#fasamedia

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A Cameraphobe’s Guide to Making Sure to Never Be the Focus of a Camera || Taryn Daclison, FASA's 2023-2024 Co-Media Chair

Cameraphobe = someone with the fear of being in front of a camera and having their picture taken 

Hello FASA, 

It is I, Taryn, the person behind the camera who is always running around at events asking you to smile and pose. As my time on board is near the end, I can’t help but look back at how far I’ve come in this org as well as think about how nice it felt to not be the focus of a camera for a while. Now, I do realize the irony in giving tips on avoiding the camera while using photos of myself, but these are the ones out of thousands of photos that just happened to turn out good. So if you are like me and are a cameraphobe, then here are some steps that I took that I think can help prevent the inevitable photo of you lacking. 

*Disclaimer* This is 100% NOT foolproof so I am not responsible for any photos that may catch you lacking (jk that probably was my fault lolz im sorry)

Step 1: Go to a FASA event 

My first touch with FASA was at the beginning of freshman year, when the Filipino girl who lived down the hall from me at Markley texted me, asking if I was gonna go to FASA’s FAM/Lin event. I barely knew her, or much about FASA, but I was intrigued by the idea of a Filipino club so I said “I’ll go if you go.” The next thing I know a couple weeks later, she and I are walking to the event wondering if there was gonna be food and what the event was gonna be like. Little did I know that I ended up walking there with one of my future best friends, was sorted into the best FAM (shoutout $WAG), somehow missed the lineage sorting form, and was gonna get caught lacking. 

Me + said girl from down the hall (aka Sofiaaaa) at FAM/Lin Reveal

Step 2: (if given the opportunity) Go to FACT

To be honest, I didn’t go to anything FASA related after FAM/LIN until FACT came around. I actually signed up to go at FAM/Lin with Sofia (the girl from down the hall) because going to UIUC for the weekend seemed like fun. I was honestly so excited to go to UIUC for the weekend but I was also extremely nervous because I didn’t know anyone else going except Sofia. But then she ended up getting sick and couldn’t go, so essentially I went to Illinois knowing NO ONE, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. It was at FACT where I really got to know people in FASA and where I realized that FASA was something I truly wanted to be a part of.

I can’t believe freshman me got in a car with people I’ve never met before and went to UIUC  

The freshmen room except I didn’t get put in the freshmen room. Still had a lot of fun though!!

Step 3: Integrate yourself into FASA

After FACT, I tried to go to as many events as I could and even applied to become an intern!!

But that didn’t really work out… 

But (spoiler alert) everything ended up working out in the end! I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and since I got rejected from being an intern, I was able to get to know more people in FASA at events and really enjoy the fun of being a general member. 

During my active era:

I (finally) got sorted into a lineage, which I love so so so much and am quite literally obsessed with. 

TIGGYYYY

I constantly had the freshmen over at my dorm before every afterset iykyk. 

I went to Chicago for Battle, which really felt like a big giant sleepover with my friends.

Who would have ever thought that the FIRST co-media chairs would be in this car on the way home from battle

And I got to do so much more all while having fun and creating some of the best friendships I’ve ever had through FASA. 

Like this one. 

And this one.

How could I ever forget this one.

And most importantly this one.

Step 4: Run for Media Chair 

The best way to ensure you won’t be in front of the camera is by being behind it all the time!

By the time election season was coming around, I was on the fence about running for board because I wasn’t sure if a) people knew who I was and b) if I was even qualified to do so. I was so hesitant and so secretive about it (and for what???) that I only told 3 people I was running. And even then, I told them I was running for either socials or externals, NOT media. After coffee chatting my media ates Emily and Michelle, I realized that I was just as qualified as everyone else to run for board, and that if I wanted my vision to come to life then I should run. So I did. And then I was able to avoid the camera for a year :)

Media Lin <33333 (also who let me wear cheetah print pants to elections???)

During my time as media chair I have gotten to see and capture moments where people are creating friendships or where they are finally connecting to their own culture, and it has been so fun to watch and be a part of. Truly this position was an opportunity I never knew I needed. Looking back at the beginning of my freshman year to now, I have grown so much creatively and as a leader. Not only that, but I have also learned so much about my culture and how I can let it be a significant part of my life. So because of that, being on board and being media chair will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Step 5: Ummmm

So actually I don’t know what step comes next after being media chair, but that’s something for me to figure out now. But It’s looking like I’ll have to come up with a new plan for avoiding the camera. 

All I know is that I owe A LOT to board. Thank you guys for being patient with me (and Kayla) when we turned you into impromptu models for board photo shoot. And then when you had to do it again another day for the group photo. Thank you for listening to us at the end of every board meeting when we were always the last to go. Thank you for all supporting and hyping us up in every creative endeavor we had. And thank you all for being such eager and hardworking people and for letting us be a part of each and every one of your events. I am so proud of everything that you all have accomplished and I hope you know that after our terms that we are not just fellow board members but friends as well. 

My favorite impromptu models <3

And of course, I know I owe MUCH MORE to my wonderful co. Kayla, you have been such a rock for me this year and I don’t think I've thanked you enough for it. You pick up where I slack off and you push me to be more creative and a better co each and every day. Thank you so much for supporting my ideas and helping me bring them to life. Thank you for being patient with me and for always listening to my rants and ranting with me. You make me feel sane and seen :) On another note, thank you for always laughing at my jokes and telling me I’m funny. It always makes my day when you say that <3 

And lastly, thank you FASA. You have been a community that will forever feel like family. It has been such a pleasure getting to capture FASA’s memories with my camera, and I can’t wait to see what the next media chairs do (it better not be catching me lacking). 

With peace and love, 

Taryn Alexis Denise Daclison <3

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A Love Letter to FASA (and SZA’s Album) || Emily Paras, FASA’s 2022 - 2023 Media Chair

Dear FASA,

When I think about all the things in life that I could talk passionately about for hours and hours, FASA and SZA’s album, Ctrl, are the first things that come to my mind. The impact that these two things have had on my journey of self-love and owning my identity has been immeasurable.

the person behind the camera!

1.  “SUPERMODEL” 

a song that reminds me of how much I’ve grown

I grew up in a small, predominantly white town in the middle of Michigan notorious for its ties to a white supremacist group. As a second-generation Filipino American, I felt disconnected from both my hometown and the Filipino community. I also grew up as the eldest with two younger brothers, so I was left to navigate many things by myself and became the family guinea pig. My parents tried to teach me Tagalog at the same time I was learning English, but I never picked it up. Other than indulging in Filipino dishes and wearing polka dots for the New Year, my parents never really pushed my brothers and I to learn more about our identities. Additionally, our Filipino friend groups were at least an hour away from us, so I struggled feeling close to those communities of Filipinos. It was hard for me to find opportunities to engage with my culture, and even harder for me to find the motivation to explore it on my own.

#BILOG

I remember writing about FASA in one of my University of Michigan application essays and being so excited to join. But in the beginning, I had an extremely hard time getting myself to attend events and meet new people. Seriously – I couldn’t even get myself to go to the Fall Mass Meeting. The Fall FAM/Lineage reveal was one of the only events I attended that semester. The number of people I could name in FASA at the time was a number I could count on my hands. (I even had mistaken Nate for Josh at one point…) I knew that FASA was something I wanted to be a part of, and yes, I am a pretty shy person with a very short lasting social battery, but truthfully I was nervous that I wasn’t “Filipino enough” because of the little exposure I had in my upbringing. Eventually, with enough encouragement from people around me, I brought myself to apply for the intern program at the end of my fall semester of freshman year and my silly little journey in FASA began.

2.  “PROM”

a song that reminds me to live in the moment

rare photo of media chair!

The role of Media Chair can be overwhelming and rewarding at the same time. There is so much behind the scenes work that many people may not think about.

From sorting through hundreds of photos that I take at each event, to fixing every formatting issue in the newsletter platform, to creating several versions of a simple graphic because of my indecisiveness, so much goes into the Media Chair position that often gets overlooked. At the same time, you immediately see the result of the hours of work you put into a post with all the likes, reposts, and comments. But it truly is more than just the numbers – it’s about being able to engage and excite people with their culture and community.

Media Chair has been such an amazing way for me to express myself creatively as well. You have so much creative freedom with this position, and I especially enjoyed creating and incorporating reels and TikToks to highlight FASA's members into this year’s social media posts.

This position has also helped me connect with so many people from our community. And yes, as Media, one of your main responsibilities is to take photos, but I highly encourage stepping away from the camera for a second and taking a moment to introduce yourself to a new face or strike up a chat with another member. Media is so important in bridging the generational gap the gap between e-board and the greater FASA community in a number of ways, so don’t be afraid to take a second to say hi! 

In order to effectively engage and connect with people, you have to know your audience. This year, I started to include image descriptions with FASA's posts on Instagram. It is important to recognize that being in this position with over 1,100 followers, not everyone accesses social media the same, and that we must take steps towards making our platform as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Creating the Yearbook Committee was another vision I was proud to make happen. Our committee’s goal is create a physical little keepsake that recaps FASA events for the 2022 - 2023 school year. It makes me so incredibly happy to see other FASA members get excited to create something that will spark the same excitement in our community and give members something to physically look back on.

3.  “20 SOMETHING”

a song that reminds me it’s okay to not have everything figured out and keeps me hopeful for the future

when can’t hang lin did in fact (haha get it) couldn’t hang at FACT

meedja meesh and media milly :)

Some words of advice and thank yous:

To future board:

I am so excited to see what you all will accomplish! Continue to show the FASA community so much passion and love through everything you do, and board will be one of the most rewarding experiences. Also recognize that things can and will get stressful. Know your limits and boundaries and be able to take a step back when needed. Board burnout is so very real, so please, please, please, prioritize your health and wellbeing. Most importantly, look out for one another and support each other in every aspect. You are a board member first, and your chair position second.

To current board:

Thank you for supporting me through some incredibly busy semesters and rough patches. From having to repost our new board announcement at least 4 times because I spelt Ashley’s name as “Ashely” and Christian’s slide accidentally being duplicated and contemplating on whether or not I delete Instagram, to not realizing my SD card was out of space and forgetting to bring a backup one to our board photoshoot, you have continuously been there for me. You are some of the most hardworking people I know and your dedication to our community is so inspiring and infectious. I am so proud of each and every one of you and I hope you are proud of yourselves as well. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to take over (in a wholesome, non-malicious way!) FASA with. It has been such an honor to work alongside you all. (Also, PLEASE FIX YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULES!!)

To FASA:

Thank you for offering a space for me to grow as an individual and own my identity. It’s been said countless times, but it truly is the people that make FASA so unique. There is no one thing that defines someone as Filipino. You are enough in the ways that you choose to explore and engage with your identity. And to the people who have been afraid to attend FASA events, or worry that you aren’t “Filipino enough”, I have been there and I totally understand. I encourage you to take that step out of your comfort zone and attend a FASA event or two. Being a part of FASA will be an unforgettable part of my undergraduate career, and I hope to always have a community that is as welcoming and inclusive as FASA in the future.

To Michelle:

You are one of the main reasons I became more involved with FASA and why I ended up applying to the intern program event after not being present for majority of fall semester and why I ultimately decided to run for Media Chair. I remember when I had met you for the second (?) time in October at my cousin’s house (which also happened to be the same night I had mistaken Nate for Josh…). I was so certain that no one from FASA remembered my name. But you did, and I was so surprised. You talked about FASA, the intern program, and being Media Chair, and I thought you were the coolest person ever. Even after that night had passed, I still thought about how you remembered who I was. When I was spending hours debating on whether or not I apply to the intern program, whether or not I apply for Media Chair, I would think back to that night. It seems silly but you made me feel so seen. I wanted to do the same for others as Media Chair as you did for me -- to make people feel seen, heard, and represented. Thank you for everything :')

(And to SZA: I AM LITERALLY YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN thank you for putting out an album that has stuck with me since the end of eighth grade)

the most awesome epic cool fun and safe board

Before this becomes a five page essay, I will end with a silly little poem:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

FASA says that IAmFilAm,

And you are too!

But for real, words could never describe how much FASA means to me and how incredible this silly little experience on e-board as Media Chair has been. I am forever grateful to have served (served!) the FASA community and I can’t wait to see where things will go next. Good luck to the future boardies and remember that you always have me as a resource!

Mahal kita,

Media Milly 

4.  “GO GINA”

a song that reminds me to live life fun and safe! :P

proud to serve

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One Last Photo: Michelle Torralba, FASA's 2021-2022 Media Chair

At this point in time, my time with FASA has really only been a year and a half. But what a year and a half it has been. I started college, joined FASA, met my best friends, ate Little Caesars Pizza for the first time, survived my first year of nursing school, and grew in ways I never thought possible. It’s an understatement to say that FASA has contributed to that growth and has already defined my college experience in this short period of time. Even more so, joining FASA during a time where COVID-19 ran rampant and having to spend a semester at home as an intern, I was lucky to have created incredible connections that ultimately led to my run for Media Chair and my overall presence in FASA.

"there's 6 of you? you all live together? you're all filipino? whose birthday is it?"

1…

If there is one thing I want to remember from my time as Media Chair, it’s that I got to see up close and personal what makes FASA so special: the people. Bet you’ve never heard that one before! But seriously, what is FASA if not for all of you? We have our pillars of community, culture, outreach… but who holds up those pillars if not for the people within that community, the people who create and promote the culture, the people who serve and connect with those outside of FASA. Whether through the camera lens or my very own eyes, I connected with each and every one of you and saw so clearly the love, happiness, and service that I know FASA has the capacity to evoke. With every picture or video I took during my tenure, I was reminded how each of you is a part of what makes FASA, well… FASA. We are a group of artists, athletes, advocates, dancers, friends, scholars, and so so much more. I’m honored to have been the person to capture all the smiles, laughter, chaos, and memories to last a lifetime.

#$waggiest fam alive tell me i'm wrong

2…

Two Things I’ve Learned as Media Chair

It’s more than just taking pictures and making graphics and sending out the weekly newsletter. You are the bridge between FASA and the public eye. You see every comment, like, DM… everything. You become in tune with how everyone engages with FASA and its people– this makes it your responsibility to cater media creation to the rest of FASA and beyond. This allowed me to constantly think of ways, big and small, to make FASA more accessible to everyone; my favorite being the FASA Spotify. We are music-loving beings, and what better way to connect with each other than through music. I hope you all enjoyed tuning in as much as I did.

The flexibility and the creativity of this position. While also consistent in nature, it's all part of what drew me to it. This position has only been 3 years in the making, a combination of Historian and Techtorian from years prior, but I’d like to honor each of my predecessors who have contributed to the constant evolution and cultivation of the tangibility of FASA’s pillars. Being able to build off of their incredible work has made my job a lot of fun, plain and simple as that.

A special thank you to my Ate Lauren for emphasizing the importance of Google Calendar, and to my Janielly Welly for letting me go crazy as her Media Intern. And to all those who have imparted their wisdom, as a board member, or as a friend: I have become a better person and Media Chair because of you.

the one where everyone in the lineage finally made it to a hangout!

puso ko <3

3…

Three Final Words:

To our lovely interns and all those on the future executive board: the future of FASA is in your hands! (no pressure or anything) Truthfully though, you are what will make FASA a place for others in the same way it has been for you all. I have full faith that you will do so with grace and love for your culture and community and I cannot wait to see what amazing things you will accomplish. Remember that you are a board member first and your board position second. Support one another in each other’s endeavors and don’t forget to look out for each other. Of that same vein, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Life is tough and self care is a journey. Find your limits, set your boundaries, and communicate them. It will be a great service to yourself and consequently to the community, even if you do have to take a step back.

To this year’s board: y’all are incredible. Period. Your support and understanding has been extremely comforting this year, especially through the obstacles we faced as a team. I’ve been consistently impressed with the work and dedication each of you has channeled into every initiative we’ve put forth this year. Working with y’all is one of the main reasons that all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into every meeting and every event has been worth it.

To FASA: You are the main reason this has all been worth it. Whether you’ve come to one event this year or all of them, I hope you know how valued and essential you are to this community. You ARE enough and I’m happy you’re with us.

boardies by chance, besties by choice

#stairsgang

...📸!

I hold so much gratitude and love for the experiences I’ve had thus far and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey for the last year and a half. You have all become a part of who I am today and of why FASA is and will continue to be held so near and dear to my heart.

I could keep going on and on about how much FASA means to me but as the saying goes... a picture is worth a thousand words.

AWW YEAH FASA YEAH!

Mahal ko kayong lahat at maraming salamat,

Meedja Meesh

#LiveLaughFASA

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Janielle Calaunan, FASA 2020-21 Media Chair

Coming into Michigan from the suburban Chicagoland area and a lot of family around, I was afraid of how small the Filipino community will be where the nearest Jollibee is in another country and the closest Filipino restaurant required a trip outside of Ann Arbor. Going into a predominantly white institution (PWI) like UMich without knowing a single soul from back home, I thought I would revert back to my introverted shell. But that was before I found FASA on Instagram the summer before my freshman year.

I got excited because I saw FASA’s Instagram and thought maybe I can initiate the conversation and make a name for myself before classes even began. I didn’t know how else to get in contact with FASA except for DMing whoever was in charge of the IG account. Despite sending only simple questions and despite the little I knew of FASA, I had high hopes that I could find my niche in a large institution like UMich.

Bring back Jacq

That initial experience was the motivating force when I ran for Media Chair. It was the feeling of belonging in a PWI that maybe some members may relate to or maybe none can. Outreach—being able to communicate well with the world inside and outside of campus—that’s what I looked for and challenged myself to do when I was on board. I wanted to make FASA notable enough so as to bring excitement and acceptance to potential members the way it did to me my freshman year.

HAM can't overshadow D i r t y Domination

With the pandemic, it was a greater challenge since outreach was almost solely virtual. I felt it was my responsibility to attract new membership, maintain old ones, and sustain the same energy, purpose, and pillars that FASA had in a pre-pandemic year. It was a lot of responsibility, and on top of other typical media things, I was afraid that I couldn’t reproduce that sense of acceptance that I did last year.

Of course, the reality that I soon found out is how it wasn’t just my burden. It’s the board’s responsibility to attract, maintain, and sustain, and so I never felt alone in the desire to keep bringing people together. That’s what makes FASA board so special: you’re not alone in your vision for the org. You want increased membership and participation? So does Jolene, Jason, Angelina, Kate, and Sean. You want more ways to learn about Philippine history? So does Bea, Estelle, Kaitlyn, and Lauren. And they’ll help you. They’ll reach out and let you know of ways to optimize your goal, bring in resources or experiences, and help make your vision come to fruition as best as they can. And they’ll give you honest feedback afterward.

Las Meninas (if you get it, 50 bonus points for u)

Despite being such a challenging year, the rest of board never gave up on making sure each event or project is as successful as it can be. Even without regular events like other chairs, I still felt like I contributed to making FASA as enjoyable as it can be, albeit virtually. Whether I’m making graphics, revamping the new website, holding the first Media event, our LinkedIn Photoshoot, or just participating in a discussion on a workshop, I never felt sidelined as a board member. It added to a sense of belonging that, in a time of distanced interactions, FASA was able to make me feel.

I’ll try to finish all the sappy/advice-y things here:

To interns and/or future board candidates: I truly hope you enjoyed your time in FASA this past year. It was difficult, and with constantly changing situations and increased isolation, it’s important to remember to think about who might be/feel left out and who might need a personal invitation. FASA is a community, and it can’t be complete if its community members don’t feel like they’re part of it, so make them feel the community. Always keep that in mind as you run for and potentially are on board.

To board: whether virtual or masked up and in person, you guys never fail to make me laugh and enjoy my time. I’m glad to have gained so many close friends and to get along with my coworkers. Even after an exhausting day after board meetings, I still find myself satisfied to have ended my day with FASA. The main regrettable part of this year was that we couldn’t have a Union room to actually run a board meeting in person, but at least virtually I could see your lovely faces.

To FASA: keep being curious and enthusiastic about the community, the culture, the outreach. Yes, those are our pillars so I have to say that legally as a board member, but those are our pillars for a reason. Whether you come to one event or all of them, we want you to feel as if you’re learning, growing, and evolving with us board members.

Once again, D i r t y Domination

As someone who felt like she let her culture down after moving to America, FASA is a place that constantly reminds me of who I am, where I came from, and how important my identity is. No Filipino/x experience is the same. Embrace every part of your journey and your experience.

This lineage is actually OP

Agyamanak (Salamat, Thank you)

lamp,

Janielle Calaunan

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Lauren Escote, 2019-202 FASA Media Chair

^A rare picture of media chair in front of the camera hehe

Hullo FASA!

It’s crazy to think back to October of freshman year where I was set on running for: social chair (Ikr, who woulda thought?)! It wasn’t until talking with a past techtorian, EJ, and historian, Matt, that I realized that the soon to be created Media Chair would be a great way to challenge myself, creatively, like I never have before. While the main role that I prepared for the most was the photography aspect, there is so much more to this position.

You are essentially responsible for informing members and creating and maintaining FASA’s online presence. You design graphics for all of FASA’s events, making sure that social posts are clear and to the point so that members can get all the information they need upon first glance. In addition to making graphics, this position is responsible for relaying information to general members so that they can be fully informed of FASA events as well as external events. One way that myself and previous tech chairs/techtorians have done this is with weekly or bi-weekly newsletters. Like I mentioned before, an important aspect of this position is photographing all events and uploading them to the main page for members to view. While this mainly entails event photography, it also includes the board photoshoot. This is a really fun time as you are in charge of planning, location scouting and picking a theme/color palette.

Lastly, it’s important as a cultural org to weave the cultural aspects into every part of our planning, even when it comes to media chair tasks such as newsletters, Instagram story postings, and event graphics. In collaboration with the cultural chairs, we implemented Tagalog Tuesdays and Filipino Fridays. Tagalog Tuesdays took 3 words or phrases and translated them into Tagalog, we used this to sprinkle in little tidbits of culture into everyday life. Filipino Fridays were bi-weekly Facebook posts that featured FilAm artwork, podcasts, musicians, and more, exposing our members to fellow FilAms who embrace their culture in their work.

^YUSSS culture

As media chair, you technically have no events or projects that are required outside of your normal duties listed above which allows a great amount of flexibility for each media chair to base their projects on their own skill sets. Take this into consideration when planning out your own projects, for example: if you feel that your web design skills are stronger than your video editing skills, then use that to improve the FASA website rather than making a board video. You can really hone your skills and apply them to many different aspects of this position.

One thing you will notice is that a lot of other positions’ workload happens in bursts, whereas media chair’s work is very consistent and as long as you stay organized and be proactive, your job should run smoothly. Since most of your work for events comes about 3 weeks before events for making the graphics, and then directly after events for sorting/editing photos, you are able to lend your helping hands to boardies that need extra help leading up to and during events.

Here are some tidbits that I hope are helpful for you future media chairs:

1. You do not need to have photography/videography/graphic design experience to be in this position!

I thought I should clear this up right away as it can be intimidating to have a position that seems quite aesthetic/artistically oriented but know that you learn so much as you go along. I really used my summer to hone my graphic design skills as that was one area where I did not feel super confident. If you are worried about the photography aspect, just think about it as if you were hanging out with friends and taking pictures for yourself, you are just capturing memories so that you can look back later and remember all the good times :) If you are worried about the camera, you can always ask to borrow a boardie’s or rent from ISS for the weekend, if there’s a will there’s a way!

2. You can socialize at events!

This might sound a little weird and it might have only been me who did this but it took me a minute to get the idea that you don’t have to take 500 pictures (no exaggeration here, I legitimately took 500 pictures during senior farewell) at every event. You don’t have to worry if everyone got into a picture, because, chances are, they will be at more events in the future! I also felt like I needed to capture every single moment at events and never just let myself relax for a minute and actually socialize with people. So just know, that’s it ok to put the camera down for a second and talk to people.

3. Communication!

Like I mentioned before, communication is quintessential for your job to run smoothly. While it is easy to pull events from the FASA calendar and the board agendas, you want to make sure to hash out the details and ensure that all the information is correct with each responsible chair position related to the event. Whether it is giving culturals reminders that Tagalog Tuesday is this week, working with socials to see if the graphic passes the vibe check, or even asking other boardies their opinion on a graphic, communication is key!

4. Stay organized!

Depending on what types of social campaigns you decide on, it can be really easy to forget that something is being posted on a certain day, or to miss a week of a bi-weekly post, so one #1 recommendation is: g o o g l e  c a l e n d a r #iykyk :) Or any calendar or planner or organizational system, as long as you can keep track of all of your tasks. It has been a lifesaver for not just FASA stuff, but also planning out my days so that I can make sure I have enough time to get my classwork done as well.

To be completely honest, I was nervous going into this position. Even though I had previous photography experience, this was the most I would ever challenge myself from an artistic/creative standpoint. I had only done photography as a hobby, and I had very little graphics experience from my time as a FASA intern, but I feel this position pushed me enough to constantly keep me on my toes. During my election speech, I emphasized the importance of capturing the memories that we made this year, because in the end, it’s about the friends you made along the way :) As I look back at all of the pictures I have taken and the work that I have done, I hope that you can do the same and remember all the wonderful moments from this past year.

One super important thing to keep in mind when running for any board position is that you are not just one chair, but also a board member. You help out your fellow boardies if they are super busy with classes and they have an event coming up, you make last-minute walgreens runs to get that tape we forgot to pack, and you be there, especially when you have extra time. It also goes the other way around, if you need advice or help, don’t be afraid to reach out to your board! A board that supports each other is a board that works well and creates the best environment for our members. 

To my board:

I am so grateful that I got to work with each and every one of you. Board meetings have been, and will continue to be for these next 2 weeks, one of my favorite parts of the week. I always looked forward to unofficial Turtleneck Tuesdays and bringing in food for one reason or another. It’s always a fun time sticking around after 10pm to hang out and talk until Trotter staff kicked us out, invading the ideahub until Union staff kicked us out, and pretty much any other time that involved us staying up until crackhead hours further worsening our sleep depravity. I also just want to say how proud I am of this board. We have had quite a few hurdles to take on this year and the way that we were able to come together and create solutions was done so professionally. I am so glad that we were able to work together as a cohesive unit. Even if there were disagreements, we worked through them so that everyone felt that their opinion was valued. 

I love this board and this org with all my heart and I can’t wait to see what the future of FASA holds <3

Sincerely,

Lauren Escote

[fasa-umich]

Natalie Lampa, FASA ‘18-’19 Technology Chair

Hi FASA ✨

It’s been a whirlwind, these past three years. Starting with an awkward pancake party that scared me away for my first semester (ily Kyla!) to late night Fishbowl studying and spontaneous food deliveries (#FreeDelv), I’ve found a home away from home in this organization.

And I know we all say it, but given that I couldn’t see my family very often, I found comfort in my 9am Filipino language class (love you, Tita Zeny) and looked forward to our fun & food filled language tables—which was how I was ultimately convinced to try FASA again and attend Winter Mass Meeting 2017.

My first semester, I was struggling to find people to connect with on a more meaningful level than just discussing careers, internships, and GPAs as freshmen. But with FASA, I could let go—be myself, talk about the littlest of things—eat ube cake and take photos with a cardboard Zayn. #loveurlineage

Just like my hairdresser said as she bleached my hair into oblivion last week, I’ve made my /best friends forever/ and I couldn’t be more grateful.

                                              ————————

Initially, I was very on the fence about running for e-board as an incoming junior since it’s not that common. But seeing the dynamic of those on board for 2017-2018, and participating in the committees for Philippine Culture Night and Battle of the Bamboo lessened my worries and eventually led to genuine interest in holding a position and giving back to FASA.

My vision then, was to emphasize the promotion and education of Filipinx culture, and FASA’s online presence itself. I remember being an eager incoming freshman, wanting to know more about FASA and what they do but couldn’t find that much through Facebook or Google.

So as Technology Chair, I’ve continued EJ’s legacy with the bi-weekly newsletters, and added in a revival of the FASA website so those curious about our organization (& especially those lacking a Facebook) could see all the amazing things we do. I’m also in the process of updating the Tumblr theme, and I post to the FASA Instagram periodically with event ads and recaps.

While my job is not the most time extensive, I would recommend keeping a running list of all FASA event dates and to start drafting newsletters as events are updated with information/cover photos. It’s important to stay organized, and pay attention to all the little details (proofread those dates/times/descriptions!) since they can slip past anyone pretty easily. I proofread newsletters about 10 times before scheduling them for release. 

Though the Technology Chair & Historian positions have now combined into Media Chair, as long as you have an interest in design, communication/advertising, and a willingness to learn—you don’t have to be a CS major (or any technical major) to take on this role! I didn’t come in knowing how to use MailChimp for the newsletter, but we’re here now—about 11 newsletters later! (And I’d like to think they’ve been going well)

All in all, I’m very grateful for my time with FASA and on e-board. It’s led me to speaking up more often, to articulate my thoughts more clearly, and to learning to be “unapologetically me.”

If I were to go back, I wouldn’t have changed a single thing—from walking into that pancake party to running for board for the first time as a junior—these decisions and uncertainties have only served to help me grow as a person.

And I got to make ang mga pinakamatalik kong kaibigan* along the way.

Much love,

Natalie

p.s. If you’re interested in Media Chair and I haven’t covered enough, feel free to reach out!

*my best friends

[fasa-umich]

Historian: Kathleen Guytingco

I take paktures and ahpload ahpload to peisbook.  Simple as that? Well, I suppose it could be. For starters, I would say that the possession of a good quality camera (iPhone 6 has impeccable quality btw) and basic knowledge of taking pictures would be rudimentary for the next historian. An external hard drive or a drive to store all the pictures would also be recommended, since the amount of Kodak FASA moments you will encounter is infinite. (Also BE CAREFUL TO SAFELY EJECT YOUR HARD DRIVE SO IT DOESN’T CORRUPT THE FILES AND YOUR MIND.)  With that being said, you will probably have to prepare yourself to be more of an observer than participant at times when at FASA events. Don’t be afraid to get creative with this role; captioning the pictures I upload is almost more essential than the picture itself and, from feedback I’ve heard, really helps give meaning and happiness with the memories the photos consolidate. I also took up a very large project in the board video I chose to create last semester, and hopefully you will all see the fruits of my labor (and all of board!) at MFAS ;)

The importance of taking pictures of our events may seem minuscule compared to the duties of those responsible for planning the events, but having a presence on social media is crucial to getting the word out for our events and for reminding people of all the great times they have with FASA.  Though I didn’t do it as often as I wished, I tried to do my best to advertise for any FASA events through the FASA page, the FASA friend, and the FASA Instagram I created.  Once again, this requires constant cognition of what events are going on and advertising them in a timely manner. This might not be necessary if there is a technology chair to assume these responsibilities, but I think the beauty of being historian is that you have the flexibility of filling in whatever gaps that need to be filled.  

I tried my best to be more than “just historian” on my time on board and I believe that should be the goal of anyone applying to board - whether you apply for Historian, Social Chair, or Treasurer, your significance and contribution is no less than the next position’s responsibilities.  Sure, you may be designated to a specific role on board, but in the end we are all a team and we all take responsibility and pride in our organization.  The president holds the official role as being the face of FASA, and board is an extension of that.  We breathe life into FASA and receive so much more out of it.  Being on board is a challenging, but it is in those challenging hardships when we learn the most about ourselves.  You can either falter from the responsibilities that add up and burn out, or you can choose to learn how to grow from it by staying ORGANIZED ORGANIZED ORGANIZED (google calendar ALL DAY EVERY DAY) and MANAGING YOUR TIME WISELY so you stay on top of your life and maintain as much sanity as you can.  I recommend the latter.