What will I do in the future? What kind of career will I pursue? Honestly, from childhood until now, I’ve never really thought deeply about this question. (Of course, when I was little, I said I wanted to be an astronaut or a scientist, but I never really worked towards that goal.) During middle school and high school, I just followed the path set out for me, always focused on my grades and never really thinking deeply about anything. Even at the most critical juncture of my life—when I had to choose a major for the college entrance examination—my only goal was to maximize the value of my exam scores and use them to get into the best possible university (based on the principle of cost-effectiveness). And so I ended up at the College of Geographic Sciences at Nanjing Normal University, studying geography in a broad sense, including physical geography, human geography, and geographic information science (GIS). Even though I was a science student in high school and never really delved deeply into geography, I tried my best to do well in every course. Through my studies, I realized that I was more interested in human geography. Actually, as early as high school, I discovered that I might be more suited to the humanities. I always preferred thinking about questions concerning people. I find focusing on humanity, history, and political systems much more interesting than solving physics and math problems. However, under the family’s advice for “better employment prospects,” I chose science.
When it came time to select my specialty, I knew that GIS was the best program at Nanjing Normal University, and my grades were just high enough to get into that class. So I ended up giving up on human geography, which I liked, and chose to major in geographic information science. But one day, it felt like I woke up—I realized that what I truly loved was human geography! I love how different geographic environments shape different personalities and cultures. That’s so fascinating! So when I took the postgraduate entrance examination, I chose human geography. This time, I didn’t make a mistake, and I successfully became a graduate student specializing in human geography. Around this time, I learned about the “Sandwich Program” (an exchange or specialized study program) and found out that I had the opportunity to come to the University of Salzburg to study applied GIS. And that’s where the change really began.
Before coming to the University of Salzburg, I didn’t have too many inner struggles, because I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I had already spent five years at Nanjing Normal University, and sometimes I felt like my spirit had been worn down. There’s an old Chinese saying, “A tree is doomed if it’s moved, but a person thrives with change,” meaning that if you uproot a tree it might die because of damage to its root system, but if a person changes their environment, they might come alive again. This applied to me as well. So I didn’t hesitate to apply for this program, and I was lucky enough to be selected. When I received the offer, I was very happy and excited, full of anticipation for the future. Of course, I was also a bit scared, because I was about to face unknown people, an unfamiliar culture, and a different teaching style. But regarding academics, I wasn’t that afraid. First, I’d already taken four years of GIS courses, so I have a pretty strong foundation—I wouldn’t be completely lost in what the teachers were saying, and my grades were decent. Second, I wanted to become a well-rounded person, combining the philosophical concepts of human geography with technical GIS skills. So I was very eager about studying at the University of Salzburg and hoped that this experience would help me become that multifaceted talent I aspired to be.
Have I achieved this goal yet? Well, not exactly, but I’m still working on it. I know that becoming a well-rounded professional isn’t something that happens overnight—it requires perseverance. Firstly, I need to develop the habit of thinking critically and keep my mind sharp. This will help me cultivate critical thinking skills (not just for arguing’s sake), allowing me to discover problems in life and research and better explore innovative ideas. Secondly, I need to continue learning GIS technology. Right now, the teachers mainly introduce and guide us in class. If I really want to master this technology, I need to put in much more effort outside of class, just like the Chinese proverb says, “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” I need to cultivate a spirit of independent learning and exploration. Thirdly, I need to improve my understanding of human geography. As the saying goes, “Reading thousands of books cannot compare to traveling thousands of miles.” Since coming to Salzburg, I’ve realized that traveling abroad has become quite easy. I often take advantage of holidays to catch a flight to another country, exploring and experiencing local customs. I find it fascinating that even countries located very close to each other can have different languages and cultures, and the local people can give off completely different vibes. For example, when I was in Spain, I found people more enthusiastic and open, whereas in Denmark, people were more reserved and quiet. It’s astonishing how environment shapes people, and I want to explore the reasons behind that more deeply.
In my previous studies, I never really treated GIS as a science itself, more like a tool. For example, using GIS for geological and geomorphological research, or for urban planning research. If we dig deeper into GIS as a science, it might involve algorithm optimization and accuracy improvements, which seem more like computer science. This perspective might be because my understanding of GIS isn’t deep enough yet. In my prior research, I used GIS for site selection in urban renewal projects. We usually consider many factors that affect site selection, such as the deterioration level of buildings, environment, noise, residents’ income levels, willingness to renew, and transportation convenience. We then map this data and input it into a GIS system, combining weights to calculate areas suitable for renewal. Compared to traditional urban planning, GIS-integrated planning can cover a more extensive research area and might attract attention from government and business sectors who are the real stakeholders in urban planning. Therefore, in order to make our research results more adoptable, we need to pay attention to the aesthetics of our maps—this is another field I’m passionate about. I love beautiful things; even maps should not just follow scientific standards but also have aesthetic designs. When I hold a beautiful and scientifically accurate map to present my research results to government or business representatives and persuade them to consider my recommendations, I feel more confident. After all, we live in an era where appearances matter a great deal. I’ve noticed that in recent years, the figures and maps in published papers have become increasingly refined and visually appealing, compared to those from many years ago.
So, what new things have I encountered in the MSc AGI program? In terms of the curriculum, not much is new to me. Even though GIS has developed rapidly in recent years, we still focus on the fundamentals, so topics like remote sensing, geovisualization, and programming aren’t entirely new to me. However, what is new and exciting is the teaching approach here. We have smaller classes, ensuring that every student gets attention from the teacher. The professors also emphasize our presentations, group discussions, and group projects. This teaching style has increased my participation in class and made me more focused on what the teachers are saying.
Now let’s address a very serious question: What will I do after graduation? Before coming to Salzburg, I always thought my future was predictable—my career path would either be a teacher, a civil servant, or a corporate employee. In the minds of most Chinese people, being a teacher or a civil servant represents a stable income and relatively less pressure, while working in a company means working hard, long hours, overtime, and facing the risk of being laid off around 35 years old. So before this, I felt my future path was narrow. But after coming to Salzburg, I realized that the future might hold more than just a few paths—there are many possibilities. For example, when I talked with a PhD student who also studied GIS, I learned that she volunteered at the United Nations, worked part-time at a bubble tea shop in Italy, and so on. I found such a life interesting and poetic. If we don’t experience different ways of life in this world, that would be a real pity. After graduation, I hope to take a gap year, traveling the world without any pressure or worries to see how the places I’ve imagined compare to reality. I also hope that during this time, I can discover topics worth researching, after which I might pursue a PhD. I hope this process will allow me to develop a unique skill set—like excellent geovisualization skills or strong programming abilities—so that I won’t be replaced by AI. At the same time, I plan to run my own social media accounts to share my design work, as after all, this is the internet age. As for the master’s degree, I’m not entirely sure how much it will help me in the job market. In China, the number of master’s degree holders is increasing, and many still struggle to find their desired job. So I think it’s not the degree itself but rather specialized skills that give us a competitive edge. In the future, we all need to rely on at least one strong skill to earn a living. However, having a master’s degree is definitely a good entry ticket when job hunting. If you don’t have a master’s degree at all, you might not even qualify for an interview in some cases.
Analyzing myself is quite an interesting process—it allows me to listen to what I truly think inside.