Lin (second from left) receives the school's top academic award. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

Meet 13-year-old Lin Yutong — a cheerful, outgoing middle schooler who grew up in the Philippines. Her mom is from Shishi city, in East China's Fujian province, her dad is from Quanzhou city and her grandparents moved to the Philippines years ago for business. That makes her a third-generation overseas Chinese girl.

Keeping the Chinese language and culture alive across generations can be tricky for many overseas families. But Lin's household is different,  Mandarin and Minnan dialect are spoken at home and traditional festivals are always celebrated.

Growing up this way made her naturally multilingual and gave her a strong sense of pride in her Chinese roots.

Lin speaks fluent Mandarin, Minnan, English and Filipino. Volleyball is her favorite sport and at Northern Rizal Yorklin School, she's not just on the team — she's also a mini cultural ambassador.

 "Volleyball helped me make so many friends," she says with a smile. "I share Chinese traditions with them, teach them a few words and when they plan trips to China, I give them tips on must-see places and must-try foods," she adds.

Her school, one of the oldest Chinese schools in the Philippines, really emphasizes Chinese culture.

Combine that with four years studying in Fujian as a kid and it's no surprise she's won multiple awards in Chinese-language competitions — like first prize in a school recitation, second prize in the Qifei Cup Chinese Recitation Contest and Best Recitation Award for Chinese classics.

Behind all those achievements, both family and school support are there to help with every step of the way.Even though she's lived overseas most of her life, Fujian is her emotional anchor. Every year, she goes back with her family to Quanzhou.

"The streets, the local dialect, steaming wontons and spring rolls… it all makes me feel at home," she says. "China feels like my second home — it gives me security and a place where I truly belong."

This cross-border connection keeps her tightly linked to her ancestral homeland. "Every time I go back to Fujian, I feel a real bond with my roots," she reflects. "It's not just about tracing family history — it's also how I understand and appreciate Chinese culture."