APASA Spotlight: Jaehee Cho

Why did you apply to APASA?

The most appealing aspect of APASA when I was applying was its family-like community. It remains one of the core reasons why APASA is my favorite organization on campus. I've been introduced to an incredibly caring and humorous community who've made my first semester at USC unforgettable.

Favorite APASA memory so far:

There are honestly too many good memories that I have of APASA to pick out a single one. The most FUN experience I've had as an intern was when I played "Silent Football" with nine other APASA members at a lounge in Bohnett late at night after the Cultural Art Expo. All of us were dying to hold in our laughter, especially since we were supposed to address one of our members (Patrick Fang) as "Mr. Commissioner Sir" every time we spoke to him. To cap off the night, eight of us piled into a single car and drove around campus to be dropped off at our respective dorms.

A significant cultural milestone for you:

When Andrew Yang became a serious presidential candidate, as his rising popularity is pivotal in helping normalize Asian American representation in all levels of government.

What does being APA mean to you?

I'm still discovering what it means to be an APA, as I spent the most recent half of my life living outside of the United States. My experience with the APASA community has helped me rekindle my interest in my own identity and given me a new perspective on what it means to be Asian in America.

If you could plan any event at USC, what would it be?

I would plan a week where students are able to travel in groups to countries all over the world so as to immerse themselves in different cultures and kindle new perspectives on the global community.

What is your long-term goal for APASA? 

I personally want to see APASA expand its visibility not only on campus but to the broader Los Angeles community. It would be great to be able to engage with what it means to be APA from a more grounded viewpoint with stories and input from older members of the community.

Thank you Jaehee!