My Life As of Now

Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, Spin Class and Shadowing an optometrist.

Sat, 04 May 2013 21:14:51 -0400

Where have I been and what have I been doing?
Since that last time I’ve blogged, I have become a peer mentor for the Student Operation for Success Program (SSOS), start the Hmong Student Association (HSA) club and become the President, and become way more involved in school than I could have ever imagined. Throughout my college years, I’ve never had more fun in college than I have this year. I realize that college is more than just school and working. You get what you give and I wasn’t giving a lot, until now.

First thing I must tell you, I recently attended a conference in San Francisco: Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE). It was a three-day conference for me (I attended the pre-conference) and although there were some things I did not entirely understand (their audience were more geared towards professors and people who worked in higher education), I was able to take away some other beneficial information.

What I learned at APAHE: Pre-conference and all
Pre-Conference:
There were many representatives from community colleges around the bay area as well as California State Universities. I attended the workshop focusing on Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) grant. It turns out there were about one hundred and fifty colleges and universities (more or less) who were eligible to apply for this grant and yet only forty one applied. This raises the question: Do these other institutions know about the AANAPISI grant? If not, why? I also learned that the AANAPISI grant is also in competition with another grant: the Hispanic Service Institution (HIS). If I’m correct, the HSI pays more, and thus most schools leans towards that grant but what about the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) students? I also noticed that CSU Fresno was one of the schools that recently got the AANAPISI grant but I didn’t see Fresno City College. Being a transfer student from Fresno City College, I thought, “Uh, why not?” Maybe they have the HSI grant or maybe they don’t even know about the AANAPISI grant at all. Either way, I’m tempted to call and ask. After coming back from the lunch break, there was a discussion about how they met in Washington a few months back to discuss API issues. Where was I? How do I get more involved? I definitely want to know more about API and what’s going on with higher education.

Conference: Day One
Looking at my notes, “Great to see so many API leaders/Educators”. There is a sense of empowerment when you see other people who look like you, who are passionate about education and making change. So this is what I took away from day one, in a nutshell:
*Take on different opportunities!
*Pursue things beyond your job description/position
*Seek mentorship!! ((This is a big one and a message all of the API leaders emphasized))
*Be the best in what you can do!
*You don’t have to do it alone. Have a team that compliments and completes you.
*Be authentic in your leadership
*Be truthful to yourself/leadership
*Accommodating is not a bad thing. It allows you to find and learn from a new perspective
*Find a mentor; it’s a symbiotic relationship
*You can have it all but you can’t have it at once (This quote stuck with me)
*Learn to ask questions; Don’t be afraid to ask questions
*Take risks! Failures is apart of the process
*Learn from your mistakes and from what others do
*Question to ponder on: What do you want to do? How well do you want to do it?
* Don’t be afraid to ask for something you want
*Leaders are DO-ERS. You can only talk for so long!

One of the workshops that I’m so glad I went to was: Women in Student Affairs Administration: Unfolding the Future. One of the biggest questions I have been trying to figure out was, “How am I going to balance my career life and personal life? What’s going to happen when I want a family?” The speakers were three women who were in successful positions and talked about how they navigated through it all and how they are doing it now:
*How did they balance motherhood and their career? Through mentors and support from friends and family.
*We have control over our choices
*Work/life balance helps with the support of your partner ((super important!!))
*Own up to the choices you make; be unapologetic for your choices
*Encourage each other
*Between you and your partner, you could take turn in professional advancement/ career
*Don’t be afraid to ask for help ((Yes! Do not be afraid. It’s okay to ask for help))
*Take advantage of professional development opportunities
*What legacy do you want to leave?
*Seek happiness; take risks; trust your gut feeling
*Create your circle of support
*Be honest and vulnerable *Don’t under sell yourself

Conference Day Two:
*You don’t have to do it alone
*Mentor and be mentored! ((I truly believe in this!))
*Mentoring can be informal
*Have a diverse group of mentors
*A good mentor devotes resources to maximize your success.
*TAKE RISKS
*Be vocal! Give your opinion!
*Be active!

So a few weeks before the conference, I received an email from Audrey Y., Vice President of Student Services at Mt. San Antonio College, if I could be on a panel in response to a talk that would be given on one of the days during APAHE. I was hesitant but I was under the assumption that I would be on a panel with other students since the other people whom she contacted had emails ending with “.edu” I was WRONG! On first day, I noticed my name along with the other panelists. I was going to be sitting next to CEO/President, Professor, Provost, Dean, Oh and the Special Advisor to the Secretary of Education, Donald Yu; Big important people, you get the idea. I though it was an honest mistake: Gaozong Yang, President, Hmong Student Association, California State University East Bay. I ended up writing an email to Audrey, talking about the “mistake” and excusing myself from the panel saying I was the president of a student organization, not an actual president of some kind. I heard nothing from her at all that night via email.

The next day, I approach her and introduced who I was and asked her if she received my email. She said no and I explained the “mistake”. “Oh no!” she says, “That was no mistake at all! I chose you because you are an Asian American female leader of an under represented minority.” I was surprised and realized that I had under sold myself not knowing what I was capable of. Now, my next concern: I had missed the talk. Audrey made me feel better by telling me I didn’t have that much to worry about and to talk from my perspective as a student leader. Later when it came time for the panel, I was so SCARED. I was out of my comfort zone but from the wise words of the APAHE leaders, “Go outside of your comfort zone”. I did feel better when I saw my peers [who are also in the SSOS Program come and support me as a panelist] and my HSA advisor. I don’t even like to recall what I spoke about and I’m sure it was irrelevant in response to their talk from the morning but I did gain priceless experience. I spoke to Audrey afterwards and she said, “You couldn’t even tell if you were a student by the way you spoke.” I thanked her for giving me an opportunity to speak and I still thank her now. The rest of that day for the other workshops I spoke up more, asked questions and gave my opinion. Audrey had given me so much more than an opportunity to speak she gave me confidence.

During one of the lunch periods, I met a lovely Japanese woman named Sayumi I. She is a professor of Cultural and Ethnic studies at Bellevue College in Washington. As we introduced ourselves, I told her I was Hmong. She then told me how she would have a few Hmong students a semester and decided to incorporate Hmong studies into her syllabus. She also did research on Asian Women who were leaders and how they got to this leadership role. She recently emailed me her research along with two other articles pertaining to Hmong women. I haven’t been able to read them yet but I’m excited to see studies on Hmong women and what they have to say.
So APAHE was my first conference and I although I did not understand some of the issue that were brought up, I was still able to take home valuable information. Now enough about APAHE!

There I am! Third from Right and the only one smiling at the camera!

Some of my SSOS Team memebers! (I created my own front row!)

Spin, Spin, Spin!
This quarter, one of my personal goals is workout more. Not only to be healthy but to also relieve stress from school. I’ve been attending a spin class and I love it! I’ve realized if I’m going to work out, I should have fun doing it! I attended my first spin class last quarter and I was sweating like pig and looking like a fox. I love the way I feel and look after spin class. This is my hour that I dedicate to me. I leave my problems and issues behind. I give it my all during spin.

Shadowing an Optometrist
Being the first generation student that I am, all I have ever been told was, “go to college and get a higher education” and then the advice stops there. I knew that I wanted to be an optometrist but it didn’t occur to me until last year to find out what I needed to do to get there. One of the things I have discovered was the importance of shadowing. I am applying to optometry school this summer and I realized I had no shadowing under my belt. With the help of friends and family, I was able to shadow a few optometrists in a city not too far from where I live.

My first shadowing experience was with Dr. A (that’s what I will call her). It as March and she was the first optometrist I was shadowing. I had not standards and I did not know what to expect. She allowed me to follow her while she was giving her patients eye exams (with their consent of course!) and I also followed her team around. Overall, I loved my experience. The way she and her team ran the practice is something I want to do in the future with my practice.

Today, I had the opportunity of shadowing Dr. A and her team again. This time, I came prepared and had my lovely notepad with me. I was jotting down ideas, questions, behavioral observations I saw throughout the day. I love how all her team associates were very involved with their patients. Their knowledge of the products and ability to explain what was going on in the patient’s new prescription was impressive. There were also many different patient cases from adults, children, regular eye exams, post surgery follow up, foreign objects in eye and irritation. At the end of the day, I had a laundry list of questions to ask Dr. A and she was able to answer all of my questions from “What’s this machine called?” “What does this mean?” and “What do you think?”

Every time I am able to shadow an optometrist, I leave with this feeling of feeling complete (A feeling I get after I attend a Foresight meeting; a pre-optometry club at UC Berkeley). It just feels like this is what I was meant to do. It feels like Home. I cannot wait to be an optometrist. My work does not end at my future optometric office. I want to help the Hmong community and the Fresno Community with their sight and higher education. Not sure how but I know I do. I have plans for Fresno and they don’t even know what’s coming. :]

&& this is my life, as of now. ((And it feels good!!))
P.S: I’m going to be an aunt in a few days!!

gaozongyang

School: its only going to be the next six years out of the rest...

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:55:11 -0400

School: its only going to be the next six years out of the rest of my life. Le sigh. I can survive;; it won’t be long.

mochacafe:

via Most NOTED Posts

I want to be here…

Thu, 10 May 2012 02:39:40 -0400

I want to be here…

The art of becoming a woman

Sat, 05 May 2012 17:04:00 -0400

I have met only a few amount of people who truly posses this aura. It definitely comes with time and one cannot master this overnight. You can see it in the way she presents herself, the way she moves, the words she chooses to get her point across. She is intelligent, well rounded, and socially aware, etc…you name it, She is it. I am slowly taking notes as I meet different woman in my life, for of course, I too, want to master the art of being a woman.

[These important woman are pushing to build a National Woman’s History Museum!!; Click on the image to view the website!]

We just hire a new girl at work and it turns out she is a year younger than me. She is married and has a one-year-old son. It was in this moment that many ideas hit me: I have come so far from my days at Fresno City College to now attending Cal State East Bay, that I went from being a shy girl to a confident young woman. I realize that I am starting to have confidence in my beliefs and standing up for what I feel is important to me.

I have pushed my comfort zone and forced myself to do things I would normally not have done a few years go. I guess this is a confirmation to myself that I am doing what I set out to do: challenge myself mentally, physically and emotionally.

&& this is my life, as of now.

gaozongyang

T-one year?

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:03:27 -0400

So I’m deciding to do the the responsible thing and gather how many more quarters I have left until I graduate with my B.S in Biological Sciences. I met with the general education counselor the other day and I found out in terms of GE classes I have three left to take to meet graduation requirements. Okay so not that bad, however in terms of my science classes…I’ve written a rough outline of the classes I need to take within the next year. So I’ve made an appointment to meet up with a biology counselor and basically confirm what I have thus set out. I hope that I can finish by spring of 13’. If worse comes to worse, I still have summer of 13 and can graduate then.

After that I plan on applying to a post baccalaureate program. So far I’m considering CSU East Bay since I already go there and the other two would be UC Berkeley and SF State; mainly because they’re in the bay and I don’t really want to have to move far if that. After doing a post bac program, my ultimate goal would be to get into UC Berkeley’s Optometry Program. There are only two other schools of optometry which are located in So Cal && then there’s SUNY (State University of New York). I figure I’m already up in the Bay Area, might as well stay here and live in a different location. I’ve also concluded that if I follow this route that I have set out for myself that I would be about 28 years old when I’m done with optometry school. Not bad at all!! && from there work for Kaiser/Target and then open my own practice?!?

But one step at a time. As I look at list of classes I need to take left, I realize that its becoming more and more apparent that I am going to be an optometrist; that I am really doing this. I also just recently went to the optometrist and my optometrist was a student who is currently in her 3rd year at UC Berkeley. She talked about doing her rotations in the East Bay, SF, and in Miami! This makes me excited about meeting new people and traveling.

&& this is whats on my mind, as of now.

gaozongyang

workout budget fashionista?

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:28:00 -0400

I have been so absorbed in school that now as I look through my magazines for images to decoupage, I have forgotten about how much I love dressing up, fashion, and everything in between. However, with working and going to school, there isn’t much room for dressing up. && I’m a penny pincher. I can’t wrap my head around splurging on clothes especially with the college budget that I have. I guess that can be my inspiration to get more creative. We shall see where that goes!

In this month’s issue of Elle, there’s an article called “She’s money” and it talks about the changing gender roles about men and woman in the work and home. One sentence that stood out to me was, “…woman are increasingly preferring to remain unmarried rather than settle for men who aren’t their intellectual and professional equals.”

::Summer is almost here and I should start getting ready for that! I know that I’m already growing out my hair (Oh long hair how I miss thee! && Goodbye A-line cut, we had good times!) I should reevaluate my eating and spending habits. Ugh and all on food too!

Its funny how you can loose yourself when you’re so absorbed in something else…

&& this is my life as of now!

gaozongyang

Photo

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:20:44 -0400

oh, midterms. how i hate you. i wish someone would bring me...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:41:48 -0500

oh, midterms. how i hate you. i wish someone would bring me hugs, cookies, and coffee. and maybe a five minute massage…

&& About spring break;; Reality check. :/

gaozongyang

I cant wait until my dreams come true…Until then I’m...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:31:43 -0500

I cant wait until my dreams come true…
Until then I’m still stuck here, trying to get there -.-

leilockheart: FOLLOW for more photos I’ve been seeing...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:11:37 -0500

leilockheart:

FOLLOW for more photos

I’ve been seeing so many cute pictures of asian babies;; now i really want one, in like 6ish years :]

Goodbye sleep, hello late night studies

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:26:48 -0500

Midterms are next week: Chemistry, Stats, and Physics. Read half of physics chapter, so i feel really good about myself. :3

One day, I shall build a study fort as amazing as this one…♥

So what’s been keeping me motivated?
Kent & I are planning a Disneyland trip for Spring Break!

He’s definitely someone I want to go to Disneyland with ♥

…but until then, its the my textbooks, notes, pens, and study buddies. Until then!
::this is my life as of now::

♥gaozongyang

With each day my love for him only grows. He is so sweet to me;;...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:32:12 -0500

With each day my love for him only grows. He is so sweet to me;; always wanting to see the joy in me. I treasure what I have with him.

I want to see my family. I want to be with my mother. I want to share good times with my sister. I want to talk about life with my step father.

School. You make me sick. Yet you are only a portion of the rest of my life. I can make it work.

&& this is my life, as of now.

What was I thinking?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:43:28 -0500

Out my three classes: Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics, Physics is the only one that requires me to turn in homework while the other two “assign” it but does not require you to turn it in. I am struggling to understand these physics questions. And whats most frustrating is that I get the general idea however when it comes down to the specifics it just does not click. && it doesn’t help me when i have a certain amount of tries to enter. It would also be helpful if it showed you how to solve the problem, when you get it wrong.
I don’t believe there is tutoring at the school, thus i have to pay for a tutor. I was told it was going to be like $20 an hour. I don’t even make that much an hour. I can’t afford a tutor. Le sigh. I am also trying my best to befriend some students in class so we can study together. So far, i am not succeeding. And to think that this is just ONE subject.
This makes me nervous about my educational future. Am I capable of doing this? of understanding this? Berkley has such high GPA standards, it make me cringe.
—I’m not doing something right. Ugh. Now i know why everyone’s not doing it, because its take A LOT OF WORK. All i know is that I cannot fail. success is my only option. I don’t intend to have a back up plan. my head hurts from all the physics homework. I’ll try reading the text book tonight.Straight.

&& this is my life, as of now.

::WOO SAW::

♥gaozongyang

Uh yeah. Old habits die hard. I’m trying &&...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:50:47 -0500

Uh yeah. Old habits die hard. I’m trying && that’s what counts.

In my dream…“I know you, I walked with you once upon...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:56:31 -0500

In my dream…

“I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it’s true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you’ll do
You’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream”

leilockheart: leilockheart: quote submitted...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:43:38 -0500

leilockheart:

leilockheart:

quote submitted by nandzie

Agreed. I now know what it means.

Mini hike at Lake Chabot. It’s always a good time with him...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:27:43 -0500

Mini hike at Lake Chabot. It’s always a good time with him :].

Welcome baby!!

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:41:41 -0500

Welcome baby!!

Being creative: it’s what I do.Once an idea pops up, I...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:06:42 -0500

Being creative: it’s what I do.
Once an idea pops up, I keep going.
Until I have found the perfect piece.

Oo this is going to be good.

gaozongyang

mochacafe: via ohsopictures How long should one wait to say or...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:14:52 -0500

mochacafe:

via ohsopictures

How long should one wait to say or do something? Must society determine when it’s acceptable? I’m so impatient. I can only hope that when you feel certain emotions, you will genuinely express them to me. But until then, I shall await your sweet nothings.

Just came back from seeing the family. Mom is still in the hospital. It was good to be home and seeing everyone’s role in each others lives however nothing beats my new life that I have now started; it’s drama free and my worries are minute. It consists of work, school, and my relationship with friends and Kent.

&& this is my life as of now

gaozongyang