Time flies and the second cohort of students are going to graduate from Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) this year. A series of interviews with the graduates from the Class of 2022 will be presented to show their stories at GTIIT in the past four years.

Here is the story of Yu Bowen, a student of the Class of 2022 from Materials Science and Engineering Program.

Name: Yu Bowen

Program: Materials Science and Engineering

High school: Wuhan No.6 High School

Awards:

GTIIT Dean's List

GTIIT Academic Excellence Scholarship

GTIIT Vice Chancellor's List

Excellent Performance Award of GTIIT Fun Class Teaching Project

Best Student Award for University of Cambridge Certificate Program

Received offers from:

The Ohio State University (PhD full scholarship)

ETH Zurich

Cornell University

“When I received the offer from GTIIT, I was uneasy. The moment I stepped into GTIIT, it surprised me -- this is the university I want to go to! I can see that It was the university that made me fulfilling.” Looking back on his university life, this sunny boy's eyes were full of joy.

Learn at GTIIT like a fish in water

“It is the Sino-foreign cooperative education model and educational philosophy of GTIIT that give me a clear goal for the future. The biggest advantage of GTIIT is that it provides a good international undergraduate teaching platform, allowing us to receive the authentic international undergraduate education. GTIIT is a science and technology university, which means that I would be in the field I liked and wouldn't be transferred to something else I wasn't interested in.”

In Bowen's opinion, English-medium education is not only about learning in English or the simple repetition of Chinese knowledge in English, but also about the establishment and structure of a system. “A textbook in English typically has hundreds of pages, and it contains the author's understanding and recognition of the development of concepts, leading you step by step in terms of 'why am I writing this book?' By reading the author's mind by their text, I've been immersed into the book many times because it tells a story, and I'm always learning through the story. I build up my knowledge in the process.”

According to Bowen, GTIIT provided him with a space for discussion and reflection, which freed him from the limited situation of mind in high school. His love for science and willingness to think on his own initiative were gradually developed through conversations with teachers. “My teachers activate my ability to ask questions. They don't aim for exams. When they are stumped by students' questions, they admit it openly and are happy to discuss with other professors to find answers together. Both the teacher and student can learn a lot through discussion,” Bowen said.

Bowen (right 4) with his friends

“The teachers brought us different ways of thinking and encouraged us to cultivate the spirit of 'Chutzpah', which greatly improved our interest and confidence in learning. When I came to GTIIT four years ago, my grades were in the average level. Though I have scholarship for three years consecutively, I think the feeling of learning at GTIIT contentedly brings me more joy than gaining the scholarship.”

Be passionate and be grateful

“I would not have been able to gain and change so much without the opportunity in this soil of GTIIT. Many people emphasize their own experience and the difficulties they have overcome, but ignore the support of the soil itself and his good luck, which I think is very important to get to where he is today. The benefits of the soil are definitely much greater than my efforts.” Bowen has always been grateful for the help from GTIIT, and made every effort to contribute to his community in return.

During his freshman year, Bowen took part in the "Fun Class" at Shantou Dongxia Middle School, teaching physics to high school students in English. “We take students to explore interesting phenomena in physics and their nature, which gives me a great sense of achievement. I want to help more people, telling them to avoid the difficulties I encounter.” When the program was finished, Bowen remained a trustworthy "teacher" in the eyes of students, who even asked him for advice when choosing subject in high school.

During the undergraduate study, it is normal for classmates to help each other. “I already understand the knowledge, so can I help the juniors learn more easily?” With this in mind, Bowen and another student spontaneously formed a support group for the statistical thermodynamics class at GTIIT during his junior year. “The course requires great logical thinking and is prone to difficulties in understanding. I hope I can use my knowledge to help the younger students. The teacher appreciates that we're doing this selflessly, but I think it's something we're interested in." When receiving the text messages of thanks from students, Bowen felt the joy and sense of achievement of "giving roses to others, fragrance to my hands" again.

“Paying attention to students' efforts and changes, and giving them timely encouragement will give them more confidence.” During his senior year, Bowen worked as a teaching assistant, teaching younger students classic and basic experiments in this program. “At the beginning, one of the students was not in a good state. After I observed this, I often asked him to conduct experimental operation demonstration, and praised him timely when he did something right. Later, he became the student with the best understanding of theories and the highest score in quizzes. Seeing his great progress, I was moved. Making a positive impact on others through my own efforts is the biggest recognition for me."

Help each other and contribute to the community

During the online class because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teacher taught him how to use modeling software step by step by remotely controlling the computer; in the face of the questions raised by students, the teacher spent his spare time explaining and discussing with them until late at night. From the selfless dedication of the teacher, Bowen gradually learned to care about his community and the people around him.

Bowen (right 1) with his friends

During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, Bowen and his family were on the front lines to fight against the disease. “I'm from Wuhan, and my parents are both doctors who are in charge of nucleic acid sampling and testing at that time. The hospitals were in short supply of protective suits and masks.” After Bowen posted a message asking for help online, many students and parents contacted him voluntarily and donated masks and other materials to help Wuhan out of the difficulties. The teachers worked together to buy a batch of protective suits, masks, gloves, medical wipes and other materials, which were sent from Israel to first-line hospitals in Wuhan. “If I hadn't been in this university, I wouldn’t have gotten all this help from Israel. Later, when the pandemic became serious in Israel, the GTIIT teachers, students and parents also raised a batch of supplies and sent them to the Israel Institute of Technology. I think this connection is particularly wonderful.” 

Read more: Stand with China｜硬核捐赠！广以老师跨国助力武汉

During the pandemic, Bowen also volunteered to help distribute vegetables in the community in Wuhan. “When I knew there were many old people who couldn't buy food by themselves, I thought I should do something.”

Bowen with his parents

To see, to know and to feel is Bowen's goal, and it is also his way of understanding the world. He got a diving license as an advanced diver, and the mysterious undersea world is another paradise for him. “I love being in the sea. You can see the beautiful corals, sea anemones and different fishes on the bottom of the sea. I feel lucky to see such a wonderful world.”

Text: GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Yu Bowen, GTIIT News & Public Affairs