APAPA Ohio Summer Internship Training - Tony Peng

殷余民

This last Saturday, May 12th, the Cleveland participants of the APAPA Summer Internship Program travelled to Columbus in order to attend the Internship Program Training. I cannot speak on behalf of all participants, but I personally saw this event as an enlightening opportunity. On our arrival, we were welcomed very graciously by those who organize and coordinate events in Columbus. The atmosphere created was inviting; it seemed to foster growth and education.

After discussing a few details of the program, Mr. Eric Zhang gave a presentation on the role of government as well as how the government functions. This entailed discussions about the different departments of the government as well as discussions about government executives on various levels. Although he claimed he was not fit to talk on behalf of all the different departments in the government, he still provided critical information that deepened our understanding of American politics. Upon further thought and reflection, there was one common thread throughout the entirety of the presentation; Mr. Zhang highlighted the importance of civil service and contribution. Him being a part of the government really allowed for us to understand that the impact that civil service has on our lives. It was very interesting to see Mr. Zhang’s insight on the American government; considering his origins in Communist China, one truly sees the striking juxtaposition of the two systems.

Following this informative presentation was our lunch block. Although this may seem rather pedestrian and insignificant, it was a great time for all the participants to interact and develop social relationships. This emphasis on social interaction is all the more important when one considers that participants of the program will likely be working together in the same facilities. This gave everyone an opportunity to start developing skills necessary to work cooperatively and effectively for the future.

Finally, our afternoon session began with a discussion of professionalism. Originally, when I had heard the topic of discussion, I was mildly disheartened; I thought that I had known everything there was to know about professionalism: get work done and be punctual. However, Professor Jingyun Zhang completely shattered this notion. The discussion of professionalism expanded to areas that I didn’t even know mattered; topics such as positive attitudes, office etiquette, and diversity had never crossed my mind as being important in the global workplace. Professor Zhang’s interactive approach to talking about these matters made them more easily comprehendible. Professor Zhang’s effective utilization of diagrams and videos also worked to increase the comprehensibility of her presentation and her message. Ultimately, the entirety of the presentation boiled down to one main point: we are not working on our own behalf; when we work, we work on the behalf of APAPA as well as all Asian-Americans. Thus, we need to conduct ourselves in a manner that brings pride to these groups.

To end of the day, the APAPA Ohio Youth Board in Columbus shared an overview of the events that they have contributed to. Hearing all of what they had done was a truly inspiring experience; I may go so far as to say that the Clevelanders were motivated to create their own Youth Chapter.

Ultimately, the internship training program was an educating experience that everyone was able to learn from. Because most Asians lack the leadership capacities to participate in civil service, they are hesitant to get involved in political affairs. However, this day allowed us to cultivate the skills necessary for us to be successful civil servants. I am sure that the lessons and messages will manifest themselves positively in the future. Such an experience ensured that we will represent APAPA as well the Asian race in a manner that will bring us pride.