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Post by hannasato on Apr 22, 2021 18:36:28 GMT
Interviews with the active members of Kappa Alpha Pi.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 22, 2021 20:06:34 GMT
Interview with Ria Debnath - 4/22
I was really looking forward to my interview with Ria because I loved talking to her throughout rush and at the Mock Trial Workshop. I also was super excited to talk to her about her baking Instagram, as I am also an avid baker and am looking to maybe start my own baking Instagram. We talked about our favorite things to bake, our go-to recipes and our love for the Great British Baking Show and Mary Berry. She encouraged me to try baking bread more and challenge myself which I will definitely do when I get the chance. I also got to ask her about her Mock Trial experience, both in being a part of it and now teaching it to the Alpha Xi pledge class. She spoke about how Mock Trial has consistently pushed her to be more confident and assertive, making me consider joining Mock Trial in the future. We both described ourselves as more introverted so I think Mock Trial could have a similar impact on my confidence. Ria also complimented me on last night's social which I really appreciated and was happy to hear she was able to have fun. Overall, I loved speaking to Ria today, she was incredibly warm and funny, making it very easy for us to fall into a fluid conversation. I also really hope I am able to cross so that I can bake bread with her someday!
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Post by hannasato on Apr 24, 2021 4:28:35 GMT
Interview with Chanel Nejad - 4/23
Chanel and I were able to have a really great conversation this morning, I really enjoyed getting to know her more. I found out we are both half Korean from our mother's side and both of our mother's immigrated from Korea. Chanel has never been to Korea, but I was able to describe my experience going to Seoul in eighth grade to visit my relatives. I learned that while she cannot speak Korea, she knows how to read and write it, though she does not fully comprehend what she is looking at. We also talked about the traditional Korean 100 Day Ceremony, where you pick between a pencil, string and dollar bill to determine if you will be smart, live a long life, or be rich. We both chose the pencil. We also talked about how we learned to barter from our mothers and how that skill has come in handy at Melrose Trading Post and flea markets in Los Angeles. I loved getting to know Chanel, talking with her was incredibly easy and enjoyable. I prepared a list of interview questions but did not even look at them throughout the interview, we continued to move from one topic to the next with ease which I definitely appreciated. I hope to get to know her more throughout the pledging process.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 26, 2021 21:27:14 GMT
Interview with Connie Liang - 4/26
I was excited for today's interview because Connie is in my family (go Legal Tenders by the way) and is also in Westwood so I was hoping to get to know her more. Our interview went on for more than two hours, we were able to have a super fluid and fun conversation and I definitely feel like I learned a lot about her. We talked about her time in Hawaii and how we overlapped in Waikiki over Spring Break with our big Mira as well. We also both were baristas, she worked for Starbucks and I worked for Peet's Coffee, and we were able to compare our experiences working for both. Since Connie recently moved to Westwood from Hawaii, we talked about how it can be hard to make meaningful friendships here sometimes and there is a lot of superficiality to work through before you can make legitimate friends. But we were also both able to speak to the friendships we have found impactful and valuable throughout our time in college, specifically people in our pledge class and our big, Mira. Connie also happened to be a fan of a YouTuber who went to my high school and whose videos I was featured in a few times which was a super funny coincidence. We talked about a lot of random topics but I had so much fun and our interview did not even feel like two hours. We also talked about the trips to Europe we were supposed to take last summer, which study abroad programs we want to do, what type of law we want to go into, relationship issues, and a lot more. Overall, I had a great experience talking with Connie and cannot wait to get to know her more and hopefully fully become a part of Legal Tenders if and when I cross into Kappa Alpha Pi.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 26, 2021 21:51:32 GMT
Interview with Matthew Lyou - 4/26
Throughout rush, I vividly remember my conversations with Matthew, he was incredibly welcoming and always very receptive and kind. I was definitely looking forward to speaking with him and really enjoyed our interview. We talked about his little, Elaine who I am able to spend a lot of time with because we are both in Westwood and how he is close with my big, Mira. We talked about our big-little dynamics which was fun to learn more about. Matthew and I also discussed our shared love for cooking and he explained he wanted to explore more of the frozen pre-made meals at Trader Joe's for when he moves down to Westwood next quarter. I practically specialize in this area and frozen pre-made Trader Joe's meals are basically one of my food groups at this point so I gave him some of my favorite recommendations. We also discussed our experiences with skiing and snowboarding; Matthew has not snowboarded since he was little after a traumatizing fall but I personally love to ski and definitely miss it right now. I loved speaking to Matthew, like every other interview I have had, he was incredibly easy to talk to and so much fun. I can't wait to interact with him more throughout the various social events and hope to continue to get to know him more.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 27, 2021 8:45:39 GMT
Interview with Journey Sepulveda-Martinez - 4/26:
My interview with Journey was very enjoyable and I really loved getting to learn more about her. Throughout our interview, we were able to talk about our experiences with working in the food industry and how they forced us to adopt customer service skills quickly. We both were able to recount some of our worst experiences with customers but also the way we were able to bond with our coworkers and become very close with them. Journey and I also discussed how the pledging process has been going for me thus far and the progress of the brotherhood bonding within my pledge class. She provided useful insight into relying on my pledge brothers during stressful times and closely collaborating with them throughout the various missions and assignments. Overall, I enjoyed getting to learn more about Journey, as we had only had a few interactions throughout rush. I am definitely looking forward to getting to know her more throughout the pledging process.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 27, 2021 20:17:01 GMT
Interview with Naomi Haryono - 4/27:
I loved talking to Naomi this morning, I was really excited for this interview because I know she is very close friends with my big, Mira, and I had heard so many great things about her. We talked for over an hour, she was incredibly easy to talk to and super friendly and warm. It turns out we have a similar embarrassing obsession with boy bands, specifically PRETTYMUCH (I am cringing at the name of the band as I type it, apologies to whoever is reading this) and have both dealt with the judgement of our friends about this issue. We even had the same favorite songs from their various EPs which I found hilarious. I thought it was super funny that she knew this particular band, since she is only the second person I have ever met who has known them. Naomi also talked about how eating at Hangry Moons in Westwood and Tatsu Ramen is an integral part of Kappa Alpha Pi's culture which I hope to partake in if and when I cross. We also discussed the social life in Westwood, from her perspective as a third year who has experienced Westwood outside of COVID-19 and mine as a first year. It was really interesting to hear her experiences compared to my own and it made me all the more excited for classes to be in person next quarter. This interview was definitely an amazing way to start my morning, I loved getting to talk to Naomi and to learn more about her. I hope to continue to speak with her throughout the pledging process and hopefully go to Hangry Moons or ramen with her if I successfully cross into Kappa Alpha Pi.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 27, 2021 20:29:32 GMT
Interview with Akunnia Akubuilo - 4/27:
My interview with Akunnia was so fun, I remember her being so fun and memorable throughout rush, the Big-Little Mixer and the Decades Social, so I was very excited to speak with her. We talked a lot about the dynamic of my pledge class and the progress of our brotherhood, as well as our big-little relationships with Mira and Kylie. We both explained our Big Little Dates and how we both really enjoyed them and getting to spend time with them. She asked me what I was most looking forward to if and when I cross and I expressed how I am incredibly excited to keep getting to know the active body. I am also really looking forward to becoming a part of the Kappa Alpha Pi community and brotherhood, as corny as that sounds. We talked about our classes for the quarter and how school has been pushed to the side a little for me because of pledging which is a little stressful, but she was able to relate to. Akunnia gave me a lot of very helpful advice and support for staying on top of both my schoolwork and pledging assignments which was very reassuring. I loved getting to speak with Akunnia, she was so sweet and supportive, and I really enjoyed our conversation and getting to speak with her.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 29, 2021 19:15:48 GMT
Interview with Jennifer Rhee - 4/29:
Speaking with Jennifer this morning was very enjoyable and we were able to have a lot of funny and interesting conversations. I was very excited to ask Jennifer about her time in Seoul, as I am also Korean and was interested to hear about the cultural differences between Hawaii, California and Korea. We talked a lot about our shared experiences in struggling to connect with our culture because there were few Korean people where we grew up. But we both also expressed our excitement in being at a school that allows us to find communities that enable us to be in touch with and explore our cultures. Jennifer also shared with me her excitement for her study abroad program next quarter in Paris which sounds like it is going to be an incredible experience for her. I was able to tell her about my experience with a summer program in Barcelona and how it was a very influential experience for me because it cemented my desire to learn Spanish and introduced me to another culture. We also talked about the social life in Westwood, compared to what she was able to experience in years past. All in all, I loved talking to Jennifer, I really enjoyed comparing our cultural experiences and finding the similarities between them. I look forward to continue getting to know her throughout the pledging process and hopefully eat Korean food with her if and when I cross into Kappa Alpha Pi.
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Post by hannasato on Apr 29, 2021 19:33:24 GMT
Interview with Caitlin Buckley - 4/29:
I was really looking forward to speaking with Caitlin this morning, as I was very interested to hear about her experiences with graduating early, taking the LSAT, and her plans for her gap year. We hadn't had the opportunity to speak throughout rush or during the pledging process so I was excited to get to speak with her in order to learn more about her. Caitlin gave me a lot of great advice about the pledging process, finding internships, maintaining a balance between pledging and taking time for myself, and law school aspirations. She also recommended a few different classes for me to take which I appreciated and we were able to discuss our shared love for my current Political Science professor, Kathleen Bawn. Caitlin was also able to reflect on her time in Kappa Alpha Pi, recalling how the fraternity provides countless opportunities to make lifelong friendships which will always be helpful throughout undergraduate years and beyond. She also showed me her plants that she has been growing, a new hobby she discovered throughout quarantine. She brought them into our photo for the interview which I really enjoyed. Overall, my conversation with Caitlin provided a lot of insight into the fraternity and the process of applying to law school which was very helpful. I hope to speak to her more throughout the pledging process and enjoyed our interview immensely.
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Post by hannasato on May 1, 2021 3:57:33 GMT
Interview with Ishan Chowdhury - 4/30:
Today I was able to interview Ishan and I really enjoyed our conversations. We talked about his plans to go to Rolling Loud this summer with fellow active members of Kappa Alpha Pi and our shared excitement to attend concerts once again in the new post-COVID world. Ishan and I were also able to discuss our trips to Barcelona during high school and how we both want to go back eventually during our undergraduate years, potentially to study abroad. Also during our interview, we realized how close our apartments are; I could see my apartment building in the background of Ishan's video which was a funny coincidence. I really enjoyed being able to discuss our shared experiences in Barcelona and getting to learn more about Ishan; I hope to continue to talk with him more throughout the pledging process.
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Post by hannasato on May 1, 2021 4:23:48 GMT
Interview with Michael Keily - 4/30:
I had an amazing interview with Michael, we talked for three hours and I didn't even notice how long it had been until it ended. We had some really great conversations about a lot of different topics and I really enjoyed getting to speak with him, as we did not have the chance to talk throughout rush or during the beginning of the pledging process. We talked a lot about our shared love of Minecraft and how we were both avid players throughout middle school. We also discussed the possibility of starting a Minecraft server for Kappa Alpha Pi if and when I cross into the fraternity which I definitely would enjoy a lot. I loved Minecraft in middle school because it always allowed me to stay in touch with people and I feel like it would be great for the fraternity since so many people are spread out. We discussed the new Marvel TV shows and how we are both super excited for movie theaters to open up to watch the new Black Widow movie. Michael also asked me about my astrology sign, as he has recently gotten into it, and we were able to compare astrological charts and see our compatibilities. Overall, we are pretty compatible according to Co-Star which was reassuring to hear. We also discussed Super Smash Bros because I have been trying to learn how to play and know it is a big part of Kappa Alpha Pi's culture so I am hoping to improve. My interview with Michael was super fun and I really enjoyed getting to know him more.
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Post by hannasato on May 1, 2021 22:42:50 GMT
Interview with Ricky Fu - 5/1:
I had a really enjoyable interview with Ricky this afternoon. We were able to talk about a lot of our shared experiences, both being first years in Westwood, interested in immigration law, and being Political Science majors. Both of our interests in immigration law stem from similar places, Ricky described his experience being an immigrant from Canada and moving around a lot and I described how the majority of my family has immigrated from Korea. We both want to make the process of obtaining green cards easier for immigrants; Ricky described how just trying to adjust to a new environment is difficult enough and the legal process should not be another barrier for immigrants to confront. We also discussed some of the Political Science lower division classes we have taken and how we are both trying to finish our science GE's early. Overall, I really liked being able to discuss our shared experiences as first years with similar interests in law and I look forward to speaking with him more throughout the pledging process.
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Post by hannasato on May 2, 2021 19:33:03 GMT
Interview with David Hernandez - 5/1:
My interview with David was super fun, we talked a lot about cooking and baking as well as our big-little relationships. Both of us love watching the Great British Baking Show and David also loves to watch Master Chef, Master Chef Junior, and Hell's Kitchen. David described how he is particularly passionate about Master Chef Junior and how he actually met the winner of Master Chef Junior's mom in an Uber. We also talked about how pie is superior to cake and cupcakes (sorry Vidya) and our favorite flavors of pie. I described some of the pie flavors I have experimented with and David was super excited to hear about them and also my favorite pie place in LA, Atticus Pie. I really loved getting to speak with David, we are both big foodies and our conversation was very entertaining. I am excited to get to know him more and hopefully get pie with him if and when I cross into the fraternity.
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Post by hannasato on May 4, 2021 22:25:04 GMT
Interview with Iris Hong - 5/4:
My interview with Iris was incredibly helpful and I really enjoyed getting to speak with her. As the Social Chair for the Alpha Xi Pledge Class, I was excited to hear her advice on how to approach planning and successfully executing social events because she is currently Kappa Alpha Pi's Social Chair. I told her about how the Decades Social was fairly stressful for me, but she assured me that she had similar experiences planning the quarterly retreat for the fraternity. We were also able to talk about our shared Korean culture and how we both dealt with similar embarrassment throughout elementary school and tended to separate ourselves from our culture. But we also both described how we have come to regret that separation and are trying to get more in touch with our Korean side and hope to join Korean organizations next quarter which is an exciting prospect. Throughout my interviews, I have been able to discuss my Korean culture with many actives and I have genuinely loved it. As one of three Koreans in my high school, I was never able to discuss some of the perspectives and experiences I had but I have been given an honestly amazing opportunity to talk about my culture throughout pledging. I loved speaking to Iris and hope to learn more about her in the future and possibly join a Korean club next quarter with her.
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