I. A Solo Beginning: Two Suitcases and One World
Beijing, I stood before the terminal at Capital Airport with two enormous suitcases, packed so full they were nearly bursting. It was the first time in my life I had ever been on an airplane, and the first time I had ever stepped outside my home country.
Looking back, I was so green I was practically clueless. Unable to travel with the main group for certain reasons, I chose a route with a layover at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. In the unfamiliar terminal, surrounded by a language I couldn't understand and watching the giant metal birds take off and land outside the window, my young heart was filled with both trepidation about the unknown world and a deep yearning for the distant "mecca of industry." I didn't realize then that these two heavy suitcases held not just my belongings, but a key jointly given to me by Tsinghua and RWTH Aachen—a key to unlock the door to a global perspective.
II. The Imprint of Aachen: Warmth and Rigor in Hardcore Industry
Arriving in Aachen felt like stepping into a mechanical engineering student's dream.
The professors here were not only academically brilliant but also exuded an elegance and rigor characteristic of an old industrial power in every gesture. The university hospital, with its industrial-pipe aesthetic, and the uniquely designed library all showcased Germany's ultimate pursuit of technology and order. I shuttled between academic buildings scattered across the city, studied for exams in libraries of various styles, experienced "set-it-up-as-you-go" badminton in the multipurpose gym, and gazed out over the territories of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium from the tower at the "Three-Country Point."
But life as an international student wasn't all serene moments at Neuschwanstein Castle and snowy Alpine views. I once sent out hundreds of internship applications only to have them vanish without a trace. During that frustrating period, I was incredibly grateful for the care from professors at both Tsinghua and Aachen. From the trivialities of applying for a dormitory to their everyday check-ins, this cross-border educational warmth made a student in a foreign land feel the comfort of home. Through our shared academic life, we also forged deep international friendships with outstanding classmates.
III. The Tide of the Times: Seeing the Light of Industry Amidst the Clamor
Looking back at 2016, it was a golden age of rising Sino-European trade and tightly interwoven globalization.
Yet, in that era, the frenzy surrounding finance and the internet made the industrial sector seem somewhat neglected. Standing on the soil of Germany, a long-established industrial power, and witnessing firsthand how advanced and precision manufacturing formed the backbone of a nation, I finally understood the true meaning of an "industrial powerhouse."
Everything I saw and heard in Germany acted as a shot in the arm, solidifying my confidence to put down roots in the industrial sector. That reverence for technology and patience for long-term investment was the most valuable lesson I learned in Aachen.
IV. A Decade's Return: The Timeless Resonance of the Tsinghua Spirit
I graduated with my master's degree in 2019, and several years have passed since. Looking back from the vantage point of 2026, the world has undergone earth-shattering changes: the new energy industry is flourishing, new energy vehicles are leapfrogging the competition, autonomous driving is making massive waves, and the AI and robotics revolution is sweeping the globe. The bewildered young man who was at a loss during his Moscow layover has grown into an engineer capable of independent thought amidst the torrent of our times.
I am grateful to my alma mater, Tsinghua, for pushing us out into the world at such a crucial age, allowing us to see the most beautiful sights and experience the most valuable setbacks. It is this "exposure" that allows us to maintain a sense of resolve in today's world of uncertainties—a deep-seated conviction that Chinese manufacturing and hard-tech industries will inevitably rise.
I want to say to my self of ten years ago: Those two heavy suitcases were well worth carrying.
Finally, I am deeply grateful to the professors of the Department of Mechanical Engineering for their care and for organizing this reunion for us, the alumni of the Tsinghua-Aachen program. See you on the Tsinghua campus on April 23.
Night of February 28, 2026
From my study at home, by the light of a lamp
By Zhou Yiming (Class of 2019, Senior Analyst, Strategic Planning, NIO Inc.)
