southeast asian intercollegiate summit

i'm still recuperating from a weekend of making my vision into reality and haven't really been able to jump back into the "real" reality as of yet both because i'm ridiculously sick and also because i feel i should reflect.

while the hope of the summit was to highlight the similarities of programing or projects that students were doing at each of their campuses, i guess the summit also helped to bring to the surface the differences in types of student organizing. i only hope that being exposed to a very political, progressive, and action oriented type of organizing, some of the students and organizations will go back to share this type of organizing.

however, all in all, i would call the event a success. not because of our differences in organizations. not because of our differences in our ethnicities. not because of our differences in the type of institution we attend. because regardless of whether the participant attended a private school, research institution, or professional institution . . everyone had love for their people and ultimately, OUR people and OUR struggle.

that all on its own is a success.


the fear that i have is that one day, southeast asian youth will replace the pride for the struggles of our parents and grandparents with shame. when that happens, i don't know who is going to ever be able to advocate for my mom who barely speaks english, my grandma who doesn't understand the concept of inflation, and my grandfather who still thinks he needs to work and make money at the age of 75.

because essentially, "if not you, then who?"