Publisher : Independently published (October 31, 2023)
Language : English
Paperback : 80 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8866021987
Reading age : 11 – 18 years
Item Weight : 5.8 ounces
Dimensions : 7.44 x 0.19 x 9.69 inches
We are excited to announce the release of “The Lion King Gesar – A Hero’s Destiny,” a captivating exploration of the Tibetan Epic of King Gesar, authored by our very own student board member, Grace Cai.
From an early age, Grace Cai has been captivated by the legendary tale of Gesar, the superhuman warrior king of the Kingdom of Ling, who fearlessly battled demons and faced remarkable challenges. “The Lion King Gesar – A Hero’s Destiny” is the result of her unwavering passion and a deep-seated desire to share this inspiring epic with the world.
The Tibetan Epic of King Gesar is an ancient narrative that has enthralled generations with its rich tapestry of heroism, magic, and wisdom. Grace Cai’s book delves into this timeless story, offering readers a fresh perspective and a unique lens through which to experience the epic.
In “The Lion King Gesar – A Hero’s Destiny,” Grace Cai combines her love for storytelling and her cultural appreciation to bring the epic to life. The book is a journey into the heart of Tibet, where readers will be transported to the mythical Kingdom of Ling and witness the heroic feats of Gesar.
The book provides a deep dive into Gesar’s character, the challenges he faced, and the universal themes of good versus evil, courage, and destiny. Grace Cai’s storytelling is both engaging and thought-provoking, making this book a must-read for those interested in folklore, adventure, and the enduring power of myth.
As a student board member of Boston GYP, Grace Cai’s achievement reflects her commitment to community services, cultural heritage, and the arts. “The Lion King Gesar – A Hero’s Destiny” is not only a testament to her talent as a writer but also her dedication to sharing the beauty of Tibetan culture and storytelling with a broader audience. This book reflects her deep appreciation for the Tibetan Epic of King Gesar and her commitment to preserving and sharing its legacy.
There are a lot of cats in Iran. They’re just on the street, lounging about, doing what cats do.
That wasn’t exactly the key takeaway of GYP’s Iranian intercultural seminar, but it certainly was an interesting fact that you wouldn’t find in any textbook. Like this, there were many other insights into Iranian culture that only a person who experienced and lived it could tell you.
Global Youth Philanthropy has been hosting intercultural seminars for a couple of years now, exploring the traditions of countries all around the world to promote mutual understanding and collaboration. This July, we listened to Melika Mostafavi, a member of GYP and a rising junior at Boston Latin School in Massachusetts. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and is currently spending the summer there. While in Iran, she logged into the meeting and gave a detailed and engaging presentation.
Melika first told the story of how Iran became the country it is today, starting from the Achaemenid Empire to the Pahlavi Era, which ended in 1979. Although Iran’s history is long and varied, Melika condensed it down to the highlights of each of the ages while preserving all the interesting details.
Melika then spoke about historical sites. However, she provided her own unique spin on it, including pictures that she herself had taken. Melika’s been to the Kakhe Saadbad museums, including the former residence of Reza Shah, as well as the Takhte Jamshid—the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Isfahan Bazaar
For those who are looking to visit the country, she’s also got experience with all the popular tourist sites. She’s been to the Borje Milad: the famous Milad tower in Iran and the first telecommunication tower. In addition, she recommends visiting the Parke Ab-o Atash, a beautiful park with water fountains, towers producing fire, and the Pole Tabiat—the largest pedestrian bridge in Tehran.
Of course, a crucial aspect of any country’s culture is its food. Melika shares her favorite Iranian dishes, including Ashe Reshteh—a type of noodle soup—and Fesenjan—pomegranate paste on meat, often served on rice with walnuts as a garnish. Shirin Polo, also called wedding rice, is a sweet rice dish known for its versatility in its ingredients. But aside from dishes, Melika shares a unique insight into Iranian cuisine by demonstrating the difference in available ingredients. For instance, Iranian cuisine often uses rosebuds or rosewater, something uncommon in the US.
And, of course, after spending her entire summer in Iran, Melika shares what she found to be the most prominent cultural differences. Weekends are on Thursday and Friday, as opposed to Saturday and Sunday; traffic lights have timers to show how much longer you need to wait; most malls are outside. A hallmark of Persian culture is the bazaar, an area filled with stores and shops, often family-owned small businesses. And, of course, who can forget the cats? Melika theorizes that these cats were allowed to prosper because an Islamic prophet once preferred them.
Sure, you can learn about culture from a history textbook or a Wikipedia page, but it is only through listening to the experiences of an individual that can you get the full story of day-to-day life.
Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) successfully launched its second art show. Below is a report of the event.
The Art Exhibition, jointly sponsored by GYP and the Boston Central Library, started on July 17 and ended on August 1, 2023. A gathering event was held at Teen Central of the Boston Central Library on July 22. The event drew 23 young artists and their parents and friends. Andrew Zheng, Art Chairman of GYP, presided over the activity, and Sean Zheng, a member of GYP, introduced the history, mission, and three recent activities of GYP: International Cultural Symposium, GYP Volunteer Award, and Student Publication.
During the event, Andrew Zheng explained the layout of the Art Exhibition; Each year, different art exhibition topics are generated in response to global changes. Last year, the theme was Health, Community, and Family. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting people’s lives so deeply, this was fitting. 2023 was not short of major events. With the Russo-Ukrainian war raging on and the world longing for peace, this year’s theme was Rebirth, Development, and Peace.
Last year more than 40 paintings were submitted for the 2022 Art Exhibition, which were displayed in Boston Central Library, Jamaica Plain Library, and Brookline Library, respectively. The pieces came from six different states in the United States, as well as Canada and China. This year, over 30 entries were submitted for the 2023 art exhibition from three states in the United States, China, and Japan.
The librarian of the Teen Central of Boston Central Library, Matty Cropley, was invited to introduce the various programs offered by the central library and the Teen Central. In addition, each young artist in attendance was invited to be on stage and interviewed to talk about their art, their learning experience, their ideas, their connection to this art exhibition’s theme, and the time spent.
The event concluded with Matty and Andrew presenting the young artists with certificates of art exhibition participation. The young artists, their families, and their friends posed for group shots at Teen Central, the courtyard, and the library’s main entrance. And with that, the event ended on a high note. We hope to see many more years of these events!
GYP-Boston Debate Club plans to launch its first GYP Debate Tournament in the summer of 2023. This will be an online debate tournament. The motions of the debate focus on environmental sustainability. Students from all over the world are welcome to register.
As a non-profit educational institution, Boston GYP strives to merge students’ specialties and hobbies with philanthropic missions. The inaugural GYP English Debate Competition centers around the theme of environmental protection. It encourages participants to delve into this field, conducting extensive research on numerous relevant topics and expanding their knowledge base. By engaging in this competition, students gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and develop a heightened awareness of real-world issues. This competition is a stepping stone, providing a solid foundation for their future endeavors.
Examples of environmental-related debate motions:
Animals should have the same rights as humans.
Genetically modified foods (GMOs) should be banned.
Is tourism beneficial to the environment?
Everyone should purchase electric cars.
Schedule Online Debate Tournament Date:
EST evening of July 15, 2023 -Saturday
Beijing time: morning of July 16, 2023, Sunday
Online Platform: zoom
Debate Tournament Formate: Public Forum
Number of Debate Rounds: Four rounds in total
Age limit of the students: 18
Registration Fee:
$20 per person
Discount for team registration possible
All debate tournament participants will receive GYP Debate Tournament Certificates.
Please scan the QR Code in the following poster to register:
Contact GYP-Boston directly by email for any questions: <info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org>
“GYP Volunteer Award” is a youth volunteer award registered and trademarked by GYP-Boston in Massachusetts, USA, in 2022. The award selection and management system is comparable with the US Presidential Volunteer Service Award. GYP-Boston became a PVSA-certifying organization in 2019. It has helped dozens of students apply for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and several winners have successfully entered their favorite Ivy League schools.
GYP-Boston plans to gradually launch specialized volunteer awards such as “GYP Volunteer Award- Excellent Writer,” and “GYP Volunteer Award- Student Researcher” in 2024. Information about each year’s winners will be included in the e-book “Mosaic-GYP Boston Yearbook.”
“GYP Volunteer Award” requires applicants to register and apply at least six months in advance, accept the guidance of GYP-Boston mentors, and provide a volunteer time summary and summary quarterly.
We plan to officially announce the first winners of the award after the summer vacation of 2023. The following is the information on the ten candidates who have entered the evaluation and performed outstandingly.
Miranda Nanxiu Liu from Beijing No. 4 High School in Beijing, China
Miranda Nanxiu Liu is a Senior three student at the Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus. She is familiar with creating and promoting copywriting in the new media operation. She founded an online magazine, The Wave Maker, co-founded by eight international schools in Beijing. She is the head of a research interest group that fosters lab-grown diamond marketing and is a vital dance club member. She likes writing poetry and prose and dancing jazz. Teachers and classmates rate her as a deep thinker, a gifted leader, and an excellent writer.
Hi, my name is Emily Lee. I’m currently a new G10 student at UWC CSC. As an ESTJ, I’m described by my friends as “a warm-hearted straightshooter” in my daily life. My passions are English debating and business competitions, and I recently took an interest in MUN and Mock Trials. Moreover, I focus on some social issues, namely environmental protection, mental health, and gender equity. I also do Kpop dancing to relieve stress. I have been playing the piano and singing since my childhood. As leader of several student-led organizations and activities, I’m always happy to do all kinds of volunteer jobs to collaborate and discuss issues with different people. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you want!
Tiffany is a Grade 11 student living in Calgary, Canada, who goes to Webber Academy. She enjoys debate, dance, art, and music. Tiffany has done debate since she was in Grade 8, and since then, she has participated in provincial, national, and international competitions, receiving team and personal awards. Since she started debating, Tiffany has achieved first place in the 2021 Alberta Regionals, first place in the 2021 Alberta Provincials, first place in the 2021 Impact Debate Tournament, top 10 in the 2022 BP Nationals, second place in the 2021 Jack Howe World School Tournament, and top 12 in the Harvard World Schools Tournament. Tiffany additionally enjoys volunteering and participating in numerous volunteer activities, including teaching others debate. In the past, she has hosted multiple debate camps, taught over 200 students, and taught debate for over 100 hours. Due to her plentiful experience, Tiffany can keep the class atmosphere engaging and educational. Tiffany enjoys working with students and helping them reach their maximum potential, and she is looking forward to contributing to these classes to the best of her ability.
Michael Yiji Shi -Beijing No.2 High School, Beijing, China
Michael Yiji Shi is an eleventh grader at Beijing No.2 International Division. During his years in school, he set up a student newspaper club and provided his classmates with sophisticated student publications. He enjoys doing creative things in his free time, including composing music, writing stories or poems, playing the piano, etc. Despite all that, he often engages in class discussions and likes to help others when possible.
Helen Hong – WLSA Shanghai Academy, Shanghai, China
Hi! My name is Helen Hong, and I am a ninth-grader at WLSA Shanghai Academy. I would like to define myself as authentic and outgoing, and all my friends described me as “the person who can easily get along with others.” I never feel afraid of a brand-new environment. Instead, I’m willing to accept and adapt to new things. I joined our school debate club(SFLS Debate Club) in sixth grade. Since then, debating has played an important role in my life. I learned to think and consider various ways during the debate and better understand critical thinking. Despite my characteristics, I’m a professional tennis player as well. I’ve played tennis since I was 6; in a way, the training process crafted a part of me through these nine years. It made me not be defeated easily and always stay calm to find solutions when facing emergencies. I enjoy music in my spare time; it is so relaxing. I played the flute, and it was my favorite instrument. I love the unexpected scenes, the sunset, and the dynamic life. These are all the factors that made me feel my life is meaningful and colorful. I hope to share my opinions with you guys, and I am looking forward to being a member of the GYP publication team.
Ben Han – Ocean Grove Charter School in California, USA
Greetings, my name is Ben Han. I am currently a high school freshman residing in the state of California. I am a part of the GYP Debate Organization. I am excited to join this group where I can channel my passion for debating into helping others in the community improve and get into the debate world. I have been attending debate classes for around 2 years and have gained plenty of experience in case creation, speech delivery, and teamwork. I work mainly in public forum debates and Lincoln-Douglas debates, but I also have adequate experience in team policy debates. I have made it to finals in several national tournaments and recently won an award for top speaker in a Lincoln-Douglas tournament. I have also had past experience in teaching, as I have been with multiple non-profit organizations and taught kids English and math worldwide during the summer. My work in the GYP debate has mostly been helping create the organization’s foundation. I helped create ideas for lesson plans and debate tournaments, and I have also written lessons on Intro to Lincoln-Douglas debate for future classes. I am thrilled to be a member of the GYP Debate Organization, where I can enthusiastically share my passion for debate, help others grow, and continue to develop my own skills in a supportive community!
David Zhaoxuan Zhou -Beijing No.2 High School, Beijing, China
David Zhou comes from Beijing’s No.2 middle school international division. He is a grade 11 student who is fascinated by history and Myths. He set up the school newspaper along with Michael, provided his classmates with sophisticated student publications, and offered them a chance to Evaluate some international affairs or express ideas they hoped to promote. He is also the founder of the “Amour Fati” play club, during which he trained his peers to analyze and perform famous plays, feeling the complexity and luxury of the words and emotions of the play. He is also the president of the school debate club and the coach of the debate club, and he holds mock debates for each individual to practice their public speaking ability. He would also help them in completing the debate cases. David also enjoys sports. He plays soccer, rugby, tennis, basketball, and baseball. He also trains in MMA. He loves nature, and he went hiking in nature, traveling in rainforests and deserts. He also loves music and frequently sings in front of people; he believes it shows passion for life.
Jennifer Wang She-Beanstalk International Bilingual School， Beijing, China
My name is Jennifer Wang. She, I am in eighth grade, and I go to school in Beanstalk International Bilingual School. I like playing the violin, stitching, doing Chinese calligraphy and Equestrian, and studying American history. I love to do charity work because I simply like to help others; I feel happy and can smile from my help. For that reason, I have done many charity works over the years; I first started to go to the school for disabled children when I was only in kindergarten; my parents and I helped clean the classrooms and the principal was very grateful. Then, I played in the orchestra for the school’s art auction( the money will go to kids who want to study art but can’t afford it), donated necessities for poor kids, earned money from Chinese Day, and donated several hundred RMB. Now I am teaching two-second grade kids English as a volunteer. Through all of these, I have found many things in myself, and I wish to continue in the future days.
David Qiao from Christ The King in Alberta, Canada
My name is David Qiao, and I am a ninth-grader residing in Alberta, Canada. First, I think it’s proper to introduce myself; I like many things: art, video games, movies, music, taekwondo, debate, and volunteering. I love creating and making a change, especially in my community. One of my longest and ongoing passion/volunteering projects is with an online mentoring program hosted by Global Youth Philanthropy to share the joy of debate and speech with the youth of our international community. I developed meaningful relationships with the mentees and my fellow mentors. I jump at every opportunity to help introduce and show everyone can debate. Another passion project that gave me valuable experience was when I gathered some like-minded peers from interviewing and proving that we youths also have a voice by interviewing many notable figures in my province’s politics, such as the city councilor, mayor, and members of parliament. Somethings closer to my home community, however, I jump at every volunteering opportunity ranging from stepping up to be my school student president, tutoring other peers, participating in my local Air Cadet fundraisers, to being the local Easter Bunny. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for this award and hope that my experiences and passion for volunteerism have conveyed the impact and importance of giving back. Volunteering is a way to make a difference and an opportunity for personal growth and fulfillment.
May Yang – Shen Wai International School, Shenzhen, China
May Yang is a Grade 11 student at Shen Wai International School. She leads the high school yearbook committee and journalism department, helping the school capture and immortalize precious moments. Additionally, May is a member of the school drama club, where she acts in plays and promotes them by editing and filming captivating trailers, writing promotional articles, and designing eye-catching posters. She is also committed to the school’s volunteer teaching club, where she organizes activities like talent shows and music festivals to raise funds and support primary schools in Guangxi, Beihai. May teaches sociology and visual arts in this role, empowering students to explore and nurture their talents. She also leads foreign Chinese language lessons for teachers at her school, covering various subjects, including Chinese culture, daily life, transportation, and curriculum-specific topics, fostering cross-cultural understanding and sharing the richness of her heritage. Outside of teaching, May dedicates her time to assisting others. She provides English lessons to a young girl who experienced a burns accident, helping her regain confidence and language skills. Additionally, she teaches Chinese history and culture to Japanese-born Chinese students, deepening their connection to their roots. May indulges in hobbies such as watching movies, traveling, singing with a guitar, golfing, and playing badminton during her leisure time.
Hi, my name is Josie Qiao. I’m a figure skater, golfer, and horse rider. And I enjoy playing the piano, painting, and dancing. I moved to Japan from China when I was 12, I initially faced challenges, but thanks to the help of my friends, I can now use Japanese as if it were my native language. Unless I mention it, people wouldn’t even know I am Chinese. I started figure skating, inspired by Yuzuru Hanyu, and overcame numerous challenges to become the person l am today. Skating and horseback riding have given me tremendous courage and value. I’ve realized that not giving up and pursuing a goal is essential. I am currently aspiring to enter the international Liberal studies program at University. I want to utilize my language abilities to help others. It is truly saddening to witness people in Japan treating foreigners they encounter on the streets as dangerous individuals. I want to eliminate people’s prejudices and create a world where mutual respect prevails. That’s why I wish to Introduce Japanese culture, education, and many unknown aspects as seen from my perspective. I look forward to sharing my opinion with everyone and presenting as a member of the GYP team.
Michelle Zhou from Beijing National Day School, Beijing, China
Michelle Zhou is a senior at Beijing National Day School. She has a wide range of interests in humanity and social sciences, acquisitive in the metaphorical symbology in literature, comparisons of world religions, all the way down to the ways of reducing cognitive biases in psychology. In her leisure time, intriguing entertainment such as composing poetry, appreciating classical music, and playing TRPG brings invaluable joy to build her curious character and widens her scope of academic investigation. Hoping to strengthen interdisciplinary connections between various subjects to delve deeper into fundamental human questions and provide solutions, mentally and potentially physically, she became the president of the school’s philosophy club, holding seminars to engage students in thought-provoking discussions by sharing opinions rooted in their focused areas.
We are thrilled to announce the GYP Art Show 2023, an exciting opportunity for young artists aged 5-18 to showcase their talents and positively impact their communities. Our goal is to encourage and support young artists to contribute to their communities and to make better social impacts via art philanthropic projects.
The GYP Art Show 2023 will combine online on the GYP website and on-site shows in selected community libraries in the Boston area. We believe this format will provide a unique opportunity for young artists to reach new audiences and share their art with a broader community.
We believe that the GYP Art Show 2023 will be a fantastic opportunity for young artists to showcase their talents, connect with their communities, and make a positive impact through their art. We look forward to receiving your applications and seeing your unique artwork!
Themes: “Rebirth, Development, and Peace”
Visual art categories
Painting (oil, watercolor, acrylic), ceramics, sculpture, origami, photography, crafts, and more.
The application deadline: June 15, 2023,
The scheduled art showing dates: from June 30 to August 30, 2023.
Event organizers: Global Youth Philanthropy-Boston and Boston Central Library-Teen Central
To participate, interested artists should submit an application and artwork photos. Please scan theQR code on the following poster, and fill in the application. Please send the photos of the artwork and any inquiries to us by email at <info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org>
Alliance for Impact (AFI) is a nonprofit organization focusing on finance and investment education, social impact, and community leadership activities for Asian society. Angelene Huang founded AFI and serves as its CEO. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, AFI and its affiliates raised multi-million-dollar equivalent personal protective equipment (PPE) and offered over 300 online seminars and workshops. With a focus on social impact, AFI has grown into one of the largest Asian professional networks, with more than 30,000 individuals and families. Additionally, Huang serves as the Board Chairwoman for the Youth Entrepreneurship and Finance Association (YEFA), which aims to empower young people with financial literacy and business thinking and encourage youth entrepreneurship and social responsibility. Huang previously served as the Head of Treasury for a top global quantitative hedge fund in NYC and is currently a board director of TCFA (The Chinese Finance Association).
When you think of America, what comes to mind? To Angelene Huang, when she thinks of America, she thinks of freedom, education, and opportunities. From a young girl who grew up in a tiny town in China to one of the most successful and prosperous businesswomen in America, here is Angelene Huang’s story.
Angelene grew up in Guizhou, China. She lived in China until she was 27, when she moved to New York to seek new opportunities. Angelene was able to develop her own Wall Street career, but even after working in one of the most prestigious industries in the world, she wanted to have a bigger influence on the community.
Angelene has founded many of her own organizations, including Alliance for Impact Inc. and Viswise Academy Inc. Alliance for Impact was created to help make an impact on Asian American communities, whether it’s by distributing millions of dollars of PPE during the pandemic or having civic engagement seminars to build community. Viswise Academy is a non-profit organization that offers online courses to help the younger generation build strong foundations for future careers. But still, even after all these amazing feats, Angelene Huang still was not ready to call it quits.
Angelene is now studying law school, where she wants to learn more about the United States judicial system and its laws. The reason for going to law school was because she knows how much prejudice, discrimination, and hate Asians have to face on a day-to-day basis. She believes that if she can gain more legal knowledge, she can give more advice to others and help even more people. Even though being in law school is already a huge time commitment, she still oversees her non-profit organization and her jobs.
One name came to mind when asked who her inspiration is: Sam Mok. Angelene says Sam taught her about philanthropy and the Western style and is an amazing leader. Unfortunately, Sam Mok passed away from cancer a couple of years ago, but his passion for the community will continue.
Currently, Angelene is working a very busy lifestyle, with many organizations to oversee, studying law, and raising money to manage her nonprofits. She does her best to offer resources, solutions, and advice to those seeking help. Angelene has a very powerful backstory and background, and she hopes that she can help inspire others. Angelene wishes she could bring value to people and hopes to watch them grow.
As a high schooler in China, Miranda sets her sights on making an international impact on the world by volunteering for Global Youth Philanthropy, which is a non-profit organization based in America. She found the organization exceptionally intriguing because of the enthusiastic environment and the super supportive community. Additionally, GYP differs from other extracurriculars in China, where students have to pay for help. Miranda says these drive her to continue volunteering.
Besides GYP, Miranda is also part of the dance club at her school and likes dancing to jazz music as she feels it embodies modern culture. She is also a part of her school’s basketball team and is starting to take up photography as well. She is very interested in international universities, not just those in China. Miranda is actually applying to Vanderbilt, which is in Tennessee, and many other universities as well.
Miranda’s own magazine, Wavemaker, is on international universities, which helps Chinese students go to universities abroad. This feeds right into Miranda’s interests as well, which leads her to enjoy writing this magazine and have fun while creating it. Miranda also is an avid enjoyer of music: she loves the guitar as she likes its softness and soothing tone. She compares it to pop music and classical music, which makes her feel more formal.
Qianmen Street Yilan Pavilion, 12/13/2021, recorded and answered common questions from tourists
Working in China, however, is not as smooth sailing for Miranda as you may think. Miranda also has to face many challenges while working for a non-profit organization based in America while living in China. Miranda many times has to wake up very early or stay up very late in order to make meetings with members of Global Youth Philanthropy due to time zone differences. Miranda also has to sacrifice a lot of her personal time to continue volunteering with GYP. She loved spending time with her grandmother, but now that happens less due to her being busy with volunteering and a multitude of other tasks. Handling all this stress led to Miranda getting into a new form of stress relief, meditation. She talks about how meditation calms her down and makes her heart feel more serene.
When asked about how her friends and family support her while volunteering for an American organization, Miranda talked about how her friends are always supportive of her and how she has friends in Beijing who help promote her projects. Their support means a lot to Miranda. Miranda’s family also does their best to support her, but they want her to be independent and do her work as best as she can.
Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus, 10/15/2020, arranged appropriate clothing for the students participating in the Hanfu catwalk showQianmen Street Yilan Pavilion, 7/13/2020, Miranda guided Chinese and foreign tourists, introduced the characteristics of the area
Report by: Steven Miall – 10th grader at Boston Latin School
We’re excited to announce the launch of the GYP Publication Club! This student-led club, featured on the GYP website, is dedicated to promoting youth philanthropy through the power of publishing.
Our mission is to highlight the unique pieces that make up our diverse community and showcase how they come together to create something beautiful. To achieve this, we’ve already hosted two monthly meetings with Boston, Beijing, and Shanghai students.
The club’s publication, named “Mosaic,” will feature a collection of articles, stories, and artwork from students around the world. As part of the GYP Publication Club, you’ll have the opportunity to join a student leadership team, participate in interest groups, and become part of our network of student Ambassadors.
We invite all students who are interested in the intersection of publishing and youth philanthropy to join us. Let’s work together to make a positive impact on the world!
“I see it as an art, just like making music”(Ethan Zhu).
This is a type of art. Behind it, an artist holding a paintbrush that could create infinite possibilities. From music to making ramen and opening a shop. From a young person having a goal to a dreamer committing, achieving, and trying to make the traditional ramen he tasted. Here is the story of Ethan Zhu, the owner of YING RAMEN.
The Taste of Ramen
Ethan got into ramen in 2000 when he went to Japan for the first time for a show. He got the chance to taste all kinds of traditional ramen in Japan and soon realized that it was something that he would really be passionate about. He was in a band with his friends at the time, where they all made music together and had lots of fun. After learning more and more about ramen, he had the idea of starting a ramen shop in 2007. Ethan made up his mind to make the most traditional ramen in his shop, the perfect ramen he tasted and fell in love with that day, even knowing how difficult it was to achieve. To chase that dream, Ethan will dedicate everything he got to it.
Breaking Barriers
Learning something is not easy, especially learning something that usually takes 20 years to master. Ramen is an art, and it is very difficult to master. Ethan later came to America, making learning ramen even more difficult. He traveled across America, trying to find that perfect ramen recipe, honing his skills in the process. Ethan earned a Culinary Arts degree at Bunker Hills Community College. After years of waiting, he got a chance to go to Japan in 2017 to learn from ramen masters, thanks to a friend. Over the course of two years (2017-2019), he went to Japan in the summer for two weeks per year. He worked for long hours each day, finally getting the recipe he wanted. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped his plans for two years, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He finally started the ramen shop that he was looking for in October 2022. Ethan started his business, and it really set fire.
Life as a Ramen Shop Owner
Ethan faced many obstacles after he opened his shop. Ethan also works in an Italian pasta shop as a production manager. “Italian cuisine influences me a lot,” said Ethan. But it made it difficult to balance his jobs. To continue to make the traditional ramen, Ethan has to spend 8 hours after he gets off work from the Italian restaurant. Every detail requires hours of work for it to be “traditional ramen.” So far, Ethan didn’t hire any employees; only he and his wife work in the shop. Ethan also continues his hobby of making music when he has time. He implements music in his ramen shop. “Cooking is just like music, you know,” Ethan said, “you mix different ingredients to make something unmatched; I experiment with ramen when inspiration comes, just like how I make music.” It is natural for Ethan to make food, and owning this ramen shop changed Ethan. It takes lots of responsibility as he wants to represent the life of an Asian American. He wants to do everything to the best of his ability, and he wants to make a positive impact as a Chinese American. But above all, it is his sense of commitment to his dream that keeps him going, promising every customer the best ramen.
The Future of YING RAMEN
Ethan finds a lot of success in his new business, and he would love to expand his business in locations around the country. However, he wants to open small restaurants, just like the one he has now. Ethan wants to make the most traditional ramen shops like the ones in Japan, and smaller shops are a part of it. “Smaller shops feel like home; it is nice to keep that connection with customers,” Ethan said. For now, he wants to focus on his shop in Boston Public Square; focusing on the smaller picture is better for now, in his opinion. But then, if he does decide to expand, he would like his business to be in California and also wholesale his products to supermarkets around the country as well.
Conclusion- There are lots of challenges on the way. There is no special recipe that will send you to success. But your dream will keep you going. To Ethan, the small moments of reaching his goal, of doing something special, of creating something always fuel him in the most difficult times. And in the end, no matter how far away your dream is, as long as you keep on trying and keep on chasing, “you could always reach your goal”(Ethan Zhu).
Reported by Jenny Yue
Jenny Yue is a 13-year-old 8th grader in North Carolina. She is a member of GYP-Boston Youth Journalists’ Club. She enjoys writing and making music.
