dear asian youth at UCLA
Grace Bui-Luu, first year, undeclared social science major
-I joined DAY here at UCLA because it was one of the few organizations I found that had a nice blend of both creativity and activism. I’ve loved collaborating with the DAY members ever since (they’re the loveliest and most accommodating people I know!) and I am so glad to be a part of our close-knit team!
-fright night (2011) >>>> twilight (2008)
(and social)
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graphics
Alice Lin, Class of 2026, IDS (International Dev Studies) + Psychology
-I joined DAY because I wanted to use my hobbies for something I really cared about and find a likeminded community. It's really fun to try to see unproductive things I do in my free time through an academic lens.
(also writing)
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Shannon Phengmixay, 2nd year, Biology major
-I wanted a club that deals with activism for the Asian American community that didn't require strict commitment since I have difficulties with time management. I like being apart of DAY because everyone is really passionate about spreading awareness on topics in the Asian American community that are often overlooked.
-Fun fact about me is that I have 4 tattoos and 5 piercings
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writing
Caroline Hsu, 3rd, Political Science
-I love having a space to learn more about the AAPI community and to write about topics that I'm passionate about!
-My goal is to read more books this year!
Sophia Wang, 1st, Public Affairs
-I love our tight-knit community and flexibility as a team! I wanted to continue writing for fun after high school and this was the perfect stress-free outlet to do so while bringing more awareness to topics I’m passionate about :)
-I can’t smell & I’m from Ohio!
Emma Sieh, first-year Music History & Industry major
-I joined DAY because everyone in this club is so kind and welcoming! It is really a safe space to improve my writing skills and gain experience with helping to run a social media account.
-I have watched Spider-Man: Homecoming 29 times (and counting).
(and social)
Meghna Nair, First-Year, Public Affairs & Economics
-I love how versatile DAY is in terms of being creative and finding ways to contribute to the organization! If you like to write, you can write research articles about pressing sociopolitical issues or submit a piece of poetry to our annual zine. If you prefer art, you can specialize in graphic design to create illustrations for articles and other writing pieces. If you're more of a numbers or tech person, you can contribute by being a part of the fundraising committee or the social media committee! There's just so many different ways to be involved!
-When I was 5, I climbed a Himalayan mountain (on the back of a pony) and ate instant ramen at the top :)
projects
Candace Wong, 1st year, MCDB
-I joined DAY because I was apart of a similar club in high school and I believe it is important to embrace and educate everyone about our diverse Asian cultures. There is so much beauty that comes from kindness and understanding and I'd love to be apart of the progress!
-Follow me on instagram >:) @candace._.wong
(also finance)
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Madison Starr, Sophomore (2025), Music History and Industry & Political Science
-Even after entering college, I feel like I am still on my journey of embracing my Asian heritage, so when I heard about DAY@UCLA, I thought this could be a great environment for me to continue this self-discovery. I joined DAY@UCLA to share my experience of what it means to be Chinese when coming from a mixed family, and also to expand my understanding of what it means to be Asian through listening to other members’ stories. Only recently have I felt so connected to my Asian heritage, and I wish to continue to spread this empowerment, so I joined DAY@UCLA! I love being a member of DAY@UCLA because of the other club members; I feel at home when I am around the other members of DAY@UCLA. Never have I been a part of such a supportive group, and I am grateful to have found this community!
-I am learning how to play the erhu and guzheng!
(and writing and finance)
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Sophie Ong, 2nd yr, MIMG
-I joined DAY in freshman year because I was looking to find a community of people I could truly connect with, on both a cultural and personal level. Though my involvement in DAY was initially spurred by social motivation, I started to realize the club gave me so much more. Being a part of the Projects team allowed me to not only educate myself on larger sociocultural issues in the broader ADIPA community, it also taught me how I can leverage my own resources to address these issues, even as a student with a small voice in a big school. Plus, there's never a dull moment on the Discord :)
-I'm from Portland, Oregon!
social
Dani Lomee, 2nd year, Political Science major
-I joined DAY because I wanted to be more involved in the larger Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American community at UCLA.
-Fun fact: I love Cuties oranges, and one of the first things the club learned about me was that I can probably eat an entire 3-pound bag in a day or two.
finance
Jenna Ortiguerra, 4th Year, Biology Major (Asian American Studies and Evolutionary Medicine Minor)
-I joined Dear Asian Youth @ UCLA because I wanted to be surrounded by people who share the same passion of uplifting the Asian American community. I like being a part of DAY because I have learned a lot about different cultures and I have grown closer to so many amazing people!
-Fun fact: I enjoy making homemade ice cream!
(also projects)
Joan Pak, Freshman, Music History & Industry
-I joined DAY to meet people who share similar interests with me while being active in learning new things and sharing interesting content! I love all the members of DAY, as everyone is always welcoming and very friendly. Participating in different social events and projects are always exciting for me!
-I love K-pop (somewhat obviously)
(also projects)
