TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A Troy alumnus said goodbye to classmates and faculty before returning to China.
Xiaodong Li graduated from Troy in 2020. He later returned for a second undergraduate degree after being sought out by the school of music
“Dr. Yang, who is a piano professor here and now, is the director of the School of Music, who found me,” said Xiaodong Li. “She said, ‘He’s not my student, but he likes to play piano.’
“After I came back to China, she went to China this summer and recruited me for this program in the Bachelor of Arts. I am the first student in the Bachelor of Arts program. Then, I start my second undergrad degree here in piano performance for four years, that is from 2016 to 2020.”
Although being away from home was hard, Li said Troy became his second home.
“People are friendly here. I have been to other places or states, too, but I think people here are more willing to talk to you and more willing to help you,” Li said. “I know some cities I’ve been to, New York and elsewhere, and people are cold.
“It’s not what I’m seeing from here, but Troy, when I come back, it’s home.”
Li was a teacher before returning to Troy. He now plans to return to China and teach piano to future musicians.
