Asian American Studies

I had this question ask a lot of times about what will I do with a degree in “Asian American Studies”. To answer that I really have no idea what I want to do yet. Reason I have no answer to the question is because I have not graduated yet.

I became an Asian American Studies major in Spring 2010 (I was originally a Journalism major from Diablo Valley College in Fall 2009). Taking classes from Jonathan Lee, Russell Jeung, and Jeannie Woo have taught me a lot about Asian Americans in California. I learn the struggle with Vietnamese coming to the United States from Filipino struggle in the Philippines. I felt like I was white in the inside and brown on the outside because I did not speak the Filipino dialect Tagalog. By taking these courses I don’t feel neglected anymore. Now I feel Filipino American than just plain American.

There is a lot of opportunity that I can do with a degree with “Asian American Studies”. I could do research on the Filipinos struggling to leave the Philippines to come to American. I can research the Vietnamese that were affected by the Vietnam War. I could work for PBS (Public Broadcast System). I have studied Journalism at Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College and I use it as way to work around the Asian American Community. You might see me revise the local television show “Bay Area Backroad” or “Eye on the Bay”.

I volunteer at the International Hotel Manilatown Heritage Center in San Francisco as part of my volunteer service for one of my classes. What I have learned while volunteering at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center is the long history about the place. I never knew anything about Filipinos living in Chinatown. I always thought it was just Chinese in the area. That proves that I am really Filipino American since I care for the Filipino Community. I took much of my time every week just to help them out.

I have seen Asian American reporters like Kristen Sze, Malou Nubla, and Thuy Vu (yes I only named women) on local television. They were role models that I look up to that I want to match with on what they did for the Bay Area.

I got only a year left until I graduate from San Francisco State University. I am looking forward to finishing up with Asian American Studies. With the motivation that I am getting from Eric Pido, Lorraine Dong, and Jeannie Woo I think I can do it. The coordinator at the I-Hotel Center thinks I can do it.

Going forward with my life I think I am make it out there. I just have to prove it to myself that I can do it and not let anyone tell me I can’t do it. I made it this far and I refuse to not let it happen.