Senior Henry Shang stands at the first tee, his eyes scanning the fairway ahead, a blend of focus and calm radiating from his stance. For him, golf isn’t just a game — it’s an opportunity for improvement, discipline and the thrill of the perfect swing. On the turf, Henry finds more than competition; he finds a family that accepts and helps him along his journey, supporting him in all his endeavors.

Henry has been playing golf since he was in seventh grade and has continued since, joining the golf team in high school. He considers golf convivial and enjoys bonding with his teammates by cheering during competitions.

“You really feel like you’re in a community, and everybody’s doing the same thing,” Henry said. “We all already have a passion for this and pursue the same goal, like trying to win CCS. The friendship made all along is a very important part of golf. You can make friends and communicate with them on the golf course.”

Since he lived in China for the first 12 years of his life, Henry went through challenges of language barriers and cultural differences. Golf has led him along in this transition, helping him overcome challenges like learning English and making friends in a new country.

“It really taught me resilience as you can never reach perfection in golf,” Henry said. “You’re always growing and growing. If you practice more and more, you get it.”

That same dedication carries over into how others see Henry. Close friend senior Tiffany Gu has known Henry since he moved to America. She first found Henry to be a shy and quiet person, always doing what was assigned promptly. As Tiffany got to know him through frosh to senior year, she describes Henry as a outgoing and confident person who enjoys spreading humor to others.

“He has put in a lot of effort to refine his ability and he practices a lot,” Tiffany said. “His determination and dedication to a sport is really admirable, and it’s very hard to be able to stick to one thing for that long.” 

That mix of quiet determination and lightheartedness also stands out to close friend senior Max Zhai, who admires Henry’s attitude and genuine personality. Max appreciates Henry’s sense of humor and his ability to be present and supportive in any situation. One of his favorite memories was a summer hangout where Henry, being the only one able to drive, led the group around. They talked about a multitude of topics, some serious and some lighthearted. Max recalls Henry always responding appropriately, knowing when a topic was heavy.

“He’s easy to talk to and to open up to,” Max said. “He knows how to have a good time and make us laugh during lunch but he also understands when I talk about something important, so I’m grateful for him.”

Henry demonstrates the same resilience when singing. Starting from when he was in elementary school, he found singing to be an outlet for his emotions, a way to relax and destress.

“It showcases the logical side of me but also portrays my creative side, which is a crazy side of me,” Henry said. “I can basically do whatever I want and relax and express myself. It’s also a way in which I can destress.”

Math teacher Caren Furtado enjoyed having Henry in her class for two years. She describes him as a meticulous student with many talents, like investing his time in the right place.

“Henry already has very strong self awareness,” Furtado said. “He knows what he’s good at; he knows what his strengths are and he knows how to use those strengths. I’ve seen him have the courage to slowly but steadily let go of things that don’t bring him the same kind of joy and fulfillment that other activities do.”

Henry is known for his boldness and open-minded nature. He embraces new experiences with enthusiasm, unafraid to try things he’s never done before. His willingness to step outside his comfort zone is matched by a consistently positive attitude, making him both adventurous and grounded in the way he approaches life.

Singing has played a key role in Henry’s growth, helping him mature from a confused teenager during COVID into a resourceful student with a clear sense of direction. Since moving from China to America, it has shown him how to face his fears and build resilience. Henry found the confidence and inner strength to pursue his goals with determination because of singing.

“It taught me how to approach stuff with confidence and how to express myself better,” Henry said. “It mainly made me a lot more creative. I took music too so I had to compose some of my own songs so I can really put my own ideas and thoughts into things. It shows how creativity can help me.”

Through golf and singing, Henry has found both empowerment and motivation. These passions played a meaningful role in his transition after moving, helping him reconnect with himself. He cherishes the memories he’s made through these hobbies and looks forward to creating many more within his community.

“Singing is not really something that I can think about technique-wise, because it comes down naturally,” Henry said. “It really depends on emotion and how you express it. Bringing a lot of emotion and confidence into what I do is what helps me the most. Conquering fears or giving my best is what’s important to me.”