Shanghai Jiao Tong University ✦

PART/1

As the interview time approached, Benjamin rode a shared bicycle to the appointment. With a warm greeting, he shared his amazement at how a single smartphone could fulfill all sorts of needs, from shopping to ordering food and transportation. He was particularly struck by Shanghai's internationalization and the rapid pace of technological development in China.

Ben comes from Colorado, located in the central United States. Until the age of 19, he lived in a small town with a population of just 2,000. In his memory, his father was a staunch traditionalist who preferred he not venture too far from home, holding the view that anywhere beyond the United States was inherently terrible. Ben, however, disagreed with this perspective. In his mind, every place has its own unique charm. He enjoys experiencing the cultural differences of various regions, observing local customs and traditions, and considers these to be truly unique experiences.

Perhaps it was youthful rebellion, or perhaps it was the desire to explore the unknown; his father's opposition only served to strengthen Ben's dream of pursuing academics far from home. Fortunately, his mother has always been supportive, telling him, "You can pursue your own, do what you want to do, and become the person you want to be."

When Ben received the acceptance letter from Columbia University at the age of 19, he set off to New York alone, full of anticipation and yearning to pursue his studies. As the first college student in his family, he had no experience to draw on and didn't know how to spend his time in college exactly. The only clear goal he had was to take all the courses that interested him, such as mathematics, computer science, enriching his knowledge with insights from various fields.

PART/2

Ben's undergraduate major was East Asian Studies. Coincidentally, the first friend he made at Columbia University was a Chinese girl. Their frequent exchanges kindled Ben's interest in the Chinese language. Over the next five years, he dedicated himself to its study. This linguistic journey not only deepened his understanding of Chinese culture but also paved the way for his move to China and adaptation to the Chinese - speaking environment.

When applying for postgraduate programs, Ben wanted to pursue economics and business related majors. He hoped to study economics, foreign trade policies, and gain practical skills in international business. "However, I didn't have the opportunity to study economics - related knowledge during my undergraduate years," Ben said. "The economics department at Columbia University is notoriously difficult to study." This created a barrier for him in terms of insufficient knowledge background when applying to schools of economic management. That's because most institutions place great importance on whether applicants have an undergraduate background in economics.

When Ben was feeling discouraged, Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University gave him a glimmer of hope. Through a friend's introduction, he learned that it was a prestigious international school with strong academic strength and inclusivity. Ben sincerely said, "Shanghai Jiao Tong University is willing to accept students from all kinds of backgrounds. I'm truly grateful."

PART/3

Having been in Shanghai for over two months, Ben's living expenses are fully covered by a Chinese government scholarship. He rented an apartment near the university, enjoying great convenience in daily life. Although there are significant differences in lifestyle and eating habits between the East and the West, Ben believes in proactively adapting to local customs wherever he goes. Now, he has fallen in love with Chinese beef noodles, Lanzhou noodles, xiaolongbao (steamed buns), and rice noodles. He has even tried the Chinese version of KFC and thinks it tastes better than the one in the United States.

Having been in Shanghai for over two months, Ben's living expenses are fully covered by a Chinese government scholarship. He rented an apartment near the university, enjoying great convenience in daily life. Although there are significant differences in lifestyle and eating habits between the East and the West, Ben believes in proactively adapting to local customs wherever he goes. Now, he has fallen in love with Chinese beef noodles, Lanzhou hand - pulled noodles, xiaolongbao (steamed buns), and rice noodles. He has even tried the Chinese version of KFC and thinks it tastes even better than the one in the United States.

During his free time, Ben loves exploring new places. The bustling commercial area and the quiet, scattered parks in Xujiahui provide him with opportunities for free exploration. Moreover, rather than delving deep into history, Ben prefers to experience and observe the current cultural phenomena of a region firsthand. During the holidays, he visited Zhangjiajie and was amazed by the breathtaking scenery. He has also explored famous scenic spots in Shanghai such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Longhua Temple, Zhongshan Park, and Yu Garden. Ben also plans to visit Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Nanjing. He said that if given the chance, he would love to observe the lifestyles of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and other places, aiming to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of this land.

PART/4

When it comes to studying, Ben believes, "I'm not interested in most of the things I learn, and I don't even know if I'll ever use them. But they will show their value someday." For example, the calculus course he took at Columbia University has been a great help in his current data statistics course.

Ben is not a procrastinator. He believes that many students today, due to poor time - management skills, end up with a backlog of tasks. This not only leads to subpar work quality but also may cause significant psychological stress during the process of procrastination. Ben shared that when completing tasks, he is used to preparing in advance. "For instance, if there's an assignment due next weekend, I'll finish it this week."

Although the study pressure increases towards the end of each semester, Ben thinks that there's nothing more delightful than reflecting on his performance at the end of each term and realizing that he has acquired a wealth of new knowledge and diverse perspectives on various topics. Ben truly enjoys this process of continuous growth.

PART/5

Ben's Chinese name is Bai En. The character "柏 (Bai)" makes him think of a big cypress that takes deep roots downward and grows vigorously upward, while the character "恩 (En)" represents "Grace," which is very meaningful. Ben is extremely grateful for all the people and things that have helped him along the way. "Many of my friends didn't have the opportunity to go to college. I'm so lucky to be able to study in different places."

For students who want to study in China in the future, Ben suggests being well - prepared to accept cultural differences, following local customs, changing their own lifestyle, trying various Chinese cuisines from different regions, and experiencing the beautiful scenery of China.