left this world too soon. This internship is awarded to a person who will spread awareness of the intersection between higher education, career growth, and mental health. On behalf of all of ASA, we would like to thank Mr. Gary Skoien, Elizabeth’s father, for this generous gift.
The recipient of this year’s named internship is Ryan Kartiko, Lead Special Operations intern. “I am extremely honored and grateful to be awarded this internship in memory of Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien,” he says. “As an Asian American, I am fully aware of the pressures that face young students and professionals of AAPI backgrounds. That’s why I believe it’s extremely important to shed light on the importance of mental health, de-stigmatize the act of seeking help, and encourage people to talk to loved ones about any issues. While Asian Student Achievement’s focus is on teaching valuable career soft skills, mental health plays a role in all aspects of our lives – including school, careers, and relationships. Taking care of your mental health is important to living a full and meaningful life.”
This May, ASA will celebrate both AAPI History Month and Mental Health Awareness Month as we honor Elizabeth’s legacy and the challenges she faced. Beyond May, ASA is excited to build greater mental health awareness into its services with the help of both Ryan and the entire team.
Annual Report and Case Statement
The Asian Student Achievement Annual Report and Case Statement will be out on our website in February! Keep an eye on our socials to stay updated.
Let’s Meet Up!
Want to invite us to your campus or your organization? Check out our speaking engagement page below for more details!
We Are Hiring!
Asian Student Achievement is hiring for ALL of our intern positions, but we’d especially like to hear from you if you’re interested in Administrative Assistant, Content/Grant Writing, or Graphic Design roles. place!
Click the button below to find the job descriptions of all our intern positions. Please send CVs or resumes to ops@learnasa.org.
Job Postings
