Do you still remember Eason Zhang? This outstanding graduate from the Class of 2024 has been with YWIES Shanghai Lingang since the sixth grade. Last year, he was successfully admitted to the Engineering Science programme at the University of Oxford, where he is now pursuing both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the UK.

Recently, Eason returned to YWIES Shanghai Lingang as an alumnus to deliver a speech titled “ Never Giving Up: My Life at Oxford University. ”He shared his learning experiences from YWIES to Oxford, inspiring everyone to bravely pursue their dreams and keep moving forward.

✦Life at YWIES

Reflecting on his time at YWIES, Eason expressed his gratitude.

During my time in the YWIES Student Council, I learned so much. I had numerous opportunities to give speeches, developed my ability to mamage various tasks, and learned how to collaborate closely with my team in the Student-led CCA. We achieved some great results, and that time was truly wonderful, I feel very proud of it.

YWIES Shanghai Lingang encourages students to develop their leadership skills and provides a range of support to facilitate their growth. 

Eason also participated in the “YCYW Senior Student Leadership Workshop”, an experience he remembers fondly. He believes such activities cultivate leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills and encourages everyone to actively participate in leadership workshops.

✦Life at Oxford

Cultural Collision

At Oxford, Eason's most profound experience has been the “cultural collision.” He finds the diversity and richness of different cultures to be fascinating. Oxford brings together students from all over the world, each with unique cultural backgrounds and experiences. Even within the UK, there are vibrant cultural differences among regions.

“However, as a YWIES student, I was surrounded by teachers and classmates from various backgrounds, which helped me adapt to these cultural differences in advance, This experience allowed me to integrate quickly,” he shared.

Balancing Academics and Life

How can one find a balance between study and life? Eason shared his insights.

“University is different from high school; teachers won't push you about assignment deadlines. At Oxford, if you miss a lecture for a day or even a week, teachers won't think there's anything wrong with you, and attendance isn't mandatory, which provides a lot of freedom.”

Regarding the rules, Eason said, “Compared to high school, the university atmosphere is much freer, which tests our self-management skills - not just in academics but also in life. In the UK, parties are everywhere, and if you're willing, you can always find a place to go.”

Therefore, in such an environment, Eason believes it’s essential for everyone to have a clear understanding of their goals and to plan their study and personal time effectively.

The Pace of Learning at Oxford

How many hours do you need to study in a week at Oxford?

According to Eason, at Oxford, students need to dedicate at least 40 hours a week to their studies. This includes about 20 hours of lectures, tutorials, and experiments, with an additional 20 hours spent on completing assignments.

How should one arrange study and assignments at Oxford?

Eason shared, “I prepare in advance for the content I will learn in the coming week and complete any tasks I can do beforehand. 

The school provides us with ample self-study opportunities, and we can access all the lecture materials and teaching plans on Canvas (the online learning platform) or in the library. By studying these materials in advance,  attending lectures feels more like a review.”

In addition to his intense study schedule, Eason also makes time to participate in club activities. He acknowledges that Oxford offers a wide variety of social activities that can be time-consuming. “People might think high school is exhausting, but it becomes even more demanding in university because it's up to you to decide how much you want to do, rather than having teachers make those decisions for you.”

Are the holidays relaxing?

Eason emphasizes that the pace of study at Oxford is very fast. Even during holidays, there’s little room for relaxation. “We have three terms in a school year, each lasting 7-8 weeks. Except for the first term, we need to return for exams during Week 0 (the week before the term starts), and the exam content covers materials from the previous term or even the prior year. So, holidays aren't too relaxing, you need to review.”

From Eason's sharing, it is clear that the pace of study at Oxford is quite intense. “The fast and fulfilling pace of study and lifestyle at Oxford tests my self-management and learning abilities. However, thanks to my experience at YWIES Shanghai Lingang, I was able to adapt quickly. ”

“I spent 7 years at YWIES Shanghai Lingang, which is incredibly important to me. YWIES shaped my entire adolescence, influencing my character, my approach to tasks, and all the skills I developed during that time. It laid the foundation for my future, allowing me to study at Oxford with greater ease and confidence. ”Eason reflected.

Oxford's Student Societies and Council

According to Eason, the student union at Oxford University is rich and diverse. The university hosts a broad organization known as Oxford's Student Union, which includes students from different countries with various cultural backgrounds.

Additionally, there are specific organizations for Chinese students, such as the Oxford Chinese Students and Scholars Association (OCSSA) and the Oxford University Chinese Society (OUCS).

“The student union offers us numerous opportunities. With hundreds of participants, the diversity of viewpoints and ideas can be quite challenging,” 

Eason noted “If you are interested in joining similar student organisations during your university years, I believe our student union at YWIES Shanghai Lingang is an excellent opportunity for practice. It helps us connect with university student unions and gain insight into the workings of student organizations, serving as a mini version of a university student union.”

✦The Importance of Perseverance

Eason emphasized “The Importance of Perseverance” in his journey.

The language requirements at Oxford are quite high, with all programmes requiring a total IELTS score of 7.5, and no individual component lower than 7.0. Eason took the IELTS multiple times before finally achieving the required score. During that time, he felt a great deal of anxiety. Although he received an offer from Oxford, it was a conditional one, meaning that if his IELTS score did not meet the requirement, he would not be able to attend. 

Through his story, Eason conveyed that perseverance is a crucial quality. He believes that if you cannot achieve something, it may not be due to a lack of ability but rather because you have not persevered long enough to reach your goal. “As long as you keep going, you will succeed,” he encouraged.