In 2001, I entered Sun Yat-sen University, one of the top 10 universities in China, and I was recruited by a magazine call Ling Nan Ren (which means people from Ling Nan, the south point of China). I was asked in the interview: “what kind of character, do you think, is essential to make us different from all other student magazines?” My answer was that,“ the name of the magazine indicates a geographic concept. When all other magazines try to be the mouthpiece of university students, we should focus more on the region and the students in it, its own cultural style and the local creation…” Though puerile, it was the first time I stated my concept for a whole magazine out. In 2003, I became the editor-in-chief of Pilgrimage Magazine, which consists of articles in five different languages. It required me to think more globally, as well as maintain the local and original creation. Then I found my interest of study: media and globalization, and the relationship between the global and the local.

I’m also a reporter and editor of the Television Center, Sun Yat-sen University. Last Feb, I went to a Hansen’s disease Village together with Japanese Volunteers, to build a new toilet for the HD sufferers. I recorded down all things happened there with my DV camera and made my first documentary. TV production has taught me about how to cater to the needs and wants of a more extensive audience, and encouraged me to pay attention to more aspects of the world.

I’m currently majoring in English Language and Literature. Such background will benefit me a lot in my future study and research. Language is not only a language; it’s also a carrier of culture and thoughts. In order to master the language well, I have to understand the culture and history of the western world and pay a lot of attention to cross-culture communications. Though I haven’t an academic background in Media Studies or Journalism, My undergraduate programme can provide me with a special perspective and analytic skills to solve the problems in my future study. Language learning also focused a lot on basic skills training, such as writing, intensive reading, literature translation and discourse analysis, which have equipped me for more in-depth studies.

In my undergraduate study, I achieved an average score of 86.6% and was awarded the academic excellence scholarship for 3 consecutive years. Apart from the core courses, I’m also interested in History and Gender Studies. The courses I’ve taken and audited, varied from Chinese ancient poetry, contemporary European civilization to Gender Representation, have helped me to mold a more solid method of observation. I’m confident that my impressive academic background, English proficiency and practical intern experiences will all strengthen my potential for further study.

Months ago, I was extremely honored to have a meeting with the British Ambassador in China, Sir Christopher Hum, at my university. Sir Hum asked the students at the meeting about our image of UK. I told him that UK is a most creative country in my opinion. The dynamic creative industry in this country really attracts me a lot. I sincerely hope that my ideas and interest, which germinated from my Chinese background, can be nourished in the soil of creativity, seriousness and enthusiasm. The marrow of culture and knowledge in both countries, China and UK, will definitely have a great impact on me. After I finish my study, I will probably come back to China and work in its booming media industry. At the same time, I’ll try to carry on my study to a higher level. I want to bring the advanced concept I’ve learned back to China and to be involved in the media education after I’m qualified enough.

The department of Media and Communications at LSE has admirable faculties and its research thematic areas are exactly what I’m interested in. I hope that LSE can open up a new and splendid academic future for me, and I will be fortunate enough to contribute to the future of LSE.