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心得分享：
"Picking Up the Torch"
by Alexander Chien (UCSD)
Watching San Diego disappear into the distance from the window of
my Dallas bound flight, I bore conflicting feelings about the National Tzu
Ching Dallas Conference. On the one hand, I reminisced back upon how touching
and educational the Tzu Ching Hualien Taiwan camp had been and had high hopes
for another Tzu Ching Leadership Conference. Yet, the doubts and questions I
concerned myself with about the upcoming conference weighed my hopes down more
than I had expected. Would three days truly be enough for lasting friendships
to be forged? How would a majorly English conference be just as educational as
the Taiwan conference had been about Master Cheng Yen's teachings? Above all, I
questioned my ability to carry myself as a group leader and to improve the experiences
of my team members at the conference. I told myself that at the very least, my
fellow San Diego Tzu Ching friends would be there, so we would have fun as a
group regardless of how the conference would turn out. My mindset was misplaced
before camp even started. Yet, when camp far exceeded my expectations, I saw
this is a great opportunity to examine and reflect upon ways to change myself
as well as improve my local chapter.
Taking upon the role as group leader this time provided me with an entirely different perspective and experience at the conference. Prior to the conference, I held several concerns with being a group leader. Mainly, I knew that interaction time with group members after classes would be greatly cut down. In Taiwan Hualien camp, bonds were forged most strongly back at the dorm rooms before lights out, and group leaders always returned from staff meetings after everyone was asleep. I really wished that this portion of my conference experience would not be absent this time around. Yet, the one statement I took away most from Hualien camp was, “If not me, then who?” I have been to Hualien camp as an attendee and now with that experience, I should act a group leader. If not me as group leader, who should be then? Keeping this in mind, I relayed my wish to become group leader to the Dallas Camp planners. My assumptions of developing lesser bonds were dashed when I realized I connected even more with my group members because of my role as group leader. I was able to guide spirited discussions and through hearing everyone's stories, I drew closer to them by understanding their individual situations and trying to advise as a more experienced Tzu Ching alumnus. With the extra responsibility I had taken up, I found extra joy in being able to help the next generation of Tzu Chings at the respective chapters, including two group members who were the to-be presidents of their own Tzu Ching divisions in the following year. As was mentioned at the conference, “Do not be afraid to take up responsibility. Only through responsibility will one gain experience and wisdom.” I truly understood this statement from my personal experience at the conference, and will apply it towards my future path both within Tzu Chi and outside of it.
Throughout my days at this conference, I also understood more clearly the path I wished to take in Tzu Chi in the near future. During this conference, a major issue discussed was the disappearance of Tzu Chings from Tzu Chi after college graduation. Many methods were brought up to prevent future Tzu Ching graduates from drifting away from this great 3-in-1 Tzu Chi family. As a fellow recent Tzu Ching graduate, I understood how important the alumnus role was. Prior to this conference, I had been afraid to lose my connections with fellow UCSD Tzu Chings, and I wished to continue wearing my Tzu Ching uniform I had become so familiar with over the past four years. Along the course of this conference, especially during the group forums discussions, I felt this refreshing sense of a new role to play in Tzu Chi, and that I wanted to don the gray alumnus uniform as well as begin on my path towards being commissioner. This would be the first step I take towards my ultimate goal for the next few years in Tzu Chi: an effective understanding Tzu Ching advisor who serves as a gap between SG's, SB's, and Tzu Chings. US Tzu Chi is changing rapidly in the near future as Tzu Chings become alumni, and alumni become the next generation of SG's and SB's: its outlooks, culture, as well as its method of approaching problems. In a period of rapid change, a mediator to bridge the culture gap would be drastically needed, and I wish to serve as that gap for the change. I will attempt to understand the points of views of both sides as I help them transition into a new flourishing era of US Tzu Chi.
Previously, I had already gone through my activation moment in Taiwan Hualien Winter Camp in 2011. This conference served as a spark that rekindled the fire that had waned over time and neglect. The touching moments in camp, of which were numerous, had served as a spiritual fuel to drive me on with more dedication on my Tzu Chi path. There were two touching moments of special significance above the others. The first occurred during Jasmine Huang's speech to Master Cheng Yen. Through my years in UCSD Tzu Ching, I had always looked up to her as a role model with a heart too happy and too generous to ever run out. To see her so nervous speaking to Master was difficult for me to comprehend. She had always been so lively, so full of joy, and her prior speeches never indicated any form of nervousness to me. Yet, she pushed through this anxiety she felt speaking towards Master. That message came to the point where she mentioned, “I wish that Master can see, just as I see, how proud I am of these US Tzu Chings developing and growing up.” In that instant, I felt as though Jasmine was speaking to me too, and knowing that someone I had so looked up to throughout all these years was proud of me and the path I had chosen as a Tzu Ching meant just so much to me that I could not hold back the tears. As I wiped away the tears, I had this overwhelming sense of, “I will show Jasmine that she was right to be proud of me and carry on this torch for Tzu Chi.” And Jasmine, if you are reading this, thank you.
The second truly touching moment for me was actually after camp. Since the flights of three fellow UCSD Tzu Chings and me were on Tuesday, Ko SB and Phoebe SG welcomed us into their home starting Sunday night. I truly felt this “Tzu Chi is one big family” as I had on several prior occasions. Staying over at their beautiful home for two nights really opened my eyes as to how much Phoebe SG cared about all of us and treated us as if we were her kids. For instance, Phoebe SG offered to do our laundry for us, and she would not take no for an answer. When the laundry had dried, she folded our clothes so perfectly, despite the fact that some of us never cared enough to fold our own clothes when we did laundry at home. Whenever we wanted to do our own dishes, she would ask us to leave them for her. Everything that we could possibly need, we had at our greatest convenience because she took care of us to the point of spoiling us. She felt just like our mom: always trying to make sure we were full, wishing to spend time with us, extremely happy when we came home after a day of hanging out. One particular event that truly touched my heart was when Phoebe SG and I sat up for two and a half hours, talking about my life. It started out with her genuine interest in how I joined Tzu Chi, her taking my arm, sitting me down on the couch, and smiling at me, saying, “SG would really like to know your Tzu Chi story.” This story branched into my life synopsis, and the personal problems I faced all the time. Despite the fact that it was well past her regular bedtime, she held on attentively and returned sage advice. The entire time I was listing out my problems, she could not stop complimenting me on how she was so proud of me as a person. To the general audience, that may sound contradictory, but I could hear that she was genuine in those compliments. She saw the good side of me as any mom would. When I described my problems, she saw me as good at recognizing my problems and trying to find ways to solve them. When it had reached 1:30 AM, she had stayed awake for so long that she dozed off to sleep after I finished a story. I just smiled and said, “SG, it's late. We still have time to talk tomorrow.” To me, there are few words needed to describe her: “loving mom, caring mentor”. The day after my flight arrived in San Diego, Phoebe SG called me to check up on whether or not the flight went smoothly as planned and if I was safe and sound back at home. I truly felt that even at this distance across states, even after I left her house, there was still a caring heart over a thousand miles away thinking about my well-being. She then told me that no matter what, she was always a phone call away if I wanted to talk about anything and that she is just like a second mom to us. Having just gotten off a long day at work and feeling lonely after returning from Dallas, I felt all warmed up again because this relationship stayed with me, whether or not I was still in Texas.
What have I truly taken away from this camp? I have made friends so close we tear up upon leaving each other. And on a more personal level, I have seen how I can improve myself as a person. The theme of “time, space, and interpersonal relationships” is a guideline by which I wish to cherish my life with. Interpersonal relationships I feel I am doing decently well in, while tremendous improvement could be made in time and space. My sense of responsibility, my sense of a goal to aim for, and my wish to help the next generation are all new merits I have gained through the procession of this conference. Next year, the camp is in San Dimas, and I wish to become part of the curriculum team, putting together the classes and materials to inspire others as I have inspired. Achieving all the goals and sights I have set for myself within this reflection would transform as a person. For the past few Tzu Ching conferences, be it US or international, one recurring theme was SGs and SBs passing down the torch so that we can carry on the missions of Tzu Chi. It is our turn now as Tzu Chings and recent alumni. I will pick up this blazing torch that SG's, SB's, and alumni have left for me and light up the hearts of those who pass.
Taking upon the role as group leader this time provided me with an entirely different perspective and experience at the conference. Prior to the conference, I held several concerns with being a group leader. Mainly, I knew that interaction time with group members after classes would be greatly cut down. In Taiwan Hualien camp, bonds were forged most strongly back at the dorm rooms before lights out, and group leaders always returned from staff meetings after everyone was asleep. I really wished that this portion of my conference experience would not be absent this time around. Yet, the one statement I took away most from Hualien camp was, “If not me, then who?” I have been to Hualien camp as an attendee and now with that experience, I should act a group leader. If not me as group leader, who should be then? Keeping this in mind, I relayed my wish to become group leader to the Dallas Camp planners. My assumptions of developing lesser bonds were dashed when I realized I connected even more with my group members because of my role as group leader. I was able to guide spirited discussions and through hearing everyone's stories, I drew closer to them by understanding their individual situations and trying to advise as a more experienced Tzu Ching alumnus. With the extra responsibility I had taken up, I found extra joy in being able to help the next generation of Tzu Chings at the respective chapters, including two group members who were the to-be presidents of their own Tzu Ching divisions in the following year. As was mentioned at the conference, “Do not be afraid to take up responsibility. Only through responsibility will one gain experience and wisdom.” I truly understood this statement from my personal experience at the conference, and will apply it towards my future path both within Tzu Chi and outside of it.
Throughout my days at this conference, I also understood more clearly the path I wished to take in Tzu Chi in the near future. During this conference, a major issue discussed was the disappearance of Tzu Chings from Tzu Chi after college graduation. Many methods were brought up to prevent future Tzu Ching graduates from drifting away from this great 3-in-1 Tzu Chi family. As a fellow recent Tzu Ching graduate, I understood how important the alumnus role was. Prior to this conference, I had been afraid to lose my connections with fellow UCSD Tzu Chings, and I wished to continue wearing my Tzu Ching uniform I had become so familiar with over the past four years. Along the course of this conference, especially during the group forums discussions, I felt this refreshing sense of a new role to play in Tzu Chi, and that I wanted to don the gray alumnus uniform as well as begin on my path towards being commissioner. This would be the first step I take towards my ultimate goal for the next few years in Tzu Chi: an effective understanding Tzu Ching advisor who serves as a gap between SG's, SB's, and Tzu Chings. US Tzu Chi is changing rapidly in the near future as Tzu Chings become alumni, and alumni become the next generation of SG's and SB's: its outlooks, culture, as well as its method of approaching problems. In a period of rapid change, a mediator to bridge the culture gap would be drastically needed, and I wish to serve as that gap for the change. I will attempt to understand the points of views of both sides as I help them transition into a new flourishing era of US Tzu Chi.
Previously, I had already gone through my activation moment in Taiwan Hualien Winter Camp in 2011. This conference served as a spark that rekindled the fire that had waned over time and neglect. The touching moments in camp, of which were numerous, had served as a spiritual fuel to drive me on with more dedication on my Tzu Chi path. There were two touching moments of special significance above the others. The first occurred during Jasmine Huang's speech to Master Cheng Yen. Through my years in UCSD Tzu Ching, I had always looked up to her as a role model with a heart too happy and too generous to ever run out. To see her so nervous speaking to Master was difficult for me to comprehend. She had always been so lively, so full of joy, and her prior speeches never indicated any form of nervousness to me. Yet, she pushed through this anxiety she felt speaking towards Master. That message came to the point where she mentioned, “I wish that Master can see, just as I see, how proud I am of these US Tzu Chings developing and growing up.” In that instant, I felt as though Jasmine was speaking to me too, and knowing that someone I had so looked up to throughout all these years was proud of me and the path I had chosen as a Tzu Ching meant just so much to me that I could not hold back the tears. As I wiped away the tears, I had this overwhelming sense of, “I will show Jasmine that she was right to be proud of me and carry on this torch for Tzu Chi.” And Jasmine, if you are reading this, thank you.
The second truly touching moment for me was actually after camp. Since the flights of three fellow UCSD Tzu Chings and me were on Tuesday, Ko SB and Phoebe SG welcomed us into their home starting Sunday night. I truly felt this “Tzu Chi is one big family” as I had on several prior occasions. Staying over at their beautiful home for two nights really opened my eyes as to how much Phoebe SG cared about all of us and treated us as if we were her kids. For instance, Phoebe SG offered to do our laundry for us, and she would not take no for an answer. When the laundry had dried, she folded our clothes so perfectly, despite the fact that some of us never cared enough to fold our own clothes when we did laundry at home. Whenever we wanted to do our own dishes, she would ask us to leave them for her. Everything that we could possibly need, we had at our greatest convenience because she took care of us to the point of spoiling us. She felt just like our mom: always trying to make sure we were full, wishing to spend time with us, extremely happy when we came home after a day of hanging out. One particular event that truly touched my heart was when Phoebe SG and I sat up for two and a half hours, talking about my life. It started out with her genuine interest in how I joined Tzu Chi, her taking my arm, sitting me down on the couch, and smiling at me, saying, “SG would really like to know your Tzu Chi story.” This story branched into my life synopsis, and the personal problems I faced all the time. Despite the fact that it was well past her regular bedtime, she held on attentively and returned sage advice. The entire time I was listing out my problems, she could not stop complimenting me on how she was so proud of me as a person. To the general audience, that may sound contradictory, but I could hear that she was genuine in those compliments. She saw the good side of me as any mom would. When I described my problems, she saw me as good at recognizing my problems and trying to find ways to solve them. When it had reached 1:30 AM, she had stayed awake for so long that she dozed off to sleep after I finished a story. I just smiled and said, “SG, it's late. We still have time to talk tomorrow.” To me, there are few words needed to describe her: “loving mom, caring mentor”. The day after my flight arrived in San Diego, Phoebe SG called me to check up on whether or not the flight went smoothly as planned and if I was safe and sound back at home. I truly felt that even at this distance across states, even after I left her house, there was still a caring heart over a thousand miles away thinking about my well-being. She then told me that no matter what, she was always a phone call away if I wanted to talk about anything and that she is just like a second mom to us. Having just gotten off a long day at work and feeling lonely after returning from Dallas, I felt all warmed up again because this relationship stayed with me, whether or not I was still in Texas.
What have I truly taken away from this camp? I have made friends so close we tear up upon leaving each other. And on a more personal level, I have seen how I can improve myself as a person. The theme of “time, space, and interpersonal relationships” is a guideline by which I wish to cherish my life with. Interpersonal relationships I feel I am doing decently well in, while tremendous improvement could be made in time and space. My sense of responsibility, my sense of a goal to aim for, and my wish to help the next generation are all new merits I have gained through the procession of this conference. Next year, the camp is in San Dimas, and I wish to become part of the curriculum team, putting together the classes and materials to inspire others as I have inspired. Achieving all the goals and sights I have set for myself within this reflection would transform as a person. For the past few Tzu Ching conferences, be it US or international, one recurring theme was SGs and SBs passing down the torch so that we can carry on the missions of Tzu Chi. It is our turn now as Tzu Chings and recent alumni. I will pick up this blazing torch that SG's, SB's, and alumni have left for me and light up the hearts of those who pass.
心得分享：
by Frank Chen (Stanford)
The
month of July was an extremely busy time for me both in terms of research and
Tzu Chi activities. Research often required me to work late or even overnight,
so I usually did not get as much sleep as I would have liked. We had organized
environmental events including cardboard recycling and oak tree watering as
well as staffed the entire weekend for Relay for Life http://www.daai.tv/2011web/news/content.php?id=15780>
(link)
The
first thing I noticed was how welcoming and hardworking the staff was. From the
warm reception all the way until the final farewell, the staff members took
great care of us with delicious food, snacks, gifts, and comfortable lodging
and treated us like family. The various teams would stay the latest and wake up
the earliest to make sure the conference ran smoothly and was a good experience
for everyone. I really admired all of the curriculum team for staying up so late
planning the lectures, discussion sessions, and program, often staying so late
that they only slept a couple of hours every night. The lessons were very
instructional, and I learned a lot about the Tzu Chi missions, etiquette, and
some of the first Tzu Chi stories. Presentations on vegetarianism were very
compelling and made me realize how large of an impact it has on the
environment. I was not vegetarian before attending this conference but am
inspired to lead a vegetarian lifestyle now. The elective classes were also
useful because they worked on leadership and university chapter management. For
example, sometimes I forget that being co-president of a chapter does not mean
I need to do all the work. Instead, a good leader inspires others to follow, and
as a group, we can accomplish much more than any single individual. It was also
useful to hear some ideas about how to develop our Tzu Chi spirits such as
through reading Tzu Chi books and Jing Si aphorisms.
Another
major part of my experience at the conference was constantly being inspired by
the people I met. During the camp, all the attendees were divided up into 14
different groups to facilitate some more personal sharing and discussion. My
group leader Stephanie Cheng did a wonderful job of looking after us, and I was
impressed at the amount of leadership displayed by such a young Tzu Ching. Two
other members of my group, Sophia Chen and Terence Lin just graduated from high
school and were excited to start university chapters at UC-Riverside and University of Houston US
Perhaps
one of the most rewarding aspects of the conference was meeting new friends and
strengthening the bonds of existing friendships. I traveled with two other
Stanford Tzu Ching, Kevin Hsu and Elaine Kuo, and our passion for Tzu Chi grew
together throughout the event. Afterwards, we discussed many new ideas that we
wanted to implement at Stanford and shared our reflections about the camp.
During the conference I was able to meet Tzu Ching from all corners of the US including Hawaii ,
California , Texas ,
and New York
Looking
back now, I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to attend. Not only did I
learn a lot about Tzu Chi and develop leadership skills, I made many wonderful
new friends. Even though physically I felt tired, my Tzu Chi spirit felt
refreshed and re-energized. It is really surprising how 72 hours can change a
person so much, and I hope to bring others and be a part of the conference next
year!
Thank
you to all the hardworking volunteers at Dallas
心得分享：
by Holden Lin (SJ State of U.)
Images
of the Texas
The
first time I ever heard of "Curriculum Team" was in the summer of
2009. (I guess I didn't give it very much thought when I first attended camps
in 2008.) I noticed some of my friends were always on stage hosting and performing
sign language and dancing, so I asked one friend why that was. She told me she
kept applying and applying on every camp application to be on Curriculum Team,
and one camp they finally wanted her. That gave me great hope that perhaps one
day I could stand onstage alongside those Tzu Chings I admired so much. They
were so outgoing, and always knew how to liven up the atmosphere. They were so
full of Tzu Chi spirit and elegance that every time I saw them on stage, I felt
so much admiration and joy and I aspired to be like them. One day after lunch,
we had free time and I wandered around the Jing Si Hall until I found a little
makeshift office they had set up in the basement. From then on, I would hurry
and finish my lunch quickly everyday so that I could go over to their office
and learn from them.
My
opportunity came the following winter during the International Officers Retreat
in Hualien. Richard, a Tzu Ching alumni I really looked up to believed in me,
and he persuaded other alumni to give me a chance. Our team was so young and
inexperienced that we did not end up doing a great job. We were even late to
introducing one of the most famous speakers in Tzu Chi, and he had to be
introduced by the previous speaker. After that incident, it felt as if nobody
was willing to give me a second chance. This time around, I really wanted to
redeem myself and do the best that I could. I really cherished my opportunity
to be a part of Curriculum Team that I really pushed myself to the limit,
attended every single meeting, took on as many responsibilities as I was
allowed, and really just tried to justify my value as a team member to show
them that they had made the right decision. I worked hard and took the
initiative and proved to be a reliable asset to the team. Not before long, I
was blessed enough to be promoted to Deputy Team Lead, the only position I ever
took on without having to ask for it. I was scared to accept it though, because
I had no idea how to be a good leader. Truth be told, I'm still not there yet.
I only had my experience and my ambition and my temper and my ideas that I
imposed upon others.
An
alumni very dear to me once observed about me, "You sure have a lot of
opinons." Although true, it was quite a shock for me to hear that. I
really took those words to heart, and pursued self-reflection upon that
conversation. I wondered why I was so quick to judge others and why I was
unable to be forgiving of past mistakes they had made when I had once been in
the same situation myself. I'm a firm believer in second chances, and surely
the least I could do was to look at others with non-discriminant eyes. I also
remembered the words of Richard who noticed that I would always be the first to
speak up about every issue during Tzu Ching meetings, and that was not
necessarily a good thing. This time around, I tried to listen to my team
members' suggestions before giving my input.
Another
alumni once said, "In order to become a good leader, one has to learn how
to be led." Following was not something I did well, especially if it was
taking orders from someone I deemed less experienced than myself. My arrogance
was something that made people including myself uneasy, but how can you purify
a glass of dirty water without pouring the water out? The answer is to pour clean
water into the glass until all the dirt filters out, and that's what every
single person I met at camp did for me. Every word of encouragement, every
undeserved praise, every expression of gratitude, every warm smile, every
loving embrace was a glass of fresh water to my once contaminated heart. It's a
two-way street because I also saw how hard our staff worked, and I let them
know that their efforts were appreciated. I am also trying to watch more of
Master's talks and Dharma as Water to cultivate myself and become the best
version of myself that I can be. I caught a glimpse of that person when I first
joined Tzu Ching at the young age of 18, but I'm hoping that person will
resurface. I can feel myself transforming slowly but surely, and all in all this
has been a humbling experience.
"By
rejoicing in and praising others, we also earn merit." That was the
Jing-Si Aphorism I lived by during this camp. I love standing onstage having
Tzu Chings look up at me from the audience with eyes full of excitement. Tzu
Ching is a great platform for that. As much as I enjoy being the center of
attention and soaking up the spotlight, this aphorism has taught me to give
others a chance to hone their leadership skills. I no longer get jealous when
the focus isn't on me. My advisor, Irene Mama, even noticed the drastic change
in me. At the end of the camp, she told me I had matured so much and I was glad
for that fact. Every camp I attend, I notice it is the same people grabbing for
the microphone and that distresses me. We have all graduated. We have past our
prime. It's time for us to take on the role of alumni and change into gray and
take on more responsibilities. I would focus on the diligent Tzu Chings with
potential who are often overlooked. As for the loud outgoing kids who crave the
limelight? We have enough of those, and this may sound harsh, but if you're
looking for an ego boost, then sorry, Curriculum Team is not the place for you.
It's not the place for you if you're looking to meet lots of people during
camp. People may know your name, but you may not have time to get to know
everyone, and it's a shame. We are the people running around behind the scenes
unnoticed, sleeping for two hours a night, catching unexpected curveballs,
sacrificing our mealtimes to plan a course, and planning for months in advance.
Performing sign language and introducing speakers is just a side job.
I'm so
grateful for my curriculum team. We have this perfect chemistry and they are
just too amazing for words. I am so proud to be able to call them my family.
They have this uncanny ability to make me laugh until my stomach hurts and the
power to move me to tears. I'm entirely thankful that they took the time to get
to know me, to stand up for me, to reach out for my hand while I was feeling
self-conscious, and to help me in my endeavors. They are some of the most
accepting and gracious people I know. I know I'm different from most people.
There's this tragic flaw about me that is apparent at first sight, and there's
not a single thing I can do about it. It's not something I bring up openly, but
it is something I will talk about if people have the intuition to ask. In
Hualien, some Tzu Chings and I had the chance to chat with Allen Yeh of the
International Affairs Department about it, but he couldn't come up with a
solution either and it's not written in the Buddhist scriptures. I believe this
adversity has taught me self-cultivation, while it often tests others' level of
accommodation. I think that's why Carolyn told me that she has this "weird
expectation" of me, as if I should rise past my shortcomings to create
good affinities with everyone and to do the best that I can do, so people can
see through what is on the surface and forget their misconceptions.
Another
person who has really given me a helping hand is Jasmine. I've known her for
the entire four years of my Tzu Ching career, and she has always been an
exemplar role model. She has the biggest heart and is always trying to give me
opportunities, and I don't even know why. It wasn't until she was telling
Master about me in her speech that I really became aware that perhaps there was
some small amount of potential she saw in me. Being able to see Master on the
screen in addition to seeing Jasmine's shakiness onstage, I was already on the verge
of tears, but the moment I heard my name, I really started crying. I had always
considered myself a Taiwan Tzu Ching, and I know I'm not the only one who feels
this way. I do miss Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan United States Taiwan
There
are so many people that have moved me during this conference, who have showed
me kindness and compassion. One small expression of care is enough to warm my
heart. Through this, I have learned to be more open and considerate of others,
and I can feel my defensive walls crumbling down. All the aforementioned people
played a big part in this, especially Carolyn. I'd already thanked her several
times, but my gratitude to her is limitless. I can't write this without wiping
tears from my eyes, because to me she is the true essence of a bodhisattva.
Love and care radiate from every inch of her being, and she has the purest
heart out of anyone I know. In fact, the curriculum team had a meeting once
where she wasn't present yet. We were trying to solve a problem, and we brought
up the question, "What would Carolyn do?" She would confront the
situation with wisdom and fairness, and I guess that's the reason why I look up
to her more than I do anyone else. There's something about her that sets her
apart from everyone else. She is the epitome of what a Tzu Chi person should
be. She is the mentor that I have been missing, and I take to heart every word
she has ever said to me. When I was exhausted and running on an hour's sleep,
she came up to me and said one word, "Tired?" and patted my head.
Even a motion so small as that was enough to give me strength and motivation to
carry on. Though she may have had no other meaning that that, I interpreted it
as, "Thanks for your trouble." When we were making our rounds during
the group forums, I noticed she smiled at and talked to every single person we
passed by, whether it was just to greet them or to thank them for their hard
work. I made a mental note of this, and proceeded to do the same the next time
I walked alone. She had taught me about creating good interpersonal
relationships just by being herself. I am firm in my convictions, and when I
find something I believe in, such as Tzu Chi, or someone worth following, such
as Master, then I am loyal to a fault. This camp has only reaffirmed my faith
in Tzu Chi, and my sense of mission towards Master. A year from now, ten years
from now, I know I will still be on this Tzu Chi path, whether it be advising
Tzu Chings or working at Da Ai Television. I feel like I have really matured as
a person these past few days, and I'm ready now to accept any challenges that
come my way. I'm already anticipating the month of December when we can
continue our spiritual journey in Hualien.
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