Global Exchange
Ye Zhang
Master’s Student
Accounting
Unlike traditional students, Ye Zhang’s path to USF didn’t start right after high school. Her route to USF’s School of Accountancy traversed three nations, included service as an automotive engineer, and required her to become more fluent in at least one new language.
Born and raised in China, Zhang earned an engineering degree majoring in auto/truck and tractor design from Liaoning Industrial University in Liaoning, China in 1992. By the time she was 22 years old, she was working in engine design for Jinbei GM, a multi-national joint venture with General Motors. It was a good job with a good company that fit well with her training; however, it was not a good fit for her personality.
“I was dealing mostly with machines,” recalls Zhang, saying she longed for a job where she had more opportunities to work with people. Though many in China find it “nearly impossible” to change fields after such educational training, Zhang was fortunate to transfer to Jinbei’s human resources department where she handled employee appraisals and trained new hires.
Ironically, this better-suited job sparked her move to North America where she changed fields completely.
In 2005, Zhang immigrated to Canada with her 10-year-old daughter to seek new opportunities and take advantage of relationships forged at General Motors. She began studying for the TOEFL (a test that measures English proficiency), and preparing to attend the University of British Columbia Vancouver. She then married and immigrated to the United States.
“Since we conducted business in English in China, I thought my English was pretty good,” laughs Zhang, recalling her initial move to Canada, where courses were taught mostly in English. “I learned it wasn’t as good as I thought!”
A short time later, Zhang moved to Tampa with her husband. He supported her desire to change careers, pursue an undergraduate accounting degree, and to further improve her English skills.
“My English was much better by then, but those first few days of class I quickly discovered that I knew very little slang and didn’t always understand American sayings,” she says, remembering how difficult it was to learn the “language of accounting” while mastering slang at the same time. She would become frustrated when professors used idioms such as “Joe Sixpack” or “lemonade stand” to illustrate examples because she would literally envision a lemon, standing. Ironically, this frustration fueled her dormant drive for success.
“When I was younger, I really didn’t apply myself in school,” she says, adding that this all changed when she came to USF. “Because of my difficulty with the language, and because I was learning a new culture at the same time, I was forced to apply myself more. And because I was older than many students, I was always feeling like I was behind, which also made me work extra hard.”
This new-found drive was further fueled as she saw her daughter, Xianlu, struggle – and then excel – in school in a new nation. “I think I inspired Xianlu to do well, and at the same time, she inspired me to do well,” she says. Four years later, both women became honor students – one in an International Baccalaureate program at Land O’ Lakes High School and the other with a 4.0 GPA in USF’s rigorous graduate accounting program.
Claiming that her success is really the success of the faculty in the School of Accountancy, Zhang notes that nearly every faculty member made extra efforts to help her. “Because they were so helpful and accessible, because they never laughed at me, I wasn’t afraid to come and talk to them,” she says, quickly pointing out that faculty are equally available for every student, not just for her.
Zhang’s journey has several milestone moments ahead: becoming a U.S. citizen and completing her master’s degree. She aspires to work for a large firm or governmental agency or teach at a university.
“Ultimately, I would love to teach and provide assistance to other students the way USF’s professors provided help to me in such a professional and caring manner.”