Carry a Sword Forward to Stimulate Youth
In the third grade of primary school, Gu Junning met and began to try fencing by chance. Little did she know, this seemingly arbitrary choice made her youth inseparable from the sword. It was through the flickering sword shadows that she embarked on her own path of growth, and a long sword transformed into a light that supported her through difficulties and continuous progress.
She never stops the journey with sword. The exhilarating cheers, powerful attacks, and swift and decisive strikes all laid a solid foundation for her shining brilliance on the path of fencing. "Every time I train, I get soaked all over my body, and I have persisted in this kind of training for six years. " When talking about those days soaked in sweat, she is calm with unyielding perseverance. For Gu Junning, fencing is no longer just a sport, but a close friend who witnesses her growth and transformation step by step.
Gu Junning has achieved excellent results such as second place in the Women's Fencing Competition at the Shandong Provincial Fitness Games and qualifying for the Provincial Games. When it comes to these achievements, she is not only concerned with the awards themselves, but also with the courage to face difficulties and dare to fight, and the persistence of ten years of hard work. As she said, “Winning or losing in a competition is not the ultimate goal, fencing has long been a part of my life.”
Being a ZJUer, although daily fencing training is gone, the momentum to take risks and the perseverance to never abandon given by fencing have become a consistent driving force in her life. She was grateful for fencing, which also gave her less confusion and more confidence after entering Zhejiang University. After learning that the Residential College was equipped with a fencing field, Gu Junning was excited and looked forward to it. She longed to continue wielding her sword on the kendo.
Strike the Snare Drums to Chase Dreams
Outside the sweaty sports arena, percussion music is also Gu Junning's favorite. At the ZJUI Convocation 2024, many students noticed her striking the snare drum during the performance He's a Pirate and remembered her resounding drumming and powerful strikes. But perhaps what everyone doesn't know is Gu Junning's experience of being accompanied by drums and musical notes along the way.
During her senior high school years, as the principal percussionist of the school wind band, Gu Junning participated in several performances of the wind band in her city. The most unforgettable experience for her was her performance as a member of the wind band at the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria. Standing in the hall that witnesses the footsteps of countless music masters, what echoes in her ears is not only the resonance of the orchestra, but also the repetition of the beat of percussion music during countless training sessions. Music is not just a sudden inspiration of genius, but also the accumulation of countless polishing and persistence.
Every drumbeat counts countless repetitions and adjustments during training. In the late-night rehearsal room, the monotonous metronome kept spinning, and her sweat quietly dripped down her cheeks. However, it was these seemingly boring exercises that finally bloomed under the spotlight of her dreams. Her musical journey goes far beyond snare drums, and she is also proficient in playing the marimba. She said, "The marimba is actually not as boring as the snare drum, but it also requires daily basic practice, repeatedly coordinating the strikes of four hammers to produce different notes. Not only that, but also adding one's own emotions and understanding of the music during performance, making the musical connotation richer and generating stronger resonance.
From the snare drum to the marimba, Gu Junning also achieved brilliant results in music. She has achieved the tenth level of the Snare Drum in Shandong Province, won the first prize of Qiluqing Malimba Competition, and was awarded the title of "Wind Music Rising Star" at the National Prime Golden Bell Wind Music Art Exhibition.
“When the drumstick in my hand hits, I really feel the power behind each strike.” For Gu Junning, music is not only the transmission of emotions, but also an artistic expression that is pursued and surpassed through repeated efforts. At the same time, she believes that music also allows her to meet more like-minded partners. In the month since entering ZJUI, Gu Junning and her classmates who formed their own band planned and carefully arranged to present the wonderful song He's a Pirate at the Convocation 2024.
Love and Struggle Never Cease
During her high school years, Gu Junning served as a member of the Student Self-Management Institute Presidium, responsible for planning and organizing activities such as the school sports meeting, campus art festival, and Arbor Day. She has also been awarded honors such as Outstanding High School Student in the province and Outstanding Student Cadre in the city multiple times.
This summer, Gu Junning successfully entered ZJUI through comprehensive evaluation with excellent professional performance and high comprehensive quality, becoming a 28’ freshman in Computer Engineering. “My encounter with ZJUI seemed destined. Before the college entrance examination, like many students, I was exploring my future direction in confusion. At that time, I accidentally learned that ZJUI's education mode was very similar to my high school, and this similarity made me feel familiar. In addition, the excellent international academic and research environment and rich overseas learning and exchange opportunities of the Institute deeply attracted me, so I chose ZJUI without hesitation. "When asked why I chose ZJUI, Gu Junning said.
Since entering ZJUI, she has deeply felt the responsibility and challenges on her shoulders but has also drawn strength and motivation to constantly move forward from it. At present, she admits that there is much new knowledge that requires exploration and understanding on her own, which brings considerable pressure and also becomes an opportunity to hone herself. To this end, she actively communicated and sought advice from teaching assistants, exchanged and assisted with classmates, and proactively adapted to the progress of each course. She also mentioned that ZJUI not only focuses on imparting basic knowledge, but also emphasizes the cultivation of practical abilities and the stimulation of innovative thinking. "This coincides with the learning style I have always pursued, which makes me more convinced that I can achieve comprehensive development here, " Gu Junning told us. In addition, she told us that the top-notch and abundant teaching resources, superior research facilities, and laboratory conditions of the Institute have provided an unprecedented broad platform for her to develop academic abilities and broaden her global perspective. She also looks forward to refining herself on such a platform, pursuing excellence, and striving to become a ZJUer with faith, pursuit, and responsibility.
On the fencing field, she rose to the challenge and launched a decisive attack; In front of the snare drum, she persevered and pursued her dreams with music. Now, facing new environments and knowledge, the spirit of sports and the power of music continue to guide her in constantly challenging and breaking through herself.
