Lana Washington - Performing in a Chinese New Year Performance: 6 points

Activity Category: Participating in a performing arts group or ensemble (per year): 6 points

Points: 6

Performing in the Chinese New Year show was a really special experience for me, especially because I’ve been studying Chinese my whole life. Singing in Chinese and making dumplings with my class made everything feel more personal and meaningful, not just like something we were learning in a classroom. It was a good mix of culture and language coming together.

This experience connects to my long history with learning Chinese. Over time, I’ve realized that language isn’t just about memorizing words, it’s about culture, expression, and connection. Performing and making dumplings showed me how everything I’ve learned can actually come to life.

It also follows a pattern in my experiences where I grow the most when I step outside of just “learning” and actually do something with it, like performing or engaging with others.

This experience made me appreciate how far I’ve come with Chinese and made me more confident using it in real-life situations. It also reminded me why I started learning it in the first place.

Moving forward, I want to keep finding ways to use Chinese outside of the classroom, whether that’s through performances, cultural events, or even traveling. It pushed me to think about how I can continue using language as a way to connect with people and different cultures.

 

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