Raissa is a sophomore at Duke who will be working at Girls for Gender Equity with their Urban Leaders Academy.

Hello friends of the internet!

My name is Raissa Yang (pronounced Hi-eesa Young). I’m a rising sophomore majoring in International Comparative Studies, which basically means that I love cultures, languages, and food… Always the food. I am from a tiny town in Florida where racial, sexual, and religious diversity are practically non-existent and NEVER the topic of discussion. If you brought anything other than a Lunchable to school as a kid, you might as well say a goodbye to your social life. Luckily, I always packed authentic Asian or Brazilian food for lunch. I was very popular…

I experienced a bit of a culture shock upon coming to Duke. All of a sudden I was having conversations about previously taboo topics and learning about cultures from all over the world. However, the most influential part of my first year experience was coming to the realization that I am a feminist. Before college I first became acquainted with gender issues after watching Sheryl Sandberg’s TED Talk. Her talk sparked my interest and led me to read her book and begin looking online for more information.

I applied for the DukeEngage in New York City Program because it combined all of my interests into one summer. I get to explore a new, wild city, learn more about gender issues, and push myself out of my comfort zone. I want to come out of this summer better able to live as a woman and deal with the different forms of oppression and discrimination that I will face throughout my life in work and school.

This summer I am working with Girls for Gender Equity. GGE is an organization that supports women and girls through programs that push them to reach their full potential academically, physically, and emotionally. I will be working specifically with the Urban Leaders Academy. The Urban Leaders Academy works with youth of color to empower and teach them skills geared towards leadership and social justice principles and values.

I am super excited to be partnered with GGE, because when I was in junior high I was struggling with my ethnic identity and having a hard time finding my place in school. A program like the Urban Leaders Academy would have been invaluable to me, and now I get the opportunity to help support a program that I wish I had when I was little.

I am ready for this program to start. The little taste I was given at the DukeEngage Academy left me dying for more. So as I wait these next three weeks for June 7th to come I will be busying myself with learning how to cook, learning how to read a paper map, and figuring out how in the world I am going to fit my entire life into two suitcases. Next time I post I will be in my tiny NY apartment with my fellow Moxies!

Until next time,

Raissa