Autobiography

I was born in Shanghai, China on October 26, 1986 in the year of the tiger. My parents and I moved to Washington D.C. when I was two years old, so I have hardly any memories of my early years in China. We had a happy and cozy life together, the three of us. I started kindergarten in Mrs. Hetherington’s class at Horace Mann Elementary School. My life changed when we moved to Dale City, Virginia after I finished kindergarten. I had to adjust to a new house, a new school, and new friends. Fortunately, there were many children in our neighborhood and I became acquainted with them at the community playground. Our next door neighbors had children about the same age as I was; Gloria was in my grade and Anthony was a year younger. We would often carpool to school and do homework together.

In 1992, when I was in second grade, my younger brother Erwin was born. I instantly became a proud big sister, who clamored to hold him and feed him after school. He was lavished with attention and care from my parents and I during those early years. I remember being there for his first step: my initial feeling of pride and excitement, then the subsequent agitation and concern when he faltered and fell a few steps later.

My favorite teacher in elementary school was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Hammond. She was genuinely concerned for each of her students, and made an active effort to learn our interests and strengths and implement them in the learning process. When she discovered that I loved playing the piano, she invited me to a concert where she was playing the tuba. I had never had a teacher who cared about our interests and passions outside of the classroom; she truly touched me life in a deep and profound way.

In the middle of fifth grade, our family moved again to Fairfax, Virginia. It was easier this time for me to adjust to my new school, because I immediately became friends with a girl named Katie who was in my fifth grade class. We bonded instantly and grew to become best friends. Together, we moved on to middle school. Elementary school seemed like a bubble compared to what we were exposed to in middle school. Katie and I managed to stay close and maintain our strong friendship, even as we met new friends and acquaintances. We had many classes together, so we would usually do homework together after school and ride our bikes around the neighborhood.

Naturally, you can imagine our dismay when we had to go to different high schools after eighth grade. I had been accepted to the governor’s magnet school in Northern Virginia, and I was anxious about the reputation of stress and the high expectations that it held. It was a difficult transition, but a necessary one. By going our separate ways, we both were able to mature and become independent. In high school, I learned to make new friends and step out of my comfort zone. The pressure to excel was just what I had expected, but I managed to stay afloat with the support and encouragement of my parents and close friends.

During high school, I became actively involved in the French Honor Society and discovered my interest in foreign languages. For my senior thesis, I integrated my love for music with the technology laboratory requirement for my high school. I designed a project where I modeled the cast-iron plate of an upright piano on a computer program called AutoCAD. It was a wonderful experience to discover how my interests and talents can overlap, and that learning is never strictly compartmentalized.

The college decision process was a difficult one for me. It was at that point that I really had to consider what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Though the decision was an agonizing one, in the end I finally chose UVA, because I was impressed by the strong programs offered across a wide array of disciplines. During my time here, I have had the chance to explore and get a taste of many different subjects and fields of study. I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in French Languages and Literature, as well as Linguistics. These majors allow me to explore and pursue research in the study of languages. At the same time, I chose to apply to the Curry School of Education and obtain my master’s degree in Elementary and Gifted education. I know that even though my future career as a teacher may not be as glamorous or prestigious as a successful medical or law practice, this is what I was meant to do. I know that in teaching I will find joy that triumphs over the agonies, laughter that outshines the tears, and love that is worth all the pain.