Asia Society Texas works with high school and university interns each semester through our Regions Bank Young Leaders Internship program. Under this program, we have partnered with various high schools and universities in the Greater Houston area to provide opportunities for students to engage with the broad swath of programs offered by Asia Society and learn more about nonprofit operations. Interns have worked in program development, research and curriculum-writing, outreach efforts, accounting and finance, and more. Through their time with Asia Society Texas, interns learn more about Asian art, history, and culture while gaining direct experience in a professional environment.

We'd like to shine a spotlight on one of our summer interns, Alyssa Green, who works with our Culture Camps and Young Leaders Institute.

Learn a little more about Alyssa and her internship experience below!

Quick Facts

Name: Alyssa Green
School: University of Houston, rising senior
Date of Internship: Summer 2023
Favorite project you’ve worked on during your internship: A tie between sticker-making for Manga Pop Camp or Rainbow Leadership for the Young Leaders Institute.
Most interesting thing you’ve learned during your internship: The most interesting thing that I have learned is how museums prep for grand openings and all the moving pieces. I think it is amazing seeing how everyone contributes and how the space has changed!

Reflection

When I was first looking for an internship opportunity, I really wanted to work in a place that aligned with my interest in Eastern Asian studies and gave me a chance to work in a non-profit. Asia Society has provided me with just that and much more. Asia Society provides the perfect place for young people of all ages to come together and work on what matters to them. I have met so many amazing interns and had the chance to collaborate on projects that I will use outside of my internship as well. The consideration that Asia Society has for diverse opinions and input on their projects and curriculum is something that I have loved to witness and be a part of. It has made me into someone more passionate about education and creating accessible education for all ages.

Through this internship, I have found a passion for curriculum development and presenting to young audiences. Previously, I have had experience teaching in the classroom; however, with my internship at Asia Society I got to go behind the scenes of learning. Some of the skills that I will take away with me are how to create curriculum in different formats, how age affects the content of what is developed, and what to consider when creating new initiatives and events.

One unexpected passion of mine that I found was developing a professional development curriculum for high school students and being able to give my input on their presentations for the Young Leaders Institute. Without my internship, I do not think I would have been able to find this passion, nor the thought process behind meaningful professional development. Learning this about myself has made me eager to implement this at my university, as well as looking for similar opportunities in the future.

As for my future after this internship, I am currently in the process of applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea. My experience at Asia Society will be crucial to this application and discussing my experience working with Education and Outreach and Business and Policy. Outside of that, I plan to bring some of the professional development lessons and PowerPoints that I have created to my university. I came to Asia Society with the mindset of being open to different views during my time here; I am leaving with the skills to teach people of all ages how to do the same, and I hope to bring some of the amazing things I have learned to my university and create a culture of diverse input to support the next leaders there.

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor of Education and Outreach; Syamal and Susmita Poddar, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Sponsor of the Japan Series; and Regions Bank, Title Sponsor for the internship program. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Vinson & Elkins LLP, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

Title Sponsor for Internship Program

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.