by Julianne Sun

Content Writing Intern

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Asian Student Achievement (ASA) is proud to introduce its very first named position, the Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien internship, honoring the memory of a young woman who took her own life. Ryan Kartiko, Lead Special Operations Intern, the recipient of this internship, will strive to spread awareness on the intersection of career growth and Asian American mental health challenges, and will encourage other young professionals like Elizabeth to seek the support they need. On behalf of all of us at ASA, we would like to thank Mr. Gary Skoien, her father, for this generous gift.

Elizabeth was a brilliant, driven student of bi-racial Indonesian-American heritage. She was an avid swimmer and scuba diver, and had traveled to all seven continents, sharing in her father’s love of wildlife and travel. She loved to sing and was exceptionally talented at creating beautiful makeup looks for every occasion. Elizabeth would go on to pursue her love of wildlife and water and study at the University of San Diego to become a marine biologist. 
“She was an extremely bright young woman and very inquisitive,” said Mr. Skoien. “She had a real passion for several things – all things marine, art, music, and makeup. She just had the absolute best sense of humor, just as funny as you could imagine, and very quick-witted.”

“But, she was under a lot of pressure,” he continued. “It wasn’t pressure from me, it wasn’t pressure from her mother, who was Indonesian, to do well in school. The pressure came from herself. She had a 4.4 average GPA because she was in all- honors programs and had straight A’s and A+’s in everything she did, but I think, sadly, that she drove herself far too hard to do well.”

Elizabeth’s drive to succeed in both her school and personal lives could be overwhelming at times, according to Mr. Skoien. Her mother had been diagnosed with cancer when she was 14, and Elizabeth adopted a new role as both her mother and infant sister’s caretaker. Toward the end of her mother’s life in 2020, Elizabeth began sleeping in the intensive care unit with her, all while attending school, maintaining her high grades, and keeping up with her responsibilities. Devastatingly, on October 14th, 2023, Elizabeth took her own life. 

Elizabeth’s drive to succeed in both her school and personal lives could be overwhelming at times, according to Mr. Skoien. Her mother had been diagnosed with cancer when she was 14, and Elizabeth adopted a new role as both her mother and infant sister’s caretaker. Toward the end of her mother’s life in 2020, Elizabeth began sleeping in the intensive care unit with her, all while attending school, maintaining her high grades, and keeping up with her responsibilities. Devastatingly, on October 14th, 2023, Elizabeth took her own life. 

The pressure to succeed is common among young Asian Americans, who tend to worry more intensely about school and family than their White counterparts (Saw, 2012). Furthermore, the discrepancy between Asian Americans’ perceived expectations and perceived performance is related to anxiety and depression (Kobayashi, 2006). In the tumultuous transitions from high school to college and then finally to the job market, mental health can become a massive challenge for both children and their parents. 

“Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s story is not an uncommon one,” Ryan said. “Many Asians, Asian Americans, and bi-racial individuals face struggles related to personal identity, cultural expectations, and academic and career-related pressures, to name just a few. These struggles and mental health are topics that are very important to me, and the shared Indonesian heritage between Elizabeth and myself means that much more. Throughout this year, I hope we are able to shed light on some of these common issues and provide resources and guidance that will help students and their families navigate tough mental health issues.”

Mental health awareness will continue to be an integral part of ASA programming, even beyond the Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien internship. ASA will provide tools to support both the personal and professional health of students and young professionals as they navigate their career path, raising the next generation of leaders who recognize the importance of cultivating healthy minds in the workplace. 

“I think that a well-rounded individual in the real world understands more than just work,” Mr. Skoien said. “It’s about helping your family members and your friends, it’s about being in the workplace and understanding what issues people might be facing at home or in their families. That understanding of themselves and others makes them more effective in their careers and what they ultimately end up pursuing.”

ASA strives to ensure that students and young professionals can strike a balance between career health and personal mental health. The soft skills necessary for building relationships and advancing careers should be taught in tandem with mental health awareness and support. In addition to establishing the Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien internship, ASA will continue to share mental health resources throughout the year, especially in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in September, which is Suicide Prevention Month.

For more mental health resources from Asian American perspectives, visit Mental Health Resources.

This article was authored by one of our interns. Support the growth of Asian American leaders by giving to ASA today.

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