Think big act small

Seeking for a new mindset 

My vision of studying in America came to me after a banking internship for my freshman summer. I was amazed by the disruptive change in the traditional retail banking landscape, with bank tellers rapidly replaced by machines and paperwork transformed into mobile. I felt an urge to build a new mindset, and I realized that there was no better place for ideas exchange than the United States. Knowing that CityU provides students with the opportunity to study at Columbia University, I decided to challenge myself to apply for the programme and eventually I was lucky enough to get the chance to further my study in a whole new world.

Redefining language and culture 

As a homegrown Hong Konger who has been through the traditional public education system, a transition to studying in the United States was not completely smooth and easy. One of the challenges was the language barrier. My life in New York City taught me an essential lesson that language is more than grammar and vocabulary. Instead, it is a carrier of culture and identity. I quickly realized that better English skills would be the priority to integrating into American culture. To tackle the frustration of language barrier, I started to participate in the weekly Toastmasters Club at Columbia, an international organization to train up public speaking skills. Opportunities for on-stage speaking continually pulled me out of my comfort zone, and confidence improved by the day.

I was also introduced to a new concept of fraternity, a.k.a. “Greek life". Fraternities are very common in American universities. They are social groups embracing close bonding among brothers, common values, and rituals. They are called Greek life because all the group names are composed of Greek letters. For example, I have been a member of Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ) since the first semester. This was a transformational experience where I was exposed to the social and professional side of America. For example, the concept “social fit” is emphasized across student organizations and workplace environments. American culture focuses a lot more on personalities and the ease of being with, while abilities and calibre are seen as being less important as they can be trained up later.

There was a quote from the movie Martian which struck me. “You solve one problem, and you solve the next one, and then the next. If you solve enough problems, you get to the destination.” I can honestly say that the first six months in the United States have been a quest for solving problems. However, I have learned to stay focused and tackle problems patiently. Sometimes life may act against us, but if we keep working on ourselves bit by bit, I consider that no constraints are unbreakable, and it is always the small accumulative improvements that keep motivating me to go forward.