CJCU-Kong Sing Yee from Malaysia

I am Kong Sing Yee from Malaysia and I graduated from Chang Jung Christian University (CJCU) with a Fine Arts bachelor degree in 2018.

As I studied at CJCU, I was happy to be led by a group of very experienced and professional tutors. My courses included watercolor, oil painting, pottery, sculpture, etc. From my sophomore, I began to focus on oil painting. In the meantime, many theoretical courses were provided, for instance, art history and aesthetics. All of these nurtured me and played a fundamental role in my later path.

A financial crisis in 2015 that suddenly struck my family has forced me to cancel my plan to be an exchange student in the USA. Even so, I was still determined to go to another country to learn more about art. After long consideration, I set my target for France and started studying French in the Translation Department of CJCU. What's worth noting is that CJCU didn't charge for extra classes! I took French for three years in CJCU, and this turned out to be one of my stepping stones in my later stage. During the four years of studies, there were a lot of challenges, like balancing my studies and part-time jobs, but it all turned out pretty well. I managed to support most of my own living costs with scholarships and part-time jobs.

In 2020, I received an offer from Ecole de Condé that mainly focuses on illustration and animation. The foundation I built in CJCU definitely helped me a lot in studying illustration. The pandemic forced me to defer for a year and go back to Malaysia. During this period, I finished an internship in a publishing house, and later worked as a freelance illustrator. I collaborated with different companies in Asia and Australia. Meanwhile, I won a Bronze Award in the JIA illustration Award.

Below is my professional art account for your reference:

https://instagram.com/cwsy_9.27?utm_medium=copy_link

Now, I am fully devoted to my master's course in Children's Book illustration at Anglia Ruskin University and trying my best to produce more and better artwork.

When I look back, studying at CJCU is irreplaceable. Countless blessings have come with the challenges. Now, I am a more independent and confident person, and have a clearer vision of what I want to do for my future career.

The embracing attitude of Taiwanese people towards cultural differences is one of the vital reasons for me having such precious memories of Taiwan. The guidance I received from my Taiwanese friends has helped me to go through a lot of difficulties in my life, and turned most of them into heart-warming ones!

I think studying in Taiwan is valuable. The fee is cheaper than in many other countries and there are a lot of opportunities to apply for scholarships to cover most of the living costs. Overall, I would sincerely recommend Taiwan for those who plan to study overseas. Studying in Taiwan has always been one of the best choices in my life!