Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

I still vividly remember walking out of the theater after watching Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. I was with a group of friends of various ages, and those of us too scared for the horror movie next door decided to watch two stoners on their quest for hamburgers. I left the theater 88 minutes later with residual pains in my stomach from laughing so hard—and a stark realization that I had just watched the funniest movie I’d see in a long time. I couldn’t remember ever hearing an audience howl like that.

But what I didn’t realize for a long time afterward was just how novel the movie was and what a breakthrough it was in Hollywood. The writers reportedly wrote the two leading roles specifically for Asian American actors—literally unheard of at that time, especially with a movie that wasn’t set in Asia or didn’t include some type of martial arts sequence.

Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

When first movie came out, John Cho, who plays Harold, was unsure of how the Asian American community would react. “We weren’t traditional cinematic heroes,” he says of the characters. “We were stoners, an odd couple. That’s not what the ideal Asian American characters would have been if you polled people at a film festival. But over the years, it feels like the community has really warmed to what we are doing.”

Fast forward seven years. The Harold and Kumar franchise has become a smash hit, two stoners are household names and they’ve paved the way for minority actors and comedians to play leading roles in projects that are not ethnicity-focused, no longer always relegated to the bit parts of sidekicks, immigrants or exotic objects.

Kal Penn, the man behind Kumar, agrees that the movie was a step forward for the industry. “I remain honored to have the chance to play this character,” he says. “But it’s not about me. It’s about the risk that Warner Brothers took [in casting two Asian American leads], and I hope there are more movies that continue to be made like that.”

Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s certainly a reason why audiences can’t get enough of the franchise. In college, my Indian roommate and I discovered our mutual love for the movie when she hung the poster above her bed our freshman year. We immediately decided that we were a female version of the duo, one brown and yellow face, taking on the four-year adventure of college. Perhaps, somewhat subconsciously, it was the thrill of seeing faces like ours on the big screen, as rebels of a sort, proving that we could be ambitious like Harold but also fun-loving like Kumar at the same time. We dressed as Harold and Kumar one Halloween, watched the second movie together, looked up the lyrics to the Pi song and reveled in the way we saw ourselves represented in them, despite the fact that neither of us ever seriously dreamed of becoming surgeons or bankers, smoked weed or ate at White Castle.

This week, the third movie of the series comes out. Cho and Penn, the unlikely A-list pioneers of Asian Americans in Hollywood, are back in their most famous roles despite the four-year hiatus they spent filming other projects and advising the President of the United States (Penn was previously an associate director working in outreach for the Asian American Pacific Islander and arts communities for the White House). This time around, they are almost thirty. Harold and Maria have married, and the bond between Harold and Kumar has faded, as friendships are wont to do. A series of unfortunate events (isn’t it always?) brings them back together, in an effort to please Harold’s father-in-law, on a Christmas adventure that includes a Ukranian mob boss, a robot that makes waffles and, of course, Neil Patrick Harris.

Above all, the movie is a celebration of friendship—director Todd Strauss-Schulson calls it a “bromantic comedy.” According to Cho, the biggest challenge of the movies is making sure that Harold and Kumar are believable as friends. “I think most people have a straighter side and a wilder side,” he says. “That’s why the Harold and Kumar movies work to a certain extent. That’s why the Odd Couple format, which is what we’re copying, works so well. Everyone has both in them.”

Perhaps the biggest advance the movies have made is in making a pair of stoner rebels (regardless of their ethnicity) unlikely role models for a true friendship. I can’t count the number of times I’ve met best friends of South and East Asian descent—like my roommate and I—who believe, from the bottom of their hearts, that they are Harold and Kumar.

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Mochi’s latest issue is dedicated to pioneers: those who, perhaps unknowingly, have changed their respective industries—entertainment, fashion, social media, food and more—for the better.

Our cover stars, John Cho and Kal Penn, not only destroyed the squeaky-clean image of Asians for a huge mainstream audience, but also paved the way for studio heads to see that Asian American actors could headline a non-ethnic movie and generate a smash hit. A professor in college told me she had written her graduate thesis in Asian American studies about the first “Harold & Kumar” movie. I was floored that a movie so enjoyable could be ripe for academic analysis—that one movie could have such an impact of Asian American popular culture.

Some of our other stars have been pioneers in their own way—Tyson Mao, best known for mastering the Rubik’s Cube at a young age, has brought together the cubing community like no one before, Phil Yu started Angry Asian Man, a blog that gave voice to frustrated Asians everywhere, Vivian Weng founded FashionStake, a website that puts retail decisions in the hands of consumers—and that’s just a few examples of amazing men and women featured in this issue.

Last month, Mochi put together our first-ever party, where almost 200 people gathered in SoHo for a sneak preview of this issue, celebrating with makeovers, a photobooth, and shopping. During a brief speech, I told the audience what inspired me to become part of Mochi, in hopes of imparting the most important piece of advice I’ve ever received to a few others: You can truly do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.

While working on this issue, deputy editor Christine Wei told me, “You can never tell someone to follow their dreams enough times.” With that in mind, what decisions will you be making tomorrow?

- Steph

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Dear readers,

Mistakes are inevitable. Whether it’s something as big as oversleeping the day of a big test or as small as forgetting your umbrella during a rainstorm—like I did today—they’re an unavoidable part of life and should be treated as such. That’s why we’ve chosen to celebrate things that have gone wrong, so to speak, in our “Oops” issue.

I’ll never forget the day I received the rejection email from my first-choice college, after an early decision deferral. I felt as if the four years of hard work I’d put into high school were a complete waste. Of course, I ended up falling in love with the school I eventually went to, and earned my journalism degree, something my first choice didn’t even offer. I know I’m not the only one with this story. In this issue, one Mochi writer tells us why getting rejected from her dream school turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to her.

Aside from celebrating mistakes—did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented when a recipe went awry?—we also have stories that will help you fix and avoid them. Need a quick way to fix eyeliner that’s gone askew? Or make sure you don’t blow a big interview? We’ve got you covered.

Also in this issue, we’re featuring some incredible women who have overcome obstacles to find their passions in life. Cover girl Priscilla Ahn has had her music featured on hit series like Grey’s Anatomy—yet she manages to stay true to herself, singing songs about being geeky that tug directly at our heartstrings. Former Vogue assistant Aimee Cho worked in TV and print before she started designing the perfect trench coats. I spent years looking for one that didn’t drown out my short frame until I stumbled upon Gryphon’s mini trench.

Finally, if there’s one story you can’t miss, it’s our top ten Asian food truck list. Meals on wheels have taken over the dining scene, and we’ve noticed tons of new takes on Asian food offered at these trucks. Make sure to track down one of our favorites for lunch soon—I guarantee it won’t be a mistake.

Steph

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Photo Credit: Dove Shore Photography

Acting, like many professions, is not the easiest to break into. Most aspiring actresses hear “no, no, no” repeatedly before they get a single “yes”—unless you’re Kelsey Chow.

After a stint in community theater got Kelsey hooked on the spotlight, her agent set her up with her first audition ever— a spot on the teen favorite show “One Tree Hill.” “I thought the role was for a cheerleader, so I went in a cheerleading uniform,” says Kelsey, who admits she was an “O.C.” fan and hadn’t seen “One Tree Hill” before the audition. “To book that was absolutely surreal,” she says of her first role ever, which she filmed while in high school. “I was the youngest of them all—I was 13 when I started, and the other actors joked that I was the only actual high schooler playing a high schooler. And I was nervous because it was my first gig, but everyone was unbelievably friendly,” she says. Perhaps that’s why four seasons later, several of her fellow cast members are still working together every day.

While the part didn’t call for any specific ethnicity, most of the auditioning actresses were Asian American, though the character of Gigi Silveri ended up being Italian. “It was fun to play people of different backgrounds,” says Kelsey. “With my mixed background [of Chinese, English and Cherokee], it’s ambiguous.”

Her role called for a nerdy but boy-crazy character who meets series regular Mouth McFadden when they co-host the commentary during the basketball games. Though the guest role was short-lived, producers asked Kelsey to return a few seasons later as a bombshell college intern at Mouth’s news station. “At that point, I was 17 and now playing a 21-year-old,” she recalls. “I read the script every week, and thought, ‘Oh goodness, what am I doing now?’ But it was so fun to play that transition.”

Now, as one of the stars on Disney XD’s “Pair of Kings”, Kelsey plays Mikayla, the tough assistant to the show’s two kings (played by Mitchel Musso and Doc Shaw) and a guard in training. “It’s completely different from ‘One Tree Hill’,” she says. “It’s a world with infinite possibilities. I am so lucky because I love everyone on the show. We have such a family dynamic.”

And while she’s between seasons of the show, Kelsey heads back to the East Coast, where she’ll split her time between the two Columbias—the South Carolina city, where she is from, and the university, where she is studying global health. “I’ve been hearing classic college spring break stories,” she says. “I want to go back!” Despite being in relatively youth-oriented shows, Kelsey does get noticed on campus. “The mailman recognized me from ‘One Tree Hill’, and a girl in the elevator recognized me from ‘Pair of Kings.’ I was like, ‘you watch that?’ But I’m glad they’re watching the shows and enjoying them,” she says.

As the current TV season wraps up and the fate of the show that jumpstarted her career hangs in the balance, Kelsey is open to heading back for a potential series finale. “‘One Tree Hill’ will always be so special to me,” she says. “Mark Schwann has been very good to be me and I would be there in a second.”

At such a young age, Kelsey, who cites Natalie Portman as one of her role models, can take her time choosing her career path. “I’d love to explore different kinds of acting, whether it’s film, theater, or more television,” she says. But some of her short-term goals do have some sense of urgency: “I’d kill to work with people like Annette Benning and Sean Connery. But I read that he’s retiring—I better hurry!”

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Dear readers,

They say youth is wasted on the young—and we’re here to prove them wrong.

A few years ago, the Mochi founders were a couple of college students who dreamed of creating a product we couldn’t find in the mediascape. Since then, we’ve come unbelievably far, thanks to an incredibly talented (and young) group of editors and writers. Together, we’ve put together an issue that celebrates young Asian Americans and the sweeping influence they have on the world.

We’ve got some amazing features for you—our cover girl Kelsey Chow is only 19 and juggling a hit Disney TV show and college. I’m extremely proud of our 25 Under 25 list of astounding individuals that are, you guessed it, under 25 years old. It’s a wonderful mix of industries and people, from Brenda Song and Jenna Ushkowitz to Chanel Iman and Vanessa Hudgens.

We’re also spotlighting some cool people who are changing their respective fields in some huge ways: controversial chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang; four teen entrepreneurs making waves in healthcare, social media, finance and more; and family business manager Jason Wang of Xi’an Famous Foods.

And perhaps one of my favorite stories this issue is a compilation of pick-up lines we collected from college boys across the country. They’re a fun reminder that sometimes, when you meet someone you like, there’s no reason not to take the plunge and put yourself out there. After all, you’re only young once.

Vivaciously yours,
Steph

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Courtesy Sony Pictures Publicity

It’s highly likely that you’ve heard of Jay Chou before—he’s the Taiwanese singer-songwriter behind hits such as “Cute Girl (Ke Ai Nu Ren),” “Simple Love (Jian Dan Ai),” and “Silence (An Jing).” If you haven’t heard the original songs, you may have seen YouTube covers by Mandarin and non-Mandarin speakers alike (our favorite: sisters Riney and Bam, who used Chou’s music to learn Chinese), or heard his catchy melodies while singing karaoke.

If you’re a fan (or if you grew up in Asia), you may have even caught him on the big screen. He’s acted in movies such as “Initial D” and “Curse of the Green Flower,” and even directed a movie called “Secret” in 2007, with a sequel planned for next year.

But if you haven’t heard of Jay Chou before, get ready to get introduced to him in January, with his first foray into Hollywood as Kato in “The Green Hornet.”

Courtesy Sony Pictures Publicity

“I’ve always felt an affinity toward movie adaptations of comic books,” Chou said. In fact, his first starring role was in “Initial D,” an adaptation of a Japanese manga series. But Chou has chosen what is far from a low-pressure role to introduce himself to American audiences. Aside from an immense fanbase of its own, “The Green Hornet” also stars A-listers such as Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz.

“When I was chosen for the role, I was extremely excited,” Chou said. “This is an opportunity for people to get to know me, especially those who don’t know my music.”

Not that Chou really needs the additional exposure. He got into music at age four, when, like many Taiwanese children before and after him, his mother pressured him to study piano—and study it hard. He recalls how strict she was, making sure he practiced every day, but he also credits her with building the foundation of his musical career. And when he started listening to pop music, he decided to take a stab at writing his own songs as well. Since then, he has become possibly the most recognized pop star in Asia, with hit after hit, album after album.

Chou’s musical success has always been somewhat of a safety net for him. When auditioning for the role, he wasn’t too stressed.

“Movies are a sort of hobby for me,” he said. “Music is my business.”

Courtesy Sony Pictures Publicity

But when Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow dropped out of “The Green Hornet” and the role was given to Chou, he gave it his all. Aside from studying Kung Fu and driving techniques (the original Kato was a valet for main character Britt Reid), Chou had to work hard on his English.

“In between filming, I had to practice my English, which was very tiring,” he said. “Even as a student, I was never good at English, so getting reacclimated was nerve-wracking. My only relief was the director, who told me my English was getting better and better.”

Another difficult part of filming “The Green Hornet” was getting the comedy right.

“I’m not a funny person,” Chou said. “As a singer, I put on a cool persona, and rarely joke around. But when acting with Seth Rogen, who is hilarious, I had to try to be just as funny as he is. And that’s hard.”

If audiences respond well, Chou could become an international star—one of the most difficult barriers for Asian artists to break through. But even if they don’t, Chou is grateful that his career has allowed him to be selective about his projects, and make only the type of music and movies he is passionate about. As he should—Chou is nothing if not a hard worker. As 2010 wraps, he is getting ready to go promote “The Green Hornet” internationally with cast and crew. In January, he’ll play concerts in Los Angeles and San Francisco to further promote his music and movies. And finally, while he plans to keep acting in 2011, he hasn’t lost sight of his claim to fame.

“I put out a new album every year—that’s an absolute must.”

Note: This e-mail interview, conducted in Mandarin, has been translated into English by Mochi editors.

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Courtesy Wilfred Chan

Dear readers,

For me, the Christmas holidays mean one thing—going home to spend time and celebrate with the people I love best. I should probably be thankful all year round, but it’s really November and after when I start to remember how lucky I am to be constantly surrounded by people I love and care about.

We’ve dedicated this issue to relationships in general, whether with pop culture, food, boyfriends or the people who have been there since day one—family. I sincerely hope these personal articles, written from the heart, spark memories and connections within you as well.

I couldn’t be prouder of the Mochi staff this year—we’ve really done our research, and led by deputy editor Christine Wei and health editor Tiffany Ayuda, put out what I believe is the most comprehensive guide to safe sex for Asian American teens.

We’re aiming not only to educate you on birth control and STIs, but also to dispel those myths we’ve all heard since we were teens. For the last time, we promise, not everyone is having sex. Perhaps most importantly, we take a look at why this is such a hot (but never-discussed) topic among Asian Americans. Like Tiffany says, did your parents give you the birds-and-bees talk? Mine (and hers) sure didn’t.

Speaking of things I’m proud of, take a look at how far this issue’s Mochi stars have come. The cool guys of Far East Movement—who started with humble roots in downtown LA—have become the first Asian Americans ever to become number one on Billboard and iTunes. There’s also Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, making his stateside big screen debut. Mochi alums Teresa and Serena Wu, founders of the My Mom is a Fob blog, publish their book based on the much-loved blog in early 2011. I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I did, and if you find something you like, send it to someone you love—after all, ‘tis the season for sharing.

Happy holidays,
Steph

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Dear Mochi readers,

If I had to narrow down the one thing in my life that influenced me the most, it would be my five summers of nerd camp. Between the ages of 12 to 17, my parents would ship me off across the Pacific (with a lovely, puke-green, airline-sanctioned “Unaccompanied Minor” button on my chest) to attend the Center for Talented Youth, better known as CTY. Camp took me from upstate New York to Hawaii, and was the first time I was ever forced to step out of my comfort zone. There, I met the most fascinating people and professors who would challenge me to rethink every single thing I had ever learned and took for granted. Every summer was a three-week crash course in self-confidence and socializing, and what I learned completely shaped my personality and outlook into what it is today.

It’s almost impossible to tell when you’re living a moment that may not just change your life, but the lives of others. We’ve dedicated this issue of Mochi to people who have a made a difference—the biggest influencers today in industries like politics, entertainment, technology and more. We asked them to look back on the bits and pieces of their lives that have had an influence on who they are and what they do today. Then, we stepped inward and took a look at the everyday things that influence us—from ethnicity to pop culture.

Each summer after camp, I would return home – depressed to have left, but happy for the amazing memories. Above all, camp taught me that the best of experiences end. So, take lots of pictures. Meet everyone you can. And don’t be afraid when one big chapter of your life is over because it will color every future chapter of your life.

I hope you’ll remember this as you read through this issue’s articles. Every single person featured was once a teenager, not sure of the impact they would make on the world. And look at them now.

Always,

Steph

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Courtesy LXD Ventures

“We’d pretend to be robbing a bank, or go on a Jurassic Park adventure,” he recalled. Some time later, the preteen hassled his father until he bought him an electronic mixer to edit the films with. As soon as he got his hands on it, he cut together one of the vacation videos and showed it to his family that night.

“They were in tears watching it,” Chu said. “I remember thinking ‘wow, this is powerful.’” This is the moment Chu pinpointed when asked when he first realized he wanted to be a director.

Chu, better known today as the director of “Step Up 2: The Streets” and “Step Up 3D,” the mastermind behind online web series “The LXD” and man behind the highly anticipated Justin Bieber movie, is not one to stray from his dreams.

“I used to stay up late making videos for school assignments,” he said. “My mom would come in and say, ‘You can’t keep making these videos, you’re up all night. I’m going to call the school and tell them you can’t do videos.’” So he told his mom that filmmaking wasn’t a hobby, but a serious career interest. “The next day, she came into my room with a pile of books about filmmaking, and said, ‘If you’re going to do this, you’re going to do it seriously.’”

And that’s exactly what he did. Chu later went on to the University of Southern California to study film, and his final short film eventually caught the attention of Steven Spielberg. “That’s when things became very real,” he said. When the two finally met, they spent hours discussing musicals, movies and more. “From then on, he became a mentor to me,” said Chu. “He bought movie ideas from me, developed them for DreamWorks, invited me on set to watch him work. And the industry responded.”

Soon after, Chu was approached to helm a direct-to-DVD project: the “Step Up” sequel. His first thought: “C’mon, I met Spielberg. I’m not going to do direct-to-DVD.”  His second thought: “When did I become such a snob? If I’m a true storyteller, it doesn’t matter what medium it’s in, whether it’s direct to DVD or web video. I’m just telling a story.”

So, in his words, he decided to make the “best damn direct-to-DVD ever.” He revamped the script and prepared a video teaser, which led to a meeting with the president of Disney.

“Within 20 minutes, they greenlit the movie,” Chu said. “Full theatric release, from five million to 20 million budget and a release date of February 14, 2008, which was eight to nine months away.”

The movie went on to make $150 million worldwide.

The success of “Step Up 2” led to “Step Up 3D,” which Chu said was about making dancing the star of the movie (as opposed to Channing Tatum or the actual storyline). “We built it like a musical,” he said, “When words weren’t enough, dance would tell the story.”

In fact, he said it was almost more of a video game than a movie. “Every battle was a different culture, planet, dance style, which made it fun for us. If we had fun in this world, the people watching would as well.”

A few days before “Step Up 3D” was released, Chu got another important phone call.

“Paramount called and said they were doing an interesting, different thing—a film about Justin Bieber,” he said.  He didn’t have to ponder the job offer for long. “I’m a pop addict. I love pop culture and I love Justin Bieber. If it were any other artist, I would have said it’s not my thing. I’m not a big documentarian. But the story about Justin is so interesting. He’s an underdog. He comes from Canada and was not chosen by a big corporation, or “American Idol.” This story is so unique about how he became a megastar within a year. And I think it’s right in my wheelhouse—telling a fairy tale about how he came to be. He’s been anointed by Usher, Ludacris and Kanye to carry on the hip-hop and R&B tradition. He falls into the tradition of other artists that start young, like Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.”

Chu hasn’t forgotten his self-reprimanding words when he almost turned down the “Step Up 2” job that made him Hollywood’s go-to dance guy. No matter the medium, Chu can tell a story—whether it’s a big-screen movie like the “Step Up” follow ups, a web series like “The LXD” or a documentary about Justin Bieber, he’s a master at every platform and technology.

“I get so many messages on Twitter and YouTube,” he said. “And it humbles me every day. It reminds me of when I showed my parents my first video and they were crying. People all respond in different ways, and for any filmmaker, it’s the ultimate gift. Once you make something, and you hope people like it, and they respond back—that’s instant gratification. It’s why I do what I do.”

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Courtesy McDonald's

Michelle Wie’s parents first recognized the athletic prowess in their four-year-old when she picked up a golf club, swung and hit a ball airborne. After a couple months of practicing in 100-yard baseball fields, one ball flew over the fence and into a house. From then on, practice was held exclusively at golf courses.

As most of the world knows, Michelle’s career took off in a meteoric rise, and she became the youngest player to qualify for the amateur championship tournament at age 10. Three years later, she became the youngest player to participate in the U.S. Women’s Open. Despite professional setbacks (injuries caused her to withdraw from competitions in 2007 and 2008), Michelle has remained refreshingly down to earth. “There were a lot of ups and downs,” she recalls. “It all came crashing down when I was injured.” Yet she was able to shake it off. “I got healthier and it made me realize how much I love the game. Things don’t just happen,” she says. “You have to make them happen.”

Now, at age 20, Michelle is ready to show the world she’s more than just a teenage phenomenon. She won her first-ever professional tournament in November (her first win since 2003) and credits much of her success to a work-life balance. Every September to March, she’s a full-time college student at Stanford. “It was the one college I really wanted to go to,” she says. “My grandfather taught there, my aunts and uncle live near there.”

Then, for a second, Michelle becomes the most normal girl in the world. “There’s a shopping mall right next to campus,” she laughs. Her ever-supportive parents moved to the area, but she only goes home once in a while. “Going to Stanford has shaped me,” she says. “Living on campus, going to classes, trying to manage a social life and golf—it forces you to grow up.”

At school, the girl who grew up in front of television crews and sports journalists goes behind the scenes. Michelle studies communications, an industry she believes is useful to understand. “I’ve taken classes in digital media and how it’s changing the world,” she says. “It’s very interesting from a journalist’s perspective.” She embraces digital media outside the classroom too, as an active twitterer (fellow professional golfer Christina Kim first turned her on to the social-networking platform) and avid blogger. The blog provides a window into Michelle’s everyday life: In one post, she admits to loving Justin Bieber, and in another, she shows off DIY bleached jeans. Charmingly, Michelle admits to being a stress baker—and one can only imagine how much stress she must be under on a day-to-day basis. Her blog is a great resource for baked-good recipes (think macadamia-nut coconut blondies and apple-cinnamon-walnut bread) without dairy and eggs, as Michelle is allergic to both.

While she isn’t baking or practicing on the green, Michelle is working on other side projects:

Courtesy McDonald's

She recently signed on to become the official spokesperson for McDonald’s new education and community initiatives, geared toward young Asian Americans. The campaign consists of a television commercial that will air in Mandarin, English, Korean and other languages as well as a website where teens can share their biggest accomplishments.

It’s easy to see how Michelle’s achievements can inspire others. In preparation for July’s U.S. Women’s Open, she is currently training in Orlando. “I wake up at 6, practice from 7:30 to 2:30, and then sometimes it’s hot yoga afterward or a workout,” she says. “Then, repeat.” Michelle is no stranger to the Women’s Open—this year will technically be her seventh Open, though she didn’t participated last year. “It’s always a grind,” she says of the national tournament. “It’s a tough golf course. I just have to play the best I can and come out on top.” Despite having been in the business for about a decade, Michelle’s outlook remains a combination of optimistic and ambitious. “Coming in first is possible for sure,” she says. “I believe in myself; I just have to get it right.”

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Maybe it was my parents’ compulsive need to pack educational experiences into every ounce of my childhood. Or maybe it was a desperate attempt to salvage their sanity by getting my brother and I out of the house as much as possible. But as far back as when I was 10 years old, I was flying across the ocean with a bright green “Unaccompanied Minor” button on my hoodie —spending summers at my aunt’s house in Los Angeles, studying pre-calculus at nerd camp or visiting dilapidated castles in England. I’m sad to admit that my teenaged brain was bored to shreds by the crumbling old buildings—though I’d kill to go back and explore them now. Maybe it’s because I was encouraged to do something other than complete a mandatory reading list during the three-month vacation, but even today, summer to me translates into getting away and having an amazing experience.

With our travel issue, we hope to inspire you to do the same. Whether it’s planning an exotic trip to Asia or having a great time in your own backyard, summer is about the endless opportunities to enjoy yourself. Mochi writers share their experiences discovering cultural heritage in China, falling in love with community service in Honduras and braving Europe with a backpack. For those of you with plans to stay put, we’ve got must-read books, exercise tips and ways to be productive if you’re not interning from 9 to 5 p.m.

This issue’s features include golfer Michelle Wie, who is about to tear up the green this summer at the U.S. Women’s Open, and actor Justin Chon, who plays go-to guy Eric Yorkie in “The Twilight Saga.” YouTube entrepreneur Lindy Tsang adds another dimension of self-made success to our typical features.

For the lucky ones, summer means less responsibility and more freedom. Get out there and do something great in the next few months so you’ll have some great stories to tell in September. Personally, I’ve got big plans to enjoy the outdoor weather and squeeze in some traveling if possible. Hey, it might not be touring castles in Europe, but at least this time I’ll appreciate life as it happens. What are your summer plans?

Wanderlustfully,
Steph
steph@mochimag.com

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Courtesy John Russo

No one wants to go through life known as “the Asian dude.” But for Harry Shum, Jr., it’s a dream come true. The 27-year-old plays football player and show-choir member Mike Chang on the hit show “Glee,” but he’s much better known for being “the other Asian,” a nickname dubbed by Jane Lynch’s scary cheerleading coach character, Sue Sylvester.

Shum is no stranger to being a token Asian. Growing up in Costa Rica, he was often the only Asian in a crowd of Latin American faces. “My parents spoke three different languages in one sentence, and I would get so confused as a kid,” he recalled. While he spoke Spanish and English at school, it wasn’t until he moved to San Francisco at age six that he began to learn Cantonese as well. But that wasn’t the only difficult part of his childhood. “I was a really shy, really quiet kid—almost to the point where my parents thought something was wrong with me,” he said. So how did a young child who never spoke or socialized with others end up with a life in the spotlight?

“I always loved movies,” said Shum. “Inside, I always wanted to perform in some way or the other, but I never did. I was just too shy.” But in his room, alone, he was free to emote as he pleased. “I would sing songs and act out scenes in movies. But if anyone had walked in the door, and saw me, I would have been so scared.” His favorite performances to reenact were cartoons like “Transformers” and Michael Jackson’s music videos.

It wasn’t until one day in junior high that he got up the nerve to try out for a school play, which led to multiple performances at school. Then in high school, a good friend dared him to audition for the dance team, which exposed him to different styles of dancing, like hip-hop. “We did dances to songs by Ginuwine, and girls would scream,” Shum said. “And the football players suddenly wanted to join us.” Sound familiar? “In high school, I fell into the dance team like Mike [Chang] fell into Glee club.”

Shum’s experience acting, singing and dancing in high school set him on a path to pursue a career in the performing arts. After a brief, three-month stint at San Francisco State (where he studied cinema and international business—“to make my parents happy”), Shum and his best friend took off one day and never looked back. “He’s a music producer now,” said Shum. “We wanted to go and live our dreams.” While his parents originally had their doubts, Shum was able to convince them to let him give performing a real shot.

Courtesy John Russo

It goes without saying that the bet has paid off. He went on to dance in “Stomp the Yard” and “Step Up 2.” While working on the latter, he hit if off with director Jon M. Chu and joined his dance crew, The LXD (short for The League of Extraordinary Dancers). “Chinese people aren’t known for dancing, especially hip-hop wise,” Shum said. “I’m not saying they can’t do it, but they haven’t been portrayed [doing so]. It’s something that resonates as cool and hip, not the geeky Asian that people usually see.” The LXD is slowly changing this perception with the national attention they’ve received from their performances at the Oscars and the TED conference.

Of his breakthrough role in “Glee,” Shum remembers hearing that people were auditioning for Vocal Adrenaline, the rival show choir, in the pilot. “They told me [“Glee”] was cool and funny, but you hear that about a lot of shows,” he said. “I auditioned like everybody else, and I had to sing and dance.” When he got the call and e-mail letting him know he had received the part, there was no word on how involved of a role it would be. “I thought I’d be there for one day, and it ended up being rehearsal tomorrow, shooting next week. And then it kept going on, and no one told me how long I would be staying. That’s when I realized I would be there for awhile,” he said.

In the time he’s been a full-time cast member, Shum has developed a strong bond with his “Glee” cast and crew. “We don’t get sick of each other, which is really special about the cast. To be honest, that’s what makes the show work,” he said. “I’m close with everyone in different ways. Cory [who plays Finn] and I sit around for hours talking about technology. Matt Morrison [Mr. Schuester] knows some Chinese words, which he learned from friends. He can’t understand much, but he knows some Cantonese, which is always funny. Jenna [who plays Tina] and I cheer each other on, like ‘Go, Asian!’ Best of all, being part of the Glee crew means working with stellar guest stars, like Kristin Chenoweth. “She is an incredible person. Aside from being a little bundle of joy, you can learn so much from her,” said Shum. “I think the whole cast has a professional crush on her.”

When “Glee” returns from its mid-season hiatus, fans can expect a Madonna-centric episode, cameos from Neil Patrick Harris, Molly Shannon and Jonathan Groff, and much more singing. “[Creator] Ryan Murphy took the fans’ requests for stories developing in song, and you’ll see a lot more of that,” said Shum. And in the future, he hopes his character will get a love interest like Kurt and Mercedes allegedly do in upcoming episodes. “Mike Chang needs some loving!” he joked.

Catch Harry Shum, Jr. on the small screen when “Glee” returns April 13 and online at www.thelxd.com.

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I remember the college application process like it was yesterday. From applying early decision in November to finishing the rest of my applications late December (like any good procrastinator, I hit the “submit” button five minutes before heading out to ring in the new year); to the breathless refreshing of my email in the school computer labs in March. I’ll never forget the disappointment of being deferred, then rejected from my first-choice college and months later, the rush of relief that came with accepting a spot at my now alma-mater, New York University.

The next four years were a whirlwind of new experiences. I figured out how to write a paper on a book I had only read half of, put eight years of French to good use in Paris and juggled a full-time course load, internship and night shifts at the school newspaper. Arguably of more importance, I learned how to handle my alcohol, write an attention-getting cover letter and that it is indeed possible to laugh until your sides hurt — and then laugh some more.

Mochi’s newest issue is a dedication to what I consider the most life-changing four years of my life (at least so far). As the last of the acceptance letters trickle in and high school seniors everywhere make the decision that will shape their futures, the best part is yet to come. In our college issue, we have the best places to study abroad in Asia, massage tips to relieve stress in your dorm room and advice on getting an internship. Mochi writers spoke out about how they defied academic stereotypes and learned what was important to them in a college relationship. We didn’t ignore the pitfalls of college, either; our health editor looked into the dangers of prescription drug abuse and how to beat the dreaded “Freshman 15.”

For those of you who haven’t started the college application process, we compiled a list of the 10 best Asian/Pacific American programs, found scholarships dedicated to Asian Americans and share tips on acing a college interview. We even have two admissions counselors to debunk the most common myths of their job.

As always, we have our entertainment and fashion features. “Glee” star Harry Shum, Jr. and “Lovely Bones” actress Nikki Soohoo were happy to speak to us about their experiences in the acting industry and our neon and romance photo shoots show off the best of spring fashion.

I hope you’ll enjoy this new issue, which was a true labor of love and could not have happened without a staff that was so enthusiastic to share college experiences with our readers. Keep an eye on the blog for an upcoming series featuring our picks for the 15 most influential Asian American college students right now. If you’d like to nominate someone or just want to drop me a line, send me an e-mail at steph@mochimag.com.

Nostalgically,

Steph

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