Medical Student Kevin Yen Gave Up U.S. Ivy League School for NCKU, Taiwan
Tainan, Taiwan, February 25th, 2010
How wonderful is it to study at NCKU? Kevin Yen, who gave up U.S. Ivy League School and selected National Cheng Kung University three years ago, is now in his third year of the Department of Medicine. After more than years in NCKU, his love for the school has grown. Kevin loves the free learning style, the excellent learning environment, the rigorous faculty members, and the abundant cross-field programs in NCKU. He emphasized that if he would choose again, he would undoubtedly choose National Cheng Kung University.
When Kevin Yen entered NCKU, he had the opportunity to meet with President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai. Kevin shared his joy and learning experience with President Lai in the letter, describing how his teachers and classmates have took care of him and how he has enriched himself with the rich resources in NCKU, while claiming how he has made the most correct decision of coming to NCKU. He believed that it was indeed the happiest thing to study at National Cheng Kung University.
President Lai has especially greeted him in the Office of the President on the 25th and gave him a warm American embrace. President Lai is very pleased with his outstanding performance, praising him to the most internationalized student at NCKU. He said, “As a president, I am glad and honored to see the joy and satisfaction Kevin has had in learning at NCKU.”
Kevin Yen revealed, many have asked if he ever regretted of coming back to Taiwan. He said, definitely no. If he would like to choose again, he would still choose NCKU for its excellent teaching faculty, learning environment, and other excellent conditions. Every time Kevin travels back home, he will impulsively praise the excellence of NCKU to his family; now not only his parents fully support his decision, his young sister even plans to come to NCKU to study.
Kevin also pointed out, choosing NCKU is one of best decision he has ever made in his life. Because of his exceptional identity, he received many attention and care from the teachers and staffs when he first entered NCKU. It was because of the love he has received that he learned to give. The many wonderful learning and living experience triggered the thought of writing to the President, hoping to share the thoughts of his joy in NCKU.
After hearing Kevin’s description of his joy of learning NCKU, apart from showing gratification, President Lai inquired about his language and life adaptation problems, schoolwork, as well as club activities participation, etc. Kevin replied that most of the courses in the Department of Medicine use original books, so he has no difficulty with the language, especially when the teachers are encouraging students to speak or report in English. He is even the top of his class.
Moreover, the school has opened more and more English-taught courses, thus the language is not a problem for the foreign students. Kevin loves it that departments and institutes are close to one another; it is very convenient to attend elective courses outside the department. For instance, he has taken courses in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, as well as the College of Planning. President Lai has always advocated that a leader of the 21st century must have cross-field study and ability. When he saw Kevin stepping out of the field of Medicine and choosing courses in other field, the President showed great appreciation.
Kevin Yen mentioned in the letter, “the cases of students coming back to Taiwan from the United States are rare, but I think it is one of the best decisions I have made. Over the past two and a half years, I have witnessed the growth of NCKU. Even though I am a medical major, here at NCKU I have enjoyed the opportunity to take so many multidisciplinary courses, ranking from classes on Biblical Literature at the Department of Foreign Languages or on Contemporary Global Ideologies at the Department of Politics. I have also attended many seminars and speeches by noted individuals who are invited to NCKU. Just recently I went to listen to a lecture on Global Poverty and Health given by Professor Pogge of Yale University.
I have also noticed that our campus is expanding everyday. All around school there are new constructions, beautiful new pieces of artwork, and buildings that have received new makeovers. I always enjoy a leisurely stroll around NCKU, and I truly feel that this campus has a great overall environment for students.
I am always impressed by how friendly and welcoming the teachers and staff are, especially to non-native students like myself. I think this has provided a very open and productive academic environment for me and the rest of the students…I just want to really thank you and the rest of the school administration for all the hard work in making NCKU such as wonderful place to study and spend my college years. I hope that NCKU will become better and better!”
Kevin Yen also stated, the learning atmosphere of NCKU is very liberal. Even though he studies in the Department of Medicine, he is interested in politics, history as well as global issues. The Department of Medicine encourages its students to take courses outside the department, which are eligible for general education credits transfer. By taking the elective courses outside Medicine, he could satisfy his thirst for knowledge as well as gaining a deeper and wider knowledge.
He claimed that he has acquired many new inspirations from studying outside the department, such as reading Bible from the literary angle in the Bible Study class and discovering the differences of observing incidents from the philosophical angle as well as discussing the current affairs and humanity in the Advanced Debate class. He realized that no matter what area of expertise one specializes in, he should not merely focus on the medical side; he should also understand the many aspects of human beings in more depth because the career of a doctor requires one to face and communicate with living persons.
Except class study, Kevin Yen has participated in extra-curricular activities such as basketball games of the Department of Medicine, the Thinkers Salon activity, as well as many international events, including the 2009 Asian Medical Student Conference, Harvard’s World Model United Nations, etc.
Kevin was like a chatterbox on the topic of NCKU. He said, “I love the NCKU campus. It is wide and flat and you can access anywhere with a bicycle. I enjoy strolling leisurely in the Banyan Garden especially. Since my enrollment at the school, I found NCKU has become more beautiful and magnificent; the landscape of the University Road is gorgeous, the colorful lights during night time are very pretty. I also enjoy adventuring in the Jello Maze of Tzu Chiang Campus with my friends, occasionally picnicking in the Banyan Garden. During breaks or after class, I would take my camera, walk in the campus and take some photos with my friends. The train engine on the University Road, the flowers and trees of the Cheng Kung Lake, the large sculptures situated in each campus all amaze me.”
He also declared, “I might not understand the art works, but I can appreciate them. It is extremely comforting to talk in the campus full of art works, monuments, and beautiful sceneries. My ideal college life is one that could calm the mind and find and try things I like. Here in NCKU, the ideal is fulfilled. I often share my experiences at NCKU with my overseas friends, and they find them very interesting.
It is not scary for an international student to study at NCKU. The staffs from the department have been especially caring to the overseas students. They will assist you with any accommodation or academic problem, treating you just like a family.
Moreover, the classmates all get along very well. The local students in NCKU are both curious and kind to the foreign students. The local students in a foreign country may not voluntarily come up to the international students, but the local students in NCKU will frequently chat with them and make them feel welcomed.”
Kevin Yen is a graduate student of U.S. Walnut High School. Before passing the entrance examination for the Department of Medicine in National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, with an outstanding academic performance, he was admitted by well-known universities such as Dartmouth College, John Hopkins University and University of California-Los Angeles. Among them, Dartmouth College is one of the 8 schools in Ivy League. Kevin was granted the Dartmouth College Scholarship of US$11,958 per year. He was also the candidate on the waiting list for admission in Harvard University.
Born in 1989, Taiwan, due to overseas adjustment, Kevin and his father moved to Canada when he was 4-year-old, and moved to New York, U.S., when he was 5. He came back to Taiwan and studied at the National San Min Junior High in Taipei, when he was 12. He took the opportunity to learn Chinese and assisted teachers in correcting the English pronunciation of his classmates. Kevin has also studied at National Experimental High School in Hsinchu, ranking the first in the school and finding a balance point between Taiwanese education, which emphasized schoolwork, and American education, which emphasized diversity. Kevin moved to Los Angeles, U.S., when he was 15-year-old, still remaining the first in his school. During his study in Taiwan, he has received the National Science Council Chairman Award, the Dr. Doris Brougham Scholarship, and the College Board University Advanced Placement Award, etc.
Lively and outgoing, Kevin Yen is active in club activities such as environmental protection, United Nations simulation and debate. Kevin was elected as one of the 25 Taiwanese representatives of the United States World Leadership Congress in 2004 and an instructor of the Taiwan World Leadership Congress in 2005. He was also elected as one of the 16 alumni instructors, the only representative of Asia, in the World Leadership Congress held at Washington, D.C., United States, in 2006.
How wonderful is it to study at NCKU? Kevin Yen, who gave up U.S. Ivy League School and selected National Cheng Kung University three years ago, is now in his third year of the Department of Medicine. After more than years in NCKU, his love for the school has grown. Kevin loves the free learning style, the excellent learning environment, the rigorous faculty members, and the abundant cross-field programs in NCKU. He emphasized that if he would choose again, he would undoubtedly choose National Cheng Kung University.
When Kevin Yen entered NCKU, he had the opportunity to meet with President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai. Kevin shared his joy and learning experience with President Lai in the letter, describing how his teachers and classmates have took care of him and how he has enriched himself with the rich resources in NCKU, while claiming how he has made the most correct decision of coming to NCKU. He believed that it was indeed the happiest thing to study at National Cheng Kung University.
President Lai has especially greeted him in the Office of the President on the 25th and gave him a warm American embrace. President Lai is very pleased with his outstanding performance, praising him to the most internationalized student at NCKU. He said, “As a president, I am glad and honored to see the joy and satisfaction Kevin has had in learning at NCKU.”
Kevin Yen revealed, many have asked if he ever regretted of coming back to Taiwan. He said, definitely no. If he would like to choose again, he would still choose NCKU for its excellent teaching faculty, learning environment, and other excellent conditions. Every time Kevin travels back home, he will impulsively praise the excellence of NCKU to his family; now not only his parents fully support his decision, his young sister even plans to come to NCKU to study.
Kevin also pointed out, choosing NCKU is one of best decision he has ever made in his life. Because of his exceptional identity, he received many attention and care from the teachers and staffs when he first entered NCKU. It was because of the love he has received that he learned to give. The many wonderful learning and living experience triggered the thought of writing to the President, hoping to share the thoughts of his joy in NCKU.
After hearing Kevin’s description of his joy of learning NCKU, apart from showing gratification, President Lai inquired about his language and life adaptation problems, schoolwork, as well as club activities participation, etc. Kevin replied that most of the courses in the Department of Medicine use original books, so he has no difficulty with the language, especially when the teachers are encouraging students to speak or report in English. He is even the top of his class.
Moreover, the school has opened more and more English-taught courses, thus the language is not a problem for the foreign students. Kevin loves it that departments and institutes are close to one another; it is very convenient to attend elective courses outside the department. For instance, he has taken courses in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, as well as the College of Planning. President Lai has always advocated that a leader of the 21st century must have cross-field study and ability. When he saw Kevin stepping out of the field of Medicine and choosing courses in other field, the President showed great appreciation.
Kevin Yen mentioned in the letter, “the cases of students coming back to Taiwan from the United States are rare, but I think it is one of the best decisions I have made. Over the past two and a half years, I have witnessed the growth of NCKU. Even though I am a medical major, here at NCKU I have enjoyed the opportunity to take so many multidisciplinary courses, ranking from classes on Biblical Literature at the Department of Foreign Languages or on Contemporary Global Ideologies at the Department of Politics. I have also attended many seminars and speeches by noted individuals who are invited to NCKU. Just recently I went to listen to a lecture on Global Poverty and Health given by Professor Pogge of Yale University.
I have also noticed that our campus is expanding everyday. All around school there are new constructions, beautiful new pieces of artwork, and buildings that have received new makeovers. I always enjoy a leisurely stroll around NCKU, and I truly feel that this campus has a great overall environment for students.
I am always impressed by how friendly and welcoming the teachers and staff are, especially to non-native students like myself. I think this has provided a very open and productive academic environment for me and the rest of the students…I just want to really thank you and the rest of the school administration for all the hard work in making NCKU such as wonderful place to study and spend my college years. I hope that NCKU will become better and better!”
Kevin Yen also stated, the learning atmosphere of NCKU is very liberal. Even though he studies in the Department of Medicine, he is interested in politics, history as well as global issues. The Department of Medicine encourages its students to take courses outside the department, which are eligible for general education credits transfer. By taking the elective courses outside Medicine, he could satisfy his thirst for knowledge as well as gaining a deeper and wider knowledge.
He claimed that he has acquired many new inspirations from studying outside the department, such as reading Bible from the literary angle in the Bible Study class and discovering the differences of observing incidents from the philosophical angle as well as discussing the current affairs and humanity in the Advanced Debate class. He realized that no matter what area of expertise one specializes in, he should not merely focus on the medical side; he should also understand the many aspects of human beings in more depth because the career of a doctor requires one to face and communicate with living persons.
Except class study, Kevin Yen has participated in extra-curricular activities such as basketball games of the Department of Medicine, the Thinkers Salon activity, as well as many international events, including the 2009 Asian Medical Student Conference, Harvard’s World Model United Nations, etc.
Kevin was like a chatterbox on the topic of NCKU. He said, “I love the NCKU campus. It is wide and flat and you can access anywhere with a bicycle. I enjoy strolling leisurely in the Banyan Garden especially. Since my enrollment at the school, I found NCKU has become more beautiful and magnificent; the landscape of the University Road is gorgeous, the colorful lights during night time are very pretty. I also enjoy adventuring in the Jello Maze of Tzu Chiang Campus with my friends, occasionally picnicking in the Banyan Garden. During breaks or after class, I would take my camera, walk in the campus and take some photos with my friends. The train engine on the University Road, the flowers and trees of the Cheng Kung Lake, the large sculptures situated in each campus all amaze me.”
He also declared, “I might not understand the art works, but I can appreciate them. It is extremely comforting to talk in the campus full of art works, monuments, and beautiful sceneries. My ideal college life is one that could calm the mind and find and try things I like. Here in NCKU, the ideal is fulfilled. I often share my experiences at NCKU with my overseas friends, and they find them very interesting.
It is not scary for an international student to study at NCKU. The staffs from the department have been especially caring to the overseas students. They will assist you with any accommodation or academic problem, treating you just like a family.
Moreover, the classmates all get along very well. The local students in NCKU are both curious and kind to the foreign students. The local students in a foreign country may not voluntarily come up to the international students, but the local students in NCKU will frequently chat with them and make them feel welcomed.”
Kevin Yen is a graduate student of U.S. Walnut High School. Before passing the entrance examination for the Department of Medicine in National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, with an outstanding academic performance, he was admitted by well-known universities such as Dartmouth College, John Hopkins University and University of California-Los Angeles. Among them, Dartmouth College is one of the 8 schools in Ivy League. Kevin was granted the Dartmouth College Scholarship of US$11,958 per year. He was also the candidate on the waiting list for admission in Harvard University.
Born in 1989, Taiwan, due to overseas adjustment, Kevin and his father moved to Canada when he was 4-year-old, and moved to New York, U.S., when he was 5. He came back to Taiwan and studied at the National San Min Junior High in Taipei, when he was 12. He took the opportunity to learn Chinese and assisted teachers in correcting the English pronunciation of his classmates. Kevin has also studied at National Experimental High School in Hsinchu, ranking the first in the school and finding a balance point between Taiwanese education, which emphasized schoolwork, and American education, which emphasized diversity. Kevin moved to Los Angeles, U.S., when he was 15-year-old, still remaining the first in his school. During his study in Taiwan, he has received the National Science Council Chairman Award, the Dr. Doris Brougham Scholarship, and the College Board University Advanced Placement Award, etc.
Lively and outgoing, Kevin Yen is active in club activities such as environmental protection, United Nations simulation and debate. Kevin was elected as one of the 25 Taiwanese representatives of the United States World Leadership Congress in 2004 and an instructor of the Taiwan World Leadership Congress in 2005. He was also elected as one of the 16 alumni instructors, the only representative of Asia, in the World Leadership Congress held at Washington, D.C., United States, in 2006.
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