March 8 marks International Women's Day. At Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), a group of remarkable women are writing their chapters. From laboratories to lecture halls, from social practice to the global stage, they redefine their own brilliance through growth, perseverance, transcendence, and diversity.
Let us listen to their voices, celebrate their journeys, and be inspired by their unwavering spirit.
Growth
Lin's travel photo
Twelve-year-old Lin Siqi is a student at SYSU's Affiliated Primary School. Her mother, an associate professor at SYSU's School of Law, has shaped Lin's earliest understanding of outstanding qualities in women.
As a young girl, Lin is constantly growing. She is now able to travel alone to attend holiday training camps in other cities. Passionate about painting, Lin uses her brush to depict her ideal image of women: a confident female dancer whose smile radiates strength and resilience.
Through the eyes of a child, Lin connects diverse cultures with her art, using creative expression to explore the world — and, along the way, discovering her own understanding of womanhood and courage.
Wei participates in campus singing competition.
Wei Yangge, a first-year student from the Class of 2024 in the Department of German Studies. As a young singer-songwriter, she has written dozens of original songs and even founded a music creation club during her high school years.
Her original song was featured on The Island, a collaborative album showcasing original works from students across Guangzhou University Town. With her youthful voice, Wei dedicated the track to Guangzhou University Town on its 20th anniversary.
To Wei Yangge, life is a succession of fleeting moments. “We cannot alter the past, nor can we foresee the future. Therefore, what matters most — and holds the greatest meaning — is to walk each step of life's journey with purpose,” she said.
On the eve of International Women's Day, she penned a message to her future self: “Go forth, seek to understand, and embrace every experience — yet let my heart remain unchanged.”
Xia is reporting the project of her team.
Xia Xiyi is a direct-entry PhD student from the Class of 2021 at the School of Aerospace Engineering. She is also a member of the team that won the Gold Award in the Guangdong Provincial Round and the Silver Award in the National Finals of the 2024 China International College Students' Innovation Competition.
In addition, her other projects secured the championship title in the 17th "Win at SYSU" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition at SYSU, and achieved remarkable results in the China regional finals of the Space Universities CubeSat Challenge.
Accompanying her through numerous competitions and guiding her from an undergraduate student to the path of scientific research was a single screwdriver — one used to assemble satellite models.
"Tools may rust, but the spirit of exploration endures. There are no shortcuts in life; like this screwdriver, we must stay true to our original aspirations and remain steadfast in our mission."
Perseverance
Yang joined the security team of SYSU in 2007.
Yang Chunfang joined the security team of SYSU in 2007. Over the past 18 years, she has risen from being doubted in her early days to becoming the team leader, challenging entrenched stereotypes with her professional competence.
Whether working with meticulous precision under harsh conditions or responding calmly and decisively to emergencies, Yang has consistently demonstrated her dedication.
The essence of female guardianship lies not only in courage, but also in the awakening of empathy. All that she had done are all contributing to a softer yet equally resilient line of defense for campus safety.
"Protection knows no gender, and dedication transcends positions. May every woman find her own sea of stars in the work she loves."
Xia Jimei
Xia Jimei, a retired professor of School of Foreign Languages. At 70 years old, Professor Xia remains driven by an enduring passion for knowledge, embracing lifelong learning and intellectual growth as a guiding principle throughout her life.
In Professor Xia's personal lexicon of growth, words such as passion, resilience, and curiosity stand out. From youth to silver-haired years, she has stayed true to her original calling as an educator.
Even when faced with the shifting tides of the times and countless external temptations, she has firmly stood by the lectern, embodying the spirit of transforming a profession into a lifelong vocation.
Today, she continues to embrace learning and adapts to the evolving digital age. Tools such as ChatGPT and Deepseek have become her latest companions in both teaching and research, as she keeps pace with technological advancements.
Transcendence
Jiao Liuyang displays her gold medal
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Jiao Liuyang, Olympic champion, associate professor in the Department of Physical Education at SYSU, and head coach of the university's swimming team.
Jiao achieved remarkable success in her sports career, winning a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics and a silver medal in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She also had the honor of serving as the flag-bearer at the 2025 Asian Winter Games.
"I feel deeply honored when I see the medal hung around an athlete's neck on TV as a child," she said. Throughout her career, biting cold water and the grueling daily training never swayed her commitment to the sport. “Perhaps I longed for such a moment to belong to me because once felt that sacredness,” added Jiao.
Now as a teacher, Jiao approaches transcendence from a broader perspective. “Athletes and women can create more possibilities by breaking the stereotype,” she explained. She has always sought to pass on the spirit of the Olympics, hoping that her students can enjoy sports and find their own goals through swimming.
Dr. Wang Feng during a patient consultation
Wang Feng, professor, assistant president and director of the Department of Medical Oncology at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.
Recalling the driving force behind her choice of oncology, Wang reflects, "In my second year of medical school, my grandfather was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. From diagnosis to his passing, it was just a short span of three months. I experienced a deep sense of helplessness, and the gears of fate turned. From then on, I made oncology my goal in life."
In 2008, upon completing her doctoral studies at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of The University of Texas, a top institution in the field globally, Wang did not follow the path of those who stayed in the US to join research institutions or returned home to work at innovative pharmaceutical companies. Instead, she resolutely returned to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.
"Making a lot of money doesn't bring much happiness. I still want to be a doctor," she said.
In 2024, Wang Feng won the 2024 "Science Exploration Award".
Wang Feng often says, "It's crucial to strive and have passion in your career. We should shape ourselves into a big tree. Only after becoming self-reliant and self-strengthening can we better love ourselves and this world."
Liao Yanpin during her doctoral studies at The University of Manchester
Liao Yanpin, associate professor of Civil and Commercial Law at School of Law of SYSU, who specializes in commercial law, international trade law, and feminist legal studies with a focus on gender issues.
"My doctoral dissertation explored international trade law from a feminist perspective, a very niche area of research," Liao said. I've found that women have unique strengths in many aspects, and we should leverage these strengths, added Liao. In her view, the keys to understanding the world are "critical thinking" and "daring to experiment."
In her role as an educator, she is deeply passionate about intellectual exchange with students. Since 2009, she has served as a class advisor for undergraduate students for ten years and as an academic mentor for five years. During her students' exchange programs in the UK, she maintained regular communication and intellectual engagement, ensuring their successful completion of the program.
Diversity
Zhao Xi participates in China's 36th Antarctic Scientific Expedition.
Zhao Xi is an associate professor of School of Geospatial Engineering and Science at SYSU.
During her participation in China's 36th Antarctic Scientific Expedition in 2019, she recalled, “Sitting at the entrance of Zhongshan Station, gazing at the vast, white expanse of ice and snow, I felt how insignificant humans are and how magnificent nature is.” For Zhao Xi, this experience became the first ticket to shape her academic career.
In 2024, she served as the chief assistant for the first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean, organizing a collaborative team and successfully upgraded and tested the ice radar thickness system in the harsh conditions of the polar field.
In the same year, Zhao was recognized as one of the 100 Women in Polar Science, a network built by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
Beyond her scientific work, Zhao is also a devoted youth counselor at Sun Yat-sen University, where she serves as a trusted mentor to her students. She often uses her own experiences to inspire young people, “Don't just look for a job but look for something meaningful to do. Seek out what you love, what you're passionate about, and commit to turning it into a lifelong pursuit.”
Peng Xinyan dances at the New Year's Eve Party.
Peng Xinyan is an assistant professor of School of Sociology and Anthropology at SYSU.
Her childhood experience with dance shaped her resilient character. At the age of six, to keep up with her class, Peng practiced once again and again during her classmates' nap times, often bruising herself in the process, which left a deep impression on her father, who years later used it to encourage her to pursue her passions without fear of hardship.
Peng hopes to continue dedicating herself to the work she loves. The effort required needs no justification, as the act of commitment itself is the meaning of her coexistence with her career, she said.
Women are forever charting new frontiers in the quest to understand themselves and the world around them. At SYSU, extraordinary women across diverse fields are penning their own narratives with passion and perseverance, inspiring countless others to boldly shatter definitions and pursue the lives and dreams they truly desire.
