Today, I want to talk about something a little bit rebellious: question your parents, the one that built you. We’re often told to listen to them, learn from their experience so we can find a shortest path to success. However, what if I told you that sometimes, the greatest growth comes from challenging them?
Let me share a personal story. As a single danghter but the first person that studied aboard in the whole families, there were times when the vision for my future between them and myself are totally clashed. They envisioned everything for me, from getting a stable job in China– so I can marry a good-quality guy, to a best marriage - like find a guy that I could rely on so no need having any hard-working in the rest of my life. It was a path they believed would guarantee a lady’s happiness.
Imagine one day, I went to a gathering with my mom. She was excitedly whispering
Mom: See that woman over there? The one slightly fat?
You: mom, that’s quite fat.
Mom: Her life is quite good. She married a manager in pharmaceuticals and she never has to work a day in her life. Spend her free time on hobbies, drive a fancy car.
You: o
Mom: She has a Prosperous husband face (wang fu xiang). So I told you, not lose weight. Too thin cannot help your hushand make money.
This woman, according to my family, was the pinnacle of a lady’s success– a lady taken care of by a loving husband at the same time, she lives for him. this is a rule that never appeared in my mind. Sorry, I am not offending anyone. I respect ppl who choose this way. Sometimes I would feel this is a rule that the whole family silent agree to follow blindly. We don’t even get to make this rule. our parents do.
But I would like to argue that, their world might have it wrong. In fact, I think you should challenge them. I even think that maybe challenging them could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
My parents are good, hard-working workers. When they got married, they squeezed in a room less than 10 square meters and started from zero.
When I was 24, I found myself seated at a table with my mom and her friends. When they talked about guys with potential marriage chance for me.
“What if my self-worth?” I asked
“Your husband is just your worth! What u do is just to assist him and educate your children” one of them replied
“That’s a quite hard job” I said
Everyone laughed because, this is a life that they dreamed of. They all experienced a hard time for surviving, living and becoming financially comfortable. And none of them would ever think about the other options for their danghter’s best future - not hard-working any more but rely on a man.
After one of family members mentioned a guy to me in China with parents’ acquiescence, When landing in singapore, I looked at reasons that I listed on paper and call the parents, trying to be calming and mind-clear to say why this option is not the best way. my mom’s laughing. she gave all examples that she can possibly find to tell me, I am naive, as if I am a quite stupid person that think you can have find another way? We talked over 2hrs and most of my replies are just said “o”.
There were times when they told me, we regret to send you to singapore, which makes me feel quite shameful. But from the moment I decided to refuse it, their regret became less important. No one can control their regrets, except themselves. At the same time, no one can control your self-sense of worth, except yourself.
Let’s be honest, there were times I questioned my choices. The path my family envision – stability, security – is quite tempting. It can be judged as “a good life”, and they only want to give the best to me. But if we only cared about their expectations, Except being judged as having a good life, what else would we have?
For ppl who meet the similar case, I challenge you to ignore those judgements, especially when those judgements might hold you back from your dreams. I challenge you to break their expectations, especiall when those expectations possibly kills you, and ask if those are expectations that you would choose for yourself. I challenge you to be a little more honest and a little less obedient! I hope against all the challenges, you can find your own path and become the one that you are proud of.
One day, I sent the money to my families. Later, My father shared one sentence in the moment in wechat, like the story in the ins, “sometimes I feel I am quite old now. Maybe it’s time that we should leave the space to the young ppl now”.
Thank you for joining me today to reflect on our journey through technology in the 21st century. We’re here to think about our continuous chase for innovation. Let me tell you a story that highlights the challenges we face.
In a city buzzing with innovation, there was a man named Sam. He grew up during the 4th industrial revolution, amazed by the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and the marvels of tech advancements. With a smartphone in hand and surrounded by screens monitoring every aspect of his life, Sam easily navigated the digital world.
Sam worked at Apple, helping design the iPhone to be lighter and thinner. Interestingly, as he strived for success, he noticed a trend: the more he focused on the iPhone’s sleekness, the weaker his personal connections became. Instead of having meaningful talks with his family and enjoying nature, he was busy making the phone lighter. This left him feeling empty. Sometimes, he has to train himself to be a cold robot, be good at math, not put any emotion to work and keep communicating with a cold pc. It seems it is the surviving skills in thie overtechniquqeized society, does not it?
But Sam comes to an important question to ponder, Is his chasing progress worth sacrificing the essence of his humanity? If he had no choice, does he become the result and the cause of this over techniquelized society?
Let me explain what’s the overtechnilization here. We have great minds, but they’re not always used where needed. Some advocate for technology’s benefits, hoping to create a better world through these advancements. While this was true for electricity, cars, and smartphones, the additional value of some new technologies is decreasing, or threating. Maybe it’s time to rethink our approach and reweight the priority of tech development.
We try to improve things, but nothing compares to what we naturally have. We build artificial environments for growing food, while we have land being used for offices. We obsess over fitness and diet, forgetting that people in the past didn’t worry much about eating naturally. A lot of innovation on tracking health, or creating new medicines. Are we really get healthier as the innovation goes on? So, we must ask: Do we really need to push technology so hard now?
Back to Sam’s story: he didn’t just ponder these thoughts. He started asking: How can we make society better, if tech is not the best choice now? In his quest for a more humane life, he realized the power of giving.
Sam’s life changed one evening in a crowded food court. Instead of rushing for a meal, he saw a man sitting alone, looking tired. Sam approached him and offered more than money – he offered a real conversation. This act was more helpful to that man than suggesting a health-tracking app. It’s where we can jump out of being a cold tech robot and drive the society to be humanized.
Do things for people is not because who they are or what they do in return. A small act of generosity can help a connection beyond the digital world we’re used to. It’s how the world can be better.
So, friends, as we consider technology’s role in our lives, let’s remember Sam’s story. We should ask ourselves: What’s the real goal of developing new technology now?
To truly improve society, maybe we should start with kindness and generosity.
Good evening, my friends! I’m Vera, and tonight, I’m here to talk about “AI and You”. It’s an interesting topic, here I would like to share some thoughts based on my personal experience.
Before coming to start, let’s ask, what is AI? AI means artificial intelligence. But what is artificial intelligence? It is math calculations to mimic our mind thinking. But what can they do? They focus on specific task, can process the large amount of data, capture the relationship which is hard to be discovered by human. Some of their ability already surpass the human level like Dalle in photo generation, chess player. Recently, one of the most popular ai is chatgpt. It allows us to have human-like conversation, much more like a chatbot. U can ask kinds of questions, like the relationship between families, ?? (add topic), maybe u had ur speech modified by it. I see ur smile.
Things have changed drastically. if we look to China where I was born. 4 decades ago, most people worked in manual labor, and there was no concept of a smart phone. But now when young people coming from universities, the same as we experienced, what kind of job was in our mind? We get used to having phone, knowing we gonna interecting with PC every day, aiming to joining an investor team to work on money fluctuations, or software platform, which would become next Alibaba. Basically, We have grown used to the convenience that technology brings, but we all know that tech would not stop on the software milestone.
However, I think, in this human-ai smart industry, there are three major effects that are hitting us massively.
First, those who cannot keep up will be left behind. As new technologies continue to emerge, it will become increasingly important to have access to the latest technology to ensure that we have skills to succeed in a changing job market. However, if this cost is too high, this could create a further gap between those who can afford to access and those who cannot.This could disproportionately affect certain groups of people, such as lower-skilled workers who may struggle to find new employment opportunities. It could widen the existing economic gap between higher and lower-income individuals. So It is crucial to study this new skills, adapt to these changes, to survive, remain relevant and keep up in the fast-paced world.
Second, the definition of “diligence” or “hard-working” is being redefined. If we focus on manually remembering every code package, postcode, or revenue number, it is not a wise direction. After adding AI on top, we can have access to a wiki knowledge base that’s always available. This means we must work smarter, not harder. we need to develop a mindset that enables us to embrace the changes and challenges that come with it. Many of us are still adapting to this new reality, but I believe we have a longer way to go.
Actually that u may be suprised that I’m actually not a a human-ai activist and I don’t have bits running in my blood. I actually more care about what kind of life we want to reach? From software to smart world, it is a big step, right? if we look at the automotive companies, they obviously have managed to get cars on the road for more than 100 years. But this step here requires so much new technology understanding data and the ability to innovate fast that it is a huge step forward for them.
Anyways, we gonna get the tech companies well, those guys, they go wild. They have made us already addicted to smartphones and media. So I’m sure they can make us addicted as well to other things, but they shy away from the liabilities because at the end of the day, this is a life and death product. So we need to be careful about how we proceed with these advancements to ensure that they are safe and beneficial to everyone.
In conclusion, we have come a long way in a short amount of time. And I can only say that I’m really excited about what the future holds for us. At the same time, we need to consider a lot of issues, like the potential for new technologies to exacerbate existing inequalities, the huge change on mindset, and the ethical implications of advanced AI.
Now Insteading of letting AI take over our lives, we had better approach these challenges with a critical and thoughtful mindset, and work together to ensure that technology benefits everyone and doesn’t leave anyone behind.
At Meta Connect 2023, three groundbreaking products have emerged: the mixed reality glass, the emu platform, and smart glasses. Today, I’d like to delve into the realm of mixed reality.
Mixed reality is a burgeoning industrial frontier that harnesses cutting-edge computer vision technology, paving the way for new research in 3D computer vision and simulated reality structures. It spans disciplines from mechanics to computer science and even the arts, making it a popular and innovative direction. This allows us to leverage existing advancements while fostering the potential for further technical breakthroughs.
However, after delving into its features, a pressing question emerges: Why do we need it? In the world of product slogans, one stands out: not just satisfying customer needs but opening new demands. In essence, while we may not inherently need it, such technology can influence us to consider it as fashionable, useful, and normal.
My skepticism about mixed reality, particularly in gaming, revolves around three key points:
Threatening Real-Life Interactions: By potentially diverting more of our fixed daily time towards these virtual experiences, we risk diminishing our time for humanized interactions and genuine connections. The immersive nature of mixed reality could overshadow real-world engagement, impacting trust and enthusiasm among humans.
Resource Misallocation: The talented minds working on mixed reality may be driven by financial incentives or survival instincts. However, is it ethical to prioritize financial gain over considering the broader societal impact? Redirecting these brilliant minds toward aspects that foster human generosity and kindness could contribute to a better world.
Misguided Technological Development: Pursuing fun without boundaries is a no-ending and stupid path.
While some argue for the pleasure and excitement mixed reality offers, we must consider its impact on human isolation. Striking a balance between advantages and disadvantages is not a correct thinking method now, and at present, just thinking about its potential harm is enough, which the harm can never be changed by advantages. Balance thinking is only a publich trick employed by those tech companies.
In conclusion, my concerns may lean towards the pessimistic side regarding the current trajectory of innovation. While these technologies create captivating artificial worlds, we must question their necessity. Our Earth is a unique and well-built habitat, and our focus should be on nurturing our humanity, caring for the Earth, and showing kindness to all life, rather than becoming cold robots fixated on virtual realities with detructively pollute the earth.
Hello, ladies and gentleman, I am Vera.It is a great honor to be able to stand there.
(Smile and wave hand, and spin around like a top).
Tonight, I would like to share my favorite sports hobby - badminton.
I started playing when I was very young. I remember holding a big racket made me feel like a superhero. I learned how to play from dad. Despite my weak strokes, he would try to keep every game going even a bit longer. Till this day, my muscle memory still remind me that he is a professional player and, in my eyes, there was no one who could play better than him.
As I grew older, I played with more people and naturally my skills got improved. I became overconfident in my level. I felt dissatisfied playing with less skilled players. And even indirectly or directly refused to play with them. However, my pride was at the beginning of the fall.
When coming to Singapore, I wanted to have a new badminton group to play during weekends. And got one labeled as “intermediate level” from meetup. Among these group of strangers, I know there are some professional players.
I thought, “How hard could this be?”
So I went to the group session. After a few miss shots and tactical mistakes which cost me the game, my level is only a “beginner”. The organizer called me aside when I was playing, and said, “you are not qualified to play there. How can u join this group? U can leave now if u want” and subsequently removed me from the group on WhatsApp!
I felt like a shame! It felt like being kicked off a reality TV show.
How could this happen?
I cannot imagine, the day that I GET DECLINED BY BADMINTON GROUP!
It was a blow to my ego.
Determined to improve, I joined another training session and found a practice buddy.
An energetic 8-year-old boy.
Young but talented, Playing with kids is cool. No pressure, no judgment. We practised a lot of swings together. This helped me regain the confidence a little. At that time, I did not have courage to play with adults, especially those who came with a big racket bag to carry several expensive rackets in it.
During that period of training, I met a new badminton player. One day, I tentatively asked him,
“do you join any group for playing badminton?”
He answered, “Yes, I have a large group badminton friends, and we played it regularly every Sunday”
“Could u count me in next time”
“It would be no problem. But it is a big group. And u may not know anyone”
“It is fine..”
However, on Sunday, I chickened out. I was afraid to join the group because I don’t want to be rejected by the group again. What if they are unsatisfied with my shots, what if they talked about me behind my back. Furthermore, the group plays double games. Pairs of 2 players would play against another 2 players. I don’t know any of them, how can we cooperate with each other?
After another 1 to 2 month without playing in a group, my close friend introduced me join another group of badminton players. And she said, I am the organizer and we are lacking of players this time.
It seems like a good force to drive me. And I was pretty eagerly to join a group. During the sessions, I still struggled to deliver skillful hits and failed to make impressive plays as usual. I felt embarrassed and would apologized to the teammates for mistakes at end of the game, thinking my skill should be much better so I can play with them or else, it would waste their time or let them down. However, one of them said, “few girls can be good as u and it is not bad. Will u join us next time?”. It cheered me on a lot.
My fellow Toastmasters, members and customers, remember, not let urself opinion stop you. It is stupid to allow the self-imposed judgments or doubts that cloud your own perception of the potential, and become obstacles that stop u to become the one that u want. It’s okay to miss in court if u are in the right community. Or else keep looking for it. you’ll discover that there would be a place for you to stay, make mistakes and accept ur imperfections. There would be place that inspire you to be brave to fail, to be confident in yourself and ultimately let u become a better person.
Moreover, maybe playing badminton is more than just whether to be able to hit a shuttlecock. It’s a real-life journey filled with love, embarrassment, determination, and unwavering support. With partners, and group friends, We can foster a sense of tolerance and support. In this environment, we make each other feel comfortable to learn, compete, or get improved here. This makes me enjoy the game more.
In conclusion, my experience in badminton taught me important lessons about staying strong, the power of having friends who support you, and the confidence to try what you love, even if you’re not good at it. I hope this story can encourage you to find the strength within you and trust your own potential to be fearless, regardless of the circumstances.
