Beyond the Lab: Growing through the Journey
Starting graduate school as an international student has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. Moving away from home meant adapting to a new culture, building a community from scratch and learning to navigate academic and everyday life in a new country. Balancing research, coursework, responsibilities and personal life has not always been easy. I have faced setbacks and moments when progress felt slow, but each experience has taught me resilience, patience, and confidence.
My Ph.D. journey has also given me opportunities beyond the laboratory. Representing the College of Engineering and our 3D printing lab at Discovery Place in Charlotte reminded me that learning and research become even more meaningful when we can share them with kids and students. It is nice to see enthusiastic children’s curiosity about 3D printing, making new things and exploring the unknown pages of science.
Outside campus, exploring Charlotte and nearby places has also helped me maintain balance, from spending time outdoors to picking strawberries at Deer Run Farm in Midland.
As the fall semester begins, I hope to make meaningful progress in my research, strengthen my professional skills and continue contributing to the UNC Charlotte community. Graduate school is not simply about earning a degree; it is about growing into the person and professional you aspire to become.