I went on the JADE program the summer before my senior year, and it became one of the most valuable experiences of my entire high school career!

Thanks to the program, my conversational Mandarin had a huge improvement - I gained confidence to interact with locals in Chinese, began to understand Chinese humor, and developed my ability discuss various topics. Trips were the highlight of the program! From Xiaomi factory to Terracotta Warriors - I not only practiced my language skills, but gained a deeper understanding of both modern and ancient China.

I built close connections with participants of the program who came from all over the world: one of my warmest memories was going to a nearby grocery store and trying new Chinese snacks every day together. And I always felt supported by the program's organizers - from the moment I just learned about the opportunity, to preparation for the trip, to arriving in Beijing airport, to receiving guidance every second of the program and even after it.

This past summer, I was lucky enough to attend a camp in China, and I can say, without reservation, that it was an experience I will never forget. Every day began with three hours of Chinese class; pretty exhausting, obviously, but also kind of fun! All that classroom time made a huge difference in pushing me toward my language goals, way more than I thought was possible! My speaking, listening, and reading skills all improved remarkably. They were less lecturing-style classes where everyone just talked, asked questions, and practiced with one another and with the teachers' help, again, that made a HUGE difference. By the end of camp, I felt way more confident in my ability to engage in real-life activities ordering food, navigating transportation, and casual conversations, than I did at the beginning of the language learning process.

Then, in between classes we were able to experience Chinese culture. In Beijing, we went to the Great Wall. The hike nearly destroyed my legs and left us pretty exhausted, but seeing the mountain tops from the wall was an incredible experience—with all its history you just can't get from a textbook. One of the nights we went and saw a Peking Opera performance (Jingju)—the costumes, makeup, voices, and movement— were all totally unexpected! I had no idea how much work went into it!

We also visited the Xiaomi car factory, which was interesting. Observing how cars are manufactured and seeing modern manufacturing up close provided great insight into China's ingenuity and engineering. The level of organization and advancement in this factory made me think more about my interests in engineering and technology.

After Beijing, we flew to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Warriors, or Bing Ma Yong. Being up close to thousands of life-size statues was incredible, as each statue had so much detail in their expression. It seems surreal to think about the history behind them and the effort to create them. Hearing that the warriors were used to protect the first emperor in the afterlife made the moment feel real and alive.

Overall, this summer camp was a life-changing experience. The three hours of Chinese class each day helped me develop my language skills, but it was the cultural excursions that truly set this trip apart. Each day was filled with fun and adventures, from hiking the Great Wall to seeing ancient sites in Xi'an. Each day was filled with new experiences and discoveries that challenged me intellectually and personally. This trip has inspired me to keep studying Chinese.

The summer before my senior year I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the JADE program. I look back on my time in Beijing and just think WOW. I experienced so much personal growth, constantly stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone. JADE helped give me courage to become comfortable with the unknown. Every day I would wake up and have have zero expectations about what was going to happen during that day. Without fail, when my head touched the pillow that night I was in awe of what I had done that day. Even now I stop and think about these amazing activities, such as going to a Beijing Guoan football match, bargaining for lower prices at the Panjiayuan antique market, and kicking a jianzi with locals. (Of course, a major highlight was also language class, where my Mandarin improved so much!!) I would highly recommend this program to any high schooler interested in traveling to China!