July 23, 2025
The Creativity of Jeffrey Wang
By John Myers
By: Sanaii Coke
Jeffrey Wang knows that creativity is an important quality to possess. At age five he was presented with the challenge of moving into a new home, essentially uprooting and relocating. He didn’t let this dampen his willingness to be curious and instead took it in stride. He was even able to take the opportunity to choose where and how he wanted his room to be. When life gives you lemons…you paint your room blue! He uses creativity to process change and adapt to the world around him. When Jeffery is given uncomfortable and seemingly difficult situations to navigate, he finds a way through.
As he continued on his journey through middle school, his love for writing quickly developed. Most notably, in eighth grade, he was able to create different narratives and found himself greatly enjoying the process of writing. This led him to join a monologue writing club in which he felt his creativity flowed best. This club allows him to socialize, which is one of the things he loves doing most—forming deep, meaningful connections with others.
This is also why Jeffery has decided to pursue tae kwon do. Although there is a lot of individuality in this martial art, Jeffery is still able to socialize in a communal environment. He also enjoys individual tasks that include reading and watching movies. Jeffery is at ease on his own as well as in the company of others.
Although Jeffery doesn’t agree with some of his parents’ beliefs and ways of life, he was ordained as a novice monk in Myanmar. When I spoke to his mother, she considered it to be “a great honor and a cherished memory.” Jeffery is very considerate about the wishes and concerns of others no matter how he may feel, making it easier for him to be lovable and socialize with his peers. Jeffrey’s mother notes that when he was young, he often would do very sweet things for her and this has continued. He’s always eager to help his parents with whatever they may need.
While Jeffery continues through high school, he has realized that things are rapidly changing–him especially. He thinks the song “Ribs” by Lorde best describes this, as it’s a coming-of-age song and communicates his feelings perfectly. He expressed that during his freshman year, he wasted a lot of time that he can’t get back being in his own head. Finding himself too scared to put himself out there to figure out what he truly wants to do.
The start of sophomore year served as a rude awakening for him. As time was flying by, he had none of it to waste. This mindset allowed for Jeffery to put himself out there, no matter how scared or worried he was about the prospect of rejection. His bravery paid off as now he’s in the Nation Fund Fellowship for the Future of Journalism. Jefferey realizes that he still has a lot of work to do when it comes to successfully and comfortably putting himself out there, but he is being patient and intentional with his process.
