About
I am truly captivated by photography. I greatly enjoy taking pictures of myself and my friends; it gives me tremendous joy to photograph our genuine smiles and confident moments.
Over five years, carrying a camera around to take pictures as much as I can, photography — especially portraiture — has allowed me to frame how I see beauty. Through the camera lens, I look for light, character, and strength in myself and the people around me. I highlight the positive with my photographs.
In many ways, photography has rescued me. It has allowed me to come out of my shell. For many years I was shy and reserved. I understood the pain of appearance-based discrimination firsthand. An unpleasant nickname based on my appearance, given by classmates, made me feel like I was "no one" for years. I seldom raised my hand in class. Gradually I started to retreat from friends and abandoned hobbies, like painting and singing. It was as if my true self was fading away, buried under insecurity and the fear of being judged.
Growing up in China and now attending high school in the United States, I learned that appearance-based discrimination is not limited to one country. I have witnessed how a woman's value can be unfairly tied to her looks — the hurtful innuendo, the painful comments, and the media images that set a single, narrow standard of beauty. This discrimination is not always loud; sometimes it is a quiet pressure to look a certain way to be taken seriously or be liked. Seeing this injustice in two different societies showed me that this is a widespread problem that limits people's potential and inflicts wounds.
I started to realize that I can never be happy if I don't embrace my true self. I dove into photography and learned about makeup from social media. Makeup to me is not a mask, but a creative medium for self-expression and a small way to enhance my appearance. Being a photographer has allowed me to appreciate so much, and has helped my self-esteem. I started to see myself like the shimmering brown eyeshadow that lightened up my eyes. Magically, I've gained the bravery to make eye contact with others — something that was difficult years ago.
Photography has subtly rebuilt my confidence and rekindled my interests, teaching me that my identity could be defined by my own creativity and perspective, not by others' comments. Working with my mentor — a Harvard graduate in Art, Film & Visual Studies — I've deepened my understanding of composition, negative space, and visual storytelling. Now I'm exploring where this passion leads — considering paths in business, visual communication, and the creative economy.
I am passionate about photography and will continue to partner with my camera to bring positivity to the world.
School
The Winchendon School
Class
2027
Interests
Photography, Theater, Sciences
AP Courses
Calculus BC, Environmental Science
Beyond the Lens
In the spring of 2026, I performed as a Disciple in my school's production of Godspell — singing, acting, and collaborating with 15 students across different grades over ten weeks of daily rehearsals. For someone who once dreaded speaking in front of others, stepping onto a stage felt like the kind of challenge I needed to grow.
I also craft handmade pearl jewelry in my free time, finding that the same patience and attention to detail that makes a good photograph also makes a beautiful piece of jewelry.