2026/10/27
When studying abroad, who is the first to lend a helping hand when new students land feeling overwhelmed, or when peers face unexpected challenges in life? It is always the dedicated student leaders of our campus Taiwanese Student Associations (TSA).
On October 17, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles hosted the 2026 Southwest Taiwanese Student Associations Presidents Meeting, bringing together energetic and selfless TSA presidents and officers from campuses across the American Southwest to connect in Los Angeles.
In his dialogue with these young leaders, Director General Jason Ma expressed his deep admiration for their selfless dedication. Despite heavy academic workloads, they still willingly set aside time to organize orientations, host seminars, and go the extra mile to help fellow Taiwanese students solve problems.
In this era of rapid transformation, DG Ma also shared his thoughts from the perspective of a fellow alumnus and senior peer. He noted that for students currently in college, the world they will face upon graduation may feature over half of its fields having no direct alignment with their academic majors, alongside many emerging industries that do not even exist today. While this may bring a sense of uncertainty, looking at it from another angle, it means this generation enjoys endless possibilities unbound by traditional frameworks. On this journey of exploring the unknown, mutual support and companionship among peers become the warmest source of strength.
Matching this world full of interdisciplinary possibilities, the conference specially invited Dr. Hsian-Rong Tseng, Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, to deliver a keynote speech titled "When Chemistry Meets Nanomedicine: Decoding Career Transitions and Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Talent." Having personally transitioned from a PhD in organic chemistry into nanomedicine and biotech entrepreneurship, Prof. Tseng drew from his own journey to encourage everyone to "surround yourself with good people," keep an open mind, and bravely step out of their comfort zones to try new things. We hope this heartfelt sharing resonated deeply with the attending students from diverse academic backgrounds.
Beyond inspiration for the mind and career, our Consular Division, Education Division, and Legal Officer also prepared a highly practical "toolkit" for the presidents, providing detailed briefings on emergency assistance mechanisms, the latest anti-fraud awareness, and Ministry of Education scholarship resources.
Thank you to every president and officer shining brightly on campuses across the U.S. Southwest. As you bring warmth to fellow Taiwanese students on the frontlines, TECO-LA will always stand right behind you as your strongest and most reliable backing.
