“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” - Gandhi
nature is imperfect, as am i.
Though I'm not a huge believer in horoscopes, growing up with my grandmother led me to learn more about my Chinese heritage and especially the Chinese Zodiac. Born as a Fire Ox with Monkey inclinations, my grandmother cautioned that I would be "too stubborn, too reckless, and too trusting." Perhaps the Zodiac is correct or I internalized these traits, but this perfectly describes who I am today.
In general, I am a passionate person driven to take action, regardless of the impact size and sometimes without thinking things through. I find myself drawn to people, fueled by my gut rather than my head. I believe that working hard is just as important as working smart, but I'm usually the former rather than the latter.
But to remain aware of these situations, I wear a jade necklace of an ox, gifted by my grandmother. Every time I find myself drifting, I finger the pendant, remembering to adapt my behavior. But even though I have these "flaws", I try to not get swallowed up by them; for stubborn can be perseverant, reckless can be decisive, and trusting can be compassionate.
It all depends on the situation and how you view yourself in relation to the world.
In general, I am a passionate person driven to take action, regardless of the impact size and sometimes without thinking things through. I find myself drawn to people, fueled by my gut rather than my head. I believe that working hard is just as important as working smart, but I'm usually the former rather than the latter.
But to remain aware of these situations, I wear a jade necklace of an ox, gifted by my grandmother. Every time I find myself drifting, I finger the pendant, remembering to adapt my behavior. But even though I have these "flaws", I try to not get swallowed up by them; for stubborn can be perseverant, reckless can be decisive, and trusting can be compassionate.
It all depends on the situation and how you view yourself in relation to the world.
Planting the seed
My parents both moved to the United States to experience why, in the Chinese language, America is referred to as the “beautiful country”. During breaks and long weekends, they would pack the minivan, sit me between the camping gear and the cooler, and take off for another National Park.
My mom had an artistic mind, while my stepdad was an ex-Marine, creating quite a unique combination. On these trips, they would each show me a different side of nature: my mom teaching me to appreciate the land for its beauty, while my stepdad taught me more survival skills such as building fires and navigating without a compass. They both taught me to become independent and to constantly learn and grow (ideals that continue to resonate with me today).
Through these trips, we waited impatiently (okay, maybe I was the only impatient one) with the other tourists for Old Faithful to blow at Yellowstone, soaked in the heat of Death Valley, fended off mosquitoes in the Everglades, and wandered past the same rock formations for hours at Bryce Canyon, but for some strange reason, I enjoyed every moment.
My mom had an artistic mind, while my stepdad was an ex-Marine, creating quite a unique combination. On these trips, they would each show me a different side of nature: my mom teaching me to appreciate the land for its beauty, while my stepdad taught me more survival skills such as building fires and navigating without a compass. They both taught me to become independent and to constantly learn and grow (ideals that continue to resonate with me today).
Through these trips, we waited impatiently (okay, maybe I was the only impatient one) with the other tourists for Old Faithful to blow at Yellowstone, soaked in the heat of Death Valley, fended off mosquitoes in the Everglades, and wandered past the same rock formations for hours at Bryce Canyon, but for some strange reason, I enjoyed every moment.
I loved the fresh air, the feeling of exploring a hidden land, the stars stretched out across the sky, and the sublimity of nature, which I referred to as “Nature’s Calling” (which should not to be confused with the euphemism for going to the bathroom).
Thus, at the age of seven, I declared myself an environmentalist. After hearing at a school assembly that fast-food industries were illegally cutting down the Amazon Rainforest to grow their cattle, I started boycotting all fast-food places (even to this day). Everything I did needed to be about saving the environment, from biking to school, creating posters about endangered animals, attending clean-ups, doing school projects on the Amazon rainforest, to even dedicating countless hours watching documentaries on Discovery Channel.
Thus, at the age of seven, I declared myself an environmentalist. After hearing at a school assembly that fast-food industries were illegally cutting down the Amazon Rainforest to grow their cattle, I started boycotting all fast-food places (even to this day). Everything I did needed to be about saving the environment, from biking to school, creating posters about endangered animals, attending clean-ups, doing school projects on the Amazon rainforest, to even dedicating countless hours watching documentaries on Discovery Channel.
A seed had been planted in my mind; I wanted to be the next Lorax and speak for the trees.
discovering my source of sunlight
My mom always told me that I laughed a lot as a child: “You never cried. Even when you accidentally ran and hit your head against the wall, you just giggled and kept running.” But as I grew older, I stopped laughing as much, finding myself unhappy and unable to change who I was.
I was born with severe asthma, so my lungs could never take in enough air to let me breathe. It was an arduous treatment process. Every morning, for half an hour, I wore a mask and breathed in chemicals to support basic lung functions. I never participated in sports for fear that cardio would trigger an asthma attack, and I missed field trips in case something went wrong. Worst of all, every Wednesday, I went to the hospital to get allergy shots to build my immunity to certain allergens, unable to meet up with classmates after school.
I was born with severe asthma, so my lungs could never take in enough air to let me breathe. It was an arduous treatment process. Every morning, for half an hour, I wore a mask and breathed in chemicals to support basic lung functions. I never participated in sports for fear that cardio would trigger an asthma attack, and I missed field trips in case something went wrong. Worst of all, every Wednesday, I went to the hospital to get allergy shots to build my immunity to certain allergens, unable to meet up with classmates after school.
My continual absences, timid nature, and language barrier (I couldn’t speak English fluently until I was seven), led to verbal bullying and alienation. I looked normal. I felt normal. But I ended up eating lunch alone with whispers and name-calling behind my back. Yet, I didn’t let it get to me. I was on a path towards my own happiness and sulking about my problems wouldn't solve them. From that moment, I was determined to maintain a positive attitude despite whatever life threw at me. I found this as a reason to work harder. I wanted to be one of those boys: to be chosen first for kickball and to pull pranks on each other. I wanted to be as happy as they were. I wanted to be normal.
To build up my lung capacity, I started going to the the community pool to swim every other day. On the days in between, I would run at a local track, adding a lap each month, until I could run two miles without breathing heavily. I read more books to train my mind, but I also started to volunteer at a local soup kitchen on Saturday mornings to get out of the house.
As the years went by, one glorious day, during my weekly checkup, my doctor announced that I had overcome my asthma. I was ecstatic, but I also found myself less inclined to be a “normal” boy. After reading and volunteering, I stopped thinking about wanting to fit in, but what I could do for others.
My interactions at the soup kitchen had been a source of pride and joy, where, as the only Mandarin-speaking person, I was the only qualified Chinese translator. Although I still worked in the kitchen (first washing dishes, serving food, then cooking meals as I grew older), my favorite part was sharing a meal and having a conversation with those experiencing homelessness. They would tell me stories about their lives, the hardships they faced, and their ambitions. I saw them not as destitute criminals or low-lives, but as friends and dreamers, whom I could easily laugh and joke with. Here, I was somebody and I had found myself.
To build up my lung capacity, I started going to the the community pool to swim every other day. On the days in between, I would run at a local track, adding a lap each month, until I could run two miles without breathing heavily. I read more books to train my mind, but I also started to volunteer at a local soup kitchen on Saturday mornings to get out of the house.
As the years went by, one glorious day, during my weekly checkup, my doctor announced that I had overcome my asthma. I was ecstatic, but I also found myself less inclined to be a “normal” boy. After reading and volunteering, I stopped thinking about wanting to fit in, but what I could do for others.
My interactions at the soup kitchen had been a source of pride and joy, where, as the only Mandarin-speaking person, I was the only qualified Chinese translator. Although I still worked in the kitchen (first washing dishes, serving food, then cooking meals as I grew older), my favorite part was sharing a meal and having a conversation with those experiencing homelessness. They would tell me stories about their lives, the hardships they faced, and their ambitions. I saw them not as destitute criminals or low-lives, but as friends and dreamers, whom I could easily laugh and joke with. Here, I was somebody and I had found myself.
Service to others genuinely made and continues to make me happy, so throughout my high school career, I volunteered countless hours at senior homes, elementary schools, and at different events through a variety of service clubs.
To couple my interests with the environment and service, I joined Boy Scouts (correction, my mom forced me to go, but I fell in love with it over time and I thank her everyday for that amazing judgment call). Through my troop, we went on camping trips once a month and performed service projects including canned food drives, park repairs, trail cleanups, and tree plantings. Taking on different leadership roles, I found my voice and self-confidence, becoming a stronger advocate for my own ideals. I aided in creating a Leave No Trace coordinator position for my troop to ensure sustainable camping methods. On hikes, I served as a nature guide, pointing out to younger scouts the different edible plants and particularly unusual trees, such as the Jeffrey Pine, which smells like butterscotch or vanilla (it depends on your sense of smell).
Although I was uncertain about what I was going to do in the future, I absolutely knew that it would have to positively impact others and promote the environment. Service and sustainability had become my passions, Mother Nature was my guide, and I wanted (and still want) to be a changemaker.
To couple my interests with the environment and service, I joined Boy Scouts (correction, my mom forced me to go, but I fell in love with it over time and I thank her everyday for that amazing judgment call). Through my troop, we went on camping trips once a month and performed service projects including canned food drives, park repairs, trail cleanups, and tree plantings. Taking on different leadership roles, I found my voice and self-confidence, becoming a stronger advocate for my own ideals. I aided in creating a Leave No Trace coordinator position for my troop to ensure sustainable camping methods. On hikes, I served as a nature guide, pointing out to younger scouts the different edible plants and particularly unusual trees, such as the Jeffrey Pine, which smells like butterscotch or vanilla (it depends on your sense of smell).
Although I was uncertain about what I was going to do in the future, I absolutely knew that it would have to positively impact others and promote the environment. Service and sustainability had become my passions, Mother Nature was my guide, and I wanted (and still want) to be a changemaker.
Back to my roots
As a child, whenever I didn’t finish my food, my mom would always say, “There are hungry children in Africa, and if you don’t eat your food, maybe we need to send you there.” To which I would promptly wolf down the last of my meal because no child wants to be sent away to a foreign country that does not have Pokémon every Friday night. Ironically, I’m the one who wants to go to Africa now, while my parents, though supportive, are a little reluctant to let me go (if you’re an only child, you probably have similarly overprotective parents).
Both sides of my family come from rural China. Based on the genealogy records told by my grandfather, almost all my ancestors have been farmers or worked in small farming communities. After opportunities granted by Mao during the Cultural Revolution, my grandparents were some of the lucky ones to receive an education and were able to leave the village to start families in more urban areas, which then allowed my parents to come to the United States.
After visiting my extended family in China and noticing the awful rural conditions in which most of my family members lived, I found myself ridden with indignation. It was inhumane to live without heated water, constant access to electricity, paved roads, and a proper education! People say seeing is believing, but experiencing it first-hand spurs action. I left China in a state of shock, vowing to right these wrongs and addressing these needs, not only in China, but throughout the world.
Both sides of my family come from rural China. Based on the genealogy records told by my grandfather, almost all my ancestors have been farmers or worked in small farming communities. After opportunities granted by Mao during the Cultural Revolution, my grandparents were some of the lucky ones to receive an education and were able to leave the village to start families in more urban areas, which then allowed my parents to come to the United States.
After visiting my extended family in China and noticing the awful rural conditions in which most of my family members lived, I found myself ridden with indignation. It was inhumane to live without heated water, constant access to electricity, paved roads, and a proper education! People say seeing is believing, but experiencing it first-hand spurs action. I left China in a state of shock, vowing to right these wrongs and addressing these needs, not only in China, but throughout the world.
I came to Santa Clara University hoping to discover the best route to enact change, influenced especially by the Jesuit values of helping the poor and the marginalized. I started out as an electrical engineering major because I wanted to develop humanitarian products, but over time, my focus has shifted more towards renewable energy and power systems. However, most of my engineering classes have became too theoretical, and I began to lose sight of my goals. Therefore, I decided to add an environmental science major, helping me further discover important environmental issues and retain my sanity (to a certain degree).
My goal in the future is to provide clean and accessible electricity to the poor in developing countries and to develop products that meaningfully impact their lives, such as solar inductor cookers or a water purification system. Becoming a Global Social Benefit Fellow puts me one step closer to my goal. Social enterprises have created lasting change across the world and having the opporutnity to learn more about social enterprises and their innner workings is a dream come true. I look forward to exploring this possible future career, while doing meaningful research to solve problems (I think too much like an engineer) and learn more about the wonderful culture of Zambia.
My goal in the future is to provide clean and accessible electricity to the poor in developing countries and to develop products that meaningfully impact their lives, such as solar inductor cookers or a water purification system. Becoming a Global Social Benefit Fellow puts me one step closer to my goal. Social enterprises have created lasting change across the world and having the opporutnity to learn more about social enterprises and their innner workings is a dream come true. I look forward to exploring this possible future career, while doing meaningful research to solve problems (I think too much like an engineer) and learn more about the wonderful culture of Zambia.