In 2026, the sixth cohort of undergraduate graduates from Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) is ready to set sail. Armed with the knowledge and courage bestowed by their alma mater, and guided by the belief of "Dream it. Do it.", they have etched their youth in constant exploration and breakthrough. Let us step into their stories, and witness how they take action as wings to wider skies.

Name: Du Yuehuan

High School: Guangzhou No.16 Middle School

Program: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Offers:

Northwestern University — Materials Science and Engineering

University of Pennsylvania — Materials Science and Engineering

National University of Singapore — Materials Science and Engineering

University of California, San Diego — Materials Science and Engineering

Boston University — Materials Science and Engineering

“I've enjoyed every part of my life here,” Du Yuehuan sumed up her four year at GTIIT. She turned down majors picked by her parents and chose materials science after Gaokao. From feeling lost as a freshman to receiving offers from top universities, this outgoing girl has carved out her own research path at GTIIT. Her life here perfectly shows the university motto: “Dream it. Do it.”

Materials science—the more I dig in, the more it grows on me

When filling out college applications, her parents kept pushing her to pick steady majors like finance or teaching, which they thought would guarantee a steady future. But Du Yuehuan had her own ideas. “Stability means nothing if you don’t like what you do. Only passion can carry you far.” After talking with senior students and visiting the campus, she made up her mind. “I like doing lab work and physics, so science and engineering fit me well. When I visited GTIIT, I found all professors here are easy to talk to. This is exactly the academic environment I look forward to.”

After thinking carefully between materials science and mechanical engineering, she made her choice. “A senior told me materials cover more physics, which I loved. But once I started it, I realized university physics is way harder than I expected,” she laughed. The deeper she got into it, the more she loved the logic behind it. “Materials science digs down to the root. It looks at a material’s inner structure, tiny changes inside it, and how those changes change its outer features. This process is so charming.” Even though many people say this program has heavy coursework and loads of complicated knowledge, she never regretted her choice. “If I could choose again, I would still go for it. The more I dig in, the more it grows on me.”

GTIIT’s MSE program combines math, physics and chemistry with countless sub-branches. There are endless technical terms and theories to learn. Introduction to Materials, her first professional course in Year 1, was full of abstract theories. She struggled a lot and got low grades. But the joy of solving hard problems kept her going. “I feel so proud when I work through tough problems and find the answers.”

There is no prefect path – just give it a try

“Don’t overthink. Just have a try. No path is right or wrong; you just need to be brave.” This thought guided Du Yuehuan all through college.

In the second semester of her sophomore year, she joined Prof. Qi Yuanshen’s research group. “Prof. Qi was the first teacher I met on my campus visit, and I never imaged I would study under him for years.” She took part in two projects using electric pulse technology: high-entropy alloys and shape memory alloys. When she first learned to polish samples, she could hardly control the force and angle of the fast-spining machine. Badly polished samples would ruin later tests. She soon learned lab skills can’t be rushed—you only get better with constant practice. The shape memory alloy project finally became her graduation project. “This material is widely used in orthodontic braces. I worked with a master’s student co-supervised by Southern University of Science and Technology. We mainly studied how electric pulse processing can fix flaws caused by traditional heating and cooling methods.”

Yuehuan said that she didn’t overthink it before joining the group. “You’ll never know what suits you until you experience it yourself.” GTIIT’s open and inclusive research environment gave her plenty of chances to try. “If you feel like the research in your group isn't for you, just talk to your professor honestly about changing directions or quitting. Don't waste your energy overthinking it before you decide.”

That same openness carries into the class. GTIIT professors always encourage students to question boldly and think independently. “The teachers often tell us they make mistakes too. If we spot an error in the lecture or feel a test was graded unfairly, we can go straight to them and talk it through.” The equal, free sprit helped her develop independent thinking, which benefited her a lot.

I feel happy when I help others

From day one, Yuehuan set two goals: become a peer mentor and a peer tutor. “I really enjoy helping others. Their positive feedback pushes me forward, and I feel happy while helping them.” When she was learning linear algebra, the obscure concepts really tripped her up. "I struggled a lot when I took it. So I decided to become a peer tutor for the course, to help the younger students avoid some of the pain I went through."

2023 Peer Mentors

Looking back, she shared her most useful tip for undergraduates: take the initiative and communicate openly. “Don’t be afraid to talk to professors. Ask questions after class or book Office Hour with them. This saved me from lots of academic and research mistakes. Meanwhile, you need to chat with seniors and classmates—you will pick up useful tips on course selection, lab admission and graduate applications in casual talks.” During the university time, she also volunteered for multiple admission events, sharing experiences while helping others.

Her four years are defined by brave choices, constant trial and a willingness to help others. With an admission offer from Northwestern University’s materials graduate program, she is ready to step into a bright new chapter overseas.

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, Du Yuehuan