English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, the courses in the preparatory semester are always interesting and fulfilling. Time flies, the freshmen have been at GTIIT for half a month. We hope that the peer mentors’ study tips in the last episode have helped new GTers find their own study way. 

At GTIIT, in addition to studying, there is also a colorful university life. How to overcome discomfort in life? How to relax on weekends? The peer mentors will give some advice to the freshmen in terms of life and clubs to help them get used to the new life here.

Q：As a freshman, facing the unfamiliar environment, how do you find your sense of belonging?

Yu Haoran：

Back to the first year of my university life, it is my first time living in campus. Facing an unfamiliar environment, I chose to take the initiative to communicate with my roommates and make friends. If you want to improve your sense of belonging, I think you need to find something to focus on. What I preferred is to concentrate on my studies and life. I took part in some university-organized projects, such as peer mentor projects. You can also focus more on hobbies, discover more interesting things in life and avoid being anxious.

Lin Ruochong：

Since I first came to GTIIT, I enriched my life by participating in after class activities. In my opinion, the best way to defeat the unfamiliarity is to turn it into curiosity, maintain a pioneering mentality in the new environment, discover your own best place, and make the process of resolving discomfort interesting.

Chu Hongshuo：

Facing a new environment, I think the most difficult thing is to adapt to a new life. University is different from high school. You will need to arrange your day and live by yourself. If you don’t adapt well, it is easy to feel lost or lonely. I suggest that you take the initiative to meet more people, make more friends, plan your day, and have your own goals and ideas, which will make your university life more fulfilling.

Wang Zhaokun：

The sense of belonging does not only come from classmates, it can be from teachers, from the study room, from the scenery by the pond, or from anything else at GTIIT.

Xing Jiani：

When I first came to GTIIT, the biggest trouble was loneliness. I felt that I was trying my best to integrate into some groups, but it was thankless. Later, I found that I was more comfortable alone. I don’t need to stay with my friends all the time. I think the best relationship is the one that makes you feel the most comfortable.

Q：At GTIIT, how do you balance your study and life? Do you have any specific relaxation tips?

Yu Runyang：

I usually use my spare time to go swimming with my friends in the South Campus. Sometimes I also take part in the university's cultural activities and make new friends. I also go to the mall for dinner with my friends on weekends.

Feng Haoxuan：

After finishing my homework, I choose to go shopping in the commercial center of the city on weekends. Nan'ao Island is also a very beautiful place, but because of the long journey, I recommended you to go there during the holidays. Cooking is also a way to relax yourself, don’t forget to call your local friends when you go to the market to prevent you from being ripped off.

Zeng Xianle：

I always give myself some me time every day to unwind, to do things that make me feel really relaxed and happy. Exercise is an important part of my life. I suggest that everyone can try to find a favorite exercise and integrate it into their life. In addition, getting to know different people and experiencing different things will make your life more fulfilling.

Li Yuebo：

If you feel that you don’t have enough time to study at GTIIT, you should improve your learning efficiency. Only when the efficiency is high can you combine work and rest.

Lin Jiongxi：

I choose to combine exercise and study. I exercise two to three days a week to relax my mind and body.

Zhao Luohui：

Looking for delicious food is one of my ways to relax on weekends. I think ice fruit juice, barbecue, beef hot pot, dumpling, casserole porridge, rice roll and sweet soup are all good choices.

Chen Songwen：

For me, the entertainment activities on weekdays are mainly playing sports. On weekends, I often go downtown for dinner and watch movies with my friends. The shopping malls that are closer to the university are Wanda Plaza, and the farther ones are Suning Plaza and Mixc, which are good places to have dinner.

Qian Xinyu：

For me, I must balance study and rest, so I use most of the time on weekends for rest. Everyone has their own routines and study habits, and there is no need to imitate others. Watching a movie, playing board games, and letting yourself relax instead of being tense all the time. Too much pressure is bad for your health.

Chen Cheng：

In fact, I rarely go out, but I sometimes cook in my dormitory during the spare time. I think cooking is very fulfilling and healing for me. Occasionally I also go to the gym with my friends, which is also a stress-relieving activity.

Chen Haojie：

Wanda Plaza is close to the university, but I prefer the Mixc and Suning Plaza. Beef hot pot and ice fruit juice are all delicious food. You can also choose to go to Nan'ao Island during long holidays. If you like to cook, you can cook in the dormitory.

Chen Changyang：

You can use the rest time to go shopping in Mixc, almost everyone can find a store they like there. If you like quiet, you can go to the book cafe. If you like pets, you can go to the cat cafe. You can also go ice-skating and baking in Mixc. It is a good place for weekend.

Q：Do you have any clubs that you would like to recommend?

Student Ambassador Association (GAA)

I am a member of publicity department at GAA, and I think it's a department that can improve our capabilities. I have participated in many large-scale activities organized by the university, and the organizational and time planning skills have also greatly improved.

——Yu Haoran

Clubs about sports

In the basketball team and basketball club, you can participate in many interesting activities and daily training sessions which can improve your basketball ability.

——Lin Jiongxi

Clubs can broaden your horizons, learn extracurricular knowledge, and make new friends. I recommended to participate as much as possible without affecting learning. You can use weekends to participate in club activities. In addition, I also recommended you to participate in sports clubs (such as football clubs), which can strengthen your body while also being good for study and life. However, it is necessary to arrange the time reasonably and balance study and life.

——Chu Hongshuo

GTIIT Modern Chinese Orchestra

As the president of GTIIT Modern Chinese Orchestra Club, I sincerely invite students who love music to join us. In the club, we have interesting members and fulfilling performances. We will perform at graduation ceremonies, Shantou University New Year's Gala and other events. I hope that the Modern Chinese Orchestra Club can become your shining stage.

——Lin Ruochong

The club is actually a good social platform, where you can communicate with students from different programs, and at the same time, you can get to know some great senior students. Of course, all students with a foundation in Chinese folk music are welcome to join the Modern Chinese Orchestra Club!

——Wang Zhaokun

Student Association

If you want to do planning-related careers in the future or practice your communication and planning skills, you can try to join the presidium of the Student Association, which is a good opportunity to learn.

——Xing Jiani

Environment Protection Project

Environment protection project is a project integrating the concepts of recycle, reuse and reduce, in which everyone gets together because of love. Here, we do a lot of super interesting activities, such as DIY, doing public welfare activities, and getting to know many like-minded friends. I highly recommend everyone to join.

——Chen Changyang

MKG Anime Club

This year's Anime Club’s offline activities mainly include the orientation party, watching movie, singing, MAD framing, etc. The online operation has shifted from WeChat group to QQ channel, enabling anonymous surfing, group separation, authority management, robot interaction and many other functions, which conforms to the personalized needs of the Anime group under the Z generation. I expected that the next session will be more inclined to online operation, first entertain ourselves and then export to the outside world, operate the newly-built channel, and truly create a club without pressure, without trouble, and can find friends with same interests here.

——Qian Xinyu

GTIIT Legal Group

Here, you can help the students to improve their legal awareness and carry out related activities, such as legal knowledge competitions, legal lectures, etc. Sometimes we also cooperate with Shantou University students.

——Chen Cheng

GTIIT Career & Learning Center

GTIIT Career & Learning Center is a department that allows you to receive first-line news from all fields, and you can also clarify your future plans here. Therefore, working at Career & Learning Center as an assistant is a very helpful choice for yourself and the people around you.

——Chen Changyang

Hope that the peer mentors’ advice can help you overcome difficulties and move forward in your future university life.