Johanna Byun

“Writing is a way for me to express my worldview. I tend to see the world in colors and images, and being able to express that is really a gift to me. Creative writing is something that I would like to do for the rest of my life, and it’s just so intrinsic in a way that I can’t imagine a life without it,” Helen Gu (’26) said.

Story ideas swirl around in Helen Gu’s (’26) mind as she drafts another poem, translating the colors, images and memories of the world around her into words on paper. A snowflake, a seed and an epic love story take form on the page.

Since she was young, Helen held a deep passion for writing. Having grown up alternating between her parents in New York and her grandparents in China, Helen learned Chinese before she learned English. As a child, she would ask her mother how different words in English were spelled, and her curiosity evolved into an interest in writing. Later, she began writing as a way to convey her personal beliefs.

“My first writing began as a form of idealism,” Helen said. “I would write about my own aspirations, vicariously. As I grew older, my writing stopped becoming a form of idealism and started becoming a form of expressing my own truth.”

Through her creative endeavors, Helen became increasingly attentive to her environment, allowing her to develop a unique perspective on the world. She uses her insight in writing and music through manipulating words and tones to express emotions.

Creativity is the common thread that runs through her life’s purpose, whether she’s writing creative pieces or singing vibrant harmonies. Like writing, Helen’s love of singing is inspired by the way she interprets the structure of the world. She joined Bel Canto, now called Festival Chorus, before continuing her singing journey to choirs Cantilena and Capriccio.

“I’m the type of person to see patterns in many things,” Helen said. “I see a lot of patterns in the way that words are arranged, in the way that words are spelled, in the way that musical chords are played and how different things can convey different moods depending on the order that they’re put in.”

Close friend Suhani Gupta (’26) met Helen in sixth grade and recalls the moment she read Helen’s writing for the first time. She was shocked at how it revealed a perspective far beyond their age.

“We used to share our writing with each other, and I remember the first time I read one of her poems, I was really, really impressed,” Suhani said. “It was really inspiring for me to see someone who’s my age write so beautifully and eloquently.”

Having connected with Helen through choir, close friend Wendy Liu (’26) characterizes Helen as enthusiastic for both artistry and the people around her.

“She’s a very passionate artist and she has a lot of respect for poetry and of music,” Wendy said. “She cares a lot about her craft, and she has attention to detail. I also admire how much love she gives to people and things in her life.”

Although Helen has dabbled with literary magazines, she has recently drawn back, instead investing most of her effort into the composition of her pieces.

“Recently, I haven’t been publishing as much as I’d like to, because I’ve been focusing much of my energy on the process of writing,” Helen said. “I prefer just immersing myself in the creative process, regardless of where that takes me.”

In the past, Helen’s writing has been centered on topics like her childhood growing up in an Asian-American household and the idea of existence, reflecting her values of identity and cultural awareness. She has focused on bringing voice to communities who may not have the opportunity to speak up, drawing from her personal experiences as a minority.

“Right now, I’m entering this new territory in which I’m more experimental with what I write, so there’s not a clear singular message,” Helen said. “That corresponds to the stage of life that I am in right now.”

Poetry and fiction teacher Jennifer Siraganian taught Helen in junior year and praises Helen’s fearlessness in her writing.

“She’s not afraid to dive into loaded subject matter,” Siraganian said. “I really admire her bravery and the topics that she tackles in her poetry, such as intergenerational trauma, the images of the body and Asian-American mythology.”

Through her writing, Helen touches on many personal topics that showcase her authentic identity. The words Helen writes are closely intertwined with her thoughts and imagination, forming an irreplaceable part of her.

“Writing is a way for me to express my worldview,” Helen said. “I tend to see the world in colors and images, and being able to express that is really a gift to me. Creative writing is something that I would like to do for the rest of my life, and it’s just so intrinsic in a way that I can’t imagine a life without it.”