When 10-year-old Yojay Yun arrived in the U.S. from China in July 2023, he spoke only a few words of English. His father, new to the country as well, had never studied in an American classroom. Nearly everything was unfamiliar.
Less than two years later, Yojay now chats easily with classmates, performs violin solos, and participates in community service across Northern Colorado. His father credits Front Range Baptist Academy (FRBA), a small private Christian school in Fort Collins, for creating a space where his son could grow—quietly, steadily, and fully.
An Early Apology, and a School’s First
One of the first challenges came soon after Yojay began school. After a minor mistake in class, he wanted to apologize, but his limited English made it hard for him to express himself. The next morning, his father stood before the class and apologized on his son’s behalf.
Principal Mr. Boggs, who was present that day, later said, “I’ve never seen a parent do this before. But it felt right today.”
A Teacher’s Steady Presence
From the start of fifth grade and continuing into sixth, Yojay’s homeroom teacher has been Miss Kayla Faulkner. Her role in his adjustment went beyond academics. She shared stories of her grandmother, which helped Yojay open up about his own. Her interest in Greek sparked his determination to improve his English. A simple description she once gave of hot chocolate made him dream of one day visiting Australia. And with her guidance—after seven months of quiet observation—he completed his first science report on crab apple.
One day, Miss Faulkner told him, “You are part of God’s family.” That sentence, he later said, made him feel like he truly belonged.
Influence Beyond the Homeroom
In sixth grade, Yojay also began taking classes taught by Mr. Fred Wagner, a teacher with a background in the U.S. Air Force. Strong, articulate, and humorous, Mr. Wagner quickly caught Yojay’s attention.
“I was once inspired by a great teacher too,” his father said. “That influence shaped my life.”
Finding a Voice in Music
Mr. Horacio Villeda, Yojay’s music teacher, once offered a quiet word of encouragement about his musical potential. It was enough to prompt Yojay to try the violin—an instrument he had never touched before. Less than a year later, at the FRBA Spring Concert, he was the only student to perform a violin solo. He stood before classmates, parents, and faculty, holding his violin.
Serving Outside the Classroom
As part of his growth, Yojay joined several community volunteer projects focused on the environment:
- Earth Day Clean-up, Fence Removal, Foothills Trail (April 26, 2025)
During National Volunteer Week, alongside local volunteers, Yojay helped dismantle old barbed-wire fencing that had blocked safe passage for wildlife. - Pine Needle Clearing, Carter Lake (June 11, 2025)
At Eagle Campground, Yojay raked pine debris to help grass regrow and reduce fire risks.
“These activities,” his father said, “gave him a broader understanding of the world beyond himself.”
LEFT: Yojay, as a volunteer, removing barbed-wire fencing at Fort Collins Natural Areas on April 26, 2025.
RIGHT: Yojay, as a volunteer, cleaning pine needle at Carter Lake of Larimer County on June 11, 2025.
A Telescope, a Toy, and a Setback
In May, 2025, Yojay joined a stargazing night at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Volunteers from the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society (NCAS) guided him in observing distant galaxies. It was a memorable night.
In June, 2025, Yojay attended a public lecture by Dr. Fran Bagenal, a senior research scientist at LASP and a key figure in NASA missions like Juno and New Horizons, titled Exploring the Outer Solar System at the Fort Collins Museum.
His interest in space led him to enter NASA’s Artemis II zero-gravity indicator design challenge. He completed a mechanical prototype—one that made a toy open its eyes in weightlessness. But he discovered, after four months, he was ineligible under U.S. federal procurement rules—exclusion of PRC nationals. Though he could not submit the design, he finished the project with care and creativity.
A Place to Belong
At the end of his first semester, Yojay described feeling “happy” at school—because of the music in the halls, the singing at chapel, older students calling his name, and even a shared candy at lunch.
His father wrote a letter to the school, expressing thanks and quoting from Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
He added, “His development has far exceeded what I ever imagined.”
For the family, the school FRBA has not only been a place of learning—but a place of grace, rooted in faith, and open to newcomers.
Looking Ahead
Yojay’s story is still unfolding. It began with a father standing at the front of a classroom. It continues in violin concerts, science projects, hiking trails, and evening skies. He may have come from far away, but he’s now firmly part of something larger.
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