UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
Every time I learn something about Taiwan, my pride and passion for Taiwan is renewed and strengthened. Taiwan may be small, but the tight-knit and strong community makes up for it!
Who are you?
I am a sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Irvine. As a second generation Taiwanese American, I was born and raised in southern California despite the fact that my family moved around a lot. My parents are both Taiwanese, and I have always been interested in Taiwanese culture since I was little, even if I didn’t know a lot about it. I love Taiwanese culture and food, and continue to be fascinated when I learn more about Taiwan. I practice different types of art, such as drawing, making jewelry, sewing, web and graphic designing, because I believe that they are my source of expression. Last year, I was the webmaster for the ITASA 2010 West Coast Conference at UCSD, which became my first major commitment in the Taiwanese American community.
Tell us about your organization / project, your role, and its impact?
Although I’ve just begun my positions as Public Relations Co-Chair and Webmaster of the Taiwanese American Organization (TAO) at UC Irvine, I can’t wait to contribute the cultural lessons and memories through TAO. TAO gave me a chance to explore and learn more about my Taiwanese culture. Through events, TAO educates its members of Taiwanese culture, history, and current events. It also helps and provides opportunities for those who want to give back to the Taiwanese American community and to broaden their horizons. I avidly support TAO and its purpose and goals – it gave me a chance to learn and have fun, and now I want to help provide others with opportunities and and learning experiences.
Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?
I am proud to be of Taiwanese heritage, even as a second generation Taiwanese American. Though I may not know everything about Taiwan, and my Taiwanese and Mandarin are not fluent, the passion and interest I have in my culture never dies and makes me proud to be of Taiwanese heritage. Every time I learn something about Taiwan, my pride and passion for Taiwan is renewed and strengthened. Taiwan may be small, but the tight-knit and strong community makes up for it!
Any additional information you would like to share?
Check out our website at http://www.taouci.com/
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