Campus Engagement

As the host of the foreign language festival event, I learned how to control the entire venue and capture the attention of over three hundred people. This involved the management of energy, the ability to adapt to changes, and becoming a highly attractive link that ties together the entire evening. Later, due to my excellent performance, I was selected by the teacher as the host for the entire speech event in the final assessment of the public speaking course.

Faced with a strict constraint—no motors or electricity allowed—my partner and I embraced the challenge of "Innovating with Scarcity." We scavenged materials like old CDs and plastic bottles, and principles became our most valuable tools. Our design revolved around a dual-propulsion system: a water-powered propeller for initial thrust and a rubber-band-driven mechanism for sustained movement. This wasn't just building; it was a cycle of hypothesizing, prototyping, and iterating with the most fundamental physics principles. Our "Best Creativity Award" validated our approach, while the Third Place finish proved its functional effectiveness.

My Spanish journey evolved from academic mastery to cultural embodiment. It began with winning third place in a Knowledge Bowl, built on factual proficiency. This foundation enabled me to win a "Best Dubbing" award, where I mastered not only pronunciation but also the emotional cadence of native speech. The culmination was co-producing a Spanish-language scene from Rent, where I moved beyond imitation to creative translation and cultural adaptation. This trilogy of experiences—cognitive, empathetic, and collaborative—marks my transformation from a language learner into an active cultural interpreter.

I competed in the prestigious "Flowing Light, Colorful Translation" interscholastic contest, facing the distinct challenge of translating Eileen Chang. My focus extended beyond linguistic accuracy to capturing the modern urban melancholy and profound alienation that define her work. By carefully conveying these complex themes within an English-speaking cultural framework, I secured a Third Prize—validating my ability to bridge not just languages, but deep thematic and emotional worlds.

Additionally, I participated in the group poetry recitation, and recited the original poem "The Sun Rises from That Direction" at the school's Autumn Festival Poetry Festival, earning a Second Prize for my performance.