Growing up in Silicon Valley as an Asian-American teen is definitely a privilege. We have access to a plethora of opportunity that most could only dream of: the best public schools, parents willing to sacrifice for our benefit, and a great environment filled with other goal-oriented, high-achieving teens. How many other children get the chance to experience such technology and innovation like that of Silicon Valley?
My name is Timothy Yuan, currently a student at Leland High School, and I’m what people would typically expect of a successful Asian teen in the Bay Area (good at math, academically sound, violinist). However, there was nothing really differentiating me from all those others who were just as well-off as I was. As I volunteered more and more in my community, I was given a new perspective that the individualistic and success-driven ideals of the area could not give. I learned to appreciate my own prosperity and realized that our visions of good fortune led to incredible selfishness. From Enlighten Chinese School, I had the chance to work with a multitude of young children (it was horribly frustrating at times, but also an amazing experience). I began to value the growth and development of the next generation, which led to other wonderful volunteering experiences. Later, I worked with White Stag Leadership Development Academy, a nonprofit devoted to building up leaders in an outdoor environment and even created a team of high-school students to tutor kids in my community. I’m incredibly fortunate to have such experiences that helped me grow into a more considerate person. I strongly encourage teens to take initiative to help out in their community and I hope that parents will give their full support for selfless action. The classroom simply cannot cultivate a caring, kindhearted next generation on its own, but luckily volunteering can help us out!
Enlighten Volunteer Experience:
Other Volunteering:
Organized an event to send books to a school in China；Organized an event to send Christmas Boxes for a Children’s Home in Haiti
