LILLIAN J. LEE

“As a medical student at the Sophie Davis Biomedical 7-year BS/MD combined program, I realized that among the 72 students accepted per year, I was one of only three Asian students. I love being surrounded by other cultures and learning from my peers, but I found myself having to advocate alone regarding Asianrelated issues such as health disparities, Asian hate crimes, and the lack of Asians in leadership positions for STEM companies. I felt alone, and I knew I wanted to find a place where I could be myself and continue my efforts to advocate for the Asian community. That’s when I found SASE. Before I became SASE President in 2021, SASE only had 22 members and was lacking in funding due to the $10.7 million CCNY budget cuts. I was able to grow SASE membership to 168 students from various majors, which helped create an environment where students could learn from each other and collaborate. SASE became a big family where students could come together and relieve stress. 

As part of my recognition of the lack of representation, I created the SASE TedTalk: How my culture shaped my career, identity, and future. Through the SASE TedTalk, I provided students with a chance to meet and hear the stories of successful and accomplished Asian American panelists coming from different STEM backgrounds to discuss how their cultural identity affects their experience in the workplace, identity, and future. More than 80 students attended and came away with insights gained from hearing how speakers had overcome their own career struggles, which gave them hope and courage to continue pursuing their major and not letting failures stop them. In a way, the SASE TedTalk encompasses what SASE is: a society that celebrates community, culture, and career development. The TedTalk created a community where we were able to celebrate our culture of being Asian while also finding ways to elevate our career goals.  

SASE welcomes people from all backgrounds and through its inclusiveness, promotes cultural sensitivity and education, unites minorities, and helps break the model minority myth that was created to pit minorities against each other and downplay the discrimination that Asians face. And while everyone joins SASE for different reasons, those who join without expecting anything in return are the ones who will gain the most. Be open to meeting new people, ask questions, and learn from others. Step out of your comfort zone so you can learn about others and others can learn about you!”