Before she was even a teenager, Sharae Zheng decided she wanted to study in America one day.
Born and raised in Chengdu, China, Zheng knew the first hurdle to reach that goal was a big one: She had to learn English.
Only problem there was Zheng was a diving wunderkind and when you’re diving wunderkind in China, you basically devote everything to the sport in hopes of one day winning Olympic gold for your country.
Still, Zheng’s dream, above all else, was to go to an American college. So, she taught herself English.
“Every day after practice I’d study for my school in China and do my homework,” Zheng said.