The study of environmental science at UIC provided me with a great platform to engage in the energy industry later. Unlike other universities, professors at UIC's Environmental Science department combine theory with practice, teaching us various experimental methods and guiding us to think independently, enhancing our problem-solving abilities. These laid a solid foundation for my later studies as a graduate student in Green Technology at Hong Kong Baptist University. I am now engaged in corporate ESG analysis related work in an energy company in Hong Kong. I am grateful for the experience and knowledge accumulated during my study at UIC, which allowed me to establish my career direction, and continually learn and further my studies, going further in the field of sustainable development and ESG.

Compared to other popular industries, choosing an environmental major may mean a narrower career development space, fewer job opportunities, and lower salary. However, a series of policies launched by the state in the fields of ecological and environmental protection, climate change response, and green finance development reflect the gradually increasing attention of the state to the ecological and environmental field, and also expand our research and employment directions. My current job is related to "Dual Carbon" and green finance. The ecological environment provides an excellent entry point from the perspective of carbon, allowing interdisciplinary and cross-field contact with other industries, and evaluating their environmental impact and benefits from different dimensions such as industry, organization, and product. I think this is quite rare. In the more than ten years of practicing the concept of ecological civilization in our country, the trend of low-carbon development has grown, the carbon market has grown from nothing, and green finance has emerged. I hope we can all make full use of our professional advantages in environmental background, international perspective and ability, organically combine the national development direction with personal goals, and encourage and progress together on the path to realizing our own life values.

Whether it's environmental science or green technology energy management, both are sciences that focus on the most cutting-edge knowledge of today. Therefore, during my undergraduate and master's studies, I've become accustomed to playing the role of a pioneer, engaging in dialogue with the industry's top echelons, and always being ready to tackle difficulties head-on rather than choosing to evade or retreat when encountering problems. This habit continues to this day. What I learned in university is more about how to learn and solve problems. Knowledge may fade or increase with experience. But the method of using tools will accompany me for life. I guess this is what "Grow with UIC" means.

With the introduction of a series of policies related to environmental protection, new energy, and carbon markets in our country, the attention to environmental protection, new energy development, and carbon market construction has been continuously increasing, further promoting the development of industries such as new energy project development, carbon asset management, and carbon trading. Whether or not everyone engages in environmental science-related work in the future, as long as you integrate your personal dream into the Chinese dream and grasp the direction of life where the country needs it, every profession you love and persist in can radiate beautiful light.

The UIC program integrates theory with practice, which has benefited me greatly. The course experience made me realize the importance of good environmental protection for humanity and the ecosystem. At the same time, I understood that it's not enough to only study environmental science; interdisciplinary and multi-directional learning is also very important. Therefore, while studying environmental science courses, I also took some finance and financial courses, and further pursued green technology energy in my postgraduate studies. At present, various industries across the country are relatively sluggish, but the environmental and new energy industries are booming. I hope everyone can study and think carefully, and join us in the future in the great wave of environmental protection and new energy!