“The seminar on Black Panther and cultural discourse taught me the power of films. In a way, film is literature, a thought I never had. I’ve always viewed movies as entertainment, but after reading African Epics and literature, I was able to see how directors are inspired by other media to convey a contemporary issue.”
Ever since YYGS, I have involved myself in more art projects and voluntary opportunities. I visited a small town in the mountains called Yangshuo, China, where my peers and I visit two local schools, a primary school, and a special-need school. Part of volunteer work, I taught first-grade students how to doodle. With the help of local friends, they translated what they wanted me to draw for them on the chalkboard.
The following day, we visited a special-needs school. That experience itself drove me out of my comfort zone and opened my eyes to the reality where some are born without the capabilities to do as well as others, but they still try. I painted the Milky Way galaxy. A bright, colorful spiral that we live in. I proceeded to join my peers in teaching them origami and the alphabet using drawings.
Throughout these new experiences, my friends at YYGS were in the back of my head. They’ve taught me the excitement in trying new things, and I found out that I explore more of myself within these experiences. The CAM session, in general, has fueled me creatively. The eye-opening lectures and seminars, and collaborative capstone project drove me to push my limits and explore the interconnection within the world we live in.