Meet our students! We sent out questionaires to students in our grant-sponsored classes asking them to share a little bit about where they're from, why they're here, and what they hope to accomplish.

Name: Zan Sheng

How long have you been at De Anza?
Eight Months

Where were you born?
Beijing,China

Where did you grow up?
Beijing,China

What high school did you go to?
I went to a Chinese private high school in China, Beijing Huijia Private School.

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
I am a fully Asian. As a Chinese, I am always looking forward to be filial to my parents and obedient to my teachers and parents.

What is the highest level of education that your parents have achieved?
Master of Business Administration.

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?
I would like to go to UCLA majoring in film production. I want to be a filmmaker because I see current films are not bicultural. I wish to adopt Asian culture from what I already have, and American culture from what I learn and will learn in America to make a bicultural film.

Does the LART 211 class help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?
Yes. LART 211 helps me finally make that decision. Without the support and help from my teachers and classmates, I would not have made that decision.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?
I learned that I have to go after my dream, not others.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?
Languages and cultural impact. The cultural shock impacts me since I have been here.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?
Not now, but I will be proud of my future and dream pursuits.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?
My enthusiasm [for] film. I will definitely devote myself [to] my dream.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?
Film related. LART 211 class gave me the hope and encouragement.

What's your dream job?
Movie director and/or actor.

Name: Christine

How long have you been at De Anza?
1 year

Where were you born?

San Jose

Where did you grow up?
San Jose

What high school did you go to?

Silver Creek

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
Chinese

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?

East Asian Studies and/or International Relations. I have a passion for East Asian culture.

Does this class (APALI Youth Leadership Academy) help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

Yes, I learned more about myself whenever I wrote the essays and the group project.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

Being able to meet new people and getting to know them.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?

Maintaining good grades, making new friends and trying to involved with school organizations all at the same time.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?

Maintaining a high GPA.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

Mrs. Patton, Dr. Chang, and Prof. Chai, they got to know me more personally.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?

I want to do something that involves East Asia.

What's your dream job?

Diplomat, teacher, Peaceworker, etc.

Name: Gina Hwang

How long have you been at De Anza?

As of this Fall, I will be starting my second year at De Anza.

Where were you born?

I was born in San Jose in Santa Clara County.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in South San Jose; I later moved to East San Jose prior to high school.

What high school did you go to?

I graduated from Independence High School Class of 2008.

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
Through APALI, I had the opportunity to explore my identity. Self-discovery is a slow process, but APALI gave me a start. Now I identify myself as a Korean American.

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?

My major is psychology and as a psychology major, I intend to work with children. I decided to become a psychology major because first, I can apply psychology to various fields. But for graduate school, I plan to specifically study psychology to help and work with children. Also, I like working with children and to influence and help children is an asset in my life.

Does this class (APALI Youth Leadership Academy) help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

I'm not sure whether this class helps me reach my goal as a psychology major. However, the class urges and recognizes the capability I have to make a change and influence others.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

The most valuable thing about APALI is the knowledge I acquired during these five weeks. The education about APA history and the APA community brought awareness, self-discovery, inspiration, and leadership.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?

Since I've been at De Anza, picking classes and getting the classes I want is the most challenging.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?

An educational accomplishment that I'm most proud of is maintaining a good GPA.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

My mom has been the most helpful through my education. Even when I felt like I failed my parents - I was rejected to all the UCs I applied to - my mom never had doubts about me. With my mom's support, I think I finally feel content and accepting of community college.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?

At first, I settled on a career that allows me to work with kids. But after APALI, I haven't seen options that allowed me to work with kids inthe APA community. After being exposed to the panelists' stories, I've been rethinking and reevaluating my career options. I know for certain that I want to be an active member in the APA community. As of right now, I'm feeling uncertain about my major, but I'm leaning toward a career where I can definitely help and impact the lives of others.

What's your dream job?

Since I was a little girl, my dream job was to become a veterinarian. Even though I love working with kids, I am a huge animal lover. I've always wanted to help save a dog's life. At the same time, I'm impacting the life of its owner. I still would like to become a veterinarian, but I can imagine my dream job as something I want to make worthwhile. A job that allows me to help, change, and inspire, just what APALI did to me.

Name: Thao Nguyen

How long have you been at De Anza?

3 quarters

Where were you born?

Viet Nam

Where did you grow up?

Viet Nam

What high school did you go to?

Le Hong Phong high school in Viet Nam

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
Vietnamese

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?
Business - try hard to transfer to good university.

Does the LART 211 class help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

Yes, I'm more interested in learning English.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

Good environment for studying.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza? Getting good grades.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

My sister - she always gives me helpful advice.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?

Making money. Both of my parents are doing business.

What's your dream job?

A painter.

Name: Anh Tran

How long have you been at De Anza?
2.3 years (Transfer in Spring)

Where were you born?
San Jose, CA

Where did you grow up?
Bay Area + So Cal

What high school did you go to?
Andrew P. Hill

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
Vietnamese-American

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?

B.A. Politics, Saint Mary's Law School (Hopefully SCU).

Does this class (APALI Youth Leadership Academy '09) help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

Has made me more aware of my community so that in return I can give back to them :)

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

I get to meet this young group of leaders. I also am more aware of the API community.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?

When I was at De Anza, I had to face the diversity of students and teachers. Like facing the real world. It was very exciting.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?

Finishing high school and being the first to go to college in my family. Making my parents proud.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

My parents are my energy. Without them, I would not have been where I am today. Also my community!

What are your career interests?

Lawyer! Social changer! Activitst! Organizer.

Who or what influenced your decision?

APASL back in 2007. :)

What's your dream job?

I want to work for the Feds or work with the low income families on civil regs.

Name: Sydney Fong

How long have you been at De Anza?

2 years

Where were you born?

U.S.

Where did you grow up?

San Jose

What high school did you go to?

Monta Vista

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?

Asian American. Chinese culture.

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?

Undecided major. Possibly business or ethnic studies or [political science].

Does this class (APALI Youth Leadership Academy) help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

It helped me identify myself and learn more about my culture.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

Meeting so many people in such a short amount of time.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?

Picking the right class.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?

Being able to take a college class while still in high school.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

All of my teachers and professors because I wouldn't have learned everything I now know.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?

Possibly government or poli sci,  influenced by my father.

What's your dream job?

To be highly ranked in a strong business.

Name: Kevin Tran

How long have you been at De Anza?

One year.

Where were you born?

San Jose, CA.

Where did you grow up?

East Side San Jose

What high school did you go to?

Independence

How do you identify yourself ethnically and/or culturally?
Vietnamese American/Asian American/Southeast Asian American

What is your major/educational goal? How did you make that decision?

Biochemistry, possibly minor in Asian American studies? I love science; it will help me escalate into the [medical] field.

Does this class (APALI Youth Leadership Academy) help you reach your educational goal? If so, how?

My major is irrelevant but this class has definately impacted me, leading me to work much harder.

What was the most valuable thing about the class?

Finding my true identity. Being actively aware, meeting wonderful people.

What has been most challenging for you at De Anza?

Time management, commute, and adding courses with space.

What educational accomplishment are you most proud of?

Avoiding hardships and graduating high school. Entering a college like De Anza.

Who has been most helpful to you in reaching your educational goal? How?

My friends, parents, and mentors (teachers). They give me positive feedback and hope that I will succeed if I put myself out there.

What are your career interests? Who or what influenced your decision?

I plan on becoming a pharmacist or a pathologist. It would be nice if I could work in an institute like AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement), helping immigrants with their health. Influence is based upon myself.

What's your dream job?

Although I am still not sure, I wish to help patients in a hospital, but yet, still be civically engaged like Kenneth Fong.