Website & Social Media Director / Senior, Henry M. Jackson High School

“I joined YouthKAN initially with my parent’s encouragement, but ended up not regretting the decision because of all the wonderful people I met, who face the same daily struggles I face, and that I can relate to. I like to play sports, and I engage in many after school activities such as robotics. However, my true passion lies in making a change in my community, through doing what I really enjoy.”

Strategy & Outreach Lead / Senior, Newport High School

“I joined YouthKAN because I wanted to help other Korean Americans in our community. I am really passionate in helping other people. As an immigrant myself, I would love to assist others in settling in this community and any problems they may be going through as an immigrant or Korean American.” 

Storytelling Lead / Senior , Avanti High School

“I joined YouthKAN after I went to summer camp they held. I've stayed because I believe that we need to change the pressures put on Asian American youth. These pressures can affect their mental health in terrible ways. I want to fight to make a difference. To make sure that Asian American youth will suffer less from the damage of these pressures. Let's work together to create change!”

Outreach & Tactical Lead / Senior, Curtis Senior High

“I joined YouthKAN because I wanted to know more about teenagers’ lives as Asian-Americans and I wanted to explore my thoughts and engage more to create a better community for teenagers.”

Events Lead / Senior, Kamiak High School

“I joined YouthKAN because I wanted to explore both sides of my identity, my Korean-Americanness, in an environment that would advocate for both. I want to help create a difference in my community by raising awareness about the mental health stigma within Asian culture and create a community that is open to having difficult conversations about ourselves and society.”

Senior, Newport High School

“Growing up as a part of a minority in my community, I’ve consistently encountered racial injustices and problem areas among Asian Americans youth. These experiences urged me to take action, influencing my decision to join YouthKAN and spread awareness about our cause. YouthKAN has allowed me a space to discuss mental illness issues and encounters with racism that we’ve experienced, and it has provided me a platform to advocate for my thoughts and opinions.”

Senior, Garfield High School

“Living in the urban metropolis of Seattle, I was detached from my Korean heritage. YouthKAN provides me with a community of Korean youth who are driven to think and act on inequities we see in today’s society. These attributes largely influenced my decision to join the YouthKAN community.”

Senior, Todd Beamer High School

“I joined YouthKAN in hopes of addressing and better understanding the obstacles we go through as an Asian American. YouthKAN is a safe community where we advocate for mental health and the inequalities in the world today. These are some of the main reasons why YouthKAN is important to me and why it motivated me to join.”

Senior, Shorecrest High School

“At Shorecrest, there aren’t very many Asian students, so at times I felt disconnected from the Asian American community, and being only half Korean made that disconnection feel stronger. This is what initially drove me to join YouthKan, I saw it as a way to become more involved in my community. A main topic of discussion in YouthKan is about mental health/illness, something that I believe needs to be addressed in the Asian community, because it’s not usually addressed in Asian households.”

Senior, Garfield High School

“Groups like YouthKAN are vital to challenging, rebuilding, sustaining, and bringing life to our communities! Making connections both within our own circles and with groups that we are not part of is so important. Plus, I can count on one hand the number of Korean people my age that I regularly interact with, and I hope YouthKAN will make that at least three hands.”

Senior, Curtis Senior High

“The ability to give a voice and a community to Asian American youth is the initial reason I decided to join YouthKAN. Being an Korean American girl, I know it can be hard to find a community or place to fit in. Through YouthKAN I am excited to to provide a place where Asian American youth can feel comfortable and safe. As I continue with this organization, I hope to help foster a safe environment for Asian American youth to share their common struggles and issues.”

Senior, Curtis Senior High

Senior, North Creek High School