Connect with Former Fellows

Hello hello, 大家好! My name is Gabby, I’m in Trumbull college (MOORAH) majoring in Political Science with a Chinese Language Certificate! In the summer of 2025 I studied abroad in Mainland China with CET Beijing and had the best summer yet! As a Chinese adoptee that has been discovering her Chinese heritage and identity at Yale, this journey was incredibly important for furthering my self-identity and fulfilling a longstanding dream of returning to China. I was fortunate enough to travel to Chengdu, Shanghai, Nanchang, and even my hometown Suichuan County in Jiangxi. During my time in China, I learned more about Chinese culture, my adoption, and myself. I made amazing relationships during late night walks in Chengdu and in the Qipao store as I talked with another adoptee about our shared experiences. I ate amazing food and developed friendships with locals I’ll never forget. I had the best time in China and I’m excited to return in the future! Please reach out with any questions, I’m always happy to talk :)

Hi everyone! I'm Robin. I studied abroad in Beijing through the CET Beijing program in Summer 2025, placing into the highest level of Chinese. I’m majoring in Economics and pursuing an Advanced Chinese Language Certificate. During my time in Beijing, I had the privilege of competing in a speaking competition and participating in an economics forum hosted by Tsinghua University. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to hear more about navigating intensive language study, engaging academically in Beijing, or combining economics and language learning!

Hey everyone! My name is Kalina, and I’m a sophomore in JE planning on studying Cognitive Science and Film! The summer of 2025, I traveled with CET Beijing to mainland China through the Light Fellowship. During eight weeks in China, I had the opportunity to visit cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xian, make friends with the locals, and eat lots of incredible good. If you’re thinking about applying for the Light Fellowship, traveling to China or even just traveling abroad, feel free to reach out!

Hello! My name is Patrick (MY '28) and I recently spent my summer in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy (HTA). Taiwan's food, from night markets eats to proper restaurants, scenery, from beautiful bike paths to strenuous yet rewarding hikes, and the nicest people ever all made this summer unforgettable. I genuinely had a great time in Taiwan and I cannot wait to go back. I'd love to help you learn more about HTA or any and all aspects of life in Taiwan!!

大家好！My name is Aaron and I studied at CET Beijing during the summer of 2025. During my 8 weeks in China, I not only improved my Chinese so much, but also got to explore many different cities and try many cuisines. Some of my favorite memories include talking to locals, like my roommate, which gave me great insight into Chinese culture and politics. If you have any questions or want suggestions on what to do on the weekend in China, feel free to reach out!

Hello! My name is Eva, a sophomore at Morse College majoring in Economics and East Asian Studies. Last summer, I spent 8 weeks in Taiwan studying at Harvard Taipei Academy. Those 8 weeks absolutely changed my life - not only did I find a deeper love for the Chinese language, my bonds with the local community, my friends and teachers, and my coursework elevated my experience and I left with a profound appreciation and inspiration for Taiwanese and Chinese culture. As a FGLI student, I also learned to navigate the financial and emotional challenges of living independently in a different country -- whether you are a fellow FGLI student, student interested in Harvard Taipei Academy, or you share an interest in East Asian culture, please feel free to reach out! I was fortunate to receive support from previous Light Fellows during my own fellowship term and I am very eager to help!

大家好! I’m Jalen, a junior in TD majoring in History with certificates in Chinese and Spanish. I began studying Chinese at Yale in L3, and this past summer I completed my third and fourth L5 courses at the Harvard Taipei Academy, hosted at National Taiwan University. Studying in Taipei was an amazing experience—I could see how much my Chinese has improved since I first started in college. While abroad, I also traveled to places like Pingtung and Tainan on our Social Study Trip, and enjoyed visiting beaches such as Baishawan. I’m excited to be back on campus and would be happy to share more about HTA, Taiwan, or studying abroad if you have any questions!

Hi! My name is Cynthia, and I was abroad for the last two semesters in mainland China, first for CET-Beijing and then through another travel fellowship working on some independent film projects. I was also abroad the summer of 2022 through CET-Taiwan. I still keep in touch with all the creatives that I’ve met in China, which has helped with current projects and learning how to make films from different cultural perspectives. Please get in touch if you have any questions on living for a longer period of time abroad or if you’re interested in the arts in a foreign country!

Hello, lovely people! My name is Andy Tan—Davenport class of 2027—, and I studied abroad in Beijing, China, with CET Beijing. I was initially drawn to this program for its intensive curriculum, but upon my departure, I say my favorite experiences came from the activities I did and the people I met outside of the classroom. During my time in China, I visited many cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Taishan, Guangzhou, and Qingdao. From late-night city walks to learning dance choreography on the side of the street while having random conversations with food vendors, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Chinese culture. If you have questions about studying abroad as a first-generation student, as a Queer student, or about the experience in general, feel free to reach out! I can't wait to connect with you all!

Hello! My name is Ryen. I am a Global Affairs major pursuing an Advanced Chinese Language certificate in Branford College. I studied abroad in China with CET Beijing during the summer of 2025, and I loved everything about my experience! From the weekend excursions to famous landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to the traveling seminar in Chengdu, there was always someplace new to explore. I also feel so much more comfortable in my language skills now that I have had eight weeks of experience speaking only Chinese with native speakers and navigated the streets of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu with my friends. If you want to learn about being in China as a Black person, what tea to drink during what season, or how to eat Peking duck, please feel free to reach out!

大家好！My name is Inez Chuidian and I'm a sophomore in Davenport College. This summer, I spent two months at the Harvard Taipei Academy, where I earned my Advanced Language Certificate in Chinese. The program was challenging, but it was also an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Taiwanese culture while greatly improving my Mandarin. I truly believe the best way to learn a language is by surrounding yourself with its unique foods, traditions, and practices! I'm more than happy to connect with students interested in applying for the Light Fellowship or studying abroad in Taipei!

Hello everyone! My name is Max, and I spent this past summer in Taipei! From chatting with locals to hiking in Taiwan’s mountains to exploring the street markets, I not only improved my Chinese but also gained a rich understanding of Taiwanese culture through this experience. I’m extremely interested in how Taiwan’s linguistic diversity impacts its citizens’ senses of national identity, as well as how Taiwan’s blend of Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian religious traditions impacts Taiwanese people’s view of the everyday world, and I hope to return soon to investigate these questions! If you have questions about studying abroad, please feel free to reach out!!

朋友们好!! My name is Angela and I spent my first-year summer abroad through CET Beijing. Now that I'm back in the States, I can happily say that my study abroad experience has left me with many friends, lessons, and memories that I will cherish forever. I'm very grateful for the time I spent in China because through late night conversations with my local roommate, spontaneous weekend trips, activities hosted by my program, and lunches with my Chinese class, I felt really immersed in Chinese culture and society. By the end of my two months in China, I did not want to leave because it felt like I'd only seen a tiny fraction of such a beautiful country. If you have questions about the Light Fellowship/CET Beijing or if you just want to hear some funny stories (I fear I spent my summer experiencing lore-worthy moments on the daily), feel free to contact me! :)

Hi! I'm Carly, a sophomore in Berkeley. I just completed a summer study abroad in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy. It was such a great time of trying new foods (Taiwanese night markets are amazing), connecting with locals (had some life-changing interactions), and of course, intensively learning Chinese (hard, but so worth it)! Studying abroad was not only a great opportunity to immerse myself in another culture, but to also learn more about myself and my heritage. Please reach out with any questions you may have – I would love to chat! :D

Hi everyone, 大家好! My name is Nilab, and I’m a junior in Murray studying EP&E. This past summer 2025, I spent two months studying abroad with Princeton in Beijing, where I completed my Chinese Language Certificate. I was on the Fourth-Year track at PiB; the program was challenging, to say the least, but it was also an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture while significantly improving my Mandarin skills. Like many of you, I had only ever studied Chinese in a classroom before, but this summer I was able to learn by chatting with local students on campus, bargaining with vendors at 虹桥 market, and ordering 酸奶 and 北京烤鸭 wherever I went. I’ve found that the best way to learn a language is by immersing yourself in the place and with the people. My experiences this summer have without a doubt shaped both my life and my career aspirations, and I came away with lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. Please feel free to reach out with any questions; I’d be more than happy to connect!