Ding Shizhao (BBA Year 2 student) was just 15 years old when he left the familiar shores of home in China to pursue his dreams in Singapore. Plunging head on into a new social and learning environment, Shizhao overcame language and cultural barriers to secure a place in NUS Business School.
A story of dreams, determination and mentorship: BBA student Ding Shizhao
First Photo: Adolescent Shizhao hunched over his books; Second Photo: Shizhao (back row, 6th from left) with his secondary school class in Singapore
Shizhao’s academic success was won by courage and determination. After moving to Singapore, he had to learn to read, write, and present in English in an environment of confident native speakers. In order to excel, he knew he had to put in the extra work. The rigorous demands of university academic writing challenged him to further improve his language proficiency, and he did so by regularly reading English articles and news online, while also conversing with peers over trending issues. The strong emphasis on group projects and presentations in the business programme also helped build his confidence.
First Photo: First steps into NUS BIZ: Shizhao (last row, fourth from left) and his orientation group buddies; Second Photo: Shizhao (back row, second from left) and his NUS BIZ project group mates
Through diligently attending workshops organised by the NUS BIZ Career Services Office (BIZCareers), he acquired new skills in networking, interviewing, and personal branding to prepare for a career in the finance industry. Serendipitously, he found affinity with one of the workshop instructors, Mr. Eric Sim, founder of Institute of Life, and eventually interviewed him for an article on “9 Things You Must Know When Doing Business in China”. The article, which was originally published in Mandarin, was eventually translated by Shizhao and featured the Singapore Global Network’s “Food for Thought” online community blog.
Shizhao (second from right) listening attentively to an industry partner’s sharing
Career workshops organized by NUS BIZCareers
From a teenager arriving in Singapore with little grasp of the English language to a steady young man confident enough to publish an English article on a reputed platform, Shizhao has come a long way. His tenacious commitment to his dreams, and hunger for self-improvement is something for his peers to aspire towards. When asked how he would advise those who walk the same path as he, Shizhao says, “Do not let language challenges stand in the way of sharing your ideas. Encountering and overcoming challenges is an everyday norm in business, and we should always be ready to change and progress with the times.” He also credits the Business School for providing students a great platform with plentiful opportunities for exposure and development.