Welcome
Learn more about our current members and join us on our quest for knowledge and excellence!
Vision
In today’s age, the humanities have come increasingly under scrutiny as an unproductive field of study. However, this is simply not the case. The humanities offer an opportunity to improve one’s literary and artistic prowess, and to satisfy the innate urge to create and to connect with people across the globe. The Laurel Journal of Humanities was founded to make the field of humanities more accessible for avid high schoolers. We invite writers, artists, and readers from all backgrounds to share their passions and exchange perspectives and insights. We also endeavor to publish outstanding research papers, creative writing, and visual artwork all in one place. Finally, we value each and every perspective because we believe that diversity fosters inspiration and excellence. The ability to mentor, develop, and promote every contributor is the ultimate reward for us.
Mission
Our journal began with a small group of passionate high schoolers who shared the same vision: to provide students with a space to create, share, and engage in the Humanities. We endeavor to publish features such as outstanding research paper, creative writing, and visual artworks all in one place. We invite submissions and readers from every genre and from diverse backgrounds. We founded the Laurel Journal of Humanities, an online non-profit journal where artists and writers easily connect with other talented people from across the globe, to mentor, develop, and promote its contributors by including a diverse staff because we believe that every perspective should be honored and has the potential to be the catalyst for inspiration and excellence. ​ Welcome to the Laurel Journal of Humanities!
Founders & Board Members
Meet the Board
Jonathan Bu
Jonathan Bu is an 12th grader at Phillips Academy Andover, and he is so excited to serve as the Editor-In-Chief at Laurel Humanities. Jonathan has attended the Iowa Young Writers Studio and the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute. His work has also been recognized by Just Poetry & The National Poetry Quarterly, the National History Day Competition, and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Lisa Wei
Lisa Wei is a senior at Mercersburg Academy. Among her many interests, she loves crocheting, Noah Kahan, and making matcha. She is a dedicated feminist, passionate about educating others on the implications of media on society, particularly around issues of gender equality. Through creative mediums, she always strives to make all voices heard.
Frank Yang
Frank Yang is a high school junior at Basis International School Guangzhou. He has experience in creative writing, journalism, and historical research. He holds passion for the humanities as it allows him to explore the different lives people have led in different worlds. His interests also include computer science and water polo.
Sophie Chen
Hailing from Dover, Massachusetts, Sophie Chen is a junior at Dover-Sherborn Regional High School committed to bridging the gap between classical scholarship and modern civic engagement. Beyond her published research on ancient political philosophy, she is fascinated by all things historical, from Roman statecraft to the enduring beauty of traditional Chinese opera. Through her academic and civic initiatives, she works to translate timeless classical ideas into thoughtful public discourse and virtue.
Annie Yang
Annie Yang is from Viewpoint School. She enjoys bringing visual arts and writing together, weaving color and language into a single narrative thread. Whether sketching a fleeting sunset or composing a reflective essay, she finds art to be a mirror of the human soul—an ever-evolving dialogue between what we see and what we feel.
Sherry Fei
Sherry Fei is a senior at the Overlake School in WA.
She has had a variety of experience within the humanities throughout high school, including research into legal history, creative writing, and reading of various genres. She holds a deep passion for the humanities because it allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human expression and experiences, and offers a holistic context to analyze both historical topics and contemporary events.
Lily Li
Lily is a junior at German Swiss International School, Hong Kong. She is deeply interested in history, maths and politics, and she has been studying German and Latin for a while. Lily has been actively participating in various competitions ranging from the John Locke Essay Competition to the UK Chemistry Olympiad and more. During her free time, Lily enjoys swimming, reading and watching movies.
Sherry Zhang
Sherry Zhang is a junior at NNHS. She is the vice president of her class, captain of the debate team, and a flutist in the school band and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Academically, Sherry is interested in the humanities, particularly in social science and creative writing. In her free time, she likes to eat good food and draw.
Hi everyone! I'm Shuhan and I am an 11th grader attending school in Japan! I am super excited to work as Literature Editor for this issue of the Laurel Humanities Journal. I love playing soccer, running, watching movies and I love writing and I'm looking forward to working with you all!
Shuhan
Catherine Ma
Catherine Ma is from Basis International School Hangzhou. She loves discovering historical writings and learning new perspectives that enrich her experience. She is fascinated by the profound insights from history, and dedicated to exploring the humanities area using her passion. She believes that understanding the past is crucial for appreciating the present and shaping our future.
Dora Mou
Skilled in various mediums such as colored pencils, acrylics, and digital design, Dora strives to bring both artistic harmony and individuality into Laurel Journal and endeavors to hone the art perspective of this journal to its most resonating note. Two times National Scholastic Art Award winner, and selected to represent Cambridge, Boston, and Dorchester in the 2024 Congressional Art Contest, Dora Mou is a rising artist and designer at Boston University Academy.
Aaron Xiong
Tin Ho Xiong is a sophomore at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. He considered himself as a passionate humanist, as he relishes history, philosophy, and theology, as well as reading and writing. He participated in and received recognition from Scholastic, HCGEC, New York Times, and John Locke. He loves to sleep in his free time.
Founders
Sherry Chen
Chief Executive Officer
Education:
Columbia University + Paris Institute of Political Studies
Alumni of The Baldwin School
Hometown: Shanghai + Bryn Mawr, PA
Personality: Genuine, Passionate, Curious
Statement:
I love the humanities because it helps me find connections between various societies and time periods. As one of the co-founders of Laurel Journal of Humanities, I am excited to see the intellectual fruition of scholars and artists all over the world.
Derek Days
Editor in Chief
Hometown: Newton, MA
Personality: Driven, Friendly, Capable
Statement:
The humanities brings together the beliefs, ideas, and logic of people across the world and across times. As one of the co-founders of the Laurel Journal of Humanities, I would love to share this infinite field of human expression with a diverse group of diligent scholars.
Thomas Guo
Chief Marketing Officer
Education: Culver Academies 23’
Hometown: Guangzhou + Culver, Indiana
Personality: Outgoing, Talkative, Enthusiastic
Statement:
I am a STEM-oriented student but I am passionate about literature and history as well because the humanities inspire me to think in different perspectives. As one of the co-founders of Laurel Journal of Humanities, I can’t wait to see the outstanding works of diverse global scholars.
