Dear Freshmen
My name is Tiffany Chiu and I would like to share with you my academic journey, which all began here in the Department of English Language & Applied Linguistics at Yuan-Ze University (YZU), where I graduated in 2006. I am currently a lecturer at St Patrick’s College, London (UK), after completing my Masters in TESOL in Philadelphia (USA) and Ph.D. in Applied Linguistic in London.
There will always be ups and downs in life, especially in the next four years at YZU. While we often take-for-granted the pleasant times, we ought to prepare ourselves for times of difficulties. There will be occasions, whether it is preparation for coursework or exam, or things in personal life, where you will feel deflated, tired and even want to give up. Yet, with the right frame of mind and positive thinking, these negative emotions and feelings can be manifested into positive gains. You will develop mental strength and you can thrive under pressure. I remember when I started my job as a lecturer, one of the administration staff was cautious about whether I am good enough to teach/manage their diverse body of students, which may be because I am physically ‘small’ and looked relatively ‘young’. Although I feel I have to prove myself, I never doubted my ability. It is very important not to easily allow the words of others to influence your confidence.
What I want to say is that to achieve your dreams, you need to be persistent and you need to have self-belief. Passion is an important ingredient for success and I strongly urge you to remind yourself that everything you will experience in the next four years, happy or sad, will mould you into a stronger and more developed person. You should never be afraid to accept new challenges and do not let opportunities slip away. I encourage you make full use of the facilities, staff and the campus during your time here at YZU because it is a fantastic place to grow and mature. I wish you all the best and be true to yourself. Smile when you fall and then move on. Best wishes, Tiffany Chiu, Ph.D. 邱媛莉 應外系第六屆系友, Ph. D., King’s College London, University of London |
