Students meet for two hours a week in discussion groups of 12-15 students led by two T.A.s, and participate in a hands-on learning experience. Each week focuses on a different aspect of Asian American issues (Race, Identity, Gender, etc.) and typically incorporates a one-hour interactive portion and a one-hour discussion. The interactive half can involve speakers, panelists, or presentations, while the discussion half encourages students to share their own experiences and perspectives as we learn more from each other. One of the sessions involves a Site Visit, a field trip to a community-based organization where we see people put into action the concepts we learn about in our sessions, where we see people make a difference in the issues we have discussed.
The program culminates in an off-campus, weekend-long retreat that incorporates intensive workshops and simulations.
The Truth:
CIRCLE is an amazing experience that will change your life. We teach you, but not in a traditional classroom setting. We teach you about leadership through CHANGE, and how to make a difference. We teach you about the community through the ISSUES that affect us. We teach you about yourself.
But we also ask you to give back. To share with us what has made you who you are today, to share your knowledge, your experiences, your history. We want to learn from you as well.
CIRCLE begins with an Orientation, but we end with a Dis-Orientation. We end by asking you what YOU would like to change, and then giving you the tools to do it.
CIRCLE is an opportunity for you to learn, to teach, to inspire and be inspired in turn.
The Facts:
More information as well as the application can be found at http://sait.usc.edu/apass/pages/involvement/leadership_development.html. Application deadline is September 16th.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to email us at circle@usc.edu.
