Sitting cross-legged on the floor of her room, Yena Yu (‘26) carefully knots the corners of a fleece blanket. She reaches for another length of fabric, then begins the process again, tassel by tassel. These blankets, made through Project Linus, are more than just soft and colorful donations for children in crisis. They are Yena’s quiet way of providing comfort and connection to people she may never meet.

“When I was a child, I really loved blankets,” Yena said. “My grandpa got me one and I was so attached to it that he bought me two more just like it. It felt like such a small thing, but it gave me this deep sense of comfort. I wanted to give that same feeling to others, especially those going through difficult times.”

Over the years, Yena made dozens of blankets, with one year dedicated to creating over one hundred. She remembers delivering them in bulk to a local Project Linus coordinator and watching the woman’s eyes widen in surprise.

“She told me she had never seen a kid bring that many before,” Yena said. “That moment helped me realize that what I was doing wasn’t just a personal project. It meant something to others. My work had an impact beyond myself.”

Yena’s actions are shaped by a desire to give back meaningfully and to act with care, even when no one is watching. Whether she is volunteering, conducting research or simply showing up for a teammate, she leads through thoughtfulness and consistency.

On the lacrosse field, Yena brings the same grounded energy. She joined the team as a frosh with no experience in the sport. Though she had played basketball and volleyball before, she found lacrosse to be a better fit — fast-paced, strategic and collaborative in a way that clicked with her personality.

“Lacrosse was still a contact sport, but it was less aggressive and more focused on speed and coordination,” Yena said. “That experience taught me you don’t have to be afraid to try something new. Just because everyone else has been doing something since they were five doesn’t mean you can’t build your own path.”

For Yena, learning lacrosse was a challenge at first. From understanding the rules to mastering hand-eye coordination, every aspect of the game required focus and practice. Yena remembers struggling to run across the field while cradling the ball and trying to keep track of positioning rules. However, she eventually learned to persist.

“You can’t get better in one day,” Yena said. “I used to want to learn things immediately, whether it was in sports or in school. But seeing other beginners struggle with me, growing together over time, reminded me that progress can take time and that it’s okay to move slowly.”

Beyond the technical skills, what made lacrosse meaningful for Yena was the team connection. She found a group of players who supported one another, bonded both on and off the field and created a space where everyone could feel included.

“Everyone’s always joking around and being silly, but once we step on the field, everyone is focused,” Yena said. “There’s this group synergy that just works. It’s not about competing against each other. We’re all working toward the same goal, and that makes us stronger.”

That same commitment to working together and uplifting others carries into Yena’s academic pursuits. As a Near Mitra scholar, she researched how redlining, a discriminatory housing practice from the twentieth century, influenced access to financial services and contributed to long-term inequality. The topic first caught her attention during a lesson in her AP U.S. History class.

“I remember seeing these colorful maps with red and green patches and wondering what they meant,” Yena said. “At first I thought there must be some deep economic analysis behind them. When I realized they were based on race, I was shocked. That moment stayed with me.”

Yena’s research connects redlining to the 2008 financial crisis, an event that occurred the year she was born but effects are still visible today. Conducting archival research for the first time, she encountered challenges with finding sources and building her foundation. With support from the librarians and her mentors, Yena learned how to dive deeper, build connections and defend her findings.

“I want people to realize that the struggles they face are not always their fault,” Yena said. “There are systems of inequality that shape people’s lives in ways they can’t always control. But it’s still brave to try and pursue a good life despite that. And if you are someone with privilege, then I think it’s your responsibility to help others.”

To friends and teachers, Yena is someone who brings care into every room she enters. Yena’s adviser and junior year APUSH teacher James Tate has seen that impact firsthand.

“Yena elevates everyone with her positivity and her presence,” Tate said. “You never have a bad day when she’s in the room. She brings kindness and consistency that makes everyone around her better.”

Close friend and research partner Joy Hu (‘26) echoes this sentiment. 

“She might seem a little quiet at first because she’s so kind,” Joy said. “But once you get to know her, you see how much depth she has. She’s thoughtful, focused and always brings her full self into everything she does.”

Whether she is cutting tassels for a blanket, running drills on the field or defending a research thesis, Yena Yu shows how empathy can be a powerful form of leadership.

“I hope people remember me as someone who was always looking out for them,” Yena said. “In a place like Harker where it can sometimes feel competitive, I want to be the person who made others feel seen and supported.”