SAN DIEGO — September 9th, 2026 — Young reporters from Youth We Chinese Press recently interviewed student leaders from ESC Club about their experiences in youth leadership, STEM education, cultural exchange, and community service.
The interview featured ESC members Alex Tang, Ashley Fang, Junpeng Zhao, Lanting Jiang, Ziming Xia, Fengcheng Li, Henry Xu, Renee Zhang, and Johnathan Han. Some students participated in person, while others joined virtually from different regions.
Throughout the interview, the young reporters explored how ESC has developed as a student-led organization and what its motto, “Inspired by Humanity, Empowered by Technology,” means to its members.
Students Leading Students
Founders Alex Tang, Ashley Fang, and Junpeng Zhao discussed how ESC grew from a student initiative into an organization offering programs in coding, robotics, AI, cultural education, and community outreach.
One of ESC’s defining features is that students take an active role in planning and leading its programs. They organize events, teach younger students, coordinate volunteers, communicate with community partners, and develop new projects. Adult educators, technology professionals, and parent volunteers provide guidance and support while allowing students to take the lead.
Through these experiences, the founders have learned that leadership is not simply about having a title. It means taking responsibility, working with others, communicating effectively, and finding solutions when challenges arise.
Students’ Contributions
The interview highlighted the different ways ESC members have contributed to the organization.
Alex Tang, ESC’s Founder and STEM Captain, spoke about his original motivation for starting ESC and the core values that have guided the organization as it has grown. He also shared his leadership experiences in building partnerships, communicating with community partners, and seeking support to expand ESC’s technology programs, including coding, robotics, and 3D printing.
Ashley Fang, Founder and Cultural Innovation Captain, discussed her efforts to connect STEM with culture and community. Her leadership work has included multicultural lessons and events at Riverview International Academy (RIA) in the Lakeside Union School District, as well as ESC’s cross-border oral-history project. Through interviews with immigrant families, the project explores their experiences with migration, culture, language, and identity.
Junpeng Zhao, Founder and Mathematics Captain, and Henry Xu shared their experiences organizing STEM and math tutoring programs, participating in community activities, and contributing to ESC’s cross-border initiatives.
Lanting Jiang spoke about how ESC members stay connected through regular meetings and communication, even while working on different projects. She also shared her contributions to ESC’s cultural programs, including activities that introduce students to Chinese culture through traditional paper cutting and Chinese calligraphy.
Ziming Xia and Fengcheng Li shared their experiences helping ESC develop and deliver STEM classes for Navy families and children, as well as their contributions to promoting Chinese culture through ESC’s community programs.
Renee Zhang and Johnathan Han, Andy Liang , Ana Liang who live in Riverside and Northern California respectively, joined the interview virtually and shared their experiences in community service, STEM education, cultural programs, and regional leadership.
Together, their stories showed how students with different interests and strengths contribute to ESC in their own ways while working toward a shared goal of serving their communities.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The reporters also asked about some of ESC’s recent community programs, including STEM activities for San Diego Navy families, Culture Day at Riverview International Academy, and cross-border programs in Tijuana.
Through these experiences, ESC members have learned that meaningful community service requires more than technical knowledge. Students need to communicate with people from different backgrounds, understand what a community actually needs, and adapt when circumstances change.
The cross-border activities were especially meaningful for several members because they gave students opportunities to meet and learn from people whose lives and experiences were different from their own.
More Than Volunteer Hours
One important question raised by the young reporters was how ESC keeps community service from becoming simply a way to collect volunteer hours for college applications.
For ESC members, meaningful service begins with understanding why a project matters and who it is helping.
A coding class can become an opportunity to mentor younger students. A cultural event can help people better understand another culture. An interview can preserve an immigrant family’s story. Technology can become a tool for solving real problems that students see in their communities.
This idea reflects ESC’s motto: human needs and experiences provide the inspiration, while technology provides the tools to create solutions.
Young Reporters Meet Young Leaders
The interview itself was also an example of youth leadership. Instead of adults telling the story of a student organization, young reporters from Youth We Chinese Press spoke directly with the students who founded, organized, taught, and volunteered through ESC.
The reporters asked not only about accomplishments, but also about challenges, memorable experiences, future goals, and what the students had personally learned through their service.
Through the conversation, one message stood out: young people do not need to wait until adulthood to make a difference.
For ESC students, leadership can begin with something small—a class, a community event, an interview, or an idea for solving a problem. With continued effort and teamwork, those small projects can grow into something much larger.
“Inspired by Humanity, Empowered by Technology” is more than ESC’s motto. It represents how its students are learning to use their interests and skills to connect with and serve their communities.
