What inspired you to want to study the cinematic arts?

To me, cinematic arts’ power to heal and connect with each individual’s unique emotional experiences via storytelling beyond the barriers of language, race, and every raw difference that may separate and alienate us inspired me to explore more of its magic and how to harness such strength. By receiving the amount of impact and empathetic resonances that my creative works have on the audience and the wider world, I was further motivated to study how to employ cinematic arts to touch more people and make delight progress in changing social norms while delivering the warmth of humanity.

What scholarship award did you receive directly from SCA?

I have directly received the scholarship funded by the Stephen Bing Student Support Fund from SCA.

What has been the impact of receiving a scholarship from SCA?

Receiving a scholarship helped me in various ways, it has reduced the conflicts between my parents and relieved their financial burden during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I was also able to balance my academic career with opportunities outside the classroom with steady support. This scholarship has also been a confirmation of my passion’s value in this world, and a recognition of my work ethic, effort, and belief that boost my confidence in creating future projects in turning dreams into reality.

What activities or student organizations are you involved in outside of the classroom?

During the first semester of my freshman year at SCA, I joined the USC “AFMA” Annenberg Film Marketing Association’s new media department and worked as a writer, designer, and media manager that communicates cross-cultural insights on films and promote filmmakers’ work and intentions behind the scenes between U.S. and China. I also worked as a volunteer and technical content contributor for the Hainan Island International Short Film Festival in China, under the official visual department of moving images. I am also currently working on originating ideas and story concepts for my film and media projects.

What has been your favorite class or project at SCA thus far?

My favorite class has been IML 295: Race, Class and Gender in Digital Culture with Professor Vicki Callahan. In this class we have explored multiple stratifications of art, technology, and resilience in society through analysis of past and present events, creating new media projects on social issues, and utopian world-building activities.

What is a meaningful experience you've had while at SCA?

One of the meaningful experiences I’ve had in SCA online was initiating a project called “Mother of 500 Kids” and collaborating it with my SCA peers. I and Madeline Feng from SCA found an opportunity in course IML 300 to build a website for this ongoing film project. Our website intends to tell the unheard stories of a local hero, Aunty Wu, who rescued 500+ stray animals from abandonment, physical violence, improper treatments, and black markets of animal trafficking in Tianjin, China. We have built this project collaboratively with multiple media exploration including film making, coding, graphic design, and digital drawing to narrate the story to the world digitally. Many of my peers’ willingness to be a part of this project and passion for contributing their unique talent in storytelling has truly touched me.

What are your career goals after graduation?

I believe that the impact my work has on others is the most valuable success I desire to achieve in my future career. My career goals are to tell stories that impact and inspire the collective audience with collaboration with teams of talented artists, discipline myself and set my mind to projects, create bridges and storytelling narratives that allow the audience to be in the lives of the most vulnerable people in the society with curiosity and patience.

What advice do you have for prospective students looking to apply to SCA?

I would say never stop believing in the power of your dreams. Trust your intuition that guides you forward and listen to what your heart is telling you with faith. Never let anyone's doubt of your ambitions drag you down during the application process, and don’t be afraid to show the world what you are made of with actions and talents. Dreams don't come true for free, and you have the personal power to manifest and achieve your wildest dreams as long as you have solid faith in yourself on the path of passions. It is also important to have disciplined dedication in turning ideas into final products with smart working strategies. Never set limits for yourself and always pursue what you love without fearing the outcome.