What was your LCA Experience like when you first came here and what are you currently doing for work?
I came to the US in 2010 and attended LCA only 2 years, my junior and senior year of high school. I then graduated and went to BU to study Computer Science and then worked at Philips for 5 years and then went to the University of Chicago Booth for my MBA. After working for a couple years in consulting, I found my own business, Handfelt- which is a printing and ai-generated handwritten notes for organizations to send letters from. Coming from China and not knowing anything about the US was a challenge for me but I did it to escape my family’s control and give myself more freedom.
You mentioned you came to the US as an international student. Can you tell us more of what that transition was like?
I was part of the homestay program that was staying with different families and sometimes even teachers at LCA. My first family I stayed with were friends with my mom and it was about a 2 hour trip to campus there and back. Being a part of the homestay program was nice to see the teachers be willing to care deeply about the students and welcome them in.
Did you have any favorite teachers or coaches that impacted you while here at LCA?
Mrs. Torjesen has definitely been the one person that I have got very close to and have recently had the chance to catch up with her. Whenever I’m in the Boston area, I always make it a point to reach out to her and connect with her.
Were there clubs, leadership opportunities or sports that played a role in your LCA experience?
I was a part of the basketball team while I was here at LCA. I felt that the basketball team here was much more structured than in China where I am from. It didn’t matter if we won or lost a match, the purpose was being part of a team. Other teams we’d face seemed much more focused on being more competitive, but that was not my experience being on the team here at LCA.
Were there any LCA traditions or moments that stood out to you that you can reflect on?
I remember the teachers having a real authentic side to them and genuinely cared about what was best for the students. Dr. Watts in particular would always bond with me over Chinese culture and I’d grow close with others who cared about the history of Chinese heritage.
How do you think LCA prepared you for college or life beyond high school? What lessons or experiences can you elaborate on?
One of the biggest things I’ve observed from LCA and the people I’ve met at different stages of life quotes and goes back to my professor at UPenn Adam Grant who wrote a book called Giver Vs Taker. I’d say a lot of what LCA gave me was more of the giver side and the kindness from the community and people’s willingness to pay it forward and show kindness to others has been something I took away from LCA.
Anything else you want to share?
I had never gone to church in China before coming to LCA. When staying with Mr. VanderBrug, I’d go with him and his family and then quickly joined Chorale and found myself loving Christian music and being a part of a singing team. Being at LCA allowed me to express myself clearly, articulate ideas and arguments and help me overcome the fear and courage to speak out. I wouldn’t feel afraid anymore or get laughed at for saying something wrong.
Currently, Alex works and owns Handfelt. Handfelt is a handwritten direct-mail service that writes your message in handwriting based on a real hand — not a font — and mails it at scale. You upload a list and write one note, or let Handfelt generate a complete message for each recipient; it then personalizes, writes, prints, hand-addresses, and mails every piece and tracks delivery and response per campaign. You can learn and read more here.