I’m not the kind of person who only buries their head in books, indifferent to the wider world. I often wish that when people get to know me, they also take a moment to notice the parts of me beyond academic achievements—just as I enjoy talking with different people and listening to their stories.

Travel

I first encountered the internet when I was still in primary school. It struck me as one of the greatest inventions—because through it, I saw a world far larger than my own, and glimpsed landscapes more beautiful than I could have imagined. Ever since I was young, I’ve dreamed of traveling the world, of seeing the countless faces of its scenery and feeling the textures of its many cultures. But with limited family finances and relatives who never shared that same dream of roaming the world, the wonders I longed to witness remained, for a long time, out of reach.

In July 2024, my first-ever paper was accepted to CIKM 2024. For me, it was not just an academic milestone—it was a long-awaited chance to step beyond my country’s borders and look out into the world. With hopes of future study abroad, I took the IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE. Drawn to Japanese culture, I also pursued a minor in Japanese at East China Normal University, and passed the JLPT N3 in July 2024. Still, for a long while, it felt like I had all these languages with nowhere to use them—a quiet kind of frustration I hoped not to carry for too long.

Then, in October 2024, I traveled abroad for the first time. Before heading to Boise, I spent four days in Tokyo with my girlfriend—a short journey, but a deeply meaningful one. For the first time, I had the chance to use the language I had studied, and to form real connections with people from another place. When I finally left Tokyo and arrived in Boise, I was struck once more by a new and different culture, a different rhythm of life.

To me, the meaning of travel lies not only in sightseeing or marveling at the works of nature. What I seek is connection—to meet people, to share in their stories, and, perhaps one day, to listen as they tell me their own. Just like the dream I’ve always quietly carried: love, and peace.

Special Thanks

I’d like to take a moment here to offer my heartfelt thanks to Professor Yanhao Wang, who guided me through my earliest steps in academic research during my undergraduate years.

Back when I was still a junior, I began thinking seriously about giving research a try. I reached out to several professors in my department, but many, understandably busy, never replied. Others preferred to work with students who already had some experience, and I, having none, was politely turned away.

Professor Wang was the only one who took the time to talk with me about my future plans and who was willing to teach me—patiently, from scratch—how to begin doing research. It was through his guidance that I was able to write my first paper; he gave me that very first opportunity.

My second project was initially submitted to NeurIPS 2025. But with limited training and exposure, I failed to provide fully polished code or meet the expected structure of a formal submission. Professor Wang carefully read through the manuscript, pointed out every detail that needed revision, and taught me how to fix it. I still remember that he was editing the paper line by line at 1:30 a.m. the night before the final submission deadline.

To me, I was just an undergraduate student—and technically, he wasn’t even my official advisor. But he treated my work with the utmost seriousness and responsibility. Without him, I don’t think I would be who I am today: someone who truly dares to pursue an academic dream.

Of all the people I’ve met in college, Professor Wang is the one I’m most grateful to. I sincerely hope he continues to thrive in academia and receives all the recognition and support he deserves.