In the mind of Zeng Xinxun, his SUSTech story starts in June of 2011, when he was in his second year of high school. He heard about SUSTech and its mission to explore a new path in higher education.
“I still remember clearly the first time I came to SUSTech. I bought a ticket to Shenzhen, but the first time I came to SUSTech, the diligent security guard refused to let me in. My curiosity and yearning for SUSTech made me do something rash but was truly important – I climbed over the fence. Once I was over the wall, I met Wu Zishan, and with her help, I was able to get onto campus three times, met other students, and attended several classes. At that point, I decided that I had to come to SUSTech for my university studies. ”
One year later, Zeng Xinxun had earned his admission to SUSTech. When he came to enroll, the security guard that had stopped him the first time was still there, and welcomed him back. “The wall-jumper is back, and he’s coming through the gate.”
Reflecting on his initial interactions with SUSTech, it is clear that his temperament and spirit matches that of SUSTech. It is the logical reason for him wanting to suspend his studies to start a business. With the influence of his father, Zeng Xinxun discovered the business opportunities behind Internet catering in his sophomore year, in 2013. Working with other classmates, they started the business.
The business started to take shape, and the partners then came to a new challenge. If they wanted to move the business forward, they would have to suspend their studies to focus on their business. Inspired by the entrepreneurial culture of American college students, Zeng Xinxun opted to continue the business, at a time when WeChat was in its infancy and Internet catering had not yet taken off to the extent it has today.
Nanfeng Take-Out Service now covers 10 institutes of higher education in 4 cities (Shenzhen, Huizhou, Dongguan, and Wenzhou), with nearly 100 employees turning over 10 million RMB per year. Zeng Xinxun was also interviewed by Guangdong media as a student entrepreneur. He believes that his choice was derived from the spirit of Shenzhen and the spirit of SUSTech, which encourages students to “dare to try.” Zeng Xinxun specifically thanked President Chen Shiyi for extending the graduation policy for him by one year, which allowed him the opportunity to continue his entrepreneurial pursuits.
In his three years of running Nanfeng Take-Out Service, Zeng Xinxun learned an enormous amount. However, shifts in the market saw the development of the company slower than anticipated, and Zhen Xinxun made a crucial discovery. It is not just about starting the journey; it is also about working out when to end the journey.
In his mind, society is a place of learning. He was able to truly understand his own heart and what he lacked. “Even if I have a restless soul, I have to do everything well, so I can reach the other side in the right way.” Out of a sense of nostalgia for his tutors and friends, combined with a thirst for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the importance of learning, Zeng Xinxun found that returning to SUSTech was the best decision for him.
“When I dreamed of starting a business, I was waiting to leave university. When I dreamed of returning to university, SUSTech welcomed me back with open arms.” This tolerance and understanding that SUSTech provided him, embedded in its spiritual pillars of “Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” allowed him to start a business, and then return to his academic pursuits.
When he got back to SUSTech, Zeng Xinxun did not have particularly good grades. However, he had learned that this should not be considered as a problem but as an opportunity. His academics were no longer a burden but an opening to improve himself with a new mindset. Taking a fresh approach to his studies, Zeng Xinxun worked exceptionally hard, pushing his GPA all the way to 3.8
On returning to SUSTech, Zeng Xinxun dedicated himself to his studies. “The Department of Computer Science and Engineering has a very challenging curriculum, with many classic projects as homework. I always pushed myself to think independently instead of finding open source answers online. For one project, I worked 40 hours non-stop.”
He also developed an interest for scientific research. In 2017, Zeng Xinxun joined the research group of Assistant Professor Tang Bo and took part in the ACM SIGSPATIAL Cup algorithm competition. Zeng Xinxun developed a reputation for being the last to leave on a consistent basis, noting that Assistant Professor Tang Bo required a rigorous approach to everything the team did. The entire team was very supportive, with everyone working together to publish a CCF-A paper as undergraduate students.
Looking back at the rewarding experiences of his time at SUSTech, Zeng Xinxun nominated his time as a teaching assistant in four different classes within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He also developed a battle platform for the AI class and produced top courseware for the OS class. Zeng Xinxun also helped develop several websites for university departments. He never had to check attendance in his classes, as they were always full and exceptionally well reviewed, to the point of winning the Outstanding Student Assistant Award for the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
“SUSTech trained me, so I wanted to give back. I hoped that I can teach what I have learned to contribute to SUSTech.” He compared himself to others that have grown up alongside SUSTech. He noted that SUSTech has changed significantly in the 8 years he has been involved with it.
As the undergraduate representative, Zeng Xinxun spoke on Friday at the Commencement Ceremony. He was emotional when thanking SUSTech for his personal growth. “Choosing SUSTech was the best decision I have ever made. The road is now growing wider, with my future diverging into infinite paths.
