Early this morning, we visited UBC to tour the 2026 Science Fair exhibition, and the campus was filled with youthful creativity and enthusiasm.
Soon after returning to the office, we received an unexpected surprise—a graduate returned to Vancouver from Seattle specifically to visit their teachers.
Once a young student, now a workplace elite
Although five or six years had passed since his graduation, Peter and Kevin recognized him immediately. Compared to his youthful shyness back then, he now appeared more mature and confident, and his conversation revealed a composure gained from career experience.
Having honed his skills at a startup, he now works at TikTok's U.S. Seattle headquarters (Bellevue Office), as a Program Manager, responsible for user experience and AI optimization, working closely with the engineering team.
During his university years, his solid foundation in data science, business, and economics has now transformed into brilliant capabilities in his work. To secure this desired position, he went through six rounds of interviews before successfully joining the company. Everyone was impressed as he shared insights into the project environment and office culture at TikTok.
A heartwarming moment back on campus
As he entered Hillhouse's new campus, his eyes were filled with familiarity and emotion.
The teachers specifically brought out the textbooks he had used, which still bore his name. Those familiar handwritten notes seemed to transport time back to those diligent study days.
Classmates charting their own brilliant paths
We also discussed the current situations of other graduates from his cohort:
Some have entered investment banking, some are pursuing further studies in medical or law school, others are involved in AI projects at CMU, and some are engineers...
This generation is writing their own chapters with their capabilities and dreams.
Growth is never lonely
I invited the middle school students currently studying to greet this senior, and encouraged them to recommend each other and support each other on their future university and career paths.
The senior also enthusiastically agreed to find time to share his university and career experiences with everyone.
Such a reunion is a reflection on the past and a passing of the torch to the future.
The power of alumni connections
This is the alumni culture Hillhouse hopes to build—
allowing every student to connect and succeed with each other on their growth journey.
Let each other's efforts and brilliance gather into a warm and resilient force.
