Higher education, China style

Young guests from different cultural backgrounds talk about their aspirations and understandings of college life in the latest episode of Youth Power, which was broadcast online on Aug 30. DONG MING/FOR CHINA DAILY

In a recent episode of Youth Power, international students at Chinese universities share their unique experiences there and discuss overcoming anxiety, broadening horizons and the importance of personal growth, Chen Xue reports.

The first day of university is a canvas splashed with the colors of anticipation and excitement — and sometimes, just a touch of nerves. In the latest episode of the China Daily series Youth Power, which was broadcast online on Aug 30, a group of international students studying at Chinese universities exchanged their unique experiences and insights about the exciting journey of university life.

Diego Rodriguez, a student from Spain, noticed something different about Chinese colleges when he started as a freshman at Tsinghua University this fall: He was surprised that there were self-study rooms in his dormitory building, while on Spanish campuses, apart from the dorm room, the only place that one can study is the library.

"The rooms are equipped with tables, chairs and lights and nothing else. People go there just to study," said Rodriguez, adding that it's a game-changer for a night owl like him because it gives him a place to study when his roommates are already asleep and the library is closed.

Leopold Lind, also a freshman at Tsinghua who comes from Germany, highlights the importance placed on physical fitness in Chinese higher education. "We even did kung fu this morning. That was super cool," he said.

This was echoed by Temelidi Yulia, a senior student at Tsinghua who is from Russia. "In Russia, PE is not mandatory," she said. "But at Tsinghua, we have to take swimming lessons. If you don't pass the swimming exam, you cannot graduate."

Jood Sharaf, a student from Bulgaria, has extensive higher education experience. She has studied in Bulgaria, the UK, and is now about to start her PhD at Tsinghua. She noted that the initial novelty of entering a new school quickly wears off and is replaced by a sense of uncertainty. "Four years passed so quickly," she said. "Your mindset shifts from a more open and excited one to 'Oh, what do I do?' The excitement turns a little bit into, I wouldn't say fear, but anxiety for the future."

Low Kai Xin, a Tsinghua freshman from Malaysia, said she was already experiencing anxiety — not from her future concerns, but because she suddenly had plenty of free time and no idea what to do with it. Her solution was to venture outside of her comfort zone and try out charity work. "It can help you broaden your horizons and alleviate your stress," she said.

Wang Licheng, a Chinese student at Peking University, said anxiety is a common challenge that can be conquered through open conversations with peers. "From my perspective, anxiety comes mainly when you think you're having problems but others don't," he said, adding that when entering college, you encounter a broader world, which can lead to feelings of being lost and confused about your identity. But connecting with fellow students allows you to realize that "everyone has their own troubles and everyone is working hard and trying to deal with them", he said.

Yulia can still remember the troubles she had when she was a freshman and the help she received from more experienced students at the time. So she sees her university experience as a continuous journey of personal growth. "The first year was like being a child, trying to get everything and understand everything," she explained. "In the fourth year, I have more of a grown-up mindset and try to give back."

Now as a volunteer at the university's orientation session this semester, Yulia is sharing her experiences and helping newcomers navigate their journey.

Yulia also playfully suggested that students should start romantic relationships at college, since learning how to love someone is also a major part of personal growth. "Enjoy the intimacy," she said. "Falling in love at university is definitely the kind of feeling that you'll enjoy and will never forget in your life."

Wang offered a slightly unusual suggestion — trying to memorize the names of all of the classmates in your major, even if there are hundreds of them. This recommendation isn't just for the potential future mutual assistance but also to emphasize the importance of human interaction. "In today's world, we are getting less and less willing to really know each other, but trying to make an effort to remember people's names could be the first step," he said.

When asked to express their wishes for incoming university students and for themselves, Sharaf emphasized the importance of determination and willpower — the qualities that help students overcome numerous difficulties they may face at university. "I will not compare myself to others, but I may use them as a compass. I will only compare myself to myself yesterday. Step by step, if the step I'm at today is higher than the step yesterday, that's good, and I have the grit to continue forward," she said.

Lind suggested focusing on achieving a balance between socializing, studying and sleeping. "My goal, even though people say it's impossible, is to balance all three. Maybe I'll let you know in four years if I've done that," he joked.

Perhaps Rodriguez summed it up best: "Entering university, I would like to learn new knowledge, make new friends, and just have the greatest time that I can have. I hope that the experience of studying in China is going to remain in my heart for the rest of my life."

Contact the writer at chenxue@i21st.cn