Finding Belonging Everywhere

Coming to the United States has made me acutely aware of everything that makes me Chinese: my high school’s values rooted in Confucianism, the traditional stories of humility and respect from my childhood, and the Spring Festival traditions of gathering around the table to make dumplings. Leaving that familiarity behind forced me to grapple with my background. 

Tracing Culture Through Media and Everyday Practices

In my coursework, I explored modern Chinese film and literature and became fascinated by how media is always marked by the cultural trends of its time. In addition, I noticed  how ramen’s evolution and differentiation in different parts of Japan or Japanese convenience stores’ approach to freshness similarly reflect broader social and economic conditions. This deepened my interest in tracing the intersection of cultural practice and historical context across societies.

Sharing Culture and Building Community Across Borders

Outside of class, my curiosity about how other people perceive Chinese traditions, from turning casual conversations into small moments of cultural exchange where we compared assumptions, memories, and the meanings behind everyday practices, motivated me to share my culture with peers in the United States. I joined the Chinese Student Association at Oberlin and helped organize various cultural activities, including Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival celebrations that were open to the whole community. I also applied to be a Chinese course assistant at Wesleyan, to help my classmates with Chinese pronunciation and grammar. 

A Cross-Cultural Lens That Guides My Future

Shaped by living across cultures, I think this curiosity will continue to guide my future . It enables me to approach unfamiliar situations with an open mindset allowing me to build connections and translate insights across cultural context among people from different backgrounds.

Whether in academic research, workplace collaboration, or community engagement, this strength would enable me to act as a bridge between perspectives and to generate creative solutions. In an increasingly interconnected world, I believe that the ability to cross boundaries and maintain adjustments to the environment can not only adapt,.but can make meaningful contributions to my environment.