In 2018 Commencement, TCU’s Graduates Express Their Gratitude, and Wish to Serve People Around the World

Text: Jia-Yi Lee
Photo: Jung-Huih Hsu
Translation: Steve J. Lin

June 6, 2018 was TCU’s commencement day. A total of 784 degree candidates completed their Ph.D., Master’s or undergraduate programs this year. University President Pen-Jung Wang shared the thought that time is so precious, yet it passes so quickly. Once it has passed, it never comes back. If we use time wisely, it will add value to our lives. These graduates are ready to step out of TCU, and in the future, they may encounter sunny days or run into stormy ones. No matter what they will encounter, President Wang wished they will face all and serve others with perseverance and courage, and become pillars of the country.

Wearing their caps and gowns, the graduates were happy and filled with confidence. President Pen-Jung Wang, Vice President Ingrid Liu and other faculty members presented the degrees and shifted the tassels for each one. Shao-Ping Ye of the Department of Social Work has cerebral palsy and is unable to balance himself well. Yet, he was fortunate to have his peer, Lun-Si Luo, standing at his side whenever he needed assistance. Hualien doesn’t have a convenient public transportation system, thus Shao-Ping needed a ride to go to stores or the workplace, and Lun-Si was always there to help. Shao-Ping’s teacher encouraged him to be a caregiver, and he feels that he is able to put himself into the shoes of other underprivileged persons, because of his physical condition; so, he decided to study Social Work. Shao-Ping was grateful to Lun-Si for his assistance over the past four years, and they wished each other the best.

TCU’s faculty members expressed their best wishes to the graduates using sign language entitled “Reminder.” The faculty members wished graduates would fly high, and put Tzu Chi in their hearts. Cheong Huey Chiat’s mother came all the way from Malaysia. She had often worried about her son, Huey Chiat, who lived in Taiwan. Whenever he returned to Malaysia, she was happy. Yet she felt sad when Huey Chiat was ready to leave Malaysia for Taiwan. Later on, she decided to make a change, so whenever she thought about her son, instead of worrying about him, she wished him the best and felt grateful that he was privileged to study in a university filled with humanistic culture.

Many graduates’ parents attended the commencement, Tzu Cheng/Yi Te Dads and Moms, who had accompanied graduates over the years, also attended. These dads and moms had come to Hualien every month to meet with the students, over a four-year period, and for a total of over 50 times. One Tzu Cheng Dad, Chih-Hsien Hsu, knew that students rarely ate fruits, and thus on every gathering day, he rushed to market in the morning, bought a big bag of fruits, then took time to prepare it. His students enjoyed eating the delicious fruits. Si-Han Lian, a member of his “family,” felt that Tzu Cheng/Yi Te Dads and Moms inspired her by their personal examples, rarely preached to her, and thus she learned the essence of “unselfish love” from them.

During the commencement, music’s lyrics and melodies connected the hearts of faculty members, Tzu Cheng/Yi Te Dads and Moms, graduates and current students together. Graduates presented “Gratitude” to convey their gratefulness to TCU. On behalf of all the graduates, Yong Yee Siang addressed them with tears saying “Thank you for accompanying us. Thank you for giving us so many beautiful memories. You will be proud of our achievements someday, and we will do our best to serve people around the world.”

Seeing graduates taking actions to express their gratitude and serve others, Dharma Master Cheng Yen was touched and reminded graduates that the Chinese word “gratitude” contains two parts: one is a heart and the other is a field. These two parts signify that we should be mindful, have kind thoughts, say kind words and do good deeds at every moment. If we are able to do all these, we will enjoy every event taking place in the moment. Moreover, the goals we set will surely affect us, and also impact others around the world.

Four alumni of Chiangmai Tzu Chi School, Thailand graduated from TCU this year. Supot Saeper, Phitchaya Sungkhawan and Phatsakorn Lertrat each received a Chiangmai Tzu Chi School Scholarship, and Takhum Chonlatee was aided by a scholarship from the Mahidol University Hospitals of Thailand. They were grateful to receive scholarships, so they could come to Taiwan and complete their undergraduate programs here. Now, they are ready to go back to Thailand, to serve the needy there, and accompany children living in remote mountains, assisting them to connect with people around the world.