Mandarin is more than a language to me, it's personal. Adopted from Wuhan, China, I spent years feeling disconnected from that side of my identity, and learning Mandarin became my way back in. I came to understand that language isn't just communication, it's how a culture expresses its humor, values, and traditions. That realization shaped my long-term goals: I want to eventually pursue an MBA in international marketing and work toward becoming a creative director for global campaigns. To do that authentically, especially when reaching Chinese-speaking markets across China, Taiwan, and Singapore, fluency and cultural competency aren't just nice to have, they're the foundation of meaningful, respectful, and effective global marketing.

In the summer of 2025, I was given the opportunity to study abroad in China visiting Bejing, Changsha, and Hong Kong. Here I studied Mandarin for 4 hours 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Being fully immersed pushed me to think more intentionally about how culture, language, and context shape the way people communicate and connect.