When I was in fourth grade, I tried writing a poem in Chinese, but that didn’t go well because my Chinese isn’t as fluent as my English. After that experience, I decided to translate Chinese poems into English, which worked out pretty well. Ever since then, I based a lot of my poetry on Chinese texts. One of my proudest moments was winning a poetry competition at Hirsch Elementary school; that’s how I started getting into creative writing.

I really enjoy writing poetry, especially prose. It’s a way to express ideas without having to conform to well-structured sentences.

One piece I wrote that means a lot to me is called “God, Immortal.” It’s about Chinese culture, my relationship with my mom, and the fear I have of losing it. It’s a little complex, but it expresses ideas that I can’t communicate in normal writing.

I hope people take away a sense of unique identity from my writing. A lot of my poems start negative, but usually end on a positive note, and I hope readers apply that evolution to their own lives.

I don’t have a specific spot I like to write. I usually have a small book where I jot down ideas as I go, and then when I want to start writing, I compile all my ideas from the past few weeks , usually in my room, but really, anywhere.

I deal with writer’s block, especially when I’m stressed about science or math. But when I get stressed about English or history, it actually turns me on creatively.

Writing is really just a way to express my ideas. I have a hard time talking on the spot, but with creative writing, I’m not limited. I can put a lot of ideas into one sentence, which is why I use a lot of analogies.

I don’t plan to pursue creative writing as a career, especially in the Bay Area, but I’ll keep entering competitions and writing. It’s a good way to let loose and be my authentic self.