Our Platform

Salix Apicis was founded on April 21, 2021. During the 2020–2021 academic year, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to unfold, many international students chose or were forced to take classes remotely. From their homes in different cities across China, students joined classes through Zoom. For new students, it was especially difficult to adapt to school life without being physically present on campus, while older students also struggled to stay connected with friends at school because of time zone differences. We recognized this moment as an opportunity to create a space for Chinese students who remained in China, came from different schools, and wanted to connect with one another.

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After seeing the success of early cross-school initiatives such as Beijing Dandelight Orchestra and The Alias Theater Company, we launched the first Salix Apicis group chat and continued to grow and expand the community over the following years.

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Before Salix Apicis, there had not been a sufficiently large platform or student organization dedicated to supporting cross-school communication among Chinese students at American middle and high schools. There were likely two reasons for this. First, in previous years, the age gap and social distance between students in American middle schools, high schools, and colleges were often significant. There was limited interaction across these groups, and students had less awareness of self-organized communities or broader social needs. In recent years, however, students have become more independent and socially active at younger ages, developing stronger needs for connection, collaboration, and creation.

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The founding of Salix Apicis allowed students’ social circles to extend beyond their own schools. Members could find peers from other schools with shared interests and similar aspirations, while also exchanging perspectives with students from different communities. Through these connections, they were able to broaden their understanding, thinking, and imagination.

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