Tianrui Ding’s journey from Asia to NYC – and within herself

How a young Chinese woman unleashed her inner potential and became more confident than ever living in New York City

Written by Arzoo Bhattarai

I got to meet Tianrui Ding on a cold, rainy evening in a coffee shop in Queens. Our busy schedules and the inclement winter weather made me wish to end the interview as soon as possible to head back home to relax. But the initial awkward silence and uncomfortable long pauses that are somewhat common in these situations didn’t last long. As Tianrui started sharing stories about her journey from China to Singapore to NYC,  she got me glued to her. At the end of our conversation, we didn’t realize we had been talking for the past hour and a half.

During this time, Tianrui told me how she landed her dream job in New York and how the city makes her feel braver and more empowered. We also discussed her entrepreneurial side. We met a few days before she left for China to initiate her dearest project – a website that sells art-inspired accessories and fashion items. Finally, Tianrui enthusiastically told me about her experience as a storyteller, performing at The Rockefeller Foundation and at the show This Alien Nation at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater. “I was doing things that I had never imagine in my wildest dream. All the opportunities that I have been provided have shaped me to be the confident woman that I am today”. Read the full interview below and don’t miss out the opportunity to apply to New Women New Yorkers (NWNY) Storytelling program with the Moth.

Storytelling with The Moth: Apply here to participate in New Women New Yorkers’ Spring program for immigrant women.

Introduce yourself: What’s your name, where are you from, and how long have you been living in New York?
I am Tianrui Ding. I am originally from China and I moved to New York in 2017, in late August. So, it has been a little over a year and a half of living in the city.

Before moving to NYC or when you decided to move, what were your expectations about finding a job or even about the job market as a whole?
Before moving to New York, I had realized how difficult it would be because the city, as we all know, is the center of the world. It is the leader in everything – fashion, marketing, finance, tech, business etc. So initially I was not positive about finding a job right away. I planned on giving myself six months to a year to transition.

Moreover, I was living in  Singapore, a place that is rather  calm and relaxed compared to NYC and where I never felt the sense of urgency we experience here all the time. Until the last day, I was partying, celebrating with friends and family, and making memories. So it was only after I started living in New York that I began to lay out plans for myself and my career.

When you said living in Singapore, you didn’t have that sense of urgency, what do you mean? Can you elaborate on that?
In Singapore there are opportunities in every field. If you are good enough, you can get a good job and take your life on the right track. You could see yourself doing really great and having a good career in the future. On the other hand, there is also limitations on what you can be and what you can achieve.

But here in New York, there are less boundaries as to the lengths that you can go to. People are always hustling and struggling to make their lives better. And everyone is in a constant chase to secure their future and advance their career.

What was it like adjusting to life in New York? What do you do in your spare time?
Adjusting to life in New York has been an exhausting journey but I am in love with the New York charm – its diversity, culture, food, people, and even the hustle.

In my spare time I love going to Broadway musicals and visiting museums – I love the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). There is so much culture in NYC so I try to explore as much as I can. I sign up for guided tours at museums and even joined the MET Museum as a member recently. Attending the guided tours, I have learned about the development of sculpture, Asian and Egyptian art, the Renaissance and Impressionism. I also learned the background story of various artists and I feel like my life just got better. Overall, I love museums and music.

What was it like trying to find work when you arrived in New York?
During my first month here, I did not look for a job, as I was searching for an apartment, adjusting to the new culture, etc. But, the matter of fact is, I got enrolled in the LEAD program of New Women New Yorkers almost right away after I came to New York. I felt lost, with no proper direction and I was seeking for someone or something who can show me direction, and give me that push or motivation because job hunting is very daunting and it was impossible to do things without a good companionship.

How did you discover LEAD and what made you decide to join?
That’s an interesting story – I was using the wifi at the New York Public Library one day and, as I was browsing through the internet, a page popped up detailing the upcoming events in the library. I scrolled down to see the details and then I came across to the LEAD program. I got interested and wanted to learn more about the program. I found out that it was a professional development, resume building, and networking program and I thought: “this is exactly what I want!” Soon after I joined a LEAD information session and decided to get enrolled in the program.

How did your participation in LEAD have an impact on your life? Share with us your successes since participating in LEAD!
NWNY made my life how it is after I moved to New York. I am grateful for finding friends in the LEAD program because meeting all these wonderful women every week and talking about our progress on the job hunting and sharing joys and struggles of living in a new city was an absolute motivation. As we all shared a similar background and experiences – being an immigrant, living in a new city, finding a new apartment, adjusting to a new culture and language, we could totally understand, relate, and comfort each other. I feel so grateful to have been able to find a group, a safe community to talk about things going on in my life.

Also, enrolling in the LEAD program helped me to find a job shortly after that, in a small company in Brooklyn. Since I was still in search of my ideal job, I continued applying to job positions. Finally, in March, I got an offer from Twitter. At that moment I had the utmost satisfaction. I was on top of the world.

My journey with NWNY did not end immediately after finding a job. I was so close to this community that I started getting involved in their other programs as well. One of the recent programs that I participated in was the Storytelling program. I am so grateful for it. I was one of the participants amongst 14 others who got selected. We were provided with an amazing workshop with The Moth – a non-profit dedicated to the craft of storytelling. The program has taught me proper skills to build interesting stories. Not only that, I even learned how to present my story to the audience. Then, I was on the stage, sharing my first story to the public, including my loved one. We even had the recording of our storytelling which got me more excited. Things moved forward so fast, I was then invited with four other storytellers  to share another story at an event at The Rockefeller Foundation. Soon after, there was a chance to participate in This Alien Nation, a show hosted by an immigrant woman like me at Joe’s Pub. Everytime, I only got better at it.

I was doing things that I had never imagine in my wildest dreams. All the opportunities that I have been provided have shaped me to be the confident woman that I am today.

What have you learned here so far?
The first and most important thing that I have learned being in NYC is to connect with people. Back in Singapore, finding a job was a simple process. There was a job fair in school, I sent out my resume, and I got a call. In fact, I found a job even before I graduated.

I have realized that I am good at networking and storytelling. I have an inner confidence to do anything. Most importantly, I have realized my love for art. So, after I left Twitter, I decided to leverage my previous experience and my connections in China to start a website that sells art-inspired accessories and fashion items.

What is your favorite dish from your home country?
My favorite food would be everything that my mom cooks. But if I have to choose one then it would be Guo Bao Rou – it is pork meat coated with flour and fried with sweet-sour dip.

Any final thoughts on your overall transitioning phase in NYC?
It has been quite a challenging yet exciting life so far. Although New York City is  competitive, intimidating, dirty and chaotic, it is also a city with a lot of energy and opportunities. I feel grateful for what I came across these last 18 months. And I think I am quite happy with how this phase shaped me to who I am now. Although I might have gained some weight exploring the food in NYC, I feel much stronger and more determined to accomplish my goals. I also feel that I am brave enough to set my goals, to go ahead and to make them come true. As the saying puts: “Aim for the moon and you will land among the stars”.