Writer Biographies - World Journal Youth Club

Heidi Cheng · 18

My wide range of interests include music, literature, computer science, psychology, films, languages, surrealism, oneirology, Ultimate Frisbee, National football, high fashion, food, and fitness. Generally, the foundations of my interests lie in unusual traits and its clever genius. I play the guitar (electric and classical) and piano, and do voice. Music is incredibly important to me (it releases endorphins!). As I believe true brilliance is character coupled with creativity and intelligence, I strive to influence my friends to expose themselves to many things and encourage viewing ideas from multiple perspectives. In addition, I love urban areas; often, my friends agree that my character is considered "intense"- if "intense" is comparable to the chaotic, yet serene energy that you find in New York City, I most definitely must be a sensation seeking girl!

Emily He · 16

I am a Junior at Whitney High School. Like most teenagers, I love to hang out with friends. Keeping old friends and making new ones are very important to me because I love to socialize. I enjoy connecting with other people listening to what they have to say. I am also never afraid to express my opinion to others. While I love being social, I also greatly value down time to myself. Even though my schedule tends to be a bit hectic, I will always find time to listen to music and write in my journal. These are my two passions in life because these two activities allow me to relax. Space exploration is another (newly discovered) interest of mine. The idea of venturing out into and researching outer space truly fascinates me!

Betty Ho · 24

Betty is currently an English Major at the University of California in Berkeley and will graduate in December 2010. She spends her summers traveling or teaching SAT essay writing. An avid blogger, Betty plans on teaching abroad after graduation in either Taiwan or Japan while continuing to write about her experiences. She drives a Prius. She also hopes that one day Las Vegas hotels will be solar-powered and that casino guests can recycle their booze bottles for casino chips. Visit her blog at www.veryhighbrow.blogspot.com.

Julie Ouyang · 16

My name is Julie Ouyang and I'm an upcoming senior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. My hobbies include attending church, playing water polo, hanging out with my friends, and reading. I also like to play computer and video games when I have extra time. I am a bit shy, but I do enjoy engaging in discussions with others while listening to them share their opinions. I find interesting how different people have different perspectives on certain situations and I also enjoy the process of exchanging various points of view with others.

Joseph Quan · 21

I am a senior at Cal studying Economics and English. I chose Econ because I'm fascinated by how human decisions are driven on a granular level, and how they in turn shape the macroeconomic landscape. As for my decision to study English, writing has always been a passion and an escape. I will be working in business strategy after I graduate. Outside of my academic life, I enjoy running, photography, good conversation, breathing air, and going on outdoor adventures.

Christine Truong · 15
Coming from an Asian family, grades are high up on the priority list. My mother is what you could call a stereotypical "crazy" Asian mother. My hobbies are to reading and drawing, and I love photography. My favorite color is green -the color of jade, grass, money, and spring leaves. I look forward to being a part of this year's writing staff, and getting my work out there for readers to read.

Belinda Wu · 15

I am a very hard girl to miss. I have been diagnosed with bipolar musical tastes and have been labeled by my friends as the personification of a right-brained person; as my talents lie solely in writing and drawing. At 15, I currently attend Whitney High as a sophomore and though I have plans for majoring in English in college, I also love Art. I am also an active participant of the Chess Club, Chinese Club, and Model United Nations. I love seeing things in a new perspective, almost as much as my inane obsession for sushi coupled with iced tapioca mocha after a hot, sweaty day out in the fields. It also brings me much joy to share my experiences with others! As for the future, I have already begun considering taking over the family business; interior designing, so my fingers are crossed at the prospect of having my portfolio being accepted by the RISD personnel.