This episode presents an interview with C, a product manager at Google, who reflected on their unconventional educational and career path. They discussed the decision to forgo the Gaokao (Chinese college entrance exam) for a fully-funded scholarship to a U.S. liberal arts college, where they were challenged to study diverse subjects like art history. C also recounted declining admission to Harvard's Kennedy School to gain real-world experience in a top consulting firm, eventually pursuing an MBA to align their environmental idealism with practical financial strategies.

The interviewer, 宫师姐Chelsea, outlines their project "Beyond the Gaokao" to collect diverse life stories from individuals who have made significant choices regarding their education and careers, aiming to inspire high school students. 

Originally posted on WeChat 公众号 @breakbarriers 《20号分享：放弃高考、放弃哈佛肯尼迪学院录取，从顶尖咨询公司转向科技行业的环保理想主义者》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog:

https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/20%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E6%94%BE%E5%BC%83%E9%AB%98%E8%80%83%E3%80%81%E6%94%BE%E5%BC%83%E5%93%88%E4%BD%9B%E8%82%AF%E5%B0%BC%E8%BF%AA%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2%E5%BD%95%E5%8F%96%EF%BC%8C%E4%BB%8E%E9%A1%B6%E5%B0%96%E5%92%A8%E8%AF%A2%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E8%BD%AC%E5%90%91%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%9A%E7%9A%84%E7%8E%AF%E4%BF%9D%E7%90%86%E6%83%B3%E4%B8%BB%E4%B9%89%E8%80%85

This episode presents an interview with G, an oncology radiation resident in New York, works 70-80 hours weekly, balancing patient care and clinical research. G's path included an intense high school in Hubei, a five-year medical degree in China, and a US Master's as a strategic "stepping stone" to prepare for the crucial US medical licensing exams. G finds the US medical profession highly rewarding, with significant societal respect and high incomes for doctors, contrasting with the lower financial recognition in China. G acknowledges AI's potential to replace certain medical roles (e.g., radiologists), but stresses the enduring need for "medical scientists" who innovate new treatments. G advises their younger self to maintain curiosity and responsibility.

Originally posted on WeChat公众号 @breakbarriers 《19号分享：从国内医学院5年制到美国住院医，缺觉并热血着》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog:

becomingchelsea.com

This episode features an insightful interview with a software engineer whose journey offers a "chill" perspective on career and life. In high school, they experienced "much smaller" pressure in Shanghai, even sneaking out to internet cafes at night. Their microelectronics major, chosen because its name "sounded cool," proved "very very bitter". They pivoted to Computer Engineering in the U.S. and software development, finding it "way much more fun". Now in New York, They enjoy a "very enjoyable" and "very relax[ed]" lifestyle, with ample time for personal interests. Their philosophy emphasizes "enjoy[ing] what you are doing" and fully committing to either "play hard and study hard".

The overarching goal of these "Beyond the Gaokao" interviews, as expressed by 宫师姐Chelsea, is to compile diverse personal narratives to inspire high school students by broadening their perspectives on future possibilities.

Originally posted on WeChat @breakbarriers 《18号分享：从微电子到Computer Engineering到软件工程师，关键词：“chill”》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog: https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/18%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E4%BB%8E%E5%BE%AE%E7%94%B5%E5%AD%90%E5%88%B0computer-engineering%E5%88%B0%E8%BD%AF%E4%BB%B6%E5%B7%A5%E7%A8%8B%E5%B8%88%EF%BC%8C%E5%85%B3%E9%94%AE%E8%AF%8D%EF%BC%9A-chill

This episode presents an interview with 乐小事, a Beijing native who shares their academic and professional journey. They recounts their experiences from a top high school to selecting a science and engineering major in an coastal city, later pursuing a marketing master's degree in the U.S., and eventually returning to China to work in overseas operations at ByteDance. They offers insights into their career path, daily work-life balance, and the challenges of a demanding tech industry environment. They also reflects on the importance of choosing a major based on personal interest rather than parental expectations, highlighting how their eventual shift to marketing aligned with their capabilities and became a pivotal, positive decision in their life.

The interviewer, 宫师姐Chelsea, frames the discussion as part of a larger project "Beyond the Gaokao" to collect diverse life stories for high school students, especially those in need.

Originally posted on WeChat @breakbarriers 《17号分享：快乐的北京大妞的快乐高中、快乐大学、快乐海归路》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog

https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/17%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E5%BF%AB%E4%B9%90%E7%9A%84%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%A4%A7%E5%A6%9E%E7%9A%84%E5%BF%AB%E4%B9%90%E9%AB%98%E4%B8%AD%E3%80%81%E5%BF%AB%E4%B9%90%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E3%80%81%E5%BF%AB%E4%B9%90%E6%B5%B7%E5%BD%92%E8%B7%AF

This episode presents an interview with AJ, a hedge fund investment manager, discussing their unconventional career path from biotechnology to finance. AJ reflects on their high school experience in Henan, the pressures of the Gaokao (college entrance exam), and his rationale for choosing his college major and subsequent graduate degrees in accounting and financial engineering in the U.S. They emphasizes the importance of self-understanding and practical experience in guiding one's journey, likening it to a car's headlights illuminating the path forward.

The interviewer of "Beyond the Gaokao" series, Chelsea , also outlines their goal to collect diverse personal stories from individuals about their educational and career choices to help current high school students.

Originally posted on WeChat公众号 @breakbarriers 《16号分享：从生物技术到会计金融双硕士到对冲基金投资经理，你猜他是什么星座？》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog:

https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/16%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E4%BB%8E%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E6%8A%80%E6%9C%AF%E5%88%B0%E4%BC%9A%E8%AE%A1%E9%87%91%E8%9E%8D%E5%8F%8C%E7%A1%95%E5%A3%AB%E5%88%B0%E5%AF%B9%E5%86%B2%E5%9F%BA%E9%87%91%E6%8A%95%E8%B5%84%E7%BB%8F%E7%90%86%EF%BC%8C%E4%BD%A0%E7%8C%9C%E4%BB%96%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E4%B9%88%E6%98%9F%E5%BA%A7%EF%BC%9F

This episode features an interview with a professional developer from a large tech company in the Bay Area, reflecting on their unconventional academic and career path. The individual discusses overcoming academic challenges in high school, unexpectedly majoring in Japanese before switching to computer science, and making bold life choices like moving to the US for a relationship. The overarching theme explores how personal characteristics and environmental factors shape one's journey, emphasizing the absence of regret despite various twists and turns.

"Beyond the Gaokao" is an interview series by 宫师姐Chelsea, compiling diverse life stories to broaden the perspectives of high school students.

Originally posted on WeChat公众号 @breakbarriers 《15号分享：逃课恋爱疯玩的县城社牛，三个月从三本线到省七百名，从日语系转专业、保研又休学》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog:

https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/14%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E9%80%83%E8%AF%BE%E6%81%8B%E7%88%B1%E7%96%AF%E7%8E%A9%E7%9A%84%E5%8E%BF%E5%9F%8E%E9%AB%98%E4%B8%89%E7%94%9F%EF%BC%8C%E5%8D%8A%E5%B9%B4%E9%80%86%E8%A2%AD%E3%80%81%E9%AB%98%E8%80%83%E7%9C%81%E4%B8%83%E7%99%BE%E5%90%8D%EF%BC%8C%E5%8E%86%E7%BB%8F%E5%90%84%E7%A7%8Dwtf%E7%9E%AC%E9%97%B4

This episode presents an interview with Pipi, focusing on their educational and career journey. It chronicles their transition from computer science to business school, then to a data science master's program in the U.S., and finally to a role as a data scientist in the financial sector. Pipi shares their experiences with a demanding high school environment focused solely on academic achievement and their decision to prioritize location over university prestige when choosing her undergraduate institution. The interview also touches upon their gap year for internships and reflections on the importance of interpersonal skills over academic scores, highlighting the pros and cons of their diverse academic background.

Originally posted on WeChat公众号 @breakbarriers 《14号分享：计算机转商学院再转Data Science，选择大城市、选择Gap Year》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog：https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/14%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E8%AE%A1%E7%AE%97%E6%9C%BA%E8%BD%AC%E5%95%86%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2%E5%86%8D%E8%BD%ACdata-science%EF%BC%8C%E9%80%89%E6%8B%A9%E5%A4%A7%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82%E3%80%81%E9%80%89%E6%8B%A9gap-year

This episode presents an interview of a former auditor who transitioned to a Fund Controller role in a bank, highlighting their career path and reflections on work-life balance. They discusses their academic background, including the shift from physics to economics and mathematics, and their eventual move into accounting. The interview also touches upon their experiences in the auditing industry, which they believes is in decline, and their current job, which offers a better balance between professional responsibilities and personal life. They emphasizes the importance of not regretting choices and persisting through challenges, offering advice to the younger self and those contemplating their educational and career paths.

Originally posted on WeChat公众号 @breakingbarriers 《13号分享：从四大审计到工作生活平衡的Fund Controller，她这样看审计行业》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog: https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/13%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E4%BB%8E%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%A7%E5%AE%A1%E8%AE%A1%E5%88%B0%E5%B7%A5%E4%BD%9C%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB%E5%B9%B3%E8%A1%A1%E7%9A%84fund-controller%EF%BC%8C%E5%A5%B9%E8%BF%99%E6%A0%B7%E7%9C%8B%E5%AE%A1%E8%AE%A1%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%9A

This document presents an interview with a Portfolio Manager, who shares their journey from a small Chinese county to working in finance in Shanghai. The interview explores their educational path, including their choice of a finance major at a comprehensive university and the pursuit of a master's degree. They detailed their daily life as a Portfolio Manager, discusses the nature of the financial industry, and reflects on the influences of the 2006-2007 stock market bull run and the 2008 global financial crisis on their career development.

The project "Beyond the Gaokao" by 宫师姐Chelsea aims to provide diverse personal narratives to help high school students, especially those in disadvantage, to broaden their perspectives on future academic and career choices.

Originally posted on WeChat 公众号 @breakbarriers : 《12号分享：从18线县城到上海，基金经理讲金融行业》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's blog: https://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/12%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E4%BB%8E18%E7%BA%BF%E5%8E%BF%E5%9F%8E%E5%88%B0%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%EF%BC%8C%E5%9F%BA%E9%87%91%E7%BB%8F%E7%90%86%E8%AE%B2%E9%87%91%E8%9E%8D%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%9A

This episode explores the unconventional career journey of an interviewee who, despite initial academic challenges and a major that proved difficult for direct employment, earned an Electronic Engineering bachelor's and master's degree. Their early professional experiences included an internship as a product manager at a major internet company, which they found "quite agonizing" due to its "pathological working hours" and "internal competition". A subsequent, positive internship at a foreign telecommunications firm offered a stark contrast. Ultimately, the interviewee transitioned to their current role as a college teacher in a small, "18-tier" city. The conversation delves into the interviewee's reflections on career choices, work-life balance, and the importance of gaining diverse information.

Originally posted on WeChat 公众号 @breakbarriers 《11号分享：拒绝病态内卷的18线小城大专院校老师》

And 宫师姐Chelsea's bloghttps://www.becomingchelsea.com/post/11%E5%8F%B7%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E6%8B%92%E7%BB%9D%E7%97%85%E6%80%81%E5%86%85%E5%8D%B7%E7%9A%8418%E7%BA%BF%E5%B0%8F%E5%9F%8E%E5%A4%A7%E4%B8%93%E9%99%A2%E6%A0%A1%E8%80%81%E5%B8%88