Accepted into the Experimental Class for Sciences at Peking University Yuanpei College

When the name of this year’s Honored Student—a chemical Olympiad national training team member—was announced, my first thought was of a quiet, academically-focused “overachiever.” I briefly wondered if our upcoming interview would be a bit dry, limited by narrow topics of discussion. However, upon meeting Chen Tianming in person, all of those initial thoughts quickly faded.

He was exceptionally open and articulate, with an incredible memory for the many details of his six years at BNDS. His high school life turned out to be far more exciting than we had imagined.

Like a Little Sun
Chen Tianming’s first encounter with Beijing National Day School occurred on a rainy day before he even entered Grade 7. At that time, he felt overwhelmed by the vast campus, unsure of the paths he was walking. He was filled with curiosity about his new school and looked forward to discovering what kind of youth he would experience here.

During the opening ceremony, he watched the older students with admiration. One of the Honorary Students that year was Senior Yin Jiajv, a name Chen Tianming remembered for six years. He could even recall the names of nearly every Honorary Student from previous years, because from the moment he entered school, he dreamed of one day becoming an outstanding role model like those seniors.

The first lesson he learned at BNDS was to explore himself and pursue holistic development. From the first year of middle school, he threw himself into various school and grade-level activities. He hosted the Carnival and Opening Ceremony, served as the Auctioneer for the Red Window Charity, became the President of the Grade Student Council, and organized events such as Cultural Day, the Rite of Passage, and graduation activities. He was always one of the most enthusiastic and active members of his grade, earning the nickname “like a little sun” from his teachers.

He also joined several clubs. In middle school, he joined Fangyuan TV Station, honing his film editing skills learned in technology classes. Upon entering Grade 10, he and some classmates established the Freewriting Literary Society, where he served as vice-president and tried his hand at team management. In high school, he joined the Luming Drama Club, performing in productions such as Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land and Four Sheets of Silk. This experience deepened his understanding of drama and enhanced his acting skills.

The most memorable experience for him was in the Luming Drama Club. This club, primarily founded by the 2024 cohort, focused on drama and performance. Chen Tianming, who had long been interested in hosting, crosstalk, and drama, eagerly joined the club and became one of the earliest core members. He would often argue passionately with fellow members over selecting scripts and refining performance details. “Although most of the time, I didn’t win the debates,” he said with a smile, “looking back, it was a very happy time.”

After the college entrance exams, the Drama Club staged their graduation play, Four Sheets of Silk, and Chen Tianming had the opportunity to play the male lead, Gu Hezhen. As the lights of the black box theater dimmed and the audience applauded, he reflected, “I’m grateful to the school for helping me fulfill yet another long-held dream.”

I’m Sure I Can Do Better
Chen Tianming’s second lesson at BNDS was learning to understand himself and make thoughtful choices. After more than two years of self-exploration, he gained clearer insight into his interests, abilities, and goals, and began learning to balance and make trade-offs. When he entered Grade 10, he left the math competition class, deciding to dedicate himself fully to the field of chemistry competitions, which he was more passionate about. He was accepted into the advanced Chinese language course, but after deep discussions with his competition coach and Chinese teacher, he chose to decline the offer. He also turned down some opportunities to be in the spotlight, preferring instead to focus and quietly improve himself.

When making these decisions, Chen Tianming was never impulsive. He would take time to discuss his thoughts with teachers, voice his doubts, and then chart a clear path forward. As his math competition coach, Wu Fandi, summarized, “Whenever Chen Tianming faces difficulties, he is never passively waiting for fate to decide his path; instead, he actively takes control of his own future.”

For instance, when he earned a silver medal in the national chemistry competition in Grade 11, he considered whether to continue with competitions. At that point, his academic scores were consistently at the top of the grade, but he wasn’t sure if he could continue to improve in competitions. Rather than rushing to a decision, he had several deep conversations with his coaches, openly shared his thoughts, and analyzed where he needed to improve. After these discussions, he reaffirmed his commitment to continue competing and quickly returned to full focus in training. Many teachers mentioned his courage to confront problems and negative emotions and his practical attitude toward solving issues as his key strengths.

His chemistry competition coach, Wang Shuai, also noted Chen Tianming’s “clear awareness of self-improvement and his dedication to putting that into action.” Wang was particularly impressed by a conversation during a training session. After seeing some fluctuations in his test scores, Wang encouraged him by saying he had already done well, but Chen Tianming firmly replied, “I don’t think so. I’m sure I can do better.” He went on to demonstrate steady improvement, achieving strong results in the final competition.

Chen Tianming’s drive to compete with top-tier individuals is a significant motivation for his continuous self-improvement. Yet, he also admitted that sometimes, this mindset can become a “burden of fear of losing.” This is something he has worked to overcome and break through during his high school years.

His “epiphany” occurred at the end of Grade 9. Before that, he was extremely anxious about exams and often experienced high levels of stress. Just before his final exams in Grade 9, he sought advice from Wu Fandi, who suggested that instead of spending all his time reviewing, he should try a “naked test” to gauge his real ability. Though initially resistant to this idea and even a bit upset, Chen Tianming decided to give it a try. As a result, his mindset was unusually calm and relaxed during the exam, and he performed exceptionally well.

Since then, he developed a method to maintain a balanced mindset. He learned to accept his imperfections while still maintaining his “never-give-up spirit.” During his training with the Beijing team, the leader even praised him for his excellent mental state, noting that “this kid has a particularly good mindset.” He gradually turned this once considered weakness into one of his greatest strengths.

Beyond these achievements, competitive learning also helped Chen Tianming build resilience, a strong sense of planning, and effective learning strategies. He recalled that in his first Chinese class in middle school, teacher Li Sujuan had already taught them how to plan, and this emphasis on planning continued throughout his education. Chen Tianming learned to plan every week and every day’s tasks, keeping track of what needed to be done, and adjusting based on the situation. This habit allowed him to balance his academic learning, competition training, and extracurricular activities effectively within the limited time he had.

A key piece of advice that had a lasting impact on him came from his math competition coach, Dong Zichao. Dong taught him to reflect critically on what each test was assessing and how it related to the knowledge and skills required. Chen Tianming believes that this targeted self-reflection is an invaluable practice that he has consistently adhered to.

Contributing to the Stars and the Sea

During the interview, what impressed me most about Chen Tianming was his strong sense of responsibility and gratitude. He spoke at length about how each teacher had inspired or supported him, repeatedly expressing thanks to the school and his teachers. His competition coaches, Wang Shuai and Wu Fandi, had accompanied and encouraged him throughout his journey, helping him overcome challenges and make breakthroughs. Physics teacher Zhang Shaohe ignited his passion for science, while his grade head, Liu Zhiming, was always attentive to students’ emotional well-being and ready to provide support.

Chen Tianming holds these memories dear and wishes to give back to his alma mater. Although Peking University offers an option to take a preparatory course for chemistry at the university’s chemistry department, he declined, choosing instead to make the most of his remaining months at BNDS and contribute to the school. He has assisted younger students in competition courses, giving lectures, solving problems, and sharing his experiences. He also initiated a four-school joint exam activity with several classmates who had entered the national chemistry training team, aiming to make a small contribution to the competition journey of his juniors.

On a broader scale, his sense of responsibility is reflected in his future plans and reflections on life. During the interview, he mentioned that the modern figure he admires most is physicist Yang Zhenning, a scientist with outstanding achievements in theoretical physics. Chen Tianming believes that contributing to human progress through pure theory and helping humanity explore the laws of the universe is both “great and romantic.” This is why he chose to enter Peking University’s Yuanpei College Experimental Class for Science, with a focus on interdisciplinary science. He hopes to use his broad, interdisciplinary perspective to contribute to expanding the boundaries of human knowledge and “contribute a little bit to humanity’s exploration of the stars and the sea.”

Chen Tianming’s story is one of continuous self-exploration and self-transcendence. Whether academically or personally, he has always pursued excellence and strived to be the best version of himself. Like every student about to step into a university, new challenges and opportunities await him. I believe he is more than ready to take on the next phase of his journey with the same determination and effort that he has demonstrated throughout his life.