One of Kaden Ackerson's favorite Chinese phrases is 加油 (jiā yóu). Directly translated, it means "add fuel." In everyday conversation, it's a phrase of encouragement — a way of saying "you've got this."

"I feel a lot of camaraderie in it," Ackerson said.

In many ways, the phrase reflects her own story.

This summer, Ackerson, a University of Nevada, Reno Honors College student majoring in international affairs with an emphasis in Asian studies and political science and minoring in Chinese, was accepted into the Middlebury Chinese Summer Immersion Program.

Hosted by the Middlebury Language Schools in Vermont, the program brings together students, educators and professionals from around the world for an intensive summer of language and cultural immersion. Participants sign Middlebury's Language Pledge, a commitment to communicate exclusively in their target language throughout the duration of the program.

"I'm really excited to be back in an immersive environment," she said. "I haven't been in that environment in almost a decade, so it'll be great to see how my language skills develop."

Long before college, Chinese was already a part of Ackerson’s life.

"My parents put me into Chinese tutoring at 3 or 4 years old, and then I started in an immersion program," she said.

Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ackerson attended Waddell Language Academy (now known as South Academy of International Languages), where she spent her elementary and middle school years in a Chinese immersion program. Every day, she learned from native Chinese speakers, experiencing the language as a natural part of her daily life rather than simply another subject in school.

"Chinese has been my normal," she said. "I've always assumed that I'll use it in my future, both in work and in my personal life."

But when her family moved to Nevada after her sophomore year of high school, the language that had once been such a large part of her life was no longer readily available.

"I didn't have language classes anymore for Chinese, so I had to look for different routes," she said.

Ackerson enrolled in online courses through Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth and participated in its Chinese club. She continued seeking opportunities to practice the language and stay connected to the culture she had grown to love.

Reflecting on those experiences, Ackerson said learning another language expands one's worldview.

"If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to appreciate how learning another language opens up a new world," she said. "The ability to connect with people and understand the nuance is so special, and the new perspective is just as important as the language skills."

Through travel and brief conversations with strangers, Ackerson has experienced firsthand how language learning can transform the way someone sees the world. Those experiences have reinforced the value of language, shaped her interest in building bridges between communities and inspired her to create similar opportunities for others.

"I've become very interested in creating and supporting the advancement of educational programs for language and cultural studies between the U.S. and China," she said. "You can learn more in two weeks with an exchange student or on an exchange trip yourself than you can learn sitting in a classroom for a year."

Her acceptance into Middlebury represents another opportunity to do exactly that: to immerse herself once again in language and culture and continue growing as both a scholar and global citizen.

"Getting accepted validated my purpose for learning Chinese and made me feel that the time [and support others invested in me] was used well," she said.

Her support system has been an essential part of her journey.

"Their mentorship has meant so much to me," she said of senior lecturer Lin Li Hall (林李), Ph.D., and associate professor Xiaoyu Pu (蒲晓宇), Ph.D.

Hall, she said, helped rebuild her confidence after moving to Nevada and returning to in-person Chinese instruction.

"She's so supportive in and outside of the classroom," Ackerson said. "I have become so much more confident in my ability to communicate because of the welcoming environment she's created in the program and her classrooms."

She describes Pu as someone who has shared opportunities and guidance that have helped shape her academic and professional aspirations.

"He's shared so many opportunities with me and offered so much guidance on my graduate school and career trajectories," she said. "He's very active in the field, and he’s so knowledgeable that it's hard not to learn from him."

Ackerson also credits the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships for helping her discover and pursue nationally competitive opportunities.

As the program manager for the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships, she has had the opportunity to help other students navigate opportunities while also pursuing her own. Through that work, she has found mentorship and encouragement from Jenna Altherr Flores, Ph.D., director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships, and Alexandria Firenzi, fellowships coordinator and graduate assistant in the office.

"The Office of Undergraduate Fellowships was my main support system for this application and has been incredibly supportive of all my applications," she said. "I truly couldn't do it without them."

Their guidance, along with the support of faculty mentors and colleagues, reinforced an important lesson: "It does take a village, and you don't have to do it by yourself," she said. "There are so many resources available."

While she prepares for her time at Middlebury, she hopes other students remember that opportunities often begin with curiosity and a willingness to try.

"It's okay to ask your professors for help," she said. "They're willing to help. It's a two-way exchange. Being a good student, putting in effort and caring goes a really long way. And oftentimes, people are willing to give that energy back to you."

For Ackerson, learning Chinese has grown into something far greater than becoming fluent in another language. It has become a journey of discovering new perspectives, forming meaningful connections and finding community.

As she prepares to spend summer 2027 immersed in the language that has shaped so much of her life, Ackerson carries with her a phrase that has guided her journey:

加油.

You’ve got this.