Sylvia Chung Yan Shan, class of 2026 in Electronic and Computer Engineering of ZJUI, is known for her down-to-earth and diligent approach to learning. She is passionate about exploration and she embraces every challenge as an opportunity for self-breakthrough, believing growth and transcendence are achieved through embracing the unknown. With an outgoing and cheerful personality, she enjoys traveling, socializing, and staying active through sports.
Foundations Laying & Self-Exploration: A Courageous Choice
In 2022, an off from ZJUI lit up the path of hope for Malaysian high school graduate Sylvia Chung Yan Shan’s overseas academic journey. That summer, carrying boundless aspirations for the future, she flew from Kuala Lumpur to Hangzhou. For her, this journey was more than a pursuit of academic ideals; it was a deliberate life choice—to begin a growth journey at an Institute that blends an international educational environment with Chinese cultural characteristics, integrating quality education, global perspectives, and multicultural experiences.
Like any journey, Sylvia’s academic path at ZJUI was notall plain sailing. “Academic pressures can sometimes makes me feel overwhelming, especially during midsemester. When difficulties arise, I always remind myself: learning to enjoy the process and growing through its ups and downs is the key to persevering and overcoming challenges.”
Under the careful guidance of ZJUI professors, Sylvia gradually developed the courage and confidence to face challenges head-on. During her sophomore year, she performed poorly on the ECE210 exam and felt extremely disheartened. It was then that Assistant Professor Meng Xiangming reached out, offering to go through the exam paper with her question by question. "I went to check my ECE210 exam results and was about to leave quietly after a quick glance, but Professor Meng called me over," Sylvia shared. "He analyzed the paper in detail, encouraging me to be more meticulous and alert to the traps in the questions. When I was at my most discouraged academically, his words were like a boost that helped me rebuild my confidence." This experience not only restored her academic self-assurance but also made her deeply appreciate ZJUI’s educational philosophy—here, professors not only impart knowledge but also nurture each student’s growth in a gentle, guiding manner.
▲ Group Photo of Sylvia and Her Classmates from ECE210
"ZJUI perfectly aligns with all my expectations for an ideal university when I was choosing where to study—it combines the profound heritage and unique strengths of Zhejiang University and UIUC, seamlessly integrating Eastern and Western educational philosophies and resources," Sylvia recalled. "Here, I’ve gained cutting-edge academic knowledge, made dear friends from around the world, and subtly experienced the unique charm and openness of traditional Chinese culture. Choosing ZJUI was undoubtedly the smartest decision of my life!" she said firmly with her gaze steady.
Today, although she still faces many challenges, she has long since discovered clever ways to balance study and life. "The pace of learning at ZJUI is indeed fast—midterm exams, pop quizzes, and all sorts of course challenges; every kind of pressure you can imagine may come one after another. However, I always adhere to the principle of ‘staying on track’—regular class attendance keeps me in sync with the teaching rhythm.” When stress levels near their breaking point, she always hits the pause button: the heated swimming pool in campus gym has become her "energy station." She told us, "Swimming not only calms my anxiety but also helps me stay physically fit amid my busy schedule."
Practical Endeavors Forged Growth
"Introduction to Computing: Engineering and Science (CS101)" taught by Associate Professor Ong Wee-Liat at ZJUI is one of the most popular courses among students, offering a unique classroom experience through its strong focus on practicality, interdisciplinarity, fun, and interactivity. As a teaching assistant for this course, Sylvia fully leveraged her solid professional expertise and meticulous academic guidance to help students build a foundational knowledge system that connects coding logic with engineering practice.
During her time as a teaching assistant, Sylvia once helped a student who was disheartened after midterms and on the verge of dropping CS101. She first conducted three in-depth learning assessments to help the student identify the root causes of his struggles. Recognizing the student’s weaker spatial reasoning, she designed tailored learning strategies and repeatedly tested which methods were most effective for him. After weeks of personalized tutoring—from plugging gaps in foundational knowledge to learning study techniques—the student gradually overcame his learning bottleneck and reignited his passion and confidence in the course. Witnessing the transformation from a silent presence in class to someone who actively asked questions, and from procrastinating on assignments to completing them on time, Sylvia truly understood the value of being an educator. "This experience taught me that every student has their own pace of growth," Sylvia shared. "For those falling behind, patient support and guidance are the keys to unlocking their potential."
Sylvia’s time as a teaching assistant for CS101 was a profoundly meaningful journey of growth. She recalled, “This experience was far more than just homework help—Associate Professor Ong Wee-Liat’s highly innovative teaching methods and his sincere care for every student made me deeply understand the responsibility and compassion of an educator. While assisting with course preparation, I witnessed how he transformed obscure algorithmic theories into engaging engineering cases. This pedagogical wisdom to turn abstract concepts into concrete examples has become an important beacon guiding my future path.”
"As a teaching assistant for my course, Sylvia is dedicated and responsible, always warm and friendly to every student. She has completed all tasks with exceptional performance. Moreover, she often uses her free time to provide one-on-one tutoring for students who struggle to keep up with the course. Through patient and meticulous explanations and guidance, she helps these students gradually master key knowledge points, overcome learning difficulties, and more importantly, successfully rebuild their confidence in learning," commented Associate Professor Ong Wee-Liat, the instructor of CS101.
Cultural Immersion Fuels Multi-faceted Growth
Beyond her studies, Sylvia actively engaged in diverse practices on and off campus. During her first semester, she joined the volunteer team of the International Student Council of the International Campus, bringing carefully prepared cultural workshops to local primary schools in Haining. In drama classes, she collaborated with children to create fun bilingual skits, using vivid body language to perform classic stories from both cultures. During chorus sessions, she led them in singing nursery rhymes in alternating Chinese and English, deepening their understanding of each other through melodious piano and shared voices. The sparkling curiosity and excitement in the children’s eyes made her deeply feel the warmth and power of cross-cultural exchange.
▲ Sylvia Visited Local Primary Schools in Haining
Meanwhile, she actively participated in Chinese traditional cultural activities. During the Spring Cultural Experience Event of the International Campus, she wore a grey-and-white hanfu (a type of traditional Chinese clothing) and, under the guidance of professional instructors, she completed the making of green rice balls. More notably, she spent the Spring Festival in China, where she tried her hand at writing Spring Festival couplets with a brush and making dumplings. As the host of the 2025 International Campus New Year Gala, she linked the talent shows of students from various countries in both Chinese and English, welcoming the new year alongside faculty and students of the International Campus.
▲ Sylvia Participated in Traditional Chinese Cultural Activities
▲ Sylvia (first from the right) Served as the Host of the 2025 New Year Gala
From the classroom to the lab, from cultural activities to international stages, Sylvia has always been at the forefront of vibrant multicultural integration, continuously expanding and reshaping her cognitive boundaries. When speaking of her experience at ZJUI, Sylvia can hardly contain her excitement, sharing with us: “ZJUI has opened up a brand-new world beyond my wildest imagination. The environment here is impeccable—state-of-the-art teaching facilities are fully equipped, and the diverse array of extracurricular activities has left me constantly engaged and immersed. For me, every cultural experience is a journey for the soul, allowing me to gain rich experiences I never could have imagined before.”
Suggestions for ZJUIers
Stay calm. No matter how big the difficulties are, maintaining a clear mind is key to finding solutions and moving forward. Also, don’t forget to learn from those around you! I cherish every opportunity to deeply interact with both Chinese and international students, and I always gain a great deal from their diverse ways of thinking. The domestic students at ZJUI have clear goals and logical thinking, while international students bring unique creativity and curiosity that energize the Institute. It is this diverse blend of different backgrounds and ways of thinking that makes the learning environment here always inspiring.
