Standing up for the world with a Rhodes Scholarship

"Being in this community is just incredibly inspiring. I have Rhodes friends here who care deeply about the environment, equality, healthcare and politics－almost every important issue in our lives."

When Zhang was in high school in Chengdu, Sichuan province, she never thought she would be able to attend Oxford, especially since it seemed financially out of reach.

"I applied to the Rhodes Scholarship because it would allow me to study at Oxford," Zhang says. "I was also drawn to the Rhodes motto of 'standing up for the world'."

Zhang remembers that for the final round of the selection process, she joined 15 other applicants to attend a dinner with the selection panel, which included retired NBA player Yao Ming and investor Xu Xiaoping.

"I was nervous and I had to prepare to use a fork and knife before the dinner, but when I saw there were chopsticks, I felt more relaxed," Zhang says.

Zhang received the scholarship offer just as she was planning a gap year trip to Cambodia.

As to how to become a Rhodes scholar, Zhang thinks the first step is to "reflect deeply upon who we are and how we became who we are, what we care deeply about and what we want to contribute to the world".

"Thinking about it is not enough. We need to take the initiative, take action and really be the change we want to see in the world," Zhang says.