A picture of me in front of my Dad's car in Canada, when we had recently moved there. The photo was taken on December 18, 2012. This was my first time playing with snow, hence the bucket in my hand as I tried to collect some to bring home.

From my perspective, and most likely similar to a lot of other’s perspectives, moving countries, like I did from Canada to China, was more than just a relocation. Even though it was when I was young and could barely remember what it was like back in China, moving here was the beginning of a new story. It is a big part of my background and it shaped how I grew up. To me, this event shows why I, in a way, desperately want to connect more with my Chinese heritage but also why I am deeply appreciative of my Canadian identity because of the opportunities it has given me (easier time learning English). Sometimes I can’t help but wonder how it would have been if I stayed in China, how different my life would be. 

This event is important because it gave me opportunities that were drastically different from the ones I would have got in China. It is important to me because it gave me the opportunity to grow up in a different culture and learn to see the world in more than one way. I also recognized the challenges of immigration and moving away from family because of this event. As for others, this mattered to my family a lot, as my parents were separating from their parents (my grandma and grandpa) to go to a whole different continent. To them, it represented a fresh start, work, and other opportunities. Additionally, for a more broader sense, it can be important to others in general because stories like mine helped shape Canada to what it is today, an extremely diverse country.

Moving to Canada changed a lot of things in my life. I grew up in a new environment, surrounded by a different language and community. I also had to adapt to new cultures, and experiences that were a lot different from China. For example, the weather, at first I got sick a lot during the cold seasons and I had to adjust. However, a few things stayed the same, I still had the same values, used the same mannerisms at home (chopsticks) and the language I spoke at home was the same (Taishanese!). Even though I became part of Canadian society, my Chinese heritage has stayed with me.

Moving to Canada was less a me choice and more of a my family’s choice. In China, job opportunities weren't as available at the time compared to Canada. As well, the currency value of the Canadian dollar compared to the Chinese yuan was valued a lot more, for example, 500 yuan is around 100 CAD right now. So moving to Canada provided a lot of opportunities. In result, my parents were able to find stable jobs and make double what they would have made in China. It also allowed me access to more education opportunities because I was fluent in English. However, it also impacted my parents' lives where they had to learn a new language and make new friends/connections.

From my perspective, Markham and its community was what I thought would be with me until I graduated high school, but that all changed when I moved to Scarborough. It was exciting to get a new house and live in a condo with a pool! However, to me, I dreaded moving because it meant I had to leave all my friends behind and everyone I knew. This event for me was more than switching houses, it meant having to adjust to new environments, people, and even a new sense of identity. I felt myself change a lot when I moved and in my perspective, moving can bring a lot of new experiences but also be difficult.

The event is important to me because it marked a turning point in my childhood. After moving, I realized that not a lot of things are permanent in life and I would have to leave behind a lot (not to sound too cliche). It was important in teaching me resilience and ability to adapt to change. For my family, the event was significant because we purchased one of our first new houses and an opportunity to start a new life/chapter! To others, us moving here meant we added to the community, and we were able to participate in community events as a whole.

In moving to Scarborough, I started to attend a different school and make new friends. I also had to adjust, living in a condo compared to an ordinary house. Before, taking elevators used to make me a bit sick but eventually I became used to the feeling of being lifted or lowered. My routine stayed the same though, I still went to school and spoke to my friends back in Markham when I came home. I also still valued doing good in school and spending time with my family.

Me and my family moved to Scarborough because we were eyeing for a new place to live. If possible, staying in Markham would’ve been ideal but the condo we found in Scarborough was a great deal and it ultimately was our choice of place to move to. The result of this decision was that I had to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to a new environment. It did make me more independent and flexible, where I also learned that moving can be hard but opens a door to new opportunities/experiences.

From my perspective, going to Wonderland for the first time was an insane experience, especially at 13 years old and not a younger age. To me, it was more than just a fun experience to go on rides. It was a dead serious deal where I had one goal of going on the big three rides, the Behemoth, Yukon Striker, and Leviathan. I felt that this was something I had to complete as a bucket list item even though I ended up really dizzy after the first ride, and was beginning to fret. I love going on roller coasters and completing this bucket list item would show that I was able to get over my fears.

This excursion is important to me because it was one of the first times I took on a fear head-on. Going on these big roller coasters was more than just a few thrills, it was like a personal accomplishment that proved I could overcome nerves and worries. This event was significant to me because it was a milestone in my teenage years. Most likely, for others it may not seem like a real significant event but it represented for me, how roller coasters can help people overcome fears. Others may see this as how milestones can look different for everyone, it's important to see the contrasts!!

Going to Wonderland changed how I saw myself and what I was capable of doing. In a weird way, the rides and adrenaline I felt after made me feel a lot braver and helped me gain confidence in facing challenges outside of roller coasters. What stayed the same was my love for roller coasters and that excitement has not gone away. My determination to try big and scary rides is still the same.

This event happened because my friend really wanted me to go to Wonderland with her. I saw it as a chance to complete a bucket list item and went with her. However, the result was that I became quite dizzy after pushing myself onto all those roller coaster rides. Yet, it also resulted in great memories that I created with my friend, which made the day one of the best I have ever had. It impacted my approach to things in life after too, feeling more braver and confident.

From my perspective, attending a Waterloo workshop on computer science as a grade 9 student was one of my first steps to finding out what I wanted to do with my future. At the workshop called SPARCS (Seeing Possibilities and Rewards in Computer Science), there were many coding, game theory, and space lectures that Waterloo professors had given to us, the participants. When attending this workshop and living on the university campus, I explored my interest in computer science and was able to see if it was for me. To me, partaking in this event helped me see what kind of computer science study I might be interested in.

Attending this workshop is important to me because it allowed me to explore computer science careers and to explore a lot of further math concepts that I wouldn't have had if I didn't attend. It also gave me the opportunity to live on a real university campus for a week and experience university life as a high school student. Overall, I felt it showed me a lot. As for others, the event is important to a lot of the other girls that attended too. As I was told, some of my friends I made at the workshop did not have many friends or a good time at their high school so this event allowed them to connect with others with their similar interests.

The workshop changed how I saw my generation a lot. At my high school, there is definitely dedication but at the same time, not many people value their future a lot, so I assumed this all for my generation. However, at the workshop, I realized that there are people who genuinely want to change the world, and I felt like the people there had an insane amount of dedication and resilience that was something to be admired. I felt my view and opinions change a lot. When I came back from the workshop, I still had a love for math and science. I also still liked computer science.

In the semester where I had math, on the way to tell my math teacher that I would miss class for a band rehearsal at an upcoming concert, our conversation turned over to computer science and pure math. He persuaded me that computer science is a good career path and I eventually agreed. It then resulted in a reference to apply for the workshop program. The workshop itself resulted in me having to miss school for a week and catch up on homework. It also impacted my sleep schedule because it was mandatory to sleep at 10:30 and awake at 6:30 there. It resulted in more knowledge for me too though!!

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I have not been able to go to China for a long time. From my perspective, not visiting for seven years made me feel distant from my relatives, traditions, and the place where I was born. To me, this ordinary trip mattered a lot because it was not just a vacation, it was a time to connect with my roots and see loved ones face to face again. I got to experience the culture I heard about growing up but hadn't been able to experience.

This event is important to me because it felt in a way, like closing a gap in my life. As I left China when I was very young, going back after so many years let me reconnect with my childhood homeland. I was also able to see how much the country and I had changed since the last I’d been there. It honestly just felt like a character development arc. For my family, it was extremely significant because they were able to reunite with relatives.

Going back to China changed a lot in my life. I was now older and could understand the culture and traditions on a deeper level than when I was younger. Seeing my homeland made me appreciate my roots in a new way. However, the warmth of the family stayed the same. Connecting with my grandparents felt the same where I felt loved and welcomed.

This event happened because after years of waiting, travel restrictions were eased and my family decided to plan a trip to visit our homeland. It resulted in allowing us to see our relatives and experience the places and culture that shaped our family history. After coming back from the trip, it reminded me of the importance of cherishing time with family as years can simply pass by so quickly without the realization.