Welcome to my college journey!
I created this space to share my precious college experience with you.
It took me 7 years, after my high school graduation in China, to become a full-time academic college student. Between it all, I left my pejorative home environment for the US; couchsurfed almost 20 strangers' homes along the West Coast; volunteered at the homeless shelter; became homeless for half a month in Berkeley, California, while busking on the street and auditing college courses; got married and had a child without epidural; traveled back home alone with my then one-year-old and saw my parents for the first time after being in the US for 6 years; visited Hong Kong, Japan, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai during my trip home; then took a last-minute trip to Ecuador alone with one backpack for half a month. On the artistic & intellectual front, I wrote and recorded songs; wrote blogs; gain some followings on Quora; self-published a poetry book; took dedicated lessons in piano, drums, violin, acting, writing, improvisation, and ballet dance.
I rejoiced in the freedom to learn anything I wanted, at the same time my immigration status limited me to only "recreational" lessons as colleges had been expensive for me at the international rate. I took as many lessons as I could afford to satisfy my insatiable curiosity for life—a life I decided would be limited only by my imaginations—authentic to who I am. When I couldn't afford any more lessons, I read books. Reading has come to have the same significance to me as food, necessary to fuel a mind that grows hungry by the day.
My positive college experiences reflect everything I've done to take education into my own hands. Despite my inherit disadvantages in cultural, social, and financial capital, the fact that college is just an extension of my almost a decade of self-education, is what justifies my performance. Of course, I'd also like to acknowledge the people I met along my academic journey—the supportive classmates and counselors, professors who go above and beyond to give me constructive feedback—thank you for witnessing this significant and magical moment for me and for making my education experience in the US especially enriching and meaningful.
Spring 2020
Typography is the art and technique
Course List
ENGL 105 - Intensive Reading & Composition
MATH 200 - Probability and Statistics
PSYC 100 - General Psychology
COMM 160 - Gender and Communication
ARBC 111 - Elementary Arabic
Total Credits: 20
Grades
A
A
A
A
A
II
Instructor's Comment
Yiya is a top-notch student. She is an incredibly strong, creative, and resourceful person—a lifelong learner in every sense of the word. Regardless of what major or field she eventually lands on, I see her being a powerful force within her field as she is insatiably curious and looks at education, not as a thing to be mastered, but a lifestyle to be fully and experientially immersed in. — Prof. Lachmayr
You are a model student. You were always prepared, involved yourself in class discussions/activities, and most importantly, were really interested and invested in the learning process. My perception is that your educational pursuits are something you truly enjoy as opposed to a hoop to jump through to get a job. — Prof. Merrill
Your essays were certainly university-caliber material. I have no doubt that you'll succeed in a faster-paced academic context such as the one that you'll find at Stanford. You have a brilliant mind and your ideas should be shared more often with your peers. — Prof. Lescure
Typography is the art and technique
Sample Works
Summer 2020 (Online due to COVID-19)
Course List
Grades
Instructor's Comment
HIST 245 - Race, Ethnicity and Immigration
PSYC 200 - Developmental Psychology
ACTG 121 - Financial Accounting
Total Credits: 10
A
A
A
I was particularly impressed with your depth of engagement and deep thinking, as well as your open-minded approach to learning new things, and your ability to articulate your thoughts in writing. In addition, I believe that your life experiences (and related soft skills) give you a unique perspective and ability to empathize and collaborate with a diverse group of students. I hope that you will consider taking on a peer leadership role, such as becoming a peer mentor or tutor. — Prof. Field
Sample Works
Fall 2020 (online)
Course List
ASTR 100 - Introduction to Astronomy
BIOL 110 - Principles of Biology (with Lab)
PSYC 300 - Social Psychology
ENGL 110 - Composition, Literature, and Critical Thinking - Honors
MUS 202 - Music Appreciation
Total Credits: 16
Grades
A
A
A
A
A
Instructor's Comment
You are an absolute delight, Yiya. Your intelligence glows from the page. I can see your intelligence from space.... I'm so glad you are part of our ENGL110 okana. I'm looking forward to seeing you thrive through the semester. —Prof. Feiner
Typography is the art and technique
Spring 2021 (online)
Typography is the art and technique
Course List
BIOL 215 - Organismal Biology (with Lab) - Honors
MATH 225 - Path to Calculus
ECON 100 - Principles of Macro Economics
Total Credits: 14
Typography is the art and technique
Grade
Typography is the art and technique
Sample Work
