NCKU Freshmen Get Useful Advice From Ex-President, Official

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A senior government official and a former president of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) were invited to an Orientation Camp of the university on Sept. 15 to provide useful tips to help the students survive and thrive the freshmen year and beyond.

“Things you learned in college are not limited to knowledge. You can also gather invaluable experience that can be helpful when hunting for an ideal job in the future”

Yi-Chen Chen, minister of National Youth Commission (NYC), Executive Yuan, who is also one of distinguished alumna of NCKU, motivated the students with her passionate words and offered her advice to 2,800 new students.

Academician Michael Ming-Chiao Lai, a former president of NCKU, received warm welcome by the students and expressed his profound anticipation by offering critical tips for the freshmen to smooth the first year in the university.

The ability to integrate and create is crucial for the new students to thrive in the future, Lai said. He urged the freshmen to learn to work with others rather than doing things alone.

“I would advise you to choose a career you have passion about rather than a job that is seemingly popular and promising,” said Lai.

Chen recalled her experience of joining student association, assisting in NCKU News Center and making a lot of friends during her days at NCKU. “Things you learned in college are not limited to knowledge. You can also gather invaluable experience that can be helpful when hunting for an ideal job in the future,” she said.

Both Lai and Chen stressed the importance of time management. Lai said that freshmen must make the best of the four years to study hard and enjoy the campus life. Chen asked the students to be responsible for the consequences of their thinking and doing and learn to organize and prioritize.

Lai advised students to join student associations and take charge of extracurricular activities to cultivate leadership abilities. Extensive reading, foreign language learning and overseas tours to broaden the learning experience are also emphasized in Lai’s remarks.