The Silicon Valley Tech Camp recently held an engaging AI Talk at Zoom’s headquarters in San Jose, featuring a diverse panel of speakers: Constance Liu, Hardware Partnership Manager at Zoom; Annie Lin, Senior Strategy and Operations Analyst at Clever Health Plan; Frank Chen, Operations Manager at Applied Materials; and NVIDIA Engineer Kevin Ko.
All four panelists, who come from Taiwan, shared their personal journeys from education to their current professional roles. Despite their different backgrounds and experiences adjusting to life in the U.S., they collectively emphasized the vital importance of communication and self-expression. They urged participants to actively develop these skills throughout their academic careers.
Frank highlighted the significance of interacting with individuals from varied cultural backgrounds in the U.S., noting that English isn’t everyone’s first language. He pointed out that effective communication goes beyond mere language; it involves the exchange of ideas and information, which can differ widely across industries.
Annie emphasized that mastering small talk is the foundation for building a network within American social culture. She encouraged attendees to initiate casual conversations on light topics, such as the weather or weekend plans, while also being adaptable to the interests of the person they are conversing with. Annie cautioned against delving into personal issues too quickly and stressed the importance of identifying shared interests to deepen the discussion if the other person seemed engaged.
Kevin reflected on his experiences pursuing a PhD in the U.S., describing the journey as a rollercoaster ride filled with ups and downs rather than a straightforward path. He highlighted the necessity of finding coping mechanisms or seeking support during challenging times.
Constance rounded out the discussion by reminding everyone that we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and she underscored the importance of keeping an open mind and learning to collaborate with others.
The majority of the tech camp participants are high school and college students aspiring to study abroad, often feeling uncertain about taking that leap or lacking the confidence to follow through.
Frank encouraged them to seek information actively and learn from others’ experiences, while Kevin noted that the sooner one starts preparing for studying abroad, the better. He reminded participants that studying in the U.S. is just one milestone in a journey filled with various phases of uncertainty, highlighting the importance of continuously exploring one’s potential.
