Half a year passed yet I can still vividly recall the excitement at the announcement of
L(U)CY Program participant list. For me, the golden opportunity means far more than
a ten-day trip in the United Stated or a presentation competition. The cultural
exchange brought profound enrichment in my experience, knowledge and insight.
During our short term visit at Yale, I was most impressed by its first-class facilities as
well as the inquisitive students and professors. As long as one aspires to excellence,
he or she can always benefit from learned faculty and highly accessible facilities.
Rather than typical “nerds”, each of them is versatile in diverse dimensions. They
study hard, yet devote more in pastime activities and personal pursuits. Every time I
spoke with them, I can feel their enthusiasm through sparkling lights in their eyes.
Reality is tough for both of us, but the wiser men will choose to be a master instead of
a slave of life. Most of the Yale students I met with endeavored to live a unique and
passionate life with a clear blueprint in mind and that was most inspiring for me. In
the crossroads of life, we might as well listen to the voice within and brace ourselves
up for the road less traveled by.
I also gained much in the preparation of the final presentation. Unlike the awkward
online meetings with foreign teammates initially, I then managed to figure out an
effective way to communicate with foreigners, especially to articulate my thoughts
and express arguments. Moreover, the high standard presentation pushed me to
acquire a deeper understanding of corporate social responsibility throughout the case
study of Novartis. Together with my teammates, we took on challenges from massive
technical materials, yet the final result proved that all our efforts were worthwhile. I
learned even more from my teammates during the preparation. I remember once we
had a difference in opinion on whether to expose the data which might undermine the
credibility of our conclusion. I initially held a disapproving view on including the data,
but I was persuaded by Sarah who insisted that the foundation of case study should lie
on academic objectivity. I was touched by her spirit and started to reflect on my
attitudes on former academic researches. The teamwork also enhanced my
understanding of responsibility, mutual support and pressure handling. I miss them
even more as I type these words, only a month after our departure.
I want to express my earnest gratitude for this opportunity offered by Lingnan College.
Most of us are lost in the tempting and jumbled directions of self-orientation and
future careers. But throughout the exciting and educational journey, I felt clearer and
more determined with my ambition owing to broader horizons and fresh perspectives.
Youngsters today shoulder great blame for being apathetic and lethargic, yet
meanwhile, greater responsibility and leadership awaits us. The short-term cultural
exchange program ended, but my reflections went on. The pursuit of a better self
never ends.
Huang Yuqing (Nicole)