My first week at AYA has been a new feeling for me as it is the first time I’ve taken a college-like class in high school. I’m growing to love the community and to grow bonds with the people around me. I never expected AYA to be as fun and engaging as it is. It has given me the chance to meet not only new teachers, but also people with experience in various fields, and to make new friends from all different places of Los Angeles.
It started off on Monday when I got to the Annenberg Building, but I didn’t know where the class was. I ended up wandering around the building until someone told me the door was right behind me. I went in and was welcomed by my class and sat down to begin my first lecture. That day felt awkward because I’d never met any of the people before. However, my favorite part about that day was the two guest speakers. They taught me about advertising and how companies use social media to share their products with more people. By my second day at AYA, I was feeling comfortable with the people around me because I knew what to expect. That day I was only taking notes and listening to what the professors and guests had to say. The day felt pretty normal to me because there wasn’t anything new, and it was just an example of what a regular day would look like.
Wednesday was Juneteenth, marking my third day at AYA. I already felt comfortable and less awkward with the people around me. That day, we had a barbecue with our class, enjoying food from a local African American restaurant. The food was delightful, and what made the day even better was our field trip to the CAAM museum. The museum was located across from the USC campus, allowing us to walk there as a class. Our journalism professor joined us on the field trip, and we walked through the rose garden and the science center to reach the museum. Upon entering, we were greeted by numerous portraits of African American women, each depicted in a different way. There were multiple exhibits, each with its own meaning and history. It was interesting to see how African American culture has changed throughout the years and how they’ve fought against oppression and shared their culture throughout America.
Thursday was my favorite day at AYA so far. Our last field trip took us to Little Tokyo. We rode the metro from USC to Little Tokyo and did a bit of exploring before entering the museum. The highlight of the trip was the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), where we received a tour talking about the history of Japanese Americans. The volunteers were exceptionally kind and informative, sharing not only details about the museum but also personal and familial experiences. Following the museum visit, we dined at a Ramen restaurant with delicious meals. After I ate, I wandered around Little Tokyo, taking in the Japanese-style shops and eateries, which I found quite fascinating. I’m proud to be a part of AYA, and this first week has been great. I’m grateful for the people who made it happen. I’m excited to see where this journey gets me as I move forward as a member of AYA.
Communicating Change 