When Wang Yi realised her growing interest in sociology, it was her second year, during an exchange programme in Hong Kong.
Just three months in, she made a bold decision: she wrote to the Academic Registry to withdraw from the year-long exchange and return to Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) to transfer into the Digital Social Science Programme.
Wang Yi
Class of 2026, first batch of graduates from the Department of Social Sciences
Offer: MPhil in Sociology, University of Cambridge; MA in Computational Social Science, University of Chicago; and more
Why leave a valuable exchange opportunity and switch paths midway? Asked by many around her, Wang Yi answered simply: Uncertainty exists in every path, so she chose to move forward and figure things out through action.
Her journey, however, was not always so clear. Like many students shaped by exam-oriented education, she once measured herself strictly by grades. A disappointing performance in Gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, left her questioning her abilities. It was only when a teacher told her, “That exam simply didn’t suit you. It doesn’t mean you’re not excellent,” that her perspective began to shift.
At BNBU, the liberal arts environment further challenged her long-held beliefs. Guided by teachers, she gradually realised that learning should not revolve solely around results, but around genuine curiosity and understanding.
She decided to go to Hong Kong Baptist University for one academic year. During her exchange in Hong Kong, Wang Yi embraced interdisciplinary learning, taking courses in sociology, psychology, law, and even German. Beyond the classroom, she conducted her first fieldwork, interviewing Filipino domestic workers and listening to their personal stories. The experience was transformative.
Wang Yi in Hong Kong
“I didn’t just want to describe what I saw. I wanted to understand why,” she reflected.
This desire led her to anthropology. After attending a lecture and speaking with a BNBU professor, she decided to change her academic direction.
Back at BNBU, she found herself in the right place. With supportive teachers, like-minded peers, and a strong sense of purpose, she grew rapidly, participating in academic conferences, attending summer programmes at the London School of Economics, and engaging in research across different contexts.
Wang Yi with schoolmates at the East Asian Anthropological Association Annual Meeting
These experiences broadened her perspective. “I feel like a container that keeps expanding,” she said, becoming more open and understanding towards different people and ideas.
For Wang Yi, sociology has offered more than academic knowledge. It has shaped how she understands the world, herself, and the relationship between technology and humanity in the AI era.
Today, she still plans her studies carefully and works diligently, but with a new sense of ease.
“BNBU helped me realise that there are many ways to define excellence,” she said. “Different people shine in different ways.”
Wang Yi performs at BNBU
Looking ahead, she said, “Imagine who you want to be in five years. You’ll realise what truly matters, and what doesn’t.”
“Everyone has their own timing,” she added. “The world is big, and there are always more possibilities than we think.”
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Photos provided by Cecilia Yu, Qi Junbo and the interviewee
