When Zhehua “Jo” Xin immigrated to the United States in the mid-1980s as a graduate student in chemistry, she remembers tape-recording every lecture so she could listen to them on repeat to try to grasp the rapidly spoken English.
The senior business performance analyst at Dominion Energy said she knew some of the English language but nothing about American customs or lifestyles. “And I had no resources,” she said.
Coming to a new country with just $35 in her pocket, little understanding of the language and no support system is something that Xin isn’t sure she’d be able to face today. But her experience is why she is making a point of giving back to other immigrants trying to make a new life in America.
After a first career in environmental science, Xin returned to school to learn information science and decision-making. When she started a new career in finance, she also started volunteering. She worked with Junior Achievement to teach school-age students about finance, personal budgeting and more, and she also taught financial literacy and positive youth development at a local community college. Having taught at the college level in China, it was a perfect fit.
Today, Xin is still volunteer teaching. With ReEstablish Richmond, which helps connect refugees and new immigrants to resources, she works one on one with students to teach English as a second language and personal finance skills. She’s active with the District of Columbia’s Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars, sharing tips on résumé writing and interviewing, including at college career fairs. And she leads dialogues with high schoolers on diversity and inclusion through the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
She recently worked with a Congolese student to teach her skills for managing her family’s budget and saving for the future. “It’s small stories and small things that really make people think,” said Xin, who adds that she also tells students about the great job opportunities and careers available in energy.
“I want to share with them the experience I have,” Xin said. “I try to make an impact in other people’s lives—I have a passion for doing that to help others.”