“We are 15 months into the pandemic and students have demonstrated throughout the period resilience, resourcefulness, commitment, and determination to complete their work and finish strong.”
— Dr. Chen Liu, Director of MBA and Executive MBA programs
Learners and educators around the world made rapid changes this year to adapt to the restrictions of a pandemic year. This May, Trinity Western's 5,000 students and 800 staff and faculty successfully completed the 2020-21 academic year and launched into summer sessions. Here are some reflections from members of the TWU community:
“We are 15 months into the pandemic and students have demonstrated throughout the period resilience, resourcefulness, commitment, and determination to complete their work and finish strong,” said Dr. Chen Liu, Director of MBA and Executive MBA programs,
Thinking of the fresh cohort of 2021 graduates, Dr. Chen said, “Our graduating classes have been kind, compassionate, and considerate of each other, and they support and encourage their peers and their professors."
See also — "TWU Grads Guided by Faith" in Richmond Sentinel:
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Challenge trains character
Dr. Liu believes that the competency, character, and compassion students develop—especially in this challenging environment—makes graduates more well-equipped for the future.
“Students are creative, innovative, entrepreneurial, and forward-looking—all of these are great characteristics for team players and successful organizational leaders,” she said.
In addition to leadership skills, students are receiving added training in technical savvy as well.
“On the practical side, our students have learned a lot about how to work in a virtual team, with members from various time zones and cultural backgrounds, and what works or not in virtual meetings. These are important skills,” Dr. Liu said.
Rebecca Swaim, Executive Director of TWU Richmond agreed, “To successfully complete their studies, graduates had no choice but to adapt, to be creative, to learn new skills.”
“They have demonstrated perseverance, which should serve them well as they apply their learning in the years to come.”
Swaim noted the benefits of TWU’s integrated education. “Trinity Western University welcomes the integration of faith and learning, and provides students opportunities for whole person development.”
“Particularly during times of challenge, we are inclined to consider what anchors us and propels us forward. As such, we continue to create intentional space in virtual classrooms and group discussions for students to consider the role faith can play."
A time of patience and sharpening
Muxi Guo graduated this year with a BA in Leadership. She reflected, “The unique part obviously was that we have finished degrees during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. It seems like a difficult time for everyone, and people constantly criticized the uncertainties and social isolation that could take a toll on people's mental health.”
Despite the challenges, Guo noticed a silver lining.
“However, during the pandemic, people have more time to be alone; and sometimes, doing nothing is more sharpening than doing something,” she said.
“More specifically, the pandemic period is an optimal time to figure out (one’s) ego (through) self-reflection.”
Bruce Guan, a second year MBA student, gleaned some lessons as well. “The greatest asset I learned from this unique period is patience. What I usually do is staying in my room and finishing my daily routine patiently. My Level 1 CFA exam was cancelled twice in 2020 due to COVID-19, and the only thing I could do was to be patient.”
Patience did pay off. Guan completed his Level I CFA exam this spring and achieved a score close to the top 10% around the world.
See also —‘We did it!’: 774 TWU graduates mark their milestone through a virtual ceremony:
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About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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