Getting accepted into college is often seen as the end of a journey; yet, once we actually step onto campus, we gradually realize that it might just be the beginning of a new chapter in life. On April 17, Xinya College hosted Ms. Zheng Yajun, author of After Success in College Admission Examination and a faculty member at the College of Educational Sciences of Northwest Normal University, for a gathering where she joined students to discuss the uncertainties, choices, and personal growth in college life. The collective talk was convened by Lin Hele, an undergraduate from the Class of 2028 majoring in Politics, Economics, and Philosophy at Xinya College. Professor Mei Ciqi, Dean of Xinya College, attended the event, which drew over 50 students from both within and outside the university.

Lin Hele began by explaining that he initiated the collective talk after noticing that he and his peers shared a general sense of confusion about college life. Through dialogue with the faculty and students present, he hoped to explore topics deeply relevant to everyone: how to cope with uncertainty in college, how to choose a direction in life, and what the true meaning of college life is.

Zheng Yajun candidly shared that students newly admitted to prestigious universities often experience a feeling that "they don't deserve it," noting that this is not an isolated case but a widespread phenomenon. After being admitted to Fudan University, she too struggled with "impostor syndrome" for a long time, feeling unworthy of the university's prestige. Throughout her undergraduate years, she constantly pushed herself to keep up with her peers, terrified of being seen as an unqualified Fudan student. After years of conducting research in higher education, Zheng Yajun concluded that this struggle stems from the gap between expectations and reality. Social labels like a new city, a new environment, outstanding peers, and the prestige of an elite university may create wonderful expectations, but overly high expectations can easily become a source of stress.

Zheng went on to share that it took her ten years to finally come to terms with herself. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Hong Kong, a combination of circumstances led her to take up a position at a university in Lanzhou. For someone who had long lived in the aura of elite universities, this was previously unimaginable. However, it was precisely during this process of "halo dilution" that she gradually realized: the world is vast, and everyone has their own unique path in life. In her view, the growth that college brings lies precisely in those setbacks, confusion, and struggles. When expectations fall short, and self-identity is challenged, we can bravely stop living by others' standards and rewrite a life narrative uniquely our own. This process is bound to be painful, but it may serve as a genuine opportunity for growth.

In response to the enthusiastic questions from the students present, Zheng provided candid and sincere answers to each: when feeling intimidated by social interactions, it helps to treat others with sincerity and respect, reminding oneself that everyone is just an ordinary person and our lives are not that different. The emotional ups and downs of connecting with others are not a sign of weakness, but rather proof of vitality. The willingness to invest emotionally and endure loss is, in her view, the most authentic state of life. Growth does not require deliberately conforming to rules, nor does it necessitate completely rebelling against them; instead, one should try to carve out space in a rule-bound world to explore one's inner self.

Finally, Professor Mei expressed his gratitude to Zheng for her candid insights. He urged the students present not to be held hostage by a single set of values, nor to be swayed by the astonishment of others. Earnestly pursuing meaningful endeavors is perhaps more worthy of recognition than blindly following popular trends. The value of life lies not in a perpetual label of excellence, but in those truly shining, monumental moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.