In a city as vibrant and dynamic as Beijing, it’s no surprise that its youth are equally remarkable. Our new series, “Outstanding Teens of Beijing,” shines a spotlight on the city’s most inspiring young individuals. From self-motivated business owners to those who have started well-recognized clubs and organizations, these kids are making significant impacts in their communities. Join us as we share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and learn from their incredible dedication and passion.
We’re excited to share the accomplishments that Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) student Polly Lee has achieved outside of her schoolwork. In addition to finishing her final year of IBDP, she spends her free time dancing, exploring photography, and spending time with her friends and family. At school, she co-led a dance club with her friends and founded a service-learning club dedicated to helping the hearing-impaired community, with Rainbow Angels Hearing-Impaired Bakery as their official community partner.
Sounds pretty outstanding, right? But that’s not everything thing this young woman has accomplished in her free time. What caught our attention is her work in co-founding Utopix Youth Magazine.
Tell us about Utopix and what led to you being the co-founder of this magazine. What makes Utopix different from other teen publications?
Utopix Youth Magazine has been a dream of mine for a long time. Growing up at WAB, the mantra “Connect, Inspire, Make a Difference” has been ingrained in my brain from a young age. As someone who once struggled to find my own voice and have it heard, I wanted to create a space where youth voices could not only be heard but truly appreciated. I wanted to do something truly influential – something that involved connecting like-minded youths from all around the world to share their voices and perspectives on the social issues they were passionate about. But the idea of starting something of this scale was daunting. If I managed to execute it, how could I even make this project stand out from the sea of similar youth initiatives out there?
Hesitant and doubtful, I shared this “unrealistic” idea with my close group of friends. “It will be a magazine that advocates for diverse social issues,” I explained, “Teenagers worldwide can publish anything from poems and essays to photography and illustrations, and we’ll compile them into one platform for the world to see!”
To my relief, my friends saw the vision. Together, we embarked on the Utopix journey, fueled by a shared passion to inspire others and make a difference. Inspired by the numerous community partners that WAB clubs were involved in, we wanted to add a unique dimension to our magazine. Instead of being just another platform for sharing artwork and writing, we aimed to spotlight different community changemakers with each issue. Each magazine edition focuses on a specific social issue – such as mental health or disability awareness – highlighting various community efforts, from small businesses seeking recognition to international non-profits and student-led initiatives addressing these critical issues.
Utopix’s executive team is composed of the founding members of the magazine – the same friends who first believed in this “unrealistic” dream. What started as a group of seven WAB students expanded as they reached out to their own networks and recruited more members through various social media platforms. The magazine team now consists of teens from around all over the world including different regions in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen), South Korea, and the US (Connecticut, Philadelphia).
“We’ve assigned leaders to each department – Communications, Outreach, and Publication & Design – ensuring every aspect of the magazine is handled with care and professionalism. As a team of 20, we’ve published two magazine issues with writing and art submissions from teenagers worldwide, collaborated with two non-profit organizations, and interviewed a student initiative and a mental health professional,” says Lee.
So far, Utopix has published two issues, both of which focus on topics that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Our inaugural magazine issue, titled ‘The Mind,’ focused on mental health and neurodiversity. For this issue, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Gerald Anthony from the SENIA (Special Education Network in Asia) Beijing board, where he shared insights about the organization’s initiatives and achievements in promoting inclusivity and neurodiversity in Beijing.
“For our second issue, we decided to focus on disability awareness. We titled this issue “Beyond Boundaries: Redefining Abilities,” aiming to challenge the misconceptions and stigmas associated with disabilities. We had the pleasure of interviewing a local non-profit, Rainbow Angels Bakery, a bakery employing hearing-impaired individuals, and a student-led initiative, KM for LOVE, a club at WAB supporting medically compromised children from the Dew Drops orphanage in Beijing.
But with any endeavor, there are bound to be unexpected challenges.
“While building Utopix, we’ve faced several challenges, one of the most significant being attracting submissions for our magazine. With numerous youth magazines out there, we had to clearly define what set us apart. We expanded our reach to four different social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, 小红书, WeChat Official Account), where we actively engaged with our audience and highlighted the unique aspects of our magazine. This collaborative effort paid off, and we are proud to now receive submissions from teenagers across the globe, from Singapore to the UK to the US.”
High school senior Lee fills her free time in such an extraordinary way. How does one manage to find the balance between schoolwork and creating a new venture?
“When I shared the first publication of Utopix with my teachers, the one question that kept coming up was ‘Do you have time to sleep?’ My answer to all of them was the same: ‘It’s worth it.’ Yes, balancing schoolwork while running a magazine is challenging, as I’m constantly thinking about the next organizations to interview or the design for our next cover art. But if it’s something you’re truly passionate about, you’ll always find the time to fit it into your schedule. Utopix is like a break away from studying, allowing me to channel my energy into something creatively fulfilling that does not require textbooks and flashcards. I’m incredibly lucky to have a co-leader by my side and a team of dedicated members who believe in the same vision and mission. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
As any good businessperson can tell you, if you want your business to succeed, you need to have a plan for it beyond just yourself. Utopix started at WAB, and with Lee being a senior, the magazine will need to live long beyond her high school career. “I’m excited to see the potential in several team members who are already stepping up with innovative ideas and strong leadership. I’m confident that the team will carry forward our vision and keep making a meaningful impact with their dedication and care,” Lee shares with jingkids.
The next issue of Utopix comes out on Sept 25. The theme of this latest issue is “Silent Struggles,” and the issue will focus on the narratives of those left behind in the race to urbanization. To find the next issue (as well as the magazine’s past two issues) visit the magazine’s website: www.utopixyouth.com.
Inspired? We know we are! If you’re a teen with an incredible achievement, let us know! Get in touch with Mina Yan via email at minayan@beijing-kids.com or on WeChat (ID: Wilhelmina87).
Images: Utopix Magazine
