MLA's 2021 report on language enrollment in US colleges and universities reveals a downward trend in Chinese language enrollment in recent years. However, enrollment in Chinese language courses for heritage speakers at Emory University has continued to increase over the past few years. Based on a survey of over 90 heritage speakers, this study shows that heritage speakers of Chinese are motivated by a strong desire to connect with their cultural roots through language learning. Conversely, the shifting dynamics in China-US relations appear to have minimal impact on students' decisions.