中科大BC省校友会2021年科二代奖学金得主为：杨蓟浙校友的女儿 朱鹤鸣 Emily Zhu。她学业优秀，各方面都很出色，我们为有如此优秀的科二代而自豪！

以下是由Emily撰写的获奖感言，羽毛球如何伴随她成长：

Since 5 years old, I’ve lived half my life on the badminton court. From rallying with other first graders to growing up and playing my first tournament at 11 years old, to even competing at Nationals twice, I’ve always found solace in the midst of an intense doubles match with fierce opponents. It’s at those times when I can truly forget about the other stresses of my life that are on my mind, and find something to focus 110% of my energy on. The adrenaline that pushes me to dive after every bird, matched with my burning desire to push myself harder every point, is what keeps me on the court even after I feel like giving up.

Though it has not always been a smooth ride, the lessons that badminton has taught me remain invaluable as many of said skills are not only transferable, but also extremely applicable to many other aspects of my life. For one, the perseverance I feel on court has helped me handle many academic situations, whether it’s a large pile up of assignments with fast-approaching deadlines or a test on content I didn’t understand in class. Hearing my coach’s voice echo in my head, “the point isn’t over until the bird hits the ground. Don’t give up unless the bird is, without a doubt, on the ground.”, reminds me to keep trying even when I think there may be no chance anymore. There’s always the opportunity for you to turn the game around even with an initial loss of 19-10. As long as you don’t give up first, the opponent still hasn’t won.

Similarly, no matter how daunting the tasks at hand are, I know that as long as I don’t walk away, I’ll be able to figure a plan out and see that I get everything done to the best of my ability. I’ve always held myself to high standards, both academically and athletically. Though this sometimes leads to struggles with the concept of perfection, it’s also a promise to myself to always put my best work out there. Overtime, I’ve learned that my best doesn’t always have to be perfect, and that’s perfectly okay. As long as the job gets done and I’m proud of the outcome, that’s more than enough. Sometimes, it’s not about winning the game, but rather, about reflecting on what the game can teach you about your opponent, yourself, and the very sport itself.

Having the opportunity to play with USTC alumni at some of the badminton gatherings have always been highlights for me. Not only do I get to practice my skills and learn from mentors, but I also get to hear about their stories and life advice. It’s a great way to build my connections and interact with a diverse group of people, and they have definitely been defining moments in my recreational badminton career. Seeing how badminton is able to bring so many people together is incredibly inspirational, and I love that the alumni association organizes these gatherings to further bolster the sense of community that is so important in our increasingly polarized world.

All in all, badminton has been one of the most important parts of my life. Though accomplishments like bringing home a silver at Provincials or double golds at BC Winter Games sound impressive, the true value isn’t in the medals, but the lessons and takeaways that will stay with me for the rest of my life.