By the time the sun rises over campus, the Mexican Fiesta kitchen is already filled with the soft sounds of cook Jimmy Abellanosa’s chopping and stirring, carefully preparing fresh salsa and birria meat for hungry students at lunch. Most people do not see this part of the day, but Tiffany Zhu (’26) did. She meticulously focused the camera on his hands, seeking to portray the hard work behind an often overlooked job on the Harker campus.

After interviewing Abellanosa and learning about his character and day-to-day stories, Tiffany compiled photos of the hands of different cooks, gardeners, bus drivers and other faculty members in a journalism article entitled “Hands of Harker,” which tells the stories of important members of the community in a meaningful light. 

“If you’re willing to put yourself out there and find the people at the heart of the story, you’re able to create a really complete piece with diverse sources,” Tiffany said. “Through all my articles, I’ve tried to step out of my comfort zone, whether it was writing a topic I knew nothing about or reaching out to expert sources because some of those conversations were the most eye-opening ones.”

Tiffany spent four years of high school paying close attention to small details, from the white space on an InDesign page to the way words tie together meaning in an article. As Editor-in-Chief of The Winged Post in her senior year, she believes the publication becomes its best when considering every staff member’s perspective and ideas.

“Each person has their own way of going about things, their own way of interviewing and their own way of designing, and that is what’s really unique about journalism, specifically The Winged Post,” Tiffany said. “Even though each person has their own strengths, they’re contributing to one final product, and that’s one thing I really love about this publication.”

Starting as a reporter in ninth grade and evolving into the leader she is today, Tiffany grew into a supportive mentor that approaches others with a genuine desire to help. Director of Journalism and Department Chair Whitney Huang, who taught and worked with Tiffany since her frosh year, describes her as a steady, defining force within the journalism program.

“Just considering what Tiffany means to our organization, I really feel like she is our North Star,” Huang said. “She really helps guide our publication, and I’m so grateful she’s in that position and exponentially grew over these past four years in journalism. Her amount of thoughtfulness is not something that can be taught — it’s something that is absorbed and gleaned from different interactions over the years.”

That instinct to educate and uplift others carries into Tiffany’s volunteer work at the California Academy of Sciences. Beginning in the fall of her junior year, she spent six-hour shifts every other weekend at interactive booths throughout the museum. Now serving as a volunteer lead, she uses inquiry-based learning techniques to teach children and museum visitors concepts like ocean biodiversity and endangered species. 

“When I was young, I would always go to the aquarium with my parents, and I loved talking to the volunteers there,” Tiffany said. “My love for the environment was actually sparked because of those interactions. As a volunteer, I really enjoy teaching people about kelp in particular because I’ve deeply cared about our ecosystem and our environment since I was a kid.”

For those who know her well, the desire to give back is not solely rooted in volunteer work. Close friend Tanvi Sivakumar (’26), whose friendship with Tiffany dates back to kindergarten, commented on her attentiveness and care, which show up just as clearly in everyday moments. 

“She is very selfless, so even if she is having a very stressful day, and I’m also very stressed, she makes it a point to text me and make it known that I feel supported and loved,” Tanvi said. “If I FaceTime her when I’m down, and she has a bunch of tests the next day, she’ll still pick up and take the time out of her day. She always tries to be positive to bring up other people’s moods because she wants to lift everyone else up and make sure they have a great day.”

Over time, Tiffany’s volunteer work evolved into a fascination for climate-related research. She began conducting computational research focused on ocean warming and coral ecosystems, motivated by the disastrous effects of climate change. Rather than pursuing projects for publication or prestige, Tiffany is drawn to questions that carry real-world implications.

“I would never want to do research just for the sake of it,” Tiffany said. “I want to know I’m actually making an impact. Doing research related to climate change, which is a topic I and many people around the world really care about, inspired me to be a more thoughtful person. I always cared about the people, animals and ecosystems it was affecting.”

Close friend Angelina Antony (’26) has seen Tiffany conduct research and admires her work ethic and passion for the subject.

“She’s passionate about research as a discipline, and with the specific research she does, she’s very interested in the impact it can have on innovation,” Angelina said. “When doing research, she won’t get sidetracked at all and stays focused, and that speaks to how much research matters to her because if it didn’t, she wouldn’t be doing it with that much effort and care.”

Whether interviewing a source she didn’t previously know, researching marine ecosystems in a lab or kneeling beside a museum booth to explain what a sea otter is to a young student, Tiffany brings a thoughtful presence to whatever she does. She hopes to leave behind a standard of care, one that might not be immediately visible but is woven into the communities she helped shape.

“I want to be someone people are never scared of approaching, who they’re excited to talk to and who they know at the end of the day is still figuring it out,” Tiffany said. “I’m not going to have a clear-cut solution to whatever problem they’re having, but what’s most important is we’re talking through it and can see a finished product come together.”