"Living in Hong Kong made me re-evaluate my openness to relocate and work in different countries later in my life."

Since high school, I have studied abroad three times. I truly enjoy moving to different places in the world and fully immersing myself in a new language and environment. So, I decided to study abroad in college.

I chose the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) because of its location and the options for engineering classes. Growing up in China and later moving to New York in middle school, I studied abroad to reconnect with my roots. I am also a huge fan of nature, so attending HKUST, which is located in the mountains facing the water, fulfilled my college dream.

Skyline view of Hong Kong

Skyline view of Hong Kong

Living in Hong Kong made me re-evaluate my openness to relocate and work in different countries later in my life. I also made many Ph.D. friends at HKUST, where I explored different experiences in higher education. Right after the semester in Hong Kong, I stayed in Asia and interned to explore working in the region.

Various polaroid pictures of Amy with their friends

Various polaroid pictures of Amy with their friends

During my time at HKUST, I was academically challenged, especially in my higher-level engineering courses. However, it really stretched my ability to learn and explore other areas of chemical and environmental engineering.