By: Diana Zhao
On a spring afternoon, I arrived at the APPI Festival ceremony feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The area was already busy, with people walking around, different booths being set up, and volunteers getting ready for the event. Music and conversations filled the space, and it was clear that a lot of people were waiting for this day. Even before I started volunteering, I could see how many people were working together to make the event go well.
I volunteered at the CYOC booth, where we had different interactive activities that introduced different parts of Chinese culture. One of the activities was calligraphy, where visitors could try writing Chinese characters. I helped explain the activity and guided people if they were unsure what to do or how to start. It was interesting to see how many people were willing to try, even if it was their first time.
Another activity was a chopstick challenge, where participants used chopsticks to move M&Ms and Skittles into a tray. Once they finished, they could eat the M&Ms or Skittles that they got. This activity was popular because it was simple but still a bit challenging, especially for people who were not used to using chopsticks.
We also had panda stickers and temporary tattoos at the booth. A lot of younger kids were interested in these, and it helped make the booth feel more welcoming and interactive. People would often stop by just to take a look or try something quickly before moving on to other booths.
There were also many other booths at the festival that were interactive in different ways. Each booth had its own activity, so visitors could walk around and participate instead of just watching. This made the festival more fun and engaging; it felt like you would never get bored. Since there was always something to do or try.
In addition to volunteering at the booth, I also participated in the opening performance by singing in the choir. We sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Being part of the choir helped set a positive tone for the beginning of the festival. I was a little nervous at first, especially since we were performing in front of a large audience, but once we started singing, it felt more comfortable.
Overall, volunteering at the APPI Festival was a meaningful experience. I got to see how much effort goes into running an event like this, and I was able to take part in both volunteering and performing. It showed me how many small roles come together to make a large event work.
Website Editor: Grace Yan
华府青年 CYOC 
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