Chu Aixuan, an undergraduate student majoring in Chinese Language and Literature is about to graduate in July. She has been recommended to study at the School of International Education for her master’s degree and will devote her passion to promote the study of Chinese around the world.

Dare to do it, stay rooted in reality -- A practical yet innovative entrepreneur

Miss Chu opened her own flower shop when she was a junior. “The university is very supportive of the students’ entrepreneurial efforts, and I was at the point of putting what I have learnt into practice and doing something interesting.” Chu said when asked about her initiative to start a business.

She attended the first XuanHuai College Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Camp in 2016 which offered training courses for students on entrepreneurship and provided them the opportunity to present their ideas and earn angel investments. Due to her remarkable performance at the summer camp, Chu Aixuan won a 10,000 yuan Entrepreneurial Experience Fund to start her long-awaited entrepreneurial journey. She has always been fond of flowers and grass. Therefore, she spent her entire winter vacation undertaking professional training to be a florist and opened a shop called "Blossoming Life Accompanied by Flowers". Differing from traditional flower shops, her shop adopts an innovative philosophy of turning one-time purchasers into long-standing friends. She organized an online discussion group where her customers could learn floral knowledge and exchange ideas. In this way, Chu increases her customers’ satisfaction and cultivates a stable pool of customers.

Bearing in mind that innovation and entrepreneurship should be society-oriented, Chu was fully aware that most of her customers are from off-campus, and she located her shop accordingly despite having to commute between the new campus and the flower shop every day.

When she recalled the hardships she experienced at the first stage of her business, she commented that “I believe that the most important thing for us is to seize every opportunity and every platform to become a better person. There’s no need for young people like us to fear failures. A fall in a pit, a gain in your wit. Last but not the least, we should think more about our prospects without aiming too high. Ideals matter, but it’s down-to-earth work that will lead us to our destination.”

Seek the essence of life-- A girl of gifts and interests

“See more, experience more and feel more. We try our best to explore the world at an age when failure costs little. Then we may have some idea about what life we want to live.” Chu told the reporter about her life creed.

Chu was the former principal Bamboo Pipe flautist in the Peiyang Folk Orchestra on campus. “Playing the flute has been my hobby since I was 5 years old. Weekly practice is a hard task, yet it is amazing to practice playing and enjoy wonderful music with my peers.”

In addition to Peiyang Folk Orchestra, Chu Aixuan also performed very well in other student clubs. She acted as both anchor and producer in Peiyang Voice which is in charge of campus broadcast during the first two years in college. She started a music program and won great popularity among audience.

Promote Chinese culture-- A conveyor of intercultural communication

Before she starts her postgraduate study, Chu Aixuan applied to be a volunteer Chinese teacher in Confucius Institutes and was admitted. She will head off for the Confucius Institute of Pontifical Catholic University in Rio, Brazil, in July and work there for one year. "I think this is not only a professional internship, but also a good opportunity to experience another life style!" Chu looks forward to the coming journey with great passion. She has already laid out her teaching plans in Brazil. Apart from daily lectures, she will also create a course teaching Chinese bamboo flute in the hope of deepening students’ understanding of Chinese culture. She said that she felt great being a conveyor of intercultural communication.

“It is my dream to inherit and enrich Chinese culture and promote it globally. This is, as I call it, the responsibility a liberal arts student should shoulder.”

"Make clear of what you want to achieve, then do not hesitate to try every possibility in your life." Chu Aixuan said emotionally. She also strives hard to fulfil her dreams and goals by practical actions. Only by seizing opportunities that broaden your mind, can you enjoy your youth and live a meaningful life in this glorious era.

By Pan Congcong & Lin Ruoqiong

Editors: Yin Wei & Doris Harrington