By Areeba Younis

Date: 14 August 2026

Master’s Program, School of Economics and Management

Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China

A year can be measured in months, semesters and examinations. But for an international student, it can also be measured in first experiences: the first unfamiliar meal, the first Chinese conversation, the first research challenge, the first friendship, and the first moment when a foreign city begins to feel like home.

My experience at Yanshan University has taught me to see a year differently. The changing seasons of Qinhuangdao have become more than changes in weather. They have become markers of my own transformation.

Spring: Beginning Again

Spring arrived with a sense of possibility. The campus gradually became greener, and with it came the feeling that something new was beginning.

Starting life as an international graduate student meant learning to navigate an unfamiliar academic environment while adapting to a different culture and language. At first, even ordinary routines required attention.

But spring taught me that beginnings do not need to be perfect. They simply need to begin.

At Yanshan University, classrooms, libraries and conversations with classmates gradually became familiar. What initially felt unfamiliar slowly became part of everyday life.

Summer: Discovering Beyond the Classroom

Summer brought a different rhythm. Qinhuangdao’s coastal environment encouraged me to explore beyond the university.

The sea, city streets, and surrounding attractions reminded me that studying abroad is not confined to lecture halls. Some of the most memorable lessons came while experiencing everyday Chinese life.

Meeting people, observing local customs and exploring the city helped me understand China from a perspective that textbooks cannot provide.

Summer taught me curiosity: the willingness to step outside what is familiar and discover what lies beyond it.

Autumn: The Season of Research

Autumn brought me back toward my academic goals.

Graduate research requires patience. Questions become complicated, data can be difficult to interpret, and an idea that looks simple at first may require weeks of reflection.

My research interests in artificial intelligence, human resource management and the future workplace have encouraged me to think about how technology is changing organizations and people’s working lives.

At Yanshan University, research has become more than an academic requirement. It has become a way of learning how to question assumptions and look for solutions.

Autumn taught me persistence: progress is often invisible before it becomes measurable.

Winter: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Winter changes the appearance of Qinhuangdao. The pace becomes quieter, and the year seems to invite reflection.

Looking back, I realize   that the biggest change was  not simply what I learned academically. It was how I learned to see myself.

I became more comfortable asking questions, participating in discussions, working across cultural differences and accepting challenges as part of growth.

The student who arrived with expectations gradually became a researcher with new ambitions.

Winter taught me reflection: sometimes we need to pause to recognize how far we have travelled.

One Year, Many Lessons

My year in China cannot be reduced to a list of achievements. It is a collection of ordinary moments that gradually changed me.

Spring taught me to begin. Summer taught me to explore. Autumn taught me to persist.

Winter taught me to reflect.

Together, they created something more valuable than a calendar year: a journey of personal and academic growth.

For international students, studying abroad is often described as an educational opportunity. My experience at Yanshan University has shown me that it is also an opportunity to become more adaptable, curious and globally minded.

A year passes quickly. But when every season brings a new lesson, 365 days can become the beginning of a completely different future.