Resilient, curious and deeply passionate about AI, senior Kai Hong is a student who brings both heart and humor to everything he does. After moving from China to the U.S. in 2020, Kai embraced the challenges of starting over, quickly becoming a valued member of the community. Whether diving into the complexities of neural networks, pushing himself on the basketball court or laughing with friends through fantasy football adventures, Kai approaches life with drive and an adventurous spirit that inspires those around him.

Kai has always had a interest for learning about AI, and he eventually took Neural Networks to further pursue his curiosity in his junior year.

“Resilience is one of my biggest gifts, I would say,” Kai said. “I feel like if someone who is not resilient were in my position frosh year, they probably would have said, ‘I’m just going to lower my course rigor sophomore year and take much easier classes.”

Kai and his family moved to America from China, and he joined Harker in his frosh year. From then on, Kai smoothly transitioned into the community, quickly making friends and exploring different sports and clubs.

“I kind of missed my parents at the time.” Kai said, “I just realized that family is not only related by blood, it’s also related through the people around you. I just started seeing my friends as my extended family, and that continued throughout high school. I value my friends and I enjoy spending time with them.”

Kai’s appreciation for his friends runs deep, not only for their support but also for the perspective they gave him.

“When I look back, I wouldn’t be here without my classmates, my friends who taught me English, spent a lot of time with me and played basketball with me,” Kai said. “They were really respectful towards me.”

 Close friend and fellow teammate senior Caleb Tang reflects on Kai’s hard work and determination during the basketball season.

“Kai is a hard working guy,” Caleb said. “He liked to run, and many times he made us run in practice because of his passion for working hard and exercising, so he would do whatever means necessary to get the team to run and stay in shape. ”

Kai’s close friend, senior Gary Jin, appreciates his friendship with Kai. Kai and Gary have developed a connection ever since they met in their frosh year.

“He has a great sense of humor,” Gary said. “He doesn’t take life too seriously, and he’s always willing, he’s down for anything. He’s a fun person to be around and he’s a great friend.” 

Close friend senior Bowen Xia admires the versatility of Kai’s personality. They share a bond from basketball, hangouts and school trips.

“Kai’s a really funny person, but he’s also a very considerate person as well,” Bowen said. “You can talk about funny things, but you can also talk about serious things with him, which is pretty cool.” 

Kai’s journey has been defined by courage and adaptability. From navigating a new country and to building deep friendships, he embraced every challenge. Kai’s resilience and willingness to push beyond his comfort zone have not only shaped his own character but also left a lasting impression on those around him. As he looks ahead, he carries with him the same drive and curiosity that have guided him so far, ready to learn and continue growing both as a student and a person. From frosh year, Kai’s goal has always been to strive to do his best, no matter the obstacle.

“People should take risks and step out of their comfort zone,” Kai said. “Life wouldn’t be fun if you’re always just doing what everyone else is doing. Life is not fun if you’re just following a designed path to some destination. It’s fun if you take risks and do things that genuinely interest you and, in some sense, scare you.”