Three Life Lessons 2019 Taught Me

2019 has been a blessed year full of ups and downs. It's the year of transition. I am ending 2019 with two graduations, one is my master's degree from the Melbourne Business School in July, another is Watson Institute, a global social entrepreneur incubator program that I have dreamed for years in December. I know that this is not the end of a student's life, but the beginning of a new journey instead. As the Year of Pig comes to an end, I would like to share a few life experiences.

Lesson 1: There is no failure in the world. The journey matters more than the outcome.

At the beginning of the year, I was desperate to apply for the Graduate Program in Australia and hoping to stay there for work because I love the diversity and the humility of the country. However, due to the restricted visa policy, only five companies out of hundreds accept international students. I couldn't even remember how many times I was rejected but I do remember that I applied for around 80 roles across 3 countries. I was anxious. I couldn't see where my future was heading. I burst into tears because of rejections after rejection, until I reached the point that I switched my mindset and started to enjoy the process. 

"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is more important than the outcome."

Three months after, when the digital offer arrived in my mailbox, it was a kick in the head, and I went wild with joy at the same time. I blinked my eyes and read a few times. Yes, it was real. Woodside Energy, Australia's largest LNG producer, and top 20 ASX listed company opened a door for me. I never imagined myself to move the third time in Australia, and I had no clue about how the energy industry works. "When the opportunity comes, a lifelong learner shall embrace it." Being open to new was the choice I made. I couldn't appreciate more for the life advice and support my mentors gave me along the journey, all the emails, conversations, phone calls, I am forever grateful for.

 "There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction."

Lesson 2: Be yourself, and the rest will follow.

While applying for jobs, I was also looking for other opportunities post-graduation. I was fortunate to be selected for the Watson Institute 2019 Fall cohort, a semester social entrepreneur incubator program. 30 young global changemakers from 21 countries studied together in Boulder, the US for four months. We all brought our own venture that solves the specific social and economic problems in our communities, such as health, education, gender equality, sustainable energy, and economic growth. We connected in heart, head, and hand and each of us is a unique gem.

What I have learned in Watson is phenomenal. I had a better understanding of myself, my passion and vision. Seeing some scholars fresh out of high school with great ambition gives me so much energy. I was obsessed with the beautiful sunrise at Mt. Flatirons and was able to form some new habits. Practicing pitches and telling stories again and again allowed me to understand why and boosted my confidence in public speaking significantly. I was able to deeply connect with people from diverse backgrounds because of the compassion we all share, and also meet my mentors in life who believe in me that I can make a difference to people in the world. It is not the age, birthplace, education, or work experience that matters, but the vision, determination, compassion, and grit outstand people.

"When you truly don't care what anyone thinks of you, you have reached a dangerously awesome level of freedom."

Lesson 3: If you have a seed, don't wait for permission. Plant it small and you will grow it bigger. 

Since May 2018, I have been working on the Australia-China Women's Network, a global support network that connects Chinese immigrants and Australian young women to build their self-confidence, embrace global citizenship, and inspire them to be leaders. In the beginning, I knew I was passionate about women empowerment, but I had absolutely no clue about where to start and what the solutions would be. I soon got over the perfectionist tendencies and started experiments, from focus groups, experiential learning, to fireside chats and one-to-one mentorship program. We have now refined our offering - a 3-day cross-cultural retreat program for twenty young women from across Australia. With the financial backing of benefactors, our inaugural retreat will take place in March 2020, the weekend closest to International Women's Day.

"Perfection is achieved not when there's nothing more to add, but when there's nothing more to take away. "

During this journey, we have developed the team from one to ten, from unknowing what we were doing to gaining clarity. We envision a world where women and men are treated equally and afforded equal opportunity, regardless of their backgrounds. Now we are fighting for this vision together and encouraging more young women to step up and speak out. Because of this, I was featured on the Alibaba Group 2019 International Women's Day Campaign and spoke at various forums about our work throughout the year, which I am very proud of. It wouldn't have happened without an amazing network of mentors I met during my studies in Australia and the US. They are helping me every step whenever I have challenges. We are not playing a number game, but we do care about the individual's experience. Here is what I am always reminded of:

"Never forget why you're really doing what you're doing. Are you helping people? Are they happy? Are you happy? Are you profitable? Isn't that enough?"

The new year is upon us. I wish you a very happy holiday, a time to rejuvenate and a new year filled with prosperity, joy, and contentment!

What are the lessons you learned in 2019? What are you hoping to achieve in 2020? I'd love to hear your thoughts and please comment below.