Meet a recent Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador graduate Wenwei Lin

This is the next segment in a blog series highlighting Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors who have achieved the Gold milestone, the highest level they can achieve, and have recently graduated from college. Each blog in this series will feature a different student and highlight their accomplishments, their experiences in the Student Ambassador community, and what they have been up to.

Today we meet Wenwei, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering from Jiangsu University of Technology in China.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.  

When did you join the Student Ambassador community?

October 2021.

What is it like to be a student ambassador?

Being a student ambassador is more than just attending tech events and accessing resources like Azure and Microsoft Learn. It’s been an opportunity to grow in many ways: technically, professionally, and personally.

Was there a particular experience that had a profound impact on you while you were participating in the program? And why?

I had many memorable experiences while I was in the MLSA program, but one of them was participating in the Imagine Cup as a volunteer reporter. I went to the China Imagine Cup Finals in Zhengzhou with other ambassadors. We worked as reporters, assisting the participants and documenting their journeys with videos and photos.

This experience was impactful for several reasons. It was especially meaningful to meet other student ambassadors in person for the first time. Additionally, it was inspiring to see the innovation and creativity of young tech enthusiasts behind the scenes. Seeing firsthand how technology can bring people together to solve real-world problems has deepened my appreciation for the global tech ecosystem and strengthened my belief in the power of community and collaboration.

Wenwei is pictured here attending the Imagine Cup as a volunteer reporter.

Wenwei and colleagues, and CPM Christina, at the Power Platform event.

Tell me about the skills you gained as a student ambassador. How did these skills help you in your journey after graduating from college?

During my time as a student ambassador, I delved deep into Azure, specifically Azure Static Web Apps and Azure Functions. These tools became my playground as I explored front-end development and created serverless functions with simple back-end services. I remember deploying a portfolio site using Azure Static Web Apps, which caught the attention of interviewers during my job search and helped me secure an offer.

Wenwei in the workshop.

What would you like to tell students around the world about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program?

If there’s one thing I want to tell every student about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador (MLSA) program, it’s that a passion for technology is more important than academic background. The program isn’t about the number of degrees or the reputation of a university. Instead, it’s about a passion for learning, a desire to explore new technologies, and a willingness to share that knowledge with others.

The MLSA program welcomes students from all disciplines, not just those studying computer science or engineering. Whether you major in software engineering, literature, or something in between, if you have a passion for technology and a desire to make an impact, there is a place for you here.

What advice would you give to new student ambassadors just starting out in the program?

My advice to new student ambassadors is simple: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Embrace every opportunity that comes your way, whether it’s hosting an event, learning a new skill, or reaching out to a mentor. The MLSA program is full of opportunities, but you have to be proactive about taking them.

I also highly recommend getting involved in a mentorship program early. Having a mentor really helped me out, even though I was nervous about hosting my first event. My mentor pushed me to push myself beyond my limits, and looking back, I am so grateful for that.

Share your favorite quote! It could be from a movie, a song, a book, or someone you know personally. Let us know why you chose it. What does it mean to you?

“Experience is not something you get for nothing. It is just a name that people give to their mistakes.” — Oscar Wilde This quote resonates with me deeply. I once believed that reading extensively would help me master anything, but true understanding only came when I applied that knowledge. The process of making mistakes and learning from them has taught me more than any book or tutorial. I have gained true experience and understanding through the process of doing, failing, and correcting.

Tell us some interesting stories about yourself and your travels.

There were definitely some fun moments during the program. One of them was during Chinese New Year 2023. I was working on a social impact project for that quarter, and my team was struggling to come up with a theme even though it was almost a month in. Our theme was focused on building a healthcare prototype, but we were still looking for the right idea.
At the time, I was deeply interested in literature and was fascinated by the idea that writers could create entire novels based on simple news articles. One day, while walking along a country road, an idea suddenly occurred to me. What if we used AI to generate vivid descriptions based on images? It could help visually impaired people experience the beauty of the world through rich, descriptive language.

My team loved the idea, and we started working right away. Everyone brought their own unique skills. Deepthi, the team lead, managed the schedule, I, the product manager, created user stories and designed the prototype, Mritul set up the backend using Azure VMs, Azure Cognitive Services, and Azure OpenAI, and Sijian developed the app using Kotlin. It was awesome! Our project won the championship that quarter.