The GUA Contest

For 30 years, AACI’s Growing Up in America – GUA (formerly known as Growing Up Asian in America) has provided young Americans a platform to celebrate their identity and share their thoughts through art, essays, and videos! The GUA art, essay, and video contest annually celebrates creativity, culture, and community for K-12th grade students across the Bay Area. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this prestigious contest, a milestone that reflects decades of empowering young voices and fostering self-expression.

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In partnership with NBC Bay Area, GUA offers students a unique platform to share their stories, ideas, and perspectives through art, writing, and video. Over the years, the contest has inspired thousands of students to explore and celebrate their cultural identities through the lens of civic engagement. 

Please note: Participants must live and/or attend a school within the following BAY AREA counties: Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Alameda, or San Mateo County. 

This year’s theme is Facing My Fears, and it encourages the participants to reflect and share their understanding of fear, explore healthy vs. unhealthy fears, and learn how to manage it.

Facing My Fears

Fear is something we all experience—it’s a normal part of life! Sometimes fear can be helpful – it can protect us, remind us to be cautious in dangerous situations, and keep us safe. Other times, fear can hold us back, stopping us from trying new things or being our best selves. Healthy fears are the ones that help us, while unhealthy fears can stop us from growing. Managing fear is about finding ways to stay calm, asking for help, and taking small steps to feel brave and turn it into strength.

This theme is about understanding fear and learning how to manage it. The contest invites participants to share how they manage their fears and find ways to live with or overcome them. They are encouraged to explore the difference between healthy and unhealthy fears, reflect and share how fear has shaped their experiences, what they have learned from it, and how they’ve found the courage to grow stronger.

The contest will open for submissions between March 1st to March 15th, and winners will be announced in May. 
For more information, please visit www.aaci.org/gua or email development@aaci.org.

Some questions to spark ideas

  • What motivates you to keep going when things feel impossible?
  • What is one lesson you’ve learned from a challenging experience?
  • What is a good kind of fear that helps keep you safe?
  • Share a story about a fear you’ve faced and how you found the strength to overcome it.
  • How can overcoming fears make you a stronger and more confident person?
  • What advice would you give to someone who is scared?
  • Who can you go to for help when you have fears?
  • Who is your support when you need to be brave?

    Learn more or see previous winners at www.aaci.org/gua.