Photo Credit: Joanna Lee

Everyone can be a blogger these days, but how many of us can claim the attention of President Obama? What started out as an online space for 33-year-old Phil Yu to vent has now gained nationwide recognition in the form of Angry Asian Man, a website that dedicates itself solely to Asian American issues. Assertive and sometimes aggressive, Yu makes it clear that Asian Americans are a growing community that deserves to have a voice and be heard. Though he’s celebrating Angry Asian Man’s tenth anniversary this year, Yu is just getting started.

It all began one day with Yu simply expressing his anger over the unacceptable discrimination and racism that’s become too pervasive in our society.

“I had no plan; no real grand design. I was just doing it out of a desire to really express myself and put my opinions out there,” Yu recalls. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to read it.”

The site is exactly what its name describes, a place where Yu articulates his indignation of the discrimination evident in pop culture, politics and any form of media.

“The same kind of stuff keeps happening,” he says, of why it’s necessary to continue being angry. “You think people are past the idea of racism, but we’re totally not. I feel like there are so many instances where you have to stand back and go, ‘What the hell? We’re still dealing with this?’ It’s frustrating.”

It was clear from the beginning that Yu was not alone in his frustration. He began to receive hundreds of submissions for his blog, as well as recognition in the press. More impressively, his posts have made a difference in the actions of politicians and individuals, and, above all, served as a role model to his readers.

Over time, Yu’s accepted his newfound influence and the responsibility that goes with it.

“I still have the same opinions about a lot of things, but I’ve embraced and recognized that I have a voice and that people are looking to this blog for information and an idea about Asian America,” he says.

But beyond the powerful tool that he unwittingly created, Yu is also a perfect example of what can happen when someone dives into his or her passions head-on. Yu, as a blogger, is a wildcard in the game of taking traditionally accepted paths. Yet the risk he took has not only made him a great leader but also benefited angry Asian Americans everywhere by giving them a voice.

“People should follow what they’re passionate about and embrace that,” he says, acknowledging the severe academic and professional pressures for young Asian Americans today. “There’s a lot of pressure to go this way or that. When it comes to careers, follow the area you want to go toward. Don’t be influenced by outside factors.”

“It needs to be reinforced that Asian Americans need to follow their passions,” Yu adds. “You have to figure out what you want to give a damn about. Once you figure that out—it might take a while—just go for it. Follow your dreams.”

And no, Yu is not always angry. In fact, there are plenty of things that make the Angry Asian Man happy.

“Seeing achievements and people getting recognition for what’s really special in the Asian American community is important,” he says. “You see the pioneers making headways in areas that have never been made before. Doors are being opened up everywhere, from main stream culture to politics, when Asian Americans break out of traditional roles.”

And we know when that happens, Yu will be the first one with something positive to say about it.

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Photo Credit: Cedric Bihr

Whether you’re a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan or someone who enjoys hanging out at cafés, chances are you’ve heard Priscilla Ahn’s whimsical and soft voice. Aside from her musical style and lyrical depth, the 27-year-old’s shameless confessionals have caught the attention of many loyal fans.

Much of Ahn’s childhood was dedicated to finding out who she was because she felt so different from everyone else. Perhaps that is why her lyrics demonstrate an uncanny ability to look into everyone’s souls and force us to examine our lives. Ahn, who is half Korean and half white, grew up in a predominately Caucasian town but still practiced Asian customs. “We took our shoes off in the house and my mom cooked tons of Korean food,” recalls Ahn. “Korean culture was a big part of my life growing up and I really embraced it. I’ve tried to incorporate [the culture] in how I live today.”

Coming to terms with being the misfit in a group has inspired more than one wonderful tune from Ahn. She revisits this journey in “Elf Song,” from her latest album “When You Grow Up.” “I really enjoyed writing this one. It’s similar to ‘Wall Flower,’ and I imagined this elf girl who feels so gawky compared to all these other elves. Maybe a part of that is me because in my teenage years my feet were huge and I had long arms—I was not put-together like the other girls.”

In a generation where mainstream music has become sex-centric, Ahn is a breath of fresh air from the many messages telling women and young girls that the only way to be happy is to find a man and fit in with the norm. “Even though the girl [in the Elf Song] is so gawky, she’s a beautiful person and a beautiful soul.”

This positive message is one that Ahn tries to convey in all of her work. Ahn believes that everyone should remain true to themselves and that no one should ever settle for anything less than their own definition of happiness. “What I would love to tell everyone is that you’re not alone. Even though your situation is so unique, we all go through similar kinds of feelings of loneliness and pain,” says Ahn, “I know my music isn’t mainstream in any way, but I’m way more proud of that than selling out or writing hits to make money or be popular.”

Photo Credit: Henry Diltz

For someone who used to stare out her window at the moon, wanting to get out of the small town she grew up in, Ahn’s certainly come a long way. But this doesn’t mean she’s stopped growing yet. “In the past five years, I’ve done a lot of self-reflection on my childhood and my life, and how I got to where I am,” says Ahn. And it’s these experiences that she shares in her music—her life experiences and struggles—that provide a way for listeners to relate to the spectrum of emotions that come with adult life: loneliness, hopefulness, and the giddiness and comfort that comes with finding someone special.

Ahn specifically opens up on her struggles in relationships, especially in the beginning. “The big thing for me was fear—fear of being hurt, opening up yourself too much, and this person might not be someone you can trust,” she says. “The [Korean] culture has very restrained love; that’s how I approached my relationships. I wasn’t physically affectionate and a part of that was because I didn’t know that growing up. It was scary for me to do that and open myself up that way.”

The musician sagely notes that all relationships, good or bad, take much effort. “It’s a lot of work to listen to someone who is not happy with something you’re doing. It takes a lot of strength and courage to sit there and listen.” She’s learned that “if you’re really invested in it, it’s going to require work on both sides. Communication and listening is key, and so is trusting each other and opening up that soft side.”

Ahn’s determination to stay true to her voice in conveying such experiences sets a moral standard for an industry that is continuously making way for superficial values. “The pressure is on to sell new records. That’s not why I came into any of this,” Ahn asserts. “I stand up for my music and what I believe in.” Refusing to become a stereotype that the music industry demands today, she’s a positive role model for not only aspiring young artists but also for anyone who wants to be comfortable in his or her own skin.

Wallflower or star, she has us leaning forward in our seats, anticipating what she has in store for us next.

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Courtesy Wikipedia

Since then, Korean dramas have become accessible on an international scale, through multiple outlets such as YouTube, DVDs, videotapes, endless websites dedicated solely to posting videos of Asian dramas—you name it and they’re there. The one thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the storyline. There is always a love triangle, usually involving two men and one woman. One of the men is perfect, a close family friend or someone she has always had a great relationship with, while the other man is a wild card; he’s someone she has petty fights with until the fateful day she realizes he’s “the one.”

The roles of the characters are also very similar across all Korean dramas. Women are always typically beautiful, with their double eyelids and 24-inch waists, while conveniently incapable of carrying out their lives without being “saved” by her man at least once through the drama. She is a hard worker and less professionally accomplished than her male counterpart. She is a damsel in distress. Even though she tries to give a tough girl impression, at the end of the day when all is said and done, her rightful place is being on the arm of her man. The men are dominating, protective of their women and stubborn. Unlike the female leads, male roles are often given more of a character range, coming from different social classes and professional backgrounds.

In the hugely popular Korean drama “Boys Before Flowers” for instance, Jan Di, the female lead, is a kind person from a poor family who attends a prestigious school. Upon arrival, Joon Pyo, the school’s biggest bully and heartthrob, who comes from a wealthy family, sees to it that Jan Di’s time at school is miserable through extreme bullying (getting people to throw eggs at her, yelling at her in the halls to leave the school, etc.). Then there’s the good guy, Ji Hoo, who is an incredibly good friend to her and falls for her also. Love triangle ensues, and accordingly, Jan Di goes for Joon Pyo regardless of how poorly he treated her and becomes dependent on Joon Pyo to save her in various situations.

Regardless of the intention of dramas as a mere outlet of fantasy, the enormous popularity of these dramas and their addictive plotlines has made their storylines and expectations a staple of modern Korean culture. As much as dramas have influenced popular culture, they are also a reflection of traditional Korean culture and its view on relationships: men should hold a dominating, leadership role, while the woman’s duty is to follow and obey their husbands.

Korean dramas often corner women into a limiting stereotype by stating that the ultimate happy ending means being with your man. When there’s a love triangle, the two men fighting for a woman are enemies and the friendships between women are portrayed to be flaky and something that can be destructed at the drop of a hat over a man’s affection. In addition, there is always a power struggle in the way relationships are portrayed. Women play hard-to-get and seemingly have the upper hand, only to take on the role of a submissive girlfriend or wife after the relationship has been determined. These dramas do an amazing job of encouraging the archaic gender roles that were assigned to men and women in past generations, prompting women to look, dress and act a certain way. In doing so, they give the impression that these outdated roles are applicable in today’s modern world.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some dramas that I would watch religiously and there were times where I would think, “Wow. I wish I could be her.” When I got in fights with a guy, I couldn’t help but think “Wait… this happened in the drama I watched last week. Does this mean that we’ll go out because we’re getting into a lovers’ quarrel?” The way I interpreted my interactions with guys became completely skewed and my expectations for men became completely unrealistic: He had to be tall, handsome, successful and have a “bad” side.

Though it’s easy to become spellbound with the romantic stories that Korean dramas fashion, it’s still important to not take it too personally and realistically—relationships aren’t black and white, and to follow the ideals that Korean dramas offer would be backward thinking. Though dramas may satisfy our boredom and stir up some elaborate fantasies, it’s good to remind ourselves that at the end of the day, dramas are exactly that—a drama.

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Courtesy Jesse Hambley

Success comes in many shapes and forms. For Hannah Song, the first female CEO of the international non-governmental organization Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), success stems from how her work furthers the progress toward her cause.

Before joining LiNK six years ago, Song worked in the corporate advertising field. Even then, she had a lingering curiosity and interest in North Korea and its people. Growing up, Song knew that her grandmother was North Korean, but didn’t understand the weight of what that meant.

By reading literature such as Escape to the Outside World: From Total Control Prison Camp No. 14 in North Korea by Shin Dong-hyuk, currently LiNK’s Senior Ambassador, and Still Life with Rice and The Absence of Sun by Helie Lee, Song exposed herself to the human rights violations in North Korea. “It was too real, too current,” said Song. “I felt so helpless.”

After talking to a close friend who knew Adrian Hong, co-founder and former executive director of LiNK, Song started volunteering with the group—initially at a benefit concert in Rutgers—which helped her see how easy it was to get involved. Shortly after, Song was asked to be on LiNK’s executive board, where she held the position of deputy director from 2004 until 2008.

However, working in both the corporate and philanthropic world side-by-side at that time was stressful for Song. “[I was] reaching a tipping point, working 80 to 90 hours a week for what?” said Song. In 2006, she became a full-time staffer at LiNK.

Though it wasn’t an easy decision for her to join an NGO full-time, Song had the support of her family.

“[My parents] respected my decision. They knew that I would not be swayed. They weren’t hugely supportive in the beginning but over time my family really came around,” Song said. “I think there has to be a mutual respect. If there is maturity, it should become apparent to them that you are happy doing it and this is what you want to do. As a second generation, we have all these resources: Do we do what we want or follow passion?”

Courtesy Jesse Hambley

In 2008, Song was chosen by Hong to become the new CEO of LiNK. Under her leadership, LiNK moved from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles. Song recalls being extremely scared and nervous: “I thought, ‘I’m not [just] moving the organization to LA, but my entire family (her then-fiancé). We’re either going to succeed or fail.’”

By 2009, LiNK’s transformation under Song’s leadership had a snowball effect, with the renovation of different projects, like the Chapter Program, moving into full development. “I think the genesis of LiNK happened in 2009. We started over again, keeping credibility and really saying ‘All right, now we really know what we’re doing.’ I would say the transition for me was best described as being a big learning experience and a lot of risks,” said Song.

Song describes her role as CEO as the “least sexy job,” since it includes working on mundane but necessary protocols for the organization. She also works hard managing people, chapters and helping people feel like they’re a part of something bigger—a key element. “That’s an area ignored for NGOs,” said Song. From 2008 to 2009, LiNK’s revenue had increased 106 percent—an accomplishment which Song sees as a result of implementing those changes.

Even through these impressive numbers, Song remains levelheaded. When asked what her greatest accomplishment is as CEO, she said she had none. She may have ensured that the organization was better structured, but the accomplishment is not hers to claim, she said. “I have ensured that the right people are on board with me. That’s the only reason why LiNK is the way it is today,” said Song. “All the numbers are wonderful but that’s what our job is—that’s what we should be doing, it’s not an accomplishment.”

At 29, Song proves that youth should not be a deterrent for making a change in the world. A firm believer in taking chances, Song advises that every opportunity should be seized with confidence. “I have the utmost hope in the youth and every opportunity I have, [I] would love to invest in the youth.”

The North Korean human rights crisis is an ongoing issue of massive but underrated proportions—and there’s a place for everyone in every field to get involved. Song’s final piece of advice: “Philanthropy should be an [integral] part of everyone’s life. If we can do this and make this everyone’s mentality and attitude—imagine where the world would be.”

For more information on LiNK and how you can get involved, visit their website at www.linkglobal.org.

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Courtesy Esther Suh

I met Sophia during my second trip to Honduras, where I served as a trilingual translator for doctors and dentists who catered to 200 to 300 patients a day. Since the healthcare system in Honduras does not cover basic checkups, locals flock to the practice four times a year when medical volunteers from New York donate their services. Translators are required because it is the only way immediate medical concerns of patients can be communicated. Because we were limited to the bare minimum as far as medical supplies were concerned–for instance, no proper chairs or lighting equipment–we needed to know exactly what was bothering the patient, as most symptoms are internal. Based on patients recalling suffering from extreme coughing, dizziness and chest pains, a common diagnosis was asthma due to dangerous levels of pollution from local Pepsi factories.

I found out later that day that Sophia was deaf and mute. The revelation was humbling and completely unexpected–all I had seen was the happiness on her face, her eyes bright as she smiled from ear to ear when we went through the pictures from our photo session. It was a kind of appreciation that I hadn’t seen in children her age back home in the U.S.: the simple contentment that comes from fully embracing what you have.

My trips to Honduras have taught me more than anything I could have learned in a classroom. We often see television ads encouraging us to donate money to the less fortunate, but to be part of the community–pitching in the time, skills and effort into making this world a better place for others–is a completely different experience. These experiences have convinced me that I want to be involved in this kind of community service as a career, even though exactly how I want to contribute is not yet concrete.

Traveling and volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience. You give a part of yourself to others around the world; you become a part of an international family filled with members who share the same passion for helping others. You’ll test your limits and discover how far you are willing to go for others, but perhaps more importantly, you’ll meet amazing people like Sophia, who can flip your worldview on its head.

It’s easy to take the first step by making the decision to help others. Start at Idealist, which lists available positions in fields from communications to medicine to law. For mission trips, Gosummerproject is a resource that takes applicants of all religious affiliations, offering opportunities both locally and internationally. Finally, the well-known Habitat for Humanity dedicates itself to “eliminating poverty and homelessness” by building housing.

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By the time I was accepted to Smith College, I was desperate for something different. My first semester was interesting—to say the least. Here I was, thinking I was coming to a wholesome and traditional liberal arts school; it took me no more than a week to realize that I was in for the ride of my life. I was used to coasting in high school, knowing that putting in a little effort meant an easy A. I was also used to multitasking, so I joined five clubs and started rowing for the crew team. I thought I had it all under control, but I was in for a rude awakening. I had convinced myself that it was almost in my nature to be able to succeed anywhere in everything that I had wanted to do with minimal effort.

I started off with four classes and ended up dropping one and taking another pass/fail. Even though it should have been obvious to me at this point, I was convinced that I still had everything under control, as I did in high school. It wasn’t until the end of my first semester that I reached my senses: I got a letter from the athletic director informing me I was on academic probation. The letter stated that I had two options at this point: I could either drop crew or sign an academic waiver that stated I would be given the semester to get my grades up to an acceptable GPA. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. Even though I know that there’s nothing in my DNA separating me from someone of another ethnicity, I felt that as an Asian, this should never happen.

I felt so pressured to do better in school but felt so helpless. After about a week, I mustered up the courage to talk to one of my teammates about it, expecting to be judged because I, a Korean, was on athletic academic probation. You can imagine how shocked I was when she nodded her head in understanding. I was surprised that she didn’t have different expectations for me than for anyone else. I was so used to classmates and teachers expecting me to excel that I was convinced that anything less than the best would mean social pariah-hood. For once, I felt like I was put on the same level as everyone else, not judged on separate standards because of the color of my skin.

College has given me the opportunity to break free of my self-imposed stereotypes. After relieving myself of some pressure, I’ve seen myself improving in school. My grades are up to par, and I must credit the way my new mindset. I no longer give myself unrealistic expectations because of my background. I’m not blind—I know the prejudices that come (either from myself or others) with the color of my skin; for a while it consumed my identity and self-image. I discovered in college that it was a decision to partake in what the world expects of me. After realizing that it was a choice to cater to the world’s expectations as opposed to being my own person, my college career has taken a turn for the best. I now attribute my achievements to the hard work that I put into my studies and my activities—not to the stereotype that comes with my ethnicity.

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Courtesy of Diana Mao

On a recent trip to Cambodia, Diana Mao and Alissa Moore met a mentally handicapped girl. At the age of eight, she was a sex trafficking victim who had escaped to a rehabilitation home. According to the director of the home, her mental disability was likely a result of the abuse she had suffered at the various brothels for which she’d been forced to work. Mao, 27, and Moore, 24, who had been working to start a nonprofit to fight sex trafficking, decided to name their project after her: Nomi Network. To keep her anonymous, they changed the spelling of the name, making it a play on the phrase “know me.” “We want people to know her, know her story, know her success,” said Mao.

The network, which started in 2007, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “bridging the private, public and nonprofit sectors through enterprise and education to end human trafficking.” They employ former Cambodian sex workers to design goods that are then sold in the United States. The women are paid, and the women develop profitable skills for themselves. One such product is a tote bag that is inscribed with the words, “Buy her bag, not her body.” “We really care about the women and their development,” said Mao. “We don’t want it to end at just a job. We want them to have a career and go back to their families if they want to.” The goal is to provide these women with a living wage, health benefits, childcare and insurance.

The two founders were brought together based on their shared passion for public service and human rights. Mao studied economics at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, and her active membership in a Christian fellowship led her to an interest in “what was going on globally in terms of social justice and poverty.” A trip to Egypt led her to reevaluate how lucky she had been her whole life. One notable memory was a village where “children danced around with open syringes, piles of trash, no shoes, and flies everywhere. I saw how good I really had it,” she said.

Moore, who studied at Skidmore, had attempted to begin an outreach chapter in college to fight sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. “I had the early experience of being interested in the topic but I didn’t really know how to address the need,” she said. When she heard Mao was working with her church to fight sex trafficking, Moore jumped onboard. “My degree was in theater and American studies,” she said. “So this was very appealing to me. I got a chance to stretch certain muscles that I didn’t really use before.”

Numbers like these sadly suggest there’s no end in sight for the endless victims of this underground trade. “There are times I am discouraged because I feel that 27 million slaves is overwhelming,” said Mao, “However, I am always reminded of Nomi, the reason we started Nomi Network. If we could help even one girl, then it is worth it.”

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For Kerry Kwan, jewelry-making is a creative outlet. While studying electrical and biomedical engineering at McMaster University in Ontario, she found solace in crafting necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Her jewelry line, Tryst, became an official company in September 2006, garnering a loyal customer base for her delicately detailed pieces. From unique pendants to elegant drop-earrings, Kerry’s jewelry is whimsical yet classic.

Though Kerry has managed to establish herself with a popular online store, she acknowledges that it’s been difficult to break into the business.

“There aren’t many Asian women in handmade jewelry,” Kerry said. “Being Asian has been difficult at craft and trade shows. The public sees an Asian person sitting at a booth and can’t help but think: ‘Oh, made in China.’”

So why do we love Kerry? Her jewelry stands out because it is handmade and environmentally conscious. Her family has dubbed her “the green police” due to her eco-friendly ways.

“I really do try to make as much of it ecological as I can,” Kwan said. “A lot of my jewelry is either made from vintage jewelry or from unworn vintage components.”

In light of Tryst’s growing success, it’s hard to believe that being a jewelry designer isn’t Kerry’s full-time profession. For now, she continues to pursue her bioengineering career while maintaining the line on the side. Nevertheless, she said working full-time on Tryst would be a “dream come true.”

Visit Kerry’s website at www.trystbykerry.com.

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