September 2014 | Page 10

“In a mental sense, last year I was constantly on my toes and found myself in an environment where I had to learn to operate by means of live trial and error. This year I came with founded elementary knowledge, ready to start playing a bit of hardball” say Byll. With the goal of asking the questions and challenging others, Byll was prepared to work hard to find the information he learned instead of letting it catch him by surprise. Inevitably, however, there were still a few things that was shocking in a sense. Byll remembers touching on the topic of public service, and how it thrives off one’s ability to find his or her particular niche to do well. “What was fascinating was that hardly anyone we encountered in a high ranking position set out knowing what their niche was let alone that they were going to be relatively significant leaders,” Byll said. “This idea expands into a grander notion; apparently, we are all leaders, but we all lead differently. Leadership is all about taking some degree of risk by having faith in your abilities and the abilities of those with whom you work, and going on from that point.” Another topic that made an impression on multiple members of the ECC was a discussion on mental health. Dr. Ida from the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) was in D.C. to lead a discussion on a topic that is often “swept under the rug.” “Oftentimes in the AAPI community, there is a stigma attached to mental health issues.” Chairwoman Victoria Yu said. “It was helpful to have an honest, open discussion and have students share their stories, perspectives and experiences on their campus related to this topic. It’s rare to have a safe space in the APIA community to openly discuss mental health without being judged.” Similarly, Dao was touched by the openness in discussing the issue of mental health, and how relatable it became. “It was memorable to me because I heard stories that I could relate to,” Dao said. “It made me realize that we all have some kind of mental health issue or has a friend that suffers from it, but we sweep it under the rug like it's not a problem, when it's killing us on the inside. As co-programming chair, Dao hopes to work with his cochair Schyler D’Souza to implement more mental-health related events as well as provide our peers with the knowledge and network they need to succeed in their respective communities through social media and regional socials. Throughout the trip, the six students were able to experience the magic of D.C. and the whirlwind of possibilities, even for minorities like Asian Americans. “What shocked me the most is the amount of Asian American role models and mentors in the DC area as well as in the public sector,” Dao said. “I always thought about working in DC, but I never thought it was possible till I saw it with my own eyes. There is a network of people there willing and wanting to help you succeed there. All you have to do is be willing to go there.”