Natalie Hsia, a recently graduated senior from Cupertino High School, has left a profound impact as a volunteer at FCSN over the past four years. Her journey began with a realization that every student possesses the unique needs and qualities that deserve attention and understanding. Through her commitment to tutoring at FCSN, she found a wonderful way to connect with each student on a personal level, gaining invaluable insights into their individual personalities. 

Natalie’s passion for volunteering at FCSN started in 9th grade when she learned about the organization through her father, an active FCSN volunteer. Drawn to FCSN’s mission, Natalie was inspired to bring joy to the students and form genuine connections with them. As she recalls, “witnessing the students enjoying the activities I provided made me happy and motivated me to continue volunteering.” 

Reflecting on her time at FCSN, Natalie takes pride in organizing her art classes, which have been a significant success since 2020. Teaching art classes at the South Bay center since her freshman year, she aimed to connect and engage with the students in a more personal manner. Her motivation came from the sheer joy she witnessed on her students’ faces when they enthusiastically engaged in creative activities. As Natalie put it, “it just made me happy that they were having fun.” 

Natalie’s inspiration for these art classes stemmed from her own experiences of finding solace and tranquility in various arts and crafts activities. “It was the joy of putting small things together to create something big like a sculpture,” she explained. She wanted to share this joy with her students and create a space where they could explore their creativity freely. 

Throughout her art classes, Natalie thoughtfully provided students with an array of mediums to explore, nurturing their imaginations and honing their artistic skills. From colored paper and pencils to more unconventional materials like tissue paper and toilet paper rolls, she encouraged her students to experiment and express themselves freely.

Initially, as a new volunteer, Natalie encountered challenges in adapting to the diverse needs of each student at FCSN. However, her determination and open-mindedness allowed her to grasp the significance of customizing her approach to cater to their individual needs. She understood that every student deserves personalized attention and that sometimes granting them leeway to explore and work on projects independently can be immensely beneficial. 

Outside of FCSN, Natalie enjoys playing tennis, dancing, and ice skating. In the fall Natalie will attend the University of Southern California, where she hopes to broaden her skill-sets and take advantage of new opportunities to help the greater special needs community.