NTU Commencement 2023

On May 27, NTU held its Commencement Ceremony at the NTU Sports Center. This year, there are a total of 9,512 students graduating from NTU, including 5,166 undergraduates, 3,923 master students, and 423 PhD students. The venue was filled with proud and excited graduates, as well as their families and friends. Throughout the campus, one could see crowds of people taking photos to capture this memorable moment.

The theme of this year’s commencement was “Aspire Before Flight,” aiming to inspire graduates to work diligently and persistently towards their dreams. They were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, never give up on pursuing their dreams, and strive to become better versions of themselves.

During his speech, NTU President Wen-Chang Chen (陳文章) mentioned the significant changes that have taken place in the world in recent years. Apart from the impact of AI and new technologies on our daily lives, humanity is also facing the new era of the COVID-19 pandemic and intensified regional conflicts. Students nurtured by NTU must keep up with the times. In addition to possessing expertise, digital literacy, and interdisciplinary knowledge, they should also cultivate a mindset that embraces challenges, upholds integrity, values teamwork, and expresses gratitude towards others.

President Chen encouraged the graduating students to pay attention to the following aspects as they embark on their new journey in life: 1. Attitude: The attitude towards work, interpersonal relationships, and tasks is a reflection of one’s character and serves as a criterion by which others judge us. Therefore, having a diligent, responsible, and integrity-driven attitude can continuously elevate one’s life to higher levels. 2. Gratitude: Expressing gratitude towards those who have helped us along the way in life not only cultivates humility but also contributes to a positive and joyful society. Additionally, competitors can help us identify our shortcomings and stimulate learning and improvement, so it is important to be grateful for their existence. 3. Altruism: Approaching interactions with others and handling matters with a selfless service mindset not only fosters harmonious relationships but also contributes to a peaceful and stable society.

At the end of the remarks, President Chen once again congratulated the graduating students on successfully completing their studies. He extended his best wishes to each graduate, whether they continue their education or enter the workforce, urging them to hold onto their dreams and courageously embark on the journey of pursuing their aspirations. He encouraged them not to let their youth go to waste and to maintain a mindset of wholehearted learning, diligent actions, sincere interactions, and living in the present moment as they step into the future.

This year, the distinguished guest invited to deliver a speech at the commencement ceremony was Dr. Jensen Huang (黃仁勳), the CEO and founder of NVIDIA. President Chen mentioned during his speech that Dr. Huang went to the United States to study at the age of 9 and attended a boarding school where he not only had to communicate with people from different backgrounds but also had to participate in volunteer labor services, such as cleaning the dormitory toilets. It was through these unique life experiences and his spirit of daring to challenge and innovate that Dr. Huang was able to realize his dreams at a young age and establish a globally leading AI technology company by the time he was 30, despite the highly competitive global environment. Despite receiving numerous awards and achieving great success, Dr. Huang always maintains a humble and grateful attitude. For example, when he was conferred the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award by Asian American Engineer of the Year, he expressed surprise and even said that his career had just begun and that he wanted to share this honor with his colleagues at NVIDIA. His attitude towards life serves as an exemplary model worth learning from.

Executive Vice President Wanjiun Liao (廖婉君) introduced Dr. Huang as follows: Under his exceptional leadership, NVIDIA has contributed significantly to the establishment of the modern computer graphics industry, democratizing high-performance computing and putting the immense power of supercomputers into the hands of scientists. NVIDIA is renowned for its cutting-edge GPU technology, being a pioneer in accelerated computing and driving the revolution of artificial intelligence. Their GPUs have become crucial components for AI and deep learning, propelling breakthroughs in generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT and Midjourney. These technologies are dramatically changing the way we live and work.

Dr. Huang, in his commencement address, pointed out that it is the most successful day for the graduates today so far in their lives. However, he emphasized that they will face many challenges in the real world, just as he himself faced numerous failures, humiliations, and embarrassments during the founding of NVIDIA. Dr. Huang shared three consecutive setbacks experienced by NVIDIA, including being on the verge of bankruptcy, which forced them to make painful choices and execute strategic retreats. These experiences shaped their resilient character and enabled them to endure various hardships.

Dr. Huang mentioned that 40 years ago, when he graduated, he stood at the starting line of the personal computer and chip revolution. Today, 40 years later, he emphasized that we are standing at the starting line of AI. Dr. Huang encouraged the graduating students to keep running instead of walking. He said, “either you’re running for food or you’re running from being food.” He emphasized that during the pursuit, it is often uncertain if the direction is correct, and mistakes and setbacks are inevitable. He urged them not to forget to seek help when needed and to endure pain, using it as a means to achieve their dreams and dedicate themselves to a lifelong mission.