“Keep calm and keep if you didn't do well in this situation, maybe pull back. Strategic retreat is not failure.”

Story 34, Yuze Zheng, first-generation immigrant from China

Interviewed & Written by Veronica Deckard

Yuze Zheng, a public health student at New York University, is from Hangzhou, China. High pressure and strict entrance exams for universities in China motivated Zheng to explore another country’s education system. 

Zheng first began her education at Boston University, but she soon transferred after being drawn to the boldness and brightness of New York’s city lights.

“I just got pulled by the neon lights and those shining buildings that look like gold,” Zheng said.

She feels a sense of joy in the U.S. while attending performances in the city – with the convenient perk of student ticket discounts. 

For Zheng, navigating her coursework and personal relationships is the most challenging part of living in the states. She describes the difficulties of making friends in a new city, without knowing anyone and how vital these connections are to academic success. 

“It would be much easier if I made a couple of friends, and we could discuss our homework together to help each other…but the difficulty is accumulated,”  Zheng said. “For the first week, maybe you just miss a little work; however, while trying to make it up, you'll feel like you've got more things off, but at this time, it’s midterms, and nobody has time to make new friends.” 

The lack of permanent classmates in the U.S. surprised Zheng. 

“In China, you're going to be in every class with the same classmates year by year into your primary, middle and high school,” Zheng said. “So, you could establish a general connection with the people more deeply and save a lot of time instead of coming to class and actively trying to make friends myself.”

She also discussed the challenges of being Chinese in the U.S. 

“I got here, and both sides [China and the U.S.] are saying opposite things,” Zheng said. “So, I thought, ‘I better use my brain to think about things.’ And I got to learn how to find my ways to navigate my way around the world and think critically.” 

Zheng advises that those in similar positions like herself  be “bold.” 

“It’s important to seek support wherever you can,” Zheng said. “Keep calm and keep if you didn't do well in this situation, maybe pull back. Strategic retreat is not failure.”