Graduates | 林若冲：“跑出”舒适圈，在广以“奏响”成长之曲
2024年，广东以色列理工学院迎来第四届本科毕业生。尽管入学时正值新冠疫情暴发、中外合作办学遇冷，但意志坚定的少年们用理想指引前路，以行动践行初心，他们秉承“实干圆梦”（dream it, do it）的广以校训，在科学的道路上砥砺前行，成就了一个个“低调高光”的动人故事。自本期起，广以2024届本科毕业生系列专访将与大家共同分享学子们耕耘梦想的成长故事，见证他们向阳而生的奋斗历程。
林若冲
毕业高中：
茂名市第一中学
本科专业：
材料科学与工程
获得奖项：
中国教育部国家奖学金
广以Vice Chancellor's List
广以Dean List
广以课外奖学金
广以体育部奖学金
汕头大学田径运动会5000米冠军（2023）、
1500米季军（2022）
广以田径赛5000米冠军（2022、2023）、
10000米冠军（2024）
录取院校：
密西根大学安娜堡分校 材料科学与工程硕士
约翰霍普金斯大学 生物医学工程硕士
加州大学圣迭戈分校 材料科学与工程硕士
加州大学尔湾分校 材料科学与工程硕士
苏黎世联邦理工学院 材料科学与工程硕士
起初，若冲对材料科学与工程的印象停留在人们常说的“天坑专业”，但经过四年的学习，他发现自己反而走了一条“捷径”。“我逐渐发现材料科学不仅是一门有趣且内容丰富的专业，更是一个富有希望并极具发展空间的科研领域。它的探究内容近乎囊括任何我们可以想到的固态的材料，也可以和大多数应用型的工程学科进行交叉，比如生物、医学、机械、计算、电子、能源等，能为未来进修的方向提供更多的选择。”他认为，真正的风口往往难以捕捉，具有滞后性，入学时专业或领域的现状其实并不能完全代表毕业后该专业的发展状态，所以，目光或许要放得长远一些，要综合考虑行业在未来的发展。“当前许多科技产业的瓶颈也都来源于材料性能的限制。我相信在未来科技的发展中，材料科学也将成为世界科研投资的头部领域之一。”
刚到广以时，他曾不习惯全英教学，也碍于直接开口问，即使提问也需要先用翻译软件打好稿，再到老师跟前念出来。“后来，我发现词汇量匮乏没有想象中那么可怕，想到什么就去试图表达，把英语当作语言而不是工具。”如今，他已经能自信大方地在众人面前做英语演讲，也曾在学校颁奖典礼上作为学生代表发表获奖感言。
“学校给了我们100分的资源，但实际上大部分人可能只开发使用了40分。举个简单的例子，广以的office hour以及peer tutor（朋辈助教）几乎是国内其他学校所没有的。学校有这么多资源为什么不去尝试运用一下呢？”回顾大学四年时光，若冲对学校提供的支持和帮助心怀感激——教授和导师对学习和科研悉心指导，为他写推荐信去到更高的平台；学习与生涯发展中心为生涯探索和申研过程指点迷津，教会他在行业白皮书中“一叶知秋”；辅导员和行政老师在日常生活中给予支持和关怀，让他与广以大家庭联结得更加紧密。
从最初的“闭门造车”到初步具备“眼观六路”的能力，若冲用“踢足球”来形容自己在广以“心”与“智”的双重成长与蜕变。“广以提供的环境确实适合人的成长。这四年给了我更高、更明朗的视野，让我看清了许多客观规律，找到属于自己的科学学习方法。选择方向和持续努力缺一不可，打个简单的比方，在踢足球时，如果只低头带球，即使有着精湛的脚法，亦难以在全局中找到最优的突破路线；而学会克服压力勇敢抬头，冒着丢球的风险，靠感觉盘带脚下的足球，对于初学者是最难的，也是最需要去学会的。而在这四年，广以将我锻炼成为了一名能‘眼观六路’的‘合格球员’。”
他认为这个转变，是在广以高自由度和优质资源的基础上完成的。不同于高中时期的按部就班，在这里，学生可以自由安排自己的时间，逐渐由从众、依赖变得善于独立思考。若冲打趣地说，刚来到广以的前几个月，他和舍友们常会“集体行动”，一起去上课、处理各种繁杂的入学事务。“后来，我们都自定义出了最适合自己的学习生活节奏。我们常常会‘形单影只’地出现在学校的各个角落，但晚上回到宿舍后，大家也仍会温暖亲近地畅谈一天里有趣的见闻。”
若冲表示，进入大学需要试图跳出自己的舒适圈，让自己能够独立融入新的环境，独立完成自己的目标，慢慢就能摸索出更适合自己的节奏。“我觉得高中都没有像大一时那么铆劲学。在广以没办法‘60分万岁’，甚至到现在我大四了还有不少课要上，完全没办法躺平。”
大二下半学期，若冲对材料科学与工程系谭启教授研究的介电材料领域感兴趣。“在与谭教授面谈了解后，他依照我对学科的喜好为我选定了具体的课题方向，进行微波介电陶瓷材料的研究。让我感动的是，谭教授办公室的门几乎随时半掩着，如果我在实验室遇到什么问题，可以当即去找他讨论。”
若冲和谭启教授
小到研究如何操作制图软件、如何把阶段性的成果通过正式的科研方式展示出来，大到学习如何设计自己的课题······初次踏入科研的天地，若冲便遇到不少困难与挑战，他亲手触摸到科研的艰辛，也更加明确自己的兴趣所在。
“自己可以在一段科研中担任脑部的角色，主动向导师反馈进展，不管最终能否有产出，这种机会是十分难得的。感觉我在大学中所经历的已经超过高中同学、同龄人不少了，至少能直接地接触到真正的科研，甚至说能有一个可能发文章的课题让我去做，这太可贵了。”
在大一大二期间除了注重提升绩点，要尽可能多参与Career Center的职业规划讲座并多进行互动，多留意邮件日历中各种专业开设的研讨会，也可以提早选修学校提供的Design Your Career课程。尝试找到自己感兴趣的领域，并学习掌握“了解自己、了解学科、以及了解行业”的正确方法。尽早确定兴趣点，不仅能为大三大四进入实验组提前规划，从而做出更好的选择，也能在第四年择校时减少时间成本，一举多得。
在前三年间，尽可能提升自己的英语水平，包括“硬实力”词汇量、语法，以及“软实力”即口语和听力，最好保持每日或每周记一定数量单词的习惯，为标准语言考试（雅思、托福）打好基础，争取在大三下半学期之前完成标准语言考试。尽早完成，可以为申请学期大大地减轻任务负担和心理压力。
在课外，找到属于自己的放松解压方式非常重要。打个比方，将身体比作一台计算机，一个好的兴趣爱好，可以将高强度学习后给身体心理带来的“负载”高效地清空，在短时间内刷新自己的状态。这样定期的“重启”与“维护”带来的将是稳定的“性能释放”。
This summer, the Class of 2024 will graduate from Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic and the running difficulty of Sino-foreign university co-operation in the year they entered GTIIT, the determined students keep moving forward with the motto of "Dream it, do it". They write one and another encouraging stories upon the path of scientific dreams. Let's follow the interview series of 2024 graduates to uncover more in their pursuit of future.
Lin Ruochong
High School: Maoming No.1 Middle School
Program: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Awards:
China National Scholarship
GTIIT Vice Chancellor's list
GTIIT Dean list
GTIIT Extra-curricular Scholarship
GTIIT Excellence in Sports Education
1st place in the 5KM Running (2023), and 3rd place in the 1500M Running (2022) at Shantou University Track and Field Meet
1st place in 5KM Running (2022&2023) & 1st place in 10KM (2024) Running at GT Got Track Meet
Offers:
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Master of Materials Science & Engineering
Johns Hopkins University, Master of Biomedical Engineering
University of California San Diego, Master of Materials Science and Engineering
University of California, Irvine, Master of Materials Science and Engineering
ETH Zurich, Master Materials Science and Engineering
Upon hearing the MSE program, Ruochong initially viewed it as a "niche area" that people usually were unwilling to choose to pursue. Nevertheless, after four-year study, he discovered that he had actually taken a "shortcut" to a world of vast possibilities. "I gradually came to realize that materials science is not only a fascinating program with diverse content, but also a field ripe with potential for groundbreaking scientific research. It encompasses virtually every solid state material imaginable and intersects with a wide array of applied engineering disciplines, including biology, medicine, machinery, computing, electronics, and energy, offering a multitude of pathways for future exploration." He emphasized the challenge of predicting the emergence of industries, noting that the current state of a field does not necessarily reflect its future trajectory. Therefore, he advocated for a long-term perspective when choosing a major, considering the growth potential of a particular industry. "Many obstacles in the technology sector today stem from limitations in material performance. Looking ahead, I firmly believe that materials science will emerge as a leading area for global scientific research investment."
During his early days at GTIIT, he struggled to adapt to the English teaching environment and felt hesitant about asking questions. Whenever a query arose, he would rely on translation software to craft his thoughts in English before presenting them to the teacher. "Over time, I realized that I needn't fret over vocabulary limitations. I learned to speak freely without overthinking. I began treating English as a language rather than a mere tool." Presently, he exudes confidence when delivering English public speeches. He notably gave an acceptance speech as a student representative during the university awards ceremony.
"GTIIT offered us 100 points worth of resources, yet many of us likely only utilized around 40 points. For instance, the availability of office hours and peer tutoring sets GTIIT apart from other universities in our country. Why not take advantage of these university-provided resources?" Reflecting on his four years at GTIIT, Ruochong expressed gratitude for the support and assistance he received. Professors and supervisors played a crucial role in guiding his studies and research, recommending him to prestigious platforms. The Career and Learning Center provided valuable guidance for his career exploration and postgraduate applications, offering insights into the industry. Student advisors and administrative staff provided support and care in his daily life, fostering a strong connection with the GT community.
From being "self-contained" to "keeping an eye on all directions," Ruochong likened his dual growth and transformation in both heart and mind to playing soccer. "The environment provided by GTIIT is indeed conducive to personal growth. These four years have given me a broader and clearer perspective, allowing me to discern many objective patterns and discover my own scientific learning methods. Choosing a direction and maintaining consistent effort are both indispensable. To illustrate, in soccer, if one only focuses on dribbling with their head down, even with excellent footwork, it's challenging to find the optimal breakthrough path within the overall game. Learning to overcome pressure and bravely lift your head, risking losing possession of the ball, and relying on instinct to control the ball at your feet is the most challenging skill for beginners and the most crucial to learn. Over these four years, GTIIT has molded me into a 'qualified player' who can 'keep an eye on all directions' on the field."
He attributed the transformation to the abundant freedom and top-notch resources offered by GTIIT. Unlike the structured routine of high school, GTIIT allowed him to manage his time independently. This newfound autonomy gradually honed his skills in critical thinking. Reflecting humorously on his early days at GTIIT, Ruochong recalled how he and his roommates were practically inseparable, attending classes and dealing with administrative tasks together. "As time went on, we each found our own rhythm. While we often roamed the campus solo during the day, evenings would see us convene in our dorm to share the day's adventures."
Ruochong emphasized the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone upon entering university. Embracing this challenge facilitates integration into a new environment and fosters the ability to achieve goals autonomously. By doing so, individuals may discover a pace that suits them best. "I found myself working even harder in my freshman year compared to high school. With a full schedule of classes, there's simply no room for slacking off."
During the second semester of his sophomore year, Ruochong developed a keen interest in the field of dielectric materials under the guidance of Prof. Daniel Tan from the GTIIT MSE Program. Recalling his interactions with Prof. Tan, Ruochong shared, "After discussing my preferences with Prof. Tan, he helped me narrow down a specific topic focusing on microwave dielectric ceramic materials. I was touched by the fact that his office door was always partially open, making it easy for me to seek his guidance whenever I faced challenges in the lab."
Ruochong with Prof. Daniel Tan
Navigating the intricacies of graphic software operation, mastering the art of presenting staged results using formal scientific research methods, and crafting his own projects—all these aspects of the scientific research realm presented diverse challenges. However, it was these challenges that strengthened Ruochong's resolve to pursue his dreams with unwavering determination.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to take on the role of a key contributor and provide proactive feedback to his supervisor on a scientific research project, regardless of the outcomes, Ruochong remarked, "I feel that my university experience has propelled me far beyond many of my peers and high school friends. Engaging in real research work and potentially contributing to a published project has been incredibly valuable."
Looking ahead to the future, Ruochong is resolute in his commitment to excel on the academic path, pursue advanced degrees expeditiously, and ultimately contribute his expertise to the research and development departments of prominent companies.
During your freshman and sophomore years, in addition to striving to improve your GPA, it is beneficial to attend as many career planning lectures offered by the GTIIT Career & Learning Center as possible. Pay close attention to the seminars provided by various programs in your email calendar and consider enrolling in the elective course "Design Your Career" offered by the university. Explore areas of interest and focus on understanding yourself, your chosen field of study, and the industry. Identifying your passions early on will not only help you make informed decisions when selecting a research group in your junior or senior year but will also save you time for further studies.
Throughout the first three years, prioritize enhancing your English proficiency by honing both "hard skills" such as vocabulary and grammar, and "soft skills" like speaking and listening. Establish a routine of learning a set number of new words daily or weekly to prepare for language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. Aim to pass the test before your junior year to alleviate stress and pressure during the application process.
It is essential to find ways to unwind and relax after classes. Just as a computer needs regular maintenance, engaging in a fulfilling hobby can effectively alleviate the strain of intensive learning, rejuvenating your mind in a short period. Consistent relaxation and self-care practices serve as a "reset" button for your well-being, ensuring optimal performance.
GTIIT
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文/图：林若冲、GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
Text/Photos: Lin Ruochong, GTIIT News & Public Affairs
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