Major: Mechanical Engineering, Chinese
Hometown: Hudson, Ohio
How did you learn about this opportunity?
I learned about this enrichment experience through Penn State study abroad search through the Office of Global Studies.
Tell us a little bit about your experience.
My experience in Shanghai was fulfilling in many ways and has permanently changed the way that I view the world. It has also allowed my Chinese to reach a higher level, in ways otherwise unobtainable in the US. I met so many people, went to so many people, had so many great (and bad) interactions that I will cherish for the rest of my life. This experience has also changed my life plans, as I have decided that I want to go back to China after I graduate this spring to work. China in many ways is very similar and very different to the US, but overall the Chinese culture more suits my personality and attitude towards life.
My experience in Shanghai was fulfilling in many ways and has permanently changed the way that I view the world.
How did this experience impact you academically?
This experience allowed me to apply the 10 credits that I obtained over the summer to the 9 credits I had left in my Chinese major, thanks to the approval of Dr. Jessamyn Abel and Dr. Wenhua Du (no longer with PSU). Due to such, I now can fully focus on the last of my Mechanical Engineering classes and finding a job in China.
What are your career goals and plans? How did this experience impact them?
Before I went to China, my goal was to obtain a Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. Now though, while I still hold those goals, I would rather return to China to start a new life. In the US, I feel very limited and constantly challenged in negative ways by the culture here. But in China, I feel a lot more free and can capitalize on the opportunities available offered by a country that is still in the process of developing.
Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?
Yes I would. 华东师范大学, or East China Normal University's teaching method is vastly different from the teaching styles they have here at PSU. Besides that, Shanghai is a gigantic city full of great things to do. The night life is amazing, the food and other consumables are ungodly cheap, and the opportunity for improvement in all areas of one's life is 100% there.