My name is Flora Yuen Ying Chiu, and I come from Hong Kong. I am a visiting student at Columbia University. Last year, I was a sophomore majoring in marketing at City University of Hong Kong. A young scholars program the previous summer has turned over a new leaf in my life. As a Hong Kong Outstanding Youth, I was given the opportunity to join the ninth China Synergy Program. I met many international students from prestigious schools worldwide there. We traveled to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Xi’an, and discussed global issues with top Chinese government officials and Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. I was very inspired by this experience to embrace a world view and to become a global citizen. But how am I now realizing my dream?
I still remember that one day when I watched the news report in Hong Kong and witnessed Barack Obama making history by becoming the first African-American U.S. president. I am so moved by his persistence, perseverance, and faith in his people that I even brought his book to a scholarship interview. Reading Obama’s story reminds me of my motto: “Helping yourself while helping others.” I have been dreaming about becoming a successful entrepreneur so that I can help my family members live a better life. More importantly, I would love to eventually establish an international foundation to help the needy, especially the elderly who are neglected in this fast-changing society. Thanks to the prestigious HSBC Overseas Scholarship, I am able to set foot in the United States and discover more about the world. Considering the legacy of social and political activism in America, from Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama, Columbia is, no doubt, where global leaders are nurtured. Therefore, I have decided to start my intellectual and cultural journey here.
At Columbia, I am thrilled to discover new interests. This semester, I am taking a wide selection of courses in economics, social sciences, mathematics, English, and even courses at the Columbia Business School to expose myself to different fields of studies. Although I have not been here for long, I have already found the academics amazing. I have been lucky enough to have great professors who are all challenging, interesting, and very accessible. Students are hungry for knowledge and serious about classes. Though the workload here is heavier than in Hong Kong, I look forward to attending classes every day. It may sound weird, but I feel that I have never been so close to the origin of knowledge.
I have a wide spectrum of personality traits. I am an extrovert. I love meeting people, and I enjoy outdoor activities. But I am also an introvert who does a lot of thinking. I always want to enhance my overall educational experience. I really appreciate the opinions of some of my classmates who also think that the world is not the place we believe it to be. But we are empowered to do amazing things and contribute to society. I am, at the same time, delighted to broaden my understanding of the real world by meeting people from diverse backgrounds. Columbia is just the perfect place to cultivate my various pursuits.
When people visit Columbia, they are often amazed by its beautiful green campus surrounded by historical buildings. My home institution in Hong Kong is a fairly recent university founded in late 1980s. I used to attend classes in two modern and high-tech academic buildings. People often joked that they looked more like large shopping malls than buildings of a university. Our campus back home cannot compare to Columbia’s. I am excited to know that the trees lining College Walk in front of Kent and Hamilton Halls on the east end and Dodge and Journalism Halls on the west will be illuminated in the winter months! Of course, I would never forget to mention that we are the only Ivy League school in New York City, which is full of thrills and charms. There are so many things to do in the city. I am sure I will have lots of fun in such a robust and creative community!
The author is a Columbia College visiting student from Hong Kong.
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