Indonesian student's 'outstanding grad' tag at university does mom proud

TIANJIN — Seeing her son's image on a banner hanging at the roadside on the campus at Tianjin University in North China's Tianjin municipality, Esther Samosir Pakpahan from Indonesia could not help but feel a strong sense of pride. "It's so inspirational, and a huge honor for my family," says Pakpahan, a businesswoman who arrived in Tianjin to attend her son's commencement.

Her son, Timothy Joseph Hutagaol, was among the first five international students recognized as outstanding graduates of the university, with their photos displayed on banners along the main road on campus. He achieved the honor not only for his academic performance in chemical engineering but also for being a student ambassador, helping the university recruit international students.

He has shared his campus life in China through hundreds of posts on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WeChat and Bilibili, drawing more than 1 million views. His online presence also helped attract more than 50 international students to enroll at the university.