Reading: GTIIT 2019 Cohort Received Offers From Top Universities

Ding Yongjun received the offer from RWTH Aachen University, one of the elite universities in Germany, as well as a member of the IDEA League. Starting from GTIIT, she will continue pursuing her dream in the research-oriented university in Germany.

High school: Guangzhou Tieyi High School

Program: Biotechnology and Food Engineering

Received offer from: RWTH Aachen University

Yongjun has been fond of nature since childhood. She keeps involving herself in various environmental protection activities with enthusiasm, and turns her passion into the driving force to pursue her dream in Germany's top universities. The future is full of unknowns, but she prefers to call the unknowns "expectations".

Love nature, work to protect it

"To be admitted by GTIIT Biotechnology and Food Engineering (BFE) Program is exactly what I want!" Considering that biology and English were Yongjun's advantaged subjects in high school, she applied for BFE Program without hesitation.

After studying at GTIIT, Yongjun realized that biology was not just memorizing knowledge. "We have lab classes almost every semester, in which we need to conduct experiments by ourselves and make reports afterwards. From making pickles, to microbial experiments on enzyme reactions, to the operation of various biological industrial instruments, these courses guided me into the BFE Program step by step, and I became more and more fond of it."

Yongjun took the course "Climate Change" for a deeper understanding of the current climate problem. She became more concerned about environmental protection after seeing the harsh climate caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and the deterioration of marine and forest environments caused by pollution. "Mankind needs not only to restrain the use of resources, but also to develop, such as seeking new energy sources and using new technologies to deal with pollutants. I hope to use my knowledge to contribute to the harmonious development of nature and human beings."

Yongjun has been to Japan for scientific research on garbage sorting, visited a power station in Daya Bay, learned about waste disposal at a waste incineration plant in Guangzhou, and volunteered to collect garbage in Baiyun Mountain. In the various activities, she realized the importance of science to environmental protection and sustainable development, which also strengthened her belief in further study in biotechnology.

Refuse to lie flat, grow with the excellent

"GTIIT is where you can learn real things. There is no 'lying flat' here. Every year is like the senior year in high school." Yongjun said that opportunities and challenges coexist at GTIIT, where she cultivated the ability to withstand pressure. "The curriculum is not easy, let alone studying by English. My life at GTIIT is very fulfilling." Yongjun's way of thinking changed dramatically in the university – she used to strengthen her memory by doing exercises in high school, but now, she takes the initiative to think, combines life experience with knowledge and solves problems through team cooperation.

It is hard to imagine that Yongjun, who is more interested in learning and challenging herself than lying flat, is a person who is "lazy". "If I hadn't spent my university life at GTIIT, I would have wasted my time for a few years without finding my interests and goals, let alone studying abroad." As a saying goes, "better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion". In Yongjun's eyes, GTIIT is that "lion". "There are many excellent classmates around me, and my teachers are also my role models. I could overcome my procrastination and laziness, maintain the inner motivation to challenge and push myself to become a better person because of them."

Yongjun managed to balance her study and life in the busy schedule. She believes life is not all about studying, having fun and keeping in a good mood also play an important role. "I wasn't the 'straight A student', but I had a lot of extracurricular interests. Playing chess and the violin had a subtle influence on how I saw the world when I grew up." During the university, Yongjun joined the roller skating club and tennis club of Shantou University. She was one of the founders of the GTIIT Youth Volunteer Association and served as the secretary. She participated in the walking tour along Lian River and voluntary teaching activities. She also likes climbing mountains, playing tennis, traveling, going out for the gourmet, watching movies and going to museums, to keep her eyes open and face life more patiently and calmly.

Realize the dream in Germany

Yongjun is the first GTIIT student to be admitted to RWTH Aachen University. "As one of the elite universities in Germany, RWTH Aachen is a member of the IDEA League, as well as the member of German Universities of Technology (TU9). It is the dream school of almost all students who want to study in Germany. The university shows great advantages in science and engineering, and its department of natural sciences is among the best in German universities. There are many internship and research opportunities since it has well-equipped biology laboratories, as well as funds from a number of research institutes and enterprises."

It was the 2014 World Cup that aroused Yongjun's interest in Germany, the champion of that year. After learning that Germany is a high-end manufacturing country with the world's leading technology, she began to pay attention to the practical application of German technology. "This country is advanced in the development and application of environmental technologies, such as resource recycling and energy efficiency, which I am interested in. It has also been at the forefront of the world in the field of biotechnology, and many of the giants of biomedical companies have been born here, which is fascinating to me."

photos taken in Germany

Pursuing dreams in a foreign country is difficult, and language is one of the barriers. Yongjun mentioned that the program she applied at RWTH Aachen is taught in German. Although German and English are both Germanic languages, German is much more difficult to learn than English because of the variety of parts of speech. "I heard many senior students who studied in Germany said they met the German requirements for admission, but found out that was nowhere near enough in class." Despite the challenges, this enterprising girl is looking forward to her upcoming foreign study journey. She plans to complete her master's program in two to three years and gain internship experience in related factories or laboratories in Germany.

Yongjun advised the junior students to find their goals as early as possible and work towards them. "Studying at GTIIT is not easy, so we should spare time to prepare for our future. Whether you choose to find a job or study abroad after graduation, the earlier you prepare, the better."

Text/Photos: Ding Yongjun, GTIIT News & Public Affairs