Editor's Note: This piece was translated and edited from a photo essay that appeared on the ChinaGate website. The author presents photographs of himself and 14 of his fellow 2012 graduating college seniors, along with short blurbs outlining their current situation and their plans. for the future.

Photo of the author, Yang Shenlai.

1) Photo 1 –Yang Shenlai, author
That's me with the camera on my back, standing outside the door on the last class of my college career. This past year has seen me constantly switching roles between student and journalist, trying to detract attention from my own inexperience. I took these photos to record the exact point of transformation between my two lives, and to shed some light on the lives of my classmates around me. The varying backgrounds you see here were chosen by the subjects themselves. (Photo credit: Li Jiayun, Yang Shenlai)

Mao Ping (alias), some university in Shanghai (subject declined to identify her school), 2012, philosophy major.

2) Photo 2 –Mao Ping, philosophy major
Plans: continue preparing for grad school exams. Last year Mao failed to test into Fudan University's graduate program. She sees grad school as a way to give herself a little more time to study. As for the future, Mao is nonchalant. She says there isn't anything in particular she wants; she likes to do what she likes to do.

Mao sits at her desk in her small room, surrounded tightly by books and walls. Taped on the wall behind her are self-written words of encouragement for upcoming grad exams.

Ai Ke, Shanghai University, Chinese major

3) Photo 3 –Ai Ke, Chinese major
Plans: working for a company. At college, Ai took part in numerous volunteer activities. He started preparing for grad school exams in October, deciding that a major in social work might prove more interesting. After failing to test into grad school, he accepted a position at a corporation. Ai says volunteering and social work are still going to be a big part of his life.

One week before grad exams, Ai huddles under a cloak in one of the exam prep classrooms.

 

Chen Yu, Shanghai University (entered 2008), Mechanics/Electronics major

4) Photo 4 – Chen Yu, mechanics/electronics major
Plans: entering Shanghai University's graduate program. Chen became disheartened when, in April of 2012, he failed to test into his grad program of choice. Not knowing what else to do with his life, he's determined to find another way into the program. Chen plans on using his three grad years to redefine his college life and fulfill his inner potential. Chen is confident that after three years, he'll be ready to become a productive member of society, ready to hit the ground running.

Chen leans against a wall in his dorm building.

Ding Hao, Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (entered 2008), finance/banking major

5) Photo 5 – Ding Hao, finance/banking major
Plans: joining HSBC Bank as management trainee. At the end of 2011, after a seemingly endless series of interviews, Ding finally received an offer from the HSBC management training program. To relieve some of the pressure from the interviews, Ding entered a campus-wide singing competition and came in second. Ding plans on capping off his three years of training, working, and traveling by returning to live in Shanghai and work long-term for HSBC, and hopefully prove to his superiors that he's worth the investment.

Ding poses in his work clothes at a turnstile at the Lujiazui subway station.

Lin Chengjie, Shanghai University (entered 2008), sociology major

6) Photo 6 – Lin Chengjie, sociology major
Plans: studying abroad at the University of London. Though Lin has already accumulated a wealth of internship experience at college, she has opted not to enter the workforce immediately, choosing instead to study abroad in the U.K. for one year. As she wrote on her blog, "It's a gamble; what happens when I come back is anyone's guess."

An avid sports enthusiast, Lin poses in an Arsenal football jersey at her school's sport's field.

Sun Junyuan, Shanghai University (entered 2008), environmental engineering major

7) Photo 7 – Sun Junyuan, environmental engineering major
Plans: working as a student representative for Xiayang Street, Qingpu district of Shanghai. After failing to make the cut on the civil service exam, Sun applied to the city's university student representative program and was accepted. She wants to continue working there because she feels it offers a more balanced work schedule and more free time than working at a company. Her responsibilities at Xiayang Street end after three years, at which point Sun plans on giving the civil service exams another shot, or trying for a more permanent position at her neighborhood administration.

Sun stands in front of the office building where she will soon start work.

Wei Yitian, Shanghai University (entered 2008), chemistry major

8) Photo 8 – Wei Yitian, chemistry major
Plans: becoming an assistant director on an engineering project. After failing to pass the grad school exams, Wei posted dozens of resumes on the internet. He says he wasn't nervous about the interviews, actually more excited than anything. Now he's preparing to be an assistant manager on an engineering project, after which he plans to work hard, earn some money, and start working his way up.

Wei sports a suit inside his dorm room.

Wu Hanchu, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 2012, e-commerce major

9) Photo 9 – Wu Hanchu, e-commerce major
Plans: working in the tax department at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Before graduating at the end of last year, Wu received offers from four major accounting firms, ultimately choosing to work for one of the larger ones: Price Waterhouse Coopers. As to her career and her life from here on out, she hopes simply to live a happy, comfortable life and nothing more.

Wu stands at the campus job board. The next day, after her exams, she must rush to another interview.

Ren Huhu and Xie Tian: East China Normal University (entered 2008), physics and English majors, respectively

10) Photo 10 – Ren Huhu and Xie Tian, physics and English majors
Plans: teaching together at a middle school. Ren and Xie, both under government teaching scholarships, chose to get married before graduation, thus ensuring they'll both be able to work together in Nanchang. Xie (left) will become a teacher like her mother, while Ren plans to complete his five years of teaching then get out and find something more challenging.

Ren and Xie lean against each other in the ECNU library.

Yang Zi'ai, Shanghai University, 2012, industrial design major

11) Photo 11 – Yang Zi'ai, industrial major
Plans: continue to take graduate school exams. After failing to pass the grad school exams at the beginning of this year, Yang handed out resumes at a few more job fairs before she found a position at GreenTree Inns, a hotel management firm. Although the job was related to her major, Yang only had to work a little over a month to realize she wasn't suited to it. After discussing the decision with her parents, Yang left the company and began preparing for the next round of grad school exams.

Yang carries her design portfolio at a job fair.

Zhang Yinke, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (entered 2008), art design major

12) Photo 12 – Zhang Yinke, art design major
Plans: working for a brand management company in Hangzhou. In the middle of January of this year, both of Zhang's parents were injured in an accident and confined to beds, forcing Zhang to take over their livelihood of raising and selling geese. Zhang currently works for a brand management firm in Hangzhou, in the process hoping to learn all that he can about marketing and management techniques. When he feels he is ready, Zhang hopes to go into agriculture and start a responsible business.

Zhang squats with goslings on his farm.

Zhang You, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2012, engineering mechanics major

13) Photo 13 – Zhang You, mechanical engineering major
Plans: taking a job at Pudong Development Bank. Orchestra and the cello are no longer just hobbies for Zhang; they have become habitual parts of his daily life. This year he joined a 13-person chamber music group called "Johannes Chamber." He hopes to use his free time outside of his job to continue attending their weekly practices, and to keep participating in their annual self-funded concerts.

Zhang holds his cello in his school's rehearsal space; this is his last concert at Jiaotong University.

Zhang Zihua and Qu Luming, Fudan University, 2012, economics and public finance majors, respectively. Zhang also studied abroad at the University of Virginia, and Qu has a consulting job at Deloitte.

14) Photo 14 – Zhang Zihua and Qu Luming, economics and public finance majors
Starting in 2012, classmates Zhang and Qu started a coffee shop at Fudan called "Hi-Story".  Zhang believes the café shares the same creative roots as another one of his collaborations with Qu, a magazine called "Lang Chao" ("Tides"). He hopes the space can become a sort of haven for Fudan students, a gift to future generations. Both hope that after a few years of saving money they can go into business again with some of their good friends.

Zhang and Qu model their staff aprons at their new coffee shop.

Zhou Yihao, Shanghai University, 2012, environmental engineering major

15) Photo 15 – Zhou Yihao, environmental engineering major
Plans: working for Exxon-Mobil. In 2011, Zhou handed out hundreds of resumes, finally (and surprisingly, to him) obtaining an offer from Exxon-Mobil. Two years ago, while he was still in school, Zhou joined JA-SCOPE (Junior Achievement), forcing him to think hard about what direction he wanted his life to go. Thus he hopes, in between working for Exxon-Mobil, to serve as a JA-SCOPE volunteer at his alma mater, passing on some of his experiences.

Zhou stands on the stairs of a lecture hall; soon he will complete the transformation from student to volunteer at JA-SCOPE's student leadership training center.

Source: Tencent News Service

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Chinese graduating seniors photos of chinese graduates life of Chinese graduates aspirations of graduates China