Real Talk Three Summary
On June 16, 2018, the third Real Talk student-parent forum, entitled “College, Career, and Life,” was held at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Sponsored by the UDSD Asian-American Students and Families Committee and the Upper Dublin Chinese-American Association (UDCA), the event was coordinated by recent UDHS graduates Peter Hu and Richard Zhang. They were joined by multiple professionals in the UD community to serve as panelists, offering what they considered essential advice for high school students to consider as they prepared to enter college and, afterward, the workforce. While the focus was mostly kept on the former to remain relevant towards their lives, emphasis on soft skills and networking was reiterated throughout, culminating in an in-depth audience question-and-answer session that deeply probed the Asian-American identity; its potential strengths and problems; and the roles of parents, especially as first-generation immigrants.
On June 16, 2018, the third Real Talk student-parent forum, entitled “College, Career, and Life,” was held at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Sponsored by the UDSD Asian-American Students and Families Committee and the Upper Dublin Chinese-American Association (UDCA), the event was coordinated by recent UDHS graduates Peter Hu and Richard Zhang. They were joined by multiple professionals in the UD community to serve as panelists, offering what they considered essential advice for high school students to consider as they prepared to enter college and, afterward, the workforce. While the focus was mostly kept on the former to remain relevant towards their lives, emphasis on soft skills and networking was reiterated throughout, culminating in an in-depth audience question-and-answer session that deeply probed the Asian-American identity; its potential strengths and problems; and the roles of parents, especially as first-generation immigrants.
In addition to these fledgling programs, a future college essay workshop and dedicated career exploration session are being planned, offering further resources for students and their parents to navigate what is undeniably a challenging crossroads.
Real Talk Three Summary
On June 16, 2018, the third Real Talk student-parent forum, entitled “College, Career, and Life,” was held at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Sponsored by the UDSD Asian-American Students and Families Committee and the Upper Dublin Chinese-American Association (UDCA), the event was coordinated by recent UDHS graduates Peter Hu and Richard Zhang. They were joined by multiple professionals in the UD community to serve as panelists, offering what they considered essential advice for high school students to consider as they prepared to enter college and, afterward, the workforce. While the focus was mostly kept on the former to remain relevant towards their lives, emphasis on soft skills and networking was reiterated throughout, culminating in an in-depth audience question-and-answer session that deeply probed the Asian-American identity; its potential strengths and problems; and the roles of parents, especially as first-generation immigrants.
Also introduced was an idea of establishing a mentorship program in the UD Asian-American community. The program is intended to provide support and foster a lifelong personal connection by pairing high school students with undergraduate mentors that they can reach out to for advice and help. Students and parents—professionals in the community—alike are also both encouraged to join a similar professional support group, in which wisdom and tips regarding career paths can be shared.
In addition to these fledgling programs, a future college essay workshop and dedicated career exploration session are being planned, offering further resources for students and their parents to navigate what is undeniably a challenging crossroads.