Five Core Values that Guided my Traversing Journey | Shuang Wen | TEDxNYUShanghaiSalon

TL;DR

This content discusses the five values (curiosity, diligence, open-mindedness, persistency, and health/happiness) that guided the speaker's unexpected journey and led to their current position as an academic professor.

Transcript

hello everyone my name is strong um thanks for coming I have a quick question have you thought about your future yes I'm pretty sure everybody had thought about it right that's the question that we were given even when we were a small kid when I was little I was told that you want to become a medical doctor because my mom was a doctor but that was ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚥 Curiosity serves as the initial driving force that propels individuals to explore unfamiliar territories and broaden their horizons.
• ❓ Diligence is crucial in achieving academic and career success, requiring consistent effort and a commitment to improvement.
• 📬 Open-mindedness allows individuals to embrace unexpected opportunities and think outside the box, leading to unique experiences and personal growth.
• ❓ Persistency is necessary in overcoming doubts, challenges, and setbacks, ensuring individuals stay on their chosen path despite obstacles.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health and happiness is a fundamental aspect of a successful and fulfilling journey.
• 🖐️ Personal journeys are often shaped by a combination of values, with each value playing a unique role in guiding decisions and actions.
• 🥺 The speaker's journey shows that unexpected opportunities can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did curiosity play a role in the speaker's journey?

Curiosity about the outside world, sparked by reading books, motivated the speaker to learn about places like Beijing and eventually the United States and Great Britain. It was the beginning of their journey to explore unfamiliar territories beyond their small town in China.

Q: How did diligence contribute to the speaker's success?

Studying English diligently, correcting pronunciation, and even working as a volunteer tour guide helped the speaker improve their language skills. Diligence was crucial in their academic journey and career as an interpreter and later as an academic professor.

Q: What role did open-mindedness play in the speaker's journey?

Being open-minded allowed the speaker to embrace unexpected opportunities, such as the job offer as an interpreter for a TV station in Hong Kong, despite not having connections or expecting to work in that field. It also led them to study the Arabic language and immerse themselves in Middle East-related subjects.

Q: How did persistency shape the speaker's journey?

Persistency was essential in overcoming doubts and challenges faced throughout the speaker's academic journey. Despite questioning their decisions, they persisted in their pursuit of knowledge and completed their degree in the Middle East and Arabic studies, leading them to become an academic professor.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker reflects on their journey, starting from a small town in Northeast China, and how curiosity about the outside world led them to learn about new places and cultures.

• Through diligence and hard work, they studied English and corrected their pronunciation, leading them to pursue a degree in English language and literature.

• Open-mindedness played a crucial role when they received a job offer as an interpreter for a TV station in Hong Kong, and when they later decided to study the Arabic language and Middle East-related subjects in Cairo.

• Persistency and the ability to overcome doubts and challenges were essential during their academic journey, leading them to become an academic professor in Middle East and Arabic studies.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health and happiness throughout the journey.