On 15 May, YCIS Chongqing hosted the fourth episode of the Alumni Lecture Series: “Spark the Legacy”, and welcomed alumnus Mr Jack Hayley back to his alma mater. The event was jointly organised by the Marketing and Student Recruitment Division of YCIS Chongqing and the Institutional Advancement Office of YCYW. 

In a talk titled “Code Meets Music: Finding Your Unique Interdisciplinary Path”, Jack shared with students and parents his personal journey of exploring the intersection of computing, music, and creativity.

For the Hayley family, the visit was also a heartfelt homecoming. Jack returned to the campus after many years, accompanied by his parents and his younger brother Nathan.  Surrounded by both familiar sights and new developments, the family revisited cherished memories and once again experienced the enduring sense of connection and support of the YCYW community.

Starting with interests; forging your own path

During his lecture, Jack explained how he had started with his interests, and gradually found a university direction that truly suited him.

He said that he had never had only a single passion. In addition to software development, he had always been deeply interested in music production and sound design. It was precisely this combination of interests that led him to ask an important question: Could he combine his different passions, rather than having to choose one at the expense of the other?

With this in mind, Jack decided to study Computational Media at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. He encouraged the students to think not only about what they are good at when applying to universities, but also about what genuinely interests them, and what kind of environment will allow those interests to flourish over time.

Combining computing and music at the university

To help the students better understand what interdisciplinary learning could look like in practice, Jack shared examples from his own university experience.

By combining computing with media and design, he was able to pursue his overlapping interests. He also contributed to software development for projects in robotic musicianship, supporting research and practice at the intersection of music and technology.

While he was at George Institute of Technology, Jack also co-founded a film and multimedia studio, where he serves as Technical Director and contributes to music composition, sound design, and technical production. One of the studio’s recent short films was screened at several film festivals and received recognition for its original score and cinematography.

More than a lecture: a warm return to campus

Beyond the talk itself, the visit also held many precious memories for the Hayley family.

Jack and his family walked around the campus together with the school’s teachers, and saw how much the school had developed over the years.  They felt both delighted and moved, with many familiar memories coming back to them along the way. During the visit, the family also had the pleasure of unexpectedly reuniting with teachers who had once taught both Jack and Nathan, creating a warm and heartfelt atmosphere.

An alumnus story that inspires future growth

As a YCIS Chongqing alumnus, Jack showed the students that interests can become the starting point for growth, and that an interdisciplinary path can open up meaningful possibilities for the future.

From coding to music, Jack’s story encouraged the students to explore boldly, stay true to what they love, and shape a path that is distinctly their own.