APASA's Game Show Social 2020 🎲

APASA’s Game Show Social, as told from the perspective of APASA’s Programming Director Joshua Lu!

Over the summer, the possibility of returning to school stood on a knife’s edge… until it (sadly) slipped off that edge and any hopes of an in-person semester were crushed by a single email. I found myself mourning lost opportunities for a hybrid Game Show Social, and felt myself doubting that we could create the same kinetic energy that magically and organically transpires at our physical events. 

Fast-forward to the night of August 21, as I changed into my Aegean blue APASA paraphernalia, placed my laptop on the music stand I use as a “desk,” and clicked on “Start Meeting,” I realized that this is really happening. Giddy with excitement, we started admitting students and welcoming them to our event… 

Though technical difficulties inevitably ensued, the vibes for the rest of the night were immaculate~~

Though I initially found myself getting swept up in the event, stressing over logistical tasks and keeping timelines, I forced myself to pause and simply enjoy the event. Scrolling through the many faces on the gallery view, it dawned on me that we weren’t providing a sense of normalcy but redefining a new normal—that we can create community and lift each other up from miles—even continents—away. That it wasn’t necessarily about the particular activities we did or the numerous logistical worries I mulled over, but rather our shared desire to find levity and form friendships even amid a historic pandemic. But most importantly, that we were still connected, all watching and participating in the same shenanigans we planned for our special guests Mike Bow and Joon Lee, laughing at the same reference to “Joon’s cake,” learning from Mike’s “professional” kissing scene tips, creating Subtle Asian Dating posts with people we just met, and making shared memories over an otherwise “intangible” event.

We are so grateful for our special guests Mike and Joon, who shared their experiences in acting and social media and were amazing team captains in our mini-games.

But most of all, we want to thank you. Yes, you. Even if you didn’t hop in with us for Game Show Social, we appreciate you not only for reading my bland musings but also simply being a part of our community. Especially in this season of isolation, we hope to provide a platform for these moments that remind us that we truly are in this together (and that we can still have a little fun even when we’re physically apart).

Lastly, before I go, I’d like to specifically shout out Ethan Soo and Patrick Fang for their technical prowess that made Zoom work, as well as Cody Mizuguchi, Colleen Feng, and Jennifer Lee for moderating and making this event possible!

We can’t wait to see where this semester leads us and hope we can ReZoom soon!