#repsummer

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While you escape the heat in the air conditioning this month, what better time to #repSummer?

The summer is often a good time to reflect on the previous academic year and set goals for the upcoming semester – and relax of course!  Join us this month as we celebrate summertime!

July 7/ Time to get outside! Although you may be blogging now, how do you enjoy the weather during the summer?  Let us know your favorite outdoor activities!

July 9/ Time to read! So many books!  So little time!  What is on your reading list this summer?

July 14/ Time to reflect! What are you most proud of from this past academic year?  Post a photo or word post!

July 16/ Time to set goals! Create a list of goals that you for the next academic year.  What are you going to do to achieve these goals?

July 21/ Time to find a hobby!  Post a picture or video of you trying something new – Take a chance!

July 23/ Time to enjoy home! For many of us summer brings travel home.  For some us, school has become home.  Wherever your home is, let us know your favorite thing about it!

July 28/ Time to celebrate! As July comes to a close, it is time to celebrate.  Share a recipe for your favorite summer treat or instructions on how to make your favorite party decoration.

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We are excited to announce Rumong Yobech as our /present voice of the month for July 2016.  Here is Rumong in his own words!

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Rumong Elison Yobech. I am from the Republic of Palau. I am currently a junior undergraduate student studying Forensic Science at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. When I am not studying or in class, I love playing the guitar and the ukulele, eating all kinds of food, singing, dancing, meeting new people, playing sports, and participating in events on campus. In a nutshell, I am a social butterfly who likes to make people laugh and my philosophy in life is "work smart and always be kind".

Where are you from? Where are you now?

I am from the Republic of Palau, I attended  Xavier High School in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, and now I am studying forensic science at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut.

Who or what do you re/present? And how?

I humbly re/present the youth and the coming generation of my country, the Republic of Palau. I want to be a living symbol for opportunity and that working hard and smart can help you achieve your goals in life. Achieving higher education and bringing the knowledge I attain back to my country is a first step to help develop my country. I am studying forensic science in hopes that I can use it to aid the justice system back home. I want the the younger people back home to see me as a role model to take every opportunity they can to develop themselves so they can give back to the community that raised them.

What has been the most significant event of your life thus far?

The most significant event that has happened in my life thus far is when I realized that I needed to get out of my bubble and become more involved in my college campus. I struggled my freshmen year to adjust because the lifestyle was very different. I was closed off and feared that I might never make friends or have an amazing college experience. One day, I was invited to attend a club meeting for the International Students Assocation and I ended up falling in love with it. Since then, it felt like home and I began to become passionate to get involved with many organizations on campus. I joined a fraternity that had the same values I have, took up leadership positions for different organizations, and since then, I have learned and grown so much.

What superhero power would you want? And why?  

If I could have a superhero power, I would have the power to bring out the best in people and help them realize the goodness in their hearts. I feel like this would be a great superhero power to help the world become a better place to live in. They say change internally is the first step to change externally and having this superpower will help people achieve that internal change.

[apiasfrepresent]

Storytelling: A Fine Art

By: Andy Dinh, APIASF Scholar

Many people take storytelling for granted and don’t often take the time to truly appreciate the elements of a good story. When you hear a good story, you feel captured, alive, and enveloped within its elements that sometimes you don’t even realize how much of a gaze you are really in. Personally, I believe stories can serve as ways to pass down truth, but more importantly, principles. If you want someone to understand an important principle of life, your own experiences are a great way to convince a person to understand where you are coming from. You can pass on important lessons and teachings that may carry on through countless other people if you understand how to tell your story in an eloquent way. You can also use your storytelling methods in order to inspire others with your unique set of knowledge and skills. Remember, professional speeches are also a version of storytelling, so there are many purposes to practice this art :)

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Don't Make It A Summer Bummer

By Jessica Ellis, APIASF Scholar

Hey guys, it’s Jessica here! I’m a recent 2015 award winner of an APIASF scholarship! It’s super exciting. I’ll be attending the University of Idaho this year and I actually report there in exactly three weeks! The nerves are definitely starting to kick in.

Senior year was pretty crazy for me. I ran track, played soccer, participated in clubs and church, and still found time to work hard in school and do scholarships. I’m sure all of you know the feeling you get after graduation where you just want to sleep for two weeks straight. Although that would’ve been nice, unfortunately it wasn’t going to happen.

With our new lives coming up on us fast, and college being just around the corner, there is plenty to do between the seemingly vast limbo between high school and college. Most of us are on vacation mode, and that is totally okay, as long as we still make time for work and college preparation.

A few weeks after graduation, I participated in a scholarship pageant. The pageant consisted of a talent competition, a fitness competition, an interview portion, an on-stage question, and an evening wear competition. I won and received a scholarship and the new title of Miss Gem County 2015. Since then, I have been making appearances and promoting my platform, Cancer Awareness and Education throughout my community.

For fun, I've gone on two camping trips (church affiliated) and have made time to spend with my friends and family. The truth is, I think we take it all for granted. Our lives, the memories, all of it. Once we get to college we will realize it even more.

For my college summer reading assignment, I’m supposed to read All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I like it so far and I’m realizing it’s really important to not procrastinate because at the end of summer I don't want to regret not spending my summer more wisely. Wouldn’t want to have a summer bummer!

We only get one summer before college, before real adulthood… and so if I could just say one thing it would be to not take anything for granted. Your work, your health, your family, your friends, your life. You never know when one of those could be taken from you, or all of them.  

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reflect, adapt, repeat...

The academic year is over. There were highs and there were lows.  What are some things you’ve learned about yourself in this past year that will help you prepare for next year? What are you working on this summer to ensure your success in the future?

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let’s eat!

Barbeque…sno-cones…mint-watermelon smoothies!  Share a recipe for your favorite summer treat!

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Inspiration from coworker

By Tan Vu, APIASF Scholar

I started my internship five days ago at a place called Vietnamese American Media Network (VAMN-TV). The purpose of the network is to bridge Vietnamese culture with American culture and educate the 1.5, 2nd, 3rd, etc. generation of Vietnamese American with their culture and heritage. Today was my second day at the place, and boy was I tired. I was put in charge of the cooking series where I had to research prominent chefs who are of Vietnamese heritage or are influenced by the Vietnamese culture/cuisine. During the research, I was able to bond closer with my coworker who is a USC graduate with a major in Communications where I learned that she used to intern at Lionsgate and KTLA for about a year. It was very inspiring to hear her story - how she worked so hard the last four years to get what she wanted. Her story motivated and pushed me to continue to work my tails off to pursue my goals.

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eyes on the prize

Finding motivation during the summer can be hard when you’re in vacation mode.  How do you stay grounded in what you’re passionate about and move toward it even through the summer?