Hey everyone, I'm Steven, a high school senior, and I want to share my journey of writing an academic paper on Asian American religion for the APARRI conference at UC Berkeley. I'll break it down into four parts:

First, let's talk about my experience writing the paper. It all started with my curiosity about why my parents, immigrants, converted to Christianity. This led me to explore Asian American identity and religion. I struggled, reading difficult books and trying to find my research question. After months of hard work, I finally got my focus and made a plan.

Next, I'll share the preparation process, along with some tips and mistakes I made. Planning thoroughly is essential, and setting different types of deadlines helped me stay on track. I learned the value of "VH skimming" to extract relevant information efficiently. One major mistake was not having a solid outline, which caused organizational issues.

Then, I'll talk about the APARRI conference experience. Despite initial nerves, everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I found a sense of belonging among scholars who shared my passion. The variety of presentations on unique subjects was fascinating.

Lastly, I'll share my overall thoughts. The conference changed me, inspiring me to pursue my academic interests and connect with others who share my nerdy side. It was a remarkable experience that opened my eyes to the beauty of being a scholar.

Overall, the journey was tough, but the rewards were immense. I encourage others to embrace their scholarly interests and consider attending conferences like APARRI. It's an eye-opening experience you won't want to miss.