Intern Testimonials

Gain some insight on what it is like to work with VSA staff by reading testimonials from former interns!

Intern 2019-2020, Vietnamese Culture Night Director 2020-2021

Thao-Vy Duong

When I first came to UCSB, I was completely out of my depth, especially as a shy freshman who was genuinely terrified to socialize. On a whim (after seeing one of these testimonials on FB actually!), I submitted an intern application and who would’ve guessed it (definitely not me), I got in.

I’ve joked about applying to be an intern this year, but if I was given the opportunity to go back in time and be an intern all over again, I would.

Being a VSA intern gave me an unparalleled freshman year experience. When you join staff as an intern, you essentially gain 20 mentors who you can observe and aid in planning events for VSA throughout the year. (Last year, I shadowed our previous VCN Director as the intern for VCN and got first hand experience of building a VSA hallmark event from the ground up.) Moreover, your intern team may become some of the best friends you make at UCSB. I can’t count on one hand the amount of nights last year’s intern team spent painting posters together or just hanging out outside of our intern duties. We’ve all have become close friends, and I will always be grateful to VSA for bringing us together.

Overall, being an intern challenged me to be a more active, passionate, and social person. I got to take part in planning events like Pho King, talk to more people in a single VSA event than I would have otherwise in a year, and make so many fond memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Intern 2019-2020, Treasurer 2020-2021

May Nguyen

I had no idea what was to come when I submitted my intern application. In all honesty, I still had no idea what I was supposed to be doing even in the first staff meeting. But, I’m so glad I stuck it out and reached out to other officers for help and advice. As an intern, I made so many memories and bonded with the other interns while helping other staff members in running VSA. Being an intern not only increased my social skills, but it also honed my organizational skills. I owe my time as an intern for influencing my decision to run again and become this year’s Treasurer, and I’m so glad the other interns feel the same way.

As an intern I assisted the staff members whenever they needed, and helped the Internal Vice President organize one of our biggest events, Pho King. Planning Pho King pushed me to enhance my time management, public speaking, and team working skills that are valuable in so many circumstances extending further than VSA. After seeing all of our hard work and effort result in such a successful Pho King last year, I felt so proud of us interns.

Additional to these responsibilities, as an intern, I was able to shadow the past Treasurer and host a fundraiser for VCN. This responsibility really pushed me to understand the role of Treasurer and gave me more confidence in running again.

Aside from the responsibilities and duties, I became extremely close with the other interns and love them all so dearly. I don’t think I would have been able to be this close to them if it hadn’t been for all the posters we painted together and the name tags we wrote at each GM together. I cherish the nights we spent together painting poster after poster in the dorms. I hope that you consider applying to be an intern this year because I never regretted it for a second last year (if anything I miss being an intern and having that bond with the other interns ).

I would encourage all to apply to be an intern. You don’t lose anything if you don’t get it (if anything you gain interview experience xD). But if you do get it, you gain so many memories, skills, and friendships that you can cherish forever.

Intern 2019-2020, Webmaster 2020-2021

Tommy Nguyen

As many first years do, I was trying to explore different clubs that they had to offer and VSA was the first club that I was intrigued by. Going into the first VSA event, I was greeted by different staff members and I felt so welcomed. Being a shy boy that I am, it meant a lot to have met someone who was already integrated into the club. Seeing the staff introduce themselves one by one, I looked up to them being able to speak to a large group of students. Eventually I found myself looking forward to future events and eventually, I applied as an intern. I was very hesitant to apply and if it weren’t for my last-moment decision, I would have missed out on one of the best and most heartfelt experiences I’ve made during my first year.

Being an intern meant gaining hands-on experience with running a club with a team. There are many different opportunities for you to learn from (look forward to upping your painting skillz) and I’m thankful that for each and every one of these moments, I was able to share it with my fellow interns. This group has made my first year so much more enjoyable and I cherish these moments very deeply, whether it meant grinding at the lib together or composing another poster. I enjoyed every second I spent with them and I miss being an intern ;(

Even though you are an intern, you are still part of staff. I love my staff members dearly and am so glad to be able join them for another year. It is so rewarding, seeing the different events run smoothly and how everyone has a good time, makes the experience that much more enjoyable as you begin to put more and more time into VSA. If you have even the slightest interest in being a part of a large loving family in VSA staff, apply for the intern position!

Intern 2019-2021, External Vice President 2020-2021

Anthony Vo

Coming into UCSB, I was a relatively shy person knowing only 1 or 2 people who attended here. I had been in VSA in highschool and I knew that I would like to continue my VSA days into my college years, but I was nervous because it was a completely different environment than what I was used to. I decided to apply to be an intern after encouragement from a friend and I got it!.

Becoming an intern, opened so many doors to me and I was able to meet the amazing people within staff. I knew as soon as I met them that I made the right choice in applying. Coming into staff was like being integrated into a new family. To me, everybody was a bigger brother or sister and I really felt at home in VSA because of it. Meeting my fellow interns was also an amazing experience where I made some amazing friends. I was really able to get close with the people on staff and get closer to VSA as a whole which is something I would never give up. As an intern, you’ll always have something fun to do and something new to learn B))

Honestly, being an intern is one of the greatest experiences that I’ve ever had and the only regret I have is not being able to cherish it even more :’’( Being an intern has really helped me come out of my shell and try new things that I would have never done before. With all the events and planning that came out of the intern experience, it really felt rewarding to know that you played a part in it, big or small.

Intern 2019-2020, Philanthropy Chair 2020-2021

Hoa Doan

Like most first years, I was afraid that I would not find my community at UCSB because of how big the campus is. But after attending my first VSA GM, I felt so welcomed and appreciated by everyone which made me want to become further involved with VSA. When I heard about the intern program, I thought that it would be the perfect way for me to give back to this loving community, but hesitated to apply because I did not think that I was good enough. However, I actually submitted my application in the car as I was on my way home because I had nothing better to do. And hands down, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made during my freshman year.

As an intern, you have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in leadership and professional settings. This internship has allowed me to grow as a leader through the events that VSA hosts. Through planning for one of our biggest events, PhoKing, I learned how to effectively communicate with a variety of different people and set an agenda for myself to ensure I complete all my tasks. I also had the chance to plan our ice-skating event in the winter quarter by contacting the venue and promoting the event. It was beautiful to see smiles on everyone’s faces as they skated around the rink.

There are not enough words to describe my passion and love for VSA. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to become an intern last year where I have created priceless relationships with all of staff members and my fellow interns. Therefore, if you’re looking for a way to become more involved, apply to be an intern!

Intern 2016-2017, Internal Vice President 2017-2018, Co-President 2018-2019

Howon Choo

To put it simply: the intern program was the most rewarding and exciting experience of my entire life.

Coming into college, I really struggled to find my place socially. I remember sitting in my room one Friday night (playing league), when Vito Nguyen came to my savior. He invited me to a small barbecue that Wayne Szeto and Will Tran were hosting last summer, and thus began my VSA adventure. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but they turned out to be incredibly welcoming. Throughout the summer, I got to meet and talk to several other staff members. They were all so kind, funny, and relatable, and I knew I had to find a way to get more involved in VSA. Thankfully, the intern program gave me exactly what I was looking for.

For me, applying to be an intern was a no-brainer. I really just wanted to get close to all those amazing people I had met during the summer, but the intern program gave me so much more. The sheer amount I grew as a person still surprises me to this day. Throughout the year, I learned so much about teamwork, leadership, and time management skills. I got the opportunity to help staff members out with their responsibilities and plan spring retreat with the amazing Shannon Kelly Tong! Most importantly, I managed to find incredible friends, and I will be grateful for them forever.

If you're looking to improve your leadership, teamwork, organization, or even your resume, the intern program is perfect for you! Even if you're just trying to meet new people, the intern program will help you build new, lasting relationships with amazing people!

Intern 2016-2017, Co-Activities Chair 2017-2018, Internal Vice President 2018-2019

Shannon Kelly Tong

A little bit of background: I didn’t want to go to UCSB. I was actually a click away from withdrawing my SIR, and in complete and utter honesty, the only reason why I didn’t actually go through with it was because I didn’t want to pay the hundred dollar cancellation fee.

I was scared; I didn’t want to leave home, and when I got here, I was a typical lost freshie that didn’t know where or what the Del Playa was. VSA helped me overcome this, and as cheesy as this may sound, they quickly became what I like to call my “home away from home.”

They gave me something to look forward to and a family to surround myself with, and I wanted to give back to them in any way that I could.
—-so I applied to be an intern.

To be honest, I submitted my application a couple of minutes before it closed, and I’m really glad that I decided to go off on that whim. Not only did I acquire twelve new friends on staff in addition to the five other interns, but I was given the opportunity to grow as a leader.

Under the mentorship of Wynne Yang and Wayne Szeto, I was able to learn what being VSA’s activity chair entailed, and when spring rolled around, I got to completely organize and run Spring Retreat with Howon Choo. This experience was unbelievably fulfilling—-being able to observe what to do and be able to do it on my own in the end—-and I moved onto the role of Activity Chair the following year. Now? I'm IVP!

Without a doubt, being apart of VSA was the highlight of my first year. If you have any questions or just wanna be talk and be friends, please don’t be afraid to hit me or any of the other past interns up! c:

Intern 2016-2017, Treasurer 2017-2018, Vietnamese Cultural Night Director 2018-2019

Sheila Tran

Being an intern for VSA was definitely the most rewarding and important experience of my freshman year. I came into this school super awkward and lonely, and I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. I applied on a completely impulsive whim, but it turned into the most defining experience of my freshman year.

Joining staff made me feel like I was apart of something and gave me the courage to meet new people, some of whom are my closest friends today. I immediately gained 12 new friends on staff, who encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and gave me a lot of comfort, support, and laughs throughout my freshman year. Beyond the social aspect, I also got the opportunity to gain extremely valuable leadership experience. I gained confidence as a leader, got better at communicating and working within a team, and because of my great mentor on staff Melody Yang, I even got to run my own fundraisers and propose new ideas as just a first-year!! I learned and grew so much throughout my intern run, and I’m still using the skills and traits that I picked up in my everyday and professional life. You’ll get hands-on experience in event-planning, leadership, and even more than that, get the chance to leave a legacy on other students and UCSB as a whole.

Being an intern means that you’ll get to contribute to one of the biggest Asian orgs on campus and be apart of something bigger than just yourself or your immediate circle. If you’re even the slightest bit interested in influencing change and growing as a person/leader OR just getting more involved, I can’t stress enough that you should apply now. If you have any questions about the intern position, don’t hesitate to message me and I’d be happy to elaborate more!

Intern 2017-2018, Treasurer 2018-2019

Brenda Giang

My decision to apply to become an intern was very last minute and my thought when applying was “eh why not” so I did.

It was HONESTLY one of the best decision I've made! Being an intern not only showed me leadership but gave me a chance to create close relationships with staff (including the other interns) whom I can still say am very close today!

I was able to shadow under last year’s treasurer AKA MISS SHEILA TRAN and I learned so much about fundraisers and how the financial part of VSA works! This definitely helped me prepare to take on the tasks as treasurer this year.

Overall, being an intern last year and experiencing what its like in staff was new and so fun! I’ve created so many close friends because of becoming an intern and joining VSA in general! I started off shy but this gave me many opportunities to socialize and improve my leadership!

Intern 2017-2018, Co-External Vice President 2018-2019

Devin Ngo

Having joined VSA as a second year, I was on the fence about applying as an intern because I thought it was aimed towards first years and felt that I wouldn’t fit in. That is until Wayne Szeto convinced me to apply the day the application was due, so I turned in my app just a few hours before the deadline.

Becoming an intern was easily the most rewarding experience of my second year. While I was hoping to gain experience as a staff member to develop my skills, I ended up with so much more. VSA ended up becoming my family; my second home. Just getting to meet and work with a bunch of wonderful people who would end up being such great friends made the whole experience worth it. My time as an intern is what made me want to continue being on staff this year.

For everyone contemplating whether to apply, just do it! For all the second years and older that are considering it, my fears of feeling out of place quickly went away as my fellow interns last year are some of the sweetest and most amazing people I have ever met.

Intern 2017-2018, Philanthropy Chair 2018-2019

Rose Hoang

I think VSA has something to offer everyone, whether that’s a big, a new friend, or even just a free churro at that one GM. Personally, VSA became a place where I not only found my people but it allowed me to feel like UCSB was my school and second home when I didn't think it could. At this time last year, I was still meeting people and finding my place here. Once I became an intern, it felt like everything just fell into place. It’s such a great feeling to be a part of something bigger than yourself, to contribute to an organization that spreads your culture and an organization that creates lifelong friendships.

As an intern I worked closely with staff members and alongside five other interns. Throughout the year I saw how silly events like Pho King or even huge events like VOICE or Vietnamese Cultural Night impacted the people in it, and our community. I know everyone says “I love VSA” but it's just the truth!!! VSA has something to offer everyone and for me, it made such an impact on my first year that now I’m back as a staff member. All I can say is apply, I promise you won’t regret it. If you have questions, hesitations or just want to say hi, feel free to message me on Facebook. Come for the food, stay for the people, do it for the culture.

Intern 2017-2018, Co-External Vice President 2018-2019

Vivi Phan

As a past intern, I have a few things to say to all of you! To begin with a little background, when I first heard about the intern position, I 100% wanted to apply. As time went on, I did have some doubts on whether I could manage my time, if this is something I should be prioritizing, etc etc.
So to someone who is unsure, here are some things you should know...
- VSA will definitely and should be one of your priorities! It’ll soon be but not because you signed up for it, but because you gained a family and a whole bunch of new trustworthy friends from it. If you’re worried that you might not be able to keep up with it, don’t worry, we’re all human and life happens. You don’t have to drop anything for VSA, but make sure you don’t drop VSA either!
- You’ll be a part of something more. I came into college feeling a little empty because being in clubs were a huge part of my high school career and VSA filled that gap for me. I wanted to do more and this is your chance to!
- My group of interns last year had very unique personalities. If you feel worried you might not fit in well, just know that last year we all had the same doubts and here we are now. You’re joining a group of welcoming people who WANT to be your friend so don’t let this stop you!