Meet Ziqiang

I was born and raised in a working-class family in China. My parents were regular workers in a state-owned factory with no privileges to offer me, but they gave me something far more valuable: my name, 自强 — Ziqiang, which means “self-resilience.” They taught me to face hardships head-on and instilled in me a practical mindset to solve problems by making the best use of what I had.

My two older sisters, ten years my senior, were unable to receive adequate education due to the Cultural Revolution. This lack of education made it difficult for them to compete in the job market later, as the younger generation had better educational opportunities. I was fortunate to be born later. At the time, for a child from an ordinary family, going to college and receiving a state-assigned job was the only stable path toward a better life. China was just beginning to transition from a planned economy to a market economy, and private companies were still rare.

Because college acceptance was so competitive—the only shot at a better future for millions of students like me—we had to study extremely hard. I persevered and went on to earn a Ph.D. in genetics. During my first several college years in China, food ration coupons were still in use. Male students often asked their female classmates for extra rations because their own just weren't enough to fill their stomachs. It may sound like a distant past, but it was a real part of my life. In 1999, I received a scholarship to come to the U.S. and began postdoctoral research at the University of Vermont.

After eight years in academic research at the University of Vermont and Dartmouth College, I chose to step outside the ivory tower and experience American life more fully. Since then, I’ve worked across a wide range of fields: in nonprofits, preparing meals to people in need; in publishing, promoting Asian culture through magazines and books; in early childhood education; public service; and direct primary care. These diverse experiences have made me a more well-rounded person and deepened my understanding of American life.

I met my husband, Heiko, at a Taiji club in Boston's Chinatown. Originally from Germany, Heiko has been running a software company in the U.S. since 2006. We often joke that we're truly an international family, with our combined life experiences spanning Asia, Europe, and America. Our dinner conversations frequently revolve around comparing governance and daily life across these three continents, offering me valuable perspectives and insights.

The seed of democracy was planted in my heart by the American people.

When I first came to the U.S., my American landlady proudly introduced me to how democracy works here. One evening, she took me to a city council meeting and explained that the councilors were regular people with everyday jobs, elected by residents, and paid only a small stipend per meeting — they served for the honor of serving their community.  That experience opened my eyes.  Back in China, no ordinary people knew when or where government meetings took place — let alone were allowed to attend. Officials were appointed, not elected. That city council meeting was my very first lesson in American democracy.

Who would have imagined that the fresh-off-the-boat young woman sitting in that meeting, observing with wide and bewildered eyes, would one day run for city council herself? Hooray for American democracy!

I hope my candidacy will inspire others to step up — to run, vote, and engage in civic life. Democracy only thrives when people take part. To my fellow immigrants: American people have shown us the beauty of democracy, and we’ve been fortunate to live in this country. Now it’s our turn to give back — to stand up and serve.