Haichuan Thanksgiving Season – A Memory of My Mentor 【Petroleum Area 013】

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This post was last edited by Yitailonger on 2016-1-10 at 12:35. Recently, there have been quite a few visits to the sea; this event provided an opportunity to recall a mentor who played a key role in my development, Fu Xiaodong, and to express my respect and nostalgia for him – it felt very meaningful. After all, we have known each other for 15 years. During the time I worked with him, I never formally thanked him or said anything similar; I always felt there was no appropriate occasion or topic, or I thought it would be a bit awkward to say thank you between us. It seems now that it was my mistake and regret; I hope this article can make some amends. Right after graduating, although I had the opportunity to stay in Shanghai, I ultimately chose to return to Shandong. My major was mechanical manufacturing – a pretty versatile field, as industries related to mechanical manufacturing always need such professionals. However, it’s not an area where it’s easy to achieve significant results. There weren’t many good options at that time, so I started working at a large pump manufacturing company, one that is fairly well-known in China. I worked in the process engineering department, but I didn’t learn much over the course of a year, as the processing techniques for pump components are relatively simple compared to those used in other types of machinery, and they’re already quite mature. As a newcomer like me, it would be difficult to achieve any notable results even if I continued working there. The salary offered there was also much lower than that in the design department. Gradually, I began to feel frustrated. It was then that my mentor, Fu Xiaodong, noticed this situation and asked if I wanted to try working in design, thinking that I had enough aptitude to succeed in that role. And that’s how, after some internal coordination processes, I, who knew nothing about pump design and was very anxious, was transferred from the process department to the design department. As expected, things didn’t go smoothly from then on. When I first started to study professional books on fluid mechanics and pump design, they seemed like incomprehensible texts; I had no choice but to learn on my own. During the day at work, I would ask my mentors for guidance, and at night I would study late into the night. Sometimes, what seems simple today used to take me days to understand, and I kept asking my mentors questions, which sometimes annoyed them and made them lose patience in guiding me. But things improved after a few days. Moreover, during his breaks, he would always invite me to play basketball with him, and we would go to his house for dinner – there was always delicious food, and of course, we would drink a few drinks as well. He had a high tolerance for alcohol and was very generous; I often ended up returning to the dormitory drunk. Years passed in this way, unnoticed. Gradually, I stopped asking him for advice on technical issues more and more often; I continued to play basketball and drink as before. Eventually, I developed my own opinions on technical matters, which sometimes upset my mentor. Looking back, I realize that I didn’t handle this situation properly. My mentor is a person who cares about his reputation, and I should have expressed my views in a more appropriate way. One day, my mentor told me that he was going to work in sales, and he advised me to focus on improving my technical skills. Soon after, I became the manager of the design department, which gave me the opportunity and authority to realize my ambitions and apply my technical knowledge. It was then that I realized that over all those years, my mentor had not only taught me knowledge but also protected me from various challenges. I also understood that no gathering lasts forever; my mentor couldn’t stay with me forever. What he wanted was to see me doing well even in his absence, so as not to bring shame upon him – and that would be the greatest form of respect for him. Now, both my mentor and I have been away from that organization for quite some time. Looking back on the path I’ve taken, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today without his efforts. I have published many articles in professional journals, but this is the first time I’ve written about gratitude. Thank you, Haichuan, for giving me this opportunity; I also want to use this chance to share my story and express my thanks to my mentor. It was very fortunate that I met him – it must be fate. I think that after finishing writing this story, I’ll give him a call to check in – Master, are you doing well in a foreign land?