I, a very naive freshman in 2011, decided I wanted to learn a new language and signed up for Chinese 101 with Mai Laoshi, instead of continuing in advanced Spanish. At the expense of my GPA, I learned very quickly that my ear for Romance languages didn’t translate to tonal ones, but I continued to take Mandarin courses and studied abroad in Shanghai. Even though I struggled, Mai Laoshi was incredibly patient and kind. Today, I am pleased to report that I continue to improve and practice my Mandarin skills daily, as I now work at Asia Society in New York, along with another Carleton student of Mai Laoshi’s. Congratulations, Mai Laoshi, on a very successful career at Carleton.