Southeast University Graduate | Ma Xiaoshuang: Making Four Years at SEU a “Customized“ Mode

Name: Ma Xiaoshuang

College: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Further Study: Direct PhD Program, Tsinghua University

Student work experience

Formerly served as the Director of the Practice Department of the Student Union Committee of Southeast University

Deputy Secretary of the Student Union Committee of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Minister of the Practice Department of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Secretary of the 193201 Youth League Branch and Guidance for Class 19Q221

Received awards

More than 30 national, provincial, and university level awards have been presented, including the Jiangsu Province Three Good Student Award, Southeast University President Scholarship, Southeast University Three Good Student Model, Cao Chuanxin Scholarship, Southeast University Outstanding Communist Youth League Cadre Award, and Southeast University Excellent Student Award.

Ma Xiaoshuang's undergraduate career vividly illustrates what "unlimited" growth is. She has a solid foundation in professional learning, consistently maintaining a high GPA of 4.0 or above, breaking 90 points in 48 compulsory courses, and ranking first in her major comprehensively. But that's not all, she's more of an exploratory 'slash youth'.

Ma Xiaoshuang actively participates in scientific research competitions while studying his major, leading his team to achieve excellent results in national level competitions such as energy conservation and emission reduction, mathematical modeling, etc. What's even cooler is that she cleverly introduced mathematical modeling thinking into chemical research, using data models to break down complex chemical problems. In her senior year, she published an SCI paper as the first author, completing a beautiful transformation from a "competition expert" to an "academic newcomer". For her, the charm of interdisciplinary learning lies not in "knowing two types of knowledge", but in using new thinking to re understand the familiar world, which is the precious gift given to her by Dongda.

Student work and volunteer service are another aspect of Ma Xiaoshuang's college life. From organizing large-scale events at the school level to reviewing hundreds of push notifications, from leading the Youth League branch to win awards for excellent projects, to serving as the executive commissioner of Southeast University for the national "Cloud Teaching Support" activity, organizing thousands of volunteers... She is not simply "completing tasks", but learning how to make a team operate efficiently and how to make everyone's value visible.

Accumulating 180 hours of volunteer service, she deeply realized that 'the more you contribute to others, the wider your world will be'. The sense of responsibility, communication skills, and project management abilities honed through these experiences are equally important as the rigorous thinking cultivated in the laboratory, jointly shaping her way of viewing the world and solving problems.

With comprehensive literacy, Ma Xiaoshuang chose to follow his inner voice and pursue a doctoral degree directly at Tsinghua University.

During her year at Tsinghua University, she continued her proactive exploration attitude and received multiple honors such as the Future Scholar Scholarship. Her story is not a myth about "balance", but a vivid example of "choice" and "integration" - organically embedding different experiences into the growth trajectory, focusing on core goals at each stage, dynamically adjusting, and thus mastering the rhythm of one's own life.

Q&A

Q: You have performed exceptionally well in both academic research and student work as well as volunteer services. May I ask how you manage to balance these aspects? What are some practical time management tips?

A: In fact, I'm not "balancing many things", but rather "naturally embedding these things into life". For me, learning is the foundation, while student work, scientific research competitions and volunteer services are the ways that allow me to see a broader dimension of the world. During my four years in university, I gradually developed a principle: at each stage, I only focused on one or two truly important goals and devoted my energy to the most core aspects. In terms of time management, I have three small habits: First, break down each day into small pieces. I will break down the matters related to study, research and meetings into small tasks that can be accomplished, so that I can always get into the right state of mind. Second, clarify priorities. For instance, as the exam week approaches, study comes first. During the final sprint period of the competition, I will communicate with my teachers and peers in advance to concentrate my time. Third, instead of pursuing "perfect balance", one should aim for "dynamic adjustment". Sometimes when students are busy with work, I arrange my research in the evenings or on weekends. Sometimes at critical juncts of scientific research, I would reduce my participation in activities. These habits made my college life not "arranged", but rather I actively chose every worthwhile thing to do. Looking back, this process of "self-management" is more valuable than the outcome.

Q: May I ask if you have any suggestions for students who want to participate in scientific research competitions? And you combine mathematics with chemistry. Has the combination of the two been of any help to you in your studies and research?

A: I have always believed in a saying: "Act first, and then find your direction in the process of action." For students who don't know how to start, I usually offer three suggestions: First, begin with projects or courses around you. For instance, SRTP, the research group of the supervisor, and competitions organized by the college are all low-threshold entry points. Second, find someone who is willing to take you along. Mentors, senior students, and cooperative teammates can all provide you with the first step of guidance. Third, choose a direction that makes you "want to take a second look". Things you are interested in will keep you going for a longer time. In terms of interdisciplinary studies, the greatest gain I have made from the mathematical modeling competition is the ability to abstract chemical problems into mathematical ones - for instance, dynamic processes can be described by equations and material changes can be fitted with data. When I brought the ideas of mathematical modeling back to chemical research, I found myself better at: abstracting the essence of problems, designing verifiable experiments, and processing data more systematically. This provided me with great help when I was writing my thesis and conducting research later on. Interdisciplinary studies do not mean "mastering two kinds of knowledge", but rather viewing familiar fields with a different way of thinking. This is one of the greatest gifts that Southeast University has given me.

Q: May I ask what the greatest growth your student work and volunteer service experiences have brought you? Which abilities do you think have been cultivated through these experiences will be crucial for your future research or career?

A: The greatest growth these experiences have brought me is a sense of responsibility and the ability to "see others".In my student work, I was not merely doing tasks; for the first time, I truly understood the meaning of "organization" : making information flow more smoothly, giving the team more direction, and enabling everyone to be seen and realize their value. Volunteer service has taught me the importance of empathy, patience and long-term commitment. Especially during the "Cloud Teaching Together, Welcoming the Winter Olympics Together" activity, facing over 1,500 volunteers, I had to constantly communicate, coordinate and solve problems. That made me realize for the first time: the more you give to others, the broader your world will be. These abilities will be crucial in both future research and the workplace, such as communication skills: Research is also a form of collaboration between people. One must be able to speak clearly and explicitly. Stress resistance and adaptability: Large-scale events have honed my ability to handle unexpected situations. Project management: Scientific research projects and event planning are very similar, both requiring a sense of rhythm and overall planning. Leadership and execution ability: Capable of leading a team as well as taking the lead on one's own. It can be said that student work has shaped my "way" of doing things, and scientific research has shaped my "method" of viewing the world. Both have profoundly influenced me today. The abilities I acquired during my undergraduate studies have enabled me to adapt well to various activities at Tsinghua University and have helped me win some awards.

Q: For younger students who also want to choose a direct doctoral program, do you have any suggestions for them?

A: For students who want to choose a direct doctoral program, I have three suggestions: First, make sure you truly love research itself rather than being attracted by the "path". Direct doctoral studies are a long-term commitment, and interest will become the most stable driving force. Second, communicate more with your supervisor and senior students. Understanding the real pace of scientific research and the team atmosphere is more important than the title. Third, take a longer-term perspective. Direct doctoral studies are neither shortcuts nor pressures; rather, they are a choice for long-term growth. If you are willing to invest time, thought and enthusiasm, it will be a very worthwhile journey.

Graduate Message

Finally, I would like to tell my younger schoolmates that the four years of university are not a journey of "completing tasks", but a process of gradually getting to know oneself. Everyone has their own pace and direction, so there's no need to be overly anxious about others running fast, nor to rush to think through the future all at once. What matters is that you are willing to give yourself a chance to try - even if it's a very small thing, a new club, a competition, a research experience, or even a decision to step out of your comfort zone. I also want to remind everyone: It's more important to keep doing one thing well than to do a lot. It is more important to persist for a long time and accumulate gradually than to stand out all at once. Every step you take will become the reason why you can shine one day in the future. May all of you truly love life from the bottom of your hearts, remain curious, bravely explore, and encounter a more determined, gentle and confident self in the future.