“As one of the developed countries in East Asia and the leading semiconductor manufacturing industry in the world, Taiwan offers numerous opportunities for young and talented individuals to study and pursue careers in the country. Since continuing my career abroad and becoming an expat is one of my dreams. I took the opportunity, decided to step out of my comfort zone and started my journey in Taiwan”. Yup, that’s the answer to the question I get every time I meet new people here. But the short story is, because I receive scholarship for my master’s degree at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), top school for electronics in Taiwan.
February 8th, 2023, is the date when I start my journey in NYCU. I was officially enrolled as a master’s degree student in EECS International Graduate Program under the supervision of Prof. Tseng, Tseung-Yuen. The moment I arrived, I was impressed by the lively campus life and the many resources that were available to students. The campus was full of activities, from academic seminars to cultural festivals, providing a good environment for academic and personal growth. The laboratories and research facilities were top notch, beyond everything I experienced before. Filled with advanced equipment that supported cutting-edge research in the field of nanoelectronics, it’s no wonder NYCU has such a good reputation in electronics.
There is an English idiom that says, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” One thing that came to mind was; if I wanted to be accepted by my surroundings, I must follow the customs of those who live here. In my situation, everyone around me (Taiwanese) was more comfortable communicating in their native language. If I couldn’t adapt and didn’t want to learn Chinese, how could I reach my dreams?
Being born as a Chinese Indonesian doesn’t mean I’m a native speaker. I had zero knowledge of Chinese and couldn’t speak a single sentence. Luckily, NYCU provides many opportunities for international students to learn Chinese. Apart from taking Chinese classes, I also actively participated in every event held by the OIA and the Chinese Language Center. By participating in these events, I had the opportunity to practice my Chinese and apply it in real-life communication. Since then, the language barrier has not been a big problem anymore, and life in Taiwan has become easier.
Not only focusing on academics and student activities, but NYCU also cares about the future careers of their students. In collaboration with Micron Technology, Inc. (Micron), a major semiconductor manufacturing company, NYCU, through OIA and Chinese Language Center, offers a semiconductor Mandarin course aimed at preparing students who want to pursue their future careers in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. Joining that program, I learned a lot of Chinese professional and technical terms, which will be applicable when I pursue my career in Taiwan. At the end of this course, I also had the opportunity to have a mock interview with HR from Micron and received feedback from them. Hard work paid off; I got an offer for a full-time position at Micron before I graduated. This means I have already secured my position at Micron and will start working right after graduation.
My journey in Taiwan is far from over, and I am excited about the future. Reflecting on my journey, I realize how stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new challenges in Taiwan has totally impacted my life. Make the most of the opportunities that come your way. The journey might be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. 大家，我們一起加油吧！
