Class of 2024: Zichong ‘Zach’ Guo shifts from language lessons to livestock
Name: Zichong “Zach” Guo
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major/minor: Agribusiness with a minor in cinema
Hometown: Henan, China
A global gateway
Guo came to Virginia Tech from Central China in 2019. His only experience with America up to that point had been a summer camp where he visited places such as Disney World and Universal Studios.
To help him transition into a new culture and prepare for full immersion in his second language, Guo started at the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute, which helps international students increase their proficiency with the English language, academic skills, and cultural knowledge — preparing them to be successful at an American university. After graduating from the institute in 2020, Guo pursued his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness.
The Language and Culture Institute, part of Outreach and International Affairs, has long been a global gateway to the university, helping international students meet their personal, academic, and professional goals. It’s just one example of how Virginia Tech is a convening force and top destination for international talent.
Now that he’s about to graduate, Guo reflects on coming to Virginia Tech through the Language and Culture Institute (LCI), the unique way he chose his major, and the unexpected trajectory his life seems to be heading in.
Why did you decide to attend Virginia Tech?
One of my dad’s colleagues graduated from Virginia Tech, so he recommended I check it out. The summer before I would choose my college, I took a tour here, and it was amazing and impressive. While I was in Blacksburg, the International Street Fair was going on, and that really caught my eye. I had never seen something like that before. It was cultural, diverse, and welcoming. Virginia Tech has exceeded my expectations. I feel like I’m pretty lucky because I’ve gotten to know a lot of good people who love this place.
What have been the most beneficial things about starting at the LCI?
My LCI instructors really helped me understand and appreciate Virginia Tech. They helped me understand what a land-grant university is, see how strong our agriculture college is, and get involved in events and football games. They also told us how to live here because it’s a little bit different living by yourself in a foreign country. We had to figure out how to commute, how to pay the bills, and things like that. The LCI helped me navigate all that.
How did the LCI prepare you for academic success?
Being surrounded by international students, we all have different backgrounds and experiences. I got to know everybody. We would see each other every day and we’d chat about pretty much everything. When I started at the university, it was the first year of COVID. And if it wasn’t for the people I met at the LCI, I wouldn’t have known anyone my first year in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The LCI brings people from different countries together, and that’s a really awesome thing. If I were learning English back home in China, I would not have had the opportunity to learn alongside somebody who is from Korea or Saudi Arabia, for instance. Because the LCI brings people together and everyone is curious about each other’s culture and history, I found myself to be more outgoing and just enjoyed talking to everyone.
How did a walk in Blacksburg help you choose a major?
I consider myself really lucky because I found a major that I am passionate about.
It’s a funny story about how I chose agribusiness. After graduating from the LCI, I was at this potluck with a friend talking to an older gentleman I didn’t know. I was telling him that I had no idea what to choose as my major. His response actually turned out to be pretty poetic. He said, “Well, if you ever feel lost, just take a walk in Blacksburg and you will find your way.”
I didn't actually think much about it at the time. A while later, though, I decided to actually take a walk and happened to walk down Plantation Road. I saw a lot of animals and the huge farm. It piqued my interest because that type of farm was not something I had ever seen in my hometown. It got me thinking about agriculture, and I just decided to give it a shot. He turned out to be right. I found my way just by taking a walk.
How did your experiential learning change your view of agriculture?
Last summer, during my internship with Smithfield, I got a lot of hands-on experience and real communication with people who work in the field — those working on the line and some of the technicians. It was amazing. That’s where my interest in food science, and specifically meat science, really started.
I started working at the Virginia Tech Meat Center after the internship, and I got more hands-on experience there. It’s amazing how we get to do everything: We get to slaughter, process, and do the retail.
Before coming to Virginia Tech, all I had seen was the bad practices of individual farmers. Those practices were traumatizing for a kid like me to watch. But when I came here, I saw how different the process can be. Every time I see the process, it makes me appreciate my food more — and that’s something I never had. It makes me feel the value of what’s going on the table and the contribution of the farmers and everyone in the industry to provide the food.
I hope to bring an international perspective to my work. Just by understanding agricultural practices and what’s going on in the world in general, I think I can really make a difference.
