Can you tell me your school affiliation in NY, your major, and your year?
I’m at the Stern School of Business and plan on majoring in Actuarial Science and Finance with a minor in Math. I’m currently a sophomore and plan on graduating in 2016.
What made you decide to study in Shanghai?
The major reason I wanted to study here is because I wanted to improve my Mandarin. I went to Chinese school from when I was 5-12 years old, but have since lost most of my ability to read and write the language.
How has the experience been thus far?
It’s amazing. I’m actually in love with studying abroad in Shanghai. I’ve visited so many places, experienced different things, and most of all, gotten to meet and befriend so many amazing people not only in the Study Away program, but also some others who go to NYUSH. I know that when I reflect on my NYU college experience, my study abroad time here in Shanghai will be my most memorable semester.
What has been most surprising?
Coming to NYUSH, I wasn’t really expecting much school spirit. So I was a tad bit overwhelmed at the sheer amount of people present during the NYU vs. Jiao-Tong Michigan basketball game. It was awesome to see all the support and I’m sure that the support and school spirit will only increase as new students come in the following years.
What has been most challenging?
I haven’t found anything in Shanghai to be particularly challenging for me – maybe getting used to the differences between Chinese society and American society; but I find it more interesting and funny than challenging. Perhaps the thing I struggle with the most is just knowing that I’m only here for a single semester.
I understand that you have been able to participate in sports while in Shanghai, can you tell me about that? What do you play and what is your position? Who do you compete against?
Right, so I’m on the basketball and soccer teams. Growing up in high school, I loved playing both basketball and soccer. However, most of my energy and training was focused onto becoming a stronger soccer player so basketball ended up just being something I played with friends. Coming to Shanghai and being able to play on both the basketball and soccer teams is a dream come true for me and a huge honor.
I don’t really have a set position on the basketball team, but I guess you could call me a small forward. The basketball team is competing in a men’s league, meaning that the teams we play against are older men (between 25-35 years old). However, we’ve played several high school and college basketball teams and I’m proud to say that we’re undefeated.
For soccer, I only joined about two-thirds into the season as a defender because the soccer team needed an extra player due to injuries and sickness. Similar to basketball, the soccer team also competes in a men’s league. What’s unique about soccer in Shanghai is that the games are usually 7v7, not the traditional 11v11.
How have you found balancing academics with extracurricular activities in Shanghai?
I’ve always found that having extracurricular activities helps me balance my workload. I find the days when I have extracurricular activities to be my most productive because I tend not to procrastinate as much. For example, if I know I have a soccer game Monday night or basketball practice Tuesday night, I’ll be more inclined to finish all my homework before because I know when I come back home tired, all I’ll want to do is bum around in my room.
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience in Shanghai?
No. Just wanted to let everyone I’ve gotten to know that I look forward to catching up with them in a few years if they decide to study abroad in New York!