SRA
In the summer of 2026, I attended UC Santa Barbara's Summer Research Academies. Over 4 weeks, I collaborated with a UCSB professor and two UCSB students, as well as other high schoolers, to produce college-level research. My research track was dedicated to analyzing policymaking and the impact it had on stakeholders, and my group used latent profile analysis to analyze how immigrant belonging and assimilation differs among different demographics.
Youth Polarization
In junior and senior year, I worked on a research project dedicated to finding a solution to the problem of youth polarization in America. I surveyed over 60 and interviewed 23 youth on their experiences with polarization what they thought could be done about the issue, and also interviewed an experienced educator who established a summer program aimed at helping resolve polarization. I ended up creating a document based prototype where users could share their views on controversial issues such as illegal immigration, abortion, and Israel vs Palestine while gaining insight into the views of other people.
Chinatown Project
In the summer of 2026, I participated in a project where I studied the history of Chinese immigration, Chinatowns, and Chinese American culture. I studied issues affecting Chinese communities such as systemic racism and gentrification. Part of the project also included field trips to historical Chinese American sites, such as museums in San Francisco's Chinatown and the Angel Island Immigration Station, where many Chinese immigrants were detained before being allowed entry to the US. I conducted oral history interviews with residents, workers, and business owners in Chinatown, asking them about their experiences living and working there as well as modern-day issues facing them and their community. In addition, I also contributed research on the history of fried rice in China and America to a website on Chinese American history and culture. My research covered the origins of fried rice, the
Hakka Oral History
As someone who is one-fourth Hakka (my paternal grandfather is Hakka), I conducted an oral history project to better understand my heritage. I interviewed five Hakka people from the US, China, and Taiwan, and asked them questions about their culture. Specifically, I asked what cultural values were instilled in them growing up, how they keep Hakka culture alive, and what they think it means to be Hakka. I used these interviews to better understand a culture of millions of people around the world and learn about a side of my family heritage that I hadn't thought about before.