After being part of the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program my entire life, learning Mandarin Chinese has become a defining part of who I am and what I love. In elementary school, DLI was exciting—we celebrated Lunar New Year by performing in a cultural program, ate traditional food, made crafts, and constantly learned songs. These experiences sparked a deep love for Chinese language and culture. But as students progressed into secondary school, the fun disappeared. Performances stopped, activities faded, and Chinese classes became more academic and less engaging. Without the cultural connection, many students lost interest, and DLI enrollment began to decline. Along with a lack of engaging instruction, limited schedule flexibility, and the perception that Chinese wasn’t worth the time, participation dropped. There was even talk of cutting funding for the program. That’s when I decided to take action. I started the first Chinese Club at my high school to promote cultural appreciation across the student body. While planning activities, I spoke with a state DLI coordinator who casually mentioned hosting a Lunar New Year event—though she noted it was a massive undertaking usually reserved for a solid board of people. Still, I felt an internal drive to accomplish it that same year. In September 2024, I started planning. I reached out to my current Chinese teacher and former elementary DLI teachers, all of whom were incredibly supportive. I then contacted a nearby DLI elementary and middle school. With their buy-in, the event grew. I worked with Panda Express to provide food, initially estimating around 1,000 attendees. After several failed attempts to secure a boba tea vendor, I finally found one willing to participate. To show families the long-term value of DLI, I partnered with a district employee to bring in college and organizational representatives. We recruited Brigham Young University, Utah State University, the Utah Army National Guard, and several Chinese-American organizations to host informational booths. Wanting to revive the joy of cultural activities, I organized student-run craft and game stations—lantern making, calligraphy, zodiac wheel of fortune, chopstick games, and more. As the event approached, I realized our attendance could reach 1,200 people. In the end, after over 70 hours of work, over 430 DLI students performed. The 1,200-seat auditorium was completely packed, with many standing in the aisles. Families engaged with university and program reps to learn about the opportunities language skills provide. Children and parents alike explored Chinese culture through food, games, crafts, and performances. As I stood backstage running the cultural performance, I watched hundreds of kids sing familiar Chinese songs, my heart swelled. Seeing an entire community come together around language and culture—because of something I envisioned and created—was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Since then, I’ve brainstormed ways to continue making a difference. I’ve considered testifying in support of state legislation for DLI and helping organize future cultural events. This experience showed me the real impact one person can make with enough vision and drive. As I prepare to attend Brigham Young University—whose mission is “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve”—I carry with me the lessons this event taught me: the value of cultural appreciation, the power of community, and the potential I have to lead and serve. I predict that this experience will just be the beginning of how I will serve my community and communities throughout the globe.