Jan Robert R Go: Be Zealous, Curious and Marvelous

Jan Robert R Go 

Rob works out at Youming Stadium

On January 13th, 2022, Jan Robert R Go (Wu Anping), a Ph. D. student from Philippine majoring in Political Theory, School of Politics and International Studies, received the "Zhou Hongyu Outstanding Talent Award of CCNU".

Let's know more about this diligent and excellent student!

When asked about the feelings of winning the award, he replied, ''As I said in my speech on behalf of the other laureates, I never intended to get awards. This is a bonus! I was thrilled when hearing the news because it meant that my hard work has been recognized. But at the same time, I honestly believe that many other international students are better than me. So being the one singled out is such an honor. It will definitely motivate me to keep on going.''

Rob at the award ceremony of

 Zhou Hongyu Outstanding Talent Award of CCNU

As an international student, Rob participated in many large-scale international exchange activities. Last October, he took part in the 8th ASEAN-China Young Leaders Exchange Festival, and delivered a speech as an outstanding representative of the Philippines at the closing ceremony. Rob shared with us with excitement, ''Southeast Asia is a community, and it is nice to meet other Southeast Asians in China and talk about our personal experiences. The best thing I got from attending this activity was the friendship I built with other participants.'' What's more, he learned about the history and culture of Hunan Province, particularly about the local dyeing methods, typical delicacies and regional customs.

Rob participated in the 8th ASEAN-China Young Leaders Exchange Festival

Rob is not only academically successful, he also shows kindness and passion in voluntary work. He is appointed as a tutor in Yuntian community, and always spares no efforts to promote the internationalization of the community. There are a lot of interesting and memorable stories along with his voluntary experience.

''The most exciting one would be my experience as a participant observer. I am an academic researcher but also part of the community. I remember the community had a sports meeting, and almost all the local and foreign residents immersed themselves in playing games, and I also participated in it.''

He added, ''Engaging with citizens in Yuntian was an unique experience for me. As a foreigner, my understanding of China has not been comprehensive and remained at the macro-level. But this experience has made me realize that most of the specific work is done in the community. We should not just learn things from reading books but need to experience and understand in real life: how the community is organized; how the leaders and different volunteer groups work.''

Rob is actively involved in voluntary activities

In daily life, Rob is willing to expand his interest in a variety of activities. ''I like taking regular exercises to ease academic pressures. Recently, I found the joy of indoor running. And I really love music. When there is free time or a special occasion, I will go out and sing songs together with my Southeast Asian friends. It was a way for all of us to relax and bond with each other. Aside from that, I enjoy the concerts of orchestras and choirs. In the Philippines, I usually go to the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, where the Manila Symphony Orchestra and Philippine Madrigal Singers typically perform. In Wuhan, I find that there are similar concerts and I never want to miss!''

In the end, Rob would like to share his advice with us. ''All I want to say is that keeping curious about the world. I guess my inclination and love for research has been out of curiosity about how things work and operate, and I never stop asking how and why. Remember learning is about understanding the world. It is not about memorizing paragraphs of text nor getting the highest marks in your class. Learning should be fun and should not be a burden. This kind of attitude can profoundly help us open ourselves to explore more truth.''

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Editor: Dawn(trainee), Jannie(trainee)

Reviser: Galaxy(trainee)

Designer: Kristina(trainee)