Community
On stage, and behind the scenes.
Aiden has volunteered with the Asian American Association of Boston since 2022. This year he became its Student Director and co-hosted Asian American Day on Boston Common.
What he does
From setting up the tent to holding the mic.
2022
Volunteer
He started out helping with setup and greeting visitors at the AAAB tent.
2025
Co-host, Lunar New Year
In January 2025 he co-hosted Weston’s Chinese Lunar New Year festival, close to home.
2026
Student Director & Asian American Day
As Student Director of AAAB, he helps organize events and discusses why they're important in the community. He co-hosted the 16th annual Asian American Day on Boston Common in September 2026.
Why it matters to him
“It makes me feel like I’m giving to community and the community is giving back to me.”
Aiden, on hosting Asian American Day
What stayed with him: performers his own age sharing the cultures of Japan, China, Cambodia and Korea, and a fellow co-host who told him about her home country, Cambodia.
“Even while being nervous, you can still perform very well.”
Aiden, on working with his fellow co-hosts
Pieces of a puzzle.
At Asian American Day 2026, Aiden spoke at the podium in the Massachusetts State House, in front of state and city officials and community guests. His speech was about what culture and community mean to him. As he puts it: “People in a community are all unique and bring their own traits to the greater community.”
“I grew up loving puzzles, and when I think of community and our different cultures, it’s like having a group of friends with all the different pieces of a puzzle: together we make something much greater than the individual pieces.”
From Aiden’s speech“My mom is Chinese, my dad is American, and I’ve grown up learning about and celebrating both sides of my family … Having more than one culture isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about appreciating everything that makes you who you are.”
With guests at the State House, including Senator Michael Brady.
From Aiden’s speech“I was very proud to talk about my culture … it’s very important to have many chances to experience each other’s different cultures, whether it was through our schools or through events like Lunar New Year and Asian American Day.”
Aiden has constantly been expanding his circle, from his family at home, to his classmates at Fay with Taste of Nations, his town co-hosting the Lunar New Year in Weston, and hosting Asian American Day on Boston Common.
Aiden, in his own application writingWatch