Emma’s Empowering Hot Pot Experience

One Life, One Meal.

When Emma, Class of 2026, walked into the Female Dorm as a first-year student, she was a shy girl who seemed unsure about many things. She hovered outside her peer group and tended not to be the first one to speak or share much about herself.

In May, the timid Emma who once hid from attention was now confidently standing before a group, explaining the meal she and her parents had prepared to share with staff and students.

Emma is from China and frequently cooks her own Chinese dishes in the dorm. Food has been something she has shared as a way to educate her peers and staff about her culture. When Trisha Wright, Life Skills Coach, mentioned having a “Chinese Food Night” where Emma cooks for the dorm, Emma was hesitant. “I was nervous that no one would like my food since it’s authentic, and it’s so different from what most people are used to,” Emma said. “I was worried no one would eat the meal. I made fried rice just in case.”

But everyone did like it; there were almost no leftovers. What Emma and her parents prepared and served was something called Hot Pot. It was a delicious meal of finely shaved meats, vegetables, and seafood. It was all served raw with pots of boiling broth on the table so guests could cook it themselves. The presentation was beautiful, and everything tasted amazing. Emma stated, “I was relieved to see people enjoy it. I was so happy that people were asking questions and that I could share what I knew with them.”

When Emma was asked what inspired her to share this part of her culture with the Female Dorm, she said, “Miss Wright encouraged me to do it. I was worried about all the details but slowly changed my mind. A lot of the girls said they would try the seafood, which helped build my confidence that they would like it.”

Over the school year, Emma’s confidence grew in many ways. With Miss Wright’s encouragement and the additional support from her mom, Emma was able to step out of her comfort zone. She learned to trust herself. As Emma said, she had some nerves going into the night, but ultimately, deep down, she knew she could pull it off. And boy, did she! It was a privilege to watch Emma grow into a confident woman this year—and even a greater privilege to have helped her do so.