ECUST a Home Inn University
“Enter with few and fly with rainbow”
KADIROV,DAMIR——Awarded "2017 ECUST Excellent International Graduate"
I still remember very well how on August 29, 2014, we, four guys from Kazakhstan, drove up from the Hongqiao airport to the main gate of the ECUST. That moment I felt that something new is going to begin here, as this gate was to lead towards land of opportunities. Indeed, since that day every next day I discovered something new for myself, and began to reveal my potential, starting from the elementary use of Chinese chopsticks right up to obtaining professional knowledge and learning a new language.
In the very beginning it was hard, probably like for any other foreigner away from their motherland, because here everything was alien and new: such as food, climate, language, culture etc. being very different from back home. As an example, when I went to the canteen I met several obstacles: did not know what kind of food to choose; did not know how to order a dish; did not know how to use chopsticks skillfully and so on. These kinds of difficulties were everywhere: in the market, in the store, in the hairdresser, at the post office, etc. Gradually, as the time passed these and many other difficulties became insignificant because of good and kind-hearted people who surrounded me and were always ready to help，and of course with the lapse of time got familiar with the Chinese language. Soon, along with my friends found a tutor for learning Chinese, thought tutor was a student, but we learned a lot of interesting and useful phrases from her. Also in order to further improve my new language I often went to the canteen with my group mates for lunch or dinner, they taught me Chinese meanwhile practiced English with me. By the way, I think this method is a kind of barter that is very effective way of learning languages. In the second year I enrolled in Chinese classes organized by the College of International Education of our university, and from that moment my Chinese level went swiftly up. I immensely thank the competent and patient teaching of all the instructors. Additionally, here I found a big international family, we often talked and exchanged cultures with each other. In June 2016, I performed in the oratorical contest between foreigners studying Chinese in ECUST. In general, I would like to note the hard work of the entire College of International Education of our university, which constantly strives to improve the life of international students, make it brighter and more interesting. Such events as the International Cultural Festival in ECUST, the Dragon Boat competition, various tourist trips for cultural enrichment of students - all this leaves an unforgettable impression for every student. For example, I will never forget those emotions that I experienced when we got the 3rd prize among 29 universities in the 10th Dragon Boats race. Also I liked the cycle of cultural lectures on the theme "One Belt One Road" organized by the College where I was honored to present Kazakhstan.
As for academic study, in the first year when I attended classes I had to face difficulties, because my specialty was different from the one that I studied at the bachelor. Nevertheless I successfully passed all the exams and for the next two years I was dedicated in research work. I worked with the Statistical Thermodynamics’ Density Functional Theory, which in itself is a complex but promising field of knowledge. I appreciate supply of correct guidance by my supervisor professor Zhao, and the help of lab mates in execution of my scientific work. Because of them I was able to successfully accomplish the work, leading to publishing of two scientific papers as a joint team effort with a PhD student. Studying Chemical Engineering in ECUST should always be a preferred choice for anyone having interest in this domain as I personally became convinced upon being provided in depth, latest and conceptual knowledge by this school. In short, I stand out very proudly for graduating Chemical Engineering as major from ECUST.
Conclusively, I am pleased with the fact that I will graduate the university at this anniversary year. Along with graduating, ECUST and China being my second home gave me first foreign experience, made me learn a new language, and nevertheless introduced a global family of foreign friends. Upon looking back at these 3 passed years, I can realize the transformation of my first day feelings into reality, as ECUST truly proved something more than just a university. On the very first instance of graduation the opportunities to excel are being driven to me. This gives the real depiction to school motto "Study at ECUST，fly your dream"!
