給咱們亞洲人長長面子

親愛的爸媽：

您倆在台灣一切都好嗎！？兒子今天有件喜事，想和您倆分享！

就在今天下午，我得到了學校年度甄選傑出學生助理的獎狀！也許，這乍看之下，並不十分了不起！我一開始也覺得這只不過是學校裡的一種活動，鼓勵學生罷了！但是一到場才知道，我在電腦教室的直屬上司，連同系主任、助教，一併提名我為年度最優異學生助理！全校數千學生助理當中，只有約二十名入選；而這二十名當中又只有六名被列為最優異學生助理！

當我坐立不安地想趕快領完獎走人時，我和其他五名被留到最後面，一一由校長介紹，上台領獎，並由直屬上司發表感言（求學幾十年，第一次有老師上台為我發表感言！）

在當下，我環顧一下四周，我是全校唯一的亞洲人得到此項殊榮！

（兒子有給您倆爭點面子吧！）

典禮完後，我和我的直屬上司拍照。他一直跟我說謝謝我的付出，我除了感動和回敬他的用心外，腦子裡也不停地想著，真想讓爸媽您倆也能親眼看到！

我的論文雖然一直停滯不前，我雖然無法在這裡賺取豐厚的薪資，但今天這張獎狀以及教授的肯定，卻不是用錢可以買來的！還記得我的教授跟我說過：「你在這裡得到什麼對你日後其實影響都不大，真正讓你受益的，是你從經驗裡學習到的東西。」這句話以前並不十分讓我有什麼深刻的印象！但今天我才知道，教授想跟我說的是：他看重的不僅僅是「會做什麼」，而更重要的，是「默默地做沒人要你做的事」！

典禮完後，我的日本朋友跟我說，這張獎狀在美國找工作，抵得上一個大公司總裁的推薦信！我不知道他是否是誇大其詞地挑好聽的說，但我想，他日能夠因為這張獎狀找到工作，也許，是我得到的最佳獎賞！

很感謝爸媽給我這個機會，讓我可以在美國留學，得到人生中難得的經歷！我會再繼續加把勁，早點回台灣，承歡膝下！

願爸媽

平安喜樂

Distinguished Student Assistant

I know this award probably meant nothing to someone, but it was a GREAT honor to me. First of all, I was the only Asian nominee who beat "out even such stellar competitors" (quoted from email by Dr. Nelson, 2010) and won the "Distinguished Student Assistant." Our president also said … we should be proud to show this award to interviewers while applying for a job in the future.

(Let's see how it will work in Taiwan! ^_^)

Second of all, I was surprised to know this nomination possibility was actually brought about by our LLL Department Administrative Assistant, Deborah Wheat. Then, it was approved by Dr. Ronald Dunbar (Department Chair), Dr. Cecil Nelson (Professor of Linguistics), and Dr. Keri Yousif (Assistant Professor of French). According to Dr. Nelson, Dr. Yousif even insisted on adding "strong statement" to the nomination (quoted from email by Dr. Nelson, 2010).

Well, who am I to accept such efforts from so many teachers!!!

Finally, thanks to Dr. Nelson's 『constant encouragement』, I presented myself in the reception. Dr. Nelson even made a speech for me!

Wow…I've never had this honor for my whole life!

PS: Also, thanks to Yoshiki to be my driver and photographer that day!