The world is so big, why don't you start?

Li Qixian Jason

China National Scholarship Winner

UCD master of finance

A stern traveler

It has left footprints in more than 10 countries.

The ultimate dream is to travel around the world.

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Text/Isabel

Figure/Jason

Editor/Li

"If you don't persist after hard work, let it be."

Xiaoxian's undergraduate course is in the northeast. He failed in the college entrance examination at that time. In his words, he was "ashamed to face his family" and chose a distant university.

After studying for a period of time, the climate and humanities in the northeast made it difficult for Xiaoxian from the south to adapt, and he was in poor health at that time, so the whole mood was particularly low, so he had a bold idea-transfer.

Not only did he think so, but he really did something. He looked for platforms and processes everywhere, and even attracted many students who had the idea of transferring groups, and established a large number of "transferring groups".

Of course, the result is a failure, and it is still very difficult to transfer to undergraduate courses in China.

But this first story makes me feel that Xiaoxian is a fairy tale school. He not only dares to think, but also dares to do it.

For many college students, no matter how much they hate their university, they can only endure it silently, because everyone knows that it is unrealistic to transfer.

He knows it is difficult, but he will try his best because he wants to do it.

The same thing happened in the later postgraduate entrance examination.

Xiaoxian is in college, and his career dream is to go to an investment bank or a brokerage firm.

Not only is the job decent and the income equal, but it is also meaningful to do something related to planning and accounting.

So for this goal, he began to prepare for the postgraduate entrance examination from the next semester of his junior year.

What kind of research do you want to do? Fudan University holds a master's degree in finance, which can be said to be the most difficult one in China.

But just because he likes it and wants to go, Xiaoxian has entered the intensive preparatory stage.

Sitting for ten hours before a long time every day, going to the library to study became the only thing in his life. Over time, his body collapsed, and he could only rely on acupuncture and massage to relieve the pain, so as to maintain his learning state, and even take painkillers in severe cases.

After a year and a half of preparing for the exam, his dream is his only spiritual pillar.

He was too devoted and exhausted. Unfortunately, he ended in failure.

There must be a blow, but for him it is more liberation.

He worked hard for his dream for a year and a half without reservation, and finally the dust settled. For him, this experience is more important than the result.

Later, when talking about other things, he said something, which I think is also appropriate here.

"Some things, the more you want, the less you can get, but for me, the most important thing is experience. 」

During this journey, he experienced the "Northeast" that once felt far away, and felt what the legendary "loyalty" of the Northeast people was in the separation from his roommate. I also went through the postgraduate entrance examination and learned what it's like to be dark.

Snow country in recent years, there are good times and mud, there are struggles and nostalgia.

Just like the snowflake there, it is dull and indifferent, with shining beauty.

Anyway, the dream finally woke up.

Xiaoxian is finally going to start his next real trip.

"If you have the destination you want to reach, no one can stop you."

Before the postgraduate entrance examination, Xiaoxian also prepared a back road for himself, and has already got an offer from a foreign university.

But before going back to school again, he made an unusual decision-a gap year.

The reason is still those two words: experience.

For more than 20 years, my life has been an exam and I have no other knowledge. I want to experience a different lifestyle and unknown excitement.

There is no doubt that this decision was opposed by my family. They think the stability of life is the most important thing. Even if you can't find a good job temporarily, you must have a job first.

The concept of Gapyear is not so common in China. Most people think that it is neither study nor work, or it is meaningless to eat, drink and be merry.

"My parents want me to live more deeply, such as studying steadily in a post. But what I want is the width of life, more experiences and broader horizons. I can try to find a point that suits me best from a broad perspective, and then delve deeper. It takes time. I'm still expanding. 」

Nothing can stop a teenager from finding his journey.

Little fairy set off like this.

"At that time, everyone opposed it. I don't know what will happen, but I think this is the best arrangement. 」

As it turns out, this journey may really be a gift from heaven.

For example, when he was trying to grab a visa quota, he sat in front of the computer and waited for a day. He tried many times and got stuck. Finally, a friend called and said, I'll try it for you, and he actually got it. ...

In Australia, without the support of parents, Xiaoxian can only keep working for a living.

In a short time, he took four or five jobs.

Some people grow broccoli on farms. When planting, they have to sit in the machine for hours. They had to bend over when harvesting. If they harvest a day, they will bend over thousands of times.

I also worked in a factory, got customer orders, and packaged and delivered them in a high-temperature factory;

There are also leaflets, Japanese restaurants, sushi restaurants, and daigou. ...

In addition, he also traveled around Australia.

Under the "hard struggle" of Xiaoxian, he is actually not poor.

But the way he traveled this time was hitchhiking+couch surfing/camping.

It is also to experience the feeling of "poor travel".

"That may be my happiest time. I am very happy and look forward to getting up every day. Every day is different. Every day is full of unknowns. I even wonder what kind of sofa I'm going to sleep on tonight and who I met today. That satisfaction is very real, because you are doing what you like. 」

How big the world is, there are many colors.

For example, men in skirts in Myanmar;

Legend has it that what was the first generation of immigrants in Malaysia like?

Are the aborigines in the tropical rain forest really painted?

If you didn't see it with your own eyes, you really don't know.

"Travel has made me more tolerant and open. The world is too big. You don't know how many religions, nationalities and cultures have not been recorded. You will find more things you want to do during your trip, and you will feel that ordinary life can't satisfy you. Because you have seen colorful reality. 」

"In my utopia, I only do what I like."

That year, there was only one thing in his life: travel.

At first, it was happy and exciting, and everything was novel.

But later, the fatigue of carrying a suitcase from one city to another was exhausting. I have less contact with my family and live in my own world every day.

What is the end of this road? After a hasty trip, he once again entered a period of confusion.

At that time, the economic conditions at home were not very good, and I also had the idea of returning to work directly from Australia.

However, China is too unfriendly to double non-undergraduate students (non-985/ non-2 1 1), and many large companies simply don't accept double non-undergraduate resumes. Although your internship experience is good, you will still be rejected after batch screening.

At this time, one of his teachers came to persuade him: "The road can't be narrow."

Indeed, what is the destination of the trip and what is the result after returning to China?

"I thought at that time, well, I have experienced poor travel, but I haven't stayed at school yet. I don't know what it's like to study abroad for a while. Now that I have this opportunity, I decided to go to Ireland for postgraduate study. 」

Is it lonely to study abroad? Is it difficult? Is it difficult?

The answer is yes, but this is the way you choose.

"It's lonely to return home. Young people should overcome loneliness. Only by finding your own career and frequency can you find your sense of existence and value, no matter how many friends you have. Loneliness is given by oneself, and so is loneliness. 」

This is how Xiaoxian made her decision. The two key words are "experience" and "like".

The same is true in career choice.

Xiaoxian once worked as an intern in a brokerage firm. After that internship, he found that the work mode he had imagined might be different and not suitable for him.

His ideal career now is marketing or sales consulting.

"Looking for a job is to find the one that suits you. For example, I am good at communication, communication and building relationships. I tried it in a brokerage firm, but it is not suitable, so I want to consult now. Then people who like in-depth research and don't like to talk can do data processing, and what kind of people can find what kind of things to give play to their greatest advantages. 」

Like is the motivation to do something.

It doesn't matter if you say you don't know what you like.

Because you must know what you don't like, eliminate those and try bravely in the remaining scope.

You will find the method that suits you best.

Postscript:

People always say "Utopia doesn't exist".

Indeed, it is undeniable that "absolute perfection" does not exist.

But "relative perfection" is something we can create. You're doing what you like enough. It's absolutely perfect.

Just as some people's favorite dish is scrambled eggs with tomatoes, this dish is perfect for these people.

Sometimes, building your utopia is as simple as frying a dish.

Therefore, as long as you have young courage and a young sense of heroism.

Then set out bravely.