Chen Yuzhang, a member of the Communist Party of China, is a 2021-level undergraduate student majoring in Marine Engineering at the School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Energy Power Engineering. He has served as a part-time deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee of the college and monitor of Class Marine Engineering ZY2102. He has won 9 honors and awards, including the National Scholarship, University Outstanding Communist Youth League Cadre, and University Merit Student. He has also claimed 6 innovation and entrepreneurship competition awards, such as the national silver award in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (2024), the national first prize in the National Business Elites Challenge Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and the national special prize in the 13th National Marine Vehicle Design and Production Competition. He has been recommended for admission to Huazhong University of Science and Technology to pursue a doctoral degree directly.
Firming Beliefs, Cultivating the "Source Power" for Excellence and Progress
"There is no royal road to learning; diligence is the path, and hardship is the boat." Upon entering university, without the supervision of parents and teachers, Chen Yuzhang did not take his studies seriously. He always thought of what his high school teachers said: "You can play freely once you enter university," and believed he could get by with his high school knowledge. At the end of his first semester of freshman year, he ranked 121st in his major, falling behind from the start. Later, at an outstanding student report meeting organized by the college, he was deeply inspired by the motivational stories of excellent students and resolved to become an outstanding student of Wuhan University of Technology like his seniors.
He understood the principle that "the slow bird should fly first." Thus, he used vacations to make up for gaps in his knowledge and preview course materials in advance. In the new semester, he worked tirelessly on professional courses, making careful and rational use of every minute in class. After class, in addition to required evening study sessions, he set aside sufficient time for self-study to master knowledge in detail and thoroughly. Through his continuous efforts, his GPA improved from 3.224 to 3.609, then to 3.97, with progress every academic year. Eventually, he ranked first in the college in comprehensive scores for technological innovation and was recommended for direct doctoral studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Looking back on the past three years, what he believes most in is the significance of persistence and hard work.
Engaging in Scientific Innovation, Stimulating the "Creativity" of Youth Aspirations
"Sitting still, one travels 80,000 miles a day; looking up, one surveys a thousand rivers in the sky." During his freshman year, while studying professional introductory courses, Chen Yuzhang learned that the rapid transformation and upgrading of the naval architecture and ocean engineering field requires more efficient, lightweight, and intelligent solutions. Aspiring to apply his professional knowledge to engineering practice, he started with the college’s "One Class, One Project" initiative, then moved on to "self-initiated innovation" and "national innovation" projects. From modeling and drawing to virtual simulation and prototype experiments, Chen Yuzhang and his teammates turned one creative idea after another into practical equipment that solves real-world problems. In this process of continuous innovative practice, his personal abilities were also enhanced.
He stood on the national stage of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition for two consecutive years, winning 9 national honors (including the national special prize in the 13th National Marine Vehicle Design and Production Competition, the national silver award in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (2024), the national first prize in the National Business Elites Challenge Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and the national second prize in the 17th National College Students Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Social Practice Competition), over 20 provincial-level honors, filing 5 national invention patents, and publishing one academic paper.
The process of research and competitions is tedious. Staying up all night and engaging in intense brainstorming when facing bottlenecks are inevitable. During this time, Chen Yuzhang is grateful to the college leaders, instructors who supported and helped him, and teammates who worked alongside him day and night in the laboratory. He is even more grateful to himself for never giving up. He stated that participating in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions not only brought him professional skills, patents, and papers but also the ability to view problems from multiple perspectives and a richer knowledge system.
Taking on Responsibilities, Enhancing the "New Vitality" of Serving Classmates
"What is learned from books is superficial after all; it is crucial to put knowledge into practice." Beyond academic studies and technological innovation, Chen Yuzhang actively participates in volunteer services, social practices, and student work.
Since entering the university, he has taken part in various volunteer activities, including epidemic prevention, science popularization lectures, and environmental protection. On a rainy day, despite poor internet and weather conditions, he worked as a nucleic acid testing volunteer for 7 hours in a single shift. He participated in epidemic prevention volunteer work 23 times, serving over 8,000 people. In his hometown, he volunteered in distributing supplies, taking temperatures, disinfecting, and verifying key groups, accumulatively worked for more than 70 hours, serving over 1,200 person-times He helped establish the college’s "Dream-Building in the Deep Blue" lecture team, which popularizes ship knowledge and marine culture through a "theory + practice, online + offline" model, serving over 10 primary and middle schools in Hubei, Shaanxi, and Shandong provinces, with more than 50 activities and over 5,000 participants. Since entering the university, he has accumulated over 600 hours of volunteer service and was awarded the title of "Top 10 Outstanding Youth Volunteers of Wuhan University of Technology."
During vacations, he actively participated in the "Three Goes to the Countryside" and "Return to Hometown" summer social practices for college students. He conducted research on pain points, difficulties, and blockages in the shipbuilding industry at CSSC 719 Research Institute, CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, and China Classification Society Wuhan Rules & Research Institute. Using his professional knowledge for innovative practice, he gained true insights, developed skills, and achieved practical results through integrating knowledge and action, solving engineering problems with practical actions to promote high-quality development. His team was rated as a "Hubei Provincial Model Team" and "Hubei Provincial Excellent Team" for two consecutive years. His personal story has been reported by People’s Daily, College Student Network, Hubei College Students, and other media outlets. He firmly believes that struggle is the brightest color of youth, and action is the most effective tempering for youth.
From being a member of the Organization Department, Youth Volunteer Association, and News Center of the college Youth League Committee to serving as part-time deputy secretary of the college Youth League Committee for two terms, Chen Yuzhang not only solidified his "basic skills" but also actively participated in various college activities, helping the college win the title of "University Outstanding Grassroots Youth League Committee" for two consecutive years. He personally received 5 honors, including "University Outstanding Communist Youth League Cadre" and "University Outstanding Student Union Cadre."
As monitor of Class Marine Engineering ZY2102, he led the class to set an example in both theoretical learning and practical activities. The average volunteer service hours per class member reached 62; the class team was selected into the 2024 National College Students’ Yan’an Spirit Volunteer Lecture Group. Based on "One Class, One Project," class members filed over 20 national invention patents, obtained 3 national-level project approvals and 7 provincial-level project approvals, and won over 20 national awards, 40 provincial awards, and 60 university-level awards. The class was awarded "University Model Class Collective" and "University Excellent Youth League Branch," and he personally received the title of "Outstanding Monitor of Ligong."
From freshman to senior year, from passively participating as arranged to actively organizing and coordinating, Chen Yuzhang’s comprehensive abilities were greatly improved through valuable student work experience. Balancing multiple roles, he encountered a more multidimensional version of himself. When asked, "Are you tired doing so many things?" or "Why are you still doing student work after being recommended for postgraduate study in senior year instead of having fun?" he always replies with a smile: "I will contribute as much heat as I have. I can do it, and I am willing to do it. Though tired, it is worthwhile."
"The road is long, but it will be reached if we keep walking; the task is difficult, but it will be accomplished if we keep doing it." Looking back on the past three years of study and life—from the laboratory to the library, from ordinary to constantly surpassing himself—Chen Yuzhang is deeply grateful to the classmates who helped him, the teammates who fought alongside him, the teachers who guided him carefully, and himself for never stopping. He believes that execution is more important than talent: "I am not the smartest, but I hope to be the one with the highest execution."
