Maxim Pak（马克西姆-帕克），来自俄罗斯，2024级国际商务硕士研究生。

Introduction

My name is Maxim Pak, I’m 27 years old, and I’m excited to begin my academic journey as a master’s student in International Business at Fudan University’s School of Economics (SOE). My journey to Fudan has been marked by a deep passion for China, cultural curiosity, unexpected opportunities, and, inevitably, numerous failures along the way.

我叫Maxim Pak（马克西姆-帕克），今年27岁，很高兴能在半岛·体育bob官方网站开启我的国际商务硕士学习之旅。在通往复旦的旅程中，对中国的热爱与对中华文化的好奇激励着我向前，我在途中曾收获了意想不到的机遇，也不可避免地经历了很多失败。

It all began in the Far East of Russia, a city to the North of China’s Heilongjiang province. Growing up so close to the Chinese border, I was naturally immersed in Chinese culture and business from a young age, especially through my family, who prospered by importing consumer goods from China after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. I still remember the harsh transition period after the collapse – many in my family lost their stable jobs, store shelves were empty, and chaos ruled both the nation and our homes. During those tough times, my father would often take me along on a ship to cross the Heilongjiang (Amur) River to a small village called Fǔyuǎn, situated on the Chinese side of the river. There, we would buy different kinds of goods to resell in Russia, make business connections, and, of course, savor famous Chinese cuisine.

这一切都始于一座位于黑龙江省以北的城市，距离中俄边境非常近。我从小在那里长大，自然而然地受到了中国的文化和商业氛围的熏陶。1991年苏联解体后，我们一家依靠从中国进口商品发展，这也是我对中国有所了解的重要原因。我仍然记得苏联解体后那段艰难的过渡时期——我的很多亲友失去了稳定的工作，商店的货架上空空如也，大家和小家都陷入了混乱。在那段艰苦的时光里，父亲经常带着我乘船渡过黑龙江（阿穆尔河）到中国境内一个名叫抚远的地方。我们会在那里购买各种商品到俄罗斯售卖，在两地之间做生意。当然，我们还在那里品尝了有名的中国美食。

Those trips were my first real interaction with a totally foreign culture, and it was during those moments that I realized China was a land of immense opportunities and the birthplace of my childhood dreams. As I witnessed that once tiny village evolve into the bustling city of Fǔyuǎn, with its skyline now dominated by tall buildings. It was clear to me that the transformation of this city mirrored China’s remarkable socio-economic growth, and so my desire to one day live in China grew just as rapidly.

这是我第一次真正了解中国，那时候对于我来说，中国是一片充满机遇的土地，是我童年梦想的发源地。目睹那个曾经的小村庄抚远发展成为如今高楼林立、繁华热闹的大城市时，让我意识到，这座城市的蜕变映照出的是中国非凡的社会经济发展。因此，我也更加希望未来能到中国生活发展。

Immigration to Canada

In 2012, at the age of 16, I embarked on another significant chapter of my life by immigrating to Toronto, Canada. The move was both unexpected, exciting, and difficult. It was my first time living alone in a place where everything, including the language, was unfamiliar to me. The Canadian education system was far different from what I was used to, and the challenges of pursuing education in a new language soon negatively reflected in my grades. I nearly failed my high school and lost my sense of purpose in life. Frankly speaking, if it weren’t for meeting my girlfriend during those challenging years—who helped me rediscover the aspirations I had nearly forgotten—I wouldn’t be where I am today.

2012年，当时16岁的我移民到加拿大多伦多，开启了我人生的另一个重要篇章。这次经历充满了未知，既有开心的时刻，同时也困难重重。这是我第一次独自生活在一个包括语言在内的一切都不熟悉的地方。加拿大的教育体系与我以前所接受的教育体系很不一样，加上还需要适应新的语言，这其中的种种问题很快就反映在了我的成绩上。我险些没能完成高中学业，也因失去人生目标而十分迷茫。坦率地说，如果不是在那时遇到了我的女友，帮助我重新找回曾经的理想，我就不会有今天的成就。

Long story short, my old passion for China, became a guiding force that helped me significantly improve academically and seize every opportunity that came my way. Hard work and dedication landed me an acceptance letter at the University of Toronto, where I pursued a double major in Economics and East Asian Studies. I realized that this academic path was perfectly aligned with my life goals, laying the foundation for the mission I had long envisioned: contributing to bridging the cultural and economic gaps between East, specifically China, and West.

总而言之，昔日对中国的热爱驱使着我在学业上不断进步，努力把握每一个重要的机会。通过不断地努力和付出，我最终得到了多伦多大学的录取通知书，主修经济学和东亚研究双学位。这条学术道路与我的人生目标完全相符，为我长期以来的理想奠定了基础：为消弭东方（特别是中国）与西方文化和经济之间的隔阂做出贡献。

My Journey to Shanghai

In the third year of bachelor’s, I got accepted into an exchange program in one of the Shanghai’s universities, which promised to be a pivotal moment in my academic and personal journey. However, just as this opportunity was within my reach, the world was hit by COVID-19—borders closed, and my dream of studying and living in China was grounded, along with the flights to Shanghai

本科三年级时，我被上海一所大学的交流项目录取，这本是我学业和人生经历中一次最重要的机会。然而，就在它触手可及之际，全球遭遇新冠疫情，边境关闭，我在中国学习和生活的梦想和飞往上海的航班一起搁浅了。

After spending 11 years in Canada and successfully graduating from the University of Toronto, the circumstances of the pandemic led me back to Russia. While it was not the path I had originally envisioned, returning to my homeland presented fresh opportunities. I joined one of Russia's leading management consulting agencies in Moscow, where I gained valuable experience working on business cases that provided me with a much better understanding of the Russian market in general, as well as its dynamic economic interplay with China.

在加拿大生活了11年并顺利从多伦多大学毕业后，新冠疫情又让我回到了俄罗斯。虽然这不是我最初设想的道路，但回国确实给我带来了新的机遇。我在莫斯科加入了一家俄罗斯顶尖的管理咨询机构，在那里我收获了宝贵的工作经验，也对俄罗斯市场的整体情况以及两国的经济往来有了更好的了解。

Being a proactive and decisive person, I soon realized that I now possessed enough knowledge, skills, and experience needed to make an important decision about my future. The time had come to pursue my long-held dream of living and working in China. With this clarity, on a freezing January winter evening in Russia, I made a sudden and, perhaps, opportunistic decision to move to Shanghai. This decision was driven by multiple factors. First, Shanghai offered the perfect environment to immerse in the Chinese language and diverse culture. Second, the move allowed me to reunite with my girlfriend, who is originally from Shanghai, and who had been a constant source of inspiration and support throughout my life. Finally, Shanghai represented the ideal place to work on my life mission – bridging the economic and cultural gaps between East and West.

作为一个积极主动、果敢决断的人，当时的我很快就意识到，我已经拥有了足够的知识、技能和经验，可以对自己的未来做出重要的决定，是时候完成到中国生活和发展的愿望了。时值俄罗斯的一月，理清思绪后，我于一个寒冷的冬夜做出了决定——到上海去。其实这也是综合了多方面的考虑：一是上海可以为我提供一个完全沉浸在汉语和多元文化的环境；二是我的女友来自上海，她一直为我提供不竭的灵感来源与生活上的鼓励支持，我终于能与她团聚；三是关于个人理想，我曾经希望为缩小东方（特别是中国）与西方之间的文化和经济差距做出贡献，我相信能在上海实现我的人生理想。

I arrived in Shanghai on February 9th, 2024, just a day before Chinese New Year. It felt like a second immigration, once again stepping into a new world with only a basic grasp of the language—sound familiar, isn’t it? :) But this time, things were different. China welcomed me with open arms, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere of festivity. The delicious food, fascinating people, and every detail of life and the vibrant environment in Shanghai sparked my curiosity and captivated my interest from the moment I arrived. Initially, my plan was straightforward – study Chinese at East China Normal University (ECNU), and explore employment opportunities for expats. However, as I already learned, sometimes, a single moment can change the course of your entire life.

我在2024年2月9日抵达上海，恰好是春节的前一天。这感觉就像第二次移民，我再次踏入一个新世界，但却只掌握了基础的语言——这听起来很熟悉，不是吗？:) 但事实上，这一次大有不同，我感受到了中国给予我的热情欢迎，很快也沉浸在了热情洋溢的节日气氛中。美味的食物、有趣的人群、生活的体验以及上海充满活力的氛围，从我抵达的那一刻起就激发了我的强烈的好奇心和兴趣。最初，我的计划很简单——在华东师范大学（ECNU）学习中文，并寻找外籍人士的就业机会。然而，正如我曾经历过的那样，有时候，一个瞬间就能改变你整个人生的轨迹。

One day, as I strolled through one of Shanghai's vibrant streets with my girlfriend, surrounded by charming shops and cozy Chinese restaurants, something caught my attention – I noticed a set of impressive gates that stood out. Curious, I asked my girlfriend: "What place is this?" She replied: "This is Fudan University." I recalled that during my time at the University of Toronto, I had researched Fudan University while exploring options for exchange programs in China. Even then, I knew it was one of the most prestigious universities in China, renowned for its academic excellence and strong international reputation. This memory sparked an idea – why not try my luck and apply to Fudan for a graduate program? I was lucky that I had enough time to submit my application on the very last day of the application window. After several months of anxious anticipation, I finally received the email stating: “Congratulations on your admission to Fudan University.” A wave of relief and joy washed over me as I held that acceptance letter, my heart swelling with pride and excitement. All the challenges, the late nights, and the moments of doubt had led to this moment. I had achieved something I once thought was beyond my reach, and now, a new adventure awaits me in China.

到达上海之后的某一天，我和女友在街上散步，周围都是有趣的店铺和温馨的中式餐馆。突然一个地方吸引了我的注意力——我看到了一座引人注目的校门，格外显眼，便问女友这是什么地方。她说：“这是复旦大学。”我回想起在多伦多大学就读期间，在选择中国交换生项目时，我曾了解过复旦大学。当时，我就知道复旦大学是中国最负盛名的大学之一，以其卓越的学术成就和良好的国际声誉而闻名。我突然有一个想法——为什么不试试运气，申请复旦大学的研究生项目呢？非常幸运的是，我赶在截止时间的最后一天提交了申请。经过几个月的焦急等待，我终于收到了一封邮件，上面写着：“恭喜您被复旦大学录取”。拿着录取通知书，我如释重负，喜悦之情溢于言表，心中满是自豪和激动。所有经历的困境、所有难熬的深夜、所有克服的自我怀疑，都是为了这一刻。我实现了曾经以为遥不可及的梦想，现在，人生中一段全新的旅程将在中国开启。

Conclusion

My path to Fudan University has been anything but straightforward. It was a journey marked by unexpected twists, successes, and failures. There were moments of doubt and times when I nearly lost sight of my goals, but my dedication to personal values and life aspirations, and the support of those around me kept me moving forward. Getting into Fudan felt like the culmination of years of hard work, determination, and the courage to seize opportunities even when the odds seemed very slim. It’s important to remember that your dreams are within reach — just keep pushing forward, no matter how tough challenges may seem. For me, the road to Fudan may have been difficult, but it has also been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to embrace the new journey that lies ahead.

通往理想与成功的道路永远不会是一帆风顺的，就像我的复旦求学之旅。我经历过意想不到的曲折、体会过成功，也经历过失败。我怀疑过自己，也差点失去目标。但内心对个人价值和人生理想的追求，以及周围人的支持鼓励，激励着我不断前进。持续的努力、坚定的决心，哪怕在机会渺茫时仍勇于抓住机会，才让我今天终于抵达了复旦。梦想并非遥不可及，无论眼前的挑战看起来多么艰巨，都要不断向前迈进。对我来说，通往复旦的道路或许艰辛，但也收获颇丰。我满怀憧憬，期待踏上前方熠熠生辉的崭新旅程。