Long time no see/talk everyone!
I first would like to say, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone in UNAVSA. I am truly thankful for the people who have helped to shape not only me, but I’m sure many of the members of UNAVSA in one way or another, into being the people that we are today. I personally am indebted to this amazing organization and its abundance of inspiring leaders.
Today also serves as a throwback to my first blog/vlog that was posted over 2 months ago! Time sure does go by fast!
In honor of the traditional #tbt, I would like to reflect on an eventful weekend I had about a month ago where I had the honor to not only attend, but also deliver a workshop at the Leadership Retreat hosted by the New England Intercollegiate Vietnamese Student Association on the lovely campus of Brown University. There were representatives from the executive boards of 8 different schools within the region, who all came together hoping to strengthen their skills as leaders within their own communities, as well as strengthen the relationships between their VSAs. In between the laughter, the balloon popping, the search for straws, the story telling, and the occasional sentimental tear, I believe that the student leaders within New England’s IVSA were very successful in achieving their goals.
A HUGE shoutout to the executive board and alumni of NE IVSA for executing such an impactful weekend. From the extreme hospitality by my sistafriends Jennifer, Julie, Jeannie, and Jancy…I mean Nancy…to finding Duy after mistakenly screaming hi at another stranger presumed to be Duy, to my workshop session II buddy Tam, you guys are such a friendly and talented team! Thank you for taking in little old me for the weekend!
To be honest though, when I was asked to deliver a workshop at the summit, I was at first extremely excited, but soon after that, became horribly nervous and scared. Three years ago, I would have been sitting down at a similar summit or conference, listening to a workshop in order to absorb as much knowledge as humanly possible within a 45 minute time-span. I thought to myself, “Let’s be real Frank. What wisdom could you possibly pass down to your fellow peers?” I thought back to the past workshops that had really made an impact on me, and eventually I was able to pinpoint a workshop recently delivered by the current MAUVSA president, Tuan Duong, on confronting your super-ego. Thanks to his advice and guidance, I was able to pull together and present my first workshop. Before I knew it, I had finally become inducted into the mighty group of leaders who teach and inspire the youth, bringing my VSA journey full circle.
It’s on holidays like today where I am able to reflect on and realize how much this UNAVSA family means to me, so I hope somewhere between the gorging of turkey and taters, you find some time to send a message or make a phone call to someone in UNAVSA who YOU are truly thankful for.
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Frank Tân Minh Huỳnh
External Vice-President 2014-2016
Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations
Liên Hội Sinh Viên Việt Nam Bắc Mỹ
www.unavsa.org
It starts with yoUNAVSA.
