It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith, only hard work pays, never give up! If I want to describe myself in one word, it will be “hardworking man.” I am Camara Moussa from Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), a graduating student of PhD at China University of Petroleum (East China), specialized in Oil and Gas Well Engineering.

I am most grateful to the Chinese government scholarship board (CSC) and the erudite campus, China University of Petroleum (East China), for the master and PhD degree opportunities given to me. Since arriving to China in September 2012 for my master degree, I decided that my journey must be worth being far away from my country, my family and my beloved. I believe that if you want to success in this life, you have to be a hard worker and don’t cheat in what you are doing whatever the difficulties you will face.

This helped me to past my HSK4 and to graduate in my master degree with the publication of 2 SCI papers. At that time, I really enjoyed every aspect of the courses offered, the guidance and helps of all wonderful and responding CIE staff. My inspiring Supervisor (Prof. Xu Jiafang), my research group members, wonderful friends from different countries and course teachers, all in selfless manner encouraged and guide me to my academic excellence.

In 2017 after graduating for my master degree, due to the good study environment in UPC, I decided to come back to study my PhD degree in Oil and Gas Well Engineering. At that time, I knew that thing will not be easy because of the pressure I will have to publish at least two SCI papers for my graduation. Since the beginning I put in my mind that I have three years for my PhD study and that I have to publish one SCI each year. It was not an easy task but I trusted myself and didn’t give up my promise and plans.

Every day I was going to the Lab, attending the meeting with our research group, discussing results with my supervisor and others teachers in our research group. This hardwork mentality makes me stronger, makes me better and helps me to realize five SCI and one EI papers in journals and won two times the 1^st prize Doctor Degree Academic Excellence Scholarship (2017-2018 and 2019-2020), the 2^nd prize of Technical Exchange Seminar of National Drilling and completion Fluids in 2017. I have attended two international conferences, 25^th World conference on Advanced Materials Congress 2019 in Singapore and 6^th International Conference on Advanced in Chemical Engineering & Technology 2020 in London, UK. I was also nominated for the excellence CSC student in 2021.

Myself and others students from French countries have created a French club named “Communaute Francophone de China University of Petroleum” to help fresh students coming into UPC to integrate and interact with their Chinese colleagues through languages practice and cultural exchanges. During my stay in China I abided by the laws and decrees of the Chinese government, and my school and never participated in any activity deemed adverse to the social order of China and my great campus of UPC.

All these opportunities and experiences in UPC have reshaped my interests, raised my aspirations and hopes for a better tomorrow. Graduating from UPC, I undoubtedly know that I will make difference wherever I find myself in the future, knowing that I had received a good training and knowledge in China University of Petroleum (East China). Long Live UPC, Long Live China! Thank you very much for everything you gave me!