The youngest of four children, Chyna grew up wanting to perform. "She could sing the entire theme to a Chinese show called Chu Lui Xiang when she was fourteen months. We were so surprised, since our other children had known how to talk, but not sing when they were her age," states her mother. Chyna comments, "My relatives and family friends would request for me to sing. but I wouldn't agree unless I could stand on the top of a table and sing. I think I was around two then. I can imagine how dirty the tabletops must have become since I was always walking around barefoot."
Chyna wanted to be a model and an actress when she was younger, but the arts were heavily discouraged in her academic family. So she put her mind to her studies, becoming the first in her school's history to enter in the Westinghouse Science Talent Competition. Not only did she enter, but she became one of 300 semi-finalists worldwide. Many accolades during high school included being one of six Long Island students selected for the Cold Spring Harbor Partners for the Future research program, one of fifteen students representing Nassau County at state math competitions, acceptance into the New York State Science Honor Society, an accomplished violinist, and contributing to her varsity volleyball team winning the All-County championship.
| She graduated the top math and science student in her high school class, and went on to attend MIT like her three older siblings. She majored in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, graduated early in 3.5 years with her Bachelors, and a year later obtained her Masters after just turning 22. Along this time, Chyna was pursuing singing and opened for famous Asian singer Coco Lee for the 2002 Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association (ITASA) conference, as well as singing at weddings, and various competitions. She also worked at MITV, a local MIT station, and produced and hosted a show called "All Fresh", showcasing MIT talent groups like the Logarhythms and Imobilare. | 
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