UF student Quingyu Yang journeys from China to Florida to study advertising

Imagine going to college 7,000 miles away from your hometown. Now imagine doing that and excelling at it. Students like Quingyu “Grace” Yang – who came to Florida from Shanghai, China – don’t have to imagine.

Now a senior in the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Yang is majoring in advertising with a minor in statistics. As an International Baccalaureate student in high school, she could have chosen anywhere in the world to study. She selected UF for its incredible resources for international students, which have helped her thrive academically and personally.

“In the advertising department, they have great immersive experience opportunities,” Yang said. “And they have a lot of scholarships and internships.”

In 2023, Yang was awarded an International Student Achievement Award, which is given to three exceptional international students every year.

“I feel really excited about that,” Yang said. “It's also my first time to win this kind of award.”

Yang has been recognized for strengthening her community connections while expanding her academic passions at UF. She studied drawing as a child, which influenced her to choose advertising as her major. And, while her love of drawing paved her way for studying advertising, her minor in statistics has led her to find an interest in business analytics and consumer market research.

Yang is also a member of the Chinese American Student Association at UF, which has allowed her to meet new people and build a deeper connection to her community. She is a part of the Florida Community Innovation Foundation – a nonprofit organization that connects Florida’s citizens with trusted information and resources for navigating challenging times.

While Yang is not sure what the future holds, she is currently applying to various master’s programs. She is interested in AI and its possibilities, specifically how people can better use AI to do consumer relationship management and develop better brands. In the next five to 10 years, Yang sees herself working for a global agency, and her time at UF has helped her cultivate the
skills to pursue that path.

“UF is a very inclusive and diverse place where I can get different resources,” Yang said. “UF is a great option for international students because it has a really big campus, and it also has a really large number of different students, so they are able to keep in touch with different clubs. I would say the professors are also very great and friendly.”

Yang’s journey at UF has equipped her with insights that could be helpful for other international students: follow your heart, get involved, think about your own interests outside of your major, don’t be afraid to talk to your professors and advisors, and utilize all the wonderful resources UF has to offer.