Peking University, June 19, 2024: Every year, Peking University (PKU) celebrates the graduation of thousands of students, each with a unique journey. The "Graduation Portraits" exhibition, recently held on campus, showcases their achievements and experiences through photos taken by the South Gate Photo Studio, a student-run initiative at PKU's School of Journalism and Communication. 

Here, graduates can have their photos taken for free, with equipment and props provided. Through these pictures and their personal narratives, we explore the diverse paths they’ve taken, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the lessons they’ve learned. We aim to understand how their time at PKU has shaped them and, in turn, how they’ve contributed to the University community.

In this story, let's hear from Huang Rong, who will soon graduate from the School of Journalism and Communication before embarking on her career at the PKU Library. 

Huang Rong at South Gate Photo Studio

Huang Rong will graduate alongside thousands of other master’s students in just a couple of weeks. However, her graduation photos won’t capture a bittersweet farewell to Peking University. Instead, they’ll mark the beginning of a new chapter — one that sees her returning to these hallowed halls, not as a student, but as a valued member of the PKU Library staff.

Huang found herself at PKU as a result of “being a very good student for 17 years.” While pursuing her master's degree, she dabbled in the research of Natural Language Processing (NLP), delving into the study of semantics, syntax, information retrieval, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational technology.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a popular term. Specifically, ChatGPT, created by OpenAI, has made a significant impact globally, including in university classrooms. It has transformed our learning and daily lives, a change that Huang Rong highlighted.

Motivated by a desire to improve educational practices and enhance learning outcomes, Huang decided to do her master’s thesis on the integration of AI tools in educational content. This was not without its challenges. The rapid advancement of AI technology required Huang to continuously update her research materials and case studies. Given how new AI was in the field, there was little literature containing practical examples of effective AI integration in education. Finding a definitive way to evaluate the actual impact of AI tools on education was also difficult. Nonetheless, she persevered.

Internship pictures

It should come as no surprise, then, that Huang will be taking on a position in the PKU Library, given her interest in AI and technology. She has a well-decorated resume, having completed internships at ByteDance and other AI labs, even exploring the venture capital scene. She recalls occasionally receiving messages from excited juniors who recognized her name on various documents she completed as an intern. During her internships, Huang would often work until 3 AM, pushing herself to her limits. Her hard work paid off, as she received multiple offers from various companies.

Yet, in what she calls her “aha moment,” Huang realized that she wanted to stay at PKU. She describes PKU as the place where she not only learned but also grew and found herself. She wants more than “to just leave my name at the bottom of documents.” She desires “the ability to contribute to the passing on of knowledge.” Most importantly, she sees the PKU Library as a space to “continue to grow” and “continue to explore,” passing on her love for knowledge and passion to future generations of students.

To Huang, “the world is a vast ocean with countless harbors to dock at. But sail long enough, and between the clouds, mountains, and other beautiful scenery, you might just find yourself.”

This story is featured in PKU News' "Graduation 2024" series.

Written by: Glenda Ho
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Photos by: Courtesy of Huang Rong; School of Journalism and Communication