Traveling from Indonesia to pursue studies in China, delving deeply into the field of automation, and then steadily advancing toward his dream of flying high in the sky—every step of Branden Angriawan’s journey is etched with the courage to chase freely and the perseverance to keep moving forward. As a graduate from the class of 2025 in Automation, jointly educated by Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI) and the College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, he has always cherished a passion for flying. Constantly spurring himself on and breaking through on his cross-cultural growth path, he finally successfully passed the key assessments of Cathay Pacific’s Cadet Pilot Program, marking a crucial first step in his pursuit of the aviation dream.
"China's vibrant dynamism and forward-looking vision led me to set off here without hesitation." Branden’s choice to pursue studies in China was in itself a bold and "unrestrained" leap. And the East-West integrated academic atmosphere at ZJUI proved to be a pivotal stop on his dream-chasing journey, which not only fulfilled his original aspiration to explore China’s technological development and innovative thinking but also quietly laid a solid foundation for his aviation dream.
Branden’s university life began amid the Covid-19 pandemic, making the sudden shift to fully online learning a daunting challenge. Unstable internet connections and the inability to collaborate face-to-face with group members added hurdles to both his studies and daily life. Recalling this period, Branden is filled with gratitude: “Despite these difficulties, ZJUI went above and beyond to support international students like us, who were thousands of kilometers away. Technical issues such as equipment malfunctions or internet outages were usually resolved before the next class; professors also put in extra effort—re-recording lectures and preparing supplementary materials, for fear that we might fall behind.” What warmed his heart even more was the sense of belonging: “At ZJUI, we never felt like outsiders. This place always makes us feel valued and at home.”
During his time there, he not only acquired solid professional knowledge but also developed key soft skills like time management, teamwork, and communication. Additionally, the freedom to interact with professors allowed him to gain insights and wisdom beyond textbooks. “The guidance and support from professors were indispensable to my growth at ZJUI,” Branden admitted. “Studying at ZJUI was indeed challenging, but these challenges were designed to push us beyond our limits and unlock our full potential. ZJUI doesn’t just nurture students—it cultivates future leaders: individuals who can think critically, adapt quickly to change, and proactively solve real-world problems.”
Beyond academics, Branden served as an event organizer for the International Student Council (ISC) at the International Campus, Zhejiang University. He took charge of planning and coordinating various campus activities, helping students from diverse cultural backgrounds break down cultural barriers and strengthen friendships. Recognizing that new students often struggle to integrate into the campus, Branden and his peers launched an innovative “Campus Run” event: centered on fun-filled running, it wove knowledge about the location and functions of key campus buildings into challenge tasks. Through the check-in process, new students not only learned the campus layout efficiently but also let go of awkwardness through collaboration, quickly growing closer to one another.
During the summer break of his junior year, Branden volunteered to teach at a summer camp held at Haining Hongda Secondary School, alongside his peers. Beyond teaching English, he used class sharing to open a window for students to explore the world beyond textbooks—occasionally weaving in cultural stories from his hometown or comparing interesting differences between Chinese and foreign life, turning English classes into a casual platform for Sino-foreign cultural exchange.
In class, they discussed the nuances of English expression; after class, he learned local dialects and slang from the students; during breaks, they sat together to play traditional Chinese games. In these small moments of chatting, playing, and learning, Branden not only got to know the real daily lives of Chinese students but also felt the vivid campus culture and warmth of life beyond textbooks. Eventually, this volunteer teaching experience, born from curiosity, became one of the most meaningful milestones in his academic journey in China. Watching the students achieve visible improvements in their English, filled him with pride and joy. For Branden, witnessing this transformation was more than an achievement; it let him truly feel that through volunteer teaching, he had stepped into Chinese campuses and connected with Chinese students. In turn, the students’ curiosity and openness to the world gave him a more concrete understanding of cultural differences, and this mutual connection is the most precious part of cross-cultural exchange.
Branden has a free-spirited and unrestrained nature, with a natural passion for pushing his own boundaries. In his eyes, the charm of each country lies in its unique cultural traditions and vivid daily life. During his studies at ZJUI, he would step off campus, and embark on exploration trips. He strolled along Qingdao's coastal boardwalks, walked on the stone-paved roads of Tianjin's Five Great Avenues, wandered through the quiet lanes of Guangzhou's old Xiguan district, and lingered in both the bustling streets and serene countryside of Hong Kong—experiencing firsthand the unique vitality of clashing diverse cultures. He not only experienced the magnificent landscapes of China’s vast land but also gradually understood the tolerance and depth behind different regional cultures. This intuitive understanding and deep recognition of Chinese culture echoed the global perspective he developed at ZJUI, giving him a more concrete sense of what “diversity” truly means.
A passion for flying has been Branden’s unwavering original aspiration. He has always dreamed of an aviation career that carries passengers’ trust and fulfills his responsibilities under the blue sky, deeply aware that this profession requires not only a strong sense of responsibility for life and safety and strict discipline, but also a commitment to continuous learning to keep up with the ever-evolving technologies and demands in the aviation industry. These traits of a pilot are exactly the professional virtues Branden aspires to possess. In his view, his experience at ZJUI laid a solid foundation for his journey to pursue a career in aviation. He noted, “ZJUI gave me the opportunity to collaborate with and build friendships with people from different cultural backgrounds. This cross-cultural collaboration and communication skill is crucial for work in the cockpit. Furthermore, my studies at ZJUI taught me to use critical thinking to break down complex problems, and develop the habit of addressing challenges with logic and rigor—all of which align perfectly with the professional qualities required of a pilot.”
After graduation, Branden’s pursuit of his dream has only grown more resolute. He serves as a technical translator and on-site coordinator at PT. Nuclear Coating Fabric in Indonesia, leading a Sino-Indonesian team to complete the installation of an automated production line. In cross-team collaboration, he has further honed his sense of responsibility and coordination skills; meanwhile, he successfully passed the core assessments of Cathay Pacific’s Cadet Pilot Program—this marks a crucial first step toward his aviation dream and confirms that his courage to chase dreams relentlessly has finally yielded rewarding results.
From an explorer on campus to a doer in the workplace, and now a soon-to-be pilot ready to soar the skies, Branden has proven with his actions that courageously chasing what you love will ultimately pave the way to your dreams. May he carry this "unrestrained" passion and perseverance to keep forging ahead in the aviation industry.
