Zhang Tianbai, Yu Weilai and Song Zihan, 3 brilliant undergraduate students of Wuhan University who have just returned from their exchange study at Harvard University shared their experience of life and study abroad with a multitude of eager and enthusiastic students that are interested in pursuing overseas study. The meeting took place on June 13thin the International Exchange Service Center.
The meeting began with Mr Gui Lin’s introduction of WHU’s student exchange programs, especially the Global Extension Program (GEP) through which the 3 students were sent to Harvard. As the Deputy Director of WHU Office of International Affairs, Gui also briefly talked about the vision to send more eligible WHU students abroad and launch other programs that will allow them to have internships in foreign companies and international organizations so as to cultivate students with global horizon and comprehensive competence. After his speech, the three students took the floor to share their respective experience at Harvard.
Zhang Tianbai, a senior majoring in law, took the lead. He firstly explained why he chose Harvard. As a law major, he figured that it was necessary to learn more about the Common Law (mainly used in the U.K. and U.S.), as opposed to the Civil Law (mainly used in continental Europe) which was taught in China. And Harvard Law School, world-renowned for its great academic prowess and prestigious faculty, was “pretty much the best choice for any student interested in furthering their law study”, said Zhang. During his stay at Harvard, Zhang was able to exchange ideas with students from different backgrounds and professors with great wisdom in both profession and life, which was eye-opening and inspiring for his future career. Zhang concluded his speech by saying that the benefit of this exchange study was “far beyond expectation”.
Yu Weilai, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, shared his Harvard story in chronological order, illustrated with many picturesfrom the moment he entered the famous Harvard Yard to the time he left. Yu mentioned how the campus struck him firstly as very small but neat, how he gradually adapted to the life and study there and how he benefited from the academically rigorous professors. He especially spoke of the fact that almost all faulty members at Havard CCB (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology) where he studied were potential Nobel Prize winners, with some of them being already laureates of the Prize. “That is how awesome they are!” Zhang said with great respect and admiration. What’s worth mentioning was that Zhang solicited waves of laughter from the audience with his humorous nature.
Song Zihan, a sophomore from the School of Economics and Management at Wuhan University, was the last to present her story. A lovely and energetic young lady, Song narrated her story in a most impressive manner. When talking about her study experience at Harvard, she notes affectionately, “Although we always have a heavy workload, tons of reading and countless exams that are killing us, but at the end of day, when I hold piles of papers and look at the high scores or remarks like ‘Good job’ or ‘Well-done’, I acquire a keen sense of achievement. All my hard work pays off.” Different from the 2 previous speakers, Song shared not only her study experience, but also the various activities and entertaining events she participated in, such as the Ivy League Masquerade Ball, the Fashion Show, the Super Bowl night, the Asia Business Conference and the Harvard China Forum etc. Her enriched life at Harvard won rounds and rounds of applause.
Following their wonderful speeches, the students in the audience raced to ask them questions, which touched upon various aspects. The 3 speakers were nice and patient enough to answer each question. Finally, when asked to give suggestions to those followers in a most concise way, they all provided their most sincere and valuable pieces of advice: sharpen your English to see a broader world (by Zhang); be confident, observant and open-minded (by Yu); don’t be afraid to ask (by Song).
(Photo by Xinnan Guo, edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)
