By summer student Jinlin Li>

Life is filled with many firsts, which are worth recording and celebrating. As Armstrong famously said when he landed on the moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Similarly, Ronaldo’s favorite song “Stay” reflects the sentiment of leaving behind one’s old life: “It is not much of a life you are living…”

This echoes the moment young Ronaldo left his hometown of Madeira to join Sporting CP and start his professional football career. In the Neapolitan Novels, Lenu takes a significant step by leaving her small town of Naples to move to the big city and receive an international education. Whether captured in books or songs, it’s challenging to fully convey my deepest feelings at this moment. History shows us that taking the first step makes you an unparalleled hero. In this blog, I’d like to share some of my most memorable first-time experiences in Europe.

Late June

First Time Watching the European Championship Live and Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo

I’ve always been a passionate football fan, especially of Cristiano Ronaldo. This year’s European Championship was his final appearance. I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the group stage match between Portugal and Georgia, as well as the quarter-final between Portugal and France. Witnessing Ronaldo’s last European Championship was unforgettable. There’s always some regret in matches; I will never forget the Portuguese man patting my shoulder and saying, “This is football, you have to learn to accept it.”

Early July

First Time Working in an International lab and First Encounter with Electrocatalytic Organic Compounds

When I received my research topic, I realized it was different from my previous projects. Before, I mainly focused on constructing and characterizing nanomaterials, along with some three-electrode testing. However, this summer, I opened the door to the world of organic synthesis using electrocatalysis. The diversity of organic structures and the crucial role of using electrochemical energy to break and form bonds in synthesizing valuable compounds have generated significant interest in this field. My supervisor was always patient and frequently encouraged me, which moved me deeply. I now aspire to continue exploring this direction in my future master’s studies.

Mid July

First Time Cooking and Managing Everything Myself

At university, we had a cafeteria serving delicious meals, so I never cooked or managed things like renting an apartment, buying transport tickets, or cooking for myself. Initially, I lost some weight due to poor self-care. However, starting in the second week, I began cooking daily. To my surprise, my meals turned out exceptionally tasty, including traditional Chinese dumplings from scratch. When I shared this with my family, they were amazed by my growth and independence.

Late July

First Adventurous Trip

One weekend, on a whim, I decided to head to Mallorca, Spain. It’s a place full of adventure, and I’ve always dreamed of seeing dolphins in the sea and kayaking. So, I set off on this spontaneous journey, and it became an unforgettable adventure that I’ll always cherish.

Early August

First time seeing the meteor shower and making wishes

“Cause you are a sky full of stars.” When the Perseid meteor shower arrived, my friends and I decided to go star-chasing. The night sky in the outskirts of Berlin was dazzling, and it felt as if the stars were so close, with the universe at our backs. I quietly made a wish: for our project to go smoothly.

A year ago, I was still searching for summer research opportunities online, feeling very lost. This year, around Chinese New Year, I received a summer research offer from HZB. Now, this summer, I am at one of the world’s top research institutes, confidently and energetically embarking on my summer research project. This is undoubtedly one of the luckiest things that has happened to me this year.

This summer has been the happiest one I’ve ever had. The European Championship, scientific research, friendships from different countries, and new adventures—everything I waited and challenged myself for before arriving vanished the moment I set foot on this magical land.

Lastly, I want to thank HZB for selecting me from among so many candidates. I will always cherish and be grateful for everything I experienced this summer.

On the author Jinlin Li: A junior at South China University of Technology, majoring in Environmental Engineering, she has a strong interest in electrocatalysis and scientific research. She also has many hobbies, including football, swimming, and dancing. Under the guidance of Dr. Prashanth W. Menezes and PhD student Till Kahlstorf, she is working on a project titled “Electrochemical Oxidation of Triethylamine for the Co-production of Formamide and Hydrogen.”