University life can be a challenge for any student, especially when it comes to UIC. Some students seem to be enjoying their daily lives. Let's look at their stories to see what they think and do in their own words.
Zhou Shukai
I am Zhou Shukai from Guangzhou in the southern region of China. I am a first-year student at UIC, and I major in Journalism and Communications (JC). JC is my favourite subject, and the environment at UIC is excellent. That's why I choose UIC.
Zhou Shukai
I have been at UIC for nearly a month. At first, I was afraid of having to attend my classes due to the all English environment. However, after a few days of the English Enhancement Programme and other courses, I found it easy to get used to.
Though I am confident in my listening, my grammar and academic writing need to be improved. What's more, in UIC, homework doesn't like junior high school. We need to be highly motivated, which is considered an important thing to get a good grade. On the other hand, there are many clubs and activities that I am interested in. I can't wait to join them.
After several weeks of life, I became more outgoing and made more friends. I am happy to hang out with my friends. So many things give me more energy and let me look forward to my future at UIC.
I feel my teachers are engaging. The way that the teachers teach in class is so different from my senior high school. Teachers are facilitators, and students are allowed to explore and become actively engaged with knowledge.
I am happy these days, but I still miss my friends that I played with at my senior high school. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19, I can't leave Zhuhai to meet my friends. However, I hope one day I can have a party with them.
Xu Simin
My name is Xu Simin, and I am from Shenzhen in Guangdong. I am major in Journalism and Communication.
Xu Simin
UIC was my absolute first choice as I started to know about it before Gaokao. There are countless reasons such as the facilities and the professional teachers. But, of course, the most attractive aspect is the open and diversified academic atmosphere, which allows me to arouse my potential. Well, generally, that’s my dream campus life!
For the first day, I stepped through the UIC gate, and the college stone was the first object that came into my sight that made me praise was the beautiful campus. Of course, I couldn’t help taking a bunch of photos and sharing them with my friends. After settling down in my warm little dormitory and getting my small space cosy, I was looking forward to greeting my dreaming university days.
I met many friends these days, including some senior schoolmates, which let me quickly adapt to this environment. Later, I experienced many exciting activities organized by school with my peers through mentor caring plan groups, such as the UICer gogogo and the team building activities. Additionally, before starting the formal lessons, UIC provided us with the English Enhancement Programme (EEP) classes to help students adapt to UIC’s English teaching atmosphere. The ‘immersive’ and the ‘interesting’ were the best words I thought to describe the series of lessons, especially the foreign teachers. All of them were so lovely and friendly and knew how to arouse the classroom atmosphere.
When I wrote down these words a few minutes ago, I just finished a class. For the third time, I had this class, I knew that I needed to preview the PPT before having the class, or I would find it hard to follow the teacher. Of course, preview is essential, and it occurred to me sometimes it is needed, but I appreciate it a lot. Not only can it help me have a better understanding of the lesson, but also it let me know how to plan my time properly.
For several weeks, I have loved the life in UIC, the facilities, the unique sunset with a pink and purple sky, the teachers. Even the tiny corners I have not visited yet, but I am sure to seek them, feeling the customized beauty of UIC.
Time out! I have to have supper, and my lesson at 19:00 is waiting for me; so much for my first blog.
Li Bowen
I am Li Bowen from Xiamen in Fujian. I major in Journalism and Communication (JC), and I’m looking forward to joining Media and Communications (MCOM).
Li Bowen
There are plenty of reasons why I choose UIC. The most important is that UIC provides a great platform to the UK or the US education systems. At the same time, the seminars and presentations bring us an exceptional opportunity to practice our critical thinking and speech skills, which is essential in our future careers.
My typical day at UIC starts with me waking up at 7 am. However, I had seven hours of sleep last night as it was quite adequate for me as I went to bed late at 11:30 pm the night before.
“Today is Friday,” I thought in mind. Maybe this can boost me a little bit because we can relax as tomorrow is the weekend. So after getting ready in the morning, I step out of the dorm and get some fresh air, which is a must need after a good night’s sleep.
While enjoying my breakfast, I browse through my script for the UIC Personal Growth and Counseling Centre (PGCC) Caring Ambassador (CA) interview that is scheduled tonight. This is my first time participating in the UIC clubs, so it is pretty important for me.
When it comes to my free elective class, I am slightly nervous due to the unfamiliar words seen in the slides I didn’t preview in advance yesterday. However, I will prepare more thoroughly next time, so I hope it won’t happen again.
In the interview section, I enjoy listening and discussing with my group mates who are older than me while having more experience and knowledge. It’s an excellent chance for me to learn and think! Thanks to our great efforts and judges’ appreciation, we made it! I am so excited to be a PGCC CA, and I’ll keep on going and growing!
The air in Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is constantly freezing but fresh. Every time I find a neat seat and put in my earphones, then click the play bottom, the world slows down around me. I dip into reading books and finishing my assignments.
At around 10:45 pm, I wander out of the LRC, and my glasses become foggy. It is then that I realise how fast time goes, especially when busy. It is such an ordinary but substantial day.
From MPRO
Editor: Samuel Burgess
