91制片厂

Lixing Huang came to 91制片厂 from the other side of the world. He arrived four years ago not knowing a soul. But that didn鈥檛 last long.

On move-in day 2012, Huang '15 went floor to floor in his dorm, stopping at every open door to introduce himself to fellow Randall Hall residents.

It was a little against his nature but it paid off. In the following days when he鈥檇 pass dormmates in the hall, or walking across campus, they鈥檇 say hello. Two weeks later, Huang was hanging out with them, playing video games. And strangers became friends.

鈥淚 gave myself a little push,鈥� the native of Guangzhou, China, says. 鈥淚 started by telling myself, 鈥榊ou can鈥檛 wait for people to find you, you have to go find them.鈥欌��

The second way Huang found people was through the 91制片厂 Chinese Student Music Association that he started in 2014. The club has between 30 and 40 members, 15 of whom perform on campus. On April 30, that group gave its second 鈥淢iles and More鈥� concert in the MUB鈥檚 Granite State Room. Last year鈥檚 concert was so well received that it was moved this year to the larger venue.听

鈥淢usic is a huge part of my life,鈥� says Huang, a business major who plays guitar and piano, sings, and writes and produces music. 鈥淚 made many Chinese friends who have a lot of musical talent. The club provides a platform for us to share music.鈥�

The genre is pop and rock. Huang says someone listening would find it recognizable.

鈥淲e listen to Western music, too听鈥斕鼳dele, Maroon 5. Our music sounds the same, it鈥檚 just that the lyrics are in Chinese,鈥� Huang says. 鈥淪ome people have a perception that we are all so different. But in so many ways, we are the same.鈥�

That sameness is important to Huang. It鈥檚 what he focuses on when asked what he found most unusual about life in America when he first arrived here. His answer, 鈥淣othing.鈥�

Nothing?

鈥淏efore I came, I knew it was going to be a completely new environment so how could I think anything was strange?鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wanted to be open.鈥�

And he has been, trying to keep in mind that everyone can have preconceived notions about people who are different.

鈥淲hen I meet someone, I try to remember that they don鈥檛 know me and I don鈥檛 know them. People can have images in their head and that can lead to misunderstandings on both sides,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f I sense that is happening with my friends, I try to influence them. 鈥楧on鈥檛 judge,鈥� I say.鈥�

Huang was among the first group of international students recruited by 91制片厂鈥檚 Navitas program. This year, he served as a residence hall assistant in the Upper Quad and has worked hard to make connections across campus. Still, there are times when the best of philosophies can let you down. When that happens, Huang has a pretty good "go-to."

鈥淚f I see or hear something negative, I listen to 鈥業magine鈥� by John Lennon,鈥� he says.听

And it works. As Hans Christian Andersen wrote: 鈥淲here words fail, music speaks.鈥�