Career Talk: Life Is Not Linear—My Pivotal Turns in Career Navigation

On June 6, 2026, the English Department invited alumnus Jimmy Yang to share his extraordinary career journey—a story of resilience that truly began at the tender age of 14. Jimmy has demonstrated how to adapt to a changing reality, acquire new professional skills, and leverage his personal strengths into outstanding work performance. Though he was not a diligent student in his youth and eventually dropped out of school, he found his footing as a bakery apprentice, dedicating four years to the craft until he became a skilled baker. He then fulfilled his military obligation, and his hard work earned him a promotion from a basic recruit to a squad leader. After the completion of his military service, Jimmy restarted his education by majoring in Electronic Engineering; however, when those career prospects did not bear fruit, he pivoted toward a new dream: mastering the English language.

He joined the Division of Continuing Education at Wenzao as an English major and became an avid learner: he never missed a single class over four years and maintained a top-three ranking for all eight semesters. During his time at Wenzao, Jimmy completed an internship at a resort in the Maldives, where he learned to tackle intense cultural shocks and collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. He once again successfully turned workplace challenges into opportunities for self-improvement. After graduating from Wenzao, he set out on a new path, working as a bus driver while training himself to be a specialized English tour guide and tour bus driver. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted his plans, and he had to pivot once more. He then devoted himself to real estate transactions, taking advantage of his previous internship experience in the hospitality industry.

Recently, through a sudden opportunity and a friend’s recommendation, Jimmy returned to his passion for English education, working at Kaohsiung Lingya District Chengkung Elementary School. Yearning for self-realization and excellence, he is set to begin his master’ program at the Department of Foreign Languages Instruction this coming semester. Reflecting on Jimmy’s journey, every career shift was driven either by shifting external realities or a deep inner desire for growth. He has masterfully demonstrated how one can realize one’s aspirations step by step and survive life’s unpredictable turns with resilience and perseverance. His talk conveyed a powerful message to everyone: we should never fear starting from scratch or embracing the uncertainty of the unknown.

職涯講座：不是直線的人生—我的海外經驗與職涯轉彎

英國語文系於2026年6月10日邀請校友楊哲銘先生重返母校，分享他多姿多采的職涯歷程。這個職涯探索從他14歲已然展開。楊哲銘先生用親身經歷詮釋了如何順應環境變遷、習得全新專業技能，並將個人優勢轉化為職場上的卓越表現。少時的他並不熱衷於學業，甚至一度中途輟學，但他很快在烘焙坊當了學徒，學習四年後逐漸蛻變為專業烘焙師。隨後他為履行國民義務，加入軍隊。憑藉自身努力，由基層新兵晉升為分隊長。退伍後，楊哲銘先生重新回歸校園並選擇就讀電機系；然而，當大環境的就業前景未能如願時，他轉向了全新的夢想：精通英語。

楊哲銘先生於是進入文藻進修部英文系就讀。就讀期間表現優異：在校四年期間，他從未缺席，且八個學期皆保持班級前三名。他也在就讀文藻期間爭取到前往馬爾地夫度假村實習的機會，在當地他克服了強烈的文化衝擊，學會與不同背景及訴求的同事攜手合作，再次將職場危機化為自我提升的轉機。從文藻畢業後，他踏上全新的征途，一邊駕駛公車維持生計，一邊準備考取英語導遊與觀光巴士司機執照。遺憾的是，新冠疫情突然襲來，打亂他原有的規劃，他決定再次轉換跑道。他投身於房地產經紀業，充分善用了過往累績的實習經驗。

近期，由於一個契機與朋友的引薦，楊哲銘先生重新燃起對英語教學的熱忱。他目前在高雄苓雅區成功國小任教。帶著對自我實現與卓越的渴望，他更將在新學期，正式進入文藻外語教學系碩士班進修。回顧楊哲銘先生的職涯旅程，每一次的更換跑道，可能源於外在環境的巨變，或者是因為對自我成長的渴望。他以身作則，精彩地展現了如何腳踏實地實現夢想，並在充滿變數的人生大潮中，靠著韌性與毅力穩健前行。這場講座向所有人傳遞了一個堅實的信念：我們不必畏懼從零開始，我們可以勇敢擁抱未知的不確定性。