Junior Jacqueline Chen is officially Harvard bound, marking one of the most significant athletic commitments in recent San Dimas High School history. After many years of days in and days out of practicing, winning multiple national, regional, and state titles, Chen has officially announced her commitment to Harvard on October 13, 2025.
For Jackie, the news still doesn’t feel real. “It’s honestly a dream come true to finally go to the number one college of always wanted to go to ,” Chen said. “There were so many days that i’ve missed a school event, or competition for band to go to dive practice, and I never understood why, but now I do and I thank my mom for it.”
Chen’s journey within dive to get to this level has been anything but easy, for she’s been going to three hour practices Monday-Friday ever since she was four years old. In addition to practices, competing for school wasn’t the easiest, as San Dimas doesn’t have a proper dive team, so getting entered into competitions was a challenge but it did end up happening which led her to her CIF finals victory. On top of that, squeezing in the time to work on her AP and Honor courses was a big problem, but today she continues to get straight A’s.
Her training routine often meant for her to head straight to her diving club after school, work late into the evening to perfect dives that require a lot of training. Then after many practices she’d have to go on trips around the world, having to skip school, and using independent study to catch up on homework by herself
Despite the tiring demands this sport requires, Jackie continues to represent San Dimas on the CIF stage, most recently earning a top finish at the 2025 CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships.
At school, Chen is known for being quiet and to herself, often seen in marching band rehearsal with her clarinet before rushing off to a meet or practice . Friends describe her as humble, hardworking, and funny once she’s comfortable around a person.
For Chen, the next chapter is already on her mind. She’s excited not only for Division I competition but also for the academic challenge Harvard is famous for.
“I want to push myself in every way,” she said. “Harvard gives me the chance to not only grow more as a diver, but also as a student and a person.”
Chen’s journey to the pool in Massachusetts was built mainly in El Monte but partially in San Dimas and with late night practices, long thirty minute drives, and the focus on using every practice as a step toward something bigger, and in this case, it was Harvard.
