sycep-ms

[sycep-ms]

Final Week!

Hi everyone! My experience with SYCEP 5.0 was pretty great. I was very comfortable with everyone and everything. For those who don't know me well, this was actually my second year doing this internship. Because of that, I had a little advantage over everyone since I knew all the ropes to everything. Resumes, cover letters, mission statements etc were all familar to me so I didn't have a hard time completing the assignments. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my Fridays and actually looked forward to them because I got to be on Temple's campus! All of you were great and had your own little quirk which I loved. More specifically, this internship has allowed me to meet my one and only boo thang, Kenneth! From the start the two of us clicked! We have similar goals in life, and we have similar interests...(men and fashion)! I loved Fridays because Kenneth and I would always go out to lunch after and eat really yummy food downtown. Our lunch dates were the bomb.com. Then, Cassandra joined us for lunch these past Fridays and she has been great company as well. I always feel so wise and motherly with these two just because I'm older and sorta understand the whole college process. I love giving advice to people and helping them with whatever they need to know. The three of us plan on continuing our little lunch dates from now on out. I think it's healthy to keep people around you that are all passionate in succeeding in life.

[sycep-ms]

Week 5 w/ KYL/D: Worksite Experience

My journey here at KYL/D has been interesting. I've strengthened a bunch of my professional skills, in addition to gaining more wisdom from my fellow dancers. Lately, the studio has been pretty busy because of all the past events they've been featured in. Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of watching KYL/D along with other talented dance studios perform at the Koresh Festival. This event was held at the Suzanne Roberts Theater, and it was super beautiful and amazing! Before the show even started, they served champagne and other light refreshments. It was very fancy, and I got to be in a room full of present/past dancers, and overall super talented people in the arts. It was a perfect networking moment, and Ken (the director here), introduced me to some of the organization's board members. I met an old woman named Virginia and she was the sweetest grandma I've ever met. She wore adorable cheetah print ballet slippers, so fashionable! So, because of KYL/D, I got to get a taste of the dance industry and see how they worked.

Furthermore, the advice and conversations I've had with some of the dancers have left a mark on me. Whether it was about college or fulfilling my dreams, they were very encouraging and supportive. I also even got some advice about maintaining my grades at Temple, and also what types of guys to avoid dating (ex: Never date someone in your major). Today, my mentor Jessica and I spoke about her experiences in college, and how she had to change her major SEVEN times until she was satisfied...and she still managed to graduate in four years. Bottom line is, if you put your heart to it, and if you really want to, then you can achieve anything. You decide on your own path in life, and what you do is what will make it. She also told me that even if it means that you have to go through hell to achieve what you want, it’s only for a short while, and it’ll all be worth it in the end. Hearing these words from her is encouraging because I’ve been worried about my future lately. I’m afraid that I’ll make the wrong decisions, or that majoring in journalism isn’t right for me. But, Jessica reassured me that I’ll make it through life okay.

Besides all the fancy events and words of wisdom, I think that just being here and experiencing new things is helpful. I’ve grown as a person and I’m more confident of my future. Being in this environment with adults all day has given me a sense of responsibility. I get to learn their techniques to get through life, and even learn from their mistakes. I’m pretty much shadowing their lives to hopefully make my own better, or at least easier than theirs. I get to see their passion for dance and self expression, and that alone gives me the motivation to pursue my dreams. I appreciate my time with KYL/D and hope that all the things I’ve learned so far will help me achieve my dreams, but also make me a happier person.

[sycep-ms]

Week 4 with KYL/D: Dream Job!

Disclaimer: This post will be more of a story and how I gradually discovered my dream job.

 Ever since I was just a little girl, I dreamt of being on TV, more specifically a Disney Channel star like Hannah Montana or Selena Gomez. I thought that they had the most glamorous lives ever, and they probably do with all the money and fame they have. I enjoyed dancing and singing, and even theater sometimes. I looooved the process of learning new choreography and ultimately just performing in front of a great and responsive audience. Being present at some of the concerts and festivals that KYL/D performs in inspires me even more; they reminded me that being on stage or being in front of a camera is what I love to do. I’m not a professional dancer, nor can I sing, but I sure love to entertain!

Being on television sounds a bit unrealistic considering I grew up in a low class family in South Philadelphia. So, wanting to be in Hollywood or on Broadway is a bit of a stretch and too big of a dream to have for a girl like me. As I got older, I sort of put those dreams aside and decided to work on a career more realistic and attainable. Like every other Asian family, my parents wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor. But since I was young, I knew that doing anything in the medical field wasn’t my cup of tea. I knew that I would hate it because it takes too many years of studying and exams...and I hate studying and exams. Then there was law school. I’ve always had an interest in law, but maybe it was because I watched too many crime and investigation shows on TV. During my freshman year of high school, my world history teacher had us do a ton of mock trials and debates, and let me tell you, I SUCKED at it. My opponents would always grill me and I was always left speechless. So, again I had to change my interest of profession since law wasn't an option anymore. Overall, I consider myself lucky for being able to choose and experiment on different career fields, unlike others who go through half their life doing something they completely hate.

 To continue my little spiel on my never ending change of heart, believe me or not, I once wanted to join the armed forces, or be a cop/FBI agent. I grew up watching a ton of military films and crime fighting shows with my dad. I think that the men and women who serve our country are so badass, so I wanted to be like them. But, like my previous dream jobs, I realized that I was not fit for the roll considering I can’t even do a simple push-up. From TV actress/pop star to lawyer to cop, I had a wide array of potential careers in life. All of those may have failed, but I was lucky enough to discover my current career aspiration. I want to be a broadcast journalist turned talk show host, turned humanitarian.

 A few years ago, I got the chance to host an online radio show that myself and other high school teens created. It wasn’t official, but I realized that talking into a mic and facilitating a project were some of my strengths. Talking in front of a camera was natural for me, and I am able to easily ad lib during air time. My inspirations are powerful women on TV like Ellen Degeneres, Oprah, and Giuliana Rancic from E! News. These women are the faces of major TV shows, and hosts of multiple events. Not only do they cash in the big bucks, but they are also positive influences in the world. Each and every one of them have their own foundations, and or are huge supporters of different and global causes. They inspire me to fight for my dream, but to also help others in the process. My ultimate goal is to be an ambassador or a founder of a foundation catered to helping families in developing countries.

After some research, and a bit of stalking on those three women, journalism is the field I decided to study in order to follow their footsteps. Once I have the experience and the degree to prove my expertise, I’ll be qualified to pursue a career in TV entertainment. Now, if you were able to connect the dots, you were able to see that I incorporated my original childhood dream job with my current dream job. I may not be doing anything in the performing arts, but I still plan on being in front of a camera! Now for even more exciting news, as only a freshman at Temple University, I am now able to say that I’ll be on national television for a documentary series I’m apart of! The docu-series is called “Edge of Eighteen,” featuring myself and fourteen other teenagers during our senior year of high school. It premieres on Sunday, September 7th 9E/6P, only on Al Jazeera America. Please support this amazing project I was lucky enough to be in by watching the show and telling your friends and family about it. Click here: http://youtu.be/xFRpCbJMQN4?list=PLTrL9Pkswi3h7IJX4Gu_qQu3yLVJGoA5q to watch a promo!

[sycep-ms]

Week 3 with KYL/D!

Strengthening my five themes won’t be too much of a challenge since the work and experiences I face everyday contribute to them. I am constantly exposed to new ideas and different perspectives in life whenever I step foot out of my bedroom door. My five themes are Activator, Relator, Arranger, Woo, and Communication. All of these themes exhibit traits of positivity, initiation, and perseverance; all dealing with interacting with people and making things come to life. Because most of my responses were neutral in the test, my results aren’t as personalized as it would be if my results were stronger. Despite that, I am still satisfied with the themes I was matched with.

I like to execute things, build relationships, and influence people all the time. My impatience isn’t always a negative trait because it pushes me to get the job done quicker, although some people may find me bossy, but whatever. Meeting new people and given the chance to speak with them and learn about them is always a pleasure for me. My theory is, the more open and exposed you are to people and the real world, the more you are able to learn and grow from it. This internship with KYL/D made me realize that an office job is something I won’t enjoy as a career; and this is ironic because I work with a dance studio...and so I learned, every profession has someone in the office at one point or another. I like to be busy all the time and move around a lot, or I’ll become bored and tired easily. Being cooped up in small room doing research or paperwork is definitely not my ideal lifestyle choice.

Ever since I was young, I took leadership in projects and activities I was in. I enjoyed being the one in charge, and leading my team to success. I’ve been an Activator my entire life, and trying new things and expanding my horizons will only lead me to more success and happiness.

The StrengthsQuest mentions that Relators “feel comfortable being open and honest about who we are. We avoid people who are less than truthful.” I completely related to this statement after I read it. In the workplace, I want to be surrounded by people who genuinely enjoy and grow from the job. One of my pet peeves is people who are ungrateful and pessimistic about what they have. I want to spend my time with people who find deep satisfaction in working hard to achieve a goal. For me, reaching a new goal is a reminder that I am not wasting my life, but instead improving it and helping others in the process. I like to be open with others, and I want others  to be open to me as well. These traits also interconnect with my Arranger theme.

Lastly, my favorite things to do is to Woo and Communicate with people. I love meeting new people and building relationships with them. I hate awkward silences and situations, so being the ice breaker is essentially what I am. I like to make people laugh and break out of their shells...but only if I am comfortable myself. As of right now, I feel a bit more open with the dancers. They are all older than me, so sometimes it’s hard to have small talk. It takes me a while to chillax sometimes, and not be professional at the office so much. But, it all takes time and depends on the environment. After all, I still want to impress and produce efficient work for them.

I’ve been developing my strengths my whole life, and even highlighting my weaknesses and insecurities in the process. Every day is a learning day for me, and identifying what I need to do next keeps me going.

[sycep-ms]

Week 2 with KYL/D!

Hello again, welcome back to my blog!

Another week with KYL/D and much hasn't changed. Kim and I are still doing the usual office work, while also peeking out to see some of the rehearsals. We are currently working on the second project which consists of giving surveys out to youth, and researching organizations and their funders. At KYL/D, the dynamic of the office is really chill. Kim considers us lucky for being placed at this worksite, and I can somewhat agree with her. We haven't been doing anything different because we are still helping them advertise and brain storm new programs the studio can offer.

Because we spend all of our time in the office, we get to hang out with the executive director, Ken, all day. Ken is always super happy and laughing, he's a ball of energy and positiveness. I enjoy observing his work ethic and listening in on his meetings with potential dancers/funders/organizers. He's very intelligent and definitely looks out for what is best for the studio and its image. Not only is he a professional, but he's very supportive and welcoming to the guests and dancers. I also got to see how all of the staff and dancers work together on certain projects. I watched them brainstorm potential events etc for the company, it was quite interesting. 

On another note, almost every day of the week, there is a Zumba class that the community often comes out and participate in. It looks super fun and it's a great workout. The Zumba class is an example of how KYL/D brings the community and open minds together. Seeing the vast array of dancers on the dance floor and moving their bodies and opening up their minds together is inspiring. 

All week, I've been making sure that the work we produce is efficient and helpful. I try my best to offer new ideas for the company, while also asking a bunch of questions as well. The dancers are all super pro with multiple years of dance experience, so their knowledge and advice is much appreciated. Everyone's friendly, so I think I blend in pretty alright with everyone here. I plan to sit in on some rehearsals, and maybe even participate in a class myself if I have the chance. 

[sycep-ms]

Week 1 w/ Kun Yang Lin!

The first few days at the dance studio have been very calm and inviting. The dancers there are all welcoming, and my partner Kim is sweet. So far, all we've done is sit in the office, doing research for potential organizations that we can collaborate with. It hasn't been challenging yet, but our supervisor Jessica, mentioned that weekends are really busy and hectic. So, tomorrow will be a test for Kim and I. Every week, Jessica gives us projects to complete. Most of it consists of advertising for the company and recruiting dancers into the classes we offer. But, before we started our project, we had to get familiar with the studio. Kim and I spent half of our first day looking up videos and past concerts the company held. At Kun Yang Lin studios, they celebrate the ability of dance to integrate body, mind, and spirit, inviting viewers to engage in their own journeys of self-discovery. Their mission is inspiring to me, and based off of the content that I have already seen from them, they accomplish it pretty well. It is very important for us to adapt to the worksite because it's like a household. Everyone is expected to contribute to the studio, whether it's offering new ideas or cleaning/stocking up the bathrooms. For example, we have a maintenance check list we have to complete every day. Overall, I enjoy working with Jessica. I'm excited to spend more time with the studio and help them continue their traditions. #SYCEP2014