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 high school interns Everest Leo, from The Post Oak School, who works with our Education and Outreach department.

Learn a little more about Everest and his internship experience below!

Quick Facts

Name: Everest Leo
School: The Post Oak High School
Internship Duration: 2021 - 2022 academic year
Favorite project you’ve worked on during your internship: My favorite project that I’ve worked on during my time here at the Asia Society of Texas has to be my research and help with the Education Project's Onsite Exhibition project. It’s extremely exciting working on something so much larger and different than schoolwork.
Most interesting thing you’ve learned during your internship: I think it’s really interesting how large the community is around the Asia Society. They are in touch with and bring together many people from around the world, giving great opportunities to everyone involved.

Reflection

When I had first found out about the Asia Society here in Houston I was a little apprehensive. “What do they even do?” I thought to myself. I was under the impression that they were just a very spacious museum for Asian art. So when I applied to intern, I was expecting the unexpected. Being majority Chinese myself, I initially wanted to get closer to my roots and learn more about Asia in general, as it’s not taught about nearly as much as the West. More specifically, Japan really interested me and because I am currently learning Japanese, I thought it would be very important to have a more well-rounded understanding of their culture and country. Now, while all of my original interests and reasoning still ring true, I have realized that this is so much more. Presented with opportunities like working with an artist on an exhibition, or having possible room for connections with ASTX’s extensive contacts is something I do not take for granted. The projects I work on aren’t just menial tasks that will never contribute to what ASTX is actually doing, I am truly helping to develop, research, and advertise real projects alongside other interns and members of the team. This is not an experience that a high school student would normally come across.

Even though my internship is still active, I can already see its long-term effects. Not only will I be more accustomed to an office-like space, but I will have experience making judgments, and decisions for programs and projects bigger than myself, not to mention I will have developed skills in effective, timely, and appropriate communication with others in a work environment. Of course, there are more specific things that this internship will help incubate. Primarily my interest in Asia and Asian culture as well as my admiration and passion for art. I can’t wait for what other doors will open as I continue my Internship and how it will develop both me and the ASTX further.

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, 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; AARP, Sterling Turner Foundation, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Education & Outreach; Syamal and Susmita Poddar, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts & Culture; 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, McKinsey & Company, Inc., 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.