The Internship

Say it with ya chest

[thefinedime]

My Day With Tonga

With all the mishaps and daily struggles that I face on a weekly basis, I found my silver lining this week. 

For those of you who do not know of her, Tonga Hopoi is an Intern for First Lady Michele Obama. She is also the first Pacific Islander-Tongan woman in the history of Oregan State University to run and win Student Body President. 

She's one of my role models.

I had the incredible opportunity to hang out with her this past week and hear about her story and her struggles. 

It is definitely not a coincidence that her and I share the same name. The name of our country, our mother land. Since birth, I always went by Victoria (my middle name) because I refused to label myself as foreign. My name held a negative stigma, and so I tried my best to erase any evidence of ethnic identity. It wasn't until college where I began to challenge myself to go by the name Tonga. 

It took me a while to get used to this new person, Tonga. The negative criticism I received from people, including family, made it harder for me. I knew that the name Tonga was both a burden and a blessing. 

Enter Tonga Hopoi. 

She shared her story about how she reclaimed her identity as Tonga in her successful years at OSU. Over sushi, she shared how she received a lot of flack from the Pacific Islander community at OSU as well as her family for wanting to go by the name of her country. But that didn't stop her. Now, everytime she hears the name Tonga she does not think about herself but of her country, because that is who she is representing; that's who she does it for. 

Her story hit me hard, because it was as if she was telling my story. She told me that the name Tonga should not be taken lightly, and that we have been blessed to carry out this name for our community, our people. 

I take so much out of that day. I walk with confidence and pride for the name I've been given. It isn't everyday that you meet someone with the name of their country. 

Identity is everything. It is the foundation of which you build your passion and career off. Many people seek identity their entire life, and I've been lucky to find it at such a young age. 

Victoria is the old me. Tonga is who I am becoming. 

My name is my story. 

[thefinedime]

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am going to change myself.

[thefinedime]

Mid-Way Point

I had a fire conversation with my LEAP Supervisor, 'Mama Michelle', and she gave me feedforward advice that has been stuck in my head.

Channel the energy and be more judicious on energy allocation.

After that meeting, I came home and really thought about her statement.

..

This Summer has been quite the quest for clarity. A better understanding of my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears. This internship challenges me in so many ways, with each week bringing about a new obstacle that I must face. From week 1, I knew that the Tonga that would begin this program would be a totally different soul-being from the Tonga at the end of week 8. 

However, these obstacles have come in the form of thought and self-reflection. Of course the internship at APIOPA provides me with much challenge what with the different programs that I get to be involved in. A sure blessing. But the real challenge comes at the end of the day, when I am left alone to reflect upon the day I just lived out. 

Everyday I notice a new trait about my character, me. 

How I interact with certain personalities, how I provoke conversation with supervisors. My ability to articulate a specific point, or my notes in a meeting. My outfit that day to the chances of meeting amazing people who offer insight to this transition point in my life. All of this I think about afterwards, in which I try to decipher the intentions of each blessing/lesson/opportunity. 

Why is this important and why should I give my energy and time to it? 

I understand that this Summer is a season of transition as well as preparation for what is to come next. 

[thefinedime]

Confusion Meets Reality

As I leaned against the pole awaiting the Los Angeles Blue Line Metro Rail to arrive, I was confronted by a man who'd anticipated a question that I'd heard one to many times.

"Goodmorning. You Samoan?"

I glanced his way trying to make eye contact, but only to be met with a look of exasperation. 

"No, I'm Tongan."

"Oh, so you must hate Samoans huh?" 

A question I'm often asked after people, particularly young men, are aware of my ethnicity. After telling him rather bluntly that some of my closest friends are Samoan, I left the conversation with a simple "well that's them, not me." 

The MetroTrain couldn't have arrived at a better time. As the doors opened, I took one last glance at the man who'd opened up a new level of conscientiousness this morning. Stepping into the cart, I couldn't help but wonder why this question, a rather offensive one, has perpetuated itself not only in my community but in other minority groups as well. 

I lingered off into thought as the MetroTrain made it's way towards Pico Station, downtown Los Angeles. 

Why has hate become the only platform of which our Pacific Islander heritage exist on? Why is it that when I am identified as Tongan, the follow-up question only seems to coincide with my "hate" for my Samoan brothers and sisters? 

Many claim that this tension does not exist, that the Tokouso/Poly movement has paid reparations for the ignorance of our community. But how much of that bullshit is true? Hmmm ..

Have these 'movements' paved a way towards liberation for all Pacific Islander peoples, or has it paved a culture of silence that prohibits us from talking about what is actually happening? 

My encounter with this stranger has occurred many times. At the laundry mat, the club, school. And though many may argue that I am taking it way too seriously, I beg to differ; this needs to be put on the table. 

[yasminacreates]

inner peace

[kiracatapult]

#MetroMeet💬 THIS summer is all about networking and establishing relationships within the community. Thanks to LA public transit, I’m able to meet people from ALL walks of life. Meet Jonathon (L), who sparked conversation about life in and around the different cities of LA. I’ll be capturing photos with those I get to share a few words with along the Metroline! #staytuned #LAadventures #metromeet #natives #knowyourcommunity (at Blue Line Metro Long Beach, California)

[thefinedime]

All last week, LEAP fed me so well! Coming from a broke college student's perspective, it was like early Christmas morning .. everyday. Tips to all orgs .. food is what keeps us twenty something year olds happy and alive.  

And to say that this superb style of hospitality has ended would be a complete lie. 

SHOUTOUT to my boss for the shout! Anything free is anything for me xx

[thefinedime]

Surround yourself with people who push you, encourage you, who challenge your way of thinking and offer a new perspective on life. Those are the ones you want to keep around.

[thefinedime]

So, as the rest of the 'Fine Dimes' started their mornings at their respective internships, I trained it all the way to downtown Los Angeles to the APIOPA Office. APIOPA (Asian Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance) is where I'll be at this Summer. I've been here for only a couple hours and I already feel all sorts of connections .. for those of you who are not familiar with spiritual lingo, what I mean is .. this place feels right! And, I can't even hate on the crazy morning jumble because, to be quite honest, that's just how my life works. LOL.

[thefinedime]

[thefinedime]

Orientation Daze - Week 1

Kia Ora mates! 

Tonga here (duh, who else) with some updates on .. wait for it .. my first week as an LIA Intern! So many things took place during 'orientation week' aka 'hell week' aka 'nametag essential because I suck with names' week.

Must I begin with the honest truth though? This is probably one of the more rare occasions where I actually like the group of human beings that LEAP had jumbled together for this 8 week adventure. Though we seem to hold different leadership and communication styles, we all seem to mesh well with each other. 

Compatibility .. 10/10! 

Just as EVERY orientation week should start, us interns briefly got to meet and greet over a variety of breakfast foods. And might I add that breakfast was essential to waking up our brains for the intense mental workout we'd soon get into. I'm talking 8-10 hours each day, dedicated to understanding who we were as leaders, team players, and communicators. 

So yes, I will reiterate .. breakfast was as essential as the name tags.

My favorite workshops were led by Matt, the guru facilitator. Not only was the material he presented effective, but it actually made sense at 9am in the morning. Talk about win-win right?

Matt did not steer away from real-life situations. One workshop in particular focused on how to go about diffusing a difficult situation. As we did with our other workshops, Matt had us pair into groups and role play different scenarios that portrayed a difficult situation. After each pair presented to the group, Matt incorporated his own experience by asking us for advice .. yes, a man of knowledge and tenure experience on effective leadership was asking a group of twenty something year old's how to go about diffusing a real-life situation. 

Pause for applause. 

Overall, I really liked the curriculum of LEAP's orientation week. Though it made my 5 day week seem like 5 decades, I must give credit where it's due.

It's never easy trying to create a cohesive group of student-interns who aren't out to kill each other. Michelle and Nancy did such a great job at creating a space that allowed us (interns) to get to know each other both in the workplace and in a more lax setting. 

I've met a few people who, just off the bat, I connect well with. It's organizations like LEAP that allow for the growth of my very small network to expand. 

Btw, the food was bombbbbbb. Shoutout to Park's Finest and their cornbread .. 5 star rating right hurrrrr. 

Like I say, good food and good company (#GFGC) is all you need in this life!!!

Tomorrow, I begin my internship with Asian Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA) with the infamous Scott.