“I hope this book is able to help if you’re having a hard time talking to your parents, I hope it able to bridge the gap a little bit. And if they still don’t understand, I want the reader to not feel alone.” 

—Ed Lin, Author of David Tung Can’t Have A Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College

On April 9, Pao Arts Center collaborated with BCNC’s Youth Center on our latest “Chinatown Presents: How to Maybe Get into an Ivy League College”. Student hosts LeEr Li and Haofeng Lin facilitated a lively conversation with Ed Lin, author of the Young Adult novel David Tung Can’t Have A Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College. Over 20 attendees of all ages joined us to discuss the experiences of growing up Asian-American in high school. Through Zoom, we had lively conversations on topics ranging from dating, grades, and overall pressures of being a young person. We heard from those who are in high school now and those who were in high school decades ago!

LeEr, Haofeng and Ed brought passages of the book to life, role-playing scenes and dialogues as jumping off points for discussions. The YC team curated a series of scenes that showed the title character, David, juggling pleasing his parents, having a social life, and dealing with the pressures of being a high school student. The youth also brought in the experiences of their peers with pre-event surveys asking them about dating, doing well in school, and their identities as an Asian-American.

Ending the event with Q & A, Ed shared insight on how his personal experience inspired writing David Tung Can’t Have A Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College. 

We want to thank Ed Lin and BCNC’s Youth Center again for working with us on this event. We are excited for future collaborations with YC! 

Buy Ed’s book, David Tung Can’t Have A Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College, from Porter Square Books or from Kaya Press. 

Learn more about Ed in our artist spotlight here and on his website.