Hometown: Chengdu, China
Major: Economics
Why I love Armstrong: The philosophy of the teachers that encourage you to open up and get to know the world.
Best advice: Before you come to the states improve your English as much as you can because that will help you maintain better grades.
Favorite Pirate Experience: Hanging out with friends and enjoying the friendly, enthusiastic, optimistic, and energetic people.
Growing up in Chengdu, capital of China’s Sichuan province, Wei Zeng knew he wanted to attend university in America. While working on a 3-year college degree in his hometown, he heard about Armstrong from a professor at Sichuan University. In the past, Sichuan had been a destination for Armstrong study abroad programs.
Since arriving at Armstrong in 2008, Zeng has been studying economics under the wing of professor Richard McGrath. “He’s a funny guy,” says Wei, who welcomes the humor and finds life in America refreshing, even “awesome.”
“People here are optimistic and energetic. They ask you to give it your best shot,” Wei said.
Choosing his own classes and schedule is a luxury he didn’t have in China. His classes — he wants to be an accountant — and his jobs on campus — whether he’s tutoring math or working at the Armstrong Center — keep him busy.
“Life is fast, busy, but there’s a lot of freedom,” Wei says.
He chills out by playing intramural soccer, which he’s crazy about. He also served as president of the International Student Organization, which, among other things, helps to organizes a campus-wide International Week each fall.
Wei believes that one of the reasons he is succeeding at Armstrong is because he has worked hard on improving his English after arriving at the university.
“How good your life is depends on how good your English is,” he said. “If your English is good enough then everything is honky dory.”