Akemi Yu

If you became invisible for 10 minutes RIGHT NOW, what things would you do?

I would board myself on a plane to China which I am unfortunately not able to do due to COVID and closed borders. I would also sneak myself into concerts, movies, etc. Hopefully that's not too ambitious to do in 10 minutes.

What motivates you the most?

Many things motivate me – friends, family, my future, my cats; however, seeing people succeed about what they're passionate about and what I'm passionate about too gets me going the most. Seeing them dedicate so much time and effort toward their purpose makes me want to do the same toward mine.

How important do you think It Is to ‘Build Character’?

Building character to me means taking past experiences to develop your personality and improve your temperament which I think is very crucial in knowing yourself and making committing to decisions without looking back.

What is your current HIM position and what are your responsibilities in that position?

As an Internship Program Manager and Executive Assistant, I work with my fellow Internship PMs to manage Train the Trainer/Mentoring groups, check in with coordinators, and monitor lessons for interns.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your life?

- You decide your life

- Never settle for less

- Know what is and isn't worth your time

What is your favorite TV show and character?

My favorite TV show would have to be the Chinese drama "The Untamed" for the story/plot and characters. Wei Wuxian is my favorite character for his humor but also for his perseverance to his beliefs!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Why?

Being able to switch between different soup bases and ingredients, I'd choose hotpot! It's delicious, warms your stomach, and never gets tiring with the variety.

What is it like to be part of HIM Leadership Crew?

It's been very motivating working alongside the Leadership crew. Everyone's friendly but also extremely accountable and on top of their tasks. They're also willing to help anytime or figure out a solution with you. Additionally, it's been very rewarding collaborating with others in Leadership to work our way around a problem.

How has HIM affected your life so far?

It's definitely been a journey starting off as an intern to becoming a Program Manager after a year and five different roles. HIM has affected my life in many different ways from learning to take initiative and volunteer help when needed and learning to communicate with professionalism to working efficiently towards a solution. It's hard to pinpoint one area of growth but I can confirm I've become a better leader through HIM.

What motivates you to wake up early to volunteer for a Charity Run?

Waking up early is hard; however, thinking of the many participants who wake up even earlier to run makes it hard for me to complain. Additionally, participants often express appreciation towards us as volunteers so it's all worth it.

What advice can you offer to those thinking of joining the Leadership Program?

Join if you have time and see how you like it! It's a great opportunity to strengthen and challenge your skills, get exposure to different platforms, and grow alongside dedicated peers.