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-Hi, I'm Forrest! 👋-

I'm a senior majoring in Computation and Design with a track in Computer Science at Duke Kunshan University in China, exploring the intersections of technology, design, and social impact.With interests in data and its role shaping society, my capstone project leveraged sentiment analysis and natural language processing to analyze political discourse across social media platforms during the 2024 U.S. presidential election.My professional experience has been marked by research in edge intelligence, where I've researched decentralized applications of AI in robotics at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

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Friendship, like any meaningful experience, is built through a series of interactions, where each touchpoint shapes the bonds we share. Inspired by the journey maps we explored in class, I set out this week to visualize my daily interactions with friends, actively reflecting on the emotional highs and lows that make these connections meaningful.
This week was a blur of balancing schoolwork and social activities, yet through it all, I felt immense gratitude. Whether it was celebrating a birthday, saying goodbye to a friend of two years, or simply enjoying on-campus activities together, each moment felt significant.
Friendships aren’t static; they are inherently dynamic and ever-evolving. A casual text, a deep conversation, or even a moment of conflict and resolution all add new layers to the relationship. Recognizing these stages helped me stay present and cherish all my shared moments!

Harbin’s -20°C winter, ice sculptures, a Russian-style architecture made it feel like a world of its own. Unlike southern cities where dialects can be vastly different from Mandarin, Harbin’s Northeastern dialect is more of an accent shift, keeping it casual, friendly, and full of 儿化. Talking to the local cab drivers, I learned a lot about the local culture and got recommendations for a local breakfast pedestrian street, enriching my overall experience of the city.
Wuhan dialect has a sing-song quality that makes it stand out from standard Mandarin. It’s fast, expressive, and at times, hard to follow. Spending Spring Festival with family friends, I spent lots of time around relatives, eating and shopping to pass the time and follow traditions. Being my second time in Wuhan, I was able to pick up on a little bit of Wuhan dialect, and my aunts would try to keep me engaged in their conversations periodically as a sort of 'test' for me.
If Wuhan dialect is a melody, Chongqing dialect is like rapid-fire rapping. The dialect was completely incomprehensible to me, as a street food vendor told me that the Chongqing dialect is "all about efficiency, so people talk fast because they live fast." He also shared how hotpot culture reflects the same foundational ideas: communal, intense, and full of bold flavors. While I'll never understand a word of Chongqing dialect, I did gain a newfound appreciation for the dialect and those that are able to speak it.
Similar to our discussions about Suzhou dialect, I saw firsthand how local language reflects history, attitudes, and community. Moving forward, I want to keep integrating dialect into my travels—not just as a way to speak, but as a way to listen, learn, and experience places on a deeper level!

In an era where the internet is increasingly shaping our understanding of culture and history, the relationship between digital and historic art forms an opportunity for dialogue about how we preserve, interpret, and experience artistic expression.
What does this mean for our collective identity and the way we interact with history and creativity?A Digital Renaissance: Architecture as a Case Study
The power of digital media lies in its accessibility and adaptability. Historical sites, once bound by their geographic locations, can now be experienced through digital reconstructions, virtual tours, and augmented reality overlays. This fusion allows us to engage with history dynamically, layering modern interpretations over traditional artifacts. However, as these experiences become more immersive, the question arises: does digital replication diminish the authenticity of historical spaces, or does it enhance their accessibility and preservation?
Historical cultural sites, whether century-old temples or gardens, serve as tangible connections to our past. Unlike digital art, which exists in pixels, these sites carry the weight of human hands that built and designed them across generations. They are imbued with historical memory, serving as physical manifestations of cultural identity and architectural beauty.
Architecture, in particular, reflects the values and aesthetics of different periods. Xiangmen in Suzhou, contrasted against the modern skyscrapers that litter Suzhou's skyline, tell distinct stories about technological progress, artistic preferences, and even social structures. As cities evolve, blending historical sites with contemporary architectural elements, they create a layered narrative of artistic and cultural evolution.
Perhaps the answer lies in balance. Digital art and historical cultural sites are not in competition but in conversation. Each offers unique advantages in preserving and interpreting human creativity. While digital media provides accessibility, fluidity, and innovation, physical sites offer authenticity, permanence, and a direct connection to the past. Together, they create a comprehensive narrative of artistic evolution, ensuring that history and modernity coexist in an ever-evolving cultural landscape.

My last semester of undergrad. Second to last session until I graduate. Week 7. The final(s) push. A strange paradox of exhaustion and adrenaline.
I have so much pressure and stress looming overhead; Signature Work, final projects, a final essay, and graduate school results. It’s the kind of week where time blurs, meals become afterthoughts, and sleep is more of a privelege than a necessity. However within the chaos, I feel calm and appreciate the little things, especially the people who distract me from the stress.The Bigger Picture = The Little Moments
Yes, deadlines are pressing. Yes, graduate school results feel like a life-defining moment. No one wants to wake up to a rejection email. But years from now, I know I won’t remember the exact details of this week’s stress. I’ll remember the friends who pulled me through it. The late-night conversations. The small acts of kindness.
This week was my birthday, and my friends surprised me with cake and their company, offering me a much-needed break from the stress of it all.
It’s easy to spiral into an all-work, no-rest cycle when deadlines are relentless. But I’ve realized that a five-minute Chagee run or a deep sigh with a friend who is also going through it can make all the difference. There’s something oddly reassuring about knowing you’re not the only one fighting against the clock.
So, as week 7 comes to a close and finals week approaches, I’m reminding myself: The work will get done. The results will come. But the little moments? Those are what I want to cherish.