Kong Dewen, male, Han nationality, born in June 2003, is a member of the Communist Youth League and a 2020-level undergraduate student at the School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Energy Power Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology. He has served as the assistant class advisor of Class Ocean Engineering 2302 (2023 cohort) and a member of the school volleyball team. He has been awarded honors such as the National Scholarship, University Model Student Pacesetter, and Outstanding Athlete in the "Ligong Cup" Volleyball League.
Stay True to the Original Aspiration, Keep Passion Alive
Kong Dewen knows that the enthusiasm upon entering university is like fireworks; the key to keeping it forever bright lies in our passion for life. And in this process, maintaining passion for studies is even more crucial.
In the relatively leisurely college life, without the supervision of teachers or parents, when the freshness fades, what follows is not only the temptation to slack off academically but also a life made pale by idleness. He believes that during his college years, he has maintained passion for life and worked tirelessly for his future.
Since enrollment, while exploring every aspect of college life, Kong Dewen has never relaxed his demands on himself. He makes careful and rational use of every minute in class; after class, in addition to the required evening study sessions, he also sets aside sufficient time for self-study to master knowledge in detail and thoroughly. The learning process is often tedious, but he has integrated his vision for the future into it. Figuring out how to use existing knowledge to prepare for the days ahead is the key to his positive attitude toward every course.
Kong Dewen understands that everything has inertia, especially learning. Professional courses are often both challenging and in-depth, requiring ample time to comprehend. Learning demands focus—when you realize time has flown by and you’ve moved from Chapter 1 to Chapter 10, the sense of gain is substantial and fulfilling.
As a result, he has ranked first in his major for two consecutive academic years and topped the major in average GPA over three years. Looking back on these three years, what he believes most in is the meaning of persistence and effort.
Engage in Scientific Innovation, Be Sincere to Oneself
Life moves so fast these days that we often forget to have a good chat with ourselves. Listening to his own voice and being sincere to himself is the main theme of his college life. He believes that learning is not the entirety of university, nor of his life. Beyond academics, he has firm pursuits and devotes corresponding efforts to them.
Kong Dewen has always aspired to the practice and transformation of knowledge—rigid knowledge can only realize its value when applied to solving practical problems. Thus, he joined undergraduate innovation teams led by several professors in his major, participated in the "One Class, One Project" initiative for two years, and led a national college student innovation and entrepreneurship training program. He also took part in competitions such as the National College Student Transportation Science and Technology Competition and the National Marine Vehicle Design and Production Competition. In this process, he not only gained academic knowledge, professional skills, patents, and papers but also developed new perspectives on problem-solving.
Scientific innovation competitions are tedious. When stuck in a bottleneck, one can only "sit through the bench": read numerous papers, wait for a flash of inspiration, communicate effectively with teammates. There may be disagreements, or days of all-nighters with little progress. But when the task is finally completed, Kong Dewen and his teammates, with tired eyes wide open, feel it’s all worth it. He considers himself lucky to have such a great team.
As a result, during his time at university, he completed one first-author paper (pending submission), applied for 6 invention patents (3 authorized, 3 under review), and won awards including the national second prize in the 11th National Marine Vehicle Design and Production Competition, the national first prize in the 12th iteration of the same competition, and the second prize in the 2022 14th "Huazhong Cup" College Student Mathematical Modeling Challenge.
Participate in Work, Dedicate Through Volunteering
"Passion for various undertakings is the remedy for inevitable setbacks and hardships." Beyond academics, active participation in volunteer services and student work has brought him not only valuable experience but also friendships and insights.
During his freshman year, Kong Dewen served as a member of the College’s Psychological Quality Development Association. Work here became part of his daily life—meetings, Psychological Quality Development Month events, and press releases. On every tired evening, walking on campus, he felt incredibly fortunate—grateful for meeting these friends and for being able to make a difference. That year, whether volunteering at the Wuhan Science and Technology Museum or participating in epidemic prevention voluntary service during winter break, he repeatedly marveled at life’s reward: the courage to pursue.
Serving as vice president of the Wuhan University of Technology Volleyball Association in 2022 was a new challenge. Managing an association of nearly 1,000 people—organizing orientations, preparing competitions, maintaining equipment—honed his practical skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving thinking. Looking back on that busy year, thinking of afternoons playing volleyball and looking at group photos from events, he is grateful to the version of himself who took on this role, gaining wonderful college memories.
Hailing from an ordinary small county in Henan Province, Kong Dewen often wondered what he could do for this simple, honest place. After entering university, he gradually found a way. He is grateful to volunteer teams for giving him the opportunity to participate in epidemic prevention, information entry for self-built and dilapidated houses, and more. Listening to the familiar dialects unheard on campus, helping these familiar or unfamiliar faces, and receiving the "Outstanding Volunteer" certificate, he seemed to have found a sense of belonging and gains that are uniquely his own.
Pursue Passions, Achieve All-Round Development
Beyond academics, research, and work, Kong Dewen also values physical fitness and sports. Upon entering university, he had poor physical condition, struggling to run even 2 kilometers. He chose to face this challenge head-on, persisting in long-distance running—gradually increasing from 3 kilometers. When he finished his first 10-kilometer run near the Navigation Building, he felt he was seeing a new version of himself. His excellent physical test results are a testament to this.
Volleyball has always been a sport he admired, but he didn’t get the chance to play until his sophomore year. A opportunity let him volunteer to join a volleyball group, starting his journey with the sport. Having never played before, extra practice, doubled efforts, constant reflection, learning from seniors in games became his routine outside busy studies. He believes that sincerity toward oneself and things always yields rewards. Eventually, he represented the college in the 11th and 12th "Ligong Cup" Volleyball Leagues, finishing 5th and 4th in the men’s group respectively, and was named Outstanding Athlete in the 11th league.
Grateful for Failures, Move Forward Steadily
Yang Xuefan wrote in From Dusk to Dawn, "I write slowly, knowing that words can’t be eaten as food." People interpret this differently; for Kong Dewen, "writing slowly" teaches him to move forward better.
Failures in competitions and some exams have occurred in his life. They often discouraged him, making him lament the occasional emptiness of life. But he understands that becoming a better self doesn’t necessarily require walking a long, painful road alone. Whether smooth or tough, he is grateful for every experience. Even when hurt, what matters is not healing but living with scars. He knows that every stage of experience drives him, shaping him into the decent person he is today. He is glad to have lived authentically, never standing still.
Over these busy three years, Kong Dewen has constantly asked himself what he truly wants—no fake efforts, no pursuit of others’ praise. He only chases what interests him: academics, scientific innovation, student work, volunteer activities, or sports in his free time. He says, "What you desire is the best." Thus, he has mastered a range of software and office skills, improved his physique, made many teachers and friends, and gained today’s insights.
"I’m not very strong, but I strive not to be fragile. I look forward to every small happiness. So I walk slowly, cherishing everyone I meet along the way—grateful where I should be, forgiving where I should be. Not everyone will enter my story, but I hold deep respect for those who do. I’m just an ordinary person. Thank you for appearing in my world. So I write slowly, not in a hurry. I walk slowly, but never stop."
