At the International College(IC) of Xiamen University(XMU), a group of outstanding students — recipients of the 2025 Yanbao Scholarship, XMU — stand out with their brilliance. Five students from IC have recently been honored with this award, and their inspiring stories will be shared in the coming days. Today we’ll introduce Cui Xinyi

, a student from class of 2023, major in Business Accounting.

Profile:

Cui Xinyi, a member of the Communist Youth League, is a student from the Business Accounting major， Class of 2023. She has an average score of 94.6 in professional courses, an A in GU1, and an IELTS score of 7.0. She serves as the monitor, an office cadre of the Student Development Center of the International College, a cadre of the Readers' Association and also the leader of the Planning Group of the Library of Xiamen University Zhangzhou Campus,.

Awards and Honors:

Yanbao Scholarship 2025, Xiamen University;

First-Class Academic Excellence Scholarship 2024–2025, International College;

Star of Innovation Competition;

Star of Volunteer Service;

Third Prize in the South China Regional Final of the 14th IMA Management Accounting Case Competition;

Outstanding Volunteer of the Library

Internship Experience

Previously served internships in the Audit and Assurance Departments of the accounting firms, KPMG and Ernst & Young (EY).

Competition Forges Excellence

As a team leader in professional competitions, I led my team to win the Third Prize in the South China Regional Final of the 14th IMA Management Accounting Case Competition and the Second Prize in the South China Regional Preliminary Round of the 15th IMA Management Accounting Case Competition. I also led my team to participate in the 4th KPMG ESG Case Analysis Competition. In the excellent traditional Chinese culture competition, I was awarded the National First Prize in the Confucius Culture Track of the 2024 National College Students’ Cultural Promotion Campaign “Wisdom of Chinese Civilization, Inheritance of Chinese Tradition”. In reading promotion competitions, as team leader I led my team to win the Second Prize in the “Reading Star Promoter” Short Video Creation Contest, and led a three-member team to receive the Excellence Award in the “Vigorous Reading” Knowledge Competition.

Various competitions have brought about a transformation in my mindset and an all-round improvement in my abilities. From case analysis to on-site presentation, every challenge has pushed me out of my comfort zone and strengthened my logical thinking, teamwork and adaptability. As a team leader, I have learned to coordinate task division and motivate team members under pressure. By competing with outstanding opponents, I have also reflected on my own performance and continuously improved my professional competence. Competitions have made me more composed in the face of uncertainty and allowed me to gain far more practical experience in a short time than I could acquire in class, serving as a crucial accelerator for my all-round development.

Volunteer Service: Passing on Warmth and Light

Through volunteer work including the school sports meeting, cultural galas, forums and lectures, the Zhangzhou Campus traditional festival series, and library volunteer programs, I have gained a broader perspective of the world. For me, the 145 hours of volunteer service are not merely a statistic, but a window to growth. From communication and coordination to emergency response, from attentive service to steady organization, every experience has quietly shaped me into a more mature individual. I also met many like-minded friends. I acquired diverse practical skills in different roles, which further strengthened my sense of responsibility and commitment.

Practice Builds True Knowledge

Beyond the classroom, I devoted myself to professional practice and student work, honing my abilities and broadening my horizons through hands-on experience.

During my studies, I served as the class monitor, the carder of the College Student Development Center, and an officer in the Activity Department of the Campus Library Reader Association and the head of the planning group. I was awarded Outstanding Carder by the Student Development Center and the Library Readers Association respectively. Taking on multiple roles has strengthened my skills in organization, coordination, communication and overall execution. While serving fellow students, I also accumulated valuable experience in team management and activity execution.

I have completed internships in the Audit and Assurance departments of KPMG and EY, two accounting firms, where I took an in-depth part in four IPO projects. My responsibilities included drafting audit memoranda, conducting confirmations, assisting in the preparation of working papers, financial analysis reports and client documents, and participating in comparative research on revenue recognition and capitalization of research and development expenditures. These internships enabled me to quickly adapt to high-intensity and high-standard professional requirements, apply theoretical knowledge to practice, and transform my mindset from a student to a professional.

Diligent Study & Strategic Planning

In my coursework, I do not believe in rote memorization of formulas. Instead, I strive to fully understand knowledge by building a systematic knowledge framework and become a thoughtful practitioner. I am always willing to help my classmates solve problems and sort out key knowledge points. Explaining concepts clearly to others has also deepened my own comprehension.

In terms of time management, I balance priorities and timelines when facing multiple tasks at once, sticking to both long-term plans and short-term arrangements. Urgent and important matters such as competitions and exams come first, followed by long-term tasks including internship applications and report writing, and daily improvements such as language learning and certificate preparation. I set aside fixed periods for deep work each day to handle demanding tasks, and use fragmented time for routine work and communication. I set overall goals at the start of each semester and small daily KPIs, scheduling classes, competitions and activities in advance. This system allows me to stay calm and efficient while managing multiple responsibilities.

Taking the initiative to learn supplementary skills has greatly benefited me. I have actively obtained several qualifications, including the National Computer Rank Examination Level 2 and the Junior Auditor Certificate. Strong language skills, proficient use of office software and formulas, and solid professional knowledge have made me more competitive in internship interviews and enabled me to complete tasks efficiently and effectively in practice.

Messages to Fellow Students

Start planning early, and allow yourself to make mistakes. I hope my schoolmates can well plan their studies and daily life, begin learning practical skills and seizing opportunities as early as possible. When feeling confused, dare to explore widely and take the first step — go for internships, competitions and projects. Action itself will lead you to the answers.

Make diligence a habit. Small improvements matter. Constant progress in language learning, as well as the steady expansion and consolidation of professional knowledge, will eventually become your confidence and foundation when opportunities arise in the future.

Learn from others and walk with excellence. The inspiring seniors at the 2026 UK Alumni Awards, outstanding student representatives from other universities, excellent mentors and colleagues during my internships, strong competitors in professional competitions, and my respected teachers and dear friends at Xiamen University — I have met so many role models worth learning from. These beacons around me have given me constant motivation and inspiration, encouraging me to absorb experience, exchange ideas, and keep improving as I move steadily forward on my journey of growth.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my professional course teachers for their clear guidance on my academic and career development, to my counselors for their thoughtful care in my life and studies, and to my friends who walk alongside me for giving me the courage to persist and forge ahead.

May we all do our best and embrace our limits at the International College of Xiamen University, accumulate wisdom through exploration, and shine brightly as we move forward!