Meet Dickenson Sy, a 23-year-old economics and finance student at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, blending his academic hustle with a lifelong love for Chinese culture 🐉. Born in the Philippines, Sy grew up devouring Chinese movies, cuisine, and the classic TV adaptation of Journey to the West – a obsession that sparked his dream to study in China.
🔍 Why it matters: Sy’s story reflects how pop culture bridges borders. \"The creativity in Journey to the West showed me China’s rich storytelling heritage,\" he says. A 2017 educational tour in Xiamen sealed the deal, where temple visits and local snacks \"felt like stepping into the drama’s mythical world.\"
🎓 Now thriving at one of China’s top universities, Sy highlights cultural immersion: \"Understanding China isn’t just about textbooks – it’s in the street food, the stories, the people.\" His message to global youths? \"Follow your curiosities – they might lead you to places even Sun Wukong hasn’t explored!\" 🐒✈️
