Mei Xiao Yin had an average childhood for a Star Fleet child. She grew up in the shadow of Star Fleet and went to schools reserved for Star Fleet children. Because of this, her mixed heritage did not alienate her from other students. Many of them were also of mixed heritage or aliens themselves. However, Mei had extreme emotional swings. Normally this caused no problems unless she was angry. Then she would become a powder keg ready to explode. To offset this volatile temper, her mother enrolled her in variouse sports which allowed her to channel her energy more possitively. Among the sports Mei enjoyed most was a martial art form known as "The Butterfly-Dragon" and Field & Track. Running allowed her to vent her frustrations and anger.

Whenever Mei was not in school or involved in any extra caricular activities, she would sometimes go with her mother to the Academy and listen to her give lectures to Academy students. However this wouldn't hold her attention too long. So, she would slip out of the class and explore the campus. During one of her exploratory jaunts she entered into a room where a Star Fleet technician was going over holosuite programs where students were being taught the rudiments of piloting variouse Star Fleet ships. From that moment on, Mei has wanted to do nothing more than pilot a Star Fleet vessel.

When she was old enough she enrolled in Star Fleet Academy to learn how to pilot Star Ships. Mei was an average student and eventually graduated the Academy in 2374 and was given her first assignment on the USS Galaxy: piloting shuttle craft. She was somewhat taken back by this assignment since she had dreamed of being on the bridge of a mighty war ship. But, she realizes now that she has to work hard at this post in order to get promoted to a bridge position.