Failure and Frustration are Part of our Lives

The discussion between Stanley Yen and Lin Yi Jie, a teenager with profound hearing loss.

Redefine the World and Yourself symposium was held by Children’s Hearing Foundation (CHF), Chung Yuan Christian University and Gigabyte Education Foundation. CEO of the Alliance Cultural Foundation, Stanley Yen and Lin Yi Jie, a teenager with profound hearing loss, were invited to have a deep discussion about education.

Stanley and Yi-Jie talked how to redefine the self and the world, also encouraged all the students keep on trying and do not afraid of failure.

Q1. If you have a choice, would you choose to be a person with hearing loss?

“Yes, I would choose to be a person with hearing loss, because I am having a spectacular life. If I was a normal person, I don’t think I would go through that many adventures and I wouldn’t put that much effort into life, my life would be too steady. We only get one life and I am making a brilliant one. Moreover, because of my identity, people can see what a brilliant life a student with hearing loss can have. It has been my mission since I was born. “said Yi-Jie.

Yi-Jie not only talks fluently, she also reaches beyond herself and changes how people think about the deaf.

More than three hundred audiences attended the Symposium.

Q2. What is Humanities Education? Why is it important?

“When I was in France for exchange student, I noticed the differences between Taiwan and France. French schools take communication and thinking process seriously, if you don’t share your opinion, that means you agree with others. If you do not agree with others, then you must speak up and explain your thoughts clearly. On the contrary, there is always a correct/formal answer to everything in Taiwan. In the long term, students tend to not want to think and even consider thinking as too much work to do, as the result, they get used to accept every result.” said Yi-Jie.

“In America, teachers and professors are more concerning about whether students have the encourage to challenge things they’ve known. They figured that if they want to cultivate a student to be a better person, they must provide chances for the student to express their thoughts. I used to think the sequence of cultivating is –first you must work hard and be a better person, then you will have a good life. But now I have a different thoughts on this, a appropriate order should be –first you learn to be a better person, that means knowing what is right and wrong, having sense of justice and compassion, then you learn how to have a good life, that means developing literature, music or theatre habits, and finally, learn how to work hard.” said Stanley.

Q3. How can we develop “soft power” and learn to communicate with others?

“You have to concentrate when are learning, trying and finding out what you want. If you have opportunities to learn new things, do not afraid and do not say no. Specializing in just one thing is not the most important thing, you must enjoy the process and learn what you are interested in. Whenever there is a different opinion, try to listen and understand it first, listening to others not only shows you are respecting to someone, you can also figure out the clues to explanation yourself later.” said Yi-Jie.

“By admitting your weaknesses, you get more understanding from others, it’s actually a communicating skill. When I was working for The Landis Hotel, I did a lot of rotations between Housekeeping Department, Manager Department, Human Resources Department, etc. It allowed them to have better understanding about different job positions and responsibilities, moreover, have diverse thinking and develop a flexible working mode.” said Stanley.

Q4. What can you learn from favorable or adverse circumstances? How can we face and deal with adverse circumstances?

“Do not afraid of failure. Failure to recognize our weakness is failure to know what we want and become successful. Hearing loss may seem as a weakness for others, however, it has brought to me different aspect of life, it pushes me to try harder, to be a better person and not to focus too much on my weaknesses.” said Yi-Jie.

“Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times. We need to have courage during the downs. For me, there is too much to learn and need to be learned in our lives, everything happens for a reason which fulfill our lives. said Stanley.