Born in the provincial city of Chongqing, China, Hui Feng grew up to love spicy food and hot pot. She arrived in America at the age of seven to join her parents who came a year earlier. With no prior knowledge of English, the language barrier was definitely challenging to overcome. But while she remained language impaired, she made friends by making origami figures.
Now a rising senior, Hui has found success in her academics. Outside of the classroom, she is involved in a number of activities, which are often the highlights of her day. She is the co-captain of the school Science Olympiad Club and a member of the Register’s Editorial Board. In the community, Hui was named a Youth Scholar by Asian Sisters Participating In Reaching Excellence (ASPIRE). As a scholar, she interned for the president of the organization and attended a series of workshops specifically designed for Asian American females.
One of her proudest achievements, and her first contact with public service, is her Wolfpack Volunteer Club. After founding it with a friend (and Ward Fellow) in the fall of her sophomore year, she has seen the club grow from a handful of members to over one hundred members. The club provides opportunities for the students to give back to their community and also gives them a head start on their volunteer hours. Hui spearheads organizing volunteer opportunities and attends as many as she can. In addition to the community service with her club, Hui also volunteers weekly at the Boston City Archaeologist Lab to pursue her hobby of archaeology.
Her first taste of politics came through Teens Leading the Way, a statewide teen group supported by The Public Policy Institute and Health Care For All. The crew is working towards state funded aid for teens affected with mental health, which can include everything from eating disorders to depression. They have initiated their own bill (HB 4772) to create drop-in centers in already established community centers for teens to seek help with reduced fear of stigma. In fact, their campaign is named Statewide Teens Initiating Greater Mental Health Awareness or STIGMA.
It was these activities that propelled Hui to apply for the Ward Fellowship. And her experiences this summer have confirmed her interests in public service. She hopes to pursue international relations or international business in college. Although currently undecided about her dream school, she is attracted to Princeton and UPenn.
In her free time, she loves ice skating with her friends at Frog Pond. She currently lives with her parents in West Roxbury.
Hui’s sponsor for the summer is Mr. Robert Turner, Deputy Editor of the Boston Globe Editorial Page.