Oozing confidence, the girl wearing a smile was conferred the title of “TOP 10 Outstanding Students of Wuhan University” this April. Zhang Yunqiu, an undergraduate in grade 2012 at WHU Economics and Management School, captured the spotlight for her outstanding academic performances: Her GPA is 3.85 and she got excellent scores in GMAT and TOEFL. She passed CFA level II and was ranked first in the Ace Manager Online Business Game. Moreover, she received an offer from MIT Sloan School of Management. Besides her remarkable academic performance, Zhang Yunqiu also extended her life into a new dimension. iShareWHU, a Wechat official account established in 2014, completed her role as a real sharer and leader.
Defining herself as an untraditional top student, Zhang never overburdens herself with rote memorization. Instead, she has found another way. Grasping the true essence of knowledge is her secret. She always pays attention to every detail and keeps checking whether her solution is the best. Study becomes a much easier thing as her efforts build up day by day. It is no wonder that she passed CFA level I with only one week of preparation. “I have met worse”, said Zhang, half-jokingly. “It was during the Ace Manager Game, I had to sneak into the public toilet in our dormitory, where power is supplied for 24 hours, to keep working. Those models and terminologies were all fresh and strange to me, so I had to start from the very beginning.” With persistence and passion, Zhang finally ranked first in the competition.
Just like many freshmen, Zhang used to feel very desperate about mathematics. She had to retake some of the courses. “But we don’t always have a second chance in life. Had there been somebody to point out the right direction for others, it would be less likely for them to go astray.” With this in mind, she had the idea of creating a platform where she could directly share her experience. Offering guidance to other students became her very first motivation. Determined to help, Zhang Yunqiu embarked on her journey.
Under the pseudonym of "Jiujiu", Zhang Yunqiu has been unreservedly shared sharing resources and experience to the users of iShareWHU since 2014, including her own insights on ways of learning, online databases containing various review notes, information about professional events and contests, etc. Moreover, Zhang expanded the scale of resources by inviting professors to voice their opinions, calling her friends to share experience of acquiring graduate recommendations, as well as informing users of internship opportunities. With the network continuing to expand, iShareWHU has already grown into an information center, exerting its influence over many aspects of students’ lives.
During the first two years, however, Zhang confronted many setbacks. Her schedule became extremely grueling when the final exams were around the corner. Even at such moments, she had to spare some time to operate iShareWHU. Sometimes her posts would be maliciously reported and made unavailable. “The first time I experienced this, I was nearly driven into tears”, said Zhang, “but then I realized that it was the reality. The world can’t be warm and kind all the time. However cruel or unfriendly it may be, you can still choose not to compromise. That's why what iShareWHU tries to do is meaningful and precious. At our best, we are helping others,.”
Now, iShareWHU is growing increasingly influential with Zhang's efforts. There are nearly 5000 users not only from Wuhan University but also from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Renmin University, Central University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing University and many other major universities in China. Zhang Yunqiu has sent almost one hundred original posts and the online downloads has risen to around 8000. “It is the positive feedback of schoolmates that are most helpful”, said Zhang, “many users will leave a message saying that they would like to help me improve and update some resources for iShareWHU. It's like a family and everyone wants to make some contribution.” Clearly Zhang has become a leader, promoting more sharing activities in this campus.
When we lift people, we are likewise lifted. During the application season, Zhang used to get stuck with her personal statement writing. But later she gained herself much selfless assistance from all over the country. Some friend from Tsinghua University taught her how to impress interviewers; another friend who was already admitted by Duke University offered many pieces of practical advice; and even her net friend would share his own experience. Finally, this embodiment of collective wisdom and efforts won her an offer from London School of Economics and Political Science. Waiting for the application result only took her four days, when most students had to wait more than one month.
However, Zhang never pauses to rest. To step closer to her dream school, Zhang made a full preparation. Having attended a MIT consulting meeting in Shanghai in her junior year, she designed a unique business card which at once caught interviewers' attention. The blue side of the card represented her present life in Wuhan University while the red side reflected her longing for life in MIT. “Motivation, Impact and Tenacity” was her unique interpretation of “Massachusetts Institute of Technology”. “I am willing to keep sharing in MIT. Sharing has already become part of me.” She introduced iShareWHU and convinced the interviewers of her infinite enthusiasm and selfless dedication. Fortunately, Zhang's endeavor paid off.
Soon Zhang Yunqiu is leaving for USA to pursue a MF degree in MIT. “I haven't decided what to do with iShareWHU yet, but I hope that I could encourage more students to share and pass this spirit on to younger generations.”
Never hesitating to give all she has obtained, Zhang Yunqiu has accomplished a task of social significance. The spirit to share is the best gift she has ever bestowed on this campus.
（Rewritten by Li Minjia, edited by Xiang Jiahao, Mark & Hu Sijia）
