Op-ed Corner

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This is our op-ed corner where our members write posts about their opinions, whether they are political or on current issues. Check out our blog to stay updated and follow us on Instagram @aapiyouthrising for more or our Instagram feed page!

Want to write your own op-ed post? Click here to submit your writing (must sign up as an AYR chapter leader). If you would like, you can request to keep your name anonymous in the posts. Please keep in mind that we do not accept writing that promotes hate against anyone or any group of people and personal subjects. Additional details and guidelines are found on form.

Disclaimer: these opinions do not represent AAPI Youth Rising’s beliefs, values, or opinions on politics, issues, and other subjects. These are simply the thoughts of the individual members who wrote these articles.

Latest Op-ed

After the Bell Rings

By Kaleb Condez “After the Bell Rings” addresses various problems that teenagers face, including hunger and abuse. In addition, this original poem reminds readers to always be kind, because you never know what someone might be going through. It’s 3 o’clock, school is out Middle school is difficult, without a doubt Now back home with…

Is Equality what we should strive for?

In a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court on June 29th, 2023, the Court struck down Affirmative Action (AA), stating that the admissions programs used by the University of North Carolina and Harvard College violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment; The equal protection clause states “No State shall make or enforce any…

Truly Free?

“Come on, Meimei,” my mom said in Mandarin, “we’re going to Trader Joe’s.” We were walking through the plaza parking lot when a white woman loudly shouted, “speak English!” at us. Sadly, this wasn’t the first or last time we—my family and the AANHPI community—have faced this and other forms of discrimination. Many do not…

Older Op-ed

Mini Pill, Macro Problem

I had my first period when I was in 4th grade at only 10 years old. It was incredibly painful. Almost all the women in my family have had hysterectomies before menopause due to Uterine Fibroids, which are essentially dormant tumors that form in your uterus causing pressure, pain, bloating and other issues. In addition…

Model Minorities on Asian Americans

Sarah was in school when her teacher was passing out their test scores from last week’s math test. One of her friends told her that there was nothing for her to worry about because they automatically assumed she’ll pass the test with no barriers. When the teacher came to Sarah’s desk, she scored an average…

Spartan strong, student strong

My story today isn’t AAPI oriented, but youth oriented. For context, I live in south west Michigan. Last night, the night of 2/13/23, I got a text from one of my friends saying ‘i love you so take care no matter what okay.’ This friend is a student at Michigan State University, (where there was…

Breaking Stereotypes: “38 At The Garden”

“38 At The Garden” is a 2022 HBO documentary short that discusses the 2011-12 NBA season and its star, Jeremy Lin. Lin is an Asian American basketball player who formerly played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is now a player for the Chinese Basketball Association. The documentary includes testimonies from several Asian…

Gilroy Chow: Holding Heritage Close

Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 11th, 1970. The wind blew as smoke began to billow at the bottom of the launch area. The Saturn V SA-508 began to take off from the ground, bringing the three Apollo 13 crew members: Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert into space. Gilroy Chow, one of the engineers…

The Efflorescence of Immigration in the United States

The war in Ukraine has left governments scrambling to accept the incoming flood of refugees. Since the war started in February, 5 million Ukrainians have departed Ukraine, and about 15,000 Ukrainians have fled to the U.S. However, by allowing Ukrainian refugees to immigrate to the U.S. through the U.S.-Mexico border while forbidding Mexican immigrants…

The Sides to Affirmative Action and the Impact on Asian American Students

In the recent awakening of current news, the Supreme Court last week has reviewed two affirmative action cases that have placed Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at issue. Harvard University was accused of holding Asian American students to higher standards in the college admissions process, while the University of North Carolina…

Illegal: More Than A Musical

Angel Island, San Francisco Bay, 1910. A place where over hundreds of thousands of Chinese immigrants were detained in terrible living conditions, confined into tightly packed barracks where they awaited for weeks, or even months, to either be allowed into the United States or deported. A story based on these historical injustices is masterfully…

The Facts About Monkeypox

The CDC explicitly says that monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to- skin contact, including, direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox, touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox, or contact with respiratory secretions…

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