Emily Chen

Hi there, I’m the president of The Ever Foundation. I’m proud and honored to be a part of this great organization. 

 

My path to Ever was shaped by my earlier experiences when I moved to the United States at age twelve, carrying the weight of being a non-native English speaker in an educational system that demanded fluency. What took my classmates ten minutes often took me an hour—just to understand the directions or translate the material. I found myself struggling to keep up in class when I couldn't immediately grasp what the teacher was saying, relying heavily on translators, extra study time, and additional support just to stay afloat. Despite these challenges, I maintained straight A's throughout this period. Still, the pressure of excelling while navigating language barriers steadily built up, and for a long time, I didn't know how to cope. The stress began to take a toll on my mental health, my sleep, and even my motivation to keep going. At one point, I needed medication just to stabilize my emotions and get proper rest.

 

Over time, I began to adjust. I learned how to manage the stress that came from language barriers and cultural differences, slowly finding my place in this new environment. But my experience taught me something I would never forget—stress doesn't disappear; it changes form. Whether it stems from school, relationships, identity, or worries about the future, everyone experiences it in some way.