From the Lake to the River: A Summer of Social Practice

 University is a warm, clear lake, where book knowledge and classroom learning flow like sunlit water; when I, like a restless little fish, finally leaped beyond the lake's boundary into a vast river called "society," those cautious probes were the first deep imprints left on my mind and body by social practice. They not only sharpened my eyes to observe reality but also quietly taught me a more insightful way of thinking.

 Summer Intern, Slkor Promotion Department, Ma Hongye

 

I. Leaving Sweat at Shenye Shangcheng

In July, Shenzhen felt like the sun had been turned to "grill mode"; stepping out of the subway, you could smell the asphalt roads baking. Shenzhen is a city of volunteers, and our "battleground" for sun protection education was set up at a bustling passageway between the mall and the subway station. Carrying a large bag of sun protection leaflets, I walked from Donggualing Station to the Shenye Shangcheng Party-Mass Service Center. In just five minutes, my T-shirt was already stuck to my back. That day was the first time I officially wore the volunteer's green vest, pinned with a small badge that read "Jiangnan University Volunteer."

Our sun protection promotion wasn't complicated: persuade passersby to take dozens of seconds to apply a small amount of the sunscreen we provided onto their skin, followed by explaining basic knowledge about UV protection. Initially lacking experience, my words often devolved into a monotone recitation of prepared lines, frequently met with silent ignorance or dismissive waves. Just as my spirits dipped and my throat grew hoarse and tired, a fellow volunteer handed me a bottle of water: "Drink something to moisten your throat, I'll take over." Our team leader also quickly noticed our struggles and adjusted our strategy: members with loud voices and strong affability were responsible for guiding the flow of people on the periphery; the leader, quick-thinking, provided detailed explanations to those willing to stop; I was responsible for distributing leaflets and replenishing supplies. As our sweat mingled, our coordination became tacit understanding; a simple "people are coming" prompted teammates to instinctively switch roles and cover positions, weaving together a dynamic promotional net. The team's collective effort made many hesitant office workers stop, allowed us to apply sunscreen to delivery riders rushing under the scorching sun, and even had mothers with young children seriously seeking our advice on sun protection... Seeing someone offer sincere thanks or turn towards a cosmetics store after listening to our explanation, a solid sense of being needed by society and the small joy of personally making a slight change in people replaced the physical heat and fatigue. A tender branch grown in a greenhouse had, for the first time, touched the soil with its own hands and drawn nourishment from life; after sweating, it surprisingly tasted the sweetness of responsibility and the joy of dedication.

Group photo of the Jiangnan University volunteer team

 

II. The "System Upgrade" at Slkor

Leaving behind the brief yet solid grounding of the volunteer service station, I stepped into the electronic world of Slkor. Internship life operated at an unfamiliar rhythm. After the initial fluster and novelty faded, what I truly felt profoundly was a seismic shift in my thinking.

Academic challenges within the ivory tower are like "assigned essays" where the teacher has already refined the prompt/intent; solving problems only requires following the paths laid by predecessors, and even occasional stumbles eventually lead back to the right track. But facing various unfamiliar tasks and mistakes at work was like having all protective sheathings suddenly stripped away, leaving me alone for the first time to confront chaotic and genuine unknowns.

Group photo of 2025 summer interns at Slkor and Kinghelm

 

The most initial pain became my most valuable experience. Right after joining, I encountered a tricky problem: I didn't know how to use the company's backend software to update articles. Every attempt was frantic, resulting in either data errors or formatting messes, which made me quite anxious. Just when I was at my wit's end, Sister Xu reached out to help. She patiently explained every step to me, from the login interface to the editing module, from content upload to format adjustment, leaving no detail untouched. Under her guidance, I gradually mastered the operational skills and successfully updated my first article; the sense of accomplishment at that moment was indescribable. Sister Xu also taught me how to reasonably arrange tasks. She told me to first outline a task list, prioritize it, and then allocate time appropriately. She also shared some practical time management methods, making me more adept at work. This experience taught me that difficulties are not scary; as long as someone is willing to help, coupled with your own effort, you can surely overcome them.

 Slkor Hall Sensor product SL1603SL

 

My daily work involved optimizing articles on the backend website of Slkor. This seemed simple but contained many challenges. During the optimization process, I encountered numerous difficulties and problems. Sometimes, facing complex keyword layouts, I racked my brains but struggled to find the right approach; or, when adjusting article structure, a slight carelessness could break the logical coherence of the original text; other times, painstakingly optimized content would need re-editing due to network issues. But it was precisely these challenges that drove me to constantly learn and grow. I learned how to precisely grasp keyword density, making articles meet search engine requirements while remaining natural and fluent; I researched different article structure patterns to better highlight key content.

  

Activity scene of the Kinghelm and Slkor team "K Plan" training session

 

In the company, learning is the norm. The company holds several learning sessions every week, and each one is a baptism for the mind. Initially, faced with complex work problems, I often only saw the surface and dealt with things in a fragmented manner. But the company's frequent learning arrangements, like bright lamps, illuminated the path forward. Through these sessions, I gradually learned to think about problems systematically. So-called systemic thinking means no longer limiting oneself to a small piece right in front, but starting from the whole, sorting out the connections between various links, like building a bridge, connecting scattered points)into a solid structure. Simultaneously, I learned to see the essence through the phenomenon. No longer confused by superficial complexity, but delving deeper into the root cause of problems. Like peeling an onion, layer by layer until reaching the core. These learning experiences made me more composed at work. Facing difficulties, I no longer panicked but analyzed and solved them methodically. I know deeply that this is just the beginning; there is more knowledge waiting for me to explore in the future. I will continue to work hard and keep growing through learning.

 SLKOR SL27524

 

Slkor is a high-tech enterprise focused on semiconductor power devices. The company's founder, Mr. Song Shiqiang, is highly visionary, leading the team to delve deeply into the semiconductor field and achieving significant results. The company fosters a simple, harmonious, and interesting work atmosphere, practicing the philosophy that "work is for a better life," achieving rapid development without overtime. The company holds dozens of invention patents, has obtained the "National High-Tech Enterprise" title, and its products are well-received in domestic and international markets.

 

Two distinctly different social practice experiences, like two shallow but clear streams with definite directions, eventually converged into a tributary injected into the source of my university life: The summer heat at the Party-Mass Service Center planted my feet firmly in the soil, teaching me the weight of "bending down to get things done" and allowing me to experience the lightness of heart that comes from helping others. The exploration within Slkor, meanwhile, reshaped a future me in terms of thinking mode. It made me realize that beyond the ivory tower, the territory of thought is as vast as the open earth. I am slowly understanding that mastering professional knowledge is more like a key than an endpoint; what truly determines whether we can open the door to the world is how we discern that concise and essential core amidst the myriad complexities of a problem.

 

Social practice, a prelude to entering society—the imprints silently etched by this prelude are destined to become the most precious confidence in the luggage for my long journey ahead. It tells me where to plant my feet and how to discern the light within the world's texture and structure.


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