Life is Hard, but Also Fun | Feng Chia University Department of Environmental Engineering and Science Yu-Hsia Liang

I am a student in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Science at Feng Chia University, currently standing at the turning point of my university life, eagerly anticipating the upcoming stage of my senior year. This journey has been filled with challenges and rich experiences, shaping who I am today. Looking back at the past three years of university, I have been constantly searching for my interests and direction. This process has intertwined academic exploration, social development, and continuous thinking about the future.

My Good Partners in the Departmental Association

Special Project: The First Challenge

During my sophomore year, I faced a highly challenging departmental course, "Environmental Special Project," with the topic "Preliminary Investigation of Air Quality Changes in Metropolitan Areas During the Pandemic." This project required the collection of a large amount of data and careful analysis to identify trends. Facing such a vast amount of data, it was impossible to handle it alone, making teamwork and discussions with group members essential steps.

Although the pandemic forced the final presentation to be conducted online, it did not diminish the completeness and quality of our project. Through video recording, we condensed nearly six months of research into a three-minute presentation video, showcasing our flexibility and quick thinking. This experience laid the foundation for my future academic and professional career, especially in air pollution research.

Environmental Special Project - "Preliminary Investigation of Air Quality Changes in Metropolitan Areas During the Pandemic," laying the foundation for my future academic and professional career, especially in air pollution research.

Departmental Association: A Task with Exploding Experience Points

In my junior year, I served as the president of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Science Association. As the pandemic gradually eased, this task became even more challenging due to the blank period of the previous years. During this year, I continued to excel academically while organizing various activities such as winter service teams and beach cleanup events, incorporating departmental expertise and characteristics. Through these activities, I got to know my classmates and teachers better.

In daily school life, everyone may go about their own business, only contacting teachers and departmental assistants when needed. However, in the process of managing the departmental association, to serve everyone in the department, I gradually interacted with students from other grades, understanding their interests and needs, and becoming familiar with them through repeated activities. During the planning process, I often received encouragement and assistance from the department head, teachers, and assistants, even unlocking hidden figures such as alumni, getting to know different perspectives of the department.

During my tenure as president, organizing beach cleanup activities, incorporating departmental expertise and characteristics, and getting to know classmates and teachers better.

Departmental association, a task with exploding experience points, expanding connections in tangible and intangible ways.

Internship: An Enlightening Journey

During the summer between my junior and senior years, I made an important decision—to intern at Pan Cheng Engineering Consulting Company.

While being active in clubs, I couldn't neglect professional academic knowledge. I believed that entering the workplace could quickly outline the future, so I decided to intern during my last summer vacation.

At Pan Cheng, I not only participated in the company's arranged summer courses but also received guidance and teaching from department heads. This experience helped me understand the operation of the engineering consulting industry more clearly. Whether it was participating in the writing of environmental impact statements, arranging and executing monitoring operations, positioning various project meetings, or the process and final environmental assessment committee meetings, all combined the academic knowledge taught at school.

The internship experience at Pan Cheng was not only an increase in knowledge but also an inspiration for future direction.

During the summer between my junior and senior years, I interned at Pan Cheng Engineering Consulting Company, participating in the writing of environmental impact statements, arranging and executing monitoring operations, positioning various project meetings, and more, getting along well with department heads and colleagues.

Participated in the final project competition during the internship, presenting the project content on stage.

Won the Excellence Award in the 2023 Pan Cheng Summer Internship Program Final Project Competition.

Ideal: A Combination of Effort and Learning

From special projects to departmental association, and then to workplace internships, the process may not be as simple as imagined, and there may be times of frustration. But as the saying goes, "Without enduring the cold, how can one smell the fragrance of plum blossoms?" After all, what makes people regret is never the failure and frustration, but not giving their all when opportunities arise. Therefore, I am grateful for all the experiences that have shaped my university life. I believe these experiences will contribute to my future journey.