Garden Grove, California, United States
✏️ Hello, I am a recent graduate from UCI with a B.A. in Asian American Studies and a minor in Education! Over the next 14 months, I will be continuing my journey at UCI through the Master's in Teaching + Credential program. My goal is to teach secondary English and/or Ethnic Studies at an Orange County school district. I strive to show up for students so they can show up for the world. Through the ethnic studies paradigm, I will weave theory with practice to encourage them to be changemakers grounded in care and collective well-being. I hope to continue working with grassroots organizations and develop innovative ways to link classroom learning with community service. With a strong background in communications, I also want to develop new curricula that builds students' understanding of media rhetoric and how they can use digital platforms to produce and share knowledge. 🌱 What is the ethnic studies paradigm? 🌱 In October 2021, California became the first state to require ethnic studies coursework for high school graduation. Within the ongoing culture war around race, many stakeholders debate what should be taught in the newly mandated class. Amidst polarization, educators committed to equity must recognize how ethnic studies will never be confined to a single subject area. It is a movement to decolonize history – to contest hegemonic representations of the past and allow marginalized communities to tell their cultural narratives. As a paradigm, it pushes educators to question systems of power and oppression and create inclusive learning environments that uplift community knowledge.
- Produce engaging graphics for VietRISE’s social media and monthly newsletter - Develop creative branding materials for general content, immigrant justice campaigns, youth leadership programs, political education, etc. - Assist with updating and designing VietRISE’s website to ensure that information is relevant and increase accessibility for an intergenerational and multilingual community
- Organize the annual Southeast Asian Success (SEA Success) Virtual High School Conference | One-day program with culturally responsive workshops and panels on career planning, financial literacy, mental health in the AAPI community, and on-campus college resources Theme: Watering Our Roots – Uplifting our cultural identities and histories, maintaining self-care practices, and building the community infrastructure and networks that help low-income, first-gen students achieve their goals Participation: 65 high school students, 20 undergraduate volunteers (projected) - Collaborate with education professionals at the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) to recruit youth participants and develop an event agenda
- Co-organized the Southeast Asian Leaders (SEAL) program at Garden Grove High School | 8-week mentorship to equip low-income, first-generation high school students with the necessary resources to pursue higher education and excel beyond college Methodology: Weekly workshops hosted by undergraduate mentors, covering topics like cultural identity, mental health, college applications, and financial literacy; mentor-mentee time where high school students can seek further guidance and build community with their mentors and fellow mentees Participation: 60 high school students, 11 undergraduate mentors - Hosted weekly mentor meetings to build rapport and maintain a high level of team professionalism - Co-authored a grant proposal to secure $7,454 in funding from UCI’s Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Center
- Tutor elementary, middle, and high school students in writing and analytical reading - Communicate weekly with supervisors and parents regarding student progress - Develop both group and individual lesson plans that strategically reinforce students’ strengths and address their areas for growth - Implement classroom management strategies to cultivate a welcoming environment while also keeping students on task
- Designed weekly social media posts to support active campaigns for immigrant justice - Designed an organizational brochure that follows brand guidelines and is widely accessible - Crafted a dynamic trailer to promote the organization’s 5-year anniversary