XU Yongshi: Future AI Explorer with a Broad Set of Skills

Introduction

XU Yongshi, a 2025 graduate of the International Curriculum, has already received offers from the following six prestigious universities to study artificial intelligence (AI) or computer science—many with scholarships, and more results on the way. XU is skilled at hands-on work, able to handle everything from assembling machines to writing code. She says, "I want to create things that reflect my ideas and live the life I truly want."

▶The University of Edinburgh (QS Ranking: 27; #1 globally in Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure*)

▶ King's College London (QS Ranking: 40)

▶ University of Bristol (QS Ranking: 54)

▶ University of Southampton (QS Ranking: 80)

▶ The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Ranked 3rd in Hong Kong)

▶ City University of Hong Kong (Ranked 5th in Hong Kong)

* Source: Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

01 Master of Many Skills

XU Yongshi is an outgoing girl bursting with curiosity. Her parents have always been careful to nurture her nature and encourage her to try a wide range of activities.

"My family signed me up for loads of interest classes," XU says, counting off on her fingers, "calligraphy, piano, guzheng, ballet, badminton, tennis, ice skating, Go, public speaking — I've tried them all. My parents never pressured me to take exams or become an expert; they just wanted me to explore and enjoy these as hobbies."

But once she commits, she aims to do her best. In ballet, she frequently earned awards at major competitions and even performed on the Spring Festival Gala stage of Beijing Radio & Television Station. In public speaking, she joined the school radio station, stood out as a Shenzhen kid reporter, and appeared on Shenzhen Children's Channel. In video editing, she runs her own Douyin account, sharing tutorials and daily vlogs that have attracted over 20,000 followers and more than two million views. In calligraphy, she's practised both brush and pen styles, mastering scripts from ancient seal script to running and regular script. As the saying goes, "Handwriting reflects character." XU's writing is elegant and flowing — at once relaxed and steady.

"I believe a good environment is key to growth," XU reflects. "I'm very grateful to my family for creating such a supportive atmosphere for learning." After the interview, she wrote over a thousand words recalling memorable moments with her family. She admires her mother's resilience and determination — juggling late-night study sessions to earn a top score for her EMBA at Sun Yat-sen University, while filling her week with various classes. Her father, a knowledgeable storyteller, reads her English economics textbooks and patiently explains concepts in Chinese. Her younger sister is a craft expert with unstoppable energy — inspired by a cake tutorial, she bought baking tools the next day and made desserts tastier than those from shops.

Influenced by her family's example, XU maintains a steady love for life — but her passion leans towards engineering. Since she was little, she loved "taking things apart" to see what secrets they held inside. Remote controls, circuit boards, electronic components — her family never stopped her but encouraged her curiosity. Eventually, she learnt not only to dismantle but also to reassemble. Seeing clever gadgets online, XU loves to try making them herself. One of her proudest creations is a glowing "magic wand" that switches the lights on and off with a wave.

Amid such a rich and varied life, many dreams have taken root — doctor, lawyer, photographer, engineer... Which path will she choose? Or could she embrace several? She isn't certain yet, but says simply, "I hope I can do what I want in the future and be part of a more diverse environment."

In Grade 10, she shared these thoughts with her parents, who supported her wholeheartedly. By Grade 11, she transferred to PKXYS's International Curriculum to follow her ambitions.

02 Growing Dreams

After transferring to PKXYS, XU Yongshi found her stride. She freely immersed herself in subjects she loves—maths, physics, Chinese, economics, and chemistry. "The A-Level system allows me to choose subjects I'm truly interested in and delve deeper, which makes learning much more efficient," she shares.

"I prefer a straightforward, logical approach. Breaking down problems step by step and finding the right answer feels really rewarding," XU explains enthusiastically, showing her detailed notes for further maths and physics. Her notebooks are meticulously organised—textbook examples, past exam questions, and key points highlighted in different colours, with every step carefully written out. She advises her juniors, "The syllabus is crucial. Every sentence is a potential exam point. Matching past questions with the syllabus and understanding model answers really helps."

With a strong foundation in science subjects, XU has many options for further study. But after exploring widely, she carefully chose to specialise in AI. Her interest began in 2015 during a dance troupe trip to Taiwan, where she first encountered a talking robot at a museum. "It felt so new and exciting—I couldn't stop interacting with it. That's probably where my connection with AI started," she recalls, showing photos from that trip.

Later, her first programming experience in a public school IT class sparked a real passion. "With just a few lines of code, the computer can calculate complex maths formulas and generate various patterns. It opened my eyes to creative possibilities."

In summer 2024, recommended by her university counsellor, XU attended a summer school themed "AI for Sustainable Development" in Hong Kong. Alongside her team, she helped develop a working "soil testing machine" that smartly identifies fruits and vegetables, provides optimal growing conditions, and uses metal sensors to monitor soil quality—helping farmers cultivate more efficiently under varying conditions. Their project won the summer school's sole "Most Creative Award".

She also visited several leading companies, gaining insight into how rapidly AI is entering all aspects of production and daily life, poised to unlock huge efficiency gains.

03 A Vision for the Future

After returning from summer school, XU Yongshi's interest in AI grew stronger. She began researching AI labs at major companies, learning about their teams, ongoing projects, and the day-to-day work of AI engineers.

▲Image source: Microsoft

"I'd love to work at one of those companies someday," she says, her eyes lighting up at the thought. "Ideally, I'd have a workspace of my own, with tools hanging across the walls. I could spend hours there, creating something that truly reflects my ideas." As for which specific area she wants to focus on, she admits she's still exploring.

▲Image source: The University of Hong Kong

But she lights up as she talks about a project she came across during her university applications: an "intelligent mobility aid" for the elderly. This foldable device is designed for outdoor use, navigates with optical sensors, and uses AI-powered voice recognition to follow its user, stop when needed, and assist with movement. "That's a direction that really speaks to me," she says. "I want to build something that genuinely helps society."

Determined to do her best, XU spent a great deal of time during application season—guided by her university counsellor—researching her chosen courses and faculties. She carefully reviewed university websites, kept up with news about academic breakthroughs and awards, and refined her personal statements through repeated reflection to clearly explain why she was applying to each institution.

Among them, the University of Edinburgh stands out. Ranked 27th in the world by QS, the University of Edinburgh is widely regarded as the birthplace of AI in Europe, with over 60 years of research history. Many of its professors and alumni have received top honours such as the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award (often referred to as the "Nobel Prize in Computing"), and the Gödel Prize. Its alumni work across world-leading research labs and major tech companies. In the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, the University of Edinburgh was ranked #1 globally in Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and its computer science and informatics research was ranked first in the UK.

Securing a place on such a prestigious programme could open doors to top global companies and cutting-edge labs. For XU Yongshi, it's one step closer to her goal of becoming an AI expert.

Closing Remarks

In the graduation season, XU Yongshi reflects on her journey: "Hard work really does make a difference. Wherever you put your time and focus, that's where you'll see change. Every bit of effort adds up — once it reaches a certain point, things will start to shift."

Run, young dreamers, run full speed ahead!

Like clouds chasing the blazing sun, rise with the wind instead.

Like rivers that embrace the earth wide and strong,

each drop becomes an ocean, flowing along.

If thorns should block your way – they're tests your dreams have set.

Step firm and fearless; don't look back or fret.Let passion build your ladder high,

and climb with purpose towards the sky.

With every step you boldly take,you draw closer to the dreams you'll make.

Author: Communications Department