| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | Some of my best childhood memories come from playing soccer with my friends. We would spend hours chasing the ball across dusty fields, laughing and shouting as if the whole world belonged to us. My grandmother always sat on the sidelines, quietly watching, sometimes clapping when I made a good play, and I can still picture her gentle smile. Those afternoons weren’t just about the game, they were about friendship, freedom, and the warmth of having family close by. Looking back, I realize those simple moments shaped my love for teamwork and gave me a sense of pride in making the people I love happy. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | The family member I most closely identify with is my grandmother on my mother’s side. She was a university professor, a woman of intellect and discipline, yet what made her truly remarkable was her openness and acceptance—a quality rare for someone of her age and upbringing in China. While many of her peers held on to rigid traditions, she embraced new ideas and perspectives with curiosity and warmth. With her, I never had to put up a façade or filter my words; I could speak freely about my life in the US, the challenges of adapting to a new culture, the ups and downs of relationships, and even the personal struggles I sometimes kept hidden from others. She would listen attentively, offering wisdom when needed but never judgment, creating a space where I felt both safe and supported. That sense of unconditional acceptance shaped the way I see the world and influenced the way I try to approach others—with patience, empathy, and a willingness to truly listen. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The traits I admire most in an individual are kindness, humor, and determination. Kindness shows me that a person values others and chooses to make the world a little better in their everyday actions. Humor is equally important, because it brings lightness and connection, even during difficult times. And determination inspires me, as it reveals someone’s ability to stay focused and keep moving forward no matter what challenges they face. Together, these qualities create people who not only succeed but also uplift those around them. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | One of the funniest things that ever happened to me was during a volunteer trip to Vietnam. Because of a simple communication error, our team somehow ended up committing to perform a reenactment of Snow White for an entire school of middle schoolers. What we thought would be a quick, lighthearted skit turned into a full-blown stage production, complete with elaborate props, costumes, and backdrops the organizers had prepared. By the time we realized how serious they were about it, it was far too late to back out, and we had no choice but to stumble through the play, trying to keep straight faces while the kids laughed hysterically at our awkward acting. To this day, I’ve never forgotten how something so unplanned turned into one of the most unexpectedly hilarious experiences of my life. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If time and money were no issue, I would take my family and travel the world on motorcycles with a small crew of close friends. We’d ride across continents, exposed to the wind, rain, and sun, with nothing between us and the world but the open road. Instead of staying in hotels, we’d live among the locals wherever we ended up—sharing meals in their homes, learning their stories, and becoming part of their daily rhythms. The motorcycle would give us freedom to go anywhere, from remote mountain villages to bustling city streets, while the crew would give the journey a sense of family. It wouldn’t just be about reaching destinations, but about embracing the adventure of every road and every connection along the way. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | If I ever have children, I would want to pass on the values that have guided me through life—kindness, resilience, and curiosity. I’d want them to know that treating others with compassion is never a weakness, that setbacks are not the end but opportunities to grow stronger, and that the world is full of endless wonders worth exploring. More than anything, I’d want them to feel supported and loved, so that no matter where life takes them, they carry a strong sense of confidence and belonging. |
