We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zitong Wang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zitong, thank you so much for agreeing to open up about a sensitive and personal topic like being fired or laid-off. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in layoffs recently and so your insight and experience with overcoming being let go is relevant to so many in the community.
For many people in my hometown in China, the words layoff or getting fired carry very negative connotations. They represent failure, rejection, and shame. Three years ago, I believed that, too.
At that time, I was working at a large multinational company. To me, landing that job felt like stepping onto the fast track to success in the most conventional sense. I enjoyed the admiration of my former classmates and colleagues, and I took pride in sharing on social media where people congratulated me simply because of the company’s name.
But one day, I received a layoff notice. In that moment, the system I had built to measure my self-worth collapsed. All I could hear in my head was: I am a failure.
As it turned out, losing my job was only the beginning of the nightmare. The whole country was experiencing waves of layoffs and shrinking job opportunities. I sent out hundreds of applications through different platforms, but with little success. My confidence sank to its lowest point. Out of desperation, I accepted a position I knew I wouldn’t like, even agreeing to a pay cut and a move to a city where I had no support system.
Just as I was clinging to this new job as a way to regain my lost sense of worth, my father strongly opposed my decision. I thought he didn’t understand the pain and pressure I was under, nor the harsh job market. We had a huge argument, and I broke down in tears. Then he fell silent and said softly: I just think you’re amazing. You deserve much better than this job or this choice. His words made me cry even harder.
In that moment, I realized the real reason I had been adrift for so long—I had lost my self-confidence, my sense of identity. Thanks to my father, I knew it was time to reclaim it.
I turned down that job. Although still anxious, I began preparing for new interviews while also asking myself what I truly wanted outside of work. Deep down, I had always longed to return to school. But I had denied myself that dream out of fear—fear that I wouldn’t be good enough, or that I wouldn’t earn back the tuition.
With the encouragement of my parents and the unwavering support of my friends, I broke out of my old way of thinking. I decided to keep working while applying to graduate programs in the U.S.
Now, as I prepare to join AFI as an Editing student, I look back on that layoff very differently. I no longer see it as a purely negative event. Instead, I see it as an opportunity—one that forced me to pause, re-examine my life, and ultimately rediscover the confidence I had lost.
After all, even if we call a layoff a low point, once you climb past it, there’s only one way to go: upward.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am currently building my foundation in film editing, with the goal of immersing myself in as many collaborative short film projects as possible during my time at AFI. For me, editing is not just a technical process—it’s where rhythm, emotion, and story converge, and I’m excited to explore how my editing can shape the audience’s experience of a film.
At the same time, I continue to write my own scripts and plan to use school breaks to bring some of those stories to life on screen. Storytelling has always been at the heart of what I do, whether through screenwriting, production, or now editing, and each medium gives me a new way to express my voice.
Looking ahead, I’m also interested in experimenting with video essays, blending creative editing with critical reflection. I plan to launch my own YouTube channel as a platform to share these works—a space where I can engage directly with audiences, spark conversations, and build a personal brand rooted in storytelling across different forms.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I believe the three most important qualities in my journey have been: the ability to listen to my inner voice, the courage to face challenges, and the willingness to communicate.
The first—listening to your inner voice—may sound simple, but in reality it’s very easy to lose. We’re constantly influenced by outside opinions: from social media narratives to the expectations of people around us. For a long time in my career, I was lost because I could no longer hear my own voice. I was just doing what everyone else thought was “right”—trying to make as much money as possible. But when I began to truly listen to myself and pursue what I loved, I not only felt better emotionally, but also realized that my fears of financial struggle were far less severe than I had imagined.
The second quality is courage in the face of challenges. As Bold Journey itself emphasizes, sometimes achieving what looks impossible isn’t actually as hard as it seems. The real shift happens when you adjust your mindset to embrace challenges. I’m naturally very introverted, and for a long time I was terrified of directing on set, of managing and guiding a team. But when I shot a short film for my application portfolio, I pushed myself to communicate with every crew member in advance, and even took on many producing tasks—negotiating locations, handling budgets, and more. A few years ago, these things would have felt overwhelming. But because my mindset changed, what once felt like insurmountable obstacles became surprisingly manageable.
Finally, communication. Here I don’t mean the technical tricks of communication—like how to network quickly or make small talk—but rather the mindset of trusting that communication can solve many problems. Never let assumptions about another person stop you from having a conversation, and never let fear silence you, as I once did. More often than not, if you approach others with sincerity, communication doesn’t require fancy skills—it becomes a natural and powerful way to overcome challenges.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
This is actually a difficult question for me, because I feel that my parents have done so many things that shaped my life. More accurately, it’s their guidance and values that made me who I am today and led me to the life I love. I’m deeply grateful for everything they’ve done, and I really want to take this chance to express that.
If I had to choose the single most impactful thing, I would say it was their unconditional support for my decision to pursue graduate studies abroad.
In China, there is a common saying: “At a certain age, you should do what is expected of that age.” For women especially, turning 30 is seen as the time to be married with children—and if someone passes that age without fulfilling those expectations, people often gossip behind their back. I feel incredibly fortunate that my parents never thought this way. Their only wish was that I follow my own path and do what I truly love.
My father’s influence was very direct. When he firmly opposed my taking a job I didn’t want after my layoff, it completely shifted my perspective. Before that, I was focused only on climbing the corporate ladder—chasing higher salaries, jumping to bigger companies, and carefully curating a résumé with no missteps. But his opposition forced me to stop and realize that what I really wanted was not just to earn money, but to build a life around what I love—film and storytelling. Somehow, in my rush for security and recognition, I had pushed aside the very things that gave me the most joy.
My mother’s impact, while quieter, was just as profound. Even when we choose to follow our hearts, self-doubt inevitably creeps in. My mother has an extraordinary ability to see through me. When I was laid off and didn’t dare to tell my family, she somehow knew what I was going through. With her warmth and strength, she lifted me up. I still remember her words: “Come home. It’s okay.” In that moment, when I felt like I was sinking deeper and deeper, she pulled me back onto solid, comforting ground. To me, my mother has always been like that ground itself—steady, supportive, and nurturing.
I love my parents deeply, and I’m endlessly thankful for all they have done for me.
Contact Info:
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
