Graduates | 雷厉：因为广以，所以广阔

雷厉原本打算高考后直接出国，后来因计划有变，于是想在国内专注于理工科的院校读好本科，为今后出国读研打好基础。“我了解到广以是世界顶尖的理工科学府——以色列理工学院的中国校区，教学完全沿袭本部的标准和要求，而且学校的科研氛围浓厚，这点非常吸引我。我觉得在广以学习能帮助我提前适应国外的教学模式，为我申请国外的研究生提供更好的平台。”

雷厉坦言自己对材料科学与工程专业的喜爱也不是从一开始就有的，而是在这四年的学习中慢慢培养起来的。“我记得选专业的时候，父母问我是否确定自己喜欢这个专业，当时我也没能给出肯定的答案。最初，‘材料科学’对我来说只是一个名词，没有任何特别的意义。后来，我越学越能体会到这个专业的趣味所在，甚至觉得这个世界变得更加有趣了。”他表示，经过四年的学习，养成用材料学的眼光看待世界的习惯之后，他发现自己所学的专业知识与日常生活息息相关，很多习以为常的现象背后的原理往往耐人寻味。

自大二下学期起，雷厉就在材料科学与工程系副主任谭启教授的指导下接受科研训练，从事纳米电介质和高分子合成材料方向的研究。回想起自己从“科研小白” 慢慢成长起来的这两年时间里，他觉得自己收获满满。“在实验技巧上，我从一开始啥都不会，连做一张膜都要一个星期，到现在可以独立完成很多测试，甚至可以自己修理仪器；从一开始只会不断重复别人的实验，到现在逐渐有了自己的想法。这段经历还让我认识到团队合作的重要性，小组里的每个人都各有所长，只有大家优势互补，项目才能顺利的进行。这两年里，我觉得我的科研能力获得了不小的提升，为我未来的研究生学习做了很好的铺垫。”

导师谭教授对雷厉在科研方面出众的表现予以高度评价。“进入我的课题组之后，小雷一直非常勤奋积极，很快就成为组里最优秀的学生之一。我很欣赏他的批判性思维、团队合作精神和学习能力，我也坚信他会在未来的专业领域实现自我超越，不管去到任何项目都会迅速成为顶尖的一员。”

学习的过程中，雷厉也听到外界不少关于这个专业负面的声音。“我的想法是如果志在做科研甚至想成为科学家，那就大可以忽略这些劝退的声音。认准自己的目标，专注去做就好，不必因为外界褒贬不一的声音扰乱自己的初心。”

大三上学期，他在听了《分子光谱学》这门课之后对光学产生了兴趣，于是在大三下学期选修了关于半导体和封装的课。“这两门课邀请了企业工程师从业界的角度为我们分享相关的内容，感觉挺有趣的。上完这几门课后，我基本就决定了，读研时要向半导体和光学的方向发展。”

雷厉认为，找到自己喜欢的方向是求学过程中比较困难但又极为重要的事。“我们的课程设置内容广泛，给了我们充分的机会接触专业中不同的方向，不过从中做出选择还是蛮困难的。其实现在想想，不好做选择的原因是见识的还不够多。当时，我找了几位教授聊天，听听他们的意见和看法，也去听了几场专业领域的讲座，大致厘清了自己的想法。当自己有困惑的时候，多向前辈们请教也不失为一个好方法。”在广以这四年，雷厉深刻地意识到大学和高中并不一样，找到自己感兴趣的内容、认准前进的方向后要通过自己点滴的努力才能实现目标。

在收到哥伦比亚大学、康奈尔大学、加州大学伯克利分校、加州大学洛杉矶分校、宾夕法尼亚大学、西北大学、卡耐基梅隆大学等十所大学抛出的“橄榄枝”后，目标清晰的他决定到加州大学伯克利分校，师从一位研究光学和半导体方向的教授，开启研究型硕士的求学之路。

雷厉以其优异的综合表现，在大学期间两次入选“院长嘉许名单”。荣誉背后，离不开他持之以恒的努力和坚持。他说，“忙”字贯穿了他这四年在广以的学习生活。“除了排得满满的课表、数不清的作业和演讲，还要挤出时间去做实验。这四年来，我没有寒暑假的概念，不是在考托福、考GRE就是在做科研。‘考上大学就轻松了’这样的情况在广以是不存在的，娱乐休闲的时间甚至比以前少了很多。庆幸的是，这些忙碌都是有价值的，让我收获很大。”

雷厉认为，在学习压力面前，保持良好的心态是尤为重要的事情。“其实我一直是抱着‘八十五分万岁，一百分太累’的心态来完成大部分事情。我意识到人的精力是有限的，很多事情我可能都没办法做到最好，但是我的心态一直都保持的很好。在漫长申请季的焦虑和各种压力下，我心态还是很稳定的，我感觉这是我最大的优势吧。”他认为自己所能做的，就是把自己能力范围内的事情做到最好。“You do the best, God do the rest.” 他很珍惜在广以结下的珍贵友谊，“我在学校认识了很多优秀的同学，希望大家毕业后也能一直保持联系！”

雷厉（右一）和朋友们聚会

INTRODUCTION

High School: Guangzhou No.2 High School

Program: Materials Science and Engineering

Received offers from: Columbia University; Cornell University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Pennsylvania; Carnegie Mellon University, etc.

Lei Li originally planned to study abroad directly after the College Entrance Examination. However, due to the change of the plan, he decided to complete his undergraduate study in a domestic university specializing in science and technology, so as to lay a solid foundation for his future study abroad for master's degree. "I learned that GTIIT is the China campus of the Technion, a world-renowned science and technology university. The teaching standard of GTIIT fully follows the requirements of the Technion. The strong scientific research atmosphere is also very attractive to me. I think studying at GTIIT will help me adapt to the foreign teaching mode in advance and provide a better platform for me to apply for a postgraduate university."

Lei Li admits that his interest in materials science is not from the very beginning, but gradually developed during the four years' study. "I remember when I was choosing the undergraduate program, my parents asked me if I was sure I liked materials science and engineering, and I couldn't give an affirmative answer. At first, 'materials science' was just a noun for me, it didn't have any special meaning. However, the more I learn, the more I have realized how interesting the program is and the world has become more interesting." He said that after four years' study, he developed the habit of looking at the world from the perspective of material science. He finds that his professional knowledge is closely related to daily life, and the principles behind many familiar phenomena are often thought-provoking.

Since the second semester of his sophomore year, Lei Li has joined Prof. Daniel Tan's research group, engaging in the research of nano dielectric and polymer composite. Looking back on the two years of training, he feels that he has gained a lot. "In terms of experimental skills, I can do nothing at the beginning. I even need to spend a week making a membrane. Now I can complete a lot of tests independently, and even repair the instrument by myself. What's more, I can only repeat the experiments of others at first, and now I gradually have my own ideas. This experience also made me realize the importance of teamwork. Everyone in the team has his or her own strengths. Only by working together can the project proceed smoothly. In the past two years, I think my scientific research ability has been greatly improved, which lays a good foundation for my postgraduate study."

Prof. Daniel Tan spoke highly of Lei Li's outstanding performance in scientific research. “Lei Li got involved in research projects actively and quickly became one of the best students. I appreciate his critical thinking, teamwork spirit and learning abilities. Besides that, his diligence and kindness also leave a deep impression on me. I firmly believe that he will achieve self-transcendence in his future professional field and quickly become the top candidate in any program.”

Lei Li heard some negative voices about Materials Science and Engineering Program. "My opinion is that if you want to do scientific research or even become a scientist, you can ignore these negative voices. Just keep your mind on what you want to achieve and focus on it."

In the first semester of his junior year, he became interested in optics after having the course Molecular Spectroscopy, so he took elective courses on semiconductors and packaging in the second semester of his junior year. "The engineers share with us the interesting knowledge of this field from the perspective of industry. After taking these courses, I basically decided that I wanted to further explore semiconductor and optics in my postgraduate study."

Lei Li believes that finding the direction you like is one of the most difficult but important things. "Our curriculum gives us plenty of opportunities to learn about different things of our program, but it is difficult to choose one specific direction between them. At that time, I talked with the professors and listened to their opinions, and also attended several academic lectures before I roughly clarified my own ideas." During the four years at GTIIT, Lei Li deeply realizes that university is different from high school. “You must make every effort to achieve your goal after finding what you are interested in and follow the right direction.”

After receiving the offers from ten famous universities overseas, namely Columbia University; Cornell University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Pennsylvania; Carnegie Mellon University, etc., Lei Li decided to go to the University of California, Berkeley to pursue his master's degree following a professor researching in optical and semiconductor.

Lei Li was twice selected to the Dean's List for his outstanding performance at GTIIT. He says that the word "busy" runs through his four years of study and life in the university. "In addition to the busy class schedule, tons of homework and presentations, I also need to go to the labs. In the past four years, I have no concept of summer and winter holidays. Taking TOEFL and GRE tests and doing scientific research occupied most of my time. Fortunately, it was all worthwhile and rewarding."

Lei Li believes that in the face of study pressure, maintaining a good attitude is particularly important. "I realize that people's energy and time are limited and I may not be able to do the best in many things, but I always keep a good attitude, which I feel is my greatest advantage." He thinks all he can do is to do the best he can within his ability. "You do the best, God do the rest." Lei Li cherishes the precious friendship at GTIIT. "I have met many outstanding friends in the university. I hope we can keep in touch after graduation.”

Lei Li (Right one) with his friends