Jaden Lu is a senior at Urbana High School. His upbeat, ambivert nature is what makes him soar like a hawk. He may seem ‘annoying’ or ‘stuck-up’, but the truth is, he is only ‘sassy’ when he’s sticking up for himself, and he’s only ‘obnoxious’ when he’s having a good laugh with his besties. He has very grounded views on the world, and has a lot to offer for those who know him.
Although he grew up in an English-speaking household, he has learned to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese and Korean, and bits and pieces of Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Vietnamese. His ability to effortlessly learn languages inspires him to become a translator as he hopes to broaden his horizons and meet people from different cultures while connecting with them on a deeper level by speaking in their language. Career-wise, he considers becoming a nail technician (either in Florida, or on a cruise ship), a travel blogger, or a runway model. For the most part, he strives to work for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line as he considers every ship he boards his ‘home away from home’.
In an interview, he expressed his disliking for the current bullying and mental health issues rampant in the school as he noticed the issue with anxiety and the acceptance of others amongst both staff and students. While he has taken note of the diversity present at Urbana, he believes that people don’t seem to accept or support certain groups.
“I believe that everyone–regardless of age, race, weight, sexuality, interests, or religion–should be treated with equal respect; not only does it raise your energy, but it leaves a positive effect on those around you”, he explained.
Jaden places a large amount of emphasis on what he calls ‘protecting your peace’ by putting yourself first, and making each day better than the last. He puts forth his best effort in bouncing back from a bad day, and does his best at making the most of his situation. When his anxiety overwhelms him, he visits his local church to pray, talks to his grandfather on the phone, or plays the piano. Tackling his own self-esteem issues, he empowers his friends and family to evolve into the best version of themselves; in turn, he is described by them as ‘the most unserious person you’ll ever meet’, and ‘everyone needs a Jaden in their life.’
