Xu Keyu, class of 2027 in Electrical Engineering, since elementary school, She has pursued piano, flute, and badminton under her parents’ guidance. By fourth grade, she had earned a Level 10 piano certificate and joined her elementary badminton team. These early experiences helped her develop discipline, resilience, and the ability to balance academics with personal growth.
Diverse Development: Igniting the Spark of Interests
Since primary school, Xu Keyu has been introduced to piano, flute, and badminton under her parents’ guidance. "At first, it was just to develop hobbies and maintain physical and mental health—I never expected to gain so much unexpected joy from them." From confusion to gradual proficiency, these hobbies opened a brand-new door for Xu Keyu. She gradually felt the beauty flowing in music and the vitality bursting from sports, which made her more proactive in immersing herself in these pursuits.
"Back then, my hobbies enriched my after-school life, allowing me to balance study with rest and achieve diverse development." With unremitting efforts and wholehearted passion, she was selected into her primary school’s badminton team, and even obtained the Grade 10 Piano Certificate (from the China Musicians Association) when she was in the fourth grade.
However, as academic pressure increased, Xu Keyu had to temporarily set aside some hobbies after entering junior high school. "It was a pity that I could no longer practice badminton systematically like before. Those training days were so enjoyable, and I learned a lot of professional badminton knowledge."
Although a busy academic schedule forced her to reduce training, it did not extinguish her passion for sports. She used fragmented time to keep practicing badminton. "At that time, high schools didn’t have standard badminton courts, so I took advantage of PE classes to practice smash shots against the wall alone to maintain my feel for the ball." Moreover, she also actively embraced more diverse attempts to explore new joys. Before her school’s art performance, she taught herself the dance Worth It through videos. "The process of learning the dance moves made me discover the fun of dancing. The sense of accomplishment from completing a whole dance and the time spent rehearsing with friends—all of these made me really enjoy it."
These rich and varied hobbies not only accompanied her through the most stressful periods of her studies but also laid a solid foundation for her subsequent achievements and brilliance in various competitions and activities at ZJUI.
At ZJUI: Passion Reignites
Amid ZJUI’s rich and diverse activity platforms, Xu Keyu deeply felt the humanistic heritage and cross-cultural charm behind this engineering Institute. She admitted, "The faculty and students at ZJUI are full of vitality, and the overall atmosphere is open and inclusive—it inspires everyone to keep trying and exploring."
When she first entered university, a recruitment notice for the university choir caught her attention. "It had been six or seven years since I practiced piano systematically, and I wasn’t sure about my current level. But I really wanted to regain the feeling of playing the piano and make up for the regrets I had back then." With this thought in mind, although Xu Keyu felt a little hesitant, she finally signed up for the audition. To her surprise, she successfully made the cut and became the piano accompanist for the choir, thanks to her solid foundation and artistic literacy.
However, facing the tight rehearsal schedule and difficult accompaniment scores, Xu Keyu—who hadn’t touched the piano for a long time—felt overwhelmed at one point. "I had to ensure accurate performance while using my piano playing to drive the emotions of the entire choir. I had to master the scores proficiently in a very short time and accurately grasp every rhythm change and emotional ups and downs." During those days, she used her spare time to practice repeatedly in the piano room. In the end, through close cooperation with the team, they achieved an excellent top-ranking result.
This freshmen choir activity not only allowed Xu Keyu to rediscover her love for the piano but also marked the start of her diverse growth journey at ZJUI. Xu Keyu said, "Here, whether it’s sports or artistic hobbies, ZJUI provides us with numerous activity opportunities and development platforms."
With a "just try it" attitude, she signed up for the 2023 ZJUI Badminton Freshmen Cup. On the court, her skills had not faded with time—she still moved nimbly and struck sharply. From the group stage to the knockout round, she grew more confident with each game, eventually winning both the women's singles and mixed doubles championships.
▲ Xu Keyu wins both Women's Singles and Mixed Doubles titles at the 2023 ZJUI Badminton Freshmen Cup
"This victory helped me regain my confidence and meet many like-minded friends—it made me more determined to keep playing badminton." Since then, she has fixed two to three days a week to practice badminton and study tactics with friends at the school’s badminton court, actively preparing for more competitions such as the Zhejiang University "Sanhao Cups" Badminton Tournament and the Zhejiang University Badminton Association Tournament.
▲ Xu Keyu on the badminton court
In the 2024 Zhejiang University "Sanhao Cups" Badminton Tournament, Xu Keyu experienced the most challenging match, ultimately winning third place in women's singles. "My opponent was very strong—she was a member of the University team, and the score remained tight throughout the game. In the second half, her counterattacks were extremely fierce, which was a great test of my physical stamina and reflexes. Fortunately, I held on to the pressure and won 21-18," Xu recalled. Badminton not only strengthened her physique but also honed her mental resilience and willpower.
Beyond badminton, she also serves as the captain of Women's Volleyball Team of the International Campus. When talking about the differences between the two sports, Xu Keyu said volleyball emphasizes teamwork more, placing higher demands on players’ sense of overall strategy and collaboration. "There are six players on the court, and the outcome often depends on a few key passes and receptions. When we encounter difficulties in a game, we must support each other and face challenges together." She added, "As the captain, I also have to coordinate training schedules, tactical arrangements, and player rotations—it’s a great exercise for my organizational skills and strategic thinking."
Through countless competitions and performances, Xu Keyu has continuously honed her on-the-spot agility and physical control, gradually achieving comprehensive growth in both physical and mental aspects. Notably, with her outstanding musical literacy and excellent physical coordination, as the president of the Shadow Dance Club, she has organized and led club members to participate in various campus activities—such as the Club Recruitment Fair, Club Carnival, Freshman Welcome Party, Student Cultural Festival, and Lawn Music Festival—beyond daily training.
▲ Xu Keyu and members of the Shadow Dance Club at the Club Recruitment Fair
Aligning Hobbies with Research & Study
"The hobbies I developed since childhood have greatly improved my learning ability, allowing me to master new knowledge more efficiently and better plan my study and life scientifically. After entering ZJUI, not only did I meet many friends from diverse cultural backgrounds, but I also further enhanced my mental agility, execution, and willpower to face challenges directly," Xu Keyu said, looking back on her growth journey. She sincerely appreciates how these hobbies have shaped her willpower and personality, laying a solid foundation for her subsequent academic development.
Among her many research experiences, the summer research project "Research on Impedance Matching Optimization in Wireless Power Supply" is particularly memorable for her. In this project, with patience and unremitting exploration, she simulated four different circuit types, tested dozens of sets of component parameters, and finally collected and analyzed hundreds of data points. Through accurate data fitting, she successfully summarized the key circuit patterns in wireless power transmission. This work not only provided reliable data support and theoretical reference for her subsequent study and research but also further strengthened her confidence in pursuing in-depth development in the field of electrical engineering.
"For me, whether it’s study or hobbies, the most fundamental driving force comes from passion. Only passion can overcome all hardships," Xu Keyu said. She hopes to deepen her focus on electrical engineering, follow her academic ideals and passions, and strive to shine on every stage.
