Professor Shu-Wei Chu, Associate Dean of NTU D-School — "Do You Really Know What You Want in Life?"
Reflection on the Honors College Student Association’s College Day Lecture on October 18, 2021 Written by: Student So Ying Yan, College Council
What Do I Really Want in Life?
For this lecture, we invited Professor Shu-Wei Chu, Associate Dean of NTU D-School, to share his insights on “Do You Really Know What You Want in Life?”
Before Professor Chu began his talk, Assistant Lecturer Yuan-Ruei Zhao first shared his insights on self-introductions.
Whenever people are asked to introduce themselves, they naturally start with their school and major. Not only in real life, but also on platforms where they can freely express themselves—like Instagram bios—everyone tends to list their school and department. But honestly, does your school and major really define who you are? I find this question very thought-provoking.
Assistant Lecturer Zhao then shared a topic that better represents us in self-introductions: values. Values are the standards we use to judge right from wrong and to make choices. Everyone has different perspectives on gender equality, the role of religion, attitudes toward the environment, work, family, politics, and national identity. These unique values shape who we are, much like a compass guiding all aspects of our lives—including how we act, the choices we make, the kind of person we become, and how we treat ourselves and others. Although discussing values right at the first meeting can easily lead to disagreements, it is also one of the quickest ways for others to truly understand who we are.
Professor Chu then shared ways to address people’s anxiety about the uncertainties in life. The most effective way to reduce anxiety is through action! He also shared a famous quote by Tagore: "It is easiest to blame others, but hardest to understand oneself. What matters is not what you have been taught, but what you want to do and what you want to accomplish."
What left the deepest impression on me was during the Q&A session when a student in the audience asked about love and marriage. The student felt constrained by societal expectations, as if life must follow social norms to marry and have children. I personally resonated with this issue. The traditional saying, "Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they reach maturity," reflects society’s important expectation for suitable marriage matches for adults of marriageable age. The strong social pressure and restrictions make starting a family a shared social expectation. If someone of marriageable age chooses not to marry, they often face “concerns” from family elders and society.
Professor Chu responded, “Although I have already started my own family, the decisions to marry and have children are not determined by social norms. Rather, they are choices made by the individual when they meet the right person at the right time.”
Indeed, societal norms often make us resistant to marriage and parenting. But as Professor Chu said, the decision lies in our own hands. Although we may still face many uncertainties and doubts about the future in our lives, I hope that through continuous trying and exploration, each of you can gradually discover what brings you a sense of fulfillment and joy, and ultimately carve out a life that truly belongs to you!
