Want to achieve your dreams?

Kunming

Do you have dreams about what you want your life to be? That’s nice if you do, but the real question is whether you have the traits that you need to make the dream come true. How willing are you to put yourself in situations in which you need to create your path to success? How will you react to setbacks or what seem to be Everest sized obstacles? Are you going to just dream or are you going to act? If you want to learn from someone who chose the often hard path to achieve a dream, then you should read Yuxiao’s story. She might inspire you. She sure inspires me.

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Questions

Can you tell us a little about where in China you grew up and where you attended secondary school?

Ethnic group performance

I grew up in Kunming, the capital of the most diverse province, both culturally and biologically, in China -Yunnan,. There are 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan. Yunnan is very rich in natural resources and has the largest diversity of plant life in China. It is also very rich in tourist attractions and has almost all possible sceneries one could think of – tropical forests, plateaus, snow covered mountains, valleys/mountain gorges and rivers, karst topography, high altitude lakes, etc.

Kunming is situated in northeast Yunnan, with a mild temperature and livable environment and is known as “Spring City”. It is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, serving as a transportation hub in Southwest China, linking by rail to Vietnam and by road to Burma and Laos. This positioning also makes it an important trade center in this region of the nation.

I went to No. 3 Middle School for junior high and High School Affiliated to Yunnan Normal University for high school.

Can you describe the high school you attended? How big was it and how competitive was it among the students? Did you have time to do extracurricular activities and if so what did you do?

The High School Affiliated to Yunnan Normal University (ASYNU) is ranked as No. 1 high school in Yunnan province. It is the most competitive high school in Yunnan and the dream school of all junior high students in Yunnan. There are approximately 1,000 students in each class (three classes in total).

Back then there was a lot of free time for students to join all kinds of clubs and extracurricular activities. We studied hard and played hard. I participated in several clubs – literacy, English, dance, debate, etc. and participated in stage performances (dance and stage drama) in school festivals. I also volunteered and did research after school.

Do you think the way your high school taught students was the best way to learn? What did you like about the teachers and classes and what would change?

The Chinese education system makes independent thinking extremely difficult. Students are taught to conform in certain way - they think the same, make the same decisions - ultimately schools become an institution that produces/duplicates similar individuals. However, I consider myself fortunate as an ASYNU student. There are both more freedoms and fewer restrictions in my high school, which is rare compared to other high schools in Yunnan. Students are encouraged to think differently and critically, and individualistic thinking is appreciated. We were given a lot of free time to develop other skills and learn invaluable lessons through experiences and challenges.

High School Affiliated to Yunnan Normal University 

Why did you decide to come to the US for your education? At what point did you decide you were going to do this?

There is a part of me that is welcomes change and embraces facing new and challenging experiences, so studying abroad is something that I always wanted. I knew coming to the US would give me a unique and great educational experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Plus, I wanted to acquire a more globalized vision and become a much worldlier person and more marketable to employers in the increasingly complex world. The U.S. has the best university education system in the world – more academic freedom, focus on not just solid knowledge, but intangible skills such as leadership, creativity, critical thinking, social skills, team spirit, you name it...

My family and I didn’t make the decision to come to the US for college until four months before the application was due (definitely not something I would recommend by the way).

How much were your parents involved in your decisions about studying in the US and your choice of schools and academic areas of interest?

I have a rather democratic family and we made the decision about studying in the US together. In terms of my area of study, it was my decision completely.

As with most of the international students (largely Chinese), I was a pre-business focused when I first came to my university.  I took most of the required pre-business school prerequisite courses during my first year. The decision of being a pre-business student was largely influenced by my parents and my peer Chinese students. Indeed, it is a secure decision for international students – the skills and knowledge one gets from a top 5 business school helps you succeed in the increasingly competitive job market. However, there was part of me that did not focus on it. The more courses I took outside of pre-business discipline, the more I realized how much I’m into various topics in liberal arts – politics, psychology, history, philosophy, sociology, etc. These various disciplines gave me different perspectives and helped to look at the world from different angles. They brought a whole new world to me. I gradually uncovered my true passion and decided to follow my heart.

The decision to stay in College of Arts and Sciences instead of going to the prestigious business School was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, as the majority of international students who secured a job in the US after graduation are graduates from the business school. At that time, I didn’t know what I could do with a liberal arts degree, but I believed that all my hard work and the knowledge I’ve learned in liberal arts classes would eventually pay off one day. 

Yuxiao and Thomas Jefferson

Did you do SAT prep in China and if so did it help a lot?  Could you describe how they prepared you if you were enrolled in a prep course? Would you recommend students to do SAT prep?

I went to New Oriental School at Beijing for a 26-day prep course from which I learned a lot of “rules” that got me familiarized with the test in a short time. Although I only had about a month to prepare for SAT, (I would not recommend this approach to other students. I would suggest at least three months to prepare yourself for the SAT), the prep course worked for me.

Who helped you compile a list of schools to apply to? How did you approach the whole process?

My parents. My parents and I sat down and researched a list of schools to apply to. And then we discussed the list with friends and narrowed it down.

You are enrolled in a highly selective University in the US. Why did you choose the school you are in?

My university was one of my dream schools. I read a book about it before my decision about studying in the US. It was written by a student from China who went there, Ma Qiao,. I was deeply attracted by her story at her school and her experience in the U.S., Because of that book my university was ingrained in my heart and became my dream school.

How was your adjustment from China to the US both socially and academically. Were the classes harder or easier than you thought? Was it hard to meet people who were not Chinese? 

 As a Chinese national, I experienced cultural and linguistic barriers when I first came to the US. Sitting in my first English Writing class with 11 Americans, I was overwhelmed by the topics such as racism and transgender choices that people made,  Chinese  people don’t usually talk about. I could hardly follow what my classmates said, let alone participate in the discussion. Socializing with American students was even more frustrating for me. I couldn’t understand their jokes; when everybody was laughing, I had to fake my smile to avoid social awkwardness - but inside, I was screaming out of confusion.

Soon, I did not socialize as much as I would have liked. That awkward version of myself was taking my real character away from me. What was hiding behind the new quiet identity was an outgoing and confident young woman. I couldn’t let the feelings of anxiety dominate most of my days. I started to question the motivation of my deciding to come to a new country for education. This is what I wrote on my diary on September 16th, 2009 (after three weeks here): “Didn’t I want to explore the American culture and people to the fullest extent? This is my choice and I did expect the challenges coming to the States. Don’t be afraid of challenge, because at the end of the day, I can learn from failure as much as from success.” I put down my pen and resolved to overcome the barrier.

I sought out every opportunity to interact with Americans; I really forced myself to step out of my comfort zone. I participated in the class discussion actively despite a fear of making mistakes, and then I became less afraid. I volunteered in community activities, joined student organizations, and tried to take leadership roles. And most importantly, I never lost faith in myself. After a semester living by my resolution, I would be able to participate actively in class and made lots of new friends; I regained my sense of humor and started to embrace American culture.

Yuxiao with Host family for Christmas celebration for students who could not return home over winter break

Who do you spend time with at school? Is it mostly students from China and if so why?

I spent time with both American students and international students, but most of the time with students from China. Admittedly, it is more comfortable hanging out with people from your own culture who share similar backgrounds and interests with you. However, I constantly forced myself to step out of my comfort zone to hang out with American students as well as students from other cultural backgrounds. But looking back on my college life, one of my regrets is not pushing myself really hard to put myself out there and get to know lots of American friends. I have many American friends, but the majority of my friends from college are Chinese.

What did you study? Do you have a few favorite professors and classes you want to highlight? What makes them special?

I’m studyied Economics and Foreign Affairs. I would recommend politics professors Robert Fatton, Brantly Womack, and Sonal Pandya, sociology professor Robert McConnell, history professors Bradly Reed and Gabriel Finder, philosophy professor Brie Gertler and James Cargile, and economics professors Kenneth Elzinga, Lee Coppock, and Ariell Reshef. They are all my favorites.

Odd as it may sound, my favorite class at was criminology. It’s the most inspiring course I’ve ever taken and provided me a brand new angle to look at the world and analyze social problems. The sociology theories that I learned from that class helped me further understand current social problems in China.

Do you have a mentor of any kind, a student, advisor or faculty member?

 Yizhou Jing (Student from China) was my mentor.

Over winter break, Yuxiao and other volunteers open mail from applicants from around the world 

Can you give us some detail about how you managed to get such a great internship with CNN?

Before CNN, I interned at Shanghai Media Group - Dragon TV and Phoenix TV, two of the most influential TV stations in China. During that time, I assisted producers to develop feature stories and talk shows, covering a lot of topics ranging from social and political issues in China. Through the experiences, I developed skills that are necessary for the news industry – news sensitivity, research skills, people skills, cold-call and interview skills, etc.

The process of me applying an internship at CNN Beijing office is unconventional.  Since there is no official application website, I went on social media to research the contact info of people working at foreign media mainland offices. From China correspondents to news assistants to Bureau chiefs, I tried every possible way to contact them - sending Weibo inMails and LinkedIn inMails, leaving them messages on their twitter or Facebook homepages, emailing them to express my interest, and I hoped at least one or two people would reply back. Luckily, one of the news assistants working at the CNN Beijing office replied my Weibo message. I then emailed my cover letter and resume to them and got an interview. The interview went pretty well and the next day I was called and offered the internship.

Can you describe your gap year with CNN? What did you do and what did you like and what were some of the challenges? Did this experience change you in significant ways and if so what ways?

Before answering these I would like to take a minute to explain my decision to take a gap year after my junior year at  my university. To me, it was transformative in every way. Without doubt it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I am really proud of myself. I am grateful for my parents’ unconditional support. Since I entered college, I’d been trying very hard to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and unearthed an interest in media and news industry during my third year. Soon I realized there were lots of obstacles in front of me. I wanted to work in a major TV station in China at that time, but I had neither work experience in the media industry, nor did I have any network contacts in this field. And most importantly, how could I be so sure that media/news industry is what I wanted to do for my career? After reflection I realized taking a gap year to fully explore the opportunity in the media industry might be a good choice. I started to apply all the major media outlets and got offers from China Business News, Dragon TV at Shanghai Media Group, etc. And then these experiences led me to phoenix TV, and eventually, to CNN. During this time, whether it was covering breaking news about mainland China at CNN, interviewing people from all walks of life at Shanghai Media Group, or talking to top business executives at the Fortune Global Forum, I was fuelled by inspiration and curiosity, which helped me to reflect on my career path and decide on the next chapter of my life.

At CNN, I worked as a News Assistant Intern. My main responsibilities were helping the International Correspondent of CNN to develop feature story ideas and cover major news in Mainland China, including conducting background research, cold-calling potential interviewees, conducting phone interviews and traveling with International Correspondents for on-site interviews.

The experience was transformative. I developed people skills and leadership that are absolutely necessary in the current world. I also appreciate the opportunity to interview people from various backgrounds. From migrant workers to victims of “cancer villages” to top business executives and government officials, I was surprised and bewildered by how different people's lives can be, and have grown to appreciate human nature’s beauty and extremes, and to tolerate diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds. I am more determined than ever to make positive differences in the lives of other people. 

When the CNN Bureau Chief served as a China Chairman of the 2013 Fortune Global Forum, he hired me as one of his assistants in charge of VIP Liaison during the Forum. This experience was life-changing. By interacting with top business executives and celebrities, not only did I develop interpersonal and communication skills, but also became fascinated by innovative business ideas and technology. I was impressed by the revolutionary change in consumer behavior with the development of mobile Internet and the ever-booming business innovations. Every industry is seeking creative change that influences our daily lives, and this innovative climate truly inspired me.

You seem to be able to get along very well with both Westerners and those from China. By this I mean you seem to be able to help people bridge cultural gaps very well. How do you do this? What are the skills sets and personality traits that make someone good at bringing people together?

I am genuinely interested in understanding other people – their perspectives, feelings, cultures and backgrounds. I like to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from my own. I learned from my previous experiences that people’s lives can be so different and that we should embrace diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds and life experiences. Therefore, whenever I meet someone from different cultural backgrounds, I try to avoid my ingrained prejudices and preconceptions and try to understand instead of judging, because we can never truly be able to experience what they’ve experienced. I see other people just as who they are - not where they are from or what their backgrounds are. I listen to them well, and give them honest and sincere appreciation. I show respect to other people’s opinions when we have differences and try to put myself in other people’s shoes, understanding everybody come from different angles.

Bridging cultural gaps is another story, especially for different cultures like American and Chinese. One must understand both cultures very well. Bridging cultural gaps doesn’t mean to exaggerate cross-culture differences, but instead to be a neutral observer and even develop different personality traits in different cultures. You need to know yourself and know how you are perceived by people from your own culture and other cultures, and pay particular attention to thinking about your counterpart’s cultural attitude and assumptions. I constantly alter my communication style and mentality when I am interacting with people from different cultures. Sometimes I even feel like I developed two slightly different identities in respective cultures.

Overall, how have you changed since leaving China? Do you find going home a bit strange because of the changes?

 I think I’ve changed in every way, or let me put it another way - studying in the US uncovered my hidden personality and potential. The experience to adapt to an entirely different culture and confront new challenges every day made me much stronger and independent. It became part of my personality to actively seek out experiences in life that will be challenging and maybe even a little bit scary, because I want to be prepared for challenges that I am going to face in the world. The confidence, courage, and maturity I gain from these experiences make me much stronger and able to handle new situations, understand others, and, most importantly, know myself better. I am more determined than ever to follow my true passion and lead a life I want. I am comfortable and happy just being myself, not playing a role, - always be true to myself.

Going back home is not strange for me. I enjoy switching social roles and conforming to two different cultures (it’s challenging but fun).

 

Yuxiao and other students from China at graduation

What kinds of opportunities did you look for in your final year of study? Why?

I received a job offer from a commercial real estate company in Baltimore and am genuinely excited about it. The job position perfectly fits my background and personality. I really appreciate this opportunity and plan to do my utmost to contribute to the company.

I’m looking for opportunities that will encourage personal growth of myself and others. To me, success means doing the right thing and encourage others to do them same. I wish I could continue to strive to discover who I am and how I can become my best possible self. I wanted to uncover meaning and significance in the world and make the world a better place.

What advice do you have for students who want to find great internships? Would you encourage a gap year for students? 

Force yourself to step out of your comfort zone and network with people. Another important thing is to be a go-getter and take initiative to create opportunities. I had zero experience in media or news industry before my gap year, yet I managed to receive multiple intern offers from top Chinese and foreign media outlets.

For me, a gap year is about figuring out who I am, where I want to go, and how I need to get there. I acquired skill sets and invaluable lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

If you are confused about your career choices and don’t know what you want to do with your life, I would definitely recommend a gap year to explore more about yourself.   

Is there anything else you things might be helpful for parents or student or educators to hear about how to get the most out of university?

Follow your heart and true passion, take courage to try things new. Don’t let other people’s choices or life paths affect your decision.

Take courses outside your major discipline. If I’d  never taken the variety of classes in different disciplines, I wouldn’t be able to talk about politics, society, and women’s rights in China while I was interviewed by my company.

Make sure you devote time to develop soft skills in college – leadership, people skills, teamwork, and networking skills.

I believe that each person must find her own path. Everybody is gifted in certain way and it’s really your responsibility to discover your talents. If you live life to the fullest, use your talent wisely and do the best you can, everything will finally pay off. I’ve never thought that I would work in one of the largest entertainment and commercial real estate development companies in the U.S., yet the moment I was interviewed by the company and the more I learned about the company, everything started to make sense. I knew this is it, this is what I’m truly passionate about and it would be a career that I could devote my life to.

Indeed, it’s been three months since I’ve started my job and I absolutely love every single moment of it. My work involves various responsibilities that can be so different. There is a creative side – creating entertainment concepts and ideas that can be incorporated into our projects; there is a quantitative side – working on the finance side of the projects; and there is an analytical side –doing all kinds of research and analysis on different topics. Every day something new and fun comes up and I feel so excited to there. It fits my talents and personality just perfectly.  

I had been confused about my career choices for so long and had some fights with myself and my parents about it. I still remember the pain. There were times that I felt so tired from sticking to my values that I actually thought about giving up and making compromises with reality (like majoring in something more practical and more competitive to succeed in the very tight job market for international students). But I’m glad that I had faith in life and myself and decided to follow what my heart told me to do. Now I can finally tell the world, the girl who was accused of being too idealistic landed her dream job. Life is full of surprises.

Just like what Rainer Marie Rilke said: “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves…. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer.”

Yuxiao and her mom at graduation

I don’t know if I ever met with Yuxiao without seeing her smile. She has an air of serenity and confidence that permeates a room. But even when times were tough she still did not wilt. She pushed herself out of her comfort zone time and again. And for those who wish to get a great job or get into a great school or who want to something big in their lives, I would advise them to reread her words again and again.

Coming to a new culture and country requires courage but even that is not enough. It requires the kind of action that changes the way a person views the world and themselves. Yuxiao had her confidence shaken when she arrived in the US, but rather than wilting she redoubled her efforts to immerse herself in her new world. She made herself talk in class, made herself join activities and did a whole host of over things to ensure she received the most out of her education. As a student, she found that she could take on new challenges. This helped her take new risks. 

Her words about getting an internship with CNN should serve to educate many about how much of getting a great opportunity depends on indefatigable effort and grit. No one opened doors for her; instead, she found a way to network that resulted in a life-transforming experience. No one pushed her to declare a Liberal Arts major; she had to resist the common wisdom that business is the best choice for virtually any international student. No one pushed her to do a gap year in the middle of her university career, but this decision turned out to be the best one she ever made. Each of these decisions in and of itself is not one most would make. Taken together they add up to an extraordinary list of things students (and others) should learn from. Her actions and words should serve as template for students who want to make dreams come into being.

For those who think of students from China as motivated but less than innovative and creative I hope Yuxiao’s words might convince you to rethink this stereotype. For those who think only students from places like Beijing or Shanghai have the sophistication and skills to rise to the top in the US, I hope that Yuxiao’s words might encourage a visit to Kunming. I first visited her city in 1987, and back then things were much different than today, but it is one of the more diverse places I have been on earth and it trains top students in exceptional schools to do more than just take tests.

I am lucky to have been able to follow Yuxiao’s journey from her arrival to the US to her job now. I have been lucky enough to be able to thank her parents in person for all their support for her both in terms of letting her follow her dream and for providing the resources to do so. I look forward to hearing more about Yuxiao’s life as it unfolds. There will be more challenges ahead and more dreams to achieve. She will make her mark in the world. She already has.

Yuxiao, me and her parents