“Detach Yourself from Comfort to Fully Take on Life’s Challenges”
Class of 2015 Commencement Ceremony

The 2015 Commencement ceremony took place on June 13 under the witness of President Pan-Chyr Yang (楊泮池) and this year’s guest speaker, Teresa H. Meng (孟懷縈). Speaking at the event, President Yang encouraged the students to live by the principles of integrity, responsibility, and a sense of compassion, while stressing the importance of serving and giving back to the community after graduation.

Noting that innovation is motivated by the realization of creative ideas, which are materialized only when one is able to seize the rare opportunities presented, Yang further expressed his hopes that the NTU graduates maintain a constant drive for improvement in leading a career inspired by innovation and creativity.

Meanwhile, the NTU alumna, Stanford University professor, and founder of Atheros Communications, drew on her own experience during her Commencement address. Meng encouraged the Class of 2015 to experience life through an expanded mindset, to leave one’s environment of comfort to actively take on challenges, and to treat all individuals, especially those who are different, as equals. Elaborating on her points, Meng urged her junior NTU graduates not to limit themselves to Taiwan and China when seeking opportunities, stating that “the whole world is your stage where the challenge and competition presented to you will lead to greater harvest of success and growth of character.”

Incorporating in her speech the NTU motto of “integrity, diligence, fidelity, and compassion,” Meng cautioned the graduates that the meaning of integrity is to have pride but not to be proud. She stressed the importance of being diligent and staying hungry for knowledge, and reminded that to love one’s country and fellow countrymen is the act of contributing to society and to the whole of mankind.

Speaking on behalf of the Class of 2015, this year’s Valedictorian, Business Administration major De-Wei Huang (黃德薇), thanked the University for installing in her both independent thought as well altruistic values.

International student representative Thijs Alexander Velema spoke in fluent Chinese of his fondness of his NTU experience, adding that his time here was made more memorable by the great friendships he shared. He also urged his fellow graduates to put the knowledge their alma mater has cultivated into good use by making the society a better place. Velema then bid the Class of 2015 farewell, and congratulated them on their graduation in his mother tongue, “Van harte gefeliciteerd met je afstuderen!”

Related:
Inheritance, Innovation, Excellence, and Dedication: NTU Graduating Class of 2014 (2014/06/10 NTU Spotlight)