A Rray of Ssunshine ��on Ccampus
ByY: Amy Yang 杨雨鑫
If you pass by the library on weekday afternoons, you might notice a girl with a warm smile, often flipping through a notebook or chatting softly with classmates—that’s Esther Wang, an inspiring role model from Sendelta.
Recently, our team had a friendly discussion with her, and it was clear she has a great sense of humor and responds warmly. Conversations with her feel relaxed and comfortable, regardless of the topic; she always engages from different angles and perspectives and shares her personally meaningful experiences.
“I believe that the most important aspect of learning is not merely about acquiring knowledge, but about exploring one's own limits, experiencing the joy of learning, benefiting from it, discovering a different side of oneself, and helping others progress and improve under the premise of having the ability, and finally giving back to society.” In this brief yet firm statement, Esther summarizes her high school journey. Her crossing of the Pacific has always aimed at one goal: to explore, improve, and serve society.
As a high school student in America, Esther demonstrated remarkable academic ability and enthusiasm. Though her school does not permit freshmen to enroll in AP courses, she chose to self-study and scored a 5 on AP Chinese. Besides excelling academically, she actively participated in FBLA business competitions and law clubs and led her team to regional victory in the Intuit Social Innovation Challenge.
Focusing on her responses and ideas, it's evident she diligently upholds her core values—service and integrity—which are essential to society. To fulfill her sense of self-worth, Esther became president of one of Sendelta’s most prominent clubs, "Hearts Roaming with StarsHearts and Stars Journey." This charitable group organizes activities for the elderly and autistic children. One event, the "Inspire Me Festival," invited many familiesseniors from the community and parentswith autistic children. Participants could draw, craft, do origami, and connect with peers.
When asked about her biggest challenge as president, managing this event, Esther mentioned language barriers, since she is an ABC (American-born Chinese). She sometimes needs to explain how to implement goals to club members, and for native English speakers, it’s easy to forget how hard it can be to write long Chinese paragraphs.
However, Esther views this as an opportunity to improve her Chinese and takes it seriously. Additionally, as a disciplined student, Esther balances her studies with her responsibilities as president by turning off her phone, avoiding chat groups, and waking up early —around 5 or 6 a.m. —the next day. This routine has significantly increased her productivity in both work and study. When asking about any apps that help her schedule and organize her time, she mentions only one, and that is a reminder to tell her to sleep. “Sleep provides more energy for the next day,” and since she must wake up very early. This app not only regulates her nap time, but it also helps schedule her time.
Esther, asan ABC—American-born Chinese,—found it fascinating to return to China to continue her studies. She explained, “I want to learn more about the culture of the country that my ancestors lived in.” Despite not being deeply influenced by Chinese culture since childhood, her curiosity about different cultures remains strong. She knows exactly what part of her is missing when her curiosity is sparked.
During our conversation, her strong servicespirit of service was evident. Esther shared her high school experiences in America, where she was encouraged to join clubs, teams, and activities that combined hobbies and interests. She participated in charity fundraisers at her church, wrote to pen pals in Spain and China, and enjoyed teamwork with friends to achieve goals. These experiences helped her discover her passions. Feeling a sense of belonging from her schoolmates, she now strives to create that same feeling for students at Sendelta, hoping everyone feels welcome. “Team spirit and identity connect directly to a sense of belonging,” she believes, which motivates her to join various clubs and teams.
She also highlighted the “Inspire Me Festival,” especially her work with kids with autism, a minority group facing communication and social challenges. As president, she plans to offer various toys, games, and activities like Legos, puzzles, books, drawing, writing, and music, tailored to different children’s needs. She emphasized that discrimination often limits these kids' outdoor activities, hindering their social interaction and growth. The festival provided valuable opportunities for them to connect with peers and learn about the outside world, while parents could meet and support each other, making the experience enriching and enjoyable.
For Sendelta and Harrow International School (they held this festival together), this would also be a great chance to know more about some special kids and how to treat them with respect and benevolence,” she mentioned during the discussion. Looking back on Esther’s whole journey, it’s like reading an adventurous book, where each letter is filled with energy and a unique experience.
She is such a compassionate and optimistic teenager who wants to contribute to building a better world. All her actions are derived from how to assist people better and how to serve society better. She is full of passion, enthusiasm, and depth, not someone who only talks but never acts, but someone who uses her actions to replace fantasy. Her spirit of helping others is from the inner part of her heart and is unflinching.
This is the legendary figure from Sendelta, a warm and kind figure in the library…