Henry and Chrissy, you’re the first and second generation of your family to come to Trinity. Why did you choose to study here? What was the experience like? What surprised you most about campus life? HENRY: I did my O Levels in Hong Kong and then came to Dublin to do the Leaving Cert. The history of Trinity inspired me to come here and the attractiveness of the engineering school lured me in. I loved campus life. I took a liking to every library in Trinity - the Berkeley, the Old Library and the 1937 Reading Room, where I spent most time. As a foreign student 35 years ago, there were only 3 Chinese students in the Engineering school. The sliding blackboard and speed writing in lectures was challenging for a non-native speaker but I soon caught up, with the help of friends. In the old days, there weren’t too many after-study activities - we spent most of the time in sport and drinking! I’m not great at rugby but I played soccer, badminton, and table tennis. All these joyful college memories still warm my heart to this day. CHRISSY: Growing up, I was always intrigued by the stories my father told me about Trinity – that definitely influenced me to apply here. Coming from Alex [Alexandra College in Dublin], I had a few friends also coming to Trinity, and everyone I met was so welcoming and helpful. The diversity Trinity offers added to my experience - not only was I immersed in different cultures, but everyone embraced my culture as well. With so many societies and clubs, there’s always something happening, and the Pav DJ events every Friday were a highlight. One thing that surprised me was how tasty Guinness is in the Pav and how long the line is outside the Book of Kells every day! What are your favourite memories from your time here? What would you say is the most important thing you gained from your Trinity education? HENRY: I’d say the first time I went to the Trinity Ball where I learnt how to properly drink Guinness! Apart from the training in engineering, I think the most important thing I got from studying in Trinity was immersion in Irish culture. Trinity for me is not only a university where I spent four years; it connected me to the rest of the world. Many of my business connections are from my college network. Our alumni are all around the world - we can connect no matter where we are. CHRISSY: My fondest memories are the times I spent with my friends on campus, whether struggling in the library or having a drink on Fridays. The most important thing I’ve learnt from my education in Trinity is the generosity and openness of Irish people, not to mention the phenomenal professors who have made me who I am today. Henry, as Hong Kong alumni chapter leader, you’ve always been supportive of Trinity and you’re also director of the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. What are your thoughts on the importance of a globally connected community? How can alumni stay connected? HENRY: Trinity provides a brilliant global network. If you want to benefit from it, join the alumni network after graduation! I helped get this message across when Dr Prendergast was our 44th Provost as he was my classmate during my time in Engineering. If you work in finance and investment, you will know that connection is the key to success in business. Especially in Asian countries, having local connections makes things easier. To quote a word in Chinese we always need “Guanxi”. Chrissy, you’re now studying in Imperial College, London. Are you in contact with other Trinity alumni in London? CHRISSY: I was a Nanoscience student in Trinity, and a lot of my colleagues are currently doing their PhDs in Imperial as well. Not only does this make me feel more connected to the society here in London, it will be handy in the future should I start my own business - which is definitely a goal! The stories of my friends in the Entrepreneurial Society really inspire me – I regret not joining that society as a student. Henry, you’re a successful entrepreneur. For the past seven years Trinity College Dublin has been on PitchBook’s Top 50 Universities in the world for educating entrepreneurs (and first in Europe) – what do you think it is about Trinity that makes it so successful at educating creative, innovative people? HENRY: I think studying in Trinity trained us how to think outside the box by giving us the freedom and space for creative ideas. I still remember one of my tutors saying: “Results may not be the most important aspect in the lab – more important is finding a way to solve the problem”. Fast forward to this day – if I’m teaching entrepreneurship, I tell students that any good start-up should find a gap within the value/service chain and bring a solution to bridge the gap and improve efficiency.
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