On December 17, 2014, the Alumni’s Tea session was successfully held at the newly-established International Students Center located at the Zhongguanyuan Global Village, PKU. Several alumni who have since gone on to pursue their individual careers and dreams were invited back to PKU to share their experiences with the international students currently studying in PKU. They included Tibor Baranski, Alison Friedman, Aurelia Kassatly, Eskil Hallström, and Eric Gass. CNN’s Beijing Bureau Chief and correspondent, Jamine A. FlorCruz, who is also a PKU alumnus, moderated the session.
The various alumni took turns to introduce themselves and discuss the memories of their time at PKU. Mr. FlorCruz, who is now considered the dean of the foreign press corps in Beijing, has studied, worked, and traveled in China for more than 40 years. He has reported extensively on the country as a journalist since 1980. Mr. Hallström said that after joining a one-year program in China during his high school studies, he fell in love with China and decided to pursue his undergraduate studies at PKU. Mr. Gass recounted PKU as the place where he met his first girlfriend, pursued his passions in biking, and took on an important role in a nonprofit charity organization.
When asked what they missed most in PKU, some said it was the school canteens, while others said it was the late-night drinking sessions with close friends. The alumni also missed PKU’s insightful and enlightening lectures. They also missed spending their college years with their friends, some of whom they have forged lifetime friendships with.
During the Q&A session, some international students asked for advice on how to keep up with all the goings-on and news on campus. The alumni suggested the students ask around on BBS (the school’s electronic forum) and to use WeChat more often. In addition, the school’s International Students Division is always willing to help keep students up-to-date.
In response to queries about self-development and making life choices, the alumni advised the current students to take advantage of their youth and energy and figure out their strengths, which would help them take off in their prospective careers. When it came to making decisions, the alumni advised the students to follow their hearts.
There was a question about the prospect of law graduates in China and fulfillment of entry requirements in Chinese law firms. Having graduated from PKU’s law school, Mr. Baranski replied that getting internships is a good way to find out about the working environment and is crucial to doing law in China. The alumni added that a law school graduate might not end up working in the legal field, but that knowledge of law would be of great help to other career paths as well.
By Xin Yuan
