Ashley Hong (12) recalls a content smile playing across her face as she sips her boba while driving around San Jose with her friends. Her ice-cold milk tea compliments the warm summer air as they talk about whatever suits the moment. Their conversation dances between lighthearted discussions of trendy cafes nearby, more serious introspection and miscellaneous topics in between. The pink and orange streaks of the sunset at dusk fade into the star-dotted night sky as they continue chatting into the early morning.

Ever since she stepped foot on the upper school campus during the pandemic, Ashley focused on striking up lasting friendships. Her connections with others helped her through the monotonous days of social isolation, especially in bonding with teammates during strenuous dry land conditioning sessions for swimming.

“I really enjoy being with my team right now,” Ashley said. “They’re a lot of fun, and that really motivates me to get through the hard practices. They’re definitely super challenging, but I feel like having other people who are going through it with you really helps. I’ve also seen that working hard produces good times, and that’s always really satisfying at meets because it’s really fun and exciting.”

Ashley energizes those around her, with her positivity extending beyond the pool. Honors multivariable calculus teacher Victor Adler noted how Ashley’s classroom contributions ripple through the entire class.

“In class, she’s energetic, she has a sense of humor,” Adler said. “She really lifts the mood, which is great for the first period of the day. It’s good to have some energy.”

Close friend Carol Song (12) also noted that Ashley injects a welcome spark of comedy into conversation. Ashley’s wit lifts spirits, and many people seek out her company for a dose of laughter.

“No matter what setting we’re in, she always has a consistent personality and is just super silly and goofy, and she was really funny and had a lot of good energy,” Carol said. “She makes me laugh a lot. She’s so laid back, that’s almost infectious with her.”

Ashley’s penchant for uplifting those around her naturally lends itself to collaborative initiatives like DECA, where she spearheads outreach efforts as the club’s Director of Outreach. In guiding others through the program as a mentor and creating opportunities as an engagement manager, Ashley notes how she personally improved through DECA.

“I feel like I’ve gained a lot of leadership qualities, especially since I was on the officer team last year, Ashley said. “I learned a lot of organizational skills and what it takes to help manage such a big organization. And also I’ve gained a lot of creative skills. because for a lot of the events, you have to come up with marketing strategies and things like that. So I feel like it’s been a really good way to express myself creatively; I like putting my own personality into the different ideas that I come up with.”

DECA teammate Metrica Shi (12)’s experiences with Ashley, from their first meeting to now, also reflect Ashley’s supportive mindset. Over the course of their high school years, Metrica and Ashley developed a strong bond based on mutual respect and encouragement.

“When we met, she was really loud and outspoken and confident, but I was really shy,” Metrica said. “I think her positive energy really helped me. She doesn’t really get involved in anyone else’s business, and she’s just very chill, but she always knows how to help you.”

Ashley’s commitment to uplifting others flows into her service work as a public relations manager with the Red Cross. She focuses on raising awareness and funds for issues ranging from disaster prevention to blood shortages through hosting events. These experiences allowed her to meet many other volunteers with similar levels of dedication to community service.

“Volunteering is a really fun way to connect with other people who have a similar mindset as well because I volunteer with a lot of other people who think it’s important to do it and perform acts of service,” Ashley said. “They’re all truly interested in volunteering, not just for volunteer hours. I think it’s really nice and refreshing to have that community where you can just help other people.”

While Ashley centers many of her interests around helping others, the constant support she receives from those around her also aids her in achieving her goals. From parents willing to drive her around for events to friends always by her side, Ashley describes a nurturing environment as a significant component of her life.

“My parents and my family as a whole are super supportive of everything that I do, and I feel like that impacted my development,” Ashley said. “I have a lot of opportunities to grow in different directions. My parents don’t like to put a lot of pressure on me to do certain things, which has been highly beneficial for me as a person. While others helped me along the way, I have the freedom to explore and find my passions in everything, which is important to me.”