Friend,

My name is Yawen Yuan. I'm a senior at the Spence School in New York and also the founder of the website Immigration Diaries. I found out about the Young Center through a family friend, and I decided to volunteer for the Giving Tuesday campaign.

As someone who has experienced both immigration and assimilation, I know how lonely, difficult, and scary it feels when it seems like you're the only one struggling in a new environment.

I moved to New York from China at a very young age, and moving across the world at such a pivotal time in life had a big impact on me. I struggled to make friends at school and it was very difficult for me to communicate with people because I didn't really have anyone to help me navigate this new American journey. I also experienced a lot of culture shock, which made me feel even more isolated.

I can't imagine what it's like to be separated from family and loved ones as a child, move across multiple countries and face new expectations, cultures and dangers. That's why I'm asking you to donate this Giving Tuesday to the Young Center.