GARDENA, CA (February 19th, 2015) – When Wang “Rufus” Dianxiong conducted his Skype interview from China for admissions to Serra back in Spring of 2014, he famously broke out into song. “I have a song. Would you like to hear it?” He then belted out a rendition of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”, note for note, without a hint of embarrassment or nerves. Since his arrival in August, it has become his calling card, and he can be heard singing the latest Top 40 hit by Adele, Imagine Dragons or Beyonce between classes and on long bus rides. For that, and other reasons, Rufus has developed a cult following among many at Serra.
It certainly helped that the American name he choose – Rufus – was unique among the students here at Serra; within a week, one could hear it being yelled by an admiring classmate across the senior lawn as he made his way to class. His experience at Serra as an international student has been fearless – he started speaking up and participating in class right away, making friends with students and teachers alike, and acting as a liaison between Serra students and the new international students. When an international student needs to double check the dress code for the liturgy or find out where the El Camino class is meeting, he usually goes to Rufus first.
When Rufus’s parents came to visit during the Chinese New Year (February 19th), they decided to stop by the school and meet some of his teachers. He took them to his favorite class: Art, taught by Serra alum Tim Boyer. Rufus’s family, including his younger brother and sister, stepped into the classroom to adulation from the Serra students. Mr. Boyer showed his family the work he had been doing over the year, from a funky self-portrait to a perspective piece. His family was impressed, not only by the artwork, but also by the kinship evident in the room. One of the students in class piped up, “Rufus, we missed you this week. Where did you go?” He replied, “New York, for the Chinese New Year.” “Oh, cool,” said the Serra student, and they settled into a nuanced discussion of which city was better – Beijing, Los Angeles, or New York.
It certainly helped that the American name he choose – Rufus – was unique among the students here at Serra; within a week, one could hear it being yelled by an admiring classmate across the senior lawn as he made his way to class. His experience at Serra as an international student has been fearless – he started speaking up and participating in class right away, making friends with students and teachers alike, and acting as a liaison between Serra students and the new international students. When an international student needs to double check the dress code for the liturgy or find out where the El Camino class is meeting, he usually goes to Rufus first.
When Rufus’s parents came to visit during the Chinese New Year (February 19th), they decided to stop by the school and meet some of his teachers. He took them to his favorite class: Art, taught by Serra alum Tim Boyer. Rufus’s family, including his younger brother and sister, stepped into the classroom to adulation from the Serra students. Mr. Boyer showed his family the work he had been doing over the year, from a funky self-portrait to a perspective piece. His family was impressed, not only by the artwork, but also by the kinship evident in the room. One of the students in class piped up, “Rufus, we missed you this week. Where did you go?” He replied, “New York, for the Chinese New Year.” “Oh, cool,” said the Serra student, and they settled into a nuanced discussion of which city was better – Beijing, Los Angeles, or New York.