Hello! My name is Jade Lun and I enjoy figure skating, dancing, improv and spicy cuisine. On my free time, I mentor students, and I am on the intern coordinating board and cultural club at my work. This year I am excited to be a member of NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) and the Chinatown Fury Dragon Boat team. I’m excited to return this year for the Miss Chinese Chicago 2019 pageant as contestant number 2.

I want to share how I learned about drive and mental toughness at a young age. I began training as a competitive figure skater when I was 6 years old. For 16 years, I endured rigorous physical workouts to master spirals, jumps and step sequences. Falling down was inevitable when learning a new element, but it was the act of falling down and getting back up time and time again that taught me resilience. Today, I know I get my self-motivation and goal-oriented personality from this journey.

When I retired from skating to attend Columbia College Chicago, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Advertising Art Direction. With the guidance of a career counselor, I structured my schedule to graduate in three years with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree and minor in Marketing. It wasn’t always easy; I took 21 credits each quarter and attended community college over the summer breaks to reach my requirements. My drive and determination to finish school early and jump start my career reminded me of the goals I set in skating. Whether it’s receiving your diploma or landing a triple axel, I firmly believe that with the right mental toughness, you can achieve any dream – big or small! I am grateful to have learned the value of believing in yourself, and want to share as much as I can about confidence and perseverance with others. I am excited for you to follow me this year on this wonderful experience. Thank you!