Yanfei Chen Huff moved to the United States from China on Aug. 1, 2008. Two weeks later, she started classes at JCCC.

Huff is a graduate from Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages in China, where she majored in business English. After graduation, she worked in sales for an international business, specializing in home textiles. Following marriage to her husband, Brian, she moved to  Johnson County. She's studying business at the college and plans to transfer to KU, where she intends to earn a bachelor's degree in business.

"I am experienced in processing international business and negotiating with customers from all around the world," she says. "However, with greater education, I will be able to strengthen my knowledge and skills in business."

Huff is in the Honors program at JCCC and has completed two Honors contracts with Dr. Sherry Shively, professor, accounting. These projects involved working with accounting data from existing companies. "I enjoyed working on these projects with my professor," Huff said. "It's so practical that it makes me feel like I'm dealing with accounting in real life." Huff has an Honors scholarship, is on the President's Honor Roll, and is a new member of Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two-year schools.

As her first job in this country, Huff is working for the college as a Chinese language tutor. She also volunteers once a week for the local Institution of Chinese Language and Culture. There she works with Chinese children, helping them to learn about Chinese cultural heritage.

Huff admits to facing a few difficulties in the beginning because of language and the different educational system in the U.S. "I attend every class, listen carefully and take advantage of academic resources on campus," she says. "I believe the courses I am taking are the foundation for my future studies; therefore, I am not only completing the assignments from my instructors, but also solving extra problems for more practice."

"I already have set my plans and goals, and I am working hard toward them," Huff said. "Attending the Honors program is the best decision for me. It nourishes me and encourages me to do better academically and achieve more in the coming years."