I first attended YLC as a student back in 1998 and had the time of my life. Even though YLC was only a 1.5 day conference (it’s now 2 days), it had a much bigger impact on me than other camps and conferences that I had previously attended. The theme that year was “Breaking the Mold” and we learned about tackling the stereotypes that Asian-Americans often face in society. My mentors were inspiring, the learning sessions were eye-opening, and the team activities were exciting. Not only did I learn a lot about myself and Asian-Americans, I had a ton of fun and made lasting friendships despite the short time period. Because I had such a great experience, I immediately volunteered to be a mentor when I was a college freshman. Since then, I have mentored four more times and served as a board member three times. Many of my past students are now mentors and board members. This year’s conference is YLC’s 20th Anniversary and I’m so excited for the program that we have planned for the students. We are really going to challenge the students to step up and make an impact in their communities. I would encourage all students to attend YLC and I would further encourage them to serve as a mentor, because that truly has been the most rewarding experience for me.

- Jason Tung