Jackie Hu (12) reflects on fond memories of Saturdays spent at the library as a kid. Surrounded by the vibrant covers of the Geronimo Stilton and Rainbow Magic series, Jackie immersed herself in the endless supply of pages, eventually losing track of time. Even now, Jackie still escapes from the stress of the real world in the same ways she has since she was little.

Growing up in the Bay Area has taught Jackie that even in just one city, there are hundreds of people with diverse and beautiful stories. She loves to continue to learn about the world through the people she meets everyday.

“Meeting new people is always interesting because people have so many different stories, and they come from such different backgrounds, especially when you come from somewhere like [the Bay Area],” Jackie said.

Strongly believing in her passions, Jackie lives her life in a way that excites her each day. Going into her senior year of high school, Jackie made sure to not completely focus on what was next by following her hobbies.

“If you can’t come up with a reason for [your decisions], then you should reevaluate how you’ve been living your life,” Jackie said. “I want to enjoy the present while also preparing for the future.”

She follows this moral by making sure to allocate time to truly live. For Jackie, fulfilling this goal means reflecting on the world around her. She has developed this calming habit since she was young and still makes sure to take those breaks.

“I went to escapism through music and reading,” Jackie said. “That’s definitely shaped who I become, absorbing other people’s ideas through things like looking at things, reading things.”

In her life in and outside of school, Jackie makes an effort to always present herself as someone who is excited for each new endeavor. She lets her personality flow through her style so people can see who she is even on the first impression.

“First impressions do really matter and how people see you and their initial concept of you,” Jackie said. “It’s really impacted by how you look and how you dress. I like looking together even if I’m not really together on the inside.”

Similar to how Jackie takes time to make memorable first impressions, she notices how others present themselves in the world, especially qualities that are genuine and sincere, and values those who make an effort to be who they are.

“I like people who are interesting [and who] have things that they themselves are passionate about,” Jackie said. “I like people who are confident and really like themselves first of all, before trying to get other people to like them.”

One of Jackie’s many passions is using her time to let her creative persona shine. She envisions the natural world as forms of art, noticing and appreciating even the small details around her because of her respect for the beauty of art.

“I looked into [fashion] and I started to go, ‘This texture is really cool because it mimics certain biological things you see in nature,’ like certain designer mixing patterns,” Jackie said. “Like Gucci, when you look at the runway, it looks really crazy initially, but when you look at the patterns, there’s a method to the madness.”

Jackie carries her creative mindset and positive presence into the classroom as well. Upper school science department chair Anita Chetty noticed her positive presence during labs in biology class.

“People who are artistically inclined see the world in different ways,” Chetty said. “I feel as though she appreciates aesthetics but at the same time, she really appreciates the beauty and science in living things. She sees beauty in that rather than just seeing the technical aspect of it.”

Another way Jackie conveys her fascination toward art is through her love for painting. Art has been a major part of her life, and she uses this creative form to express herself and be who she really is.

“[Painting] makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world, as cliche as that sounds, but it’s a very nice feeling,” Jackie said. “The idea that I could do it for fun for myself or being able to do stuff for yourself in school and in life has been the reason I like getting into it. I don’t really know how to put it, but [it’s] the idea of independence and doing things that you want to do.”

Alexa Lowe (12), who has known Jackie since the first grade, appreciates her open and adventurous spirit when facing new situations.

“On the outside, although she might look very calm, she’s never afraid to try something new or be bad at it,” Alexa said.

Her passions, experiences and friends have shaped Jackie into who she is now. She has found a way to go through the world that makes her truly happy by focusing on enjoying the small joys in life.

“As selfish as it sounds, it’s because I like it,” Jackie said. “It’s fun to do things and to have new experiences and meet new people and taste new food, experiencing life as you go through it. It’s really satisfying and fulfilling.”