Chen Jinyang, class of 2026 in Electrical Engineering at ZJUI. Driven by unwavering diligence and a commitment to academic excellence, he has garnered a string of prestigious accolades, including the National Scholarship, Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship, and First-Class Scholarship of Zhejiang University. He has also been named an Outstanding Student of Zhejiang University. In student affairs, Chen has demonstrated strong dedication and a sense of responsibility. He has served in key roles such as Member of the 7th Presidium of the Student Union of the International Campus, Zhejiang University, Head of the Campus Delegation to the 38th Zhejiang University Student Congress, and Member of the 37th Zhejiang University Student Committee. On public welfare, he has pursued volunteer causes with passion, interpreting the mission of youth through every small effort. During his undergraduate studies, he further earned five model titles spanning Academic Excellence, Social Work, Public Service, International Exchange, and Labor Practice, vividly embodying the true meaning of comprehensive development. Now, he has been admitted to the Master’s Program in Electronic Information at the College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, and is poised to forge ahead on a more ambitious academic journey focused on next-generation electronic information technology research.
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Over the past three years, Chen has been deeply engaged in volunteering and practical exploration. He has participated in a diverse array of initiatives, including the 8th Online Tutoring Program of Zhejiang University, the 1st Qiusi Dream-Seeking Volunteer Teaching Group in the Zhejiang-Myanmar Border Area, the rural education program organized by the Zhejiang University Student Association for Rural Development, as well as social practice project Exploring Liangshan. With an accumulated 277.21 hours of volunteer service, he was honored as a Five-Star Volunteer, a testament to his steadfast contributions and a reflection of his youthful sense of duty.
During the summer vacation of his sophomore year, Chen Jinyang, as one of the core leaders of the team, led a group to Zhaojue County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province for the summer social practice program. From conducting in-depth research and coordinating with local schools and villages, to personally designing engaging lessons, taking charge of Geography and Mathematics teaching, and providing follow-up tutoring, he earned unanimous recognition from local teachers with his solid and dynamic classroom performance. During their stay, he and his teammates taught classes and answered questions by day, reviewed and refined their work by night. They listened to the needs of the villagers and children with patience and sincerity, turning their assistance into tangible actions. In the end, the team won the First Prize for Summer Social Practice Team of the International Campus in the 2023-2024 academic year with their solid practical achievements and sincere dedication.
In the winter vacation of 2024, Chen joined the 8th Online Tutoring Program, partnering with a fifth-grade student, acting as his dedicated math tutor. To help his student fully grasp key knowledge, Chen meticulously compiled 33 pages of teaching notes, with detailed annotations of problem-solving ideas and common pitfalls for every single question. When talking about the most memorable teaching moment, he shared with a smile: "There was an extra-curricular origami problem. At first, I tried to get him to understand it through imagination, since there wouldn’t be origami paper available during exams. But I soon found it was too difficult for him to visualize. Then it occurred to me that he could fold the exam paper itself, so I decided to guide him through hands-on practice, and sure enough, he understood it right away." To prevent his student from memorizing answers mechanically, Chen summarized his teaching experience after each session, continuously refined his teaching methods, and patiently guided the student to master core problem-solving logic. To help his paired student develop a regular exercise habit, Chen co-created exercise check-in charts with her, setting clear goals of 30 minutes of daily exercise and a 5,000-step target. These fully filled check-in charts not only bear witness to the student’s gradual formation of exercise habits but also carry the warmth of volunteer support. In addition, Chen and his student co-produced a sign language video of the song My Motherland and Me.
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Chen’s resume in student work shines brightly as he served as Member of the 7th Presidium of the Student Union of the International Campus, Zhejiang University. He also held concurrent positions as Head of the Campus Delegation to the 38th Zhejiang University Student Congress and Member of the 37th Zhejiang University Student Committee.
When talking about the inspiration behind his student work, Chen still vividly remembered the time when he first joined the Student Union. "At that time, my experienced peer Wang Pingqian, who was also a student leader, shared a core piece of advice with me," he said. "Before starting any task, you must first clarify the needs of your target people, then organize information and design processes in a way that is most convenient for them." Guided by this principle, Chen excelled in his responsibilities for internal training and external liaison: he took the lead in organizing and planning various meetings and training sessions for the Student Union, ensuring the smooth implementation of all affairs. Moreover, he actively expanded external communication channels, establishing exchange mechanisms with prestigious universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Duke Kunshan University.
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As the only undergraduate student from ZJUI on the Presidium, one of his most fulfilling experiences took place during his overseas exchange program. "During that period, I overcame the challenges of time zone differences to coordinate the Presidium’s work remotely," he said frankly. "I also facilitated cooperation with the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) overseas, co-hosting an exchange experience sharing session and helping solve practical issues such as airport pickup and drop-off for participants. Those busy, non-stop days made me truly appreciate the profound sense of responsibility that comes with turning an idea into reality."
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"To me, ZJUI is like a fertile soil rich in nutrients, with diverse and accessible resources," Chen said sincerely. When he first enrolled, his academic foundation was relatively weak, and he even had a vague understanding of some basic calculus symbols and core concepts, which led to unsatisfactory grades in his first semester. To make up for his shortcomings, Chen developed a solid study routine: in class, he focused intently on following the pace of English instruction, marking down any obscure points; after class, he either consulted faculty about his doubts or immersed himself in independent research to tackle problems; in discussion sessions, he made the most of his time, engaging in face-to-face communication with Teaching Assistants (TAs) to clarify course difficulties, fill knowledge gaps, and learn effective study methods. Through persistent daily efforts, Chen gradually developed his own learning system and his academic performance steadily improved, marking a transformation from a "follower" to an "achiever".
Meanwhile, frequent interactions with experienced peers and faculty brought a subtle shift in his mindset. He moved beyond the obsession with "chasing high GPA scores" and began to proactively "cultivate his own competency". By chance, he learned about the Office Hour program. "I didn’t have high expectations at first; I just wanted to give it a try by booking an appointment," he said. "Little did I know that this attempt would become a major turning point in my life."
He was a little nervous at first during that first conversation, but the warm and easy exchange quickly put him completely at ease. “She was so kind and listened patiently to all my confusions, allowing me to open up my heart without reservation,” he recalled vividly. “Competency development is not about mindlessly piling up experiences. You need to dig deep and deliver solid results, and stay true to the original aspiration of long-termism.” Those words lifted the confusion in Chen’s mind. What’s more, the reminder that “Dare to step out of your comfort zone” struck him right where he needed it most. “I was terrified of presenting in front of my classmates back then. Whenever we had group projects, I would always hide behind the scenes doing the PPT work. From all those advice, I realized that avoiding my weaknesses will never lead to genuine growth.”
This heartwarming conversation became the catalyst for his proactive self-improvement. From then on, he made a point to seize every opportunity during Office Hour to chat about his academic pursuits and personal growth goals. In particular, a conversation with a faculty member who had dedicated years to rigorous research brought him invaluable insights for both his research endeavors and academic planning. “I was really anxious when I heard that CS225 was an extremely challenging course that could easily drag down my GPA,” he said. The faculty smiled and encouraged him: “Focus on truly acquiring the knowledge, and a good GPA will follow as a natural byproduct.” Emboldened by this reassurance, he threw himself into the coursework with full concentration and eventually earned a perfect grade in CS225. Drawing on his own experience, the faculty also shared some tips for getting started in research: “To excel in research, you need to take the initiative and communicate promptly when problems arise, which is the key to making efficient progress.” Chen recalled with a smile, “The faculty in our Institute are all incredibly approachable. They never turn down students’ questions, which completely dispelled all my previous misgivings.”
He sincerely noted, “From being plagued by doubts about my GPA at the very beginning to finding the courage to step out of my comfort zone later on, these attentive pieces of guidance not only dispelled the confusion along my growth journey, but also helped me grasp the true essence of ‘long-termism’. It enabled me to avoid detours and move forward with conviction at every critical juncture of my growth.”
