Tell us a little about yourself
I'm Gou Xingyan, or Carolyn, a English junior in Tsinghua University. My hometown is Changchun, that is the place where China’s last Emperor resided. It also is famous for the movie and automobile industries.

I'm lucky that my major is English, and I can learn from movies and songs, or even from watching Friends, my favorite show.  I also enjoy Jazz music and I love ballroom dance. I am a member of the Ballroom Dance team in our school.  I also love marathon. I took part in two marathons since 2006.

This year I was very lucky to have the chance to work for NBC as an intern for the Beijing Olympics.  It was the best summer ever!  Another great job I had was working as campus ambassador for Inbev, which was a great experience. At least, I learned so much more about beer. But I was not really happy with the feeling that my name was connected with a logo. So I would like to do something more public related, something like a government servant or agent in a non-profit organization. 
   
My favorite quote is:
"if it is not alright, it is not the end." Cheers to everyone! Great to know you all! 

Why did you apply to this program?
I want to further my study in public affairs and I hope that I could expand my knowledge and its application in real working environment.  What's more important is that I could work with American students and have real communication with them. I always admire their professionalism and efficiency.

Besides, I simply love D.C.!  I was there in January of 2008 and I attended the student exchange program in Georgetown University. This three-day trip was totally something to remember for a lifetime.  As the political center, DC is not depressing at all. On the contrary, with all the historical resorts and big museums and libraries, I felt immersed in the culture and history of America, something interestingly different from what I have in China. And, the students at Georgetown were simply the happiest students I have ever met! They work professionally but they are all very nice and easy-going people.

Please identify the single aspect in US-China relations that you are most interested.
I think that the single most important aspect is the public image of our two countries. Apparently, the soft power of the United States is strong enough to affect the globe. Yet China is still under a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes. I believe that further understanding and communication are highly needed to clarify China’s role in global affairs. 

What are your top professional goals? What do you want to accomplish during your internship?
I would like to work for a government agency or non-profit organization. I believe that
my experience working in D.C would help me better understand what this career would be like and what I should prepare for this goal.

How will the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Internship Program help you and your country in the future?
As the economic recession took place and the new president went on stage, there
will be some significant changes in the US-China relationship both economically and politically. This internship program is bridging the youth of the two countries and through cooperating on the heated issues both countries are concerned about, we will have a better understanding of each other’s points of view.