Anqi

Hey! I am Anqi. I am majoring in Public Relations and Marketing. This is my second year in Syracuse University. I was born in the south part of China, a place that never snow. Moved to new york city, a place always get some snow in winter, three year ago with my family. Now, I am in Syracuse, having a new experience of "snowing winter". I am the only kid my parents have, the perfect example of China's "Only Child Policy".

[|first draft.doc] [|outline.doc]

I didn't finish the whole draft, however, I also post the outline which is the structure of my paper.

**Conversation**
Anqi: Who founded TRC? When and Why?
 * Erica Christie, MPH. **
 * Program Coordinator of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center **

Erica: TRC was established in 2003 from a small donation made by a community member. This allowed us to create some activities and begin getting our youth involved. In 2006, a grant was provided to us for a pregnancy prevention program, within the TRC.

Anqi: Who is in charged TRC and who can make the decisions?

Erica: A Program Director oversees the program; Program Coordinator is more directly involved with programs/events. Anqi: Why focus on Asian American? Why focus on teens?

Erica: The mission of the Health Center is to serve Asian Americans. The care that we provide is best quality care that is culturally competent and linguistically accurate to this particular population. Teens have special needs and particular health related concerns that differ from other populations. We feel it is important to provide them with direct services that appropriately impact teens. Anqi: How does TRC publicize its events? Erica: Via ‘Teen News’ quarterly newsletter, website ( [|http://trc.cbwchc.org] ), press release, e-mails, within the clinic, outreach to local schools and other community based organizations. Anqi: What are the interesting aspects of the programs TRC offer?

Erica: Peer education (teens educating teens), youth development, **comprehensive** sexual health education, other teen related health issues, peer review (community youth review materials and education information), community youth also help in the development of many activities

Anqi: Who is the Teen Health Educator? How they got trained? What’s the requirement to be a Teen Health Educator? Erica: TRC THEs are either high school or college students and must have a desire to work with youth/adolescents, have strong interpersonal skills and public speaking skills and ability to work in a team (Bi-lingual in Chinese/English is not a requirement, but is preferred). They are trained by doctors within the clinic as well as the other THEs when they are first hired. They continue to receive trainings on comprehensive sexual health from outside agencies as well. Anqi: How are the workshops set up? Who asks for them and who get the chance to choose the topic?

Erica: We have a group of teens called the Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) and they provide suggestions on teen health topics, activities, ways to educate, etc. Their suggestions guide the TRC team to decide which topics we will cover and how we will do so. Workshops are planned, developed and implemented by the THEs themselves.

Anqi: What are the larger educational trends or larger social trends to tie to?

Erica: Lack of parent/youth communication (cultural differences, language barriers, generational gaps); lack of sexual education in general.

Anqi: Why sexual health education is important?

Erica: Health in general is important, but teens are faced with many particular issues, such as peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors, self-esteems issues, etc. These are all factors that impact the choices they make. In many schools, sexual health is not taught or not taught comprehensively. We believe that teens need to be informed of all of their options and then help to guide them to make healthy choices; sexual health being one of them.

Anqi: How parents interact with the organization or programs? Do they also participate?

Erica: We have a goal within our program to involve parents. We publish articles quarterly and broadcast radio segments to local Chinese newspapers and radio stations to inform them of the importance of talking to their teens about sex and open communication. We conduct parent workshops and teen workshops to help them build skills to foster effective communication. Anqi: As a staff, how do you think about TRC?

Erica: The TRC is a place where ensure a safe and non-judgmental environment in which teens can receive accurate information, quality health care and engage in youth development activities to help grow. It is a fun center in which the THEs make all activities fun and engaging.

** Author of **// Asian American Adolescent’s First Sexual Intercourse: Gender and Acculturation Differences // Anqi: What Asian American adolescent interested you?
 * Hyeouk Chris Hahm **

Hahm: The cultural heritage of Asian Americans makes the systematic study of sexual activity and attitudes about sexuality complex, because in Asian cultures, there is a sharp distinction between public and private selves, and sexuality is kept within the realm of the private self. Unmarried people, especially women, are expected to abstain from ex- pressing sexual desire because they may bring shame or dishonor to the family.

Anqi: What’s the conflict of two different culture shows?

Hahm: Asian American adolescents, particularly women, often live in a bicultural world where they experience contradictions between their heritage and American culture. They observe American notions of gender roles through interactions with peers and at schools, and Eastern notions of gender roles through family and ethnic community socialization.

Anqi: What is the conclusion of the study? Hahm: Like all adolescents, Asian Americans are at high risk for the consequences of sexual activity. For this fast-growing population, there is a crucial need for preventive programs that are culturally sensitive, inclusive