more from OC Register article:
“The sport could go in many different directions right now especially with the new rule changes that are coming up,” Chen said. “That being said the rules still allow for skaters to technically improve themselves, keep on pushing the sport forward from a technical aspect. I don’t know what that is yet.
“I still want to continue challenging myself technically, keep trying to learn new things, keep trying to things that I haven’t done before and if it happens to coincide with those (changes) that’s (fine). I’m still trying to work on new things.”
Chen’s next major challenge is off the ice—the Ivy League. Chen has been accepted to Yale and starts class in late August.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “Skating obviously is very important to me, but it isn’t my whole life. And I want to have a main path after skating.
Who knows how long I’ll even be able to skate for. So having something that’s more concrete than skating will definitely help me with what I do with my life after skating.”

at reading the bolded - but he's just being realistic. He is so super excited about Yale though and working towards non-skating goals
Air Chen from 2017 Nationals:
https://youtu.be/URek0bwdakY?t=116