Cheng Lefan

Graduated from Nantou High School Shenzhen

Now studying for the Master of International Marketing Research at New York University

1）

CIDE (Center for Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurship) starts its new round of renovation, as the first cohort of graduates of CUHK-Shenzhen are about to leave the campus.

This is the place where Cheng Lefan has spent many nights preparing for GMAT. It is quite often to see this tall boy in fashion clothes, with cool hairstyle studying at the long table In front of the huge LED board. When you look at him, it is hard to associate him with the traditional Chinese heritage—Kung Fu. However, he is an enthusiast of it and the founder of the kung fu club at this new university. 

2)
The famous opening line The Tale of Two Cities can be quoted to describe the situation Cheng faced as the first cohort of students at CUHK-Shenzhen: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

In the first few years, there was no upper campus, no colossal teaching complex, no students societies, not even student accommodations. Cheng and his fellow students live at another institute right across the street. 

When there was limited resources provided at this newly-built university, it, in fact, means the very best have the opportunities to build up thing from the scratch with almost no constraints.  

Cheng set about to build a club for kung-fu lovers at the University, which had been his dream since high school. At first, he was simply trying to provide a platform for fans to practice and communicate. Later on, he realized there are people interested in martial arts but have no knowledge about it. He then started to integrate teaching and spreading kung-fu spirits into the whole plan.

The Kung Fu Club gradually became fully-fledged with Cheng’s effort throughout the years. With more and more students joining, kung-fu as an intangible heritage has become more and more influential on campus. Pleased as Cheng was, he started to feel great pressure of running the club and cope with studies at the same time as a senior student.

"I realized everyone is limited in his energy. When I felt I have a difficulty in finding a balance between multiple choices, I had to make a compromise, otherwise I would achieve nothing in the end."

However, he didn't quit as soon as possible. Seeing the founders of the club left one by one, Cheng felt obliged to insist until the junior students were able to take over.

Cheng never regretted for the massive amount of time and energy he devoted to the club. For him, the Kung-Fu Club is like a child. The relief and pleasure of seeing it growing from a baby to a well-rounded person is worth all his dedication.

3)

There are still pities for Cheng during his years at CUHK-Shenzhen. As the first cohort, the information he once obtained in terms of career planning was not as abundant as current students. They didn't have senior students to get experience from. What they could do was fumbling in the dark, exploring and following their inner thoughts. Many of them were too young to have a clear idea of their future path.

"How I wish I could restart from the first year again! If I could, I would study hard to get a good GPA, and started my career planning as soon as possible, including internships. In my wish is based on my current worries about the future, as well as my hopes and my sense of powerlessness. I wished that I could go back to the past to the fix those problems. Although I know it's just a fantasy, I will still imagine what I would do if I went back to the past to make the situation better now. And I know even if I restarted, I might also encounter similar difficulties now."

Now, Cheng Lefan works hard to prepare for his furture while still keeps martial arts as his interest. You can see him posting information about martial arts in his WeChat Moment. But more often, he is seen sitting at the long table of CIDE with a GMAT textbook on hands, studying till the midnight and taking the last shuttle bus to go back the upper campus.