Christina Li, a former Sacramento State student, aspiring journalist and beloved member of The State Hornet college newspaper, died Aug. 19. She was 23 years old.

Li died from complications during heart surgery, a procedure she was not looking forward to, according to her last Facebook post the night before the operation. She was born with a congenital heart defect and had previously undergone two heart surgeries, the first at the age of 2 and a second when she was 7 years old.

For those who knew her, Christina Li was a wonder woman who excelled in writing, photography, editing and the arts. They will remember her as someone who lived her life to the fullest.

“She packed a lot in her 23 years. She had to know that she might not have a lot of time here with us,” said Holly Heyser, Li’s former professor.

Despite dealing with heart complications since an early age, Li never let her health problems prevent her from obtaining her goals, said Vicki Li, her older sister, in an e-mail to The State Hornet.

“She would accomplish anything she set her mind on. She was strong, determined and had a beautiful spirit,” Vicki Li said.

Christina Li, who graduated cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, worked as a writer and editor for The Hornet for two semesters. She wrote for Sacramento Magazine and freelanced for San Francisco neighborhood newspapers like The Portrero View and The Richmond Review. After she graduated, she was offered a copy editing position at a paper in the town of Visalia.

Vicki Li said her sister was not only a brilliant writer who could capture the essence of stories through her words, but she was also a talented photographer.

“It was in 2009 when I first picked up a Nikon D40. Little did I know what to make of such a thing considering the package never came with a manual. I have always had a love and passion for art and self expression. I guess you can say my burst of creativity drew me into this world full of imagery,” Christina Li wrote on her website where she was selling her photos.

She was donating 10 percent of the proceeds of her sales to the American Heart Association.

“For someone who’s never taken photography classes, she’s taken amazing photos. She’ll take a shot of something random she happened to see and turn it into an amazing photo,” said her friend Mitchell Wilson.

Those who who have worked with Christina Li said she had an impeccable eye for capturing beauty and she was capable of seeing the beauty in everything.

“She was very clear about her heart condition and did not let it stop her. She showed her determination and strong work ethic at the Hornet,” said Leidhra Johnson, friend and former colleague. “She found the beauty and shared the beauty.”

In her blog, she wrote about the need to recognize beauty and opportunities at all times.

In one of her entries, Christina Li wrote about taking a 30-minute study break to appreciate her surroundings.

“At the end of the block I saw some sprinklers going off. Since I wasn’t able to get photographs of the rainbow last week after the rain, I decided this was my chance,” she wrote.

After capturing the rainbow in the sprinklers, she just had one question: “Where is that pot of gold?”

Close friends and family spoke about Li’s writing and passion for the arts and what a good person she was.

Wilson said when he and Li worked as editors in fall 2009, she always supported and encouraged him, reminding him of how hard he was working and what he was accomplishing.

Benjamin Schilter, who worked with Li as the copy chief during her time at The Hornet, said he will always remember the time Li befriended him when he felt that no one else would. It was during the paper’s annual spring banquet when Schilter was sitting by himself at his table and Li, who barely knew Schilter at that time, joined him.

“Before she sat down at my table, I definitely wanted to leave. When she came by, I started mulling over it again,” Schilter said. “When she told her friends that she was fine sitting where she was, I figured that maybe staying wouldn’t be so bad after all.”

Schilter said that kind gesture changed his perception about working for the campus paper.

“Christina touched many lives while she was here with us. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend,” Vicki Li said.

On Sunday, more than 100 family and friends remembered and celebrated Li’s life at her funeral service.

They are sure she is in a better place and she has found that pot of gold.

Lauren Greenwood and Kristine Guerra can be reached at [email protected]