When she chose Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), it was more of a "trial" than a clearly defined goal. But four years later, she has received multiple top offers - including one from Columbia University, where she will soon begin a Master's in Statistics.

"Mathematics is challenging, but XMUM's curriculum is very well-structured," she explained. Core courses helped her build a solid foundation, while electives allowed her to explore and deepen her interest in probability and statistics.

To meet the academic demands, Zhang Ruping developed a study strategy inspired by Dr. Lim Min. Before exams, she reviewed her notes and summarised key concepts from memory.

"If I couldn't recall something clearly, I knew I hadn't fully understood it."

Zhang Ruping with Dr. Lim Min

She also expressed deep gratitude to her thesis advisor, Dr. Liu Jie. Her thesis focused on an applied mathematics topic, using numerical analysis to verify theoretical errors."I often got stuck, but Dr. Liu patiently corrected me and encouraged independent thinking," she said.

Through this process, Zhang Ruping learned to engage deeply with textbooks, identify problems on her own, and sharpen her problem-solving skills.

Prof. Darren Ong Chung Lee, with an American academic background, also played a vital role. His advice, that U.S. graduate programs value later-year grades, gave her renewed motivation. "It made me realize it wasn't too late to improve." He later offered valuable guidance on course selection and application preparation, which proved critical in her graduate school journey.

Zhang Ruping with Prof. Darren

A highlight of her XMUM experience was a three-month internship at Cyberview. While many peers sought internships in China, Zhang Ruping chose to stay in Malaysia.

"I wanted to experience a different cultural environment. An internship in Malaysia was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she explained.

She found the opportunity through LinkedIn and a university career fair, eventually securing a role at Cyberview.

One of the most exciting parts of the internship, she said, was preparing for a project with China International Engineering Consulting Corporation.

"I saw the words 'Belt and Road Initiative' all over the presentation slides. It was surreal to witness such a global project up close."

The cross-cultural setting brought unexpected lessons. In one meeting, her Malaysian colleagues noticed the Chinese team didn't touch the snacks provided. Zhang Ruping explained that in Chinese business culture, eating during meetings is often considered unprofessional. Her clarification helped ease the moment and fostered better mutual understanding.

Outside the office, Zhang Ruping also found warmth and connection in workplace relationships.

"During Hari Raya, we went to the big bazaar together. For Chinese New Year, I experienced Lou Sang for the first time - it was so much fun," she recalled with a smile.

Among everyone she met, her supervisor Auni left a particularly strong impression.

"He told me I wasn't just an intern, but a Chinese student working in Malaysia for the first time, so the team's job was to give me a great experience," she said.

When she made mistakes, Auni focused on protecting her confidence rather than the outcomes. His support gave her the courage to keep learning and growing.

To this day, Zhang remains in touch with her Cyberview colleagues - a testament to the lasting bonds she formed during her time there.

Zhang Ruping with her colleagues at Cyberview

Before settling on Columbia, Zhang Ruping received offers from NYU and UC San Diego, with NYU offering her a $7,000 scholarship. Still, she chose Columbia for her passion for statistics.

"Interest is the best motivation," she said. "At XMUM, I escaped the trap of perfectionism. The diverse, inclusive environment and great mentorship helped me grow."