I have always enjoyed teaching freshmen, not only because I get to see the sparkle in the eyes of students who are just entering university and opening up new doors of knowledge, but also because I like witnessing their transformations over the past four years. When teaching courses, I always ask freshmen to write a letter to their future selves, which I return to them on their graduation day. On that day, I asked them, “Have you become the person you wrote about in your letter four years ago? If the answer is yes, congratulations, you are heading in the right direction toward your goals. If not, don’t worry, not all of my plans I wrote were realized, either!” Sometimes, following our own plans leads us in the right direction. However, other times, failure can steer us towards the right path. The most important lesson in life is learning how to enrich our lives and the lives of those around us during the process.

After four years of education, students at NYCU, or more broadly, top universities, have generally developed excellent professional skills. As such, possessing these skills is no longer sufficient for achieving a successful life. What sets us apart are the soft skills that enable us to fulfill ourselves while getting along with others. These skills include effective communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to be a good team player.

A study conducted by Harvard University (lifespanresearch.org) tracked the lives of a group of Harvard students and young people living in poverty in Boston over a span of 75 years. The individuals who participated in this study have since passed away or are now in their eighties and nineties. Through interviews and various objective observations, psychologists concluded that wealth and fame do not bring happiness to one’s life. Instead, the study found that establishing good relationships with those around us can bring satisfaction and happiness to our lives. Therefore, I believe that building relationships and enriching our own lives are important aspects of a liberal education.

At the Community and Peer Education Center (CPEC), our aim is to provide students with more opportunities for conversation. By communicating with one another, students can develop connections and gain a deeper understanding of themselves through interaction with their peers from different fields. In a generation where daily conversations with AI, computers, and phones have surpassed human-to-human conversations, it’s essential that we create these opportunities for students to learn through real-life experiences and feel a sense of warmth and connection.

“Active Learning” is one of the platforms for conversation, collaboration, and relationship-building. Through constant conversation, students work towards a common goal and share their achievements. When I look back on my college days, the most memorable moments were when we worked together as a team. We were motivated to learn, wanted to do well even without assigned homework, and convinced others to join us. At that moment, I felt like we were shining! Now, I bring this kind of learning into my work environment. The happiest and most satisfying moments are when I work with a group of colleagues to achieve a goal. I firmly believe that “together we go far!”.

Another platform to build relationships is through events like Happy Hour, where students from different fields can come together to discuss various topics and get to know each other better. We also go outdoors, explore and establish a relationship with the land. Additionally, we organize lectures on sustainable development goals (SDGs) to help students broaden their establish relationships with the world, hoping that the participating students can have a different perspective, enrich their lives, and become satisfied and happy individuals.