2011 Winner - Vanessa Zhang



I was hit with a tough challenge at the first Sunday practice: convincing my parents to let me play outdoors. They were skeptical of my ability to handle the heat and fearful that I would transform into a swarthy, brittle-skinned daughter ailing of melanoma and cataracts. Although they had my best interests in mind, I had to prove to them that the benefits I would receive from CYC would exceed the risks… and occasional mild sunburn. Yet, even I could not foresee that joining CYC would allow me to overcome more than just the physical challenges of playing outdoors, but also an inner psychological challenge that had latently obstructed my overall happiness.

I’ve always felt awkward being one of the few Asian students growing up in predominantly white schools in Perth, Toronto and now at Good Counsel. At times, I’ve even completely rejected my Chinese heritage by refusing to learn Chinese and use chopsticks. But living in a state of denial quickly brought many difficulties. Each time I turned to my friends for advice, there seemed to be a barrier preventing me from opening up about daily struggles at home. I never really knew why it was so hard, but now I realize that the answer was simple: they weren’t Chinese, or even Asian. It was difficult for my friends to relate to my life and console me accordingly because our cultural backgrounds and values were different. Joining CYC has given me the opportunity to confide in friends who have gone through similar struggles and experiences. With my new big brothers and sisters, whom I can turn to for nearly anything, I feel like I am truly part of the CYC family.

I’ve always called myself Australian, Canadian or American but never Chinese. For so many years I’ve viewed being Chinese as a hindrance, but seeing other CYC players with such close ties to their heritage has made me realize that no such shame exists in being Chinese. I have never before felt such an urge to get involved with Chinese culture until this summer when I finally accepted myself for who I am and embraced my identity as a Chinese-Australian-Canadian-American. Although it’s over a decade late, I’m finally keenly learning Chinese (with the help of CYC friends) and regularly using chopsticks.

I’ve found that many of my Asian-American peers are embarrassed and resentful for being one of the few Asians at school, just as I was last year. I long for my peers to take pride in their heritage rather than merely assimilate out of discomfiture. As the President of ISA, a club for Asian-American students, I hope to pass on the same enthusiasm and pride in Asian heritage that CYC has helped me discover by organizing club events like culture nights, bubble tea and dumpling fundraisers. Hopefully through my initiative, interest will build among Asian-Americans and the entire student body at Good Counsel to foster a greater sense of respect and acceptance for Asians within the school.

2010 Winner - Patricia Kingkeo

 

By Elsebeth Birman - 2009 High School Graduate

Introduced into the organization by Alan Wang; I first became involved in CYC when I was eleven years old. I first played basketball with 2E as my coach and was surrounded by people who just loved to play. Everyone cared for one another and just wanted to have fun. This was shown in nry "try-out" when 2E said, "Can you dribble? Can you shoot? Shoot a lay-up. Ok you can play." Then when I got a little bit older I got the opportunity to play with CYC's women's basketball team, the China Dolls. I was still very young playing with the veterans of the women's team. I was timid at first because I did not know anyone and there was a huge age gap between me and the other players. But being timid did not last long because everyone in CYC makes you feel welcome, no matter what age you are. CYC has one of, if not the youngest women's team in the women's national tournament. Every time we go to the tournament we are always greeted by other teams who say we are adorable and they remember us when we came up to their knee caps. This greeting is not only humorous hut it also reminds me of the fact that what we belong to is  a community, not only CYC but also every other Chinese club all over the country.

I have also gotten involved in the traditional lion Dancing with Wally and Randall and played volleyball for the past two years. This experience has taught roe so much about the Chinese culture and has given the opportunity to share my Chinese culture with people in my community.

Lion dance has also given me the opportunity to help and interact with the younger kids in CYC. I think it is really important for the older kids to stay involved with the younger kids because not only are we able to influence and mentor them we are also able to become more of a tight knit community. Volleyball for CYC was a struggle at first I had never played volleyball before but the Goon family convinced me to give it a try. I was not very good, but that did not matter because all of the girls on the team were very supportive and never just easted roe away. Instead they embraced me and tried to help me out as much as they could.

CYC has helped me help the community around me because CYC has taught me how important it is for people to be involved and welcomed. If the people in CYC had not have been so welcoming of my family and I we probably would not be in CYC today. This club has also allowed me to share my culture with other people in my community which is vitally important to me. I love sharing my Chinese culture and look forward to continuing to share it with the people in my community and generations to come!

By Pui Sham - 2009 High School Graduate

Joining CYC has made an impact on my life. At first, my parents did not allow me to play for CYC because I was already participating in multiple teams, but after being invited to play my first tournament with the Chinadolls, I realized how much I enjoyed it and decided to continue to playing with them. I joined the women’s open basketball team only three years ago, yet I feel as if I have been around this organization for a long time. My teammates made me feel right at home and I made new friends through the team who immediately became family. What I enjoy most about playing for CYC is the potential of forming lifelong friendships. After the first tournament, I felt closer to my heritage than ever before. Most of my teammates have had similar experiences growing up Chinese-American that I can identify with. Unlike other teams I have participated in, I do not have to worry about people judging me on my cultural differences. I am comfortable being myself and proud of being Chinese.

With my high school and AAU teams, size was a problem. Some coaches could not look beyond my height. When I came to CYC, no one doubted my game. They accepted me for who I am. They respected me as a basketball player who can contribute to the team. I finally found a team and organization that did not discriminate me for being only 5’4”.

In my experiences at tournaments, I faced top notch players that had many more years of experience than me which has made me work harder to become a better player. One of the challenges we have had as a team was getting together for practices. With many of my teammates scattered in various locations, it was difficult to practice regularly and to find gym space convenient for all of us, resulting in a lack of practices. I decided to step in and coordinate workouts near my house for scrimmaging. The greatest challenge was trying to win Nationals. With all the best teams in one tournament, getting first place is not easy. My goal is to help CYC win a National Championship in the future. Through all the challenges, the men’s and women’s CYC veteran players helped improve my game mentally.

My participation in the CYC basketball team has opened my eyes to coaching and teaching. Coaching gives a whole new perspective on the way I look at the sport. Giving my own basketball private lessons has not only taught my students more about basketball, but has helped me hone my own skills as well. I want to be a coach and teacher after graduating from college because I love sharing my knowledge of the game with others. In order to be a good basketball coach, you must have strong leadership and a good understanding of the game and the players. CYC basketball has made me determined and hard working and has greatly shaped my educational and career plans.

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I admit that playing CYC 9-man was initially a harsh experience for me.  Pushed by my sister to practice during the school off season, I went into the 2006 9-man season knowing no one but fellow classmate Willy Li.  Not really good at meeting new people, I was shy and hardly talked during practices except to communicate in matches.  I later found out that some of my teammates interpreted my behavior as egotistical and stuck-up, and so during my first year of CYC I found it hard to connect with anyone on my team.  Thankfully and serendipitously, it was the experienced members of the A-team that truly started to make me feel welcome.  During a water break at a practice one day 2E was setting for hitting lines, and when it was my turn to hit, my tosses were short, high, and horrendously inaccurate.  Yet instead of getting impatient and angry, the good natured A-teamers waiting behind me laughed and encouraged me.  I suspect that they might’ve been lazy to learn my real name but after that event they called me “Sleepy” for…obvious reasons.  After that I found it a lot easier to talk to everyone on my own team, and even now some players call me Sleepy without knowing my real name.

From then on I have looked forward to each and every Sunday practice at UMCP.  Even though it’s hot and humid on most days we play, I enjoy playing 9-man because of its fast paced, dynamic, and non-rotating (it’s probably more enjoyable for front row) game play.  Although compared to some of the more experienced players my time at CYC has been remarkably short, I still feel as part of the team as those who’ve been in CYC for as long as I’ve been alive. I’m still quite literally a “Grasshopper”, but I have found that the lessons I’ve learned not only in volleyball but in teamwork, communication, and perseverance carry over from CYC to other aspects of my life as well, such as at my tutoring job.

It’s not always easy to tutor kids in math; simple arithmetic functions that I take for granted can confuse and frustrate kids half my age.  Sometimes I too get frustrated when I have to explain something for the umpteenth time.  However it’s moments like these where I remember Wally’s patient instruction.  Wally probably has the toughest job in CYC because he has to deal with a constant yearly influx of new kids wanting to play, so he has to teach the same basic principles year after year after year.  Yet he hardly ever seems impatient, frustrated, or angry, he just methodically provides the training and mentorship that new players need and require.  If Wally can be so patient and nurturing despite years of endless repetition, I feel slightly embarrassed that I can’t deal with mere 8-year-olds in a 4-hour work period.  It is ultimately through CYC that I acquire the humble patience to mentor and calmly instruct my tutees.

By Bryan Huang