From an early age, John Lee was educated almost entirely within missionary school systems, an experience that profoundly shaped his worldview, language skills, and later life in the United States. At age six, he began attending Yuying School (育英学校) in Peiping, following earlier studies at Catholic and American-run schools. Like many elite missionary institutions in Republican China, Yuying combined Chinese education with strong Western and Christian influences, emphasizing English-language instruction and international awareness. For John, these schools became more than places of education, they formed the foundation of his bicultural identity at a time when China itself was undergoing enormous political and social change.