Studying at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), I have been deeply inspired by the legacy of our founder, Tan Kah Kee. His spirit of “Self-Strengthening, Pursuit of Excellence” and his vision as an educator and socially responsible entrepreneur became a silent compass for my journey. At eighteen, I embarked on my own overseas adventure, carrying this spirit in my suitcase, ready to navigate the uncharted.

The initial phase was a series of “system debugging” in real life. From awkward supermarket encounters to struggling with lectures in accented English, each small failure was a stress test for my resilience. I learned to assemble my life from scratch — navigating phone card plans, bank forms, and the profound silence of a new dorm room. There were nights of quiet tears, staring at a comforting text from home, feeling the immense weight of self-reliance. Yet these very mountains I thought I could never climb soon became anecdotes. I realized that independence was not merely about practical skills, but the forging of a mindset in which I alone was accountable for my choices.

The true crystallization of my growth, where personal struggle transformed into tangible creation, occurred in Dr. Burra Venkata Durga Kumar’s CST 305 Computer Graphics course. While I was initially drawn to computing for its promising career prospects, it was in this course that I grasped its more profound purpose: technology is ultimately a tool to serve human life and enhance our lived experience. This realization transformed abstract code from a mere set of instructions into a canvas for creating tangible impact.

This human-centric philosophy was instilled from our very first assignment. Dr. Burra structured a series of three progressive projects, each designed to unlock a distinct dimension of graphical creativity. The initial task required us to design an original 2D composition using basic geometric primitives. In response, I created an interactive postcard titled “How much I miss U.” It depicted schools of tiny fish swimming lazily across a monthly calendar — a simple yet heartfelt scene animated with gentle motion. The subsequent projects escalated in complexity, challenging us to craft a 3D object with dynamic shadows and motion, and finally, to model an intricate shape using curves and apply realistic textures. Crucially, Dr. Burra emphasized that the core value lay not in raw complexity, but in the design intent and creative voice behind the code. He encouraged us to unleash our imagination while simultaneously cultivating the technical tenacity needed to translate that vision into a functional reality. This foundational principle — that compelling design is inseparable from disciplined execution — became the bedrock for our subsequent, more ambitious team project.

Driven by this ethos, my team and I conceived “ErgoVoyage,” a smart, foldable-chair suitcase designed to address a universal traveller’s plight: the lack of rest in bustling transit hubs. As the project initiator and a core developer, I spearheaded the transition from concept to code. We developed a complete 3D interactive simulation using OpenGL, a process that immersed me in a universe of vertices and textures. I constructed the suitcase body using GL_QUADS, modelled the wheels with gluCylinder, and meticulously mapped textures to simulate polymer and carbon fibre surfaces, striving for visual authenticity.

The development process presented monumental challenges. Our initial animation loops resulted in jarring, discontinuous movements for the zipper and folding mechanism. Through relentless debugging, I redesigned the system by implementing a state machine controlled by glutTimerFunc, which finally yielded the smooth, realistic motion we had envisioned. A parallel battle involved the lighting model, where object colours erroneously bled into their shadows, flattening the scene. By meticulously adjusting parameters in glLightModel and material properties, we restored the necessary depth and visual clarity. Each resolved bug served as a practical lesson in patience, systematic problem-solving, and the seamless integration of mathematical theory with applied programming.

Ultimately, the project transcended the scope of a typical assignment; it was a true odyssey of innovation. It cemented my understanding that genuine innovation lies at the intersection of an identified human need and the technical grit to build its solution. The awarding of the Silver Award to ErgoVoyage at the 4th Graduate Digital Invention, Innovation & Design (GDIID 2025) served as a powerful validation of this belief. Throughout this journey, Dr. Burra was more than an instructor; he was our guiding mentor. His witty humour and genuine patience in demystifying complex concepts fundamentally showed me that behind every powerful tool resides a human mind persistently asking, “How can this make life better?”

Silver Award of ErgoVoyage Luggage Project

The Poster for VolyagePal Luggage Project

Postcard titled “How much I miss U”

Today, as I debug a stubborn line of code, the frustration feels familiar — yet everything around it has changed. The tears that once rose from confusion now gather in eyes fixed with determined focus. I am no longer merely a student learning a trade; I am a builder in the making, driven by the conviction that the right algorithm and the thoughtful interface can truly “do something good for the human”.

As Xiamen University Malaysia celebrates its 10th anniversary, I see my own growth reflected in its unfolding story. From the tentative freshman who once hesitated in lecture halls to the graduate now equipped with both technical skill and a human-centered vision, the transformation is evident. My journey here has been, in essence, an act of translation: turning the enduring spirit of our founder, Tan Kah Kee, into the contemporary language of technology and global citizenship.

To those who will walk these halls after me, I offer this: lean into the difficult courses. Seek mentors like Dr. Burra, who see not just code, but potential. And most importantly, dare to build your own “ErgoVoyage” — that idea which lives precisely where the world’s need meets your creative passion.

Here’s to our beloved alma mater. May it remain a cradle where challenges are reimagined as blueprints, and where students, ever curious and courageous, grow into the architects of a better tomorrow.

By Zhang Siyu

2022/09

Computing and Data Science