Only by Walking the Path Can One Understand Its Meaning

How Should I Take the Required Course of Growth?

Back in high school, I was full of imagination about university life. At that time, I yearned for a free and vibrant atmosphere filled with opportunities, eager to find and realize myself through freedom and overcoming challenges. I hoped to seize every opportunity to experience and explore the world I had yet to set foot in. Looking back, the motivation driven by curiosity has step by step led me on one wonderful journey after another.

These experiences gradually made me realize that growth is not achieved overnight, but is shaped through each challenge and self-surpassing moment, gradually molding a better self.

Selected for the Five-Week MACHI-STEM Program at Rice University.

Exploring Passion in Thailand: New Southbound Dream-Building Program

During the summer of my sophomore year, I participated in the “Bioenergy Green Energy Net Zero Emission Practice and Social Design Service Program” under the guidance of Professor Chen-Yeon Chu from the Master's Program of Green Energy Science and Technology, with the assistance of Teacher Chen-Hua Hsueh from the Office of Sustainability, as part of the Ministry of Education’s New Southbound Dream-Building Program. I went to Chiang Mai University in Thailand for a two-month internship. My responsibility in this internship was to explore the safety of smart factories and provide a basis for subsequent project implementation through literature analysis. During the internship, I communicated with people from different cultural backgrounds, discussed and collaborated together, listened to diverse perspectives, and found resonance in multiculturalism, which quickly broadened my horizons.

Outside of work, I actively explored the city. The enthusiasm and friendliness of the locals made me feel the warmth of Chiang Mai. While enjoying the scenery and tasting local snacks, I deeply experienced the surprises and charm of cross-cultural exchange. This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the communication and integration between different cultures, and made me dream of having the opportunity to go abroad again during my university years to experience more diverse lifestyles.

Teaching Volunteer in Chiang Mai – Youth Charity Foundation (YCF)

YCF is a shelter located in the suburbs of Chiang Mai, dedicated to providing housing and education for homeless children, giving them a warm home.

The director once told us, “Only education can break the class barrier; it is the only way we can change the fate of these children.” She firmly believes that despite difficulties and challenges, only through education can children escape adversity and have a chance to change their future.

She also believes that heaven will help the children overcome all difficulties, and that our efforts will bring hope and miracles to them. In this service, we prepared five courses: Chinese, English, calligraphy, ball games, and computer classes. These courses were not only a joyful learning journey for the children but also a precious growth process for me. Although language barriers and cultural differences brought many challenges, the children’s enthusiasm and active participation made all obstacles seem insignificant. Through body language and emotional communication, we overcame the barriers of language and writing, establishing sincere communication.

As a teaching volunteer at the Youth Charity Foundation (YCF), I taught the children at YCF how to use AI tools to create images and operate computers.

What impressed me most was the children’s innocent smiles. Despite their difficult lives and harsh environments, they still focused wholeheartedly on the present, whether working or studying, enjoying every moment. During this period, I learned to feel every little happiness in life with my heart, immersing all my senses in the details of daily life, and experiencing the most sincere warmth between people. After the service ended, I returned home full of emotion, sincerely grateful to people like the director who dedicate their lives, and wishing these children to grow up healthy in love and hope, maintaining their purity and simplicity.

Service in Chiang Rai Chiang Khong – New Life Center

After finishing the service at YCF, we traveled to the “New Life Center” in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai, to continue our teaching service. The main mission of this branch is to help students from mountainous areas attend school in the city more conveniently, so they are no longer hindered by transportation and geography. The New Life Branch originated from the “New Life Gospel Drug Rehabilitation Center” in northern Thailand, founded by Pastor Yu Chang and Pastor Ying-Hsueh Cho. Since the founders are native Chinese speakers, the center provides professional Chinese courses to help students learn Chinese and continuously improve their language skills.

This experience taught me how to adjust teaching methods according to the different needs of students. The students came from various backgrounds, with a wide age range and diverse learning needs. I learned how to use different teaching strategies more flexibly, enabling students to acquire knowledge and skills more effectively from the courses and continue to grow in their learning.

We adjusted the course content and teaching methods to ensure that every student could learn at a pace suitable for them.

MACHI-STEM at Rice University – Short-term Research Exchange in the United States

After returning to Taiwan from Thailand, I dreamed day and night of having another opportunity to study and experience abroad, just as I did when I first entered university, full of imagination and longing for distant places. Therefore, I did not hesitate to apply for the “MACHI-STEM at Rice University” short-term research exchange program for outstanding female undergraduate scientists in Taiwan’s STEM fields, hosted by Professor Kono at Rice University in the United States. With the strong support of Dean of Student Affairs Hui-Kuang Yu and the sponsorship of the Feng Chia University Alumni Association, I was successfully selected to go to the United States for a five-week short-term research exchange.

This program was initiated by Prof. Junichiro Kono from the Department of Applied Physics at Rice University, aiming to introduce American university education to female STEM undergraduates from Japan and Taiwan, promote cultural exchange, enhance students’ research experience in science and engineering, broaden international perspectives, and inspire future academic development.

In front of the magnificent corridors of Rice University, I took a group photo with all the members of the MACHI-STEM Program.

During this internship, I studied the depression of caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients, focusing on questionnaire analysis and exploring related factors. I also learned to use various analytical tools for data visualization and analysis, drawing conclusions from the data.

In addition, I made significant progress in English oral expression in my professional field. Although I initially felt anxious due to language barriers, I gradually overcame difficulties and became more confident as I gained experience. This internship made me realize the communication power and professionalism that fluent English brings; at the same time, I realized that I still have room for growth in language skills, which inspired me to continue improving my English expression.

During my internship, I researched the depression status of caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease patients and took a photo with my advisor during the project presentation.

After the successful completion of the presentation, I was awarded a Certificate of Completion.

During the exchange, my professors and mentors gave me great support and guidance, not only tracking my learning progress every week but also answering questions with great patience and giving valuable advice. Their care and help allowed me to grow continuously during this short five-week internship, not only improving my professional abilities but also providing forward-looking advice for my future career planning.

I also took a photo with the American professor and the Asian mentor, whose guidance and support greatly enriched my experience.

These experiences are like stepping stones on the road to growth, allowing me to constantly surpass myself in challenges and move toward the future.

Growth is a gradual accumulation process. Whether it is challenges or achievements, they provide me with an endless motivation to learn. It can be said that every step of growth comes from continuous challenges.

I sincerely thank all the benefactors who have helped me along the way, my companions, and everyone who has supported and encouraged me. I will continue to explore bravely and move forward steadily with a more positive attitude.