Lyra Xié

Lyra Xié never liked being the new girl. She had perfected the art of blending in—just enough to avoid standing out but never so much that she disappeared entirely. Born and raised in San Francisco, she was used to balancing two worlds: her mother’s Chinese traditions and her father’s American ideals. But stepping onto the sprawling campus of Crestwood University, thousands of miles from home, she felt more out of place than ever.

With her black hair tied into a messy bun as Lyra walked through the bustling quad, gripping the strap of her backpack. Everything felt bigger here: the buildings, the crowds, even the sky. Back home, she had her routine, her favorite tea shop, and friends who understood her sarcastic humor. Here? She was just another freshman trying to find her way.

She knew she should be excited—new experiences, new people, a fresh start. But a part of her couldn’t shake the nagging worry: Would she fit in? Would she be too American for the international students, too Chinese for her classmates who had never questioned their identity?

Taking a deep breath, lyra squared her shoulders. One step at a time. She had faced the unknown before, and she’d do it again.