When Zheng Shiyi first arrived at Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), she struggled to keep up with English instruction. Four years later, she graduated among the top five students in her major, achieved an IELTS score of 7.5, and received offers from several world-renowned universities.
Her journey was anything but effortless.
Zheng Shiyi
Class of 2026, Department of Management
Offer: Master of Science in Digital Health and Entrepreneurship, University College London;
Master of Public Health, University of Hong Kong
As a first-year student majoring in Marketing Management, Zheng often sat in the front row, relying on translation tools while taking notes in class. Yet adapting to both the language and academic environment proved difficult. At the end of her first semester, she failed Calculus.
“I didn’t even know what an ‘F’ meant at first,” she recalled with a laugh. “But seeing everyone else doing well made me realise I had to change.”
Fortunately, she was not alone. After the setback, Dr Jiang Na from her Mentor Caring Programme offered encouragement and support, helping her rebuild confidence step by step.
Zheng also began adjusting her study habits. Instead of multitasking during lectures, she focused on understanding concepts in class and organised her notes afterwards. For humanities-related subjects, she created hand-drawn mind maps to connect ideas. For quantitative courses, she practised extensively through problem-solving.
By her second year, she had developed an effective learning rhythm. Her GPA steadily rose from 2.5 to 3.62, earning her a university-level first-class scholarship along the way.
Zheng with Dr Wang Peng from BNBU's Faculty of Business and Management
Outside the classroom, BNBU’s project-based learning environment became another important training ground. Over time, she learned how to collaborate more effectively, divide tasks strategically, and communicate with empathy.
“These experiences taught me how to work with people, solve problems under pressure, and lead a team,” she said.
Zheng joined BNBU Student Union in her first year
The skills later helped her quickly adapt to internships at leading global companies including L’Oréal, McKinsey & Company, Chanel, and Ogilvy. Through these roles, she gained hands-on experience in marketing strategy, data analysis, short-video campaigns, and market research across industries ranging from luxury retail to healthcare.
Zheng's internship at L’Oréal
Behind her growth, Zheng credits the support she received from BNBU faculty and classmates. Professors encouraged her to apply boldly to top universities and patiently guided her through postgraduate applications, while close teammates became lifelong friends through countless late nights spent preparing presentations, competitions, and projects together.
Looking back, Zheng believes BNBU gave her much more than academic achievements.
“It taught me how to think independently, communicate with others, and keep exploring beyond my comfort zone,” she said.
Now preparing to pursue further studies at The University of Hong Kong, Zheng hopes to continue exploring the field of digital health.
Her story carries a simple message for students still feeling uncertain: growth does not happen overnight. Sometimes, it begins simply with saying, “Let me try one more time.”
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Photos provided by the interviewee
Video: Cecilia Yu, Juan Rengifo
