The Wisdom of Being Less Young

Rotary Craft Talk�A journey of service, reflection, and legacy

Roots in Taiwan

​

Born in Taiwan, an island with a complex political identity

�Parents’ families retreated from mainland China after 1949�

Grandfather: first Chinese air force

​

Father: grew up among China’s elite

Family Background

​

Father: PR officer for the Taiwanese Postmaster General

�Mother: College professor with a strong personality

�My mother is like eczema

Crossing the Pacific

​

Immigrated to the U.S. as an adolescent in 1985

�Cultural shock and language barriers

�Entered ESL program, adapted to a new environment

College at UCLA

​

My roommate was my brother��Graduated summa cum laude in Biology

​

Lifelong friendship with roommates

Starting a Family

​

Settled in Long Beach after pediatric residency��Meeting her and closing the deal

​

Birth of a son

A Fateful Day in 2017

​

Entered a room in medical building for lunch conference��Club president Lance enticed with barbecued chicken

�Stayed — World Polio Day in October

A Coincidental Connection

​

World Polio Day is on October 28

�The Bill Gates’s connection— turning 70 with polio vaccine

�Density written in the stars

The Ripple Effect

​

Small kindnesses echo across time

�We may not see the origins, but the influence of a simple act spreads

�Service connects human stories across culture and generations

Closing Thoughts

​

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter.

Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

​

-- Samuel Beckett

satchmodesign.com