Jayden Cao

I was born and raised in Beijing, China, where I spent the first 12 years of my life. I attended a traditional Chinese elementary school and grew up with a strong passion for basketball. In 2019, my family moved from Beijing to Westchester, NY. Through my English learning experience, I found my interest in reading and writing. Literacy gave me a voice for individual expression and storytelling, and what I’ve done wouldn’t be possible without this voice. In addition, the cultural transition from China to America also made me an active cultural advocate in my local communities. As a high school senior who is standing on the edge of adulthood and college, I seek to continue using my life story to make a positive difference—no matter how big or small—in the real world.