【Article by College of Commerce】
It is the English Taught Program (ETP) Alumni Sharing Event on Friday, October 27th that brings NCCUC ETP alumni and students together, providing current students a platform to expand their networks. The sharing this semester took place at Yi Xian Building (逸仙樓), featuring alumni Eric Chen (陳世恒) from Department of Risk Management and Insurance and Randy Lin (林子琛) from Department of Business Administration. They shared insights into the benefits they derived from the ETP program and discussed their career path after graduation. Through their valuable sharing, participants not only gained a deeper appreciation for the meticulous planning of the ETP program, but also drew valuable lessons from their experiences.

Eric shared that the interdisciplinary and immersive learning experiences provided by ETP instilled in him the courage to speak, which he found to be more important than merely mastering impeccable grammar. Additionally, he got the opportunity to work as a team with students from various Departments, developing networking connections. As a Data Analyst in Cathy United Bank, Eric described his current job to be more than just about coding, but the ability of storytelling and teamworking. He also reminded the participants to treat everyone nicely. 'You never know when your paths may cross again in the future.' He illustrated the awkward reunion with his not-so-closed buddy back in NCCU during an exchange program in Spain as an example. 'We unexpectedly ran into each other almost every day in the cafeteria.'

During his ETP experience sharing, Randy highlighted the invaluable benefits of ETP such as debate and CV writing classes, which are definitely helpful in the long run. ETP not only provides more straightforward terminology compared to translated equivalents but also fosters students' ability to think in English. Drawing from his job-hopping experiences from an intern to Google Senior Account Manager, Randy emphasized the significance of networking, as these connections can prove pivotal when confronting career challenges or even lead to ideal job opportunities. Moreover, he also encouraged fellow students to capture every opportunity that could challenge themselves and accumulate various experiences until they reach the goal.

Curiosity about the daily life of an account manager at Google brought Erin Chen (陳奕伶), senior student from Department of Business Administration, to the sharing event. Erin understood what Randy had gained from the experiences at those previous international companies and what ultimately led him to choose Google. She was not only intrigued by the compelling stories behind the alumni but also appreciated their authenticity in sharing both their career and personal journeys. Undoubtedly, she had took valuable lessons from them.

Through the sharing event, Jason Chiu (邱云谷) from Department of Management Information Systems had the opportunity to connect with industry insiders in person. Their insights and experience sharing provided him with a much clearer understanding of what to prepare for and expect from both internships and exchange programs. As a result, he realized the preparation required and the optimal time management necessary to streamline the exchange program application process. 'I hadn't thought about these aspects in such detail before, but the alumni's thorough sharing has been incredibly enlightening." Jason expressed.

Following his sharing on his 'bumpy' career path and how he stood up again and again with current ETP students, Eric draw inspiration from Steve Jobs by quoting him, emphasizing that 'eventually, all the dots will connect'. 'We might not always see the immediate value in what we are doing now,' he noted, 'but down the road, you will recognize how a particular activity, person, or even skill becomes invaluable.'