In early April, the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration abruptly and unjustly terminated my SEVIS record. SEVIS is a database used by DHS to verify whether a student is eligible to study in the United States. Losing SEVIS status means an immediate loss of legal standing, the inability to enroll in classes, and the risk of deportation. I’m only able to write about this now because the administration reversed its decision three weeks later.
When I received the news on April 7th, I had already been studying in the U.S. for nearly a decade. I first came here as a high school exchange student and attended Poston Butte High School, a public school in Arizona. I was the only Chinese student at the school, and the cultural shock was intense. Many other exchange students at different schools returned home early, but I barely managed to hang on and adapt.
That year was the first time in my life I discovered my potential. Despite the cultural differences, I found myself better suited to life in America than back home. I decided to continue my studies in the U.S. and transferred to Valley Catholic High School in Portland for the remaining two years. There, I was able to take AP classes and challenge myself academically. Switching from a large public school to a private Catholic school gave me one of the most unique perspectives on American education and culture. I was shocked by how unequal America is, especially given how wealthy the country is.
Ironically, I ended up taking almost all the required courses for a CS degree anyway. But at the time, I lived by the motto “leave no way out,” so I deliberately prevented myself from pursuing a double major. It’s hard to say in hindsight whether that choice was brave or simply naive.
UCSC’s AGPM program turned out to be an incredible experience. It was (at the time) ranked among the top 10 game design programs in the country, with outstanding faculty like Robin Hunicke and Elizabeth Swensen. In fact, when I later decided to apply to graduate school, it was Professor Swensen who encouraged me to apply to USC and kindly wrote me a recommendation letter. I remain deeply grateful to her. At UCSC I made two amazing platformers that I remain very proud of WALL-B and Fragments of You. And a slew of mediocre stub games.
Another professor to whom I owe a great deal is Professor James E. Davis. He welcomed me into his computer graphics research lab—AVIS—as an undergraduate research assistant. I still remember him telling me, “You have a very promising career ahead of you.” That simple statement, and all the opportunities he gave me, continue to motivate me to this day. Under his guidance, I led an undergraduate research team and had the privilege of competing in the Apple Swift Student Challenge—twice—and winning both times, thanks to his support.
You may notice I haven’t mentioned any of my high school teachers. That’s because I went through a period of depression during high school and ended up blocking out a lot of memories from that time. Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten many of their names. But if you happen to read this:
To my 10th-grade chemistry teacher—thank you, you were excellent.
To my French teacher—thank you for being kind and going easy on me.
To my 11th-grade math teacher, Kipp Johnson—I remember your name because I truly admired you.
To my English teacher—your warmth and gentleness are why I still love to read.
To my World History and Government teacher—I still hold a grudge for making us memorize every country on earth.
And to my AP Computer Science teacher—sorry I hacked your website and stole the midterm.
Lastly, to my host families—Jennifer, Jonathan, and Veronica—thank you for opening your homes and your hearts to me. I will never forget your kindness.
After graduating from UCSC, I was admitted to the Interactive Media & Games Division at USC as a master’s student. I was supposed to begin in the fall of 2023. But that summer, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and developed an infection so severe I was hospitalized for three months. As a result, I had to defer and missed the Fall 2023 start date.
What followed was nearly a year of heartbreak. I led a team in pitching to venture capitalists—we made it all the way to the final round, only to be cut at the very end. I was invited by Apple to attend WWDC in Cupertino but couldn’t go. Throughout that year, I genuinely believed I might never make it to USC.
When I finally entered the U.S. in August 2024, I cried in the arrivals hall at LAX.
So when I learned just weeks ago that my SEVIS record had been cancelled, I was furious—and I still am. I’ve spent over a decade building a life in this country. I’ve followed every law. I have no criminal record, no arrests, no violations. Yet without warning or explanation, my legal status was stripped away.
I first learned about due process and constitutional rights in 11th grade, in my U.S. Government class—the same way most American students do. But this year, I learned something else: those rights don’t apply to people like me. As long as the executive branch has unchecked power to cancel a student’s visa, there is no due process.
Even writing this might put me at risk. But if there’s one thing America has taught me, it’s this: you stand up to bullies.
Finally, I want to thank the people who stood by me through the past few difficult weeks. It’s been one of the hardest times of my life, and I want to remember the people who helped before those memories fade.
Thank you to Professor Danny Bilson, Professor Peter Brinson, Professor Debbie Yuen, Assistant Dean Marcus Anderson, Professor Mark Bolas, Professor Jon Ogilvy, Cooper, Justin, Hanwen, Aria, Jerry, E, Chellie, Jason, Ari, Miles, Anthony, Zora, Tielong, Xiao, Ebay, Rae, Lisa, Kiwi, Chuke, Olivia, JC, Wenxuan, and everyone else I couldn’t name here. Thank you for making me feel like I belong.