Celebrating Culture & Youth Leadership: Meet Jessica Chai
Meet Jessica Chai, a senior at Dow High School and Co-Chair of the upcoming Midland Lunar New Year Celebration at Dow Diamond on February 1, 2025. As the first natural-born U.S. citizen in her family, Jessica's journey is deeply influenced by her parents' story of immigration from China and their dedication to preserving and sharing their cultural heritage. From shy beginnings to becoming a leader in cultural awareness initiatives, Jessica has embraced her identity and turned her passion for connection and inclusivity into a driving force. Her work with organizations like the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition and the Midland Area Youth Action Council showcases her commitment to fostering understanding, building community, and celebrating diversity. Don’t miss Jessica’s story and insights on episode 16 of The Max Loves Midland Show!
Love,
Max
Watch Episode 16 of
The Max Loves Midland Show
In Her Own Words:
"My name is Jessica Chai, and I'm a senior at Dow High School. I'm the Co-Chair of the Midland Lunar New Year Celebration at Dow Diamond on February 1st, 2025.
I'm the first in my family to be a natural-born U.S. citizen. My parents were born and raised in China, where they went to college before deciding to come to the United States for graduate school, eventually landing in Midland. Their journey and dedication to preserving and sharing our culture have been incredibly inspiring for me. It's shaped who I am and what I value, and I'm proud to carry that forward.
My journey with cultural awareness started at a very young age. Growing up, I was often the first person of color that many of my classmates had ever seen in real life. Entering public school was a jarring experience—I got a lot of comments, mostly from genuinely curious people, but it was still isolating. None of my teachers looked like me, and there wasn't much representation in our curriculum. I often felt like I didn't belong, and that sentiment stuck with me as I grew up.
My dad has always been really active in promoting cultural awareness. He's a self-taught musician who plays traditional Chinese instruments. He grew up in rural China without electricity or resources and taught himself to play music in college. When my family moved to Midland, he became deeply involved in the Tri-City Chinese Association. He's a teacher, performer, and volunteer, and he's always encouraged my brother and me to embrace and share our culture.
When I was six, my dad had me perform with him at Chinese New Year events. I was so shy back then—I didn't talk much in class, let alone perform in front of people. I was self-conscious about my cultural identity because it was never portrayed as something positive or valuable. But my dad insisted, and I began to feel more comfortable over the years. My Spanish teacher brought her culture club to a Chinese New Year celebration one year and recorded my performance. Later, she asked if she could show it to her Spanish classes, which was a completely new experience for me. No one had ever shown such interest in my culture before. It was nerve-wracking but also affirming, and it helped me realize that my background was something to be proud of, not something to hide.
From that point on, I became more involved in cultural awareness efforts. My family and I have performed every year since then, even during the COVID-19 Pandemic, when we performed virtually. We've also volunteered at events like the Midland Area River Days Festival, sharing traditional instruments, foods, and customs with others. At the heart of it all is creating community connections. It's about those simple, one-on-one interactions that build understanding and appreciation.
When I joined the Midland Area Youth Action Council as a freshman, I was still shy and unsure of myself. But I realized that cultural awareness was something I was passionate about, and it became a focus for me. Through the Youth Action Council, I connected with the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition, where I learned the importance of having role models and living out your values, no matter who you are. That's how I got involved with assisting in planning the Midland Lunar New Year event.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many countries, including Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand, though it's often associated with China. While I was familiar with the Tri-City Chinese Association's traditional Chinese New Year celebration, the Midland Lunar New Year event offered something new. It brought together people from various cultural backgrounds to celebrate the holiday differently, inviting the broader community to learn and connect. It wasn't just about celebrating—it was about education and awareness. Being part of that committee was exciting because it blended joy and tradition with community engagement.
To learn more about the Midland Lunar New Year Celebration, visit MidlandLunarNewYear.com.”
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?