My life began a little unusually by Pasadena standards. I was born in a closet. My mother hid in that cramped and dingy space for months before my birth. Since I’d be her second born, she had to conceal the pregnancy due to China’s One-Child Policy. Notwithstanding the danger, a year later she did it again with my younger sister!

Despite the dramatic beginning to my life, early childhood was idyllic. I lived in a little farming village in Fujian, China. The town could easily be considered poor with no indoor toilets or running water, but for me, childhood was rich and filled with kind people, friends, and a real sense of home.

When my two sisters and I were in grade school, our father immigrated to America with the hopes of creating a better life for us. He started a restaurant in Palm Bay, Florida, and a few years later my mother left us in the care of our grandmother to join him. After years of hard work, they were finally able to bring us over. I was 13 when we were reunited as a family.

“Florida was a world away from my little farming village.”

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Florida was a world away from my little farming village, and I wish I could say the transition was smooth. I was bullied in high school because I was the only Chinese student in my class and couldn’t speak English. When school ended for the day, I would rush to the restaurant to wash dishes and bus tables. After work, my parents, sisters, and I would return home to the rundown house we shared with twenty other restaurant workers and more cockroaches than I care to remember. I dreamed every day of returning to China.

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It took about a year for me to grow more comfortable in America, but there was one thing that didn’t grow… me! I was the smallest of my sisters, and because of my petite stature, my mother assumed I wouldn’t be able to lead a “big,” or successful life. So while my sisters were allowed to study after school, my mom put me to work at the restaurant. She thought bringing me into the family business would be the best way to ensure my future.

After high school, my mother moved to Southern California to start her own restaurant. I wanted to stay in Florida and prove I could make it on my own, but without money, job prospects, or good English, I knew I wasn’t ready yet. So I joined her in the San Gabriel Valley.

“I worked three jobs to afford the tuition.”

I looked up to my mother and wanted to be a strong businesswoman just like her. My dream was to attend USC, as I believed it was my best chance to build those skills. While working at the restaurant, I attended community college, improved my English skills tremendously, and gained the confidence to apply to USC. And sure enough, I got in!

College was transformative. I worked three jobs to afford the tuition, studied hard, networked at job fairs whenever possible, and during my senior year I secured an internship with a commercial real estate firm.

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From there I got a job at Redfin, where I showed over 500 homes in my first year. By attending open houses, vendor walkthroughs, and inspections, I gained an incredible amount of knowledge. I studied diligently, learned about the different neighborhoods around LA, and fell in love with residential real estate.

After working as an assistant for a well-established Pasadena Realtor, I knew it was time to strike out on my own. I had seen the stress and frustration clients went through while buying and selling homes and believed I could improve the process. I worked hard to create a real estate experience focused on exceptional care and expert guidance so clients could navigate the major transition of a move with confidence and even joy.

Looking back, I realize the challenges I faced moving from China to the U.S. profoundly influenced my career choice. I know what it’s like to feel out of control during a big transition. Helping someone with their real estate needs isn’t just business for me; it’s personal, and it’s about making sure no one feels lost or overwhelmed during such an important life change.

I’m so proud to be Pasadena’s top Realtor again this year because it means my staff and I impact our clients in a way they deeply value. Their continued belief in me and the service we provide as a team means everything, and I am truly grateful for it. I’m also thankful for the challenges I have had in life, like moving to the US. They have helped me become a strong person and a stronger support for the families and individuals I’m honored to serve. And I wouldn’t trade my unlikely journey for the world.