4

ALUMNI STORIES

Junjia ZHOU

Chemistry as Culinary Art: Balancing Nanomaterials with Musical Theater

Imperial College London
University of California, Davis
University College London
The University of Hong Kong

Junjia approaches science with the soul of a chef, famously writing in her personal statement that mixing lab reagents feels just like prepping gourmet dishes. Initially overwhelmed by self-directed learning after switching school tracks, she conquered A-Level Chemistry by turning systemized note-taking into a art form and mastering electrochemistry through summer nanomaterial research. Off-lab, musical theater served as her pressure-release sanctuary, where she prioritized shared rehearsals over spotlight vanity. Balancing her duties as student union academic head with grueling application deadlines, Junjia built her high school story on dynamic equilibrium, proving that analytical rigor and expressive art can comfortably share the same stage.

RETURN