Who I Am
My name is Ruowen Huang, and I come from a small city on the southwestern border of China. I spent much of my childhood living with my grandparents while my father served in the military at the border. Some of my happiest memories are of the times I spent with my aunt. She was a journalist, and whenever she visited, she would bring me all kinds of new and fascinating things from the outside world. She encouraged me to read, to express my thoughts, and to write them down. Back then, I dreamed of becoming someone like her—someone who could tell stories and communicate ideas.
By the time I entered middle school, life became simple and repetitive, much like that of many teenagers day after day. During those years, I grew deeply absorbed in literature. I loved writing eastern fantasy stories, weaving fragments of my own life into imagined worlds. Writing became a window for my inner world, a way to understand myself and make sense of everything around me. For a time, I truly believed I would become a writer.
My Journey into Gaming
In high school, everything changed when a friend introduced me to esports. The intensity of the matches, the thrilling atmosphere, and the strong sense of collaboration all soon captivated me. In my spare time, games provide a venue for individuals to achieve, interact, and share experiences with others. They embody strategy, inventiveness, and critical thinking.
My job path gradually became clearer. I wanted to work in the gaming industry, preferably in communications. I wish to counter the enormous biases people have about games and demonstrate their genuine value.
During my undergraduate studies at UConn, I worked as a tournament planner for a gaming club, coordinating competitions and events. Now, at USC, I supervise competitive teams inside a student organization. Being a part of these communities has helped me to rediscover that same sense of enthusiasm, excitement, and solidarity.
In 2025, I interned at BlueFocus as a Media Planner for game communications. In four months, I worked on more than 20 projects for Tencent Games. This trip allowed me to explore behind the scenes of esports events and campaigns, meeting many of the people who dedicate their lives to this business. It enhanced not only my professional abilities, but also my knowledge of the passion that drives this sector.
A New Chapter in the U.S.
In 2021, I was admitted to the University of Connecticut and moved to the United States.
Living in a completely new environment, I met friends from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as professors and mentors who supported and guided me along the way. These experiences broadened my perspective and helped me grow both personally and academically.
Life abroad also taught me independence in unexpected ways. I learned how to cook, and over time, preparing dishes from my hometown became a way to stay connected to my roots.
In 2025, I came to the University of Southern California to continue my graduate studies, where I chose to pursue a degree in Public Relations. Being in Los Angeles has also allowed me to keep pursuing my passion for the gaming industry.
My Time in Museums
Part of my journey has also been shaped by my experience working in museums. During my undergraduate years, I spent nearly three years working at my university’s museum, where I focused on public relations and exhibition support. I communicated with artists, sent out invitations, and helped coordinate different aspects of exhibitions.
One summer, I returned to my hometown and worked at a local ethnic museum. My hometown is home to 26 ethnic minority groups, and the museum showcased works by artists from these communities. There, I helped design an online platform for virtual exhibitions and occasionally worked as an English translator.
Looking back, my time in museums feels especially calm and meaningful. My colleagues ranged from a 60-year-old grandfather to students fresh out of high school working summer jobs. We came from different places, with different life experiences, doing work that might seem unrelated to our individual paths. Yet, we were brought together by a shared purpose, the preservation and communication of culture.