My Passion for Piano
When I was 7, the building where I took after-school art classes had a piano class next door, so I often heard the music serenading me through the wall. One time my art teacher was late, so the piano teacher invited me into their class and taught me the beginner song “Hot Cross Buns.” When […]
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By Trying to Fit In, I Lost My Joy
When I was little, my family referred to me as their little nut because I was so outgoing. In school, I was scolded for being too loud during rest time and frequently had my seat moved for chatting too much with my classmates. Soon, I developed a strong interest in fashion and accessories, wearing beaded […]
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A Family’s Portrait
One of my earliest memories is of my father sitting me down at our kitchen table with canvases, paint, and brushes. He taught me how to blend colors and use different materials like acrylic paint and watercolors. Whenever we felt inspired, we set out all our materials and painted what our hearts desired. My favorite […]
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From Begrudging Family Translator to Literacy Volunteer
“我不要 (wǒ bù yào; I don’t want to)!” I cried, twisting my arms and kicking my legs to release myself from Nai Nai’s firm grip as she pulled me over to the man sitting in the subway ticket booth. My 9-year-old self started jumping and screaming. I was yelling in Mandarin, the only language my […]
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