On October 20, our dear Huang Ayi was surprised and overjoyed to receive birthday cake, Hongbao, and a heartfelt farewell party before her upcoming retirement from NYU Shanghai — where she has worked since 2014.
She said she felt like a celebrity that day, as students, faculty, and staff lined up to take Polaroid photos with her. Before joining NYU Shanghai, Huang Ayi worked as a sewing factory worker. She has always taken great pride in her cleaning work here — every time she saw students and professors start a new day in a clean and tidy space, she felt deeply fulfilled.
After years of working with IMAers, she has developed a sharp eye: she can instantly tell what’s real trash and what’s a “trash-looking treasure” that might soon be transformed into an art piece.
This November, Huang Ayi will begin a new chapter of her life, spending more time with her four-year-old grandson in Shanghai. We will always remember how she became our hero every semester, particularly during midterms and finals. She worked tirelessly backstage, allowing us to focus on our projects without interruption. We will surely miss her — and she will always remain part of the IMA and the NYU Shanghai family.
