Daily Inspiration: Meet Yuzhi Zhu Steven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuzhi Zhu Steven.

Hi Yuzhi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
(From Sanming Fujian China to Orlando Flordia USA.) I went to two years of college in China, but I was constantly struggling with my life goal and career path. One day, I took a courageous breath, and I decided to try something different, so I came to America in 2014.

Through my college in China, I went to a very small college in Ohio named Shawnee state university (SSU) as a 1-year program exchange student. At first, I didn’t know any English, and my first ever lunch was at McDonald’s. I remember I had trouble ordering food, and all I did was nodded my head and smile. My goal at the time as an exchange student was just to experience American life for a year and then go back to China. Who would have thought, from there, I found my career path. It was the first time I realized making video games could be a career. It is also at that moment I found my dream: “I want to work for a AAA company and make video games that everyone loves”. During my exchange year, my English improved drastically, thanks to all my American friends who took me to their homes and taught me English patiently, After my exchange program ended in 2015, I decided to quit my college in China and become a full-time student at SSU, so I passed the English exam and stayed as a full-time student successfully majoring in video game art development.

After I received my bachelor’s degree in 2017, I decided to go to graduate school in Savannah college of art and design (SCAD) in 2018 to pursue further education to enhance and hone my craft. During my years in grad school, I interned at Microsoft and Epic Games and also worked as a teaching assistant at SCAD. After grad school, I got a job offer, I am now working at Electronic Arts as a lighting artist. The video game industry is very competitive, and many have complained it’s too difficult to get a job. I want to use my story to inspire others to follow their dreams and never give up, if a person like me who came from a totally different culture could achieve my dream, then everyone has the potential to do so as well.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My English was the biggest struggle. Because when I first came to the US, I barely could speak any English, and learning different software in class was very challenging. The second struggle was to adapt to the cultural differences between China and the US. These two countries are very different in the way people act, talk, and communicate. Another struggle is loneliness, for many times I missed my parents and family, especially since my family is always close to each other, for the past 10 years, I have only seen my parents three times. After a few years of living in the US, I made a lot of friends, then things started to get smoother.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a lighting artist, it is a position that requires a pair of artistic eyes. As lighting artists, we use light, colors, and shapes to promote emotions on environmental levels. One of my most well-known artworks is named “Escape” I have published two articles about it and won a few rewards because of it. I am most proud of my working spirit, I work with all my passion because I love what I do. I stay humble and believe that there is always something I can learn from others. I am not afraid to reach out if I need help, and if someone reaches out to me for help, I help them with my best.

How do you think about luck?
I think having amazing parents and friends who always support my back is my biggest luck. I went to two amazing schools that also played a huge part in my career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stevenzyz.artstation.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuzhizhusteven/