Yoyo Rong

When I reflect on my journey, it has never been a clear timeline, but rather a series of moments, each shaping me in ways I never could have imagined. I was born in Chongqing, China, a city where summers are sweltering and the streets are always bustling with noise. When I was young, I was the kind of student who would hum along to English pop songs without understanding the lyrics, imitating the rhythm more than understanding the meaning of the words. My parents noticed my interest early on and sent me to English tutoring classes. Later, I began reading short English storybooks, keeping a dictionary nearby to look up every unfamiliar word. Those afternoons seemed insignificant at the time, but looking back, they were the first steps toward certain goals.

The decision to study in the United States was made after graduating from middle school. I knew what that meant: leaving my hometown, leaving my family, leaving my comfort zone, and stepping into a place where I would have to rely on English, where English would no longer be a subject but the language of survival in my daily life. When I arrived in Georgia to attend high school, excitement and fear quickly intertwined. I still remember the first day of class when the teacher asked everyone to introduce themselves, and my voice trembled as I spoke. At lunch, I didn’t know where to sit, so I ate alone in silence. But gradually, things began to change. Once again, during a group project, I was encouraged by my friends to discuss with others, learning that even if my English wasn’t perfect, I should speak up. Slowly, the silence that once caused me stress began to fade.

Now, after living abroad for several years, I realize that these experiences were not merely about improving my English or earning a degree. They helped me discover that I could live between two cultures, balance homesickness with curiosity. I am still the girl who writes English words in the blank spaces of her notebook, but now I still remember those friendships, those struggles, and those victories I once had.