A meaningful journey

As the first person in the family carrying much hope from my parents to study abroad and pursue the master's degree, I decided to come to Taiwan with many aspirations and goals. I still remember the day I received the announcement of my scholarship and the opportunity to study at National Taipei University (NTPU), one of the top universities in Taiwan, it was a very special and memorable day. However, it was unfortunate that the COVID-19 outbreak and indeed my process of coming to Taiwan and entering NTPU was very challenging. But until the moment I arrived at NTPU and spent 14 months here, studying at NTPU for me was a great thing and a reward for the challenges and difficulties I have overcome.

After departing the flight and taking the first step in Taiwan, I heard a lot of Chinese which I could not understand, and people seemed so rushed, even the taxi driver drove me with incredible speed to the quarantine hotel. This scared me the first day because I was afraid this place was way too different from Vietnam, and I had to spend 14 days alone in the room. Fortunately, I received much help from the staff of NTPU, which made me feel less lonely and keep up with the learning process at the school. Every day, a staff member from the school health office called to inquire about my health situation with great enthusiasm and professionalism. They also booked a nice quarantine hotel with comfort facilities and sufficient conditions. It was like a short holiday, so I could relax, review my study, and plan for the new journey in Taiwan. Honestly, it was not easy to study abroad during the pandemic, but thanks to my family's encouragement and the effort from NTPU staff, I passed through a hard time and was eager to discover a new life in Taiwan. Working under the hottest sun in the endless rice field, but no matter what happens, my parents always believe in their children. They always tell us that only knowledge can change a person's life to live more civilized and more prosperous. That made me realize how lucky I am, and I have to try my best in NTPU to make my family proud.

Starting a new life just after getting the undergraduate degree, I have focused not only on enhancing my academic learning but also on the new experiences during my time in Taiwan. What I was especially impressed by during my studies at NTPU is the enthusiasm and qualifications of NTPU's professors. They are all graduated with Ph.D. from top schools in the world with professional teaching experience. Especially, I think my best luck is that I met my Supervisor in NTPU (Prof. Ko-Chia Yu 游擱嘉) and became one of his research assistants. Knowing him since the beginning day in NTPU, I think the chance to work with him and meet him every week is the best luck I have had in Taiwan. During the time I worked with him, he usually received my ignorant questions but always kept calm and found a way to explain for me. I have learned from him and improved myself a lot.

But there were not always bright days for me in NTPU. Whenever I faced depression, I decided to travel and hang out with my friends. I received a lot of support and encouragement from my classmates, professors, and MBA in Finance staff members. This means a lot to me. I had the opportunity to talk and share experiences with amazing people I still talk to and can't wait to see again. They shared with me about the new environment and gave me advice with a very sincere and energetic spirit. It gives me the chance to understand more about the new environment and more confidence to start a new life, a new adventure, and the meaning of time in my life. I do remember the trip to Alishan mountain to enjoy the sunrise or Penghu island in the summer, it brought me a lot of fun and memorable memories. NTPU campus is also one of my favorite places since I usually walk around the campus. It's really peaceful with a green, clean, and healthy environment.

All in all, if I could choose to study master's program in any university in Taiwan right now, NTPU would be my choice in a heartbeat. Although the journey to enter Taiwan and study at NTPU was hard, it was extremely worth it. I believe that the knowledge and experience from National Taipei University and MBA in Finance program will strengthen my career path as well as give me a lot of lovely memories.