Tsing Hua, Connection
清華記憶，大家一起寫校史
When a person starts to trace his or her memory, it is always hard to remember where is the beginning. People got lost in their memories.
I thought there is never a start although it has already started. I am following my memory and going back to the time when I first came to National Tsing Hua University (NTHU).
One of my college roommates whose hometown is in Hsinchu. But we met in Taipei because we studied in Taipei at that time. I was born in Taipei City and seldom leave to other cities. Until she invited me and other friends to come over her home and take us to have a sight-seeing in Hsinchu, I have never been here. Her home is near to National Tsing Hua University so we spent a morning at Tsing Hua’s campus. I have heard about National Tsing Hua University many times but this was my first time to step onto the campus. Before I entered the gate, I have never thought that I will have a chance to visit National Tsing Hua University oneday; after I visited the campus, I have never thought that I will have a job here oneday. In a nutshell, I have never thought that I will be connected to National Tsing Hua University in my life.
I work in the University Center of International Affairs right now. When I got this job and saw my supervisor, Professor Chung-min Chen, first time, I was a little frightened. He wears a pair of thick glasses so that I can not see his eyes directly. The only impression at the first time that I have is the reflection on his thick glasses. The description about him sounds funny, but actually the reflection blocked the eye contact between us. I can not tell what he was thinking at that moment. “Does he think I look too young to be responsible?” “Is he a difficult supervisor to work with?” “What should I do to release this tension?” As I work with him and know him more, I understand he is a nice and interesting person. For example, Professor Chung-min Chen always introduces himself that he has been “recycled” because he was invited to internationalize National Tsing Hua University after he retired from Ohio State University, United States.
Everything about my Tsing Hau memory until now seems good, but the truth is that no one can hold luck forever. I did feel depression and frustrated for a few times while I struggled or could not break a barrier of my work. Fortunately, my colleagues around me are always cheers me up. They might not help me with my work, but they do give me a hand and pull me up from the bottom of hopelessness. To this moment, I have worked in Tsing Hua more than one year after I got my Master degree in the United States. I should thank my college roommate, the one who invited me to Hsinchu, took me to visit Tsing Hua and gave me information to apply a job in Tsing Hua. When Tsing Hua connects to me, it means I have a job here. When I connect to Tsing Hua, it means I have a place to stay here, I have friends here, and I have a romantic relationship with someone here. No one knows what will happen next in my life. But I would like to stay with Tsing Hua and look forward to waiting and seeing it happens one by one.
As the time goes by, as the Hsinchu wind blows on my face and mess my hair, I feel the sunshine and I know there is no more connection between Tsing Hua and me because I have been a part of Tsing Hua. I am constructing my life and building parts of Tsing Hua Memory with many other Tsing Hua People at the same time.
