Self Introduction

Zhiyu Jiang

Hello!

My name is Zhiyu Jiang, Zhiyu pronounces like G-U. I was born in Beijing and lived there until I came to study in Buffalo. My undergraduate degree is Elementary Education, I just got it in Beijing last year. I also minored in Psychology and Chinese Calligraphy in the past three years. I will graduate with a concentration in Gifted and Talented Education in this semester. The experience of studying abroad has influenced me a lot, I was starting to think about the diversity in this world and the background influences to the individual.

Last year, I went to Cambodia and Costa Rica as a volunteer to did humanitarian and childcare project for several weeks. In Cambodia, I heard kids sing London Bridge Is Falling Down in slum, where the person may never able to get out. In Costa Rica, I saw many donated broken toys in children’s welfare institute (where they called daycare). In my point of view, they were wasting their precious early childhood period to play useless toys with no choice. I think those experiences are more useful for me than what I did for them. I realized the huge gap in education with different environment, and eager to explore how to utilize current resources to better educate children. I like a quote which says education is only equal if each student is learning.

In my personal life, I like to explore delicious food and travel to explore different environment & foods. I love shows; my current goal is going to watch Hamilton in Broadway theater. I like critical thinking and I am full of curiosity but I’m not independence enough, I think it’s so cool if I can handle everything in my life.

I found that with I get to know more about this world, the world becomes smaller with the connections built. Good to see you in this small world.