For Russian freshman Kseniia Kozhukhova, also known by her Chinese name 林墨涵, coming to ECUST is more than the beginning of a university education. It is the next chapter of a journey shaped by her fascination with the Chinese language, culture and a desire to connect China with the wider world.
As the international student representative at ECUST’s opening ceremony, Kseniia shared her story in fluent Mandarin. Drawing inspiration from the guqin, the traditional Chinese seven-stringed instrument, she described her understanding of cultural diversity: each string has its own voice, but only when they resonate with one another can they create a complete melody.
“We are different, yet together we create something beautiful,” she said.
Kseniia’s connection with China began with Chinese characters. As her language skills grew, so did her curiosity about the culture behind them. Her journey eventually brought her to Shanghai and ECUST, where she chose to major in Business Administration.
Today, she is part of a diverse international community at ECUST comprising more than 1,100 students from over 100 countries. International students pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees across a broad range of disciplines while experiencing life in one of China’s most dynamic and internationally connected cities.
For Kseniia, studying in China is also closely connected to her future. After graduation, she hopes to return to Russia and manage a Chinese-language school, combining her interest in education with the management knowledge she gains at ECUST.
“If every Chinese teacher is a string, I want to be the tuner,” she said. “I want to help more strings vibrate together and play China’s stories to the world.”
From learning her first Chinese characters to beginning university life in Shanghai, Kseniia’s journey reflects what studying abroad can become: not simply an academic experience, but an opportunity to discover another culture, build meaningful connections and find a path toward the future.
