A letter from Kai-Fu Lee to his daughter
Dear daughter:
As we drove out of Columbia University, I wanted to write a letter to You, tell me the thoughts that are running through my head.
First of all, I want to tell you how proud we are of you. Getting into Columbia proves that you are a well-rounded, outstanding student who has recently excelled in your academic, artistic, and social skills, whether it's your top spot in high school calculus, your stylish design, your drawing of sneakers, or your performance in "Simulation." United Nations" speech, you are undoubtedly a versatile girl. Your parents are proud of you and you should be as proud of yourself as we are.
I will always remember the moment I held you in my arms for the first time. A fresh and exciting feeling instantly touched my heart. It was a feeling that will always make me intoxicated. It was that A "father-daughter complex" that connects us throughout our lives. I also often think of me singing a lullaby to gently rock you to sleep. When I put you down, I often feel relieved and regretful. On the one hand, I think, she finally fell asleep! On the other hand, I wish I could hold you for a little longer. I still remember taking you to the sports field and seeing you having so much fun, you were so cute and everyone loved you so much.
Not only are you cute, but you are also a very well-behaved child. You are never noisy, considerate of others, obedient and polite. When you were three years old and we were building a house, you followed us quietly for more than ten hours every weekend to transport building materials. You ate hamburgers in the car for three meals, sang children's songs, and went to bed when you were tired of singing. Don't be squeamish and don't complain. When you went to the Chinese class last Sunday, you worked hard even though you didn't find it interesting at all. We parents are truly blessed to have a daughter like you.
You are also a very good sister. Although you sisters used to fight, when you grew up, you became really good friends. My sister loves you very much and likes to make you laugh. She regards you as her role model. She missed you terribly as we drove away from Columbia, and I know you missed her too. The most precious thing in the world is family. Just like your parents, your sister is the person you can trust the most. As you grow older, the friendship between you sisters remains unchanged. You take care of each other and care for each other. This is what I hope to see most. During your four years of college, you must often video chat and write emails with your sister when you have free time.
College will be the most important time in your life. In college you will discover the true meaning of learning. You used to ask "What's the use of this course?" It's a good question, but I hope you understand: "The true meaning of education is what is left after you forget everything you have learned." What I mean is Yes, the most important thing is not the specific knowledge you learn, but your ability to learn new things and solve new problems. This is the real meaning of university study - this is the stage where you move from passive learning to independent learning, and then you become a good self-learner. Therefore, even if what you learn is not what you need urgently in life, you must take every subject in college seriously. Even if you will forget the skills you learn, the ability to learn will be used for life.
Don’t be bound by dogma. There is no single, simple answer to any question.
Remember when I helped you with your high school debate class and I always asked you to debate on the side you didn’t agree with? The reason I do this is that I hope you can understand: looking at a problem should not be black and white, but there are many ways and angles. When you realize this, you become a great problem solver. This is "critical thinking" - the most important way of thinking you will need throughout your life, which also means that you also need to tolerate and support other perspectives that are different from yours. I will always remember going to my PhD advisor with a new topic and he told me, “I don’t agree with you, but I support you.” Years later, I realized that this was not just tolerance, but a critical approach. Thinking is a convincing leadership style, and now it has become a part of me. I hope this becomes a part of you too.
In college you should follow your passions and interests, take courses that interest you, and don't worry about what others say or think.
Steve Jobs once said that your passion in college will create many dots, and you will connect these dots later in your life. In his famous Stanford commencement speech, he gave a good example: He took a seemingly useless calligraphy course in college, and ten years later, it became the basis of the beautiful font library in Apple's Macintosh, and because The Macintosh had such a good font library, which brought about desktop publishing and today's office software (such as Microsoft Office). His exploration of calligraphy is a dot, and the Apple Macintosh connects multiple dots into a line. So don't worry too much about what kind of work you will do in the future, and don't be too eager for quick success. If you like Japanese or Korean, go and learn it, even though your dad once said it's useless :) Have fun choosing your point, and have faith that one day when the opportunity comes, you will find your mission in life, draw Create a beautiful curve.
Do your best on your homework, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
Your mother and I have no requirements for you in terms of grades. As long as you can graduate successfully and learn something in these four years, we will be happy. Even if you don't graduate with honors, your Columbia degree will take you far. So don't put pressure on yourself. In your last few months of high school, you were happy because stress was low and college applications were over, but in the last few weeks, you seem to be starting to get nervous. (Have you ever noticed that you bite your nails when you're nervous?) Don't worry, the most important thing is that you're learning, and the only measure you need is your effort. Grades are just boring numbers that vain people brag about and lazy people fear, and you are neither vain nor lazy.
The most important thing is that you should make some friends and live happily in college.
Friends in college are often the best friends in life, because you and your friends can be close to each other in college. In addition, when you grow up together and become independent together, you will naturally become closely connected and become close friends. You should choose some sincere friends and get close to them, regardless of their hobbies, grades, appearance or even personality. You've made some real friends in your last two years of high school, so trust your instincts and make some new ones. You are a sincere person and anyone will like to be your friend, so be confident, outgoing, and proactive. If you like someone, tell her. Even if she rejects you, you have nothing to lose. Treat people with the greatest kindness, don't be prejudiced, and be tolerant. No one is perfect, as long as they are sincere, trust them and be nice to them. They will give you the same in return. This is the secret of my success - I treat people with sincerity and trust others (unless they do something that breaks their trust with me). I've been told that sometimes I get taken advantage of, and they're right, but I can tell you: I gain far more than I lose by treating people with sincerity. In my 18 years in management, I have learned one very important thing - if you want to gain the trust and respect of others, you must first trust and respect others. Whether it is management, work, or making friends, this is worth your reference.
Keep in touch with your high school friends, but don’t replace college friendships with them, and don’t spend all your time with old friends because then you’ll miss out on making new ones. Opportunity.
You also need to start planning your summer vacation early - what do you want to do? Where do you want to stay? What do you want to learn?
Does your study at university give you new plans? I think your plan to study art and design is very good. You should think about where you should go to study the corresponding courses. Of course we hope you return to Beijing, but the final decision is yours.
Whether it is summer vacation plans, homework planning, choosing a major, or managing time, you should be responsible for your life. In the past, I have helped you a lot whether it was applying to schools, designing extracurricular activities, or choosing your initial courses. I'll still be by your side, but now it's time for you to take charge. I often think about the exciting moments in my life - my decision to skip a grade in kindergarten, my decision to switch to computer science, my decision to leave academia and choose Apple, my decision to go back to China, my decision to choose Google, and most recently my decision to start my new company . Having the ability to choose means you will live the life you want. Life is too short to live the life other people want you to live. It's a great feeling to be in control of your life, give it a try, you'll love it!
I told your mother that I was writing this letter and asked her what she wanted to say to you. She thought about it and said, "Let her take good care of herself." It was very simple but full of real concern. ——This has always been a characteristic of your beloved mother. In this short sentence, she wants to remind you of many things, such as remembering to take medicine on time, sleep well, maintain a healthy diet, exercise moderately, see a doctor when you feel uncomfortable, etc. There is an old Chinese saying that says, "The hair and skin of the body are received from parents and dare not be damaged, which is the beginning of filial piety." The meaning of this sentence is interpreted in a relatively new way: What your parents love most is you, so taking care of yourself is the best way to be filial. You will understand this the day you become a mother. Until that day, listen to your mother and you must take good care of yourself.
College is the four years when you have the most free time.
College is the first four years when you learn to be independent.
College is the most plastic four years.
College is the four years when the cost of making mistakes is lowest.
So, cherish your college time, make good use of your free time, become an independent thinker who controls your own destiny, develop your own diversified talents, boldly try, and pass continuous successes and challenges Come learn and grow, and become talents who combine Chinese and Western skills.
When I faced the biggest challenge in my life in 2005, you gave me a big hug and said "bonne chance" to me in French.
This sentence means "I wish you bravery and good luck!" Now, I want to say the same thing to you, bonne chance, my angel and princess, I hope Colombia will be the happiest four years of your life, I hope you will be The person you dream to be!
Love you,
Dad (and Mom)