“I Wear Star Wars Running Shoes!”- a personal lesson in authenticity
There! I got it out! For weeks I had been deliberating over my next pair of running shoes. Adidas Ultraboost were recommended to me. Given my history of plantar fasciitis, I was intrigued by the Ultraboost’s stellar shock absorption reviews. Unfortunately, the sticker price was higher than I wanted to pay. Covid 19 has hurt.. read more →
Developing a Child with High EQ-Kindness
As a young child, I desperately wanted my father’s approval. If we were playing sports in the neighborhood and I felt my father overlooked me or did not esteem me higher than other children, I would cry and walk home. As a sophomore in high school, I decided to run track. My father loved his.. read more →
Our Role in Deteriorating US-China Relations
According to recent surveys, 66% of Americans have an unfavorable view of China while 61% of Chinese have an unfavorable view of the U.S.A. As someone who loves China and loves to build friendships between China and the U.S., this grieves me. Many of my friends are global citizens and share my grief. As relations.. read more →
“Match the Hatch”
Growing up in northwest Montana, you might say I grew up with a fly rod in my hand. Dad would take my brother and I fly fishing, probably three nights/week, as far back as I can remember. Fish are smart. If you throw something at them that is just a little different than what they.. read more →
Your Stress is Killing YOU…………..and ME!
The following exchange between a college student, who had a friend suddenly die, and her manager at work, Katie, just went viral. “Someone close to me just passed away, and I’m trying to find a cover for my shifts so I can attend the funeral service rather than call out and leave you guys,” the college.. read more →
In Her Own Words: The Passages Experience
Chen Can recently participated in our summer leadership development program, Passages. She so aptly articulates our aim at Ascend: growing the next generation of leader through relationships (if you are English speaker, cut and paste into google translate for a fairly good translation of her account). 交流学习心得体会和项目评价： 在美国北卡罗来纳州的一个月的交流实习生活是充实而愉悦的。 节假日与每晚的时间我几乎都是与Schneider家庭一起度过的，通过与寄宿家庭的良好互动，我不仅深入体验了美国家庭的餐桌礼仪、基督文化，了解了美国的潮流艺术、历史由来，也结认识了很多热情好客的美国朋友，相应地，我也给他们带去了我精心准备的中国风礼品，让他们了解了中国的文化风俗，更重要的是我也为他们带来了欢声笑语。这种氛围是和谐而融洽的，所以在结束这段旅程之前，我送给了他们我书写的一幅书法作品——“海内存知己，天涯若比邻”，这也正是我内心感受的真实写照。 考虑到专业需求，我选择参与的项目是美国环境保护署（USEPA）实习项目，所以每到工作日我都会去USEPA(RTP)实习，在这里要感谢Ascend International的Mr.Guy、Mr.Ricky、Mrs.Jan每日安排不同的寄宿家庭接送我往返以提供出行的便利。在每日从住所到USEPA(RTP)的半小时车程中，我也通过与负责接送的当地人的沟通了解了不同美国家庭的传统文化和美国人对于政府管理、环境保护、科技发展的不同态度，这拓宽了我对于本专业和职业发展的既定认识，甚至让我重新审视了自己的职业规划，也为USEPA的实习做了铺垫。谈到在USEPA（RTP）的实习生活，我觉得它是紧张而快乐的，每日工作时间是从每天9点到下午4点，我在Dr. Mark Strynar的实验室跟随他和他的博士后Dr. James McCord进行了土壤样品的前处理和样品中新型PFC（全氟化合物）的LC-TOFMS（液相色谱-飞行时间质谱）筛查分析和Orbitrap.. read more →
Is WeChat (and social media) Killing Me?
I love WeChat! It is my favorite app in the entire world. You can do everything with WeChat: pay a bill, advertise for your company, summon a taxi, follow different companies and so much more. But, most of us really like WeChat because we can stay connected with our friends. That is what I mostly.. read more →
Being Chinese in America
Bruce Lee said, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”.. read more →
A First Lesson to Aspiring Leaders: Follow Well
It’s your choice: you can be a cursing or a blessing to those who lead you. Whether your leader is an employer, coach, teacher or team leader, you can be a follower who brings joy to your leader or one they wish wasn’t on the team. The writer of this passage from the Bible said.. read more →
It’s About More Than Baggy Shorts vs Speedos
When many foreigners come to visit the USA in the summer, you can often identify them by what they wear to the beach. American males wear baggy swim shorts. Many Asian and European males wear speedos. Each summer, when students come to the USA as part of our Passages Program (https://www.ascend-international.com/programs/university/), I coach males in.. read more →