This is a worksheet from kindergarten when I was 5 years old.
I'm now a dog person, and I have a dog named PP, an American Eskimo. My favorite color is still blue—it brings me inner peace.
My taste in food has expanded to cuisines from around the world: Regional Chinese cuisines, pizza, burgers, steak and fries, pasta, sushi, Korean BBQ...
My family consists of my mom, dad, and an older sister who is 10 years older than me
My favorite places include a neighborhood coffee shop where I do homework, the mall where I spend time with friends, and Shenzhen Bay Park for biking and walks. I’m especially excited about the upcoming Legoland in Shenzhen—Lego first sparked my love for creating.
When I grow up, I want to be more than an artist. I aspire to be a journalist or sociologist. If not, I'd love to own a restaurant or coffee shop, or found a dog rescue and daycare center. I've kept my artistic side alive through my interests.
It's funny that I wrote my favorite thing to do was "go to school." Now, it would be anything related to music or art—they're my escape from the demanding high school workload.
“If I had one wish, I would wish for beauty.” A picture of my sister is pasted below it. I once admired her for her style, but I now admire her even more for her intelligence and guidance. Having recently navigated the same stage of life, she’s supported me deeply and shaped my studies, choices, and interests. Studying at UW Seattle and later Columbia, she became both my role model and my guide through adolescence.
My Journey with
Taylor Swift
My Swiftie story began at five years old, sitting cross-legged on my sister's bedroom floor as she strummed “Sparks Fly" on her guitar. That moment sparked a thirteen-year love affair that would shape not just my playlists, but my entire creative identity.
What started as daily sing-alongs with my sister evolved into something deeper—an invisible string connecting us across time zones and life stages. By eight, I had my own guitar, learning chords to keep pace with her. But Taylor Swift became more than our shared soundtrack; she became the architect of my girlhood. I know every lyric not just in my mind but in my bones, each song marking a different chapter: "The Best Day" teaching me about love through my mother's eyes at seven, "You're On Your Own, Kid" holding my hand through teenage confusion at seventeen.
The Eras Tour crystallized what this community means. Standing in a stadium sea of sequins and friendship bracelets, each outfit a coded love letter to different albums, I felt the electric connection of thousands of girlhoods intersecting—all different, all valid, all understood.
Taylor's influence cascaded into unexpected territories. Yes, guitar, piano, drums, and songwriting followed naturally. But then came the surprises: intricate friendship bracelets, sculptures, and most unexpectedly—fashion design. Two months after she wore that stunning Vivienne Westwood gown, I decided to recreate it despite zero fashion training. My approach was pure instinct: start now, learn fast, perfect it. I haunted fabric markets, befriended local dressmakers, learned about boning and pleats through YouTube and trial. I hand-lettered the English calligraphy across the bodice myself. When I finally wore that gown to her concert and she pointed at me mid-song—that moment validated every late-night sewing session.
Her lyrical brilliance pushed me toward creative writing at thirteen. While my novels haven't conquered bestseller lists, they led me to high school's music composition club, where I finally merged all my skills. Five original songs later, I'm featured on our club album—proof that obsessions can become foundations.
Taylor Swift isn't just my favorite artist; she's been my creative catalyst, my emotional compass, my third sister. Through her, I learned that loving something deeply enough can transform you into someone you never imagined becoming.
My Range of Skills
My mother’s gift of freedom found its strongest form in calligraphy—an ancient art that became my way of building bridges. Each Chinese New Year, I write spring couplets for neighbors and teachers, acting as a cultural ambassador. Refusing to let tradition remain static, I founded two calligraphy clubs—one at school, one in my neighborhood—where members blended Chinese strokes with Arabic script, Korean Hangul, and Western lettering. With a background in drawing and painting, I guided not only technique but imagination, helping others see how traditions could coexist and evolve on a single page.
Tennis entered my life in kindergarten and stayed—not for trophies, but for the joy of movement. While I explored many sports, tennis became my anchor. Over time, younger players began gathering near the courts, and I stayed after practice to teach them. Eventually, they challenged me to matches. Teaching became as meaningful as playing, reinforcing a pattern that would repeat across my interests: turning personal passion into shared opportunity.
Music offered a different kind of freedom. I learned piano, drums, and guitar, then stepped away from formal lessons to explore independently. Moving between instruments kept curiosity alive and led me to my high school composer club, where I wrote and produced five songs for our school album. Now, I lead other students through their own creative processes, emphasizing expression over perfection.
Baking became a quieter form of connection. Through shared recipes and homemade treats, I bridge cultures in small, everyday ways—less about praise, more about generosity.
These pursuits—calligraphy, tennis, music, baking, and more—are not separate hobbies. They are different expressions of the same belief: connection grows when we share what we love and invite others to create alongside us. My mother gave me freedom not only to explore, but to turn passion into community.
