Hello everyone! My name is Jesse Felicia Sentosa, from Indonesia. For me, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) is more than just a place to study International Economics and Trade. This campus is a laboratory of life—a place where I found a new family, tested my limits, and realized that opportunities only come to those who dare to say "ok, let’s try!"
I feel very honored to receive CSC scholarship. So, I repay that gratitude not just by studying in class, but by maximizing every second of the experience here. This is the story of my journey.
It all started with something relaxed: Badminton. This sport was initially just a way for me to fill empty time. However, from casually joining friendly matches, I met many friends who shared the same hobby. Together with Michelle, I took this hobby further by participating in the ZUST Badminton Competition in 2024 and 2025 in the women's double category. On the badminton court, there were no language or cultural barriers; we all laughed and sweated together. This taught me one thing: the best connections are often born from activities we enjoy.
On the academic side, the biggest challenge came when participating in the Digital Trade Competition. Together with Lidia and Stephen, we formed a team, working under the guidance of Professor Meng Qi.
To be honest, the process was long and exhausting. Building a business case from scratch required discussion, revisions, and hard work. However, that hard work paid off handsomely when we were named 2nd Place National Champions. Behind that trophy, there was a valuable lesson about honing teamwork. Looking back now, the whole process was actually really fun!
I used to know absolutely nothing about poetry. Everything changed when Stephen invited me to meet Professor Cheng Yong Yan. I was asked to join a poetry team that performed a theme about West Lake.
I trained for a full month. From initially knowing nothing about Chinese poetry, being taught pronunciation and expression, I eventually fell in love with this art form. The result? Our team won 3rd Place at the prestigious 17th Annual "Dreaming of Zhejiang" event.
With the same theme, we also won 3rd Place at the "Classic Rhyme of Zhejiang" 2024. Professor Cheng then challenged me further in a unique competition explaining poetry, where I presented Shui Diao Ge Tou and won 2nd Place. Not stopping there, I was also paired with another colleague to perform the poem Moonlight over China and won 3rd Place. Poetry transformed me from an ordinary student into someone who dares to perform in public.
The courage to try new things also led me into the world of dance. Starting as a volunteer at Xiao He Shan Xin Yuan Community, I was taught to dance a Chinese dance. Who would have thought that the dance would lead me and Stevanie to pass the audition as a talent representative for ZUST.
We danced to the song Grand Canal (大运河)—which was also sung by a ZUST talent—on the 17th Annual "Dreaming of Zhejiang" stage. Being part of one of the biggest events in Zhejiang province was a very cool and extraordinary lucky experience.
The experience at ZUST is also about understanding the culture. The course "Perceiving China" in ZUST took me to places I might never have visited alone, such as Changdai Village. I poured my experience of visiting this village into a writing competition which gave me a new perspective on local life.
I participated in the annual nationwide Mandarin Storytelling Competition for international students across China. Under the guidance of Ms. Tang Huan, I successfully secured the Third Prize.
ZUST has become my second home. If I had just stayed in the dormitory, I would never know what it feels like to stand on a national stage, wouldn't have felt the euphoria of victory with Lidia and Stephen, and wouldn't have met my "new family" here.
To my fellow students: Don't be afraid to try. Whether it is badminton, poetry, dancing, or academic competitions—take that opportunity. The process may be difficult, but trust me, those experiences are what will shape who you are in the future.
