Meet Jessica Zhu (she/her)

Program and Location:

Spring, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Hong Kong, China

Major/Minor:

Graphic and Experience Design Major

Why did you choose to study abroad?

It was always something I always wanted to do while in university. It provides many new opportunities that learning in a traditional classroom doesn’t always offer and is a chance to live on the other side of the world.

What did you learn about yourself?

By putting myself out there in a new environment and knowing that I have come so far have helped build my confidence and independence. Surprisingly, it was easier to adapt than I had thought. I’ve also learned to make the most out of every situation.

What was one of your favorite parts of your program?

I loved every aspect of the exchange. It was interesting to observe the studio environment abroad contrasting it to NC State’s. Meeting locals and friends from all parts of the world was a highlight, it’s truly the people who make studying abroad so enriching! Engaging in conversation with various people allowed me to learn from their experiences and stories. I could not be more thankful for everyone I have met on the exchange. Beyond exploring Hong Kong, I also had the opportunity to visit Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Macau, Jeju Island, Vietnam, and Japan!

What advice do you have to future study abroad students?

Make every day count, time goes by way too fast. Expose yourself to everything and soak it all in!

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

In our classes abroad, on some days instead of lecture time we had tutorials in which we met in small groups or individually with the professor on the development of our projects. In the studio, there was more emphasis placed on the user’s experience, for example, the experience of our classmates when presenting our final projects to the class.

In one of the classes (Public Facility and Street Furniture), we had the privilege to do site visits to a furniture company as well as a Transitional Housing site. It was interesting and eye-opening to see the work environment and to learn about the local life when designing for public spaces. It was also my first product design class as a graphic design major, so it was a cool experience and I’m glad I got to take this abroad.

Would you do it again?

100% yes!