SCUPI

As the 2024–2025 academic year comes to a close, the selection for the university-level and institute-level “Star of Progress in Learning” has begun. Based on students’ grade improvements and overall performance, Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) has selected two university-level and several institute-level “Stars of Progress.”

To better leverage role models, motivate students in their studies, and foster a positive learning atmosphere, the Peer Advisor Program organized this “Star of Progress” sharing session to help students identify gaps, learn from one another, and advance together.  

01 Student Haotian Duan

Haotian Duan, from the Class of 2028, admitted that his academic performance in the first semester was not ideal, as he struggled with assignments and exams. Upon reflection, he identified a straightforward reason—low efficiency in learning knowledge, with most key and challenging content not fully grasped during class.  

Starting from the second semester, he systematically adjusted his learning methods, focusing on mastering knowledge in class. During class, he used highlighters to mark key points and took structured notes, recording every step of derivation, key concepts, and example problem logic in real time. After class, he actively asked teachers or classmates questions to resolve issues promptly. His paper notes were also promptly organized into digital versions for easy retrieval and review.  

Through this method of “high-quality notes + active questioning,” his classroom absorption rate improved significantly, and he gradually found a learning pace that suited him. Ultimately, he achieved a breakthrough in academic performance in the second semester, raising his GPA to 3.9+.  

He also shared his commonly used learning tools. All learning materials were consolidated on his tablet, forming a personal database for easy access. He thinks that these tools are simple to obtain, low-cost, and can save significant time when used effectively.  

02 Student Jiachen Sun

During the first semester, Jiachen Sun, from the Class of 2028, faced two core challenges: a lack of systematic knowledge frameworks and difficulty adapting to a fully English-taught environment. During the second semester, she proactively built learning frameworks and enhanced her English ability. She organized knowledge with mind maps and accumulated vocabulary daily, which significantly improved her knowledge structuring and English proficiency. She emphasized that the key to progress lies first in calmly identifying problems, then establishing a closed-loop cycle of “planning—reviewing—mind mapping” to form a solid knowledge system. For English learning, she encouraged active participation in group discussions and the courage to ask questions in class or seek help afterward, thereby quickly adapting to the fully English-taught pace.  

Jiachen Sun views progress as the steady accumulation of countless small habits, not an overnight achievement: persistently creating mind maps weekly, accumulating vocabulary daily, and seeking help immediately when encountering problems without delay. She stressed that falling behind was only temporary; what truly matters is maintaining confidence and the courage to seek help. She encouraged students to calmly analyze gaps, make good use of available learning resources, and transform anxiety into motivation to move forward.  

03 Award Presentation  

The final 10 minutes of the event were dedicated to the award ceremony. Student counselors presented awards to all “Stars of Progress” for the 2024–2025 academic year, recognizing their significant academic progress and encouraging them to take this as motivation to continuously improve themselves.  

List of Institute-Level “Stars of Progress in Learning”:  

Xi Tang, Zehao Li, Mingze Li, Houlei Wang, Kejian Shi, Junru Zhang, Ziyu Sheng, Linlei Wu

Recommended University-Level Candidates:  

Haotian Duan, Jiachen Sun