Message from Executive Director
「我該怎麼辦？」這是我們在陪伴青少年過程中，越來越常 聽見的疑問。
以往，青少年在升學與選科上的壓力，常來自父母的期望。
但近年來，有家長選擇放手，讓子女自由決定未來方向。原 以為這樣會減輕壓力，卻發現情況未必如此。在經驗尚淺、
資訊爆炸的時代背景下，面對人生第一個重大選擇，年輕人 反而更容易感到迷惘。有些人因焦慮而拚命補習、狂選課 程；有些人則選擇「躺平」，逃避決策。這些看似極端的行 為，其實是長期內在壓力與不確定感的自然反應。
為了回應這個現象，Across U-hub 舉辦了一場以「升學選擇 與心理健康」為主題的對話講座，邀請臨床心理學家
Dr. Joyce Mak 及 BridgesEDU Scholarships 創辦人
Dr. Christopher Grafos，從心理健康與升學策略兩個角度， 帶領家長與學生思考：升學，不只是蒐集資訊，更是與身份 認同和情緒管理的深度對話。
兩位講者都是移民家庭的第二代，也分享了他們自身在成長 過程中，如何在期待與迷惘之間尋找方向。他們提醒 家長和學生：選錯科系，並不代表人生失敗，有時反而是啟 發更有意義之路的開始。
幫助青少年選擇大學，不只是提供資訊，更需要陪伴他們面 對壓力、建立自信，並創造在成績以外也能被看見與肯定的 機會。正如 Dr. Grafos 所說，獎學金是一項寶貴卻常被誤解 的資源。很多家庭，尤其是華人社群，誤以為只有成績優異 者才有資格申請，事實上，許多獎學金的設計條件，包括族 裔背景、個人特質，甚至身高等，往往不為人知。
Nicole Wong
Message from Executive Director (con’t)
這提醒我們，教育資源不應是少數人的特權，而應是鼓勵 多元背景青年探索自我、肯定價值的起點。
正因如此，Across U-hub 創立了Across U-Can Youth
Awards，致力於表揚那些在自我探索、社區貢獻及文化交 流方面展現亮眼表現的年輕人。他們的成就未必體現在分 數上，卻同樣值得被看見、被鼓勵。
令人欣喜的是，歷屆得獎者與參與者成立了同學會，彼此 扶持、同行。今年報名反應熱烈，目前已進入甄選階段。
我們期待再次聆聽那些真摯而勇敢的故事。
謝謝您一路以來的支持。
正因為有您，我們才能持續為青少年提供一個安心、真實 的空間，讓他們在迷霧中找到方向，在跌倒與成長中，勇 敢前行。
Message from Executive Director
“What should I do?”
This is a question we hear more and more from young people today
In the past, youth often felt pressure from their parents when choosing a university or career path. But in recent years, many parents have begun to step back, giving their children more freedom to decide for themselves. One might expect this to reduce stress but for many youth, it has done the opposite. With limited life experience and an overwhelming amount of information, young people often feel lost when faced with their first major life decision.
Some respond anxiously, enrolling in extra courses in an effort to keep all options open. Others shut down completely, avoiding decisions altogether. These responses may seem extreme, but they are actually natural outcomes of sustained internal pressure and uncertainty
To address this growing concern, Across U-hub hosted a dialogue-based seminar on university decision-making and youth mental health. We invited Dr. Joyce Mak, a clinical child psychologist, and Dr. Christopher Grafos, founder of BridgesEDU Scholarships. One focused on emotional wellness, the other on academic strategy Both speakers, as secondgeneration immigrants, shared their personal stories of navigating expectations and uncertainty.
Their message was clear: making the “ wrong ” choice doesn’t mean you ’ ve failed. On the contrary, it can often lead to a more fulfilling path. Choosing a university isn’t just about having the right information—it’s about understanding one ’ s identity, managing emotional readiness, and having the confidence to move forward.
Message from Executive Director (con’t)
As Dr. Grafos emphasized, scholarships are powerful yet often misunderstood opportunities. Particularly in the Chinese community, many families assume they’re only for top academic achievers. But in reality, countless scholarships are based on factors such as ethnicity, personal characteristics, or even height. These opportunities are often missed simply because people don’t know they exist
This reminds us that educational access should not be the privilege of a few It should be a platform that empowers youth from all backgrounds to build confidence and discover their potential.
That’s why Across U-hub launched the Across U-Can Youth Awards: to recognize young people who have grown through self-discovery, contributed to their communities, and helped bridge cultural understanding. These achievements may not appear on a report card, but they matter deeply They deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported.
What’s even more inspiring is that past recipients and participants have formed their own peer network, continuing to walk alongside and support one another. This year ’ s application response has been our strongest yet. As we enter the selection phase, we look forward to hearing more stories filled with honesty, growth, and courage.
Thank you for your continued support. Because of you, we ’ re able to provide a safe and grounded space where youth can explore, stumble, and rise again with direction, with connection, and with hope.
Empowering Emerging Artists Through Crafteria
Since reviving Crafteria in 2023, we ’ ve hosted monthly workshops in art forms like crochet, preserved flowers, and craft coffee. We’re grateful to work with artists who share our belief in making creativity accessible to all.
For us, Crafteria is more than a workshop it’s a welcoming space for learning, sharing, and connecting through art
To deepen our support for the creative community, we ’ re excited to take the next step: opening our space to emerging artists and crafters at minimal cost We understand how important it is for new artists to have opportunities to share their work, connect with audiences, and gain exposure. By offering our venue as a space for workshops and a gathering place for crafters and their supporters, we hope to provide them with the platform they deserve to grow, connect, and thrive.
This initiative aligns with our mission to foster creativity, build community, and promote inclusivity in the arts. We believe that when artists are supported, the entire community benefits—because creativity inspires, empowers, and brings people together.
If you ’ re an emerging artist looking for a place to showcase and share your work, or if you know someone who might benefit from this opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building a space where handmade art is for everyone
Tiffany Ore