2025: To More Beautiful Memories!

By: Kayla Tejero

 

This must be a great year for us! As always, we welcome the new year with fresh wishes. We embrace it with exciting goals. We will claim 2025 as the best year yet we have! While the year 2024 was quite a rollercoaster for me, I cannot miss counting the many happy moments I had. I am grateful for the travels I made, the great friends I met, and the joy of keeping and enjoying my job. I went to see Europe in 2024. Such a beautiful experience of seeing the other side of the world. I would do it again if there is an opportunity. I performed in many charitable events both in Chicago and Houston. I made so many friends along with my travels and performances.
Undoubtedly, life had brought a lot of surprises in 2024. It was a journey of so many ups and downs. I was hoping to find Mr. Right but it seems not the year for me yet. I met so many interesting people and became friends with each of them. I always believe that if it’s not meant for you, it won’t come yet. Last year was mostly about discovering people and knowing what I wanted for myself. It taught me how to pick and choose the right one. It also taught me how to be patient and more understanding.
This year will be more exciting. It’s time to set new priorities. I would love to travel again. I want to continue seeing other places in the world. Travelling has made me see not only places but also meet with people that I can learn from. Travelling is truly therapy as it gives me self-fulfillment. This year, I see myself going to the Middle East and Asia. I am excited about this journey – it is something new to me! I am hoping this travel experience will help me find more inner peace and brings great memories.
I am also looking at getting involved in bigger community events of Asian Americans. I feel that I need to get into a wider network of people to increase my understanding of culture, friendship and giving back. I also see a focus on increasing a healthy lifestyle – going to the gym regularly, making healthy food choices, We can only wish for good things to happen this year. It starts with a wish, then we add determination to it, then we think clearly about getting started on it, then we focus, and lastly, we make ourselves do it.
Every year, I am able to cross off one more thing from my life to-do list. The sense of accomplishment fuels our desire to do more and better ourselves each year. I’m sure our young adults or our college students can relate. Let us hear from our four features for this month!
Joaquin says, “As an Asian American young adult, I want to build upon the foundations that my family is setting for me and my siblings. Being born here in Chicago and growing up in the Philippines before eventually moving back here, my family and I always discussed our future and what we could do to emulate what made certain businesses and families successful. I want to use my gift of talking to people and building connections with them in my family’s future business to show other Asian Americans that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, you can make it too.”
Jenna says, “As an Asian American young adult, I want to not only be a nurse, but a person that my patients can trust and be safe with during my time with them. I also want to learn more to become a knowledgeable nurse in order to teach new graduate nurses. It is important to help your colleagues in order to give the best patient care.”
Kayla says, As an Asian American college student, I strive to embrace my cultural identity and make a meaningful impact both during my time in school and after graduation. Leading cultural events like Battle of the Bamboo as a co-principal coordinator has been incredibly rewarding, as it allows me to celebrate and share Filipino traditions while strengthening my connection to my roots. Looking
ahead, I hope to improve and strengthen parent-child dynamics in Asian families by bridging generational gaps, fostering heartfelt and open conversations and breaking down taboos and stigmas rooted in historical narratives as I grow in my career and community involvement.”
Angela says, “As an Asian American college student, I am driven by the desire to give back to my Filipino community. When I started my freshman year, I hadn’t fully embraced my Filipino heritage. However, joining Filipinos In Alliance was a transformative experience that allowed me to dive deep into the richness of Filipino culture. This organization ignited a newfound passion for my identity and opened the door to incredible leadership opportunities, including my role as Fundraising Chair. In this position, I had the privilege of raising funds for six medical missions, which provided much-needed medications, free clinics, and prescription glasses to those in need. One of the highlights currently this year has been co-coordinating the Battle of the Bamboo with Kayla Cabel. This exciting competition brings together passionate college students to learn and showcase Filipino dances, all while celebrating the beauty of our cultural heritage.”

Joaquin, Senior
BS Psychology
University of Illinois
at Chicago

Jenna-Marie Hau, Graduate
BS Nursing
Chamberlain College
of Nursing

Kayla Cabel, Junior
BS Biology
University of Illinois
at Chicago

Diana Angela Castro,
Grad Student / PharmD
UIC Retzky College
of Pharmacy