The first ever batch of Westlake University undergraduate students joined us in July last year. At the time many, still in their 17^thyear, were not yet adults. Now as the winter becomes spring, so too do many of these young scientists and engineers blossom into adults. We asked a few of these students how they spent their first vacation as undergraduates and how they are feeling about the semester ahead.

Zhengtao Sun

On the days that the sun shinned, Zhengtao Sun could be found biking the "hidden corners" of his beautiful hometown, Fuyang, just an hour or so from Hangzhou.

The small city, famous for both its natural and cultural landscapes, is the perfect place for an active young person like Zhengtao and his friends. However, the stunning environment stimulates more than just the body, "My friends and I would discuss life and philosophical issues together,” Zhengtao explains with a smile, “In fact, on weekends during high school, these classmates and I would walk along the Fuchun River and talk about all manner of topics."

Sun takes pleasure in the mix of nature and thinking. This winter vacation, he read several books on existential philosophy, reflecting deeply on the ideas as he wondered the landscapes of Fuyang.

He is now back to his studies at Westlake, where he is pursuing biology and chemistry. However, the young man’s philosophising continues too.

Yiru Pan

Not long after Yiru Pan entered Westlake University, she celebrated her 18^thbirthday. She explains that her birthday was spent with the dean of her residential college and 14 classmates. Although the pace of study was intense and the first semester of courses was full of challenges, she says that university life gave her a sense that she was part of a big family.

During her winter vacation, Pan went from the metaphoric race to the summit to quite a literal one. Pan and her new ‘big family’ spent some weekends mountain climbing. During these excursions, Pan left a deep impression with her fellow students. A young woman of determination, who can calmly and self-confidently pursue her goals at her own pace.

Xun Zhang

China is a big place where winter manifests itself in different ways depending on where you are. For Xun Zhang, Winter gave him a sunburn!

Zhang explains that he went camping and had a barbecue with high school friends, and the winter sun of southern China, “was surprisingly bright!” Sporting a red nose, Zhang starts a new semester a little older and a little wiser.

Along with his studies at Westlake, Zhang has a set of hobbies and goals he wishes to pursue. He is learning the piano and working on his second science fiction novel. “I liked reading since I was a child,” he explains, “I finished reading ‘The Three-Body Problem’ when I was in elementary school.”  At middle school, many of his classmates were interested in literature, and they wrote novels and essays together. In addition to Chinese science fiction, he also likes German writer Hesse and Italian writer Calvino, both of whom have romantism flirt with realism.

Returning to his hometown, Taizhou, for the winter vacation, Zhang penned a short essay, ending with the following lines:

‘Themisty sea before my eyes washes a sense of tranquillity over me, a touch of comfort. In this moment, is time giving me a most precious gift?’