When I first entered college, I didn’t know how to begin to navigate campus. Once I found the , I knew I was home and I’ve been an active member since.
Read three reasons why you should join a retention initiative in college.
Find your community
I need a , especially at a big university — I’m sure you do too! Luckily, I found my community at the SAandPIRI through the various programs they put on throughout the year for people to meet and connect.
Now, as a SAandPIRI student intern, I help organize and host regular cultural events, like our discussion panel with multi-ethnic and transnational adoptee students from Asian and Pasifika diasporas. I found people who share similar identities and backgrounds with me, through my work on these events — and even formed my own close circle of friends, too!
Unveil your leadership skills
College is the best time to develop your leadership skills — it’s a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where ideas are encouraged. I get plenty of opportunities to think creatively and make my ideas come to life, when I help plan SAandPIRI events.
My intern cohort and I served on the planning committee for the campus-wide Lunar New Year Celebration — one of the largest community events at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ. We worked across departments to coordinate the event. This gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how collaboration happens on a large scale.
You’re encouraged to take initiative and contribute to programs that matter to you. It’s a space where your voice counts. It’s your time to shine.
Ample professional development opportunities
Retention initiatives and cultural centers offer more than just on-campus support. They create opportunities for ample off-campus professional development.
This month, I attended the annual Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education Conference with a team of fellow interns and staff. We met educators from across the country and learned how different institutions support students like us. That experience helped me see my future more clearly. I was privileged to learn about the diverse range of practices in this field — now I know I want to pursue a career in higher education. Programs like SAandPIRI helped me find that path. I encourage everyone to explore the resources available at your institution no matter which school you decide to go to!
Pat Fang is a second-year biological science major from Shanghai, China. He works on campus as a student assistant intern at the Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative. In his free time, he likes to read and run around Davis.