With youthful ambition, he goes far through dedicated practice
"Why did you choose to study water conservancy and enter this industry?"
In 2017, during the final stage of the head office recruitment process, the lead interviewer asked the candidates one last question.
Among them, one sincere and down-to-earth young man answered with determination: "The work of water conservancy professionals may not always be dramatic, but it reveals extraordinary value through ordinary efforts.
First, the water conservancy industry is vital to social development and people's lives. It provides reliable technical services for flood control, drainage, irrigation, and water discharge, improves living conditions, promotes agricultural production, and ensures the stable operation of urban infrastructure. This work brings a great sense of accomplishment.
Second, the design of water conservancy projects involves multiple disciplines, including hydrology, hydraulics, and geotechnical engineering, making the work challenging and diverse. I enjoy facing complex problems and finding solutions, and these challenges motivate me to keep learning and improving.
Finally, as a hydraulic structure engineer, I can fully apply my professional skills and knowledge through water conservancy design and realize my personal value. During the design process, I can turn ideas and creativity into practical solutions, demonstrate my abilities, and grow by solving complex technical problems and meeting challenges.
I love this industry, and I am willing to become an ordinary yet extraordinary water conservancy professional."
Today, this young man has proven his original determination and promise through six years of outstanding work. He is Zhang Baoping, an outstanding employee of the head office of Huanyu Engineering Consultancy (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., and an ordinary yet extraordinary young water conservancy professional.
Growing steadily through daily accumulation
A tree that can fill one's arms grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story tower rises from heaps of earth; a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet. -- Laozi, Chapter 64
When he first entered the workplace, Zhang Baoping was assigned to the Water Conservancy and Hydropower Institute, entering the broad field of water conservancy and hydropower. Facing a new professional environment and technical challenges, he was full of curiosity and expectation. He knew that to achieve results in this field, he had to start with the basics, move forward step by step, and grow through accumulation.
"At that time I did not think too much. I had just graduated and entered society, and I was full of aspiration to build a career in this industry."
At first, Zhang Baoping was mainly responsible for basic drafting work. Lacking practical experience, he was not yet familiar with design services or workflows. To get up to speed quickly, he arrived at the office early every day, studied materials carefully, and humbly asked colleagues for advice, gradually forming his own working methods and ideas. Over time, he began to complete simple tasks independently and play a role in more challenging and complex projects, seizing opportunities to grow quickly.
The emergency repair project for the ground collapse at the intersection of Bulan Road in Nanwan Subdistrict and the exit of Shuiguan Expressway toward Guanlan was the first project Zhang Baoping participated in.
Although the project was small in scale, it remains unforgettable for Zhang Baoping. It was an emergency response project with a tight schedule and no room for delay, requiring immediate action to prevent further impact. In pouring rain, his mentor took him to the site without hesitation. They conducted field investigations in the rain, identified the collapse point and the source of the problem, promptly arranged survey tasks, and finally determined the solution. By the time the emergency work ended, rain and sweat had soaked both of their backs.
"Being able to make even a small contribution to the stable operation of the city makes every hardship and every drop of sweat worthwhile." Whenever Zhang Baoping recalls this experience, he feels deeply proud.
Taking charge and shouldering responsibility
The renovation project for the old retaining wall at Dankeng Water in Shenzhen was the first project Zhang Baoping followed and managed throughout the entire process. For him, it was a completely new challenge. From project launch to construction completion, he moved through planning, design, construction coordination, and other stages, marking an important milestone in his career.
"As time went on, I participated in more and more projects and gradually took on greater responsibilities. From simple drafting at the beginning to independently managing the full project process, I made significant progress in both technology and management. These experiences helped me recognize my abilities and potential, and allowed me to contribute positively to smooth project delivery and the company's development."
Growth is like the transformation of a chrysalis into a butterfly. It is the care and persistence shown in repeated communication and drawing revisions, the hard work and dedication of following project management and construction throughout, and the joy and pride when a completed project is put into use. From the diligence of a draftsman to the confidence of an engineer who can take charge, Zhang Baoping completed a remarkable professional transformation.
Taking on challenges and moving forward despite difficulty
From 2021 to 2023, Zhang Baoping undertook an important assignment: the Longhua District Reservoir Risk Removal and Reinforcement Project (Phase III) in Shenzhen.
"This was the first time I had taken on such a complex and urgent project. It involved several small reservoirs with different characteristics and many professional disciplines, making it highly challenging."
As project leader, after receiving the assignment Zhang Baoping carried out project planning and schedule preparation in advance. He repeatedly assessed key issues and potential difficulties in project delivery, and consulted many times with external experts and colleagues experienced in similar projects to ensure that every detail was handled properly.
Based on each team member's strengths and expertise, he optimized resources, assigned work reasonably, and fully stimulated the team's potential, enabling everyone to contribute in the areas they knew best. During the project, he worked closely with construction units and whole-process consulting units, improving design quality in line with actual conditions and the owner's needs.
Facing the difficulties and challenges of the project, Zhang Baoping never backed down and always pressed forward. This spirit inspired every team member, helping them become more determined and courageous when facing obstacles. Under his leadership, the team formed a strong collective force and overcame one difficulty after another. Ultimately, through scientific project planning and efficient execution, the project was delivered on time and with quality, winning high praise from the owner and demonstrating the company's excellent project quality control and technical strength.
Accumulating day by day with unwavering craftsmanship
The project department is a place full of busyness and challenges, a field where everyone works hard and pushes forward. During the bustle of the day, people are occupied with documents, meetings, and site work, jointly solving problems and advancing the project. When night falls, the project department gradually quiets down, leaving only the occasional sound of keyboard taps and phone rings, while the day's busyness settles into reflection.
Immersed in the quiet of night, Zhang Baoping began sorting through the day's work. He carefully analyzed every detail, reflected on shortcomings and omissions, and assessed possible difficulties and priorities. His thoughts were like bright stars in the night sky, steadily guiding the way forward. As the night deepened, he increasingly enjoyed this time of solitude and reflection, feeling the joy of self-growth and savoring the sense of achievement that work brought him.
Six years passed in a flash, yet they were enough for a person to grow quickly. During these six years, Zhang Baoping took root in Shenzhen, a land full of challenges and opportunities. With projects as his axis and diligence as his pen, he worked hard to write a brilliant chapter of his own life. The road ahead is still long, but he is ready to move toward a brighter tomorrow with firmer steps.
Postscript
The road may be long and difficult, but those who keep walking will arrive; those who keep going have a future to look forward to. Today, Zhang Baoping still maintains his passion and dedication to work. Through concrete actions, he embodies the faith and pursuit of water conservancy professionals and the corporate spirit of Huanyu Engineering Consultancy (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.: integrity, perseverance, innovation, and pragmatism.
His presence has left a deep mark in every corner of water conservancy projects. His story is like a poem, a song of faith belonging to water conservancy professionals, inspiring more people to move forward bravely and continuously on the path of water conservancy.
There was a moment when being a water conservancy professional felt very hard.
It was hard when surveying and measuring in severe cold and scorching heat.
It was hard when staying up late and working overtime to revise designs.
It was hard when working on the front line from dawn to night.
But gradually, my love for water conservancy became something I could not let go.
I feel proud when I see beautiful and magnificent dams.
I feel proud when I see clear streams rushing through river channels.
I feel proud when I see fertile fields nourished by water.
These are the footnotes to the stories of water conservancy professionals striving forward.
I feel happy when walking beside a small river with clear water and swimming fish.
I feel relieved when I see people using safe and reliable water.
I feel warmed when I see Shenzhen return to calm after a heavy rain.
Gradually, I discovered:
Being a water conservancy professional is something to be proud of;
Being a water conservancy professional is truly rewarding.
With light in the heart, no road is too long.