The final month of the semester for students of the International Master's Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IMAS) has been a blend of intense academic pressure, laughter, sweat, and poignant farewells. Known for their active participation, IMAS students once again demonstrated remarkable energy at the university-wide Sports Day held in late May. Students from across the globe showcased exceptional performance in both track and field events.
Sheila Lin, Senior Secretary for IMAS, stated, "Sports Day has long been a tradition of our program. Winning or losing is not the main point; what matters is that students from all over the world compete together with other departments, showing a spirit of unity. They will have good friends all over the world in the future." This unity extended beyond the classroom, notably seen in a memorable surprise birthday party.
The spotlight this time was on Audrey Clare Cecile Meloch, the class representative from Canada, who has been a central figure in the program and played a key organizational and leadership role in student activities over the past year. On her birthday, a group of classmates—including some from Asia and Africa—secretly arranged a surprise party. They invited faculty members to join the celebration and presented a heartfelt photo montage featuring IMAS’s academic and field activities beyond Taipei. The room was filled with both laughter and emotion, showcasing the unique bond between IMAS faculty and students, as well as the deep cross-cultural friendships that have flourished within the program.
Following the period of joy and physical exertion came the graduation ceremony for the second-year students. The ceremony featured a special address by Mr. Grzegorz Mazek, a senior diplomat from the Crisis Management Centre of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the father of IMAS graduate Antoni Mazek, Mr. Mazek traveled to Taiwan with his family specifically for the graduation ceremony. He shared his profound observations on his son's transformation since coming to National Chengchi University. He also highlighted that East Asia has become a new learning hub in technological, political, and social aspects, emphasizing that understanding diverse cultures is fundamental to solving global crises. Mr. Mazek concluded his speech by quoting Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert, describing his feelings about his trip: "Lord, Thank you for creating the world beautiful and of such variety, And also for allowing me, in Your inexhaustible goodness, To visit places which were not the scene of my daily torments.”
Speaking of life's torments, Professor Hsiao-Peng Liu, Director of IMAS, quoted a line from the movie Rocky Balboa :
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place. And I don’t care how tough you are—it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't about how hard you hit.
It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
How much you can take and keep moving forward.
That’s how winning is done!"
Professor Liu encouraged the graduates to leave campus soon and create their own wonderful stories. He noted that while he might be too old to witness their victories after their struggles, National Chengchi University will always be there, like proud parents, always cheering for its students.
The last month of the semester was a time for studying, relaxing, united struggle, and reflection and farewell. These thirty short days encapsulated two years of youthful memories for IMAS. This is not an end, but a new beginning.
