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Courtesy of Yinghua Yan

Junior Joanna Peng utilizes a MacBook and iPad after school to work on assignments. One of Peng’s most used products is her iPad due to its versatility. Peng uses it as a computer using a magic keyboard and also uses it to draw and make calls. “I've bought iPads since the first generation when it came out, [I’ve bought the] minis, and then I crashed [the iPad 3] under my table,” Peng said. “It's something that I continue to buy and continue to use most often in my life.”

In the softly lit ambiance of junior Joanna Peng’s room, a corner dazzles with the presence of 40 meticulously arranged Apple products on a display case. An Apple TV, iPhone, AirPods, MacBooks and AirPods stand as a physical reminder to Peng’s journey, which began when Peng was eight years old. Rather than merely focusing on gadgets, this collection embodies Peng’s passion for Apple’s innovative world, reflecting the evolution of technology.

“I started [my collection] because my family is a big Apple fan,” Peng said. “When I grew up, I loved to just collect different colors and different types from every year. So I started buying iPad, iPod phones, and I have Apple TV, and then MacBooks and MacBook Air. It’s just been very fun. I’ve used these products and they’re very helpful to me. And since I draw, I also use an Apple Pencil. They just helped me to be productive, and I just enjoy using them.”

While Peng’s collection consists of multiple iPhones including the latest iPhone 15, the release of the iPhone 7 was particularly noteworthy for Peng. While at the park, Peng started taking pictures of her 2-year-old sister with the iPhone 7, where she discovered the new live feature.

“I think that’s when photos came to life. I just really love the feature and how it just made my sister’s still photo into a live one,” Peng said. “Even in recent days, I use it to capture my family, my parents and my friends, and when I scroll through my camera roll, they’re actually laughing at me and moving.”

Apple products may come with a high price tag, but Peng believes the quality is worth the money. In fact, other than an annual gifted Apple device from her parents, she funds her collection herself through money collected from tutoring or celebrations, such as birthdays and Lunar New Year.

“It’s just very fun to see how technology is evolving bit by bit for me, but I also understand how the majority of people buy technology products for convenience in life and to actually use some instead of for a collection,” Peng said. “I respect them, but it is my personal interest to see how technology evolves, and it’s just very fun and inspiring.”

Peng’s drive to collect Apple products is intertwined with her admiration for Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. Peng learned that Jobs’ perfectionism influenced Apple’s products and was inspired to see someone with similar qualities becoming a successful innovator after reading Steve Jobs. Peng channels Jobs’ spirit of continuous improvement into her own endeavors, including her pursuit of computer science and her participation in an Apple competition.