Over the past few months, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Friday meetings with students from Yunnan. Each week, we explored a variety of topics—ranging from school life and family to pets, hobbies, and favorite movies. These conversations gave me a glimpse into what life is like in Yunnan, and I was fascinated by the cultural differences between their everyday experiences and mine here in the United States.
On May 4, 2025, Montgomery County hosted a vibrant celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month at Seneca Valley High School. The event brought together members of the region’s AAPI communities to hold a cultural exchange and deepen mutual understanding. It demonstrated the strength and vitality of the county’s diverse cultural landscape.
This year, I had the honor of representing the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) as one of the co-hosting organizations at Montgomery County’s 2025 AAPI Heritage Month Celebration. This vibrant and meaningful event brought together AAPI community members, nonprofits, cultural organizations, and youth groups from across the county and state to honor the richness of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures and celebrate the incredible contributions of our communities. Through service, teamwork, and cultural exchange, I’ve come to realize that being a good student is not enough. True growth comes when we connect, share, give back, make our voices heard, and stand up as future leaders—not just for ourselves, but for the world around us.
As one of the hosting organizations, Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) participated in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration Day held in Montgomery County, Maryland, on May 4, 2025. This vibrant and meaningful event brought together AAPI community members, nonprofit organizations, cultural groups, and youth organizations from across the county to celebrate the rich diversity and outstanding contributions of the AAPI community.
Receiving an award of any kind is an exhilarating experience, regardless of its size or significance. There’s a unique thrill that comes with being recognized for your efforts. For me, it brings an immense sense of pride and gratitude, both toward those who acknowledge my hard work and toward the organizations, like the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) and So What Else, that provide opportunities for me to contribute. On January 26, 2025, I had the privilege of attending the award ceremony hosted by the CYOC. This event wasn’t just a celebration of CYOC members’ contributions, it was also a moment for me to reflect on my journey and be recognized for my own dedication to volunteering.
The Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) hosted its 2025 Annual Meeting at the Potomac Community Recreation Center, bringing together youth volunteers, distinguished guests, and long-time supporters to celebrate a year of service, leadership, and community engagement.
On January 26, 2025, during our Annual Celebration, we proudly looked back at the remarkable achievements of CYOC. Since its founding in 2018, Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) has experienced impressive growth, gradually becoming one of the most influential youth volunteer organizations in the Greater Washington area. From its humble beginnings with just around 20 members, CYOC has grown to over 500 members, with a presence across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. This organization has brought together a group of passionate and energetic young people who are actively involved in community service, aiming to enrich others’ lives and create a powerful network of mutual support full of positivity. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our organization and welcome anyone with dreams, creativity, or a desire to grow to join CYOC. We firmly believe that by helping young people connect with their communities and actively engage, we can help drive prosperity and resilience in our communities.
On Dec 6th, 2024, we were invited to attend a China-US Youth Exchange Event at the Chinese Embassy as representatives of Capital Youth Outreach Club.
In this event, we met many sons and daughters of the famous Flying Tiger pilots. We were so excited. Suddenly, the stories that were passed down to us from our parents, grandparents and great grandparents came to life vividly. Our father was born in Shanghai, he has been to Kunming only twice in his life, but he’s never stopped mentioning Kunming, a mystical and divine place, and a city of family heritage.
华府青年 CYOC 
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