Letter from AANSOC Coordinator

Dear Incoming Students, 

Welcome to Stanford! Let me begin by extending a warm congratulations on your acceptance to Stanford. But before embarking on your exciting Stanford journey, I encourage you to take time to celebrate, rest, and spend time with loved ones. 

My name is Lilian, and I am a sophomore from Fresno, California. I am thrilled to be your 2023 Community Coordinator for the Asian American New Student Orientation Committee (AANSOC). I know from personal experience how overwhelming NSO can be, so I’d like to take a moment to share some of my own identity and first memories of the Asian American Community at Stanford.

In truth, for the greater part of my life, I experienced a distinct absence of a cohesive Asian American community. It was not until high school, when the Fresno Burmese Community bought a historic temple downtown–the first physical space we had to congregate–that I was able to fall in love with my cultural identity and by extension myself, understand that this was what a community was–and how beautiful and precious that it could be. 

Thinking about Stanford and finding a place for myself naturally filled me with trepidation; and yet, there was a keen sense of excitement towards engaging in the very deliberate spaces for the Asian American community, something that had pervaded me for most my life. Now having spent a year at Stanford, let me assure you–no matter your background or your personal relationship with your Asian American identity–there is a space for you here. Stay a while, and you too will find that the Asian American communities here are deeply intentional, tender, warm and resilient. We rely on one another, make space to learn and grow, have assurance in our collective strength, love and cherish deeply in capacities previously unknown to us, and along the way come to uncover yet undiscovered facets of ourselves.

From being part of an Asian American Sibling (AASib) family to joining any of the affiliated Voluntary Student Organizations (VSOs) to simply attending one of the countless events, there are many entry points into the Asian American community–all for your taking. To be in community at Stanford means investing in your continued growth, and being willing to grow is something that will take you far!

I want to end this letter by formally inviting each and every one of you to our AANSOC events from September 20-October 5, 2023. A calendar of event times, locations, and descriptions can be found in this packet and on our website for the most up-to-date information as well. These events are free and open to all students, so please invite any new friends who might be interested as well! We hope these events give you an introduction to the diverse and vibrant Asian American community at Stanford, and if you want to engage with the Asian American community before arriving, feel free to explore the A3C website (www.a3c.stanford.edu), “like” our Facebook page, or follow our Instagram “@stanforda3c.” I am also more than happy to personally connect, answer questions, or provide a friendly face! You can reach me at lilianch@stanford.edu.

Finally, I want to leave you with some reassurance; entering college can be uncertain and stressful, but you are strong and more than capable. The Asian American community at Stanford is here for you, and we excitedly welcome you with open arms.

Warmly, 

Lilian Chen

Stanford Class of 2026 

2023 Asian American New Student Orientation Committee (AANSOC) Coordinator