Alumni Check-in: Lucas Wu (Class of 2023)

Q. Where do you live now? Why? What are you doing? 

A: Currently, I am living in Paris. After completing my military service in Taiwan, I decided to start a new chapter of my life here. One question people in Paris often ask is, “Que fais-tu dans la vie?” — which means, “What do you do for a living?”

My usual answer is that I am still searching for what I truly want to do in life. At the moment, I am much like many of you: still studying and exploring different possibilities. In a way, being here also feels like attending an international school, where every day is an opportunity to learn not only from French classes, but also from people and experiences around the world; especially from people older than me, more than 30 years age gap!

Q. What are the biggest differences between there and Kaohsiung? What’s the biggest similarities?

A: In many ways, Paris feels like a bigger, older, and sometimes less orderly version of Kaohsiung. Of course, there are clear differences: a much higher population density, more complicated traffic, and occasionally people who might laugh when I make a grammatical mistake in French. But these experiences are also part of living abroad and learning a new language.

Many people worry about food when they travel or live overseas, but honestly, that is rarely a real problem. No matter where you go in the world, you can usually find Chinese or Korean markets. And if you really miss home and have the budget, you can always visit Chinatown.

The real challenge of living abroad is not the food or the language. Instead, it is learning to adapt to an environment where the people around you may look, think, and behave differently from what you are used to. Accepting these differences is often the most important part of the experience.

Another challenge of living abroad is the absence of the people who used to be around me every day. Back in KAS, my friends were always nearby — we studied together, ate together, and shared many ordinary moments that I did not think much about at the time. Being in a new country means starting again without that familiar circle. It can feel lonely at first, but it also pushes me to become more independent and to build new connections with people from different cultures.

When we cannot find similarities with the people around us, we still have two choices. We can either create common ground together, or learn to adapt and respect the differences.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?

A:

Weekdays

On weekdays, I usually wake up, have breakfast, and leave early to take the metro so I can avoid the crowds. My classes start at 9 a.m., which already feels early—I honestly don’t know how high school students manage to start at 8 every day. After class, I either go grocery shopping for the next three or four days or head to the gym if I’ve already bought food. When I get home, I cook, do my homework, draw a little, study, and then go to sleep.

Weekends

On weekends, living in Europe gives me a couple of fun options. Sometimes I buy a cheap ticket and travel to another country. Other times, I call my friends across the sea and play video games with them, or I go out to cafés and bars with my local friends.

Q. What's one thing you miss most about Taiwan?

A: To be honest, when people ask me what I miss about home, it’s not really the food, the buildings, or even the motorcycles that always make me swear when I’m driving.

What I miss the most is the feeling of home. The light already being on, and the food already warm when I come back after bu xi ban.

I miss the simple comfort of knowing that I can walk alone in the middle of the night and still feel safe.

What I really miss is the environment, the culture, and the sense of familiarity.

And of course, I miss my friends—who are now scattered in different parts of the world.

Q. What advice would you give to the HS students?

A: Before you listen to this advice, let me say one thing first: please don’t use this as an excuse not to study.

But I want to ask the high school students here a question. Do the summative tests you took in 7th grade really affect your life right now? Probably not. Because a score cannot determine who you are.

When I was in high school, I had a lot of friends. In fact, more than half of my class came to celebrate my 18th birthday with me. But today, how many of them do I still talk to regularly? Less than three that I contact weekly, and only one that I talk to every single day.

What I want to say is this: scores are important, but they are not everything. The friendships you build in high school are often the ones that last a lifetime.

So cherish those moments, spend time with your friends, and enjoy every day together. And most importantly—have fun.

Q. Did your KAS experience prepare you for life after HS?

A: Personally, I think one of the most important experiences every student should have is the chance to sit down and talk with a teacher they truly respect—maybe their favorite teacher, or the one they feel has the most wisdom.

After graduating from KAS, I realized something important: people who are older than us often have experiences and perspectives that we don’t have yet. Whether you agree with them or not, there is always something valuable you can learn from listening to their stories.

Trust me, hearing about their experiences can sometimes teach you even more than what you learn from textbooks or in class.

Q. What are you looking forward to most in the next five years?

A: This part is for students who might feel a little confused right now—just like I do. You might not know what you want to study in the future, which college you want to attend, or even whether you want to go to university at all.

Right now, my goal is simply to find something that I truly enjoy—something I’m willing to dedicate a big part of my life to. College is four years of your life, and it can cost a lot of money, so it’s important not to choose something that you know you won’t enjoy.

If you’re unsure, talk to people around you. Ask your parents, teachers, or school counselors for advice. Their experiences can really help you see things more clearly.

As for me, I’m still searching. But I’m looking forward to finding something I truly love—whether it’s a job or a subject that I would gladly spend four years studying again.

Q. Anything else?

A: One of my favorite quotes right now is:

“風是等不來的，難得來人間走一遭，別白活了啊.”

In English, it means, “The wind cannot be waited for. Since we only get to live once in this world, don’t waste your life.”

Looking back, one thing I regret is not signing up for more sports teams and extracurricular activities in high school. So my advice is this: don’t spend all your time on things you don’t enjoy. Try different activities with your friends and create special memories together.

Studying is important, of course—but remember to take breaks and enjoy life too.

For the freshmen here, enjoy your four years of high school. It really can be one of the best times of your life.

And for the seniors, I hope you’ve already found friends who will stay in your life for a very long time. Congratulations on almost finishing your time at KAS, and make sure to cherish the time you still have left.