Intern Spotlight: Aaniyah Alexander

The Education and Outreach team at Asia Society Texas Center works with high school and university interns each semester. We have a long-standing internship program with HISD's Houston Academy for International Studies, which is also a part of Asia Society's International Studies Schools Network. Through our internship program, students directly engage with curriculum-writing, program development, and outreach efforts. Interns learn more about Asian art, history, and culture while gaining direct experience in working with students and families.

We'd like to shine on a spotlight on one of our high school interns, Aaniyah Alexander. Aaniyah jumps into every project with enthusiasm and creativity. Her positive energy makes all intern meetings lively and fun. We especially love her passion for learning about other cultures, and skills at building connections among the Asia Society Education and Outreach intern team.

Learn a little more about Aaniya and her internship experience below!

Aaniyah Alexander

My name is Aaniyah Alexander; I am a current senior at Houston Academy for International Studies in Houston, Texas. In the future, I plan to study Political Science and International Business, Affairs, and Relations. I am actively working as an Asia Society Texas Center intern which I am both super excited and thankful for this opportunity! My experience with ASTC started late during my sophomore year when I went to experience one of the speaker series and network. My junior year, I was an active volunteer with my presence being the most notable at Japanese Sports Day. As someone interested in the fields I mentioned above, I knew that I needed to be in a place where these interests would be catered to as well as fed new knowledge, and the ASTC has not failed on that.

Throughout my time as an intern, I have been given the opportunity to create content such as crafts and restaurant reviews to showcase not only specific cultures, but to educate myself as well. I have also been allowed to serve as a foundational member for the ASTC Teen Council in which we discuss a variety of topics such as identity and culture. As a member of the Teen Council, I also provide feedback on how we can improve cross-cultural conversations to have a better dialogue with others.

As a senior in high school during the pandemic, nothing has been anything close to the traditional formats that I am used to working with. Sometimes this forced change has become uncomfortable and even overwhelming; however, I don't see the projects I take on from the ASTC as homework. This makes operating under the current state of the world a bit more manageable because, through my role as an intern, I have been surrounded by a supporting team and staff. I am beyond "lucky" to be working alongside the ASTC and for the opportunity to create information, content, and crafts with them. I am so glad that I have also been given the chance to work with the Teen Council as well alongside past interns who can shed more light on projects if I need more insight. Every opportunity to showcase or highlight a culture with the ASTC has not only been a learning experience for me, but it feels amazing to know that I am helping someone else while also keeping them safe under the circumstances. I am sending an immense amount of gratitude for those who have made, and continue to make ASTC possible; without you, I would not be in a place that constantly challenges me to grow while also giving me insight as to what the future holds.

Major support for Education & Outreach programs at Asia Society Texas Center comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as The Brown Foundation, Inc., and The Houston Endowment. Additional funding is also provided by the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, as well as through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center. 

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.