About AA Lit

My favorite moment was rehearsing with all of the other
speakers. Performance anxiety is natural, but the unwavering
support and cheering from the AA Lit team in every step of the
way made it a very comfortable environment.

—Ash Wang

Asian American
Literature (AA Lit) is a
student-led summer
program designed to
provide Asian American
students with a platform
to explore, celebrate,
and express their
cultural heritage,
identity, and personal
experiences through
literature and visual art.

”

“

An excerpt from AALIT VOL 3 from Safa Idrees

“

”

For a group of community that often feels marginalized, the best thing anyone can say is that they care. I think AA Lit is constantly saying that. That we care.

“

At AA Lit, I didn’t feel as if I had a certain structure or
format or box I had to fit into. The freedom I had to
express my Asian identity was very refreshing. True
literary freedom.

—Seohyun Ryu

”

Everyone deserves a stage for their story to be heard. The “mosaic” referenced in our
theme represents the culmination and the pieces of personal experience that make Asian
American lives feel rich and layered. From the trials of immigration to the tribulations of
finding new communities, every journey is marked by resilience, adaptation, and a constant
search for belonging. Generational differences often create a delicate balance between
honoring tradition and embracing change, forging a unique identity along the way. In this
ever-evolving mosaic, each individual’s story contributes to a broader, collective
understanding of what it means to be Asian American.

“East Meet West:
Mosaic of Journeys in
the Asian American
Experience”

Theme

what
does that
mean?

CLICK HERE to
register now

questions or want feedback?
aalitverse@gmail.com

$75

Prize

It can be a poem, narrative, or anything in between.

When addressing this theme for AA Lit, tell a story that reflects the depth and
complexity of the Asian American experience. Your work must reflect the theme of
“East meets West: A Mosaic of Journeys in the Asian American Experience.” 


Please make sure: 

  • Your submission does not exceed a word count of 900

  • Your writing is respectful and appropriate for a diverse audience

  • If you choose to use AI tools, please state so at the top of your
    document and how you used it 

Submit your work by May 18th 11:59 P.M.

ALL APPLICATIONS are DUE: May 18th

interested?

writer’s RUBRIC

NOTE: Feel free to use this rubric as a helpful guide if you’d like some structure, but
don’t feel tied to it. your creativity is what truly matters!

Exemplary

Proficient

Developing

Attempting

Connection to
Personal Experience

  • Sparks meaningful
    discussions with
    developed
    thematic ideas


  • Connect deeply to
    personal or
    cultural
    experiences

  • Thematic ideas are
    somewhat clear


  • Mostly ties to
    personal or
    cultural
    experiences but
    lacks originality

  • Thematic ideas are
    somewhat clear


  • Shows limited
    personal or
    cultural
    connection

  • Thematic ideas are
    vague or difficult
    to identify


  • No personal or
    cultural
    connection

Connection to AA Lit’s
Theme

  • The connection to
    the theme is
    seamlessly woven
    into the narrative

  • Theme’s
    integration and
    connection could
    be more clear


  • Represents
    important aspects
    of Asian American
    identity

  • Basic connection
    to the theme with
    limited depth


  • Includes some
    references to
    Asian American
    experiences or
    identity

  • Contains little or
    no connection to
    Asian American
    identity


  • The theme feels
    forced or
    irrelevant to the
    narrative

Clarity of Expression

  • Writing is clear and
    well-structured


  • Flow of ideas is
    easy to follow


  • Tone and purpose
    are consistent
    throughout the
    work

  • Writing is mostly
    clear


  • Flow of ideas is
    logical with minor
    lapses in clarity


  • Tone and purpose
    not consistently
    maintained

  • Writing is
    somewhat clear


  • Flow of ideas is
    interrupted by
    unclear sections


  • Tone and purpose
    are inconsistent

  • Writing lacks
    structure


  • Flow of ideas is
    difficult to follow


  • Tone and purpose
    are not apparent

artist’s RUBRIC

NOTE: Feel free to use this rubric as a helpful guide if you’d like some structure, but
don’t feel tied to it. your creativity is what truly matters!

Exemplary

Proficient

Developing

Attempting

Artwork Quality

  • The product
    seamlessly ties into
    the presentation
    based on the
    artwork and weaves
    the connection with
    the theme


  • The artistic
    significance of the
    piece lies in its
    ability to convey a
    nuanced and
    impactful message.

  • Clear effort
    without profound
    connection shown
    in artwork
    presentation


  • Clear and
    intentional
    message
    demonstrated but
    lacks complexity


  • Some effort is
    demonstrated in
    artwork quality


  • Attempting
    message clarity

  • Little to no effort
    demonstrated in
    artwork quality


  • Unclear
    intention/message

Artist Explanation

  • The discussion of
    the theme is both
    layered and
    thoroughly
    developed.


  • The explanation of
    the artwork is
    detailed and clear,
    demonstrating
    insight through
    analysis of specific
    elements.

  • Clear explanation
    of artwork’s
    relation to theme


  • Explanation of
    artwork detailed
    and clear but lacks
    expression

  • Contains some
    thematic aspect
    but explanation is
    vague


  • Vague explanation
    for connection to
    artwork/includes
    some unrelated
    elements

  • Fails to explain
    artwork’s relation
    to     theme


  • Explanation
    unrelated/fails to
    connect to artwork

Events 25 summer

Practice Session #1

JUNE 18, 2025

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Practice Session #2

June 26, 2025

1:30pm - 2:30 pm

Practice Session #3

July 24, 2025

12:00 pm - 1:00pm

Performance date

AUGUST 1, 2025

3:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Courtney Lee

Niharika Mahesh

Loraine Wu

Kayla Fu

Emily Hill

Project Manager

Logistics Manager

Publicity

Publicity

Publicity

Meet the team

Everyone deserves a stage for their story to be heard;
thank you for being the audience to hear it.

© 2025 AA Lit