[The Republic of Senegal] Seck Mouhamadou Wade, Chang’an University
I grew up with a dream of becoming a civil engineer, which came from my first “dream engineer” – my father. That was the beginning of my dream, and also the beginning of my beautiful encounter with China.
As a kid, I always received gifts from my father when he came back from his business trips. Because of his work, my father had many Chinese partners. Therefore, he often travelled to China on business. Whenever my father returned, he would tell me the stories about China, such as the transportation technology, tall buildings, and famous places in China... Hearing these, I began to yearn for the life in China. Since there is an old Chinese saying that “seeing is believing” and it is a household fact that China is known as the “infrastructure holic,” the opportunity to study in China was the best choice for me to realize my dream.
After attending the national college entrance exam, I was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That year, China Road & Bridge Corp offered Senegal some scholarship quotas to learn road and bridge engineering in China. I was so excited to know this news that I immediately submitted my documents to apply. Luckily, I won a place, and from then on, my own Chinese story began.
In November 2016, I left home and traveled to China. In China, I met my second “dream engineer” – teachers in Changan University.
When I just came to China, the first problem I had to overcome was language. Learning Chinese was the foundation for me to realize my dream. As the saying goes, “Without a solid foundation, the earth and mountains would topple.” The Chinese also say, “A workman must sharpen his tools to get his work well done.” I was determined to do my best to learn Chinese at that time. With the help of my teachers and Chinese friends, I worked hard and passed the HSK4 exam in eight months. I was also able to talk fluently with my classmates and teachers and was even able to understand some Chinese TV dramas.
After the language training, I started my major courses. Little did I know that I would encounter even greater difficulties and challenges when I first started taking major classes. I found that I couldn’t understand most of what the teachers were saying in class. I still remember that after the engineering geology class, I shed tears although I was a grown-up man already. When I left hometown, I made a promise to my loving mother that I would learn Chinese well and master my professional knowledge. Therefore, not being able to understand the major courses at that time spelled a big blow on me and made me doubt myself.
“When you encounter difficulties, don’t blame yourself, and don’t accuse others! Don’t give up your faith and don’t run away from your responsibilities! Instead, overcome the difficulties together!” I made up my mind to find ways to overcome the obstacles. I started to do a good pre-study before class, translating and marking the vocabulary I didn’t know in the textbook, and then paid more attention where I couldn’t understand in class; I would sit in the first row in class and listen carefully to the lecture and review in time the knowledge I learned that day; I would also use WeChat to ask the teachers to help me with what I didn’t understand; in holidays, I would also pre-study the next semester’s courses through some learning platforms such as icourse, Chines University MOOC, etc. I was able to get rid of the problem of not understanding the professional terms in a very short time. I could not only fully understand what the teachers were saying, but also actively answer questions from the teachers, from whom I received a lot of praise.
The second semester of my senior year arrived in a blink of an eye. My classmates were preparing for their graduation designs in groups, and each group could have at most three students’ graduation designs to be awarded excellent. I was the only international student in my group, as all the Chinese students in my group were very outstanding, so it would not be easy for me to win the honor of excellent graduation design. Instead of using the language barrier as an excuse, I made up my mind that I would achieve the distinction. So, I learned the software before the term started and became familiar with the process of operating the software. By the time school started, I finished the task soon and also added a lot of my own creative ideas.
For example, I made a 3D model of the road and did numerical simulations to check whether the road I designed met the requirements of safety and was in harmony with the surrounding environment... In addition, I also fully prepared for the defense, and the teachers of the defense team were very satisfied. My graduation design was recognized and rated excellent. Now, I am continuing to study at Changan University for my master’s degree and continuing my Chinese story.
During my study, I met my third “dream engineer,” Confucius, the greatest Chinese thinker, statesman and educator, whose words are full of wisdom and have benefited me a lot.
Confucius said, “Restudy the old to obtain the new insight” and this is what I have requested of myself. I would often review what I have learned, and each time I gained new understanding and experience. “Only study but not think, you’ll be perplexed without any gains; only indulge in idle dreams but not study, you’ll suffer from misgivings and hesitate all the time” makes me understand that when I read books, I should ask more questions, not simply memorize them. “Every day I examine myself many times.” Therefore, before I go to bed every day, I would summarize and think about what I have done that day, trying to improve my quality. Confucius said that “If you understand, say yes; otherwise, just say no. This is wisdom.” “Three people are walking. There must be someone among them who can be my teacher.” These famous sayings have had a great influence on me. I will ask teachers when I have questions and will “see a worthy, think to imitate” when befriending classmates, trying to learn more from others…
Six years have passed, and I am getting closer and closer to my dream. In China, I have met friends from all over the world and developed the good habit of self-dependence. I have mastered the ability to face hardships bravely and not to be afraid of difficult challenges; I have become more confident and more motivated. On my way of growing up, my father broadened my horizon and let me plant the seed of dreams; my teachers at Changan University gave me encouragement and helped me learn Chinese language and the professional courses well and chase my dreams; the excellent Chinese culture guided me and taught me to learn humbly, to treat people politely, to persist in my dream and to strive hard. Thanks to my “dream engineers”, who “laid the foundation and built the frame” together with me and are waiting for the “roof to be poured.” My engineer dream will soon be realized. I think this is the most beautiful story ever since my encounter with China.
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
